Health Promotion Journal of Australia最新文献

Issue addressed: Substance use and mental illness remain critical issues for young Australians, however, engagement with evidence-based health resources is challenging among this age group. This study aimed to develop engaging, useful digital health resources, underpinned by neuroscience principles, to build awareness of the harms of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and concurrent alcohol and antidepressant use.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was adopted to co-design two evidence-based videos resources. The resources were co-designed with the Matilda Centre's Youth Advisory Board Centre's Youth Advisory Board through a series focus groups and individual feedback reviews. Young people residing in New South Wales were then invited to complete a survey to evaluate the usefulness, relatability and impact on perceived harms associated with each substance pre- and post-viewing resources.

Results: A total of 100 participants completed the survey (mean age = 21.5 years, SD = 2.77, 42% Female, 2% Non-binary). The animated videos were well received, with the large majority (91% and 87% respectively) of participants rating them 'excellent' or 'very good'. After viewing the videos, there was a significant increase in the perception of harm associated with e-cigarette use, monthly (t(99) = 2.76, p = .003), weekly (t(99) = 4.82, p < .001) and daily (t(99) = 4.92, p < .001), and consuming alcohol whilst taking antidepressants both weekly (t(100) = 2.93, p = .004) and daily (t(100) = 3.13, p = .002).

Conclusions: This study describes a successful co-design process demonstrating how meaningful involvement of young people, alongside traditional research methods, can produce substance use prevention resources that are useful, engaging and increase knowledge of harms among young people. SO WHAT?: To achieve meaningful public health impact researchers, experts and digital creators can work together to co-create substance use educational materials that are engaging, well-liked, while imparting important health knowledge.

Issue addressed: Public transport (PT) users often accumulate more physical activity (PA) than private motor vehicle users and financial incentives may increase PT use. Responding to rising petrol prices, from 28 March to 1 May 2022, the Tasmanian government made public bus use fare-free. This exploratory study examined the perceived impact of fare-free buses on bus use and PA.

Methods: Tasmanian adults who had used the fare-free buses (N = 548) completed an online survey (4 May-14 June 2022). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential methods and responses to open-ended questions categorised.

Results: Over the fare-free period, 46% of participants reported more bus use-average weekly bus trips increased from 3.0 to 4.0 (p < 0.001). Most (81%) participants, including 36% (n = 33/93) who were not previous bus users, planned continued bus use despite financial cost. Total PA was reported higher (36%), the same (60%) and lower (4%) than usual during the fare-free period. Higher total PA was more common amongst those reporting increased bus use (n = 186/240; 78%). Responses to open-ended questions revealed: bus use-related PA gain was through walking to/from bus stops, more frequently attending PA settings (e.g., the gym) and unexpected walking due to bus service limitations; household-level cost savings, improved travel opportunities and better social/mental health were additional fare-free benefits.

Conclusions/so what: Fare-free buses were commonly perceived to increase bus use and PA. Intervention studies would determine if PA and financially incentivised PT have a causal relationship. Individual- and societal-level health economic analysis of free PT is warranted.

The long-standing divide in Australia between medicine and dentistry has left many with inequitable access to dental care. People with oral cancer, in particular, may have few options for dental rehabilitation after cancer treatment, even with private health insurance. However, 2024 could finally see health care reforms that address these inequities, with significant momentum building in Australia. In this Perspective, we argue for a national approach to reforms that incorporate aspects of preventive health, primary health care, Medicare Benefits Schedule item review, and the value of Private Health Insurance rebates for dental care.

Issue addressed: This article explores how belonging can enhance well-being for takatāpui (a traditional Māori term that embraces all Māori with diverse genders, sexualities and sex characteristics) who are trans and non-binary across a range of contexts.

Methods: We drew data from the 2018 Counting Ourselves, a nationwide community-based survey of trans and non-binary people in Aotearoa (New Zealand) (N = 1178); of which 161 (13.7%) identified as Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa.

Results: Based on generalised regression models, feelings of belonging with friends, takatāpui communities, Māori communities, and work communities were correlated to higher feelings of life satisfaction, life worthwhileness, and identity pride for takatāpui who are trans and non-binary. In Te Ao Maōri (the Māori worldview), such concepts of belonging and relationships are collectively known as whanaungatanga.

Conclusions: Our findings affirm whanaungatanga as foundational to well-being among trans Māori people, enabling them to locate themselves within nurturing and supportive networks. SO WHAT?: Whanaungatanga is a key policy agenda, alongside other system-level change, that is needed to buffer takatāpui who are trans and non-binary from poverty, stigma, and racism they face. This will require changes to the current policy and practice context. We argue that whanaungatanga, while an important strategy of well-being for trans and non-binary people, must also occur alongside wider system transformations to address transphobia, racism, and cisheteronormativity.

