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In 2020, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) partnered with the Illinois Public Health Institute and the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health to create the Healthy Illinois 2021 Plan Update: An Addendum to the Illinois 2016-2021 State Health Assessment and State Health Improvement Plan. After collecting and analyzing focus groups and surveys of IDPH and local health department staff, data were shared, and discussions were held with the State Health Assessment and State Health Improvement Plan team to create a vision for the state moving forward.

A thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.

Using data collected as part of a larger evaluation, this brief examines differences across platforms (i.e., both physical locations and online menu listings) in default beverage offerings with kids’ meals and associated upcharges in Illinois and Wisconsin fast-food restaurants prior to the Illinois HBD Act taking effect.

CPS student recommendations for schools on how to support student health holistically, involve students in health and wellness decision-making, and facilitate greater awareness and utilization of school and community resources by students and families.

This report examines the health and social wellbeing needs of sex workers in Victoria, particularly in relation to sexual, physical and mental health. The report is designed to inform needs and service provision in the Victorian setting, where sex work has recently been decriminalised. The report is deliberately expansive and includes exploration of the experiences, and perspectives, of both key stakeholder and sex worker participants. Detailed recommendations are provided for the reconfiguration, development and implementation of services to meet the needs of sex workers in the future.

The 2022 Annual Report of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss, commonly progressing from failure to recall important names and dates to partial or complete inability to care for oneself. AD is recognized as the most common form of dementia, with dementia being the general term used in addressing diseases of the brain resulting in a decline in cognitive functioning and memory. Risk factors and causes of AD are heavily researched, as the pathology of this disease is very complicated and case-dependent. Common risk factors of AD are continually sleeping too much or too little (less or more than 7-9 hours), poor diet, lack of exercise, untreated mental or physical illness, substance abuse, and more. For this project, common risk factors of AD were evaluated and their prevalence correlated with the severity and onset of an individual with an AD diagnosis. This analysis was done two ways; a survey for family members of a loved one with an AD diagnosis, including questions surrounding the loved one’s diagnosis and habits through their young adult/adult life, and the other being qualitative analysis of credible literature focused on these risk factors. It was hypothesized that those with a higher abundance of risk factors would have an earlier onset of AD and/or experience the disease at a greater severity. Quantitative analysis of literature addressing risk factors of AD and qualitative analysis of the survey responses determined that the major risk factors for AD including sleep duration and quality, social involvement, and overall physical health are relevant across multiple domains. While there are many exceptions and a high rate of unpredictability with this disease, it can be determined there are lifestyle choices and occurrences that place an individual at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

Family engagement is a shared responsibility of both school staff and families. School staff are committed to making families feel welcomed while families are committed to actively supporting their child’s learning and development. This relationship between school staff and families reinforces student health and learning in multiple settings—at home, in school, after school programs, and in the community

Examples of assistance and support that the Healthy CPS Network Specialist can provide to principals and wellness champions to support them in achieving each of the Healthy CPS badges (Health Leadership, Health Instruction, Healthy Environments, and Health Services) and in working towards their own schools’ health and wellness goals.

This tool seeks to provide insights for school districts nationwide as to how technical assistance providers can deliver a multi-tiered system of supports to schools to strengthen health and wellness-related programming. Information in this tool was compiled as part of an evaluation of a pilot initiative designed to support schools in strengthening health and wellness-related programming and improving compliance with local health and wellness-related policies. Information reported here was gathered from key informant interviews with representatives from schools who benefited from the support provided through this initiative. This information is shared to support continued dialogue, reflection, and action as to how each district and/or school might better support those implementing health and wellness programming and supporting children’s health and wellbeing.

Culturally and linguistically diverse people from high HIV prevalence countries, people who travel to these countries, and their partners are listed as a priority population in the 8th Australian National HIV Strategy (Department of Health, 2018) due to the relatively higher rates of HIV in these communities. In Australia, the overall rate of new HIV transmissions declined by 7% between 2010 and 2017 (The Kirby Institute, 2018). However, this decline was only evident within communities of Australian-born gay and bisexual men. For people born overseas, there was an increase in the rate of new HIV transmissions over the same time period. This suggests that HIV prevention, care and support needs of smaller and more diverse populations are not being met by current service delivery although research is currently limited on what these needs are or how they can best be addressed. This paper reports on a series of interviews that were conducted with community and healthcare providers. The aim was to explore whether current models of HIV community service delivery, and the composition of the HIV health workforce, can adequately support people living with HIV (PLHIV) from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. While HIV prevention was not a direct focus of this study, the care and support of PLHIV – including support for PLHIV to access treatment and sustain viral suppression– is inherently related to HIV prevention.

