Global Corporate Challenge Evaluation: The evaluation of a low-cost, low-impact physical-activity workplace intervention. Societal increases in obesity and physical inactivity have led to consideration of workplace interventions as a potential for improving health. However, long-term evaluations of such interventions are rare. Here we will evaluate the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC), which engages employees to participate in a four month pedometer-based program aimed at increasing their physic ....Global Corporate Challenge Evaluation: The evaluation of a low-cost, low-impact physical-activity workplace intervention. Societal increases in obesity and physical inactivity have led to consideration of workplace interventions as a potential for improving health. However, long-term evaluations of such interventions are rare. Here we will evaluate the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC), which engages employees to participate in a four month pedometer-based program aimed at increasing their physical activity levels. We will follow 1000 participants for two years to determine the short and long-term health benefits of the program and to provide insight into factors that may improve the success of such programs. Such findings are essential for appropriate government and industry policy decisions in this area of chronic disease prevention. Read moreRead less
Effectiveness of Intervention Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Among Insufficiently Active Adults. This project will determine the cost-effectiveness of 2 types of physical activity (PA) interventions based around the workplace. 480 participants will be randomly assigned to PA intervention groups or controls. Interventions are either a (1) self-regulated, pedometer-based program or a (2) semi-structured, 40-day initiation to more moderately-vigorous PA. Both are designed to increase self- ....Effectiveness of Intervention Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Among Insufficiently Active Adults. This project will determine the cost-effectiveness of 2 types of physical activity (PA) interventions based around the workplace. 480 participants will be randomly assigned to PA intervention groups or controls. Interventions are either a (1) self-regulated, pedometer-based program or a (2) semi-structured, 40-day initiation to more moderately-vigorous PA. Both are designed to increase self-efficacy and impact on positive PA behaviours. Long-term, behavioural change and job-related outcomes will be evaluated by following participants for 12 months after the interventions.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100847
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,868.00
Summary
RECONNECT ME: REgaining CONtrol of childreN’s EleCTronic MEdia . This project aims to understand the impact that screen behaviours have on children’s quality of life, social skills and family functioning, and co-design feasible, acceptable and effective behavioural and digital strategies to mitigate this impact. Parents are concerned and are seeking urgent help in the persistent and evolving technology climate, where previous strategies are no longer relevant. Expected outcomes include new knowl ....RECONNECT ME: REgaining CONtrol of childreN’s EleCTronic MEdia . This project aims to understand the impact that screen behaviours have on children’s quality of life, social skills and family functioning, and co-design feasible, acceptable and effective behavioural and digital strategies to mitigate this impact. Parents are concerned and are seeking urgent help in the persistent and evolving technology climate, where previous strategies are no longer relevant. Expected outcomes include new knowledge of the impact of screen time, and the co-design of innovative and user-friendly strategies developed with families, for families, to manage this. The benefits will include informing future effective and scalable screen time strategies for improved quality of life, social skills, family functioning outcomes.Read moreRead less
The After-school Period: A Critical Window For Children's Health Behaviours
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$33,054.00
Summary
The after-school period is important for children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviours. This PhD by publication will build on the first two years of study. Progress-to-date includes defining the after-school period and examining the prevalence and contribution the period makes to daily behaviours over time. This thesis will now examine changes in patterns of after-school behaviours, determine the reliability of survey items assessing correlates of these behaviours and examine correlates.
Reducing Unintended Pregnancies Among Female Sex Workers In Kenya Using MHealth: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,161.00
Summary
This research aims to reduce the high rates of unintended pregnancy experienced by female sex workers (FSW) in Kenya. It involves the development of a health promotion program delivered by mobile phone (mHealth intervention) to improve FSWs’ knowledge of SRH and reduce their risk of unintended pregnancy. The intervention will be trialled with 860 FSWs from 86 sex work venues in Mombasa. If effective, it can be implemented to improve women’s health in many and diverse settings.
Socioeconomic Variation In Community Risk Profiles Associated With Health And Behaviour Problems In Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$459,700.00
Summary
Until recently, emotional and behavioural problems of adolescence have tended to be dismissed as part of the normal turbulence of adolescent development; however, attitudes to adolescent health and health promotion have changed quickly. Downward age-trends in tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use have made adolescents a major target for health promotion. The practical potential for adolescent mental health promotion has gained considerable ground and knowledge of the modifiable determinants of y ....Until recently, emotional and behavioural problems of adolescence have tended to be dismissed as part of the normal turbulence of adolescent development; however, attitudes to adolescent health and health promotion have changed quickly. Downward age-trends in tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use have made adolescents a major target for health promotion. The practical potential for adolescent mental health promotion has gained considerable ground and knowledge of the modifiable determinants of youth mental health problems has been progressed by a growing number of studies examining distal and proximal predictors in community samples. The project plans to comprehensively assess locally elevated risk factors and depressed protective factors predictive of a range of adolescent health and behaviour problems including substance abuse, obesity and depression in 30 communities across three Australian States. These communities will be selected from the entire socioeconomic spectrum to determine how the social context of our neighbourhoods may influence the health and behaviour of adolescents . Surveys of students in grade 6 and year 8 will be conducted. Each participating student will be weighed and measured and asked to complete a questionnaire that assesses a comprehensive range of community risk and protective factors.Read moreRead less
Psychosocial and economic impacts of rare diseases on Australian children, families and health professionals. Rare childhood diseases have enormous impacts on children and families; health services, and health professionals. This project will enable Australia to lead the international research effort by using a coordinated approach to study the impacts of rare diseases in order to improve psychosocial, health and economic outcomes for children and families.
Changing disease patterns amongst migrants: a focus on the National Health Priority Areas. The proposed project will make significant practical and scientific contributions to Australians, especially to the health of the migrant population. It is particularly important to the aged migrant population, the people from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups and those with language barriers. The study results will provide a more complete and updated picture of migrant health in Australia. Such important ....Changing disease patterns amongst migrants: a focus on the National Health Priority Areas. The proposed project will make significant practical and scientific contributions to Australians, especially to the health of the migrant population. It is particularly important to the aged migrant population, the people from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups and those with language barriers. The study results will provide a more complete and updated picture of migrant health in Australia. Such important information is necessary to Federal and State departments in their policy making and resource allocation. The study results will be disseminated to local migrant community and migrant service organisation for their health promotion and health education campaigns.Read moreRead less
Building Urban Planning And Health Evidence To Inform Policy And Practice That Creates Healthy, Liveable And Equitable Communities Designed To Prevent Non-communicable Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$851,980.00
Summary
City planning directly and indirectly affects the health of residents. For example, ‘affordable’ housing on the urban fringe typically has poor access to public transport, shops and services. This increases motor vehicle dependency and time spent driving which increases levels of physical inactivity, sedentariness, obesity, social isolation and air pollution. This research focuses on how to build communities that promote health and wellbeing in residents.
Excessive sitting and population health: strengthening the science and the relevance to policy and practice. The majority of Australian adults spend most of their waking hours sitting; this increases the likelihood of developing diseases of inactivity, including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. New research will investigate what factors encourage excessive sitting and what the health benefits are for people who deliberately do less sitting.