Issue addressed: Australian adults transitioning into retirement aged 55-75 years (> 50%) do not meet the World Health Organization recommendation of physical activity (PA). One potential strategy to promote PA is through vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA). This study aimed to investigate barriers and facilitators from adults transitioning to retirement about participation in VILPA and to identify strategies to promote and implement VILPA.

Methods: Thirty adults transitioning to retirement (mean age = 64 years) were recruited to participate in focus groups to provide their perceptions on VILPA. All participants' PAs were measured by accelerometers. A set of semi-structured questions developed from the findings of a previous scoping review was used to guide focus groups with participants. To increase awareness of PA bouts and intensity, the focus group discussions were prompted by participants' individualised accelerometer-measured PA reports. The identified barriers and facilitators were mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Intervention strategies were derived from the framework domains.

Results: Three focus groups were conducted. Participants perceived barriers to participation in VILPA stem from health constraints, insufficient awareness about VILPA, and adverse weather conditions. To promote VILPA, adults transitioning to retirement require a better understanding of PA intensities, knowledge of identifying VILPA opportunities, and monitoring and feedback for engagement. Intervention to promote VILPA should include elements of education, persuasion, incentivisation and enablement.

Conclusions: Adults transitioning to retirement perceived VILPA as feasible and convenient for increasing their overall PA. SO WHAT?: The study findings will directly inform the development of a targeted VILPA intervention with key stakeholders and an implementation plan to promote PA in adults transitioning to retirement.

Background: As a large proportion of older adults are insufficiently active, it is imperative to identify ways to increase incidental physical activity. Men's Sheds, a mutual-aid, community-based organisation appear to be a promising approach for optimising wellbeing outcomes.

Objectives: To investigate whether Men's Sheds attendance is associated with higher levels of physical activity, and the relationships between physical activity, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and wellbeing in Men's Shed members.

Methods: Participants (N = 45) wore a hip accelerometer (Actigraph GTX-9) for 11 days. The majority (n = 30, M_age = 72.3 ± 9.4) also consented to complete an online questionnaire investigating HRQOL and wellbeing.

Results: Linear mixed models revealed members, on average, spent an additional 34 min in light physical activity, had an extra six breaks in sedentary behaviour, and took an extra 1193 steps on days they attended Men's Sheds, though, these effects were small. Physical activity was not significantly associated with HRQOL and wellbeing.

Conclusion: Men's Sheds appear to be a valuable approach for increasing light intensity physical activity, breaks in sedentary behaviours, and step count in older adults. However, additional Men's Shed activities specifically targeting increased movement may be required to realise greater impacts on health-related quality of life and wellbeing. SO WHAT?: Men's Sheds may provide a valuable opportunity to increase some indices of physical activity, which may contribute to better overall health. While these effects may be small for active Men's Shed members, these effects may be more appreciable for more sedentary individuals.

Issue addressed: In 2021, the Australian government implemented a population wide COVID-19 vaccination program. People experiencing homelessness faced challenges accessing vaccines and many were not being reached. By reorienting vaccination services to include assertive outreach strategies, a Brisbane-based non-profit health care team successfully administered 2065 COVID-19 vaccinations to homeless and precariously housed people. This study examines insights from stakeholders delivering the service and perspectives of clients who received a vaccine.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with five stakeholders and a survey of 63 clients involved in the Micah Projects COVID-19 vaccination program are reported. Client survey questions covered demographic characteristics, and motivations and hesitancies around vaccination. Stakeholder interviews were inductively analysed and quantitative survey data were exported into SPSS (IBM V27) and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results: The Micah Projects team initiated 220 pop-up vaccination clinics and worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Downsizing and mobilising the service engaged greater numbers of people sleeping rough and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Clients' decisions to vaccinate were often spontaneous, driven by immediate availability and motivated by a desire to stay healthy and protect the community.

Conclusions: Tailoring vaccination programs to include assertive outreach strategies effectively reduces barriers for people experiencing homelessness. Community embeddedness, trust, flexibility and cultural safety are critical elements for success. SO WHAT?: People experiencing homelessness are motivated to vaccinate. Reorientating health services to remove structural barriers and build the supportive environments needed to work through vaccine hesitancies are critical elements to ensure equitable access and promote health.

Issue addressed: Whilst there is a relationship between health literacy and health outcomes, