Physical activity has many health and psychological benefits, however many programs aimed at increasing physical activity have failed to show the expected results. This may be because when people increase their level of exercise, they decrease the amount of energy they use in other areas of their lives. This project will examine how two different exercise programs affect overall physical activity level. Findings may cause us to reconsider how to prescribe exercise.
The Effectiveness Of A Clinical Practice Change Intervention In Increasing, On A Health Service Wide Basis, Community Health Clinician Adherence To Preventive Care Guidelines.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,290.00
Summary
The delivery of preventive care that aims to decrease smoking, risky alcohol use, physical inactivity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption is less than optimal in community health services. The study examines the effectiveness of an intervention in increasing the delivery of such across an area health service. The findings will demonstrate the ability of community health clinicians to routinely provide preventive care, and hence improve the health of the community.
Optimising Outcomes For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Evaluation Of Walking Training.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,161.00
Summary
This will be the first study to examine whether a short-term and long-term program of ground walking training is sufficient to improve and maintain exercise capacity and quality of life in people with COPD. If ground walking training is shown to be an effective intervention, this will translate into more widespread provision of exercise training to people with COPD, particularly those living in rural or remote communities.
Is Sedentary Behaviour (too Much Sitting) A Distinct Risk For Cardiovascular Disease?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,666.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes are significant and prevalent public health problems. Physical activity can decrease the risk for these conditions. However, reducing prolonged sitting may also be important. This research will add crucial new evidence on the role of sitting time in type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and will help with future decisions about whether reducing prolonged sitting at home and at work should be taken as seriously as promoting exercise for good health.
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.
Do People's Environments Influence Their Habitual Physical Activity?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,650.00
Summary
People seem to prefer to drive to the corner shop rather than walking. Or, they will drive the car to work instead of walking to the bus or train. Or, they send off e-mails instead of walking down the corridor at work. The result is that people are not using up the energy that they should and they get fatter. The average weight of many groups of Australians has gone up by several kilograms in the past 10 years. Active people not only have healthier weights. They are less likely to get heart dise ....People seem to prefer to drive to the corner shop rather than walking. Or, they will drive the car to work instead of walking to the bus or train. Or, they send off e-mails instead of walking down the corridor at work. The result is that people are not using up the energy that they should and they get fatter. The average weight of many groups of Australians has gone up by several kilograms in the past 10 years. Active people not only have healthier weights. They are less likely to get heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. But too many people do no exercise at all. Only about 10% of Australians adults do fitness and sporting activities three or more times a week. More than half do not walk, cycle or do anything moderately active on any regular basis. To get people to be regularly active and to stay active, promoting deliberate 'exercise' is not the answer. Making it easier for people to choose to be more active as they go about their daily lives will be more effective. Road transport researchers and geographers have a lot to offer to health researchers. They have found that where there are footpaths and cycle ways, where shops and businesses are close by or where the roads make it easy and safe to get from place to place, people are much more likely to walk or ride bikes. We can now use large, complex computerised databases (called Geographic Information Systems) to put together this type of information on peoples' local environments. We will combine these 'geographic' data with other information from surveys on people's physical activity, exercise and transport habits. Starting our research in this way, we will be able to work out whether there are factors in people's local environments that really do make them less active. Governments, health planners and local councils will use this information to find ways to create communities that are more activity-friendly. This will have real health benefits.Read moreRead less
Contextual Influences On Children's And Adolescent's Physical Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,950.00
Summary
Physical inactivity has been linked to several chronic health conditions among children and adolescents. However, there has been no research that has examined the long-term physical activity habits of Australian children and how these habits change as children move into adolescence. In addition, there is only limited information regarding the factors that influence children's physical activity. This study aims to examine changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours, such as television v ....Physical inactivity has been linked to several chronic health conditions among children and adolescents. However, there has been no research that has examined the long-term physical activity habits of Australian children and how these habits change as children move into adolescence. In addition, there is only limited information regarding the factors that influence children's physical activity. This study aims to examine changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours, such as television viewing and computer use, that occur over three years, and also over five years, among children aged 5-6 years and 10-12 years in 2001 (baseline). As such, this study will provide information about children's physical activity habits through primary school and from late primary school to the end of secondary school. The study will also examine the influence of the family and neighbourhood environment on changes that occur in physical activity and sedentary behaviour over that time. This study is significant because it will provide information on the critical transition period between primary and secondary school. The study will identify when changes in these health behaviours occur, the extent of these changes, and the influence of factors in the family environment and the local neighbourhood on changes in these behaviours. Such information is vital to inform the development of strategies to promote and maintain health-enhancing physical activity levels and reduce sedentariness among children.Read moreRead less
Supplemental Oxygen In Pulmonary Rehabilitation Trial (SuppORT)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$693,838.00
Summary
Approximately 50% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are referred to pulmonary rehabilitation have a reduction in oxygen during exercise. It is unknown whether providing oxygen during exercise training is beneficial in improving exercise capacity and quality of life in these people with COPD. This national multi-centre research will provide evidence to develop guidelines for the use of oxygen during exercise training in COPD.
Improving Outcome After Stroke: A Large, Multicentre, Randomised Controlled Trial Of Very Early Mobilisation (AVERT)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,915,758.00
Summary
In Australia, stroke accounts for 25% of all chronic disability. The personal and community burden of stroke-related disability is likely to increase considerably over the next 20 years, as the population ages. Without effective prevention and treatment strategies, stroke-related disability and its associated costs will increase. For treatments to have any major impact on death or dependency, they must be widely accessible, cost-effective, appropriate, safe and effective in the vast majority of ....In Australia, stroke accounts for 25% of all chronic disability. The personal and community burden of stroke-related disability is likely to increase considerably over the next 20 years, as the population ages. Without effective prevention and treatment strategies, stroke-related disability and its associated costs will increase. For treatments to have any major impact on death or dependency, they must be widely accessible, cost-effective, appropriate, safe and effective in the vast majority of patients. There is preliminary evidence from Norway that patients who start mobilising (i.e. sitting out of bed, standing and walking) within 24 hours of stroke are more likely to be discharged home (rather than require long term nursing home care), have a shorter stay in hospital, and improved outcome compared to patients who receive general medical ward care. This intervention is simple and more widely applicable than many other acute interventions, but it requires testing. We will conduct the first randomised controlled trial of very early mobilisation after stroke to determine the cost and benefits of the intervention. Patients will be randomised to receive either standard care or standard care in addition to very early and frequent mobilisation. At 3 months post stroke, we will identify the number of patients dead and disabled in each group to determine the effect of intervention on outcome. We will also determine care costs and quality of life in the longer term. The trial design enables comparisons to other standard interventions to improve stroke outcome to be made. We have already recruited two sites and randomised 46 patients to the pilot study. No safety or feasibility concerns have been raised. If positive, this study has the potential to lead to significant changes in clinical practice that may serve to reduce the burden of stroke to both individuals and the broader community.Read moreRead less