Journal articles on the topic 'Health surveys Australia'
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1
Pedišić, Željko, and Louise L. Hardy. "Physical activity prevalence in Australian children and adolescents:." Kinesiology 49, no. 2 (2017): 135–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.26582/k.49.2.14.
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To illustrate how the differences in measurement protocols affect physical activity (PA) monitoring among Australian children and adolescents aged ~5-17 years, this review aimed to summarize and critically assess the most recent findings from the national and state or territory health surveillance systems and population surveys. We compared methods and results of 21 population surveys identified in an extensive web-based search conducted using the entries ‘Physical Activity’, ‘Surveillance’, ‘Monitoring’, ‘Survey’, ‘Australia’ and the names of Australian states and territories as keywords. A large variability between PA prevalence rates from different Australian national- and state-level surveys was observed, both for selfreported and pedometer-based estimates. The prevalence estimates tended to be: [i] higher among children when compared with adolescents; [ii] higher for boys than for girls when assessed using self-reports; and [iii] higher for girls than for boys when assessed using pedometers. The true prevalence of compliance with PA guidelines among children and adolescents in Australia seems to be difficult to determine. To ensure comparability of prevalence estimates, key elements of data collection and processing protocols, such as PA questionnaires, survey administration modes, survey time frames, and definitions of a ‘sufficient’ PA level, should be standardised throughout all PA surveillance systems and population surveys in Australia.
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Thompson, Samantha, Gunter Hartel, Lenore Manderson, Nicole Stirling, and Margaret Kelaher. "The Mental Health Status of Filipinas in Queensland." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 36, no. 5 (October 2002): 674–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1614.2002.01070.x.
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Objective: To determine the prevalence and investigate potential predictors of psychological distress in Filipino women living in Queensland, Australia. Methods: The sample of n = 487 women (88% response rate) was drawn from Filipino organization membership lists and supplemented by snowball sampling. Participants were interviewed in their homes or at a community event in 1996/1997. Follow-up in 1997/1998 involved n = 346 women (71% response rate) who were interviewed either in their homes or by telephone. The two surveys included measurement of demographic, immigration, physical health, satisfaction with life in Australia and life event variables. The GHQ-28 was included in the follow-up survey as a measure of psychological distress. Results: The proportion of women having an above threshold score (using the cut-off of 4/5) on the GHQ-28 was 23%. Women who were single, dissatisfied with life in Australia, had reported a major change in their financial situation, their relationship or their health in the year between surveys were significantly more likely to have an above threshold score. Conclusions: The level of mental distress among Filipinas in Queensland appears to be slightly higher than the levels reported in the general population but lower than other migrant groups. The determinants of mental distress in this population contrast with those in the general Australian population and other migrant groups. The social context of these determinants in Filipinas needs to be elicited for an understanding of these differences.
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Bomba, David, Kurt Svardsudd, and Per Kristiansson. "A comparison of patient attitudes towards the use of computerised medical records and unique identifiers in Australia and Sweden." Australian Journal of Primary Health 10, no. 2 (2004): 36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py04024.
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This article compares the attitudes of Australian and Swedish patients towards the use of computerised medical records and unique identifiers in medical practices in Australia and Sweden. A Swedish translation of an Australian survey was conducted and results were compared. Surveys were distributed to patients at a medical practice in Sweden in 2003 and compared to the results of an Australian study by Bomba and Land (2003). Results: Based on the survey samples (Australia N=271 and Sweden N=55), 91% of Swedish respondents and 78% of Australian respondents gave a positive appraisal of the use of computers in health care. Of the Swedish respondents, 93% agreed that the computer-based patient record is an essential technology for health care in the future, while 86% of the Australian respondents agreed. Overwhelmingly, 95% of Swedish respondents and 91% of Australian respondents stated that the use of computers did not interfere with the doctor-patient consultation. Both groups preferred biometric identification as the method for uniquely identifying patients but differed in their preferred method to store medical information - a combination of central database and smart card for Australian respondents and central database for Swedish respondents. This analysis indicates that patient attitudes towards the use of computerised medical records and unique identifiers in Australia and Sweden are positive; however, there are concerns over information privacy and security. These concerns need to be taken into account in any future development of a national computer health network.
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Gardner, Karen, Anne Parkinson, Michelle Banfield, Ginny M. Sargent, Jane Desborough, and Kanupriya Kalia Hehir. "Usability of patient experience surveys in Australian primary health care: a scoping review." Australian Journal of Primary Health 22, no. 2 (2016): 93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py14179.
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Monitoring patient experience is essential for stimulating innovation in health care and improving quality and accountability. Internationally, standardised approaches are used to collect patient experience information, but in Australian primary health care (PHC), little is known about which patient experience surveys are used and which aspects of experience they measure. This prevents routine inclusion of patient experience data in quality improvement or system performance measurement. A scoping review was undertaken to identify relevant surveys. Data on survey availability, psychometric properties, target population, method and frequency of administration were extracted. Survey items were mapped against six dimensions of patient experience described internationally. Ninety-five surveys were identified; 34 were developed for use in Australia. Surveys vary in content, size, aspects of experience measured and methods of administration. The quality of data collected and the extent to which it is used in quality improvement is unclear. Collection of patient experience data in Australian PHC is not well developed or standardised and there are few publicly available instruments. There is a need to clearly identify the purposes for which data are to be used and to develop an integrated approach that articulates these collections with other quality and performance data. Some options are discussed.
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Madden, Richard, Nicola Fortune, and Julie Gordon. "Health Statistics in Australia: What We Know and Do Not Know." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 9 (April 19, 2022): 4959. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19094959.
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Australia is a federation of six states and two territories (the States). These eight governmental entities share responsibility for health and health services with the Australian Government. Mortality statistics, including causes of death, have been collected since the late 19th century, with national data produced by the (now) Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) from 1907. Each State introduced hospital in-patient statistics, assisted by State offices of the ABS. Beginning in the 1970s, the ABS conducts regular health surveys, including specific collections on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Overall, Australia now has a comprehensive array of health statistics, published regularly without political or commercial interference. Privacy and confidentiality are guaranteed by legislation. Data linkage has grown and become widespread. However, there are gaps, as papers in this issue demonstrate. Most notably, data on primary care patients and encounters reveal stark gaps. This paper accompanies a range of papers from expert authors across the health statistics spectrum in Australia. It is hoped that the collection of papers will inform interested readers and stand as a comprehensive review of the strengths and weaknesses of Australian health statistics in the early 2020s.
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Lewis, Meron, and Amanda Lee. "Costing ‘healthy’ food baskets in Australia – a systematic review of food price and affordability monitoring tools, protocols and methods." Public Health Nutrition 19, no. 16 (September 9, 2016): 2872–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1368980016002160.
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AbstractObjectiveTo undertake a systematic review to determine similarities and differences in metrics and results between recently and/or currently used tools, protocols and methods for monitoring Australian healthy food prices and affordability.DesignElectronic databases of peer-reviewed literature and online grey literature were systematically searched using the PRISMA approach for articles and reports relating to healthy food and diet price assessment tools, protocols, methods and results that utilised retail pricing.SettingNational, state, regional and local areas of Australia from 1995 to 2015.SubjectsAssessment tools, protocols and methods to measure the price of ‘healthy’ foods and diets.ResultsThe search identified fifty-nine discrete surveys of ‘healthy’ food pricing incorporating six major food pricing tools (those used in multiple areas and time periods) and five minor food pricing tools (those used in a single survey area or time period). Analysis demonstrated methodological differences regarding: included foods; reference households; use of availability and/or quality measures; household income sources; store sampling methods; data collection protocols; analysis methods; and results.Conclusions‘Healthy’ food price assessment methods used in Australia lack comparability across all metrics and most do not fully align with a ‘healthy’ diet as recommended by the current Australian Dietary Guidelines. None have been applied nationally. Assessment of the price, price differential and affordability of healthy (recommended) and current (unhealthy) diets would provide more robust and meaningful data to inform health and fiscal policy in Australia. The INFORMAS ‘optimal’ approach provides a potential framework for development of these methods.