Examples of assistance and support that the Healthy CPS Network Specialist can provide to improve Network-wide achievement of Healthy CPS by acting a navigator between the Network, Office of Student Health and Wellness, and schools, and technical assistance provider to schools and the Network.

Introduction: Recent trends in Australian national survey data show an increase in alcohol use among middle-aged people, amidst declines in alcohol use among other population groups. There is limited research, however, on middle-aged women's alcohol use. This study aimed to examine patterns in alcohol use among Australian women aged 40–65 and the associated sociodemographic and contextual factors. Methods: Cross-sectional data from six waves of the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (2001–2019). We estimated the prevalence of long-term risky drinking (>2 Australian standard drinks per day) and risky-single occasion drinking (>5 Australian standard drinks on one occasion) among middle-aged women. Logistic regression models were estimated using 2019 data to examine demographic characteristics and contextual factors associated with alcohol use. Results: Since 2001, there has been a statistically significant increase in long-term risky drinking and risky-single occasion drinking amongst middle-aged women in Australia. Educational attainment, marital status and employment status were negatively associated with risky drinking, whereas rurality, age and location of use were positively associated with risky drinking. Beverage type was both positively and negatively associated with risky drinking. Discussion and Conclusions: Given the significant increase in alcohol use amongst middle-aged women in Australia, prevention efforts are needed for this group, which may focus in particular on home drinking and the impact of rurality on alcohol use.

Issue addressed: People in rural areas have poorer oral health than their urban counterparts due to a range of factors. Local governments (LGs) have a key role in addressing health issues that impact on local communities. Methods: Publicly available oral health profile (OHP) data and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans (MPHWPs) (2017-2021) were downloaded from Dental Health Services Victoria and LG websites for 48 Victorian local government areas (LGAs) containing predominately rural areas. OHP data were collated to provide an overview of the oral health status of the communities and a content analysis of the MPHWPs undertaken. Results: Despite poor oral health in rural Victorian LGAs, oral health was not often in MPHWPs. Twenty of the MPHWPs had some mention of oral health but only four included specific actions or strategies that would be used to improve oral health. None of the plans contained any specific targets for action or details of evaluations that might be used to assess success. Conclusions: Poor oral health in rural Victorian communities continues to be demonstrated through local OHPs and is due to modifiable risk factors and poor access to water fluoridation. LGs have a key role to play in improving oral health through utilisation of OHP data in their MPHWPs. So what?: Oral health remains a low priority for LG action. This represents a missed opportunity for prioritising oral health prevention and promotion activities that improve oral health in rural Victoria.

This PhD study is about unusual perceptual experiences, thoughts and beliefs (UPTBs) and the lives of young people who report them. In this PhD, UPTBs refer to hallucinatory and delusion-like experiences that occur in the absence of a psychotic disorder. UPTBs are not uncommon in youth populations. For most young people, they are transient experiences. Young people who report UPTBs are more likely to experience psychopathology. They are also more likely to have experienced childhood trauma and adversity. However, little is known about the phenomenology of UPTBs in young people or the dynamic interrelationships between the early life experiences and later outcomes of young people who report them. This PhD aimed to explore the phenomenology of UPTBs in young people and how young make sense of these experiences. It also aimed to explore the relationships between young people’s early life experiences, their experiences of UPTBs and their emotional and mental health. Findings from this PhD have revealed the phenomenologically diversity of UPTBs and the different meanings they have in young people’s lives. Although this PhD confirms an association between UPTBs and emotional and mental health difficulties, it also demonstrated that not all UPTBs are pathological in nature. Findings from this have also shown that there is a dynamic and synergistic relationship between young people’s early life experiences, their attachment relationships, their emotional and mental health, their experiences of UPTBs and their satisfaction with life. The type and timing of early adversity and the quality of early attachment relationships were identified as key factors in understanding young people’s mental health outcomes and their related UPTB experiences. Qualitative data also explored young people’s subjective experiences of emotional and mental health issues. These were translated into a series of themed animations and hosted on an online youth health platform for young people aged 16-25 years, where they have been viewed over 15,000 times. This PhD has advanced the field of UPTB research by providing new insights into the phenomenology of UPTBs and the synergistic relationships between young people’s early life experiences, their mental health and their UPTB experiences. It has also demonstrated the value of mixed methods research and differing knowledge transfer approaches.

To contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., lockdowns, masks) were applied worldwide on a scale unseen in a century. This thesis presents findings from The COPE Initiative, a public health surveillance activity among adults in the US and Australia. We assessed public attitudes, behaviours, and beliefs about COVID-19 and prevention measures, along with mental health. Our findings of widespread initial support for nonpharmaceutical interventions, along with persistently elevated levels of adverse mental health symptoms���especially among young adults and unpaid caregivers���informed public health policies, support, services, and interventions to contain COVID-19 and mitigate its adverse effects.

Voluntary health screening clinics have been made available to people in rural areas over many years, however what health changes do these people make as a result of the screening process? A group of Central Queensland adults, who voluntarily undertook heart risk screening, supported by client -centred health goal setting, participated in a follow up study, post screening. The participants were contacted using telephone interviews, at six and twelve month intervals, to ascertain what health behavioural changes, if any, had occurred. Self reported information was sought concerning perceptions of personal health, present health behaviour and the factors in participants' lifestyles which supported or inhibited positive health behaviour. Qualitative analysis of the data was undertaken to determine the types of changes made and the reported contextual issues affecting health behaviour, both individually and collectively. Participants' perceptions of contextual factors that influence health behaviours and their ability to engage in and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours were identified. While some of these factors had been identified in other studies, very little information on this topic, has been reported and no research has been undertaken involving participants from the Central Queensland region. Knowledge from this study will contribute to enhancing health promotional programs, so that programs will meet more of the needs of those whom they seek to influence.

Addiction has been a problem in all areas for decades. It can be applied to anything from over-eating to use of illicit substances. While each addiction is likely present in every population, alcohol addiction/abuse is very prevalent in Route County, Colorado. The Yampa Valley Medical Center sees many patients presenting in the Emergency Department with high blood alcohol content each week, many of them repeatedly. This poses the question to the caregivers of whether putting the addicts through hospital detoxification repeatedly is harming them mentally and physically more than just allowing them to return to a safe blood alcohol content and leave, waiting for them to be ready to choose and plan a detoxification. The proposed study attempts to answer this question; In addicted patients living in the United States, how does planned detoxification compare to unplanned detoxification with regards to both mental and physical patient outcomes? The answer to this question is essential for nurses to know to ensure higher levels of compliance with patients, increasing community health. It is important for nurses to provide and advocate for the care that will serve the patient better in the long run, even if it may not be what first appears to be the healthiest decision.

This report represents a ‘landscape’ of government health policy documents in Aotearoa New Zealand specific to the interests of the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge (HLNSC). After an environmental scan of 48 government outputs, we focused in on 15 based on their direct relevance to the work of Healthier Lives. The criteria for selection can be found preceding the inventory. In this report we provide a summary table and text of each of the listed policies, outlining in each the priorities and strategic goals outlined by the Ministry of Health and any potential gaps in the policy coverage.

To assess the reliability of the Beverage Tax Food Store Observation Form, we conducted an inter-rater reliability (IRR) study in the summer of 2017 in 56 food stores in Joliet, Illinois, a racially/ ethnically diverse, mid-sized city in the Chicago metropolitan area. The purpose of this brief is to report on the development and IRR results of the overall form and individual measures.

The 2021 Annual Report of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University.

