The impact of haemoglobin deferral on blood donors: perceptions, health and non-return. Blood donors are an vital in ensuring the health of the Australian community. However, they are few in number and difficult to recruit. It is crucial to keep existing donors in the system so that Australia has an assured blood supply, not only for the traditional reasons (road trauma, replacement in surgery, treatment of diseases such as cancer), but also to cope with natural disasters, emergent diseases and ....The impact of haemoglobin deferral on blood donors: perceptions, health and non-return. Blood donors are an vital in ensuring the health of the Australian community. However, they are few in number and difficult to recruit. It is crucial to keep existing donors in the system so that Australia has an assured blood supply, not only for the traditional reasons (road trauma, replacement in surgery, treatment of diseases such as cancer), but also to cope with natural disasters, emergent diseases and the potential results of terrorist activities. Apart from providing new information on blood donor behaviour, the project will also contribute to more general knowledge about volunteers in the community and their role in the maintenance and development of health services.Read moreRead less
Developing guidelines for integrating social networking technologies and professional advice-giving in constructing an online community for supporting breast cancer survivors. National benefits include new knowledge about online communities that deliver specialist health advice. Specific research benefits comprise improved education and support for earlier detection of, and enhanced recovery rates for, breast cancer. The project investigates whether we can harness the cluster-power of social net ....Developing guidelines for integrating social networking technologies and professional advice-giving in constructing an online community for supporting breast cancer survivors. National benefits include new knowledge about online communities that deliver specialist health advice. Specific research benefits comprise improved education and support for earlier detection of, and enhanced recovery rates for, breast cancer. The project investigates whether we can harness the cluster-power of social networks to build integrated and supportive online communities. Relevant to Australian organisations using digital communications for education and support, the study seeks to reduce disadvantage due to distance. Organisations concerned about minimising risk arising from uninformed opinion and discussion will learn whether they can integrate specialist expertise and comment without destroying online dynamics.Read moreRead less
Multiple perspectives on sexuality and intimacy post-cancer, leading to the development and evaluation of supportive interventions. In 2006, over 106,000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Australia, impacting on the quality of life of patients and their partners. A significant proportion of couples report cessation of sexual and intimate contact post-cancer, resulting in considerable distress. To date, there has been no examination of this important health concern across a broad range of can ....Multiple perspectives on sexuality and intimacy post-cancer, leading to the development and evaluation of supportive interventions. In 2006, over 106,000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Australia, impacting on the quality of life of patients and their partners. A significant proportion of couples report cessation of sexual and intimate contact post-cancer, resulting in considerable distress. To date, there has been no examination of this important health concern across a broad range of cancer types, from the perspective of patients and their partners. Equally, support services rarely address sexuality issues post-cancer. This project will benefit people with cancer and their partners through examining pathways to distress, and developing programs to facilitate re-negotiation of sexuality and intimacy, post-cancer.Read moreRead less
Alcohol use and harm minimisation among Australian university students. Alcohol-related harms cost Australians over $15.3 billion per year, and in 2008 were described by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as having reached 'epidemic proportions'. Young people are at greatest risk of alcohol-related damage and university students are among the heaviest drinkers, with up to 70% engaging in binge drinking. By examining the social dynamics of university students' drinking practices and their understanding of ....Alcohol use and harm minimisation among Australian university students. Alcohol-related harms cost Australians over $15.3 billion per year, and in 2008 were described by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as having reached 'epidemic proportions'. Young people are at greatest risk of alcohol-related damage and university students are among the heaviest drinkers, with up to 70% engaging in binge drinking. By examining the social dynamics of university students' drinking practices and their understanding of harm minimisation, together with the policies and measures offered by colleges and State health authorities, the proposed project will yield a new evidence base and innovative theoretical approach for developing fresh strategic harm minimisation interventions.Read moreRead less
Improved communication with heart patients in the context of the gift economy. Coronary Heart Disease is Australia's biggest killer and a patient's diagnosis is a traumatic event. A majority of patients resists the implications of their disease and fails to follow medical recommendations fully. Humanities research enables increased understanding of, and better communication with, heart patients yet has not been extensively used to understand how patients make sense of their new status. HeartNET, ....Improved communication with heart patients in the context of the gift economy. Coronary Heart Disease is Australia's biggest killer and a patient's diagnosis is a traumatic event. A majority of patients resists the implications of their disease and fails to follow medical recommendations fully. Humanities research enables increased understanding of, and better communication with, heart patients yet has not been extensively used to understand how patients make sense of their new status. HeartNET, a therapeutic website, is used to investigate construction of the self as a heart patient and the research also applies gift economy theory to online interactions which help both self and others. Benefits include patient support and improved health outcomes, reducing human and financial costs to the community and Australia.Read moreRead less
Evaluating the effectiveness of online support in building community, promoting healthy behaviours and supporting philanthropy. The Heart Foundation (WA) provides quality support services and communications for patients in rural, remote and regional WA but they find that distance creates problems. They also seek to cultivate active donor engagement.
Audience research and cultural studies tools are used to investigate two different communications environments in terms of whether these have an ....Evaluating the effectiveness of online support in building community, promoting healthy behaviours and supporting philanthropy. The Heart Foundation (WA) provides quality support services and communications for patients in rural, remote and regional WA but they find that distance creates problems. They also seek to cultivate active donor engagement.
Audience research and cultural studies tools are used to investigate two different communications environments in terms of whether these have an effect on patient/donor participation rates (and attitudes and behaviours linked to participation). A web site will be developed to support online Heart Foundation communities and these audiences will be compared with current communication practice. Findings will inform future charitable and health promotion initiatives.
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