ORCID Profile
0000-0003-1693-5508
Current Organisation
Victoria University
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Publisher: National Institute for Health and Care Research
Date: 10-2021
DOI: 10.3310/PHR09110
Abstract: Scotland was the first country to implement minimum unit pricing for alcohol nationally. Minimum unit pricing aims to reduce alcohol-related harms and to narrow health inequalities. Minimum unit pricing sets a minimum retail price based on alcohol content, targeting products preferentially consumed by high-risk drinkers. This study comprised three components. This study comprised three components assessing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related attendances in emergency departments, investigating potential unintended effects of minimum unit pricing on alcohol source and drug use, and exploring changes in public attitudes, experiences and norms towards minimum unit pricing and alcohol use. We conducted a natural experiment study using repeated cross-sectional surveys comparing Scotland (intervention) and North England (control) areas. This involved comparing changes in Scotland following the introduction of minimum unit pricing with changes seen in the north of England over the same period. Difference-in-difference analyses compared intervention and control areas. Focus groups with young people and heavy drinkers, and interviews with professional stakeholders before and after minimum unit pricing implementation in Scotland allowed exploration of attitudes, experiences and behaviours, stakeholder perceptions and potential mechanisms of effect. Four emergency departments in Scotland and North England (component 1), six sexual health clinics in Scotland and North England (component 2), and focus groups and interviews in Scotland (component 3). Research nurses interviewed 23,455 adults in emergency departments, and 15,218 participants self-completed questionnaires in sexual health clinics. We interviewed 30 stakeholders and 105 in iduals participated in focus groups. Minimum unit pricing sets a minimum retail price based on alcohol content, targeting products preferentially consumed by high-risk drinkers. The odds ratio for an alcohol-related emergency department attendance following minimum unit pricing was 1.14 (95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.44 p = 0.272). In absolute terms, we estimated that minimum unit pricing was associated with 258 more alcohol-related emergency department visits (95% confidence interval –191 to 707) across Scotland than would have been the case had minimum unit pricing not been implemented. The odds ratio for illicit drug consumption following minimum unit pricing was 1.04 (95% confidence interval 0.88 to 1.24 p = 0.612). Concerns about harms, including crime and the use of other sources of alcohol, were generally not realised. Stakeholders and the public generally did not perceive price increases or changed consumption. A lack of understanding of the policy may have caused concerns about harms to dependent drinkers among participants from more deprived areas. The short interval between policy announcement and implementation left limited time for pre-intervention data collection. Within the emergency departments, there was no evidence of a beneficial impact of minimum unit pricing. Implementation appeared to have been successful and there was no evidence of substitution from alcohol consumption to other drugs. Drinkers and stakeholders largely reported not noticing any change in price or consumption. The lack of effect observed in these settings in the short term, and the problem-free implementation, suggests that the price per unit set (£0.50) was acceptable, but may be too low. Our evaluation, which itself contains multiple components, is part of a wider programme co-ordinated by Public Health Scotland and the results should be understood in this wider context. Repeated evaluation of similar policies in different contexts with varying prices would enable a fuller picture of the relationship between price and impacts. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN16039407. This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research Vol. 9, No. 11. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2002
DOI: 10.1046/J.1440-1754.2002.00766.X
Abstract: To measure the effect of telephone reminders on adolescent clinic attendance. Clinic bookings of adolescents were randomly assigned to either a telephone reminder one day prior to their appointment, or a routine booking (no reminder). The setting was four general adolescent health clinics within a tertiary public adolescent health care service at the Centre for Adolescent Health. The main outcome measures were clinic non-attendance, reason for non-attendance, and satisfaction with the booking system. One hundred and seventy one adolescent appointments were studied. Of these, 51.5% were female, and 25% of bookings were for new, rather than review appointments. One hundred and one adolescents were randomly allocated to the reminder group, of whom 87% were contacted. The use of reminders (intention to treat analysis) significantly reduced the non-attendance rate from 20% to 8% (odds ratio 0.35 P = 0.03). Non-attendance was three times more likely for a new appointment than for review appointments. 'Forgetting' was the most common explanation given by patients (35%) who did not attend. Seventy-nine per cent of parents reported telephone reminders were helpful at prompting attendance. Telephone reminders greatly improved attendance at these adolescent clinics. The background non-attendance rate and the proportion of high-risk patients for non-attendance (new appointments in this setting) will determine whether reminders are more efficiently targeted at specific bookings than used routinely.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-01-2007
DOI: 10.1111/J.1746-1561.2007.00170.X