Peer reviewed title and author list presented at the HWA Conference Program 2022: What’s Next – Planning for the Future. Beyond the research: Impact and translation to practice. Adeleye, A., Baldwin, A., Alexis, O., Hopkinson, S. The Transition of Nigerian Educated Nurses to the Australian Healthcare System: An Exploratory - Qualitative Study in Work-life Learning. Byrne, Amy-Louise. Person centred, or system centred? How nurses can change the health-service agenda to a person-centred one. Verrall, Claire Catherine. Voluntary patient registration in general practice - implications for the role of the practice nurse. Harvey, Clare., Baldwin, Adele., Brain, David., Heritage, Brody., Forrest, Rachel., Brown, Janie., Willis, Eilleen., Palmer, Janine., Hegney, Desley., David Heard,. Byrne, Amy-Louise., Ferguson, Brigid., McLellan, Sandy., Thompson, Shona., Bishop, Nadine. Nurse Navigators - Forging a way to caring for people living with long term conditions. McGoldrick, C., Bradshaw, J., Williamson, M., Holmes C. The Self and Self-Management of COPD. Le Lagadec, D., Dwyer, T., Browne, M. Indicators of patient deterioration in poorly resourced hospitals: Which vital sign to watch. Sakalauskienė E., Jarašiūnaitė-Fedosejeva G., Ruseckienė D., Klimavičienė E., Kirkilytė A., Kriaučiūnaitė V., Luneckaitė Ž., Riklikienė O. The experience of traumatic birth symptoms among women in Lithuanian Hospitals. Sudarsan, Indu,. Navigating asthma - the Indian immigrant childs tug-of-war: a constructivist grounded theory. Mulhouse, J., Harvey, C., Baldwin, A. Discursive shifts and normalisation associated to continued use of restraint practice in Residential Aged Care Facilities. McLellan, J., Sahay, A., Bradshaw, J., Ralph, N. The use of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (skill group) in Defence Force Veteran populations: A Systematic Review - and future research planning. Jackson, K. A sense of kinship: peer work in suicide intervention services. Waters, K., Alley, S., Fien, S. Research into falls of older adults living in residential aged care and community-dwelling. Simes, T., Cutmore, E., Le Lagadec, D., Bell, T., Wirihana, L., Bradshaw, J., Hunt, S. Synchronous telelearning: the future of hands-on clinical skills education in the health workforce Brown, L., Calleja, P., Forster, E., Le Lagadec, D. Factors impacting nurses' response to the deteriorating child in Australian rural and remote hospitals - identifying the gaps. An umbrella review of the literature. Nijkamp, Nick., Calleja, Pauline., Sahay, Ashlyn. Transition Support Arrangements for New Graduate & Novice Nurses Entry into Perioperative Nursing: An Integrative Review. Calleja, P., Marshall, A., Wilkes, S., Bertolo, C., Hayes., Duggan, A., Parnemann, A., Beavis, C., Kelly, J. Rural and remote education for clinicians in Queensland: Evaluation of the education support trial. Phase 1 and 2 results. Preston, R., Kaphle, S., Baral, O. Helpful, but not quite!! Can short-term student placements really make sustainable impacts in lower-middle income communities? Fien, Samantha., Dowsett, Caroline., Hunter, Carol Lu., Myooran, Jananee., Sahay, Ashlyn., Menzel, Kelly., Cardona, Magnolia. Telehealth for First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse people. Whitfield, S. Near-Peer. Teaching in Paramedicine - A cross sectional study of student experiences. Flenady, T., Sahay, A., Calleja, P., Wirihana, L. Building Clinicians' Research Capacity: A novel model to overcome known barriers. Flenady, T., Dwyer, T., Sobolewska, A., Le Lagadec, D., Connor, J., Kahl, J., Signal, T., Browne, M. What influences clinicians’ compliance or non-compliance with early warning system protocols? Naito, Yumi. End of life decision making in Japan

Reducing private care travel in favour of active travel modes is imperative for improving planetary and human health. While a plethora of evidence exists for associations across the ecological model and active travel modes, less is known regarding car use and the choice to shift between transport modes. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of research focused on understanding of key individual characteristics associated with car use and travel mode shifts. A scoping review was undertaken in Scopus and PubMed in September 2019. A combination of keywords for travel mode, individual characteristics, and decision-making (e.g., choice, “mode shift,” “behaviour change”) were used to identify relevant studies. Bibliographies of relevant articles were screened. Data were extracted into a study-specific form and described narratively. Literature identified revealed that psychological and socio-demographic relationships with shifting away from car use are complex. The Theory of Planned Behaviour and Perceived Behavioural control were commonly used to understand transport mode “choice”. Additionally, social norms, habitual processes, identity, and the complex interplay between situational and personal factors were important to consider. Clear profiles existed for car users and willingness to shift away from cars. Males and older population groups were more likely to be persistent car users. Habits, intentions, and identity all play an important role in understanding car use and willingness to shift away from car use. Changing these factors requires comprehensive and targeted evidence-based approaches, within a wider ecological framework.

Young women (18–25 years) are more likely to engage in pubic hair removal and experience higher rates of negative sexual health outcomes (e.g., sexually transmitted infections [STIs]). Hair removal salons may serve as novel environments for health interventions. The Sexual Health and Esthetician (SHE) Study aimed to better understand the pubic hair removal profession, explore the esthetician–client relationship, and assess potential for esthetician offices/salons serving as health promotion/sexual health promotion intervention settings. Using an exploratory qualitative design, in-depth interviews (N = 28) were conducted with licensed estheticians who provided pubic waxing services. In a large urban area in Southern California, the catchment area of salons included five unique neighborhoods, each with high reported STI rates. Data were analyzed using a social constructivist perspective and emergent themes from interviews. Synthesis of data showed estheticians provide a variety of waxing services for young women; during appointments, sex-related discussions occur, creating “sexy spaces” where otherwise taboo conversations happen with ease; they notice clients’ possible health concerns, including STIs, but have no protocols/procedures for handling these occurrences; and interactions with clients often result in the development of an intimate bond. Results indicate estheticians may be effective conveyors of sexual health promotion and risk reduction interventions.

