Promoting Responsible Drinking Practices To Drinkers To Reduce The Risk Of Alcohol-related Harm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,476.00
Summary
Australians are heavy drinkers by world standards, which places them at risk of a wide range of alcohol-related harms. Broad-based interventions are needed to address a heavy drinking culture that involves regular engagement in heavy episodic drinking. This study will use a multi-method approach to develop and test messages that can be used to encourage enactment of responsible drinking practices that can reduce total alcohol intake and discourage binge drinking consumption patterns.
Sitting Less And Moving More: Population Health Research To Understand And Influence Sedentary Behaviour
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,367,518.00
Summary
The majority of Australian adults spend most of their waking hours sitting: at home, at work, and in their cars; most do not participate in exercise or sport. This leads to weight gain and to diseases of inactivity (particularly diabetes, heart disease, cancer and depression). New research will measure sitting time and the physical activity in people's daily lives, what factors encourage inactivity, and how to increase activity levels, especially among the ageing 'baby boomer' population.
Increasing Physical Activity And Reducing Sedentary Time In Children Using A Family-based Smartphone Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Low activity levels and too much sedentary time are major health risk factors in Australian children leading to childhood obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Parents play an important role in shaping children’s health behaviours. Therefore, interventions to improve children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviours should involve parents. A family-based smartphone program to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary time in children will be developed and evaluated in a RCT.
Innovative School-based Interventions To Improve Mental Health And The Social And Emotional Development Of Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
I am a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia and the Telethon Kids Institute. My research develops and delivers interventions that improve the quality of life, health, education, safety and social justice outcomes for Australian children. My work is particularly focused on ways to reduce harms from bullying and cyberbullying among children and adolescents.
Stand Up To Dementia: Reducing Prolonged Sitting To Improve Cognitive Function In Older Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,901.00
Summary
Australia has an ageing population, resulting in more people being diagnosed with dementia. Prolonged sitting - (a behaviour that is very common amongst older adults) may increase the risk of cognitive decline and thus developing dementia. This study aims to further explore the relationship of sitting with dementia and cognitive function by using objective measures of sitting and also to develop programs and resources to reduce prolonged sitting which are informed by consumers.
Exploring The Potential For Built Environment Intervention To Improve Adult And Child Physical Activity And Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$309,428.00
Summary
Health-promoting behaviours - such as physical activity - that are maintained from childhood to adulthood have a positive effect on health status. My research will examine aspects of the built environment associated with child behaviour, health and development and use these findings to formulate recommendations to key stakeholders for the design of user-friendly, active-living environments for children and interventions targeting adults.
RCT Of A Client-centred, Caseworker-delivered Smoking Cessation Intervention For A Socially Disadvantated Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,217.00
Summary
Smoking among the socially disadvantaged is unacceptably high. Little is known about the best way to reduce smoking among the disadvantaged. This study aims to lower smoking rates among clients attending community social services. Given smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and illness, the study has the potential to impact on the health and well-being of a particularly vulnerable sector of the community.
Increasing Physical Activity Among Young Children From Disadvantaged Communities: A Group Randomised Controlled Effectiveness Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,107,309.00
Summary
This project will evaluate the impact of a multi-level, multi-setting program to promote physical activity and movement skills among pre-school-aged children in disadvantaged communities. It will target the professional development of childcare educators and of parents. Childcare centres will be linked to the Early Start Facility at the University of Wollongong using state-of-the-art technology providing a unique opportunity to work with educators and parents in regional and remote areas.
Reducing Alcohol-related Harm In Rural Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,000.00
Summary
In 1992 in Australia, there were an estimated 3,660 alcohol-related deaths and 71,593 alcohol-related hospital episodes, resulting in a total economic cost of $4,031.9 million, 84% of which was avoidable. In 1998, about half of all males and a third of all females drank at least once a month at levels that placed them at risk of harm. In NSW, alcohol was estimated as being a causal factor in about one-quarter of all road traffic deaths in 1995 and was associated with a 58% increase in hospital u ....In 1992 in Australia, there were an estimated 3,660 alcohol-related deaths and 71,593 alcohol-related hospital episodes, resulting in a total economic cost of $4,031.9 million, 84% of which was avoidable. In 1998, about half of all males and a third of all females drank at least once a month at levels that placed them at risk of harm. In NSW, alcohol was estimated as being a causal factor in about one-quarter of all road traffic deaths in 1995 and was associated with a 58% increase in hospital utilistion rates between 1988-89 and 1990-91. The burden of suffering appears disproportionately higher in rural areas of NSW: per capita rate of convictions associated with a prescribed alcohol concentration in rural towns was approximately double that in metropolitan areas in 2000. The rate of attendances at hospital accident and emergency departments was also higher in rural areas. These data suggest a need for additional effort to reduce alcohol-related harm in rural, relative to metropolitan, areas. In Australia, there have been no well-controlled, community-based, attempts to reduce alcohol-related harm by simultaneously implementing a range of interventions. The conduct of a large-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effectiveness of this approach is difficult to justify, due to the substantial costs associated with such a rigorous design. However, a less rigorus, though equally valid, design, such as a stepped wedged approach, would likely provide good evidence to justify the subsequent conduct of an RCT. If the expected outcomes are not achieved, the conduct of an RCT can be postponed until reasonable preliminary evidence regarding the types of community-based interventions most likely to be effective is obtained. In either case, this study will provide valuable information as to which community-based interventions, and in what combination, are most likely to reduce the occurrence of alcohol-related harm in rural communities in Australia.Read moreRead less
WALK 2.0: Investigating The Internal And External Validity Of Web 2.0 Applications In Promoting Physical Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$934,436.00
Summary
More then half of the Australian population do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity to achieve health benefits. Internet based physical activity interventions which include innovative technology have the potential to reach large groups of individuals and contribute to physical activity promotion. This study evaluates the efficacy and utility of Web 2.0 applications to promote physical activity.