Abstract: Bullying occurs in all schools. Measuring bullying in schools is complicated because both definitions of bullying and methods for measuring bullying vary. This study compared a brief 12-item Gatehouse Bullying Scale (GBS) with items drawn from the Peer Relations Questionnaire (PRQ), a well-established bullying questionnaire to measure the concurrent validity of the GBS. Year 8 secondary school students (14 years of age) in metropolitan and regional Victoria, Australia, completed questionnaires assessing being teased, being deliberately left out, had rumors spread about oneself, and/or being physically threatened or hurt. The prevalence of bullying using GBS and PRQ was 57% and 61%, respectively. Percent agreement between the 2 measures was high. Agreement adjusted for chance was moderate (kappa 0.5). The GBS had good to moderate test-retest reliability (rho 0.65). The GBS is a short, reliable tool measuring the occurrence of bullying in schools. As well as a global estimate of bullying, the GBS provides estimates of 2 covert and 2 overt types of bullying which can be useful for schools to better plan interventions dealing with school bullying.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-01-2003
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-1971(02)00118-5
Abstract: There is need for greater clarity around the concept of resilience as it relates to the period of adolescence. Literature on resilience published between 1990 and 2000 and relevant to adolescents aged between 12‐ and 18‐years of age was reviewed with the aim of examining the various uses of the term, and commenting on how specific ways of conceptualizing of resilience may help develop new research agendas in the field. By bringing together ideas on resilience from a variety of research and clinical perspectives, the purpose of the review is to explicate core elements of resilience in more precise ways, in the hope that greater conceptual clarity will lead to a range of tailored interventions that benefit young people.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1469-7610.2009.02136.X
Abstract: Depressive disorders are experienced by 3-5% of the adolescent population at any point of time. They adversely affect adolescent development in a range of areas and greatly increase risk for suicide. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a universal intervention designed to reduce depressive symptoms among students commencing high school. Twenty-five pairs of secondary schools matched on socio-economic status were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a comparison group (n = 5,634 Year 8 students). The intervention extended over a 3-year period and utilised a comprehensive classroom curriculum programme, enhancements to the school climate, improvements in care pathways, and community forums. A range of measures completed by students, average age at baseline = 13.1 years (SD = .5), and teachers was used to assess changes in depressive symptoms, risk and protective factors relevant to depression, and the quality of the school environment. Changes in the level of depressive symptoms and in the levels of risk and protective factors experienced by students in the two groups did not differ significantly over the 3 years of the study. Furthermore, statistically significant differences in the ratings of school climate across this time period were found only for staff-rated assessments. Despite using an extensive, structured programme, based on best evidence to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors at the in idual and school levels, the intervention did not reduce levels of depressive symptoms among participating adolescents. The results draw attention to the difficulties faced when implementing large-scale, school-based, universal preventive interventions. These include the need to develop methods to effectively train teachers across large geographical regions to deliver new interventions with fidelity, the difficulty of engaging young adolescents with prevention programmes, and the long period of time required to implement policy and practice changes at 'whole-school' levels.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-2005
DOI: 10.1007/S11121-005-3407-2
Abstract: This study examines the relationship between adolescent depressive symptoms and risk and protective factors identified for substance use. A questionnaire, developed to measure these factors in a young person's community, family, school, peer group, and in idual characteristics for substance use, was used to assess associations with self-reported depressive symptoms. Data were provided by a representative s le of 8984 secondary school students in Victoria, Australia. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10.5% (95% CI 9.2,12.0) for males and 21.7% (95% CI 20.3,23.7) for females. Depressive symptoms were associated with factors in all domains, with the strongest associations in the family domain. Strong relationships were found between the number of elevated risk and protective factors and depressive symptoms, maintained after adjusting for substance use. Patterns of associations were similar for users and nonsubstance users. The findings indicate that prevention programs targeting factors for substance use have the potential to impact on depression.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-2013
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2014
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2014-006547