Skin cancer screening clinics were introduced into a number of towns throughout Queensland as part of the Melanoma Screening Trial (MST), a study investigating the efficacy of screening for melanoma. The MST requires 60% of these towns' populations aged over 30 years to be screened for melanoma within a three year intervention phase. The aim of this case study is to assess the relationship between Rogers' (1995) diffusion of innovations and the health promotion strategies implemented to encourage attendance at skin cancer screening clinics. Data were obtained from a number of sources, including administrative files, progress reports, interviews and focus groups and were positioned within a comparative theory/practice matrix. Pattern matching logic was used to assess the relationship between the health promotion strategies and the theoretical construct of diffusion of innovations. All components of diffusion of innovations (Rogers, 1995) were addressed by the health promotion strategies encouraging attendance at the skin cancer screening clinics. The delivery of the skin cancer screening clinics was in accordance with principles identified by past diffusion research. The skin cancer screening clinics conformed to most predictors of diffusion success and were delivered within a "real" environment, as suggested by past community -based interventions. A number of changes to existing health promotion strategies and the addition of some new strategies have been suggested to improve the rate of diffusion of skin cancer screening clinics in the future.

The purpose of this brief is to describe the measures related to kids’ meal default beverage offerings in the FPPFFKM tool and report on the IRR results.

This report presents findings from Pride and Pandemic, a study conducted in partnership between LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) and the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS), La Trobe University. Pride and Pandemic explores experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) adults aged 18 and over in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on mental health outcomes and the coping strategies used to mitigate these. The study comprised a large online survey followed by focus group discussions with young people, trans and gender diverse people, LGBTQ+ people from culturally diverse communities, and those who are part of rainbow families, defined as LGBTQ+ people who are parents or care for young children. The chapters of this report present a comprehensive snapshot of the data obtained through the Pride and Pandemic survey and focus groups. Throughout the report the data are presented for the full sample. Each chapter also includes a large table to illustrate the role of intersecting identities and how the pandemic may have been experienced differently for different subsections of the LGBTQ+ population. In these tables, key variables are broken down by age, gender, sexual orientation, multicultural background, disability, residential location and state or territory. Additionally, for information that may not have been captured by the survey, outcomes from the focus groups are presented throughout the report to provide more in-depth accounts of the mental health experiences of LGBTQ+ people during the pandemic and coping strategies used to manage mental health. © ARCSHS, La Trobe University 2021. This report may be downloaded for personal use only. Permission to reproduce this report must be sought from La Trobe University.

This research brief examines restaurant menu default beverages offered with children’s meals and ordinance compliance across online platforms from 10 restaurant chains in Columbus, OH, and comparison sites pre- and post-implementation.

This paper explores how the level of knowledge in hospice and palliative care nurses concerning policy affects patient care. A literature review was conducted to determine how the level of policy knowledge influences various patient outcomes. This review focused on four main areas, including pain administration at the end of life, hesitancy to report errors, nonadherence to legislation and policy, and the impacts of moral distress. In addition to discussion concerning patient outcomes, this paper addresses education and other clinical practice recommendations to improve patient outcomes related to the four main areas of this paper.

A significant proportion of New Zealand men may be impacting the health of their future children through poor health and lifestyle behaviours prior to conception. Koi Tū’s latest evidence brief sheds light on how a father’s physical and mental health, age, and alcohol and drug use can affect the health of future generations. Most research on the effect of environmental conditions on young children’s wellbeing has focused on pregnant women, but human and animal studies are increasingly suggesting that biological fathers may pass on disease risks via sperm. The brief suggests several ways to promote awareness of the role both men and women play across generations in order to help normalise shared responsibility for children’s health.

Objective: To examine the effect of the intervention implemented in the ToyBox study on changes observed in age and sex specific BMI percentile and investigate the role of perinatal factors, parental perceptions and characteristics on this change. Design: A multicomponent, kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention with a cluster-randomized design. A standardized protocol was used to measure children’s body weight and height. Information was also collected from parents/caregivers via the use of validated questionnaires. Linear mixed effect models with random intercept for country, socioeconomic status and school were used. Setting: Selected preschools within the provinces of Oost-Flanders and West-Flanders (Belgium), Varna (Bulgaria), Bavaria (Germany), Attica (Greece), Mazowieckie (Poland) and Zaragoza (Spain). Participants: A sample of 6,268 pre-schoolers aged 3.5-5.5 (51.9% boys). Results: There was no intervention effect on the change in children’s BMI percentile. However, parents’ underestimation of their children’s actual weight status, parental overweight and mothers’ pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity were found to be significantly and independently associated with increases in children’s BMI percentile in multivariate modelling. Conclusion: Before or as part of the implementation of any childhood obesity intervention initiative, it is important to assist parents/caregivers to correctly perceive their own and their children’s weight status. Recognition of excessive weight by parents/caregivers can increase their readiness to change and as such facilitate higher adherence to favourable behavioural changes within the family.