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Kamieniecki, Gregory W. "Prevalence of Psychological Distress and Psychiatric Disorders Among Homeless Youth in Australia: A Comparative Review." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 35, no. 3 (June 2001): 352–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.00910.x.
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Objective: To review the prevalence literature on psychological distress and psychiatric disorders among homeless youth in Australia, and to compare these rates with Australian youth as a whole. Method: Computerized databases were utilized to access all published Australian studies on psychological distress (as measured by standardized symptom scales and suicidal behaviour) and psychiatric disorders among homeless youth; in addition, unpublished Australian studies were utilized whenever accessible. A total of 14 separate studies were located, only three of which have included non-homeless control groups. In the current review, prevalence data from uncontrolled youth homelessness studies are compared with data from Australian community and student surveys. Results: Homeless youth have usually scored significantly higher on standardized measures of psychological distress than all domiciled control groups. Youth homelessness studies have also reported very high rates of suicidal behaviour, but methodological limitations in these studies make comparisons with community surveys difficult. Furthermore, rates of various psychiatric disorders are usually at least twice as high among homeless youth than among youth from community surveys. Conclusions: Homeless youth in Australia have extremely high rates of psychological distress and psychiatric disorders. As homeless youth are at risk of developing psychiatric disorders and possibly self-injurious behaviour the longer they are homeless, early intervention in relevant health facilities is required.
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Ftanou, Maria, Anna Machlin, Angela Nicholas, Kylie King, Justine Fletcher, Carol Harvey, and Jane Pirkis. "Mental Health Professional Online Development (MHPOD): a web-based training tool for the non-government community mental health workforce." Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 9, no. 3 (September 2, 2014): 177–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jmhtep-05-2014-0014.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the usefulness and relevance of the Mental Health Professional Online Development (MHPOD) training package in further developing the skills in mental health and recovery-informed practice of the Australian non-government community mental health workforce. MHPOD is an evidence-based, self-paced, online learning resource that consists of 58 mental health topics. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 349 e-learners were recruited from seven non-government community mental health services across Australia. E-learners were invited to complete up to twelve online surveys, a baseline survey, a topic completion survey for each completed topic, and a follow-up survey towards the end of the pilot. Findings – The majority of e-learners indicated that MHPOD was useful for professional development and relevant to their current employment. E-learners identified that MHPOD led to significant improvement in their knowledge and confidence in their ability. A number of enabling factors such as managerial and organizational supports, technical supports and up-to-date and relevant content materials need to be present for the successful implementation of online programs such as MHPOD. Originality/value – Online training packages such MHPOD that a relatively easy to use are helpful in developing knowledge, and confidence in the skills of the mental health workforce. The evaluation findings suggest that MHPOD is a relevant and appropriate training tool for the non-government community mental health sector within Australia.
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Way, J., P. Cistulli, and Y. Bin. "P132 Self-reported indicators of sleep health in Australia: a cross-sectional population-based study." SLEEP Advances 3, Supplement_1 (October 1, 2022): A72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.200.
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Abstract Introduction Poor sleep health is associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. This study aims to examine the indicators of sleep health in an Australian-based population and to analyse the relationship between sleep and sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions. Method We investigated a nationally representative sample of adults aged over 18 (n = 21,562) who participated in the 2011-2013 Australian Health Survey (AHS). Participants in the AHS were assigned to either the National Health Survey (NHS) or the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS). The NHS collected data on sleeping tablets taken for a mental health condition. Sleep duration was self-reported in the NNPAS which we categorised into three groups: short sleep (< 7 hours), recommended sleep (7 to 9hours) and long sleep (> 9 hours). Progress to Date Prevalence of sleeping tablets use among Australian adults who had a mental health condition was 9.5%. The majority used sleeping tablets for a duration of 6 months or more (73.9%) and many took it every night (42.0%). On a typical night, a majority self-reported having the recommended amount of sleep for adults (67.2%). The sociodemographic characteristics and health conditions are currently being analysed. Intended Outcome and Impact Adequately monitoring the domains of sleep health can potentially improve the overall health and wellbeing of a population. This study will highlight the current gap in the surveillance of sleep health in Australia. With limited Australian data available, there is a need to prioritise sleep-related indicators in future national health surveys.
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McBride, Jacquie, Andrew Block, and Alana Russo. "An integrated healthcare service for asylum seekers and refugees in the South-Eastern Region of Melbourne: Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing." Australian Journal of Primary Health 23, no. 4 (2017): 323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py16092.
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Asylum seekers and refugees generally have poorer health than the broader Australian population. However, these groups experience a range of barriers to accessing universal health services. Generalist and specialist refugee health services have been established in Australia to improve the health of humanitarian migrant groups. This article describes a refugee health service established in a high-settlement region of Melbourne, Australia, and explores clients’ experiences with the service. Client feedback was captured through interviews (n=18) and surveys (n=159). Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the service, and highlighted the value in having trusting relationships with staff, access to bicultural workers, onsite interpreting services and integrated care. The findings indicate that it is possible to engage asylum seekers and refugees through healthcare delivery that is responsive to the unique needs of this priority population.
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Comino, Elizabeth J., Oshana Hermiz, Jeff Flack, Elizabeth Harris, Gawaine Powell Davies, and Mark F. Harris. "Using population health surveys to provide information on access to and use of quality primary health care." Australian Health Review 30, no. 4 (2006): 485. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah060485.
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Objective: Currently, primary health care (PHC) is under-represented in health statistics due to the lack of a comprehensive PHC data collection. This research explores the utility of population health surveys to address questions relating to access to and use of PHC, using diabetes as an example. Methods: Drawing on published material relating to diabetes management, we developed a conceptual framework of access to and use of quality PHC. Using this framework we examined three recent population-based health surveys ? the 2001 National Health Survey, 2002?03 NSW Health Survey, and AusDiab ? to identify relevant information collection. Results: We identified seven domains comprising aspects of quality PHC for people with diabetes. For each domain we proposed associated indicators. In critiquing the three population health surveys in relation to these indicators, we identified strengths and weaknesses of the data collections. Conclusion: This approach could inform the development of questions and extension of population health surveys to provide a better understanding of access to and use of quality PHC in Australia. The additional information would complement other data collections with a communitybased perspective and contribute to the develop- ment of PHC policy.
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Clayton, Edward H., Tanya L. Hanstock, and Jane F. Watson. "Estimated intakes of meat and fish by children and adolescents in Australia and comparison with recommendations." British Journal of Nutrition 101, no. 12 (December 5, 2008): 1731–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0007114508135887.
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Long-chainn-3 PUFA are considered important for cardiovascular health and brain development. Meat other than fish contributes significantly to total intakes of long-chainn-3 PUFA in adults; however, there are limited published data examining the intake of individual meat sources in children and adolescents in the Australian population. A review of literature was conducted using PubMed, Agricola and CAB Abstracts using the terms ‘intake’, ‘beef’, ‘lamb’, ‘pork’, ‘poultry’, ‘fish’, ‘children’ and ‘adolescents’ and using reference lists in published articles. Studies and surveys were identified that contained published values for intakes of meat or fish. Two national dietary surveys of children and adolescents were conducted in Australia in 1985 and 1995 and two regional surveys were conducted in Western Sydney and Western Australia in 1994 and 2003, respectively. Comprehensive data for the intake of individual meat sources were not reported from the 1995 survey, but estimations of intake were calculated from published values. Reported intakes of meat and fish are generally lower in females than males and tend to increase with age. Weighted mean intakes of red meat (beef plus lamb) across the three most recent studies were 67·3 and 52·2 g/d, respectively, for males and females aged between 7 and 12 years and 87·7 and 54·2 g/d, respectively, for males and females aged 12–18 years. These weighted intakes are within Australian guidelines and are likely to contribute significantly to total long-chainn-3 PUFA intake in children and adolescents in the Australian population.
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Riley, Malcolm D., Jane Bowen, Debra Krause, Darren Jones, and Welma Stonehouse. "A survey of consumer attitude towards nutrition and health statements on food labels in South Australia." Functional Foods in Health and Disease 6, no. 12 (December 30, 2016): 809. http://dx.doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v6i12.306.