Abstract: A substantial proportion of low birth weight is attributable to the mother's cultural and socioeconomic circumstances. Early childhood programmes have been widely developed to improve child outcomes. In the UK, the Health in Pregnancy (HiP) grant, a universal conditional cash transfer of £190, was introduced for women reaching the 25th week of pregnancy with a due date on/or after 6 April 2009 and subsequently withdrawn for women reaching the 25th week of pregnancy on/or after 1 January 2011. The current study focuses on the evaluation of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the HiP grant. The population under study will be all singleton births in Scotland over the periods of January 2004 to March 2009 (preintervention), April 2009 to April 2011 (intervention) and May 2011 to December 2013 (postintervention). Data will be extracted from the Scottish maternity and neonatal database. The analysis period 2004–2013 should yield over 585 000 births. The primary outcome will be birth weight among singleton births. Other secondary outcomes will include gestation at booking, booking before 25 weeks measures of size and stage gestational age at delivery weight-for-dates, term at birth birth outcomes and maternal smoking. The main statistical method we will use is interrupted time series. Outcomes will be measured on in idual births nested within mothers, with mothers themselves clustered within data zones. Multilevel regression models will be used to determine whether the outcomes changed during the period in which the HiP grants was in effect. Subgroup analyses will be conducted for those groups most likely to benefit from the payments. Approval for data collection, storage and release for research purpose has been given (6 May 2014, PAC38A/13) by the Privacy Advisory Committee. The results of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications in journals, national and international conferences.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-01-2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2011
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-1995
Abstract: Studies estimating the cost of specific illnesses do not generally take into account the fact that health care costs would have been incurred in the absence of the disease of interest. The goal of this study was to develop a method of estimating age specific baseline health care costs. These costs were calculated for Australian men, and their magnitude was compared with the costs of caring for men with HIV infection. Information about health service usage was obtained from the 1989-90 national health survey and linked with data on the costs of services to obtain average monthly costs for in idual and total health services. The Australian community. Average total health service costs per man per month were $103 (Australian). Hospital admissions comprised approximately 40% of these costs and casualty/outpatient visits, consultations with a doctor, and prescribed medication comprised 10%, 13%, and 12%, respectively. Costs increased with age, from around $60 per month for men aged 20-39 years to $213 per month for men aged 60 and over. Baseline costs comprised around 18% of health care costs for men with asymptomatic HIV infection, but less than 1% of costs for men with AIDS. These estimates provide an essential baseline for determining the costs attributable to specific diseases.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 13-05-2014
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 12-2004
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2007
DOI: 10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2006.10.013
Abstract: To examine associations between social relationships and school engagement in early secondary school and mental health, substance use, and educational achievement 2-4 years later. School-based longitudinal study of secondary school students, surveyed at school in Year 8 (13-14-years-old) and Year 10 (16-years-old), and 1-year post-secondary school. A total of 2678 Year 8 students (74%) participated in the first wave of data collection. For the school-based surveys, attrition was <10%. Seventy-one percent of the participating Year 8 students completed the post-secondary school survey. Having both good school and social connectedness in Year 8 was associated with the best outcomes in later years. In contrast, participants with low school connectedness but good social connectedness were at elevated risk of anxiety/depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 1.3 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0, 1.76), regular smoking (OR: 2.0 95% CI: 1.4, 2.9), drinking (OR: 1.7 95% CI: 1.3, 2.2), and using marijuana (OR: 2.0 95% CI: 1.6, 2.5) in later years. The likelihood of completing school was reduced for those with either poor social connectedness, low school connectedness, or both. Overall, young people's experiences of early secondary school and their relationships with others may continue to affect their moods, their substance use in later years, and their likelihood of completing secondary school. Having both good school connectedness and good social connectedness is associated with the best outcomes. The challenge is how to promote both school and social connectedness to best achieve these health and learning outcomes.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-11-2006
DOI: 10.1016/J.ADOLESCENCE.2005.10.001
Abstract: To examine concordance between two self‐reported measures of puberty: Sexual Maturation Scale (SMS) and Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) and their acceptability to adolescents. Participants of a school‐based study in grades 5, 7 and 9 were classified into one of 5 pubertal stages using each method. 2864 students (age 9–16 years) participated. Agreement was moderate for males ( 0.42, 95% CI 0.39, 0.45) and females ( 0.57, 95% CI 0.53, 0.61). Concordance within one stage was excellent (females 97%, males 89%), with discrepancies due to females being classified one stage later on the PDS (26%) and males one stage earlier (32%). There were more missing data for the SMS (13%) than the PDS (4%). Given the level of concordance and difficulties of using the drawings in a school‐based survey, we would recommend the PDS as an alternative to assess pubertal status in epidemiological studies.
