ORCID Profile
0000-0003-3830-8329
Current Organisation
Macquarie University
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Historical Studies | Asian History |
Understanding Asia's Past | Expanding Knowledge in History and Archaeology
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 31-03-2022
DOI: 10.2196/33839
Abstract: Heart failure self-management is essential to avoid decompensation and readmissions. Mobile apps seem promising in supporting heart failure self-management, and there has been a rapid growth in publications in this area. However, to date, systematic reviews have mostly focused on remote monitoring interventions using nonapp types of mobile technologies to transmit data to health care providers, rarely focusing on supporting patient self-management of heart failure. This study aims to systematically review the evidence on the effect of heart failure self-management apps on health outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, and patient experience. Four databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched for studies examining interventions that comprised a mobile app targeting heart failure self-management and reported any health-related outcomes or patient-reported outcomes or perspectives published from 2008 to December 2021. The studies were independently screened. The risk of bias was appraised using Cochrane tools. We performed a narrative synthesis of the results. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020158041). A total of 28 articles (randomized controlled trials [RCTs]: n=10, 36%), assessing 23 apps, and a total of 1397 participants were included. The most common app features were weight monitoring (19/23, 83%), symptom monitoring (18/23, 78%), and vital sign monitoring (15/23, 65%). Only 26% (6/23) of the apps provided all guideline-defined core components of heart failure self-management programs: education, symptom monitoring, medication support, and physical activity support. RCTs were small, involving altogether 717 participants, had ≤6 months of follow-up, and outcomes were predominantly self-reported. Approximately 20% (2/10) of RCTs reported a significant improvement in their primary outcomes: heart failure knowledge (P=.002) and self-care (P=.004). One of the RCTs found a significant reduction in readmissions (P=.02), and 20% (2/10) of RCTs reported higher unplanned clinic visits. Other experimental studies also found significant improvements in knowledge, self-care, and readmissions, among others. Less than half of the studies involved patients and clinicians in the design of apps. Engagement with the intervention was poorly reported, with only 11% (3/28) of studies quantifying app engagement metrics such as frequency of use over the study duration. The most desirable app features were automated self-monitoring and feedback, personalization, communication with clinicians, and data sharing and integration. Mobile apps may improve heart failure self-management however, more robust evaluation studies are needed to analyze key end points for heart failure. On the basis of the results of this review, we provide a road map for future studies in this area.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-2020
Abstract: Change that benefits in iduals and organisations while delivering health outcomes and benefits society requires a research focus that extends ‘beyond the in idual’ to environment shapers. A pre-post observational study assessed two food provision structural changes to understand the role food service environments had on food selections. Diners were observed prior to (lunch n = 1294 dinner n = 787) and following (lunch n = 1230 dinner n = 843) structural changes in a buffet-style dining room—including provision of a healthy convenient meal alternative for lunch (healthy lunch bag), and a pleasurable dinner (make-your-own pizza). Food choices shifted with 19% of diners opting for a healthy lunch bag and 29% of diners selecting a pizza dinner, moving away from the existing buffet. Examination of selections by those continuing to select from the concurrent buffet selections established that the availability of healthy alternatives in the buffet partially explained food choices, moderating any observed changes in food selections. The food service sector is a promising avenue through which dietary behaviours can be improved. Further studies, particularly those that measure selections over the longer term, and that include measures of satisfaction and profit, are needed.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 15-12-2021
Abstract: Twitter has gained attention in recent years as a tool to use in higher education to enhance students’ learning, engagement, and reflective writing. This study explored public health students’ perceptions on the usefulness of Twitter as a learning tool, engagement with their peers, staff, and the broader public health community. Participants were Master of Public Health students from a public university based in Sydney, Australia. A mixed methods approach was used combining content analysis of tweets, an online survey and two focus groups. Students were asked to engage with Twitter by reflecting on each week’s teaching content and by liking and replying to their peers’ tweets. Participation and engagement in this task were high initially and declined toward the end of semester. Most student tweets aligned with topics taught during the semester. Survey and focus group data indicated most students had positive views on using Twitter and reported finding engagement with Twitter beneficial in obtaining current information on health promotion news and trends, increasing their professional networks and allowing them to connect with their peers and teaching staff. Results indicate Twitter is a promising interactive approach to enhance public health students’ engagement and overall learning experience, as well as being useful for professional networking. Larger scale empirical studies are needed to investigate the impact of the use of social media platforms such as Twitter to various learning outcomes longitudinally and beyond this course.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 16-11-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU142215207