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Background: For many decades, Australia has required a Nutrient Information Panel to be included on food packaging, usually on the back of products. Recently, two regulated, voluntary systems were introduced for use on food packaging in Australia: the Health Star Rating system and nutrient content and health claims. Nonetheless, the scope and potential for these new initiatives to achieve their purpose is partly depdendant on their perception by consumers. This report describes the results of a population based survey of South Australian adults about how various elements of food labels are used to inform their purchase decisions. Methods: A survey was conducted using a random stratified sampling technique in people aged 15 years and older in the Australian state of South Australia. All surveys were administered face-to-face to 3005 people between September 2015 and December 2015. Data was weighted by the inverse of the individual’s probability of selection, as well as the response rate in metropolitan and country regions and then reweighted to benchmarks from the June 2014 Estimated Resident Population calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Results: The response rate for the survey was 57.3%. Most respondents to the survey rated their own dietary intake as ‘healthy’ (61.5%) or ‘extremely healthy’ (9.1%). Aside from price, country of origin was nominated as the most important information on the food label of a food bought for the first time (by 35.0%), followed by the ingredient list (21.6%) and claims about nutrition (20.9%). The response to this question was markedly different by age group, with almost half (48.3%) of those aged 55 years or over considering that country of origin was the most important information to look for. For the youngest age group (15-34 yrs), 28.4% considered the ingredient list was the most important information, 26.5% considered claims about nutrition to be most important, and 22.2% considered country of origin to be the most important information on the food label. The Nutrition Information Panel was used to guide the purchase decision for a new breakfast cereal by more than half of respondents (50.8%), while a statement on the front of the pack about how the food effects health was used to guide the purchase decision of only 8.9%. While only 22.1% disagreed (16.4% disagreed somewhat, 5.7% disagreed completely) with the statement that ‘the Nutrient Information Panel on food packaging is a trustworthy source of information,’ almost double the amount of subjects at 44.0% disagreed (36.1% disagreed somewhat, 17.9% disagreed completely) that ‘statements about health on food packaging are a trustworthy source of information.’ Conclusion: For South Australian adults, statements about health benefits of food on food packaging are viewed with much greater suspicion than the nutrient information panel. Attitudes towards food packaging varied more by age group than by sex of the respondent. For an unfamiliar food, country of origin is considered the most important information on food packaging by more than a third of adults. Keywords: Food packaging, Nutrition label, Front of Pack, Health Star, South Australia
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Musgrave, Loretta, Caroline Homer, and Adrienne Gordon. "Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours surrounding preconception and pregnancy health: an Australian cross-sectional survey." BMJ Open 13, no. 1 (January 2023): e065055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065055.
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ObjectiveTo understand Australian women’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours surrounding preconception and pregnancy health and their preferences for information about these periods.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingMaking healthy changes can optimise preconception and pregnancy outcomes. Clinical practice guidelines inform preconception and pregnancy care in Australia. Women often have access to multiple sources of information on reproductive and pregnancy health.ParticipantsWomen of reproductive age were asked to complete a web-based survey. The survey development was informed by preconception guidelines, consensus statements and the national pregnancy care guidelines. The survey was distributed through social media, local and national networks from 2017 to 2018.ResultsCompleted surveys were received from 553 women.The majority (80.4%) had high educational attainment. Checking immunisation status and ensuring good mental health were rated as equally important actions both preconception (65%) and during pregnancy (78%). Limiting sedentary activities was not rated as an important action to take either preconception (36%), or during pregnancy (38%). Although women have good knowledge about the impact of weight on their own health outcomes (eg, gestational diabetes), there was less knowledge about adverse outcomes for babies like stillbirth and preterm birth. Women access many sources for reproductive health information, however, the most trusted source was from healthcare professionals.ConclusionMost women of reproductive age in Australia have knowledge of the key health recommendations for preconception and pregnancy. However, there are gaps related to lifestyle behaviours particularly connected to weight gain and outcomes for babies. There is a strong preference to receive trusted information from healthcare providers through multiple resources.
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Woodward, Michael Clifford, and Erin Woodward. "A national survey of memory clinics in Australia." International Psychogeriatrics 21, no. 4 (August 2009): 696–702. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1041610209009156.
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ABSTRACTBackground:There is limited information describing memory clinics at a national level in Australia. The aim of this study was to gather information about the resourcing, practices and clinical diagnoses of Australian memory clinics.Methods:A postal survey was sent to all Australian memory clinics identified by key specialists working in dementia assessment services.Results:Of 23 surveys sent out, 14 were returned. Most clinics are located in Victoria where they receive Victorian state funding. The average clinic has 1.67 effective full time clinical staff including 0.42 medical staff, 0.24 allied health staff, 0.53 clinical nursing staff and 0.48 psychologists. Clinics are open on average twice a week and each half-day clinic has two new and three review patients, seeing new patients twice initially then once more over 12 months. Patients wait 10 weeks for initial assessment with 59% referred by general practitioners. The Mini-mental State Examination and clock drawing are utilized universally. The most common diagnoses are Alzheimer's disease (37.8%) and mild cognitive impairment (19.8%) but 6.9% of patients have no cognitive impairment.Conclusions:This survey has provided useful benchmarking data on Australian memory clinics which can also be used by other countries for comparative analyses.
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FURUKAWA, T. A., G. ANDREWS, and D. P. GOLDBERG. "Stratum-specific likelihood ratios of the General Health Questionnaire in the community: help-seeking and physical co-morbidity affect the test characteristics." Psychological Medicine 32, no. 4 (May 2002): 743–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033291702005494.
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Background. In evidence-based medicine, stratum-specific likelihood ratios (SSLRs) are now being increasingly recognized as a more convenient and generalizable method to interpret diagnostic information than an optimal cut-off and its associated sensitivity and specificity. We previously examined the SSLRs of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) in primary care settings. The present paper aims to examine if these SSLRs are generalizable to the community settings.Methods. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and the GHQ were administered on a representative sample of the Australian population in the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. We first compared the SSLRs of GHQ in urban Australia with the estimates that we had previously obtained from the developed urban centres in the WHO Psychological Problems in General Health Care study. If the SSLRs in the community were found to differ significantly from those in the primary care, we sought for explanatory variables.Results. The SSLRs in urban Australia and in the urban centres in the WHO study were significantly different for three out of the six strata. When we limited the sample to those with physical problems who visited a health professional, however, the SSLRs in the Australian study were strikingly close to those observed for primary care settings.Conclusions. Different sets of SSLRs apply to primary care and general population samples. For general population surveys in developed countries, the results of the Australian National Survey represent the currently available best estimates. For developing countries or rural areas, the results are less definitive and an investigator may wish to conduct a pilot study.
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Sun, Qian, Meiling Qi, Wendy Moyle, Cindy Jones, Benjamin Weeks, Zihui Xie, and Ping Li. "Physical Activity Participation and Psychological Wellbeing in University Office Workers in China and Australia: An Online Survey." Healthcare 9, no. 12 (November 23, 2021): 1618. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9121618.
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Background and purpose: Physical inactivity and prolonged sitting have associations with adverse health. University office workers are at a high risk of psychological and pain issues. This study aimed to explore the differences in sitting time, levels of physical activity participation, stress, depression, anxiety, and pain among university office workers in China and Australia. Methods: Online surveys were distributed to university office workers over 55 years at two universities in China and Australia, respectively. Results: A total of 185 participants completed the online survey (119 in China and 66 in Australia). Significant differences were found in sitting time during workdays between the two countries (p < 0.05) with a longer sitting time in the Australian respondents (7.5 h/day) than those in China (4.6 h/day). Additionally, there were also significant differences in terms of levels of depression and pain symptoms within the two countries (p < 0.05). The Australian respondents reported high levels of depression and pain (M = 7.38, SD = 5.86 and M = 3.65, SD = 2.21, respectively) than those in China (M = 5.71, SD = 4.87 and M = 1.89, SD = 1.89, respectively). The gender, education level, and sitting time of participants were found to be associated with pain scores (p < 0.05). A significant association between marital status and pain scores was found among the Australian respondents (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Future studies with a larger population are needed to validate the results and to further explore the association between physical activity participation and psychological wellbeing among university office workers.
