The Women’s Wellness After Cancer Program: A National Multisite Randomised Clinical Trial Of An E-Health Enabled Lifestyle Modification Intervention To Improve The Health And Wellness Of Women After Cancer Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,209,031.00
Summary
Advances in diagnostics, treatment and clinical practice have transformed some cancers from fatal to chronic and sometimes curable diseases. Many Australian women now live with the effects of cancer treatment and are at risk of cancer recurrence, chronic disease and poor quality of life. The Womens Wellness After Cancer Program aims to maximise the wellbeing of women treated for cancer, utilising internet and Smartphone technology to support them to live healthier lifestyles.
Peer Support In Maintaining Physical Activity And Health Following An Exercise Training Intervention For Cancer Survivors: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$148,260.00
Summary
With improved screening and treatment, the number of cancer survivors in our ageing population continues to grow. However, a very high number have poor quality of life and reduced functional capacity. Exercise addresses these problems, yet very few cancer survivors exercise regularly. This study will combine high intensity intermittent exercise with peer support for cancer survivors to maintain regular exercise and their health in a community setting.
Enhancing Understanding Of The Combined Influence Of Physical Activity And Sleep As CVD Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,728.00
Summary
Physical activity and sleep both impact health but are rarely considered as joint influences of health. I lead a research group that combines epidemiology and intervention research to generate unique insights to better understand how these behaviours jointly impact health and develop, evaluate and disseminate interventions to improve these behaviours.
The proposed program of research consists of (i) conducting a new trial to examine feasible and relatively low-cost physical activity promotion programs for adults with pre-diabetes; (ii) completing a series of existing major-funded studies relating to health promotion and education programs to promote physical activity; and (iii) I will serve as the Director for the University of Newcastle’s recently-funded Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition.
Understanding The Impacts Of Vaporised Nicotine Products On Smoking In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,603,159.00
Summary
Vaporised nicotine products (e.g., e-cigarettes) are widely used in Australia, even though possession of the nicotine fluid without a permit is an offence. They are primarily used by smokers as a means of quitting. However, there is concern about their potential attractiveness and uptake by non-smokers. The aim is to identify how these products might be used to both maximise smoking cessation and minimise nicotine use, especially smoking uptake by non-smokers.
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.
Embedding Sustainable Physical Activity Into The Everyday Life Of Adults With Intellectual Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,613.00
Summary
Adults with intellectual disability are much less physically active than the general community. In Australia, only around half the proportion of adults with intellectual disability compared with the general community meet national guidelines for physical activity. The overarching aim of the project is to sustainably increase physical activity in everyday life among adults with intellectual disability, at least to the level of the general community, to significantly improve their fitness and well ....Adults with intellectual disability are much less physically active than the general community. In Australia, only around half the proportion of adults with intellectual disability compared with the general community meet national guidelines for physical activity. The overarching aim of the project is to sustainably increase physical activity in everyday life among adults with intellectual disability, at least to the level of the general community, to significantly improve their fitness and well-being.Read moreRead less
Prospective Study Of The Influence Of Social Networks & School Environments On Emotional Well-being Of Young Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$202,200.00
Summary
It has become clearer in recent years that the role of the social environment may be as important as individual or interpersonal factors in understanding the risk and protective factors associated with disease prevention. Adolescence is the time when many preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality arise. It is likely that the social environments encountered during early adolescence will have an impact on the development of emotional and physical well being in early adulthood. This s ....It has become clearer in recent years that the role of the social environment may be as important as individual or interpersonal factors in understanding the risk and protective factors associated with disease prevention. Adolescence is the time when many preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality arise. It is likely that the social environments encountered during early adolescence will have an impact on the development of emotional and physical well being in early adulthood. This study will prospectively research the impact of school environment and quality of social networks in early adolescence on the emotional well being and health risk behaviours of young adults through the continued surveillance of a cohort of 2,782 students participating in the Gatehouse Project. This cohort has been surveyed four times; twice in Year 8 1997; once in Year 9 1998 and Year 10 1999. In 2002 the cohort will be on average 18 years old and will be first year post-secondary school. The major aim of the study is to investigate the prospective relationships between school environment in early adolescence and the mental and behavioural outcomes for young people in young adulthood. The continued surveillance of this cohort will allow us to assess the long term effects of school environments and adequacy of social networks at early adolescence on the emotional well being and social connectedness of older adolescents. This will contribute to our understanding of risk and protective factors in school-social environments that impact the health and well being of young adults. It will also inform further preventive intervention work that needs to take place in schools and communities to improve health outcomes for young adults.Read moreRead less
Randomised Trial Of A GP-initiated Tobacco Control Intervention With Arabic-speaking Smokers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$232,000.00
Summary
Previous estimates of smoking rates among Arabic-speakers men and women range from 43% to 55%. No intervention has been designed specifically to target smoking in this community. Barriers to smoking cessation among Arabic-speakers are poorly understood. GPs find it difficult to counsel smokers about their smoking. Even when they do, they are as likely to use ineffective strategies. An alternative approach is referral of smokers by GPs to a smoking cessation skilled in evidence-based behavioural ....Previous estimates of smoking rates among Arabic-speakers men and women range from 43% to 55%. No intervention has been designed specifically to target smoking in this community. Barriers to smoking cessation among Arabic-speakers are poorly understood. GPs find it difficult to counsel smokers about their smoking. Even when they do, they are as likely to use ineffective strategies. An alternative approach is referral of smokers by GPs to a smoking cessation skilled in evidence-based behavioural strategies to facilitate abstinence. Therefore, we propose to conduct a randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of referral of smokers attending general practices who offer consultation in Arabic to an Arabic-speaking counsellor for intensive support to improve quit rates at six and twelve months. We also will assess the acceptability of the intervention to smokers and GPs. Participating Arabic-speaking GPs in SWS will refer to the study about 1050 Arabic men and women aged between 18 and 65 years who self-report being current smokers. Participants will receive either intensive smoking cessation intervention or usual care provided by their GPs and self-help written information. The Intensive intervention will involve usual care by GPs and intensive smoking cessation counselling program that will involve series of scheduled telephone calls from an Arabic-speaking counsellor trained in smoking cessation counselling; printed self-help material in Arabic script and also will be offered a home visit and face-to-face counselling session. Results from this randomised trial will add to the scarce literature about smoking cessation among ethnic CALD minorities in Australia and overseas. If proven to be effective, a new choice will have been emerged to achieve optimal tobacco control in ethnic minorities in general practice. Divisions could consider employing bilingual counsellors as a resource for all GPs in their region.Read moreRead less
Enabling Safe Leisure Activity Participation For Young Hearing Aid Wearers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$47,537.00
Summary
There is community concern that exposure to loud sound during everyday activities, (such as, using iPods,MP3 players), may be damaging young peopleÍs hearing, and researchers around the world are investigating this issue. There is little information about how exposure to loud sound affects young people who already have permanent hearing loss, so the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) is conducting a study (iHEAR2) to find out whether loud sound exposure is affecting young hearing aid wearers.