Abstract: Background: Sustainable and healthy dietary patterns can help achieve both optimal health and reduce environmental impacts. They involve the increased intake of plant-based foods which are local and seasonal, and reduced intake of animal-derived foods and food wastage. There is emerging evidence regarding the use and effectiveness of web-based health promotion programs to improve diet related behaviours especially in young adults. This study investigated the effectiveness of the “Green Hub” pilot study, a four-week web-based experiential nutrition education intervention to promote sustainable and healthy diets among young adults in Australia. Methods: This study used a pre- ost-study design with process evaluation. The four-week intervention integrated modules on different aspects of a sustainable and healthy diets and was delivered through a private Facebook group. Eligible participants were young adults between the age of 18–25 years old residing in Australia. Results: Out of 19 participants who consented, 17 participants completed the program. Two thirds of participants (67%) stated that they were familiar with the sustainable and healthy diet concept but only 33% were able to define this concept comprehensively. The post-intervention survey resulted in improved knowledge, attitudes, and motivation to adopt more sustainable eating patterns. Conclusion: The “Green Hub” experiential nutrition education program showed positive impact on participants’ willingness to adopt sustainable and healthy diets. The findings of this pilot study will inform future larger scale studies and policy development on improving sustainable and healthy diets among young adults.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 07-07-2022
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980022001513
Abstract: This qualitative study aimed to explore young Australians’ perspectives, motivators and current practices in achieving a sustainable and healthy diet. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with young Australians. Interviews were audio-recorded using the online Zoom platform, transcribed and analysed using a deductive analysis method by applying the Theoretical Domains Framework and inductive thematic data analysis. Young Australians recruited via social media platforms, noticeboard announcements and flyers. Twenty-two Australians aged 18 to 25 years. The majority of participants were aware of some aspects of a sustainable and healthy diet and indicated the need to reduce meat intake, increase intake of plant-based foods, reduce food wastage and packaging and reduce food miles. Young adults were motivated to adopt more sustainable dietary practices but reported that in idual and environmental factors such as low food literacy, limited food preparation and cooking skills, lack of availability and accessibility of environmentally friendly food options and costs associated with sustainable and healthy diets hindered their ability to do so. Given the barriers faced by many of our participants, there is a need for interventions aimed at improving food literacy and food preparation and cooking skills as well as those that create food environments that make it easy to select sustainable and healthy diets. Future research is needed for longitudinal larger scale quantitative studies to confirm our qualitative findings. In addition, the development and evaluation of in idual and micro-environmental-based interventions promote sustainable and healthy diets more comprehensively.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-10-2022
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptions have not only affected university students’ learning and academic outcomes, but also other issues, such as food security status, mental health and employment. In Australia, international students faced additional pressures due to sudden border closures and lack of eligibility for government-provided financial support. This study explored the experiences of domestic and international university students residing in Australia during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic across a range of outcomes. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between July and September 2020 at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. The online survey included food insecurity status, mental health (psychological distress), disruptions to study, employment and sleep. A total of 105 students (n = 66 domestic and n = 39 international) completed the survey. Respondents reported having food insecurity (41.9%) and psychological distress (52.2%, with high and very high levels), with international students reporting significantly higher food insecurity (OR = 9.86 (95% CI 3.9–24.8), p 0.001) and psychological distress scores (t(90) = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.30 to 8.81, p = 0.009) than domestic students. About one quarter of all respondents reported disruptions to study and employment status around the time of the survey. When asked what government support should be provided for international students, ‘financial aid’ was the most frequently suggested form of support. This research may help governments and educational institutions design appropriate support, particularly financial and psychological, for both international and domestic university students.
