New Econometric Evidence on the Roles of Socio-Economic Characteristics and Lifestyle Choices in Determining Child and Adult Health Outcomes. This research is directly relevant to the National Research Priority 'Promoting and Maintaining Good Health'. It will provide detailed information on issues such as the extent of socio-economic differentials in child and adult health, the role of income redistribution in reducing health inequalities, the effectiveness of the national health system in prote ....New Econometric Evidence on the Roles of Socio-Economic Characteristics and Lifestyle Choices in Determining Child and Adult Health Outcomes. This research is directly relevant to the National Research Priority 'Promoting and Maintaining Good Health'. It will provide detailed information on issues such as the extent of socio-economic differentials in child and adult health, the role of income redistribution in reducing health inequalities, the effectiveness of the national health system in protecting the health of children from the poorest families, and the role of lifestyle choices in determining health outcomes. Attention will be paid to the effects of alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise and diet in the context of adult and childhood obesity. There will also be new insights on the relative importance of 'nature' versus 'nurture' in determining child health.Read moreRead less
The relationships between retail availability, peer smoking and tobacco purchase and consumption: a diary study of smoking behaviour. Despite multiple public health initiatives, smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death, costing the Australian community more than 19,000 lives each year. Public awareness of the dangers of smoking is high, yet around 19% of Australians continue to smoke. Social effects (e.g. the presence of nearby smokers) and the high retail availability of cigarette ....The relationships between retail availability, peer smoking and tobacco purchase and consumption: a diary study of smoking behaviour. Despite multiple public health initiatives, smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death, costing the Australian community more than 19,000 lives each year. Public awareness of the dangers of smoking is high, yet around 19% of Australians continue to smoke. Social effects (e.g. the presence of nearby smokers) and the high retail availability of cigarettes are likely to be associated with smoking rates and failed quit attempts, yet there is little research in this area. By providing a better understanding of the effect of these factors on smoking patterns, the study will suggest the most effective avenues for reducing the rate of smoking in Australia, and thus decreasing its substantial cost to individuals and the community.Read moreRead less
Time of day, time awake and alcohol: the effects on fatigue and performance. The results of this study will clarify the effects of sleep deprivation and time of day on the experiences of fatigue and on performance. This information will have a direct impact on policy and practice relating to the management of fatigue. The results will have a direct impact on community safety, especially on the road and in the workplace. The study therefore has direct relevance for guidelines and regulations de ....Time of day, time awake and alcohol: the effects on fatigue and performance. The results of this study will clarify the effects of sleep deprivation and time of day on the experiences of fatigue and on performance. This information will have a direct impact on policy and practice relating to the management of fatigue. The results will have a direct impact on community safety, especially on the road and in the workplace. The study therefore has direct relevance for guidelines and regulations deveoped by bodies such as national and state road safety and workplace health and safety bodies.Read moreRead less
Investigating the Indirect Effects of Child-Targeted Food Promotion on Children's Diets. Obesity is forecast to cost the Australian community more than $58 billion in 2008. The prevention and reduction of obesity thus has the potential to create significant savings in terms of obesity-related treatment costs and impairments. Children have been identified as a population requiring particular attention in efforts to combat obesity. The proposed study will provide an enhanced understanding of the r ....Investigating the Indirect Effects of Child-Targeted Food Promotion on Children's Diets. Obesity is forecast to cost the Australian community more than $58 billion in 2008. The prevention and reduction of obesity thus has the potential to create significant savings in terms of obesity-related treatment costs and impairments. Children have been identified as a population requiring particular attention in efforts to combat obesity. The proposed study will provide an enhanced understanding of the role that food promotion plays in sub-optimal food choices made by children and their parents. The results of the study will be translated into specific public policy recommendations to assist governments and health agencies in determining appropriate courses of action to promote healthy diets among children and their families.Read moreRead less
Brief naps as a countermeasure to fatigue. The proposed research will be necessary in order to identify the best length of nap to reduce fatigue both in the afternoon and in the early morning hours. It may also discover that naps of certain lengths may impair performance and safety under some conditions. Thus the proposed research is crucial in order to develop a non-drug countermeasure for fatigue in conditions of impaired performance and safety. Therefore, it will play an important occupati ....Brief naps as a countermeasure to fatigue. The proposed research will be necessary in order to identify the best length of nap to reduce fatigue both in the afternoon and in the early morning hours. It may also discover that naps of certain lengths may impair performance and safety under some conditions. Thus the proposed research is crucial in order to develop a non-drug countermeasure for fatigue in conditions of impaired performance and safety. Therefore, it will play an important occupational health and safety role on the job in the afternoon day shift and the early morning during night shift work.. Furthermore, it will improve general quality and productivity of life in a culture of increasing fatigue.Read moreRead less