Publisher: American Public Health Association
Date: 06-2013
Abstract: Objectives. We took advantage of a 2-intervention natural experiment to investigate the impacts of neighborhood demolition and housing improvement on adult residents’ mental and physical health. Methods. We identified a longitudinal cohort (n = 1041, including intervention and control participants) by matching participants in 2 randomly s led cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2006 and 2008 in 14 disadvantaged neighborhoods of Glasgow, United Kingdom. We measured residents’ self-reported health with Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey version 2 mean scores. Results. After adjustment for potential confounders and baseline health, mean mental and physical health scores for residents living in partly demolished neighborhoods were similar to the control group (mental health, b = 2.49 95% confidence interval [CI] = −1.25, 6.23 P = .185 physical health, b = −0.24 95% CI = −2.96, 2.48 P = .859). Mean mental health scores for residents experiencing housing improvement were higher than in the control group (b = 2.41 95% CI = 0.03, 4.80 P = .047) physical health scores were similar between groups (b = −0.66 95% CI = −2.57, 1.25 P = .486). Conclusions. Our findings suggest that housing improvement may lead to small, short-term mental health benefits. Physical deterioration and demolition of neighborhoods do not appear to adversely affect residents’ health.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.HEALTHPLACE.2011.01.010
Abstract: More frequent neighbourhood walking is a realistic goal for improving physical activity in deprived areas. We address regeneration activity by examining associations of residents' circumstances and perceptions of their local environment with frequent (5+ days/week) local walking (NW5) in 32 deprived neighbourhoods (Glasgow, UK), based on interview responses from a random stratified cross-sectional s le of 5657 residents. Associations were investigated by bivariate and multilevel, multivariate logistic regression. People living in low-rise flats or houses reported greater NW5 than those in multi-storey flats. Physical and social aspects of the neighbourhood were more strongly related to walking than perceptions of housing and neighbourhood, especially the neighbourhood's external reputation, and feelings of safety and belonging. Amenity use, especially of parks, play areas and general shops (mainly in the neighbourhood), was associated with more walking. Multidimensional regeneration of the physical, service, social and psychosocial environments of deprived communities therefore seems an appropriate strategy to boost walking.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 23-07-2012
Abstract: The study investigated whether perceived relative position was associated with mental well-being for people living in deprived areas, as a contribution to debates about income inequality, relative deprivation and health. A survey of 4615 residents of deprived areas of Glasgow measured mental well-being using the WEMWBS scale. Perceived relative position was assessed locally and across wider society in relation to housing, neighbourhood and standard of living. Personal and dwelling characteristics were controlled for. Mental well-being was found to be positively associated with: perceived relative quality (RR 4.1, 95% CI 2.4 to 6.8) and status (RR 7.1, 95% CI 4.5 to 11.1) of the home perceived internal reputation of the neighbourhood (RR 4.9, 95% CI 2.9 to 8.2), though not external reputation and perceived relative standard of living (RR 5.2, 95% CI 3.2 to 8.4). Furthermore, respondents who thought they lived in an area where some people had higher incomes than others also reported higher mental well-being (RR 4.5, 95% CI 2.2 to 9.1), controlling for the effects of their own income. Studies of inequality and health could give more consideration to the importance of the residential domain of housing and neighbourhood to mental well-being outcomes, via the psychosocial pathway. The local spatial scale may be more important to issues of relative deprivation than previously thought, as people make local as well as broader comparisons. The ability to make upward comparisons of income within deprived areas may be beneficial to residents rather than detrimental, possibly as an indicator of area progress and 'normality'.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 16-07-2008
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-03-2015
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 17-11-2011
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.D7310
Publisher: American Public Health Association
Date: 09-2006
Abstract: Objectives. We sought to test the efficacy of an intervention that was designed to promote social inclusion and commitment to education, in reducing among students health risk behaviors and improving emotional well-being. Methods. The design was a cluster-randomized trial in 25 secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. The subjects were 8th-grade students (aged 13 to 14 y) in 1997 (n=2545) and subsequent 8th-grade students in 1999 (n=2586) and 2001 (n=2463). The main outcomes were recent substance use, antisocial behavior, initiation of sexual intercourse, and depressive symptoms. Results. At 4-year follow-up, the prevalence of marked health risk behaviors was approximately 20% in schools in the comparison group and 15% in schools in the intervention group, an overall reduction of 25%. In ordinal logistic regression models a protective effect of intervention was found for a composite measure of health risk behaviors in unadjusted models (odds ratio [OR]= 0.69 95% confidence interval [CI]= 0.50, 0.95) and adjusted models (OR= 0.71 CI =0.52, 0.97) for potential confounders. There was no evidence of a reduction in depressive symptoms. Conclusion. The study provides support for prevention strategies in schools that move beyond health education to promoting positive social environments.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-02-2007
DOI: 10.1111/J.1746-1561.2007.00183.X
Abstract: Schools use a number of measures to reduce harmful tobacco, alcohol, and drug use by students. One important component is the school's drug policy, which serves to set normative values and expectations for student behavior as well as to document procedures for dealing with drug-related incidents. There is little empirical evidence of how policy directly or indirectly influence students' drug taking. This study compares how effectively schools communicate school drug policies to parents and students, how they are implemented, and what policy variables impact students' drug use at school and their perceptions of other students' drug use at school. Data were obtained from 3876 students attending 205 schools from 2 states in the United States and Australia, countries with contrasting national drug policy frameworks. School policy data were collected from school personnel, parents, and students. Schools' policies and enforcement procedures reflected national policy approaches. Parents and students were knowledgeable of their school's policy orientation. When delivered effectively, policy messages are associated with reduced student drug use at school. Abstinence messages and harsh penalties convey a coherent message to students. Strong harm-minimization messages are also associated with reduced drug use at school, but effects are weaker than those for abstinence messages. This smaller effect may be acceptable if, in the longer term, it leads to a reduction in harmful use and school dropout within the student population.