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Henderson, Scott, and Gavin Andrews. "The yield from national surveys of mental health." International Psychiatry 5, no. 1 (January 2008): 16–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/s1749367600005439.
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At least 21 countries have now carried out national surveys of mental health under the aegis of the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Surveys. This has meant interviewing some 157 000 people in their homes. The countries are as varied as Australia, China, Iran, six continental European nations, Nigeria, the UK and the USA (Andrews et al, 2001; Demyttenaere et al, 2004; Mohammadi et al, 2005). It is therefore timely to consider what this very large body of information has yielded and to what use it can be put, especially in relation to the costs and human resources expended in a field where unmet need is so conspicuous.
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Pedrick-Case, Rebecca, Rowena Bailey, Ben Beck, Bridget Beesley, Bryan Boruff, Sinead Brophy, Donna Cross, et al. "Built Environments And Child Health in WalEs and AuStralia (BEACHES): a study protocol." BMJ Open 12, no. 10 (October 2022): e061978. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061978.
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IntroductionChildhood obesity and physical inactivity are two of the most significant modifiable risk factors for the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Yet, a third of children in Wales and Australia are overweight or obese, and only 20% of UK and Australian children are sufficiently active. The purpose of the Built Environments And Child Health in WalEs and AuStralia (BEACHES) study is to identify and understand how complex and interacting factors in the built environment influence modifiable risk factors for NCDs across childhood.Methods and analysisThis is an observational study using data from five established cohorts from Wales and Australia: (1) Wales Electronic Cohort for Children; (2) Millennium Cohort Study; (3) PLAY Spaces and Environments for Children’s Physical Activity study; (4) The ORIGINS Project; and (5) Growing Up in Australia: the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. The study will incorporate a comprehensive suite of longitudinal quantitative data (surveys, anthropometry, accelerometry, and Geographic Information Systems data) to understand how the built environment influences children’s modifiable risk factors for NCDs (body mass index, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and diet).Ethics and disseminationThis study has received the following approvals: University of Western Australia Human Research Ethics Committee (2020/ET000353), Ramsay Human Research Ethics Committee (under review) and Swansea University Information Governance Review Panel (Project ID: 1001). Findings will be reported to the following: (1) funding bodies, research institutes and hospitals supporting the BEACHES project; (2) parents and children; (3) school management teams; (4) existing and new industry partner networks; (5) federal, state and local governments to inform policy; as well as (6) presented at local, national and international conferences; and (7) disseminated by peer-reviewed publications.
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Downes, Marnie, and John B. Carlin. "Multilevel Regression and Poststratification Versus Survey Sample Weighting for Estimating Population Quantities in Large Population Health Studies." American Journal of Epidemiology 189, no. 7 (April 14, 2020): 717–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwaa053.
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Abstract Multilevel regression and poststratification (MRP) is a model-based approach for estimating a population parameter of interest, generally from large-scale surveys. It has been shown to be effective in highly selected samples, which is particularly relevant to investigators of large-scale population health and epidemiologic surveys facing increasing difficulties in recruiting representative samples of participants. We aimed to further examine the accuracy and precision of MRP in a context where census data provided reasonable proxies for true population quantities of interest. We considered 2 outcomes from the baseline wave of the Ten to Men study (Australia, 2013–2014) and obtained relevant population data from the 2011 Australian Census. MRP was found to achieve generally superior performance relative to conventional survey weighting methods for the population as a whole and for population subsets of varying sizes. MRP resulted in less variability among estimates across population subsets relative to sample weighting, and there was some evidence of small gains in precision when using MRP, particularly for smaller population subsets. These findings offer further support for MRP as a promising analytical approach for addressing participation bias in the estimation of population descriptive quantities from large-scale health surveys and cohort studies.
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Poulsen, Angelika. "Corporal punishment of children in the home in Australia: a review of the research reveals the need for data and knowledge." Children Australia 44, no. 03 (June 17, 2019): 110–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cha.2019.17.
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AbstractA growing body of literature indicates that corporal punishment (CP) has the potential to adversely affect the mental and physical wellbeing of children in childhood as well as into adulthood. Corporal punishment of children in the home is legal in all states and territories in Australia, but not much is known about this type of family violence in the Australian context. This article presents a review of the literature currently available on the prevalence of CP of children in the home in Australia, covering online surveys, academic research, government data and grey literature. The role of online surveys is examined, and the lack of data available from government studies concerned with the wellbeing of children is also explored. There is found to be an overall lack of consistent data available on CP of children in the home in Australia, and this article calls on researchers and policymakers to further research and act on this aspect of family violence.
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Wilson, Tom, and Fiona Shalley. "Estimates of Australia’s non-heterosexual population." Australian Population Studies 2, no. 1 (May 26, 2018): 26–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.37970/aps.v2i1.23.
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Background Demographers have studied minority populations for many years, but relatively little attention has been paid to sexual minority groups. Population estimates for sexual minorities would be useful as denominators for a range of health and socioeconomic indicators, to monitor representation in employment, assist budget planning and inform the marketing of goods and services. Aim The aim of this paper is to present some approximate estimates of the non-heterosexual adult population of Australia in mid-2016 by sex, broad age group and state and territory. Data and methods Data on sexual identity were sourced from three nationally representative surveys: the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, the second Australian Study of Health and Relationships and the ABS General Social Survey. Use was made also of 2016 ABS Census of Population and Housing (Census) data and Estimated Resident Populations. Prevalence rates of the non-heterosexual population aged 18+ were averaged over the three surveys and multiplied by ERP to obtain national population estimates. Census data on same-sex couples were used to distribute the national estimates by state and territory. Results Australia’s non-heterosexual population aged 18+ in 2016 is estimated to have been 592,000, representing about 3.2% of the adult population. New South Wales is home to the largest non-heterosexual population (about 204,000) and the Northern Territory the smallest (4,700), while the highest prevalence is in the Australian Capital Territory (5.1%). Conclusions Australia’s non-heterosexual population is a relatively small population, but its prevalence varies considerably by age and sex and between states and territories. Estimates of this population should prove useful for monitoring health and wellbeing and for a variety of planning and policy purposes.
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Ben-Tovim, David I., and Jacqueline Morton. "The Epidemiology of Anorexia Nervosa in South Australia." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 24, no. 2 (June 1990): 182–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00048679009077680.
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A survey of 5,705 pupils in girls' schools in South Australia revealed that the one year prevalence of cases of anorexia nervosa, diagnosed according to DSM-Ill criteria, was 1.05 cases per thousand of the population studied. This study has a number of advantages in comparison to the majority of other school-based surveys, and confirms that descriptions of anorexia nervosa as a disorder of epidemic proportions may be premature.
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Jain, S. K. "Morbidity and multi-morbidity in Australia: Evidence from the national health surveys." Journal of the Australian Population Association 10, no. 1 (May 1993): 31–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf03029844.
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Crabbe, Brian David, and Kerrie Anne Pinkerton. "Sources of Bias in Health Commission and Tobacco Industry Surveys in Australia." Australian Psychologist 27, no. 2 (July 1992): 103–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00050069208257589.
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Spinks, Jean M., and Jeff R. J. Richardson. "Paying the right price for pharmaceuticals: a case study of why the comparator matters." Australian Health Review 35, no. 3 (2011): 267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah10930.
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This article considers the pricing policy for pharmaceuticals in Australia, which is widely seen as having achieved low drug prices. However, compared to New Zealand, the evidence implies that Australia might have improved its performance significantly if it had proactively sought market best pricing. The Australian record suggests that the information sought by authorities may not be sufficient for optimal pricing and that the economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals may be neither necessary nor sufficient for achieving this goal. What is known about the topic? Pharmaceutical expenditures vary significantly across countries. Few surveys exist to determine the role of price but these suggest that Australian prices are relatively low compared with most OECD countries. What does this paper add? An analysis of public data implies that Australia pays significantly higher prices than NZ for its pharmaceuticals. This is attributable to NZ’s more effective use of competition, especially in the market for generics. Australian policy effectively limits competition by the provision of price information to competing companies. Recent agreements are similarly consistent with de facto regulatory capture. What are the implications for practitioners? There should be a review of pharmaceutical pricing policies with the criterion for success being the ‘lowest’, not ‘comparable’ world prices. Comparators should include prices paid for quality drugs in all, not selected countries, where data are available.
