Social Media To Enhance Indigenous Tobacco Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$922,680.00
Summary
Smoking prevalence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is more than twice as high as the overall Australian population, and smoking is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity of Indigenous Australians. Accelerating the decline in smoking prevalence is an urgent priority to Close The Gap in health outcomes. The aim of this project is to understand how social media can be harnessed to enhance the impact of proven tobacco control strategies among Indigenous Australians.
Improving Communication About Immunisation Through Social Sciences Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,219.00
Summary
Vaccination is one of the greatest public health acheivements of the last century. Yet new threats to vaccine programs arise as diseases become less visible. Waning public confidence in immunisation and specific vaccine scares continue to threaten programs globally. This research will help to improve our understanding of why people do and don't immunise and the role communication can play. It will develop and test novel interventions to address public concerns and assist health professionals in ....Vaccination is one of the greatest public health acheivements of the last century. Yet new threats to vaccine programs arise as diseases become less visible. Waning public confidence in immunisation and specific vaccine scares continue to threaten programs globally. This research will help to improve our understanding of why people do and don't immunise and the role communication can play. It will develop and test novel interventions to address public concerns and assist health professionals in the way they communicate vaccine risk and benefit.Read moreRead less
Creating Sustainable Healthcare: Ensuring New Diagnostics Avoid Harms, Improve Outcomes, And Direct Resources Wisely
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,497,658.00
Summary
Novel imaging, biomarkers and genomic tests for risk assessment and early detection are emerging as major forces for change in clinical practice. While providing advances and new benefits for patients, new technologies can also have harmful, unintended consequences - overdiagnosis and overtreatment. This multidisciplinary CRE will investigate how to respond to emerging technologies to optimise health outcomes while avoiding harms and directing healthcare resources wisely.
Social Science Research Coordination Program (SSRCP) II
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$297,703.50
Summary
The initial project/phase of the SSRCP has been effective in creating recognition of the need for social science expertise. It has also identified need for a point of reference for FRABs and researchers and is relied upon by industry agencies as a point of co-ordination for fisheries social science research. The continuation of this coordination program is endorsed by the emerging understanding of the depth of social factors in fishing activities at the individual, business/group and sectoral le ....The initial project/phase of the SSRCP has been effective in creating recognition of the need for social science expertise. It has also identified need for a point of reference for FRABs and researchers and is relied upon by industry agencies as a point of co-ordination for fisheries social science research. The continuation of this coordination program is endorsed by the emerging understanding of the depth of social factors in fishing activities at the individual, business/group and sectoral levels, and the ways in which these activities interact with the broader community. Increasingly, external economic impacts such as market and competing industry influences; energy costs; distance to market; and potential new taxes, influence the shape of fishing and aquaculture industries, and are emerging as significant issues that remain unaddressed by biological or economic approaches alone.
Through a range of different techniques, social science research can address these issues and complement biological and economic research to support change in practice and community perceptions. The past three years of focus on social science research has encouraged and facilitated leveraging of previous research work, minimising the expense of duplication, and increasing the ability to identify solutions to resource use issues. Continuation of the program will support the efficient use of FRDC funds, and the pursuit of research project outcomes with greater reach than if implemented in isolation of previous research and other FRDC Program activities. Objectives: 1. Continue the social sciences program in the existing framework, subject to ongoing industry and research community feedback 2. Collaborate with the industry to identify emerging issues in wild harvest, aquacutlure, post harvest, recreational and indigenous fishery sectors, that could benefit from early integration of social science research for the identification of potential solutions. 3. Addresss research needs arising from FRDC's existing programs and ensure the quality and relevance of proposed social research projects 4. Co-ordinate and undertake the communication of key social research needs to the research community and SSRCP research outcomes to fishers and managment agencies. 5. Provide FRDC relevant program management for social projects including evaluation, commissioning of projects and milestone reviews. Read moreRead less
An Exploration Of The Nature And Meaning Of Informal Communities In Cancer Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,745.00
Summary
The interactions that occur in cancer treatment with other patients, family members and staff are often unavoidable. Recent research examining patient's interactions has demonstrated the importance of these communications, as social support, a forum to exchange information and ideas, and a gathering of people facing the same challenges. This study aims to examine the role of these interactions between patients, staff and family members to explore the purposes and effects of these interactions.