This report presents findings from a study that explored effective approaches to digital sexual health promotion with young people. We were interested in how young people engage in online environments with topics of sex, sexuality, sexual health, relationships and bodies. We also aimed to identify innovative approaches to online sexual literacy education and sexual health promotion, and to explore ways to maximise the potential of the internet to support classroombased relationships and sexuality education (RSE). © ARCSHS, La Trobe University 2022

Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria.

Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Department of Dietetics, Nutrition and Sport, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Victoria.

Conference Proceedings The 2022 Virtual Health Workforce Academy (HWA) Conference brings together RhD candidates, researchers, academics, industry partners to discuss and present emerging health workforce research. The theme for the 2022 Conference was ‘What’s Next: Planning for the Future.’ Presentations and discussions were centred around the following five themes and provided an opportunity for researchers to present their research on health workforce and share their findings, provide recommendations, potential impact, and directions for developing the health workforce. Themes included: 1. Health Professional Education 2. Quality Nursing Care 3. Patients and Consumers 4. Indigenous and CALD Health 5. Aged Care The conference also provided an opportunity for delegates to meet and network with people over a virtual dinner, build collaborations with four international universities that participated, partake in masterclasses, and engage in a hybrid keynote + workshops delivered by esteemed members of the research community.

This thesis explores the influence of public health anti-obesity campaigns on risk factors for eating disorders using a mixed-methodological approach. Findings from all included studies indicate public health campaigns addressing overweight/obesity can negatively influence eating disorder risk factors in audiences. In particular, those at risk of/diagnosed with an eating disorder. Future research directions and recommendations to minimise further potential harm are provided.

The National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health began in 1992 and focuses on the HIV and STI knowledge, sexual behaviour and sexual health education of young Australians approximately every five years. In 2018, we used online recruitment rather than school-based recruitment, a reflection of changing times, and we received an overwhelming number of responses throughout Australia. This has given us the opportunity to present statewide data for the first time that focuses solely on the HIV and STI knowledge, sexual behaviour, and sexual health education of young Victorians. A total of 2,294 young Victorians aged from 14 to 18 years (referred to throughout much of this report as ���young people���) responded to the survey. This cohort included young people who were not in school (10.8% of the sample) and were not surveyed in previous iterations.

There are many people who choose alternative or unorthodox healthcare options that are not based on the best available evidence for efficacy and effectiveness. There has been a rejection of vaccination by sections of the population leading to suboptimal rates of vaccination, and increased rates of infectious diseases such as measles. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are also increasingly popular, despite the scarcity of clinical evidence for the efficacy and safety of many of these therapies. The goal of this thesis is to explore unorthodox worldviews that predict vaccine scepticism and use of CAM in order to inform the future development of persuasive strategies to encourage participation in vaccination programs, and evidence-based healthcare. In this thesis the underpinnings of vaccine scepticism and CAM use have been explored through the different traditions of individual differences (inclusive of personality, attitudes, and beliefs), socio-demographics, and emotional reactions. Four studies were undertaken to achieve this goal including (1) the development of a standardised measure of CAM utilisation using data from an archived population survey of Australian adults; (2) an investigation of explanatory factors, including personality (openness to experience), cognitive style, and a range of unorthodox beliefs, for the relationship between CAM use and vaccination scepticism, using an archived population survey of Australian adults; (3) an examination of associations between geographic or area-level socio-demographic factors and uptake of vaccination among 5-year old children throughout Australia, using a public health focused ecological methodology, and (4) conducting an online priming experiment, to assess whether increasing the salience of concepts of contamination and purity will produce changes in reactions to a range of health interventions, including vaccination and CAM. Following are the key findings. The first study developed a brief, summative questionnaire measure of CAM utilisation called the R-I-CAM-Q, to address a gap in previous research which was lacking a psychometrically sound, and quantitative measure of CAM utilisation. The main findings of the second study, a cross-sectional survey, were that positive attitudes to CAMs, rather than use of CAMs, best predict vaccination attitudes; and that negative attitudes to vaccination and positive attitudes to CAMs both correlate with the presumed antecedents of magical beliefs about health. The geographic/area-based study revealed that communities with lower rates of vaccination had relatively less disadvantage, and had relatively greater education and occupational status, suggesting that privilege puts people at risk. The priming experiment showed no experimental effect of priming for contamination or purity/naturalness. Nevertheless, higher levels of sensitivity to disgust were associated with lower ratings of the effectiveness of MMR vaccination, tetanus injection, antibiotics, and surgery. These studies identify the psychological, social, cultural, and emotional characteristics of those who have unorthodox health beliefs and behaviours. Knowledge that can directly inform the future development of tailored and persuasive health promotion strategies and campaigns which encourage evidence-based healthcare choices, particularly uptake of vaccination.