Publisher: The Sax Institute
Date: 25-09-2019
DOI: 10.17061/PHRP2931922
Abstract: Objectives and importance of study: News media portrayal of public health issues influences public opinion, policy action and decision making. This study aimed to analyse the use of 'nanny state' frames in Australian news media coverage identify the stakeholders invoking this frame determine which public health-related policies attract such framing and investigate whether 'nanny state' framing is directly challenged in news coverage. A qualitative framing analysis. Articles featuring the term 'nanny state' that were published in Australian print newspapers during matched periods between March and September in 2017 and 2018 were sourced through Factiva, coded and analysed for content and 'nanny state' framing. Content analysis was used to identify any public health-related issues that the terminology nanny state was applied to, and who was portrayed as imposing the nanny state. Frame analysis was used to analyse what meanings are co-presented with the phrase nanny state. Out of 81 print newspaper articles that included the term 'nanny state', 19% linked the term to restricting personal choice or creating dissatisfaction with too many health-related rules and regulations broadly, across a range of issues, including: bike helmets, e-cigarettes, firearm restrictions, seatbelts, pool fences and smoking bans. The next most frequent links were to regulations on alcohol (17%), road safety (14%), obesity-related issues (7%) and tobacco control (6%). Of the 81 articles, 53% appeared in news publications owned by News Corporation Australia, 20% in Fairfax Media (Nine Entertainment) publications, 17% in Daily Mail and General Trust and 10% in publications owned by other organisations. Governments were the entity most frequently framed as imposing the nanny state. Most nanny state framings (73%) were negative towards public health controls and focused on policies and regulations. Nanny state was portrayed as an assault on freedom and choice (14%) and used to attack proponents of nanny state controls (11%), while few articles framed the nanny state (7%) in a favourable light. 'Nanny state' is a rhetorical device commonly used in Australian news media that may contribute to discrediting of the regulation of a range of health-related issues. News Corp publications are a major propagator of nanny state rhetoric in Australian newspaper media. Public health advocates are not commonly represented within nanny state debates within the news media.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-2022
Abstract: Background: Our current rapidly growing food systems are imposing a heavy burden on both environmental sustainability and human health. Sustainable and healthy diets aim to promote optimal health and have a minimal environmental impact. This study aimed to critically review and synthesise the evidence on the effectiveness of web-based nutrition education interventions aiming to promote sustainable and healthy diets among young adults. Methods: A systematic search of four databases (Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Embase) was conducted in March 2021. Studies were included if they used an online platform to deliver the intervention to young adults and measured at least one aspect of sustainable and healthy diets, such as plant-based food intake, food waste, and local and seasonal produce. Of the 2991 studies, a total of 221 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility of which 22 were included in the final review. Results: A majority of the studies (82%) targeted fruit and vegetable consumption, and close to a quarter of studies (23%) targeted other aspects of a sustainable and healthy diet, such as red meat intake. Only one study included multiple aspects of a sustainable and healthy diet. Program delivery outcomes reported overall positive feedback and engagement. Conclusion: This review suggests that web-based interventions may be effective in promoting some sustainable diet-related outcomes in young adults. However, there is a need for developing and evaluating future programs to promote sustainable diets more comprehensively in order to help young adults make healthy and sustainable food choices.
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Date: 22-10-2017
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 22-04-2020
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980019004865
Abstract: Schools have been recognised as a potential setting for improving young peoples’ food and beverage choices however, many schools fail to adhere to healthy food and beverage policy standards. The current study aimed to explore the enablers and barriers to effective implementation of and compliance with school-based food and beverage policies. Systematic review and meta-synthesis. Eight electronic databases were searched for articles in June 2019. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported on implementation and/or compliance of school-based food and/or beverage policies with outcomes relating to enablers and/or barriers. This review had no restrictions on study design, year of publication or language. Seventy-two full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, of which twenty-eight were included in this review. Studies conducted globally that focused on schools. School-based healthy food and beverage policies. Financial (cost of policy-compliant foods, decreased profit and revenue), physical (availability of policy-compliant foods, close geographical proximity to unhealthy food outlets) and social (poor knowledge, understanding, and negative stakeholders’ attitudes towards policy) factors were the most frequently reported barriers for policy implementation. Sufficient funding, effective policy communication and management, and positive stakeholders’ attitudes were the most frequently reported enablers for policy implementation. There is a need for better communication strategies, financial and social support prior to school-based food policy implementation. Findings of this review contribute to a thorough understanding of factors that underpin best practice recommendations for the implementation of school-based food policy, and inform those responsible for improving public health nutrition.
