Using health risk assessments to target and tailor: An innovative social marketing program in aged care facilities

The number of Australians over the age of 65 years is expected to double by 2021. Many older Australians suffer from one or more chronic diseases - including cancer, coronary heart disease, respiratory diseases (AIHW, 2009) resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, lower quality of life and a higher need for health care (Hickey and Stilwell, 1991). There is increasing evidence that the adoption of healthy lifestyles can have significant benefits even into older age (Haveman-Nies et al, 2002). This project utilized a social marketing framework to support aged residents of retirement homes to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours to improve their health

Ureteral injuries during different types of hysterecomy: A 7-year series at a single university center

Objectives: Accidental ureteral injury with gynaecologic surgery, especially hysterectomy, represents a high risk of patient morbidity. The incidence may vary from centre to centre. As the introduction of new minimally invasive surgical techniques and instruments may have affected the incidence of ureteral injury, we de novo analysed the incidence data for the last seven years. Study design: Incidence of ureteral injury was analysed stratifying the data according to the type of hysterectomy (n = 3071). The incidence rate was reported as a confidence interval (CI). Ureteral injuries were classified as direct or indirect. Results: Fifteen ureteral injuries were registered. The highest incidence was evidenced for radical hysterectomy (CI: 0.82–3.99), followed by laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (CI: 0–11.9). The incidence of direct ureteral injury was 26.6%, half of which were identified during the operative procedure. In 26.7% of the operations resulting in ureteral injury, heat-generating instruments were used. Conclusions: The incidence of ureteral injury during different types of hysterectomy was low. The majority of injuries were indirect. These were injuries which resulted from a micro-trauma, and developed due to the delayed necrosis of the ureteral wall. Laparoscopic approach to radical and simple hysterectomy didn‘t substantially raise the incidence of ureteral injury

Using health risk assessments to target and tailor: An innovative social marketing program in aged care facilities.

The number of Australians over the age of 65 years is expected to double by 2021. Many older Australians suffer from one or more chronic diseases - including cancer, coronary heart disease, respiratory diseases (AIHW, 2009) resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, lower quality of life and a higher need for health care (Hickey and Stilwell, 1991). There is increasing evidence that the adoption of healthy lifestyles can have significant benefits even into older age (Haveman-Nies et al, 2002). This project utilized a social marketing framework to support aged residents of retirement homes to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours to improve their health

Parametric numerical study of wind barrier shelter

This work is focused on a parametric numerical study of the barrier's bar inclination shelter effect in crosswind scenario. The parametric study combines mesh morphing and design of experiments in automated manner. Radial Basis Functions (RBF) method is used for mesh morphing and Ansys Workbench is used as an automation platform. Wind barrier consists of five bars where each bar angle is parameterized. Design points are defined using the design of experiments (DOE) technique to accurately represent the entire design space. Three-dimensional RANS numerical simulation wasutilized with commercial software Ansys Fluent 14.5. In addition to the numerical study, experimental measurement of the aerodynamic forces acting on a vehicle is performed in order to define the critical wind disturbance scenario. The wind barrier optimization method combines morphing, an advanced CFD solver, high performance computing, and process automaters. The goal is to present a parametric aerodynamic simulation methodology for the wind barrier shelter that integrates accuracy and an extended design space in an automated manner. In addition, goal driven optimization is conducted for the most influential parameters for the wind barrier shelter

[In Press] Refugee awareness of a transformative intervention to increase blood donations

Purpose: This study aims to test the efficacy of the awareness of a transformative health service communication intervention targeted to African refugees in Australia, designed to increase their intentions to participate in blood donation and reduce any identified barriers. Design/methodology/approach: Following the intervention launch, a survey was administered to African refugees. The data were analysed with structural equation modelling. Findings: Intervention awareness increases refugees’ blood donation knowledge and intentions. Although it has no direct effect on refugees’ medical mistrust or perceived discrimination, intervention awareness indirectly reduces medical mistrust. The findings, thus, suggest that the intervention was transformative: it directly and indirectly reduced barriers to refugee participation in blood donation services. Research limitations/implications: Limitations include a relatively small sample size, single-country context and measures that address blood donation intentions versus behaviours. Social implications: Addressing health service inequities through intervention awareness, via the mere exposure effect, can facilitate refugees’ health service participation and inclusion. Originality/value: This study contributes to transformative service research and responds to calls to improve individual and community well-being by testing a transformative intervention targeted towards vulnerable consumers. Not all targeted refugees donated blood, but being encouraged to participate in this health service within the host society can foster their greater inclusion