Publisher: National Institute for Health and Care Research
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.3310/PHR07180
Abstract: Bullying, aggression and violence among children and young people are some of the most consequential public mental health problems. The INCLUSIVE (initiating change locally in bullying and aggression through the school environment) trial evaluated the Learning Together intervention, which involved students in efforts to modify their school environment using restorative approaches and to develop social and emotional skills. We hypothesised that in schools receiving Learning Together there would be lower rates of self-reported bullying and perpetration of aggression and improved student biopsychosocial health at follow-up than in control schools. INCLUSIVE was a cluster randomised trial with integral economic and process evaluations. Forty secondary schools in south-east England took part. Schools were randomly assigned to implement the Learning Together intervention over 3 years or to continue standard practice (controls). A total of 6667 (93.6%) students participated at baseline and 5960 (83.3%) students participated at final follow-up. No schools withdrew from the study. Schools were provided with (1) a social and emotional curriculum, (2) all-staff training in restorative approaches, (3) an external facilitator to help convene an action group to revise rules and policies and to oversee intervention delivery and (4) information on local needs to inform decisions. Self-reported experience of bullying victimisation (Gatehouse Bullying Scale) and perpetration of aggression (Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime school misbehaviour subscale) measured at 36 months. Intention-to-treat analysis using longitudinal mixed-effects models. Primary outcomes – Gatehouse Bullying Scale scores were significantly lower among intervention schools than among control schools at 36 months (adjusted mean difference –0.03, 95% confidence interval –0.06 to 0.00). There was no evidence of a difference in Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime scores. Secondary outcomes – students in intervention schools had higher quality of life (adjusted mean difference 1.44, 95% confidence interval 0.07 to 2.17) and psychological well-being scores (adjusted mean difference 0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.00 to 0.66), lower psychological total difficulties (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) score (adjusted mean difference –0.54, 95% confidence interval –0.83 to –0.25), and lower odds of having smoked (odds ratio 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.80), drunk alcohol (odds ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.56 to 0.92), been offered or tried illicit drugs (odds ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.73) and been in contact with police in the previous 12 months (odds ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.56 to 0.97). The total numbers of reported serious adverse events were similar in each arm. There were no changes for staff outcomes. Process evaluation – fidelity was variable, with a reduction in year 3. Over half of the staff were aware that the school was taking steps to reduce bullying and aggression. Economic evaluation – mean (standard deviation) total education sector-related costs were £116 (£47) per pupil in the control arm compared with £163 (£69) in the intervention arm over the first two facilitated years, and £63 (£33) and £74 (£37) per pupil, respectively, in the final, unfacilitated, year. Overall, the intervention was associated with higher costs, but the mean gain in students’ health-related quality of life was slightly higher in the intervention arm. The incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year was £13,284 (95% confidence interval –£32,175 to £58,743) and £1875 (95% confidence interval –£12,945 to £16,695) at 2 and 3 years, respectively. Our trial was carried out in urban and periurban settings in the counties around London. The large number of secondary outcomes investigated necessitated multiple statistical testing. Fidelity of implementation of Learning Together was variable. Learning Together is effective across a very broad range of key public health targets for adolescents. Further studies are required to assess refined versions of this intervention in other settings. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN10751359. This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research Vol. 7, No. 18. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. Additional funding was provided by the Educational Endowment Foundation.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 26-02-2010
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2008
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: 26-11-2009
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.YPMED.2013.08.007
Abstract: Urban regeneration can be considered a population health intervention (PHI). It is expected to impact on population health but the evidence is limited or weak, in part due to the difficulties of evaluating PHIs. We explore these challenges using GoWell as a case study. A 10-year evaluation of housing improvement and urban regeneration in 15 deprived areas in Glasgow, Scotland (2005-2015). Challenges faced include: definition and changing nature of the intervention identifying the recipients of the intervention and constraints of study design affecting capacity to attribute effects. We have met these challenges by: adapting the evaluation to take account of changing intervention plans and delivery making pragmatic choices about which populations to focus on for different parts of the study and taking advantage of delayed delivery of some components to identify controls. Commitment to a long-term evaluation by the Scottish Government and other partners has enabled us to develop a package of studies to investigate health and other outcomes, and the processes of a PHI. GoWell will contribute to the evidence base for interventions focused on tackling the wider determinants of health and help policymakers to be more explicit and realistic about what regeneration might achieve.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 02-2004
Abstract: Many school-based research efforts require active parental consent for student participation. Maximizing rates of consent form return and agreement is an important issue, because s le representativeness may be compromised when these rates are low. This article compares two methods for obtaining active parental consent: return of consent forms in the mail versus return by students to their classrooms. The methods were tested in a pilot study of 46 schools (1,058 students), with half of the schools randomly allocated to each of the alternative methods. A hierarchical nonlinear model of consent form return and agreement rates suggests that the student-delivered method is more successful at producing higher rates of consent form return and agreement to participate in the study, after controlling for school-level characteristics. The authors discuss the findings and their implications for other researchers engaged in school-based research with adolescents.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-10-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2008
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2004
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-2005
DOI: 10.1080/09595230500293779