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 03-01-2017
Abstract: A significant proportion of the world’s adult population is insufficiently active. One approach used to overcome barriers and facilitate participation in physical activity is social marketing. The purpose of this paper are twofold: first, this review seeks to provide a contemporary review of social marketing’s effectiveness in changing physical activity for the better and second, it seeks to ascertain the extent that Andreasen’s (2002) six social marketing benchmark criteria have been applied in social marketing interventions targeting physical activity. In total, 94 articles covering 26 social marketing interventions were identified following systematic literature review procedures. None of the interventions gave evidence that they addressed all six social marketing benchmark criteria, and only four interventions addressed five criteria. The results indicate that three of the benchmark criteria, namely, behavioural objectives, formative research, and marketing mix are well utilised in social marketing interventions. Inclusion of market segmentation, exchange and competition offers potential to extend further on social marketing’s effectiveness in increasing physical activity. The results of the current study indicate that increasing the number of benchmark criteria used in an intervention to at least four increases the chances of achieving positive behavioural outcomes.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 20-05-2015
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980014000962
Abstract: The aim of the present systematic review was to investigate the evidence on the association between food literacy and adolescents’ dietary intake. The review included searches of six databases with no restriction on the year of publication or language. The studies eligible for review were from five countries/regions: USA ( n 6), Europe ( n 4), Australia ( n 1), Middle East ( n 1) and South Africa ( n 1). Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. Thirteen studies were eligible for inclusion. None of the studies investigated all aspects of food literacy. Eight studies reported a positive association between food literacy and adolescents’ dietary intake. For ex le, adolescents with greater food knowledge and frequent food preparation behaviours were shown to have healthier dietary practices. Three studies found a mixed association of food literacy and adolescents’ dietary intake. For ex le, adolescents who frequently helped to prepare dinner had healthier dietary intake, but food shopping tasks were associated with less healthy food choices. Two studies found no association between measures of food literacy and adolescents’ dietary intake. Food literacy may play a role in shaping adolescents’ dietary intake. More rigorous research methods are required to effectively assess the causality between food literacy and adolescents’ dietary intake in order to confirm the extent of the relationship. Evidence recommends public health practitioners and policy makers consider new public health strategies that focus on increasing understanding of food literacy in adolescence.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-10-2020
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.384
Abstract: This study explored adolescents’ views on high school food environments and potential strategies to help them to make informed food choices. Fifteen focus groups were conducted with 131 adolescents aged 12‐17 years from three high schools in South East Queensland, Australia. Adolescents were asked how their school food environment (dis)encouraged them to eat healthy and what schools could do to help them eat healthier. All focus groups were audio recorded. Data were analysed using content and thematic data analysis methods. Four major themes emerged: food availability and affordability food related policy and regulations nutrition education and attitudes, preferences and practices. Adolescents stated that nutrition education within the school curriculum and positive role modelling by peers and school staff in healthy eating were the major factors in helping them to make informed food choices. In contrast, high availability, affordability, fundraising, peer pressure, positive attitudes and negative role modelling towards unhealthy foods impacted unhealthy dietary behaviours. Emerging results indicate that adolescents do not perceive the current high school food environments as helping them to make healthy food choices. Adolescents suggested limiting unhealthy foods in high schools by implementing strict food and beverage policies, compulsory nutrition education classes and changing attitudes towards healthy foods as strategies to improve high school food environments. This study highlights the importance of high school food environments in impacting adolescents’ food choices. Strategies identified by adolescents inform public health practitioners and school authorities on how high school food environments could be tailored to help them in making better food choices.