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McKay, Fiona H., Bronte C. Haines, and Matthew Dunn. "Measuring and Understanding Food Insecurity in Australia: A Systematic Review." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 3 (February 6, 2019): 476. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030476.
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The number of Australians seeking food aid has increased in recent years; however, the current variability in the measurement of food insecurity means that the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in Australia is likely underreported. This is compounded by infrequent national health surveys that measure food insecurity, resulting in outdated population-level food insecurity data. This review sought to investigate the breadth of food insecurity research conducted in Australia to evaluate how this construct is being measured. A systematic review was conducted to collate the available Australian research. Fifty-seven publications were reviewed. Twenty-two used a single-item measure to examine food security status; 11 used the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM); two used the Radimer/Cornell instrument; one used the Household Food and Nutrition Security Survey (HFNSS); while the remainder used a less rigorous or unidentified method. A wide range in prevalence and severity of food insecurity in the community was reported; food insecurity ranged from 2% to 90%, depending on the measurement tool and population under investigation. Based on the findings of this review, the authors suggest that there needs to be greater consistency in measuring food insecurity, and that work is needed to create a measure of food insecurity tailored for the Australian context. Such a tool will allow researchers to gain a clear understanding of the prevalence of food insecurity in Australia to create better policy and practice responses.
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Rao, Hamna. "Reforms Needed in Aged Patient’s Care." International Journal of Frontier Sciences 2, no. 1 (January 1, 2018): 56–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.37978/tijfs.v2i1.34.
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Today’s health workforce is constantly engaged to enhance the standards of healthcare services and ensuring comprehensive healthcare standards to the community. Queensland’s health workforce is Australia’s second largest health workforce (1) and serving proportionately in all areas of QLD, making efforts to make health better by making research, surveys and developmental planning in rural and regional areas. Aged Care is currently the most concerned health issue among OECD countries (2) as aged population continues to grow and it’s challenging for Australian health sector to meet the standards of quality care in provision of aged care health services. As per Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics it is projected that Australia will constitute 22% of aged population in next 30 years (AIHW).
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Khan, Asaduzzaman, Rafat Hussain, David Plummer, and Victor Minichiello. "Too many surveys! Eliciting the views of general practitioners for not participating in postal surveys." Australian Journal of Primary Health 10, no. 2 (2004): 76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py04029.
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This study explored the reasons general practitioners (GPs) are reluctant to participate in a postal survey. A cross-sectional postal survey was conducted among currently practising GPs in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002, who were asked to complete a questionnaire on the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The overall response rate for the main STI survey was 45.4%. The GPs who did not respond to the STI questionnaire were sent a one-page non-response questionnaire asking them to report their reasons for not participating in the STI survey. Of the 491 non-responding GPs, 116 (23.6%) completed the non-response questionnaire and form the basis of the present paper. The key reasons reported by GPs for not participating in postal surveys were acute time constraints imposed by increasing workload including substantially increased paperwork, receiving too many survey requests, low STI caseload, and few incentives or returns on their time spent on completing surveys. While researchers need to be cognisant of constraints in general practice, it is also important to develop strategies for increasing GP involvement in research activities. To help improve participation of GPs in postal surveys, we recommend involvement of GPs in the design and conduct of research on issues relevant to general practice along with provision of feedback of survey results.
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Relton, Clare, Katy Cooper, Petter Viksveen, Philippa Fibert, and Kate Thomas. "Prevalence of homeopathy use by the general population worldwide: a systematic review." Homeopathy 106, no. 02 (May 2017): 69–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2017.03.002.
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Aim: To systematically review surveys of 12-month prevalence of homeopathy use by the general population worldwide.Methods: Studies were identified via database searches to October 2015. Study quality was assessed using a six-item tool. All estimates were in the context of a survey which also reported prevalence of any complementary and alternative medicine use.Results: A total of 36 surveys were included. Of these, 67% met four of six quality criteria.Twelve-month prevalence of treatment by a homeopath was reported in 24 surveys of adults (median 1.5%, range 0.2–8.2%). Estimates for children were similar to those for adults. Rates in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada all ranged from 0.2% to 2.9% and remained stable over the years surveyed (1986–2012).Twelve-month prevalence of all use of homeopathy (purchase of over-the-counter homeopathic medicines and treatment by a homeopath) was reported in 10 surveys of adults (median 3.9%, range 0.7–9.8%) while a further 11 surveys which did not define the type of homeopathy use reported similar data. Rates in the USA and Australia ranged from 1.7% to 4.4% and remained stable over the years surveyed. The highest use was reported by a survey in Switzerland where homeopathy is covered by mandatory health insurance.Conclusions: This review summarises 12-month prevalence of homeopathy use from surveys conducted in eleven countries (USA, UK, Australia, Israel, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, South Korea, Japan and Singapore). Each year a small but significant percentage of these general populations use homeopathy. This includes visits to homeopaths as well as purchase of over-the-counter homeopathic medicines.
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Graham, Susan K., and Ian D. Cameron. "A survey of rehabilitation services in Australia." Australian Health Review 32, no. 3 (2008): 392. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah080392.
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A survey, which achieved a 54% response rate, was completed to assess the availability and type of rehabilitation health services in Australia. 1044 surveys were sent out and 561 were returned. The details of a total of 346 rehabilitation services were obtained. There were more services in metropolitan compared with rural areas, more services in New South Wales and Victoria than in the other states, and a higher proportion of services led by health care workers other than rehabilitation physicians in rural compared with metropolitan areas. There is likely to be a need for additional rehabilitation services of all types across Australia. The majority of rural, regional and remote areas are likely to need additional physician-led, allied health and nursing services. Further work is needed to assess the size and catchment areas of services in the capital cities and other large population centres to assess whether additional services are also needed in these areas.
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Symons, Martyn, David Tucker, Kaashifah Bruce, Annalee Stearne, Annette Kogolo, Maureen Carter, June Oscar, Glenn Pearson, and James Fitzpatrick. "The Development and Implementation of a Culturally Safe Survey for Measuring Knowledge, Attitudes and Values around FASD and Alcohol Use During Pregnancy in a Remote Australian Aboriginal Community Setting." Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet 2, no. 3 (2021): 1–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/aihjournal.v2n3.2.
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability caused by prenatal alcohol exposure that has a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities. The prevalence of FASD is high in some Indigenous communities around the World and the only active case ascertainment prevalence study conducted in Australia found a rate of 19.44 per 100 children in the remote Fitzroy Valley region of Western Australia. Following this study community led FASD prevention activities were implemented under the Marulu (“Worth Nurturing”) Strategy in the Fitzroy Valley. A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey was designed to assess the impact of the prevention campaign and gather more information about knowledge of the dangers of alcohol use in pregnancy and FASD, local attitudes, and health behaviours both around alcohol and more generally including where residents received their health information. Best practices recommend including local Aboriginal people in the development of surveys and aiming to achieve cultural security. Actions taken included consulting with local health workers during survey development, translation of key sections of the survey into the local Kimberley Kriol, and performing the surveys with the assistance of Aboriginal Community Researchers. The full survey is made available in this paper. The surveys were conducted with 200 community members during August 2015 and 203 in October 2015. Surveys were updated between the first and second waves based on learnings during implementation. Key implementation details around weather and timing, gender/kinship issues, group participation, declining participation, problematic questions and responses to the survey are described. Cultural safety was achieved but further steps could be taken to ensure future cultural security by embedding cultural safety protocols in the survey and further community consultation.
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Korten, Ailsa, and Scott Henderson. "The Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being." British Journal of Psychiatry 177, no. 4 (October 2000): 325–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.177.4.325.
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BackgroundThe mental health of populations can be represented by case prevalence rates and by symptom scales. Scales have the advantage of identifying sub-syndromal levels of distress, which may be common and associated with considerable disability.AimsTo examine the distribution of common psychological symptoms and associated disablement in the Australian population.MethodA household sample of 10 641 individuals representative of the adult population of Australia was interviewed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and completed scales measuring recent symptoms and disablement.ResultsSymptom scales showed similar associations with socio-economic variables as did diagnoses, although only a small amount of variance in symptom levels was explained by these variables. Considerable disablement was associated with symptom levels indicating distress but not reaching levels for formal diagnoses of anxiety or depression.ConclusionsSymptom scales provide parsimonious measures of psychological distress and are appropriate for use in large-scale surveys of mental health and disablement.