Abstract: Although youth drug and alcohol harm minimization policies in Australia are often contrasted with the abstinence and zero tolerance policies adopted in the United States, there has been little research directly comparing youth substance use behaviour in the two countries. Three state representative s les in Victoria, Australia (n = 7898) and in the US states of Oregon (n = 15,224) and Maine (n = 16,245) completed a common cross-sectional student survey. Rates of alcohol use (lifetime alcohol use, recent use in the past 30 days), alcohol use exceeding recommended consumption limits (binge drinking: five or more drinks in a session), other licit drug use (tobacco use), and norm-violating substance use (substance use at school, use in the past 30 days of marijuana or other illicit drug use) were compared for males and females at ages 12-17. Rates were lower (odds ratios 0.5-0.8) for youth in Maine and Oregon compared to Victoria for lifetime and recent alcohol use, binge drinking and daily cigarette smoking. However, rates of recent marijuana use and recent use of other illicit drugs were higher in Maine and Oregon, as were reports of being drunk or high at school. In contradiction of harm minimization objectives, Victoria, relative to the US states of Oregon and Maine, demonstrated higher rates of alcohol use exceeding recommended consumption limits and daily tobacco use. However, findings suggested that aspects of norm-violating substance use (substance use at school, marijuana use and other illicit drug use) were higher in the US states compared to Victoria.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-03-2010
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.C1332
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-03-2012
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 03-02-2014
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-03-2013
DOI: 10.1002/DYS.1453
Abstract: A dyslexia coping programme entitled Success and Dyslexia was implemented in two primary schools within a whole-class coping programme and whole-school dyslexia professional development context. One hundred and two year 6 students, 23 of whom had dyslexia, undertook surveys pretest, post-test and at 1-year follow-up. Effectiveness of the coping programme and maintenance of effects for the students after transition to secondary school were investigated. Inclusion of contrast group data in the follow-up year suggested significant positive changes at first and second follow-ups in locus of control and nonproductive coping may also be associated with increase in age. Most trends were in the expected direction, especially for students with dyslexia. At follow-up, students with dyslexia reported similar perceived control and adaptive coping to students without dyslexia rather than a decrease in these areas as is usually the case. A larger s le and an ongoing control group are needed to confirm these results.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-09-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2010.04.011
Abstract: Interventions to improve school ethos can reduce substance use but "upstream" causal pathways relating to implementation and school-level changes are uncertain. We use qualitative and quantitative data from a pilot trial to build hypotheses regarding these. The Healthy School Ethos intervention involved two schools being provided with facilitation, training, and funding to plan and implement actions (some mandatory and some locally determined) to improve school ethos over one year. The evaluation involved a pilot-trial with two intervention and two comparison schools semi-structured interviews with facilitators, staff, and students and baseline and follow-up surveys with students aged 11 to 12 years. Student accounts linked participation in planning or delivering intervention activities with improved self-regard and relationships with staff and other students. Some activities such as re-writing school rules involved broad participation. Students in receipt of actions such as peer-mediation or motivational sessions reported benefits such as improved safety and relationships. Some student accounts linked improved self-regard and relationships with increased engagement and aspirations, and reduced substance use. At 9-month follow-up, students in intervention schools reported less hurting and teasing of others and feeling unsafe at school. Other outcomes suggested intervention benefits but were not significant. School-ethos interventions may reduce substance use through upstream pathways involving the aforementioned factors. Future phase-III trials should quantitatively model the extent to which these mediate intervention effects.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 19-03-2015
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.H1258
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2003
DOI: 10.1016/S1054-139X(03)00204-0
Abstract: To describe the Gatehouse Project which addresses the social context of high school with an aim of changing students' sense of school connection and in turn, health risk behavior and well-being. Distinguishing features of the project were its conceptual framework, implementation process, and evaluation design. The conceptual framework derived from attachment theory and focused on three aspects of the school social context: security, communication, and participation. Implementation was standardized around a survey of the school social environment, creation of a school-based action team, and the implementation of strategies matched to a school's profile of need. In addition, an early high school curriculum addressed the skills relevant to social functioning and emotional adjustment. The evaluation design was based on a cluster randomized trial involving 26 schools. It used follow-up of an in idual cohort and repeat cross-sectional surveys to capture outcomes at an in idual student and whole-school level. The Gatehouse Project drew on both health and education research to develop and coordinate a broad-based school health promotion intervention. It represents a promising new direction for school-based preventive work.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-2013
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 17-09-2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-02-2008
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2014
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-02-2008
DOI: 10.1007/S00787-007-0657-5
Abstract: To contrast the psychosocial profile of adolescents with risk factors for homelessness, identified using Chamberlain and MacKenzie's self-report scale, compared to the profiles of homeless adolescents. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted contrasting profiles for (a) 137 homeless adolescents, (b) 766 secondary students reporting risk factors for homelessness, and (c) 4,844 students not reporting risks for homelessness. Fourteen percent of a representative population of at-school adolescents, from Victoria, Australia, showed elevated risk of homelessness. These adolescents showed depressive symptoms at least equivalent to homeless adolescents (RR 6.0, 95% CI: 4.9, 7.3, and RR 3.5, 95% CI: 2.1, 5.8, respectively). In multivariate analyses, homeless and at risk adolescents reported equivalent levels of family conflict, early problem behaviour and low opportunities and rewards for family involvement. Compared to adolescents not at risk, at risk adolescents were more likely to be female and to show poorer social skills/assertiveness and depressive symptoms. Compared to at risk adolescents, homeless adolescents showed additional family, school, peer and in idual risks, but lower depressive symptomatology. The findings highlight the potential we have to quickly and simply detect adolescents showing significant risk of homelessness. This sizable minority of adolescents report risks often equivalent to homeless adolescents. It is hoped that stakeholders working with young people will utilise this screening potential to identify and intervene effectively with this significant subpopulation of youth, and their families, while they are still at home and school.