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Date: 12-2019
Abstract: Background : Identifying factors influencing the implementation of evidence-based environmental recommendations to promote physical activity in childcare services is required to develop effective implementation strategies. This systematic review aimed to: (1) identify barriers and facilitators reported by center-based childcare services impacting the implementation of environmental recommendations to increase physical activity among children, (2) synthesize these factors according to the 14 domains of the “Theoretical Domains Framework,” and (3) report any associations between service or provider characteristics and the reported implementation of such recommendations. Methods : Electronic searches were conducted in 6 scientific databases (eg, MEDLINE) and Google Scholar to identify studies reporting data from childcare staff or other stakeholders responsible for childcare operations. Included studies were based on childcare settings and published in English. From 2164 identified citations, 19 articles met the inclusion criteria (11 qualitative, 4 quantitative, and 4 mixed methods). Results : Across all articles, the majority of factors impacting implementation fell into the “environmental context and resources” domain (eg, time, equipment, and space n = 19) and the “social influences” domain (eg, support from parents, colleagues, supervisors n = 11). Conclusion : The current review provides guidance to improve the implementation of environmental recommendations in childcare services by addressing environmental, resource, and social barriers.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2018
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 20-04-2022
DOI: 10.2196/33992
Abstract: Mobile apps have the potential to support patients with heart failure and facilitate disease self-management, but this area of research is recent and rapidly evolving, with inconsistent results for efficacy. So far, most of the published studies evaluated the feasibility of a specific app or assessed the quality of apps available in app stores. Research is needed to explore patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives to guide app development, evaluation, and implementation into models of care. This study aims to explore the patient and primary care clinician perspective on the facilitators and barriers to using mobile apps, as well as desired features, to support heart failure self-management. This is a qualitative phenomenological study involving face-to-face semistructured interviews. Interviews were conducted in a general practice clinic in Sydney, Australia. Eligible participants were adult patients with heart failure and health care professionals who provided care to these patients at the clinic. Patients did not need to have previous experience using heart failure mobile apps to be eligible for this study. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive thematic data analysis in NVivo 12. A total of 12 participants were interviewed: 6 patients (mean age 69 [SD 7.9] years) and 6 clinicians. The interviews lasted from 25 to 45 minutes. The main facilitators to the use of apps to support heart failure self-management were communication ability, personalized feedback and education, and automated self-monitoring. Patients mentioned that chat-like features and ability to share audio-visual information can be helpful for getting support outside of clinical appointments. Clinicians considered helpful to send motivational messages to patients and ask them about signs and symptoms of heart failure decompensation. Overall, participants highlighted the importance of personalization, particularly in terms of feedback and educational content. Automated self-monitoring with wireless devices was seen to alleviate the burden of tracking measures such as weight and blood pressure. Other desired features included tools to monitor patient-reported outcomes and support patients’ mental health and well-being. The main barriers identified were the patients’ unwillingness to engage in a new strategy to manage their condition using an app, particularly in the case of low digital literacy. However, clinicians mentioned this barrier could potentially be overcome by introducing the app soon after an exacerbation, when patients might be more willing to improve their self-management and avoid rehospitalization. The use of mobile apps to support heart failure self-management may be facilitated by features that increase the usefulness and utility of the app, such as communication ability in-between consultations and personalized feedback. Also important is facilitating ease of use by supporting automated self-monitoring through integration with wireless devices. Future research should consider these features in the co-design and testing of heart failure mobile apps with patients and clinicians.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 16-03-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PGPH.0000209
Abstract: Addressing overconsumption of protein-rich foods from high ecological footprint sources can have positive impacts on health such as reduction of non-communicable disease risk and protecting the natural environment. With the increased attention towards development of ecologically sustainable diets, this systematic review aimed to critically review literature on effectiveness of those interventions aiming to promote protein-rich foods from lower ecological footprint sources. Five electronic databases (Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase and Global Health) were searched for articles published up to January 2021. Quantitative studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported on actual or intended consumption of protein-rich animal-derived and/or plant-based foods purchase, or selection of meat lant-based diet in real or virtual environments. We assessed 140 full-text articles for eligibility of which 51 were included in this review. The results were narratively synthesised. Included studies were categorised into in idual level behaviour change interventions (n = 33) which included education, counselling and self-monitoring, and micro-environmental/structural behaviour change interventions (n = 18) which included menu manipulation, choice architecture and multicomponent approaches. Half of in idual level interventions (52%) aimed to reduce red rocessed meat intake among people with current ast chronic conditions which reduced meat intake in the short term. The majority of micro-environmental studies focused on increasing plant-based diet in dining facilities, leading to positive dietary changes. These findings point to a clear gap in the current evidence base for interventions that promote plant-based diet in the general population.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 26-07-2023