Australian lessons for developing and testing a culturally inclusive health promotion campaign

The purpose of the study was to develop and test culturally appropriate health promotion materials that were seen to be socially inclusive in regard to blood donation within the Australian-African community. Materials were produced in multiple languages (English, Arabic, Swahili and Kirundi) and were initially developed based on previous pilot data, with feedback from the project partner (Australian Red Cross Blood Service) and the African community. Seven formative focus groups with 62 participants were then conducted to ensure the materials would be effective, credible and culturally acceptable to the target audience, including preferred messages, taglines and images. The response confirmed that quotes and images from community members (as opposed to actors) were critical to ensure messages were engaging and believable, and had meaningful taglines that were perceived to be authentic. The refined materials were then used in a community intervention study. The evaluation included an assessment of respondents' views of the messages post-intervention. Of the 281 African migrants who saw the campaign materials during the intervention period, the majority (75.8%) strongly agreed that the materials made them feel part of the wider Australian community. These results suggest that engagement in developmental activities with targeted communities is important for creating positively viewed culturally targeted public health campaigns. A six-step process is suggested that could be used by other organizations to ensure that messages are acceptable to targeted migrant communities

Sports-based mental health promotion in Australia: formative evaluation

Objectives: Formative evaluation is critical in maximising the implementation strategies and processes of interventions. It is also critical to both providing contextual explanations for and maximising the success of such interventions. The purpose of this study was to undertake a comprehensive formative evaluation of the implementation process of a multi-component, sports-based mental health program for adolescent males (“Ahead of the Game”). Methods: Primary outcomes included program reach, dose, fidelity and cost during initial piloting and two distinct implementation phases. The iterative formative evaluation process provided opportunities to adapt the program and its implementation strategy to optimise reach, dose and fidelity relative to implementation cost. Results: Formative evaluation data showed that the program failed to achieve optimal reach in the initial pilot phase (Phase I), with low doses of the program received by stakeholders, and moderate fidelity. Bottom up implementation strategies improved dose and club ownership during Phase II but resulted in high costs and lower fidelity and was associated with implementation staff retention and management issues. Phase III with more streamlined staffing and club integrated implementation resulted in high reach, dose, fidelity and club ownership and an associated reduction in implementation cost per participant. Conclusion: Formative evaluation succeeded in maximising the Ahead of the Game program engagement over three distinct phases. Results are salient for informing cost-effective implementation strategies for sports-based health promotion

An Intervention for Mental Health Literacy and Resilience in Organized Sports

Purpose In this study, we tested the effectiveness of a multicomponent sports-based program aimed at promoting early intervention, help seeking, and resilience among a sample of adolescent male sport participants. Methods The Ahead of the Game program comprised four intervention components and a messaging campaign. Two components targeted mental health literacy, intentions to seek and provide help, and resilience among adolescent boys. A mental health literacy program for parents and a coach education program to assist in the support of athletes' psychological needs were also included. We evaluated the program using a nonrandomized controlled trial matching two regional communities. In total, 350 sport participants (mean, 14.53 yr) were included in an intervention group, whereas 466 (mean, 14.66 yr) received usual practice in a matched control community. One hundred and eighty parents or caregivers and eight coaches also participated in the intervention components. Between-group mean differences on the primary and secondary outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed models, adjusted for clustering at club level, participant age, and socioeconomic status. Results Significant positive group-time interactions were found for the primary outcomes of depression and anxiety literacy, intentions to seek help from formal sources, confidence to seek mental health information, and resilience. We also found a significant positive group-time interaction for the secondary outcome of well-being. There were no group-time interactions for social distance (stigma), intentions to seek help from informal sources, implicit beliefs about adversity, perceived familial support, or psychological distress. Conclusions Given the high rates of sport participation worldwide and the increasing focus on mental health in this domain, translation and dissemination of the program may be warranted after replication