Introduction: Tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a significant threat to athletes when an unanticipated component is present. The current research investigated the change in injury and performance kinetics when manipulating the timing of a directional stimulus through a range of 0ms to 400ms before landing. Methods: Thirteen uninjured recreational athletes jumped forward from a 30cm tall block, landing bilaterally with the dominant foot on a Bertec forceplate. Upon landing, participants either performed a vertical jump or a left/right jump at 90��, indicated by an LED panel. Stimuli were sent in one of four conditions: 1) anticipated (AN), before movement; 2) classically unanticipated (CU), moment the participant left the block; 3) timed unanticipated at 300ms (TU300) and 150ms (TU150) before landing; or 4) at landing (LA). Stimuli and timing were controlled via an Arduino Uno microcontroller. Results and Discussion: Differences in peak vertical landing force (FZLA) and peak vertical takeoff force (FZTO) were found in the lateral jump condition, LA condition resulting in a larger FZLA than the other conditions, and a smaller FZTO with stimuli presented at TU150 than AN and CU. Generally, FZTO decreased and contact time increased as available time to react decreased, negatively affecting performance. Further research on the changes of combined kinetics and kinematics is necessary before intervention programs are implemented.

Submitted in total fulfilment for requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Psychology and Public Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Victoria.

We start ageing the moment we are born. The way we age depends on decisions and behaviours we have been making throughout our lives. This talk this talk will cover basic biomedical and psycho-social aspects of ageing and we will discuss more in depth the age-related changes affecting hydration, kidney & liver function that seriously affect drug journey through the body. We will also discuss how we can use the Five Pillars of Ageing Well to keep well for as long as possible.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a cognitive task on jump-landing biomechanics and performance. Methods: 26 recreational athletes participated in the study. Participants jumped forward off of a 30cm box a distance equal to one half of their body height, then immediately performed a countermovement jump. This movement was performed in a control condition, while counting backwards by intervals of 1, and by intervals of 7. Initial knee flexion, knee range of motion, peak vertical ground reaction force (PVGRF), stance time, and jump height were calculated. Results: There were statistically significant differences in initial knee flexion (p = 0.0004), PVGRF (p = 0.031), and stance time (0.038) between the control and counting by 1 condition. There were also significant differences in knee range of motion (p = 0.049, p = 0.012) and jump height (p = 0.001, p = 0.0002) between the control and both the 1 and 7 conditions. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the addition of a cognitive task did alter both landing biomechanics and performance. These results have implications for developing new ACL injury screening procedures to more realistically imitate a sport environment.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) mediates glucose uptake through expression of GLUT-4 on cell membranes and its use as a fuel, thus preventing injury and apoptosis. Mice were randomly assigned to be trained (T), sedentary and resting (SR), or sedentary and exercised to exhaustion (SE) immediately prior to sacrifice. Samples were taken from the heart and quadriceps. Males had higher activation of AMPK among all groups in the heart. TE groups had higher activation than SR and SE. SR groups had higher activation than SE groups. In quadriceps, the females showed higher AMPK activation in the TE and SE groups. Gender discrepancy between controls did not exist. TE and SE groups had higher activation than SR controls. The SR groups had higher activation in the heart than the SE group. This was not found in the quadriceps. Gentle handling of the SR group could induce a fright response, thus activating AMPK in that group. Our findings support prior studies showing a graded response to exercise. Discrepancy between genders was more substantial than graded training effects in the heart, but not the quadriceps. This study suggests the training effect is more dramatic in the males' heart and females' quadriceps.

Health Justice Unpacked at UIC provides insights from 4 School of Public Health (SPH) faculty and 1 SPH doctoral candidate on what the term "health justice" means to them, and the intersections between race and health. They provide history and context for health justice and provide resources that inform their own work.SPH Faculty: Dr. Brenikki Floyd, Dr. Uchechi Mitchell, Dr. Michael Cailas, Dr. Susan BuchananDoctoral Candidate: Nyahne Bergeron

A policy analysis was conducted to identify policies that could support informal workers in the Greater Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. With the guidance of our community partners, Equity and Transformation and Street Vendors Association of Chicago, we decided to concentrate on policies that could make it easier to establish and operate home-based businesses in Greater Lawndale. We aimed to understand the home-based business (HBB) ordinance, its likely impact and continued restrictions. A template to conduct a policy analysis is provided for replicability in academic-community spaces.