DOI: 10.3390/SU151511569
Abstract: The current food system and food choices have resulted in the increased human use of natural resources such as water and soil, and have directly impacted the ‘Global Syndemic’—climate change, obesity, and undernutrition. Revitalising Indigenous food systems and incorporating native plant-based foods into current food systems may have the potential to reduce diet-linked chronic diseases and environmental degradation, and are important steps toward Indigenous rights and self-determination. This study aims to identify and describe Aboriginal food practices and Australian native plant-based foods and their social, environmental, and economic impacts on sustainable food systems. A scoping review was conducted using the five-stage framework informed by Arksey and O’Malley. To describe the results, the framework for sustainable food systems from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations—FAO was used. Articles were included if they described the impacts of Aboriginal food practices on sustainable food systems, were confined to studies that were conducted in the Australian context, and included native Australian plant-based foods. A total of 57 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. The major social impacts incorporated the nutritional and health benefits of Australian native plant-based foods, such as antidiabetic properties, anticancer and antioxidant activities, and cultural identification, involving Aboriginal ecological knowledge and their connection to their country. Within the environmental impacts category, studies showed that Australian native plant-based foods have environmental stress tolerance and some ecosystem benefits. The main economic impacts discussed in the literature were the source of income for remote communities and the potential market for Australian native plant-based foods. This review demonstrates that Aboriginal food practices and Australian native plant-based foods can contribute to more sustainable food systems and diets and give more voice and visibility to Aboriginal knowledge and aspirations. More research and investments are needed to face the challenges of including these foods in our current food systems.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 05-10-2015
Abstract: This article describes results of a systematic review of social marketing physical activity interventions targeting adults 60 years and over. Thirty-four articles covering seven social marketing interventions were identified following systematic literature review procedures. None of the identified interventions gave evidence that they addressed all six social marketing benchmark criteria three interventions addressed five social marketing benchmark criteria and a further three interventions addressed four social marketing benchmark criteria. Four interventions reported positive behavior change, and no negative behavioral changes were reported among all seven social marketing interventions. Previous research shows that social marketing interventions employing all six benchmark criteria offer greater potential to change behaviors, yet none of the interventions in this review used all of the benchmark criteria. Audience segmentation and exchange were used by only three interventions.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2016.10.024
Abstract: The high school setting has been identified as an ideal setting to teach adolescents about healthy dietary behaviours. This study explored home economics teachers' (HETs) views on the role of high schools in enhancing adolescents' food literacy and promoting healthy dietary behaviours. Semi-structured interviews with 22 HETs were conducted. The interview questions focused on the perceived strengths/opportunities and the limitations/barriers in enhancing adolescents' food literacy and healthy dietary behaviours in Australian high schools. Thematic data analysis was used to identify five key themes from the interview transcripts: (1) the standing of food-related life skills (2) food literacy in the Australian school curriculum (3) emphasis on resources (4) learning through school canteens and (5) building a school to home and community nexus. Overall, HETs reported that home economics was regarded by parents and other school staff to be less important than Maths or English for adolescents to learn in Australian high schools. Some teachers indicated that their schools offered one year compulsory teaching of food related studies which is typically delivered in the leaning areas of Technologies or Health and Physical Education (HPE). However, HETs stated that the time was insufficient to develop sustainable food-related life skills and introduce broader concepts of food literacy such as environmental sustainability. The lack of financial resources and non-supportive school food environments, including school canteens, were reportedly major factors that prevented food literacy education and healthy dietary behaviours of adolescents. Increasing the status of food literacy education in schools would support adolescents to develop food-related life skills and mobilise them as agents of dietary behaviour change in the home setting.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-10-2016
DOI: 10.1111/JOSH.12440