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 22-06-2010
DOI: 10.1108/09654281011052628
Abstract: Evidence from the USA/Australia suggests whole‐school interventions designed to increase social inclusion/engagement can reduce substance use. Completeness of implementation varies but contextual determinants have not been fully explored. Informed by previous interventions, the paper aims to examine these topics in an English pilot of the Healthy School Ethos intervention. This intervention, like previous interventions, balanced standardization of inputs rocess (external facilitator, manual, needs‐survey and staff‐training delivered over one year to enable schools to convene action‐teams) with local flexibility regarding actions to improve social inclusion. Evaluation was via a pilot trial comprising: baseline/follow‐up surveys with year‐7 students in two intervention/comparison schools semi‐structured interviews with staff, students and facilitators and observations. The intervention was delivered as intended with components implemented as in the USA/Australian studies. The external facilitator enabled schools to convene an action‐team involving staff/students. Inputs were feasible and acceptable and enabled similar actions in both schools. Locally determined actions (e.g. peer‐mediators) were generally more feasible/acceptable than pre‐set actions (e.g. modified pastoral care). Implementation was facilitated where it built on aspects of schools' baseline ethos (e.g. a focus on engaging all students, formalized student participation in decisions) and where senior staff led actions. Student awareness of the intervention was high. Key factors affecting feasibility were: flexibility to allow local innovation, but structure to ensure consistency intervention aims resonating with at least some aspects of school baseline ethos and involvement of staff with the capacity to deliver. The intervention should be refined and its health/educational outcomes evaluated.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-05-2010
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2013
Abstract: This article identifies pathways through which impacts from the 2014 Commonwealth Games might arise. It also assesses the likelihood of positive impacts and considers how best to evaluate the games. The pathways identified are: economic growth increased sports participation increased pride and sense of identity volunteering improved environment and legacy programmes. There is little or no evidence from previous major multi-sports events to suggest that any of these pathways are likely to generate meaningful positive outcomes although there is an absence of evidence for some. The available evidence could be improved if the 2014 Games were to be evaluated using: retrospective cohort analysis for discrete interventions theory-based comparative cohort analyses, which includes an assessment of opportunity costs for effects that are intrinsic to hosting the event and a realist evaluation of ‘catalytic impacts’.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2010.02.007
Abstract: To investigate the effectiveness of a universal intervention designed to reduce depressive symptoms experienced by adolescents at high school. The results from annual assessments during the 3-year intervention and a 2-year follow-up are reported. Twenty-five pairs of secondary schools matched on socio-economic status were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a comparison group (n = 5,633 year 8 students, mean age = 13.1 years, SD = .5). The intervention used a comprehensive classroom curriculum program, enhancements to school climate, improvements in care pathways, and community forums. A range of measures completed by students and teachers was used to assess changes in depressive symptoms, risk and protective factors relevant to depression, and the quality of the school environment. Changes in the levels of depressive symptoms and in the levels of risk and protective factors experienced by students in the two groups did not differ significantly over the 5 years of the study. Statistically significant differences in the ratings of school climate across this time were found only for teacher-rated assessments. There was little evidence that a multicomponent universal intervention delivered over a 3-year period reduced levels of depressive symptoms among participating students. Implementing universal interventions to improve student mental health is difficult in school settings that commonly have a crowded agenda of educational and health-related programs. Successful implementation will require programs which are perceived by teachers and students as relevant to educational and learning goals, and which can be effectively delivered in conjunction with other school programs.