Developing Evidence Based Strategies For Addressing Childhood Vaccination Rejection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,927.00
Summary
Parental rejection of vaccines is a global concern that threatens to undermine disease control. A lack of evidence hampers the responses to this complex and persistent problem. We will interview parents who don’t vaccinate their children to learn what influences their decisions. We will then hold community juries and a public engagement process to refine strategies for responding to vaccination rejection that are acceptable to a well informed citizenry, practical and ethically justified.
Social Science And Economics Research Coordination Program (SSERCP)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$160,416.00
Summary
Phases I&II of the SSRCP successfully raised awareness of the need for, and increased the use of, social science fisheries research to improve fisheries and aquaculture sector outcomes. SSRCP I&ll also highlighted the need for a social sciences reference group for FRABs, researchers, industry and managing agencies, and for coordination of social science fisheries research.
Across this same period the societal needs and drivers impacting marine resource management have increased in impor ....Phases I&II of the SSRCP successfully raised awareness of the need for, and increased the use of, social science fisheries research to improve fisheries and aquaculture sector outcomes. SSRCP I&ll also highlighted the need for a social sciences reference group for FRABs, researchers, industry and managing agencies, and for coordination of social science fisheries research.
Across this same period the societal needs and drivers impacting marine resource management have increased in importance (Barclay 2012; Mazur, Curtis et al. 2014). Further research activity is needed to address challenges regarding the social impacts, acceptability and sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture and to better integrate research across the social sciences (including economics) and between social and biological sciences. The 2014 FRDC Social Sciences Survey indicated broad support for continuation of SSRCP activity and highlighted the Program’s role in linking social science research outputs with decision-making and representations of the industry, brokering collaborations and in facilitating the uptake of FRDC’s key national interest projects.
While there is clear need for continuing the activities that have been the SSRCP’s remit, there is the scope to extend the suite of activities by working closely with the 'FishEcon' project and, post- 30/06/15, with its legacy activities (in particular the FishEcon Network). Such a partnership will result in efficiencies in the delivery of project activities, including newsletters and other networking activities, and in project administration; provide the opportunity to develop tighter integration between economics and the social sciences in research, extension and capability building.
Objectives: 1. Support the FRDC to meet relevant objectives as outlined in its 2015-2020 RD&E Plan and the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy, as well as other needs arising from FRDC's existing programs and projects 2. Collaborate with the industry and managing agencies to identify emerging issues in wild harvest, aquaculture, post harvest, recreational and indigenous fishery sectors and the associated key social science and economics research needs 3. Co-ordinate and undertake the communication of key social science and economic research needs to the research community and research outcomes of the Program to fishers and management agencies. 4. Provide program management for social science and economics projects to ensure quality and relevance by undertaking evaluation and review of project proposals, and milestone and final reports. 5. Build further capability in fisheries social sciences and economics research to meet the needs of industry and managing agencies in addressing emerging issues in wild harvest, aquaculture, post harvest, recreational and indigenous fishery sectors Read moreRead less
Mobile Intervention For Drinking In Young People (MIDY): Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,378.00
Summary
Binge drinking is a significant health and social issue in Australia. In this innovative trial, we will communicate with young people via their mobile phones while they are on a night out. Young people will send hourly information about their drinking and will receive a relevant message in response, encouraging them to slow down or avoid harmful activities. The methods and the messages were developed in partnership with young people and have been tested in real drinking situations.
Maternal Vaccination: Perceptions, Behaviours And A Communication Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$38,631.00
Summary
This study aims to understand the barriers that pregnant women and new mothers may have to receiving vaccines that can protect them and their children against whooping cough and influenza. Based on this research I will develop an educational intervention that can help mothers make informed decisions about receiving these vaccinations at the right time.