Physical activity is an important aspect in the improvement of wellbeing and in the increase of the number of years in a person's life. Many factors affect the prevalence of physical activity among certain groups of people and the prevalence of inactivity in other groups of people. These factors include age, education level, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and gender of either a single individual or a community that people are members of. My research focuses on each of these epidemiological components that can result in the emergence of a physically active lifestyle or a more sedentary lifestyle. It has been designed to help with the improvement of healthy behaviors among people. By being able to determine high-risk epidemiological situations an individual or community is able to target these factors and develop physical activity programs that deviate from settings that may jeopardize a successful physical activity program.

The PAUSE to Learn Your Epilepsy study uses mobile technology to deliver personalized self-management education to adults with epilepsy. PAUSE participants were sociodemographically diverse and there was no difference between those who participated and those who chose not to participate.

In this talk we open the Ageing well Public Talk Series for 2021/22. We introduce the Five Pillars for Ageing Well and discuss the content of the Series.

This thesis investigates the sustainability of a family-focused practice, namely Let’s Talk about Children, in Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS), in Victoria, Australia. Mental illness can disrupt family relationships, and parent and child wellbeing. Many people who access AMHS are parents and despite government policy embedding family-focused practice in AMHS, there remains significant challenges in integrating it into routine practice. Let’s Talk about Children is an evidence-based practice that promotes parent, child and family wellbeing. This thesis identifies key elements for sustaining Let’s Talk about Children in AMHS with recommendations for practitioners, mental health services, policy makers and researchers.

Increasing evidence shows nonrestorative sleep (NRS) is a symptom of sleep, health, or psychiatric problem. It has been frequently reported in people with physical and psychological health issues but may not co-morbid with other sleep disorders. Around 8% of Hong Kong Chinese adults experienced NRS. However, there had been no standardized instrument for measuring NRS in Chinese populations, and the associated factors and potential impact have not been well studied. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) culturally adapt the Nonrestorative Sleep Scale (NRSS) in Chinese populations; (2) identify its associated factors; (3) examine its association with health-related quality of life; and (4) shorten the NRSS. In accordance with international standards, I performed the linguistic and psychometric evaluation of the traditional Chinese NRSS with 120 participants. I have shown that the Chinese NRSS was essentially unidimensional and was reliable and valid for assessing NRS. The root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), and comparative fit index (CFI) of the bifactor confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model were 0.06, 0.06, and 0.97, respectively. Convergent validity was demonstrated by the significant correlations with sleep quality (r = −0.66), insomnia (r = −0.65), depression (r = −0.54), and alertness (r = 0.68). The simplified Chinese NRSS was also culturally adapted. An exploratory factor analysis of 231 adolescents revealed a four-factor structure. The structure was confirmed in a CFA on another 250 adolescents with the RMSEA, SRMR, and CFI as 0.062, 0.051, and 0.975, respectively. Convergent validity was demonstrated by the significant correlations with sleep quality (r = −0.62), insomnia (r = −0.71), depression (r = −0.60), and alertness (r = 0.54). Also, multigroup CFA models concluded measurement invariance across genders. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability were 0.83 and 0.86, respectively. In 500 Hong Kong Chinese adults recruited from a territory-wide household survey, the average NRS level was 64.77 on the 0–100 scale. People who had better NRS were those with more family income (b = 0.52), exercise (b = 1.19), and social support (b = 0.73) but had less somatic symptoms (b = −1.02), depression (b = −0.58), stress (b = −0.76), and noise sensitivity (b = −0.08). Furthermore, I have found that every unit increase in NRSS was significantly associated with 0.12 and 0.09 units increase in the physical and mental component scores, respectively, of the Short Form-12 Health Survey version 2. Lastly, I used the currently best approach of the optimal test assembly (OTA) to obtain a 9-item traditional Chinese NRSS. The 9-item scale showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.819) and convergent validity by association with sleep quality (r = −0.59). The short form retained 92% of the test information of the original scale. Conclusively, the12-item and 9-item Chinese NRSS are reliable and valid for NRS assessment. Moreover, interventions incorporating exercise and social support and a remedy for somatic symptoms, stress, depression, and noise sensitivity are desirable. Such interventions would benefit NRS and improve health-related quality of life.