Sexual health and relationships in young Indigenous people. Despite higher notified rates of sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses and often negative depictions of young indigenous people, very little is known of the health and well being of young Indigenous people. This project will for the first time provide a national profile of risk behaviours, levels of knowledge and the types of health services young Indigenous people access for sexual health and blood borne viruses. Th ....Sexual health and relationships in young Indigenous people. Despite higher notified rates of sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses and often negative depictions of young indigenous people, very little is known of the health and well being of young Indigenous people. This project will for the first time provide a national profile of risk behaviours, levels of knowledge and the types of health services young Indigenous people access for sexual health and blood borne viruses. The findings of this research will set the foundations for a longer term strategy to ensure trends and behaviours can be identified among the population and where necessary interventions can be implemented. Read moreRead less
Understanding personal, social and environmental influences on nutrition and physical activity among older adults living in urban and rural areas. There are negative impacts of obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity on physical, psychological and social wellbeing and national economic costs associated with these burdens are substantial. Obesity and its associated illnesses are estimated to cost Australian health services $1.2 billion a year. An understanding of the modifiable determinants of ....Understanding personal, social and environmental influences on nutrition and physical activity among older adults living in urban and rural areas. There are negative impacts of obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity on physical, psychological and social wellbeing and national economic costs associated with these burdens are substantial. Obesity and its associated illnesses are estimated to cost Australian health services $1.2 billion a year. An understanding of the modifiable determinants of nutrition and physical activity behaviours is required in order to develop effective interventions to promote health and well-being. Promoting physical activity and a healthy diet thus has the potential to substantially reduce the burden of disease in Australia and improve quality of life.Read moreRead less
Drug Use by a Community Sample of Young Amphetamine Users in South-East Queensland â?' A Longitudinal Study. Drug use can impact on the national well being in a multitude of ways. In 1998-1999 the fiscal cost of licit and illicit drug use was estimated to be $34.4 billion, while drug-related crime is estimated to cost Australia $1.96 billion annually. This study is valuable in its capacity to inform evidence-based policy and practice addressing amphetamine uptake and amphetamine use trajectories ....Drug Use by a Community Sample of Young Amphetamine Users in South-East Queensland â?' A Longitudinal Study. Drug use can impact on the national well being in a multitude of ways. In 1998-1999 the fiscal cost of licit and illicit drug use was estimated to be $34.4 billion, while drug-related crime is estimated to cost Australia $1.96 billion annually. This study is valuable in its capacity to inform evidence-based policy and practice addressing amphetamine uptake and amphetamine use trajectories and harms. This has implications for developing strategies to enable young Australians to make healthy choices regarding amphetamine and other drug use, and for the broader economic and social benefits arising from healthy and productive individuals, families and communities.Read moreRead less
Individual, social and physical environmental influences on children's active transport and independent mobility. Childhood obesity is likely to have significant economic and social impacts on Australian society. Preventing further increases in this disease is crucial, particularly among children at high risk such as those living in rural or disadvantaged areas. The promotion of behaviours such as active transport may have a significant benefit for public health; however little is known about wh ....Individual, social and physical environmental influences on children's active transport and independent mobility. Childhood obesity is likely to have significant economic and social impacts on Australian society. Preventing further increases in this disease is crucial, particularly among children at high risk such as those living in rural or disadvantaged areas. The promotion of behaviours such as active transport may have a significant benefit for public health; however little is known about what influences active transport among children in rural or disadvantaged areas. This study will identify important factors influencing active transport and will directly inform strategies aiming to promote health and wellbeing, thereby creating a healthier generation of Australian children.Read moreRead less
Human Factors and Patient Safety. In some cases hospitalisation can result in the patient becoming worse, or even dying, due to the experience. These events cost the community unnecessary pain and suffering and consume healthcare resources. Prevention of adverse events in healthcare will contribute to Promoting and Maintaining Good Health. Improving our ability to deal with failures in healthcare, including those due to human factors, will have a significant impact on their reduction.