Community pharmacies: an ideal setting to promote continence

Stage One of the Pharmacy Continence Care Project (the project) was undertaken in 2003-2004 by the Continence Advisory Service of WA Incorporated. The aim of the project was to establish current best practice in the provision of continence care within community pharmacies in Australia and internationally, and to develop a model of best practice based upon these findings. These materials will be trialed and evaluated in the second stage of the project. Research, including a literature search, surveys of pharmacy staff, consumer focus groups and a consumer survey was conducted. A survey of consumers found that they were generally uncertain of knowledge levels of pharmacy staff in relation to continence issues.This uncertainty was demonstrated by consumers indicating that they would primarily seek continence advice from a doctor or other health care professional rather than a pharmacist. While a definitive model was not found, components of a best practice model and opportunities to promote continence were identified. Stage one of the project concluded with the development of draft training modules. In response to input from pharmacy staff, a selection of supportive material, such as product selection guides was developed to enhance pharmacy staff skills in providing information and advice on continence care. The second stage of the project will involve the evaluation and modification of the training materials

Why sustainable population growth is a key to climate change and public health equity

Australia’s population could reach 42 million by 2050. This rapid population growth, if unabated, will have significant social, public health and environmental implications. On the one hand, it is a major driver of climate change and environmental degradation; on the other it is likely to be a major contributor to growing social and health issues including a decline in quality of life for many residents. Disadvantaged and vulnerable groups will be most affected. The environmental, social and health-related issues include: pressure on the limited arable land in Australia; increased volumes of industrial and domestic waste; inadequate essential services; traffic congestion; lack of affordable housing; declining mental health; increased obesity problems; and inadequate aged care services. Many of these factors are related to the aggravation of climate change and health inequities. It is critical that the Australian Government develops a sustainable population plan with stabilisation of population growth as an option. The plan needs to ensure adequate hospitals and healthcare services, education facilities, road infrastructure, sustainable transport options, water quality and quantity, utilities and other amenities that are already severely overburdened in Australian cities. There is a need for a guarantee that affordable housing will be available and priority be given to training young people and Indigenous people for employment. This paper presents evidence to support the need for the stabilisation of population growth as one of the most significant measures to control climate change as well as to improve public health equity

Effectiveness of E-mail Support to Increase Physical Activity Within the Workplace

A brief intervention was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a walking based intervention to motivate Curtin university staff to be more active. Thirty staff participated in a blind trial with half the participants randomly allocated to the control group (given pedometers to record their normal daily steps) and intervention group (given pedometers and additional email motivation to increase their daily step count).It was found that University staff physical activity levels (7,605 mean steps per day) were significantly lower than physical activity levels of the general population in Western Australia (9,695 mean steps per day). This is of concern as it places University staff at higher risk of mortality and morbidity from chronic diseases.Regular motivational emails were found to be useful in encouraging staff to be more active as staff liked the social support, sense of belonging and encouragement. Group 1 (email motivation) increased their mean steps significantly from 7,578 in Week 1 to 9,128 in Week 2 while the control group did not change.Many workplaces have staff with sedentary jobs that could be targeted by similar flexible physical activity interventions

Evaluation of a recreational team game for seniors: Lifeball - a case study

The objective of this project was to assess changes in physical activity, social isolation and loneliness of Lifeball participants as a result of participation in Lifeball. Lifeball is a team game based on walking, ball passing and goal shooting. Newly enrolled Lifeball players (n = 95) aged 50 years and over were recruited from Lifeball clubs in Western Australia. Subjects completed a questionnaire on their physical activity levels and perceptions of their psychosocial health and well-being. The questionnaire was administered at baseline and after 3 months of participation in Lifeball. There was no significant change to overall physical activity levels. However, it appears Lifeball was used to replace other recreational pursuits that the subjects were involved in. There was a positive shift in variables associated with social isolation and loneliness. Lifeball provides alternative physical activity opportunities and may help reduce social isolation and loneliness

Physical Activity and Nutrition Intervention for Mothers of Young Children: Process Evaluation