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Sudeshika, Thilini, Mark Naunton, Gregory M. Peterson, Louise S. Deeks, Jackson Thomas, and Sam Kosari. "Evaluation of General Practice Pharmacists: Study Protocol to Assess Interprofessional Collaboration and Team Effectiveness." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 3 (January 22, 2021): 966. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18030966.
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The inclusion of pharmacists into general practices has expanded in Australia. However, there is a paucity of research examining interprofessional collaboration and team effectiveness after including a pharmacist into the general practice team in primary or community care. This is a protocol for a cross-national comparative mixed-methods study to (i) investigate interprofessional collaboration and team effectiveness within the general practice team after employing pharmacists in general practices in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and (ii) to compare interprofessional collaboration and team effectiveness of pharmacists in general practice across Australia with international sites. The first objective will be addressed through a multiphase sequential explanatory mixed-method design, using surveys and semi-structured interviews. The study will recruit general practice pharmacists, general practitioners, and other health professionals from eight general practices in the ACT. Quantitative and qualitative results will be merged during interpretation to provide complementary perspectives of interprofessional collaboration. Secondly, a quantitative descriptive design will compare findings on interprofessional collaboration (professional interactions, relationship initiation, exchange characteristics, and commitment to collaboration) and team effectiveness of general practice pharmacists in Australia with international sites from Canada and the United Kingdom. The results of the study will be used to provide recommendations on how to best implement the role of general practice pharmacists across Australia.
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Griffiths, Daniel, Luke Sheehan, Dennis Petrie, Caryn van Vreden, Peter Whiteford, and Alex Collie. "The health impacts of a 4-month long community-wide COVID-19 lockdown: Findings from a prospective longitudinal study in the state of Victoria, Australia." PLOS ONE 17, no. 4 (April 7, 2022): e0266650. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266650.
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Objectives To determine health impacts during, and following, an extended community lockdown and COVID-19 outbreak in the Australian state of Victoria, compared with the rest of Australia. Methods A national cohort of 898 working-age Australians enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study, completing surveys before, during, and after a 112-day community lockdown in Victoria (8 July– 27 October 2020). Outcomes included psychological distress, mental and physical health, work, social interactions and finances. Regression models examined health changes during and following lockdown. Results The Victorian lockdown led to increased psychological distress. Health impacts coincided with greater social isolation and work loss. Following the extended lockdown, mental health, work and social interactions recovered to an extent whereby no significant long-lasting effects were identified in Victoria compared to the rest of Australia. Conclusion The Victorian community lockdown had adverse health consequences, which reversed upon release from lockdown. Governments should weigh all potential health impacts of lockdown. Services and programs to reduce the negative impacts of lockdown may include increases in mental health care, encouraging safe social interactions and supports to maintain employment relationships.
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Steel, Zachary, Derrick Silove, Nguyen Mong Giao, Thuy Thi Bich Phan, Tien Chey, Anna Whelan, Adrian Bauman, and Richard A. Bryant. "International and indigenous diagnoses of mental disorder among Vietnamese living in Vietnam and Australia." British Journal of Psychiatry 194, no. 4 (April 2009): 326–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.108.050906.
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BackgroundWhether the prevalence rates of common mental disorders can be compared across countries depends on the cultural validity of the diagnostic measures used.AimsTo investigate the prevalence of Western and indigenously defined mental disorders among Vietnamese living in Vietnam and in Australia, comparing the data with an Australian-born sample.MethodComparative analysis of three multistage population surveys, including samples drawn from a community living in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam (n=3039), Vietnamese immigrants residing in New South Wales, Australia (n=1161), and an Australian-born population (n=7961). Western-defined mental disorders were assessed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 2.0 and included DSM–IV anxiety, mood and substance use disorders as well as the ICD–10 category of neurasthenia. The Vietnamese surveys also applied the indigenously based Phan Vietnamese Psychiatric Scale (PVPS). Functional impairment and service use were assessed.ResultsThe prevalence of CIDI mental disorders for Mekong Delta Vietnamese was 1.8% compared with 6.1% for Australian Vietnamese and 16.7% for Australians. Inclusion of PVPS mental disorders increased the prevalence rates to 8.8% for Mekong Delta Vietnamese and 11.7% for Australian Vietnamese. Concordance was moderate to good between the CIDI and the PVPS for Australian Vietnamese (area under the curve (AUC)=0.77) but low for Mekong Vietnamese (AUC=0.59). PVPS- and CIDI-defined mental disorders were associated with similar levels of functional impairment.ConclusionsCultural factors in the expression of mental distress may influence the prevalence rates of mental disorders reported across countries. The findings have implications for assessing mental health needs at an international level.
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Chandra, Meena, Anthea Duri, and Mitchell Smith. "Prevalence of chronic disease risk factors in 35- to 44-year-old humanitarian arrivals to New South Wales (NSW), Australia." Australian Journal of Primary Health 25, no. 1 (2019): 19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py18042.
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The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of chronic disease risk factors in humanitarian arrivals to Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) with the Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations aged 35–44 years. Data on risk factors collected from 237 refugees presenting to the NSW Refugee Health Service (RHS) from January 2015 to August 2016 were retrospectively analysed and compared with data from the Australian Health Surveys, 2011–13 for the Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian populations. This study found significantly higher levels of triglycerides (z=3; 95% CI, 0.16–0.26); hypertension (z=3.2; 95% CI, 0.17–0.29); and smoking (z=3.5; 95% CI, 0.27–0.33) in refugees compared with the general Australian population. The Indigenous population had significantly higher levels of triglycerides (z=4; 95% CI, 0.16–0.26); body mass indexes (BMIs) (z=3.3; 95% CI 0.58–0.72); and smoking (z=5.4; 95 CI 0.27–0.33) compared with refugees. Based on the study findings, screening for chronic disease risk factors from age 35 years may be warranted in all humanitarian arrivals to Australia, along with dietary and lifestyle advice.
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Smith, Terri, Alan W. Gemmill, and Jeannette Milgrom. "Perinatal anxiety and depression: Awareness and attitudes in Australia." International Journal of Social Psychiatry 65, no. 5 (May 31, 2019): 378–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020764019852656.
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Background: Better community mental health literacy is associated with positive help-seeking behaviours and reduced stigma. There are relatively few published surveys of perinatal mental health literacy. Aims: To provide a profile of current awareness, knowledge and attitudes in relation to the mental health of women and men in the perinatal period. Method: A cross-sectional online survey ( n = 1,201) of adults (⩾ 18 years) in each state and territory of Australia was conducted in early 2016. Survey questions were based on a previous 2009 survey, with the addition of several novel items designed to assess knowledge around both perinatal anxiety and men’s perinatal mental health. Results: Depression (including postnatal depression) was the most frequently cited general health problem for women in the first postnatal year (52% of spontaneous first responses). Over 70% of adults believed that postnatal depression requires specialised treatment and checks for depressive symptoms should occur routinely in pregnancy and the first postnatal year. Women identified postnatal depression at a higher rate than men. Most commonly, postnatal depression was perceived as having a biological rather than psychosocial etiology (34.5%). Men and women differed in their knowledge about the symptoms of postnatal depression with more women correctly identifying core depressive symptoms. The specific term ‘perinatal depression’ was not well recognised. Although not well recognised as a general health issue, when prompted, 39% of respondents were aware of anxiety as a specific perinatal mental health issue. Most adult Australians (60%) were unaware that perinatal depression and anxiety could be experienced by men. Conclusion: Awareness of postnatal depression appeared high. However, areas including anxiety, antenatal mental health, and men’s mental health were less well-understood. There remains considerable scope, and a need for, continued awareness-raising around anxiety, mental health in pregnancy and men’s mental health.
