Efficacy Of Exercise Physiologist Counselling In Primary Care Patients: A RCT Of Two Pragmatic Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$940,925.00
Summary
Physical activity is one of the most powerful contributors to health, but population levels of activity are low. General practitioners (GPs) are well placed to provide physical activity counselling, but many are too busy. This project examines the effectiveness of referral of insufficiently active adults to an exercise physiologist (EP), using step counts from a pedometer as the outcome. We compare usual care from the GP with: (1) 5 EP visits, and (2) a single visit and telephone follow up.
A Multi-component Supermarket Intervention To Promote Healthy Eating
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,005.00
Summary
Most food in Australia is bought in supermarkets, and so there is a public health imperative for supermarkets to encourage healthy food purchases. This proposal is to conduct a randomised-controlled trial in 10 supermarkets to test the impact of a package of interventions that improve the healthiness of the supermarket environment. Intervention components were chosen by the retail, government and academic partners based on feasibility, sustainability and positive results from our pilot studies.
Harnessing The Power Of Elite Sport Sponsorship To Promote Healthy Eating By Young Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,220.00
Summary
Concerns have been raised about the role of unhealthy food sponsorship of elite sport in promoting unhealthy diets to vast numbers of the public, including young adults who are avid spectators of sport. This innovative project consists of two studies which systematically investigate the utility of alternative, health-oriented sport sponsorship models and counter-advertising strategies in promoting healthier diets among young adults.
Improving Adolescent Gate-keeping And Help-seeking For Risky Drinking And Depression: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$655,495.00
Summary
Young people with mental health and substance use problems are reluctant to seek help. There is a significant gap in health promotion activities which specifically target help-seeking skills, particularly teaching friends to help friends to access treatment early. This project seeks to demonstrate the efficacy of a school-based intervention that focuses on improving adolescent gate-keeping and help-seeking skills for risky drinking and depression, using a cluster randomised controlled design.
A Randomised Trial Assessing A Shade Development Intervention In Secondary Schools For Adolescent Skin Cancer Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,615.00
Summary
Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and ....Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and commonly experience sunburn, an important indicator of increased risk of skin cancer. Psycho-social interventions have shown limited influence on adolescents' sun protective behaviours to date. The current research proposal explores an alternative approach to psycho-social interventions for adolescents. The study will assess the effect of increasing available shade at secondary schools. In a randomised control trial study design, the change in the number of students using certain outdoor areas at intervention schools will be observed 'before' and 'after' the installation of built shade sail structures. Our main hypothesis states that the number of students using these newly shaded areas in intervention schools will increase compared with use of equivalent unshaded areas in control schools. Shade development is increasingly becoming an issue for secondary schools and given both the high cost of providing shade structures and adolescents' resistance to other forms of sun protection it is important to establish that adolescents will use this form of sun protection. This study will determine whether adolescents actively avoid or seek shade and so provide evidence for informing decisions about further investment in shade provision in schools.Read moreRead less
Peer Support In Maintaining Physical Activity And Health Following An Exercise Training Intervention For Cancer Survivors: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$148,260.00
Summary
With improved screening and treatment, the number of cancer survivors in our ageing population continues to grow. However, a very high number have poor quality of life and reduced functional capacity. Exercise addresses these problems, yet very few cancer survivors exercise regularly. This study will combine high intensity intermittent exercise with peer support for cancer survivors to maintain regular exercise and their health in a community setting.
Workplace Interventions To Reduce The Cost Of Neck Problems In Office Personnel
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$660,834.00
Summary
Neck pain in office workers is a major burden in industry in terms of lost productivity and personal suffering. This research will evaluate a novel intervention for the prevention and management of neck pain in computer users. The impact and value of neck specific exercises and best practice office ergonomics will be evaluated from the employers (productivity loss) and workers perspective (severity of neck pain). The findings will directly benefit future management of this significant health iss ....Neck pain in office workers is a major burden in industry in terms of lost productivity and personal suffering. This research will evaluate a novel intervention for the prevention and management of neck pain in computer users. The impact and value of neck specific exercises and best practice office ergonomics will be evaluated from the employers (productivity loss) and workers perspective (severity of neck pain). The findings will directly benefit future management of this significant health issue.Read moreRead less
The BEST At Home Pragmatic Fall Prevention Program: Effectiveness, Cost Effectiveness And Implementation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,386,133.00
Summary
Falls are a major public health issue with enormous personal, social and economic consequences. Certain types of exercise can prevent falls, however new strategies are needed to implement these programs more effectively to maximise uptake and adherence by older people. Researchers in fall prevention and health promotion are partnering with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District to evaluate the fall prevention effect of the Otago Exercise Programme when implemented in a group-based worksh ....Falls are a major public health issue with enormous personal, social and economic consequences. Certain types of exercise can prevent falls, however new strategies are needed to implement these programs more effectively to maximise uptake and adherence by older people. Researchers in fall prevention and health promotion are partnering with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District to evaluate the fall prevention effect of the Otago Exercise Programme when implemented in a group-based workshop format for older community-dwelling people.Read moreRead less
Impact Of The Extension Of The Sydney Light Rail System On The Prevalence Of Physical Activity Participation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,647.00
Summary
Regular participation in physical activity is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits in adults, including reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, overweight, hypertension, osteoporosis, some cancers and anxiety and depression. Regular participation in physical activity also improves the ability to meet the demands of work and to engage in leisure activities. Approximately half of all adult Australians are insufficiently active to gain the ....Regular participation in physical activity is associated with a range of physical and mental health benefits in adults, including reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, overweight, hypertension, osteoporosis, some cancers and anxiety and depression. Regular participation in physical activity also improves the ability to meet the demands of work and to engage in leisure activities. Approximately half of all adult Australians are insufficiently active to gain the many health benefits associated with participation in regular physical activity. Modification of the physical environment is one avenue through which the prevalence of physcial activity participation might be increased. More specifically, there has been considerable speculation about the role of public transportation systems in increasing the proportion of adults who are adequately physically active, but no empirical evidence is available. This study will employ a quasi-experimental design to determine if the extension of the Sydney Light Rail System to Lilyfield results in an increase in the prevalence of physical activity (primarily walking) in the affected area, in comparison with a demographically similar area which is not affected by the light rail extension.Read moreRead less