Introduction: Process evaluation of community based projects is integral to understanding the success or failure of health promotion interventions. Process evaluation was used to assess the intervention strategies and resources in a playgroup setting aimed at mothers of young children. Methods: Process evaluation data were collected from participants (n = 249) and staff (n = 25) involved in the intervention. Data included staff perspectives on use of the playgroup as a setting, participants’ views on the feasibility and acceptability of the program strategies and resources, and program reach. Results: Responding participants reported that the intervention was useful (98%) and relevant for their age group (92%), encouraged them to think about making changes to their physical activity (95%) and dietary (98%) behaviors, and helped them to make changes to their physical activity (66%) and dietary (79%) behaviors. Participants reported that the most useful intervention strategies included the program booklet (85%), workshops (86%), newsletters (73%) and SMS (57%).Conclusion: This research provides valuable information on participants’ perspectives of the program strategies, content and overall implementation. It provides insight into the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and identifies areas for improvement when conducting programs in playgroup settings. The process evaluation indicated that playgroups are a suitable setting for health promotion targeting mothers of young children

Mapping the attainment of health promotion competencies: Implications for credentialing and professional development

This article documents the development of an evidence guide, which maps the attainment of nationally identified health promotion competencies by students completing the undergraduate or postgraduate course in health promotion at a large Australian university. Using an action research process an evidence guide was developed that met the needs of key stakeholders. This is the first time any Australian university has utilized the national competencies in this way. The evidence guide is a document that collates evidence of attainment of health promotion competencies. It can be used by students as a planning tool and as an aid to gaining employment. It also has the potential to be used as part of a credentialing process for health promotion practitioners

Twenty Years of Workplace Health Promotion

Curtin University has been actively advocating a healthy lifestyle in the workplace to increase productivity, creativity, health and happiness for 20 years. The Curtin Healthy Lifestyle Program was initially established based on a community development approach.University staff are assisted to reduce their level of stress by promoting a healthy lifestyle and changing the work culture to one where staff are valued. Staff are encouraged to balance work, study and family life by taking work breaks, attend healthy activities during work time, be involved with campus life, network with other staff, develop hobbies, fit physical activity into their day (even involving their families in healthy activities) and generally make time to care for their health.The program focuses on intersectoral collaboration amongst various departments, areas and individuals. Staff and students are encouraged to become involved, to form supportive groups, to increase the number of healthy opportunities available and to find solutions to health related problems on campus.This paper reviews the range of activities offered at the University as part of the program, and outlines environmental and policy changes undertaken to develop a supportive environment in the workplace and the development of a "Health Promoting University"

Development of a community profile for alcohol and other drug use for the WDLDAG

Rapid Assessment and Response (RAR) methodology was utilised for the development of a community profile of the Willetton and District area regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs and its associated problems. The process by which the community profile was developed was documented with the future aim of developing this process in the form of an RAR Guide that can be used by other community groups. This project was undertaken by the Willetton and District Local Drug Action Group (WDLDAG) in collaboration with the Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research (WACHPR) at Curtin University, Perth. The objectives of the project were: to establish the nature and extent of alcohol and other drug use and factors influencing this use; to establish the adverse consequences associated with alcohol and drug use and the factors influencing them; and to establish the resources available and current interventions within the community, relevant to drug and alcohol problems.Various sources were utilised to generate data for the community profile. Qualitative data was generated from 11 in-depth interviews and 3 focus group interviews with parents, students, teachers, school nurses, school counsellors, local police officers and other community members. Quantitative data was generated from the Australian School Students Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSAD) and other local data. Data was successfully gathered and significant lessons were learnt regarding the investigation of a sensitive topic, working within a school setting and working with a community group. Overall, the alcohol and other drug use patterns in the Willetton and District area were in line with the average patterns of use throughout WA. The interviews provided suggestions for possible solutions to the identified alcohol and other drug use problems. It is intended that these suggestions will help inform strategies put that can be implemented by the WDLDAG and its members in response to the identified problems

Tackling Obesity via Workplace Health Promotion

The Curtin University Healthy Lifestyle Program is a worksite health promotion program that has been advocating a healthy supportive environment by encouraging healthy behaviours for 20 years. A multifaceted approach has been used with an Accredited Practising Dietitian available for one-to-one dietary consults with staff and an email newsletter "Eat for Life" distributed to staff which focused on healthy lifestyle changes such as choosing healthy food more often and increasing physical activity, and environmental changes to make healthy choices easier on campus. The staff restaurant and student guild catering outlets agreed to modify their menus, based on recommendations made by staff and students in the Nutrition Program and provided more healthy food choices.In 2003 a weekly weightloss support group was introduced. Lunchtime seminars attracted interest in the group while also raising awareness of the need to eat healthy food and increase physical activity especially walking. Participants liked the group sessions as they "kept you on track","learnt from other's tips and pitfalls" and gained extra support from other staff at work and the Curtin Healthy Lifestyle Program. Two star participants lost 20kg each over a year via their new healthier lifestyle

The Surgeon General\u27s \u27Smoking and Health\u27: a continuing challenge

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