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Metcalfe, Jenni, and Michelle Riedlinger. "Identifying and Testing Engagement and Public Literacy Indicators for River Health." Science, Technology and Society 14, no. 2 (July 2009): 241–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/097172180901400203.
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Natural resource management (NRM) organisations in Australia are increasingly recognising the need for complement studies of biophysical condition of the environment with studies of social condition, such as values, understanding, and participation related to the environment. Relevant and reliable social indicators that can be scaled and measured on a regular basis are essential to meet this need. In this study, we identified four indicators to test the social condition of the public in the State of Victoria in Australia with regard to river health. These indicators were river use, river knowledge and literacy, values and aspirations, and river health behaviours. We tested the four indicators through telephone and web-based surveys with over 1000 people in three areas of Victoria. We analysed the survey data statistically and gathered baseline data on the social condition of river health in the three regions. We made recommendations for how this data could be interpreted and used in community engagement and science communication programmes about river health. We also examined the limitations of the methodology and recommended modifications to the survey design and application for an anticipated roll-out of the survey across the entire State of Victoria. The Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) will use this survey instrument to test social indicators on a regular basis.
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Lynch, Elizabeth, Kate Laver, Tamina Levy, and Timothy Schultz. "‘The way that we are collecting and using data has evolved’ evaluating the Australian National Stroke Audit programme to inform strategic direction." BMJ Open Quality 12, no. 1 (January 2023): e002136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002136.
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BackgroundThe National Stroke Audit has been used to audit and provide feedback to health professionals and stroke care services in Australia since 2007. The Australian Stroke Clinical Registry was piloted in 2009 and numbers of hospitals participating in the registry are increasing. Considering the changing data landscape in Australia, we designed this study to evaluate the stroke audit and to inform strategic direction.MethodsWe conducted a rapid review of published literature to map features of successful data programmes, followed by a mixed-methods study, comprising national surveys and interviews with clinicians and administrators about the stroke audit. We analysed quantitative data descriptively and analysed open-ended survey responses and interview data using qualitative content analysis. We integrated data from the two sources.ResultsWe identified 47 Australian data programs, successful programs were usually funded by government sources or professional associations and typically provided twice yearly or yearly reports.106 survey participants, 14 clinician and 5 health administrator interview participants were included in the evaluation. The Stroke Audit was consistently perceived as useful for benchmarking, but there were mixed views about its value for local quality improvement. Time to enter data was the most frequently reported barrier to participation (88% of survey participants), due to the large number of datapoints and features of the audit software.Opportunities to improve the Stroke Audit included refining Audit questions, developing ways to automatically export data from electronic medical records and capturing accurate data for patients who transferred between hospitals.ConclusionWhile the Stroke Audit was not perceived by all users to be beneficial for traditional quality improvement purposes, the ability to benchmark national stroke services and use these data in advocacy activities was a consistently reported benefit. Modifications were suggested to improve usability and usefulness for participating sites.
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Meadows, Graham N., and Irene Bobevski. "Changes in met perceived need for mental healthcare in Australia from 1997 to 2007." British Journal of Psychiatry 199, no. 6 (December 2011): 479–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.085910.
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BackgroundThe Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted in 1997 and 2007 allows for exploration of changes in perceptions of mental healthcare. Major demographic, economic and health-behaviour changes have unfolded in Australia during this time. Governments also have increased spending on mental health services and been active in mental healthcare policy-making and implementation.AimsTo compare rates of meeting of perceived need for mental healthcare between these two surveys dealing with adjustable sources of error.MethodCombined data-sets from 1997 and 2007 were analysed to provide weighted population estimates. Selection, indirect standardisation to a common reference population and multinomial logistic regression were employed, addressing bias and confounding.ResultsBetween 1997 and 2007 perceived need for information, counselling and skills training among people who consulted a general practitioner, psychiatrist, or psychologist for mental health reasons has increased. Within these service users, increases in perceived responses from services are evident among people who have perceived needs for information provision and counselling.ConclusionsPolicy and service changes are among possible causal explanations. Generally, trends are in the direction that policy changes were intended to achieve, giving some encouragement that these initiatives have had some effect. Reduced unmet perceived need suggests improved access to some interventions. However, the proportion of service responses to perceived need seen as sufficient is generally unchanged. This suggests the adequacy of treatments offered, as perceived by the Australian public, may not have improved and that a continued focus on quality of care is important for the future.
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Yap, Lorraine, Jocelyn Jones, Basil Donovan, Sally Nathan, Elizabeth Sullivan, Sophie Davison, Ed Heffernan, et al. "The sexual behaviours of adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years involved with the juvenile justice system in Australia: A community-based survey." PLOS ONE 15, no. 12 (December 28, 2020): e0243633. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243633.
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Objectives To overcome key knowledge gaps in relation to justice involved and vulnerable young people and their sexual health and to compare this group with their peers from other youth health surveys in Australia to determine the extent of the issues. Methods Young people, aged between 14 and 17 years, who had ever been or were currently involved with the criminal justice system were purposively sampled. The survey was anonymous and delivered using Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI). Results A total of 465 justice involved MeH-JOSH young people, aged between 14 and 17 years, participated in the study: 44% Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) and 37% not attending school. Of the total valid responses, 76% (n = 348) reported having ever had sex, with sexual initiation at a median age of 14 years. We compared these data with their peers in other Australian surveys and found that young people in our study had a higher engagement in sex and start having sex at a younger age, reporting more sexual partners at all ages. Conclusions The sexual behaviours of young people involved in the justice system in this study suggest they may be at a greater risk for sexually transmissible infections than their age-matched peers in the general population. Policymakers should elevate them to a priority population for targeting sexual health services and health promotion.
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Reavley, Nicola J., and Anthony F. Jorm. "Public recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment: changes in Australia over 16 years." British Journal of Psychiatry 200, no. 5 (May 2012): 419–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.104208.
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BackgroundA 1995 Australian national survey of mental health literacy showed poor recognition of disorders and beliefs about treatment that differed from those of health professionals. A similar survey carried out in 2003/4 showed some improvements over 8 years.AimsTo investigate whether recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment have changed over a 16-year period.MethodA national survey of 6019 adults was carried out in 2011 using the same questions as the 1995 and 2003/4 surveys.ResultsResults showed improved recognition of depression and more positive ratings for a range of interventions, including help from mental health professionals and antidepressants.ConclusionsAlthough beliefs about effective medications and interventions have moved closer to those of health professionals since the previous surveys, there is still potential for mental health literacy gains in the areas of recognition and treatment beliefs for mental disorders. This is particularly the case for schizophrenia.
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Falster, Kathleen, Linda Gelgor, Ansari Shaik, Iryna Zablotska, Garrett Prestage, Jeffrey Grierson, Rachel Thorpe, et al. "Trends in antiretroviral treatment use and treatment response in three Australian states in the first decade of combination antiretroviral treatment." Sexual Health 5, no. 2 (2008): 141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sh07082.
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Objectives: To determine if there were any differences in antiretroviral treatment (ART) use across the three eastern states of Australia, New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and Queensland, during the period 1997 to 2006. Methods: We used data from a clinic-based cohort, the Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD), to determine the proportion of HIV-infected patients on ART in selected clinics in each state and the proportion of treated patients with an undetectable viral load. Data from the national Highly Specialised Drugs program and AHOD were used to estimate total numbers of individuals on ART and the proportion of individuals living with HIV on ART nationally and by state. Data from the HIV Futures Survey and the Gay Community Periodic Survey were used to determine the proportion of community-based men who have sex with men on ART. The proportion of patients with primary HIV infection (PHI) who commenced ART within 1 year of diagnosis was obtained from the Acute Infection and Early Disease Research Program (AIEDRP) CORE01 protocol and Primary HIV and Early Disease Research: Australian Cohort (PHAEDRA) cohorts. Results: We estimated that the numbers of individuals on ART increased from 3181 to 4553 in NSW, 1309 to 1926 in Victoria and 809 to 1615 in Queensland between 2000 and 2006. However, these numbers may reflect a lower proportion of individuals living with HIV on ART in NSW compared with the other states (37% compared with 49 and 55% in 2000). We found similar proportions of HIV-positive men who have sex with men participants were on ART in all three states over the study period in the clinic-based AHOD cohort (81–92%) and two large, community-based surveys in Australia (69–85% and 49–83%). Similar proportions of treated patients had an undetectable viral load across the three states, with a consistently increasing trend over time observed in all states. We found that more PHI patients commenced treatment in the first year following HIV diagnosis in NSW compared with Victoria; however, the sample size was very small. Conclusions: For the most part, patterns of ART use were similar across NSW, Victoria and Queensland using a range of available data from cohort studies, community surveys and national prescription databases in Australia. However, there may be a lower proportion of individuals living with HIV on ART in NSW compared with the other states, and there is some indication of a more aggressive treatment approach with PHI patients in NSW compared with Victoria.
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Blignault, Ilse, and Abbas Haghshenas. "Identification of Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in national healthdata collections." Australian Health Review 29, no. 4 (2005): 455. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah050455.
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In multicultural Australia, comprehensive and upto- date information on ethnicity and health is essential to guide policy and service development in the health sector. Data collected for purposes other than research are a potentially important source of information. This study explored the extent to which indicators of cultural and linguistic diversity are currently included in national health and welfare service data collections, and the data standards employed. We identified and reviewed 44 relevant bodies of work: 7 national data dictionaries, 15 national data sets, 10 national health data collections and 12 national surveys. Each of the large data dictionaries (health, community services and housing assistance) contained several ethnicity-related variables. Immigrant Australians were identified (usually by country of birth, sometimes by language, and occasionally by period of residence or year of arrival) in all the major national health and community data sets, health data collections and surveys. Australian Bureau of Statistics standards and classifications relating to cultural and linguistic diversity were widely used. Researchers, health policy makers and planners should fully exploit these secondary data sources, as well as undertaking or commissioning primary research.
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Trollor, Julian N., Tracy M. Anderson, Perminder S. Sachdev, Henry Brodaty, and Gavin Andrews. "Age Shall not Weary Them: Mental Health in the Middle-Aged and the Elderly." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 41, no. 7 (July 2007): 581–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048670701392817.
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Objective: The prevalence of mental disorders in the elderly is disputed. The debate in this area can be informed by data from large population surveys that contain sufficient elderly participants. The aim of the present paper was to provide the first direct comparison of the prevalence and demographic correlates of ICD-10 anxiety and affective disorders in the middle-aged and the elderly. Method: The 12 month prevalence and demographic correlates of affective and anxiety disorders were compared in a community sample of middle-aged and elderly Australian residents who took part in the Australian National Mental Health and Well-being Survey (NMHWS). Results: One in seven middle-aged participants and one in 16 elderly participants experienced symptoms consistent with any anxiety or affective disorder in the preceding 12 months. Compared to the middle-aged participants, the elderly had lower rates for most affective and anxiety disorders, and for the combined presence of any disorder. Demographic correlates of mental disorder, especially marital status, were different for the two groups. Conclusions: Community-dwelling elderly in Australia have lower rates of mental disorder compared to the middle-aged. Differences in demographic correlates between groups support the notion that the determinants of mental disorder in the elderly differ substantially from those in middle age.
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Heslop, Ian M., Richard Speare, Michelle Bellingan, and Beverley D. Glass. "Assessing the Travel Health Knowledge of Australian Pharmacists." Pharmacy 8, no. 2 (May 31, 2020): 94. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy8020094.
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Worldwide, the numbers of travellers are increasing, with pharmacists having the potential to play a significant role in the provision of pre-travel health services to a large number of these travellers. However, studies examining whether pharmacists have the travel health knowledge to provide these services are limited. This study thus aimed to explore the travel health knowledge of Australian pharmacists. Surveys assessing pharmacists’ knowledge of travel health were distributed through the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and community pharmacies for self-completion. Overall, the travel health knowledge of participants was found to be good. However, although the majority of participants were aware of the common causes of morbidity and mortality in travel health, some slightly overestimated the prevalence of malaria and were less knowledgeable about the global distribution of some diseases. Most participants also demonstrated an ability to give appropriate advice on the management of traveller’s diarhoea, the selection of appropriate items for inclusion in travel first aid kits, vaccinations, and malarial chemoprophylaxis for travellers visiting endemic areas. This study highlights that Australian pharmacists have the knowledge to deliver travel health advice, with the potential to improve both access and outcomes for travellers.
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Patrick, Rebecca, and Jonathan Kingsley. "Health promotion and sustainability programmes in Australia: barriers and enablers to evaluation." Global Health Promotion 26, no. 2 (August 23, 2017): 82–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1757975917715038.
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In an era characterised by the adverse impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, health promotion programmes are beginning to actively link human health with environmental sustainability imperatives. This paper draws on a study of health promotion and sustainability programmes in Australia, providing insights to evaluation approaches being used and barriers and enablers to these evaluations. The study was based on a multi-strategy research involving both quantitative and qualitative methods. Health promotion practitioners explained through surveys and semi-structured interviews that they focused on five overarching health and sustainability programme types (healthy and sustainable food, active transport, energy efficiency, contact with nature, and capacity building). Various evaluation methods and indicators (health, social, environmental, economic and demographic) were identified as being valuable for monitoring and evaluating health and sustainability programmes. Findings identified several evaluation enablers such as successful community engagement, knowledge of health and sustainability issues and programme champions, whereas barriers included resource constraints and competing interests. This paper highlights the need for ecological models and evaluation tools to support the design and monitoring of health promotion and sustainability programmes.
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Vujcich, Daniel, Meagan Roberts, Graham Brown, Jo Durham, Zhihong Gu, Lisa Hartley, Roanna Lobo, et al. "Are sexual health survey items understood as intended by African and Asian migrants to Australia? Methods, results and recommendations for qualitative pretesting." BMJ Open 11, no. 12 (December 2021): e049010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049010.
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IntroductionMore research and policy action are needed to improve migrant health in areas such as sexual health and blood-borne viruses (SHBBV). While Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice Surveys (KAPS) can inform planning, there are no SHBBV KAPS suitable for use across culturally and linguistically diverse contexts. This study pretests one instrument among people born in Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East and North-East Asia living in Australia.MethodsEmployees of multicultural organisations were trained to collect data over three rounds using a hybrid qualitative pretesting method. Two researchers independently coded data. Researchers made revisions to survey items after each round. Responses to feedback questions in the final survey were analysed.ResultsSixty-two participants pretested the survey. Issues were identified in all three rounds of pretesting. Of the 77 final survey respondents who responded to a survey experience question, 21% agreed and 3% strongly agreed with the statement ‘I found it hard to understand some questions/words’.ConclusionIt is essential to pretest SHBBV surveys in migrant contexts. We offer the following pretesting guidance: (1) large samples are needed in heterogeneous populations; (2) intersectionality must be considered; (3) it may be necessary to pretest English language surveys in the participants’ first language; (4) bilingual/bicultural workers must be adequately trained to collect data; (5) results need to be interpreted in the context of other factors, including ethics and research aims; and (6) pretesting should occur over multiple rounds.
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Goldney, Robert D., Kirsten I. Dunn, Eleonora Dal Grande, Shona Crabb, and Anne Taylor. "Tracking Depression-Related Mental Health Literacy Across South Australia: A Decade of Change." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 43, no. 5 (January 1, 2009): 476–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048670902817729.
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Objective: The aim of the present study was to measure and compare levels of depression-related mental health literacy in South Australia across three points in time: 1998, 2004, and 2008. Method: Participants were those recruited for the 1998, 2004, and 2008 South Australian Health Omnibus Surveys. Comparisons were made across overall levels of depression-related mental health literacy as well as between responses to independent questionnaire items. Results: A significant improvement was found in the overall measure of depression-related mental health literacy between 1998 and 2004 and this was consolidated in 2008. Some discrete changes in literacy were found between 2004 and 2008, with improvements recorded across some demographic groups and in participants’ ability to accurately classify symptoms. Participants in 2008, however, were significantly less likely to endorse providers or treatments as ‘helpful’ than in 2004. Conclusions: Although knowledge and understanding of depression have improved significantly and stabilized since 1998, patient confidence in both mental health therapists and treatment options fell between 2004 and 2008, although it is still greater than in 1998.