Publisher: European Respiratory Society (ERS)
Date: 2001
DOI: 10.1183/09031936.01.17100520
Abstract: Current asthma-specific quality of life questionnaires have major conceptual and methodological deficiencies for use in adolescents. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the “Adolescent Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AAQOL)”, specifically developed for adolescents with asthma. One-hundred and eleven adolescents with frequent-episodic or persistent asthma aged 12–17 yrs were recruited from three tertiary paediatric asthma clinics. The standardized multi-step method consisted of: 1) item selection including semistructured interviews (n=14) 2) item reduction and validation (n=66) and 3) assessment of reproducibility (n=31). Item reduction was performed applying the clinical impact method. The 32 item AAQOL covers six domains: symptoms, medication, physical activities, emotion, social interaction and positive effects. There was high internal consistency for the six domains (α=0.70–0.90) and for the total score (α=0.93). Test-retest reliability was high for all domain scores (r=0.76–0.85) and the total score (r=0.90), indicating high reproducibility of the AAQOL. There was high correlation with the paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (ρ=0.81) which focuses primarily on symptoms and emotional well-being. There was weak to moderate correlation with clinical parameters of asthma severity (ρ=0.25–0.65). The 32-item Adolescent Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire is a valid, developmentally age-appropriate and dimensionally comprehensive asthma-specific quality of life measure for use in adolescents.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 19-03-2010
Abstract: Schools and school systems are increasingly asked to use evidence-based strategies to promote the health and well-being of students. The dissemination of school-based health promotion research, however, offers particular challenges to conventional approaches to dissemination. Schools and education systems are multifaceted organizations that sit within constantly shifting broader contexts. This article argues that health promotion dissemination needs to be rethought for school communities as complex systems and that this requires understanding and harnessing the dynamic ecology of the sociopolitical context. In developing this argument, the authors draw on their experience of the dissemination process of a multilevel school-based intervention in a complex educational context. Building on this experience, they argue for the need to move beyond conventional dissemination strategies to a focus on active partnerships between developers and users of school-based intervention research and offer a conceptual tool for planning dissemination.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-02-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1399-0004.2009.01308.X
Abstract: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), most often due to HFE C282Y homozygosity, is an iron overload disorder that can result in severe morbidity including hepatic cirrhosis. Predisposition to HH is easily diagnosed and morbidity is preventable by maintaining normal body iron and thus calls have been made to introduce community screening. The current study has been designed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of HH screening in high schools. Students (mostly 15-16 years of age) watched a purpose-designed DVD for education about HH. Those with parental consent were then offered cheek-brush screening for C282Y. Students completed a questionnaire prior to screening. The program was offered to 9187 students at 32 schools and 3489 (38%) had screening. Nineteen C282Y homozygotes (1 in 183) and 376 heterozygotes (1 in 9.3) were identified. More than 90% of students answered each of five knowledge questions correctly. Eight homozygotes (42%) had elevated transferrin saturation, but only two (10.5%) had marginally elevated serum ferritin (SF). We have shown that genetic screening for HH can successfully be offered in the high school setting. Ongoing research in this study will answer questions about the impact of high school students learning that they are at risk of HH.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2003
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-01-2012
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 04-12-2012
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 26-03-2014
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-03-2011
DOI: 10.1002/CBM.802
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 23-12-2013
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2011
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 15-10-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2007
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-2012
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2012
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 12-2013
DOI: 10.5694/MJA12.11645
Abstract: To examine comparable survey data across 10 years to assess whether rates of self-reported weapon carrying and intent to harm others have increased as suggested in reported trends in violent offences. Population-based surveys administered to Victorian secondary school students in 1999 (8984 students) and 2009 (10 273 students) attending government, Catholic and independent schools. Student self-reports of carrying a weapon and attacking someone with the intent to harm in the past 12 months. In both surveys, about 15.0% of students reported carrying a weapon and about 7.0% reported attacking someone with intent to harm in the past 12 months, with higher rates among boys than girls. There was no change over time in the rates of students carrying weapons or attacking someone with the intent to harm, after controlling for demographic variables. In contrast to media portrayals and reported trends in violent offences, rates of students carrying weapons and attacking others with intent to harm have not changed between 1999 and 2009. These findings underline the importance of having national population-based data to regularly monitor the rates of these and related behaviours among young Australians.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 20-05-2010
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.C2369
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 04-2007
Abstract: Some extant theory and empirical research suggests that youth problem behaviors, such as substance abuse and delinquency, reflect a single underlying dimension of behavior, whereas others suggest there are several different dimensions. Few studies have examined potential international differences in the structure of problem behavior, where cultural and policy differences may create more variation in behavior and different structures. This study explored the structure of problem behavior in two representative s les of youth (ages 12-17) from Maine and Oregon in the United States (N = 33,066) and Victoria, Australia (N = 8,500). The authors examined the degree to which data from the two countries produce similar model structures using indicators of problem behavior. Results show that the data are best represented by two factors, substance use and delinquency, and there appear to be more similarities than differences in the models across countries. Implications for understanding problem behavior across cultural and developmental groups and practical and policy implications are discussed.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-10-2014
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for LYNDAL BOND.