Abstract: Food literacy can encourage adolescents to develop healthy dietary patterns. This study examined home economics teachers' (HET) perspectives of the importance, curriculum, self-efficacy, and food environments regarding food literacy in secondary schools in Australia. A 20-item cross-sectional survey was completed by 205 HETs. The survey focused on the importance of aspects of food literacy, HETs' self-efficacy, and attitudes toward food literacy and schools' food environments. Data were analyzed descriptively, and associations between participants' demographic characteristics and perceptions were investigated by chi-square analyses. HETs rated aspects of food literacy including preparing and cooking food, knowing about healthy foods and food safety and hygiene practices as very important. They indicated animal welfare, where food comes from, and plan and manage time for food shopping to be the least important aspects of food literacy. HETs reported that students' involvement in food literacy activities resulted in healthier diets and improved food practices, but the schools' food environments are not comprehensively supportive of food literacy. HETs report that food literacy is very important for adolescents to learn. The focus is more on microaspects in comparison to macroaspects of food literacy. Schools' food environments are ideally positioned to shape dietary intake of adolescents but their potential is not being realized.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 06-03-2018
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980018000423
Abstract: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) have increased dramatically in developed and developing countries. Unhealthy diet is one of the major factors contributing to NCD development. Recent evidence has identified deterioration in aspects of dietary quality across many world regions, including low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Most burdens of disease attributable to poor diet can be prevented or delayed as they occur prematurely. Therefore, it is important to identify and target unhealthy dietary behaviours in order to have the greatest impact. National dietary-related programmes have traditionally focused on micronutrient deficiency and food security and failed to acknowledge unhealthy dietary intakes as a risk factor that contributes to the development of NCD. Inadequate intakes of healthy foods and nutrients and excess intakes of unhealthy ones are commonly observed across the world, and efforts to reduce the double burden of micronutrient deficiency and unhealthy diets should be a particular focus for LMIC. Interventions and policies targeting whole populations are likely to be the most effective and sustainable, and should be prioritized. Population-based approaches such as health information and communication c aigns, fiscal measures such as taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, direct restrictions and mandates, reformulation and improving the nutrient profile of food products, and standards regulating marketing to children can have significant and large impacts to improve diets and reduce the incidence of NCD. There is a need for more countries to implement population-based effective approaches to improve current diets.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 02-10-2021
Abstract: obile apps have the potential to support patients with heart failure and facilitate disease self-management, but this area of research is recent and rapidly evolving, with inconsistent results for efficacy. So far, most of the published studies evaluated the feasibility of a specific app or assessed the quality of apps available in app stores. Research is needed to explore patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives to guide app development, evaluation, and implementation into models of care. his study aims to explore the patient and primary care clinician perspective on the facilitators and barriers to using mobile apps, as well as desired features, to support heart failure self-management. his is a qualitative phenomenological study involving face-to-face semistructured interviews. Interviews were conducted in a general practice clinic in Sydney, Australia. Eligible participants were adult patients with heart failure and health care professionals who provided care to these patients at the clinic. Patients did not need to have previous experience using heart failure mobile apps to be eligible for this study. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive thematic data analysis in NVivo 12. total of 12 participants were interviewed: 6 patients (mean age 69 [SD 7.9] years) and 6 clinicians. The interviews lasted from 25 to 45 minutes. The main facilitators to the use of apps to support heart failure self-management were communication ability, personalized feedback and education, and automated self-monitoring. Patients mentioned that chat-like features and ability to share audio-visual information can be helpful for getting support outside of clinical appointments. Clinicians considered helpful to send motivational messages to patients and ask them about signs and symptoms of heart failure decompensation. Overall, participants highlighted the importance of personalization, particularly in terms of feedback and educational content. Automated self-monitoring with wireless devices was seen to alleviate the burden of tracking measures such as weight and blood pressure. Other desired features included tools to monitor patient-reported outcomes and support patients’ mental health and well-being. The main barriers identified were the patients’ unwillingness to engage in a new strategy to manage their condition using an app, particularly in the case of low digital literacy. However, clinicians mentioned this barrier could potentially be overcome by introducing the app soon after an exacerbation, when patients might be more willing to improve their self-management and avoid rehospitalization. he use of mobile apps to support heart failure self-management may be facilitated by features that increase the usefulness and utility of the app, such as communication ability in-between consultations and personalized feedback. Also important is facilitating ease of use by supporting automated self-monitoring through integration with wireless devices. Future research should consider these features in the co-design and testing of heart failure mobile apps with patients and clinicians.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-08-2017
DOI: 10.1111/IJCS.12309
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2016.09.006
Abstract: Food literacy has been identified as a promising approach to support healthy dietary behaviours in adolescents. However, adolescents' perspectives on food literacy and the impact it could have on their dietary behaviours are not well understood. This study explored adolescents' perspectives on the potential for food literacy to influence their dietary behaviours. Fifteen focus groups were conducted with adolescents aged 12-17 years and encompassed quantitative and qualitative questions. Adolescents were asked to rank 22 aspects of food literacy in order of importance and discuss their responses as a group. Overall, adolescents ranked food and nutrition knowledge as more important than food skills and food capacity. Although adolescents stated that food and nutrition knowledge is important for them to eat well, the majority did not apply their knowledge to practice due to low confidence in food skills. Participants demonstrated very limited knowledge about macro aspects of food literacy such as animal welfare or environmental sustainability. Food skills such as planning and managing budgets for food and time for food shopping were ranked as least important due to being presently irrelevant but recognised as important later in life. Adolescents reported being very interested in developing food skills such as food preparation but they had very limited opportunities due to lack of food literacy education in home and high school settings. The high school setting provides an ideal opportunity for adolescents to improve their food literacy in particular food skills through home economics. Future research should develop and measure adolescents' food literacy and its impact on their dietary behaviours.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-03-2012
DOI: 10.1007/S10096-012-1601-2
Abstract: The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bla (NDM-1) in Gram-negative bacteria in Bangladesh. In October 2010 at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) laboratories, 1,816 consecutive clinical s les were tested for imipenem-resistant Gram-negative organisms. Imipenem-resistant isolates were tested for the bla (NDM-1) gene. Among 403 isolates, 14 (3.5 %) were positive for bla (NDM-1), and the predominant species were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Escherichia coli. All bla (NDM-1)-positive isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Among β-lactamase genes, bla (CTX-M-1-group) was detected in ten isolates (eight bla (CTX-M-15)), bla (OXA-1-group) in six, bla (TEM) in nine, bla (SHV) in seven, and bla (VIM) and bla (CMY) in two isolates each. The 16S rRNA methylase gene, armA, was detected in five K. pneumoniae isolates and in one E. coli isolate. rmtB and rmtC were detected in a Citrobacter freundii and two K. pneumoniae isolates, respectively. qnr genes were detected in two K. pneumoniae isolates (one qnrB and one qnrS) and in an E. coli isolate (qnrA). Transferable plasmids (60-100 MDa) carrying bla (NDM-1) were detected in 7 of the 11 plasmid-containing isolates. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis grouped K. pneumoniae isolates into three clusters, while E. coli isolates differed significantly from each other. This study reports that approximately 3.5 % of Gram-negative clinical isolates in Bangladesh are NDM-1-producing.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 26-09-2021
Abstract: eart failure self-management is essential to avoid decompensation and readmissions. Mobile apps seem promising in supporting heart failure self-management, and there has been a rapid growth in publications in this area. However, to date, systematic reviews have mostly focused on remote monitoring interventions using nonapp types of mobile technologies to transmit data to health care providers, rarely focusing on supporting patient self-management of heart failure. his study aims to systematically review the evidence on the effect of heart failure self-management apps on health outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, and patient experience. our databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched for studies examining interventions that comprised a mobile app targeting heart failure self-management and reported any health-related outcomes or patient-reported outcomes or perspectives published from 2008 to December 2021. The studies were independently screened. The risk of bias was appraised using Cochrane tools. We performed a narrative synthesis of the results. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020158041). total of 28 articles (randomized controlled trials [RCTs]: n=10, 36%), assessing 23 apps, and a total of 1397 participants were included. The most common app features were weight monitoring (19/23, 83%), symptom monitoring (18/23, 78%), and vital sign monitoring (15/23, 65%). Only 26% (6/23) of the apps provided all guideline-defined core components of heart failure self-management programs: education, symptom monitoring, medication support, and physical activity support. RCTs were small, involving altogether 717 participants, had ≤6 months of follow-up, and outcomes were predominantly self-reported. Approximately 20% (2/10) of RCTs reported a significant improvement in their primary outcomes: heart failure knowledge ( i P /i =.002) and self-care ( i P /i =.004). One of the RCTs found a significant reduction in readmissions ( i P /i =.02), and 20% (2/10) of RCTs reported higher unplanned clinic visits. Other experimental studies also found significant improvements in knowledge, self-care, and readmissions, among others. Less than half of the studies involved patients and clinicians in the design of apps. Engagement with the intervention was poorly reported, with only 11% (3/28) of studies quantifying app engagement metrics such as frequency of use over the study duration. The most desirable app features were automated self-monitoring and feedback, personalization, communication with clinicians, and data sharing and integration. obile apps may improve heart failure self-management however, more robust evaluation studies are needed to analyze key end points for heart failure. On the basis of the results of this review, we provide a road map for future studies in this area.
Start Date: 08-2019
End Date: 12-2024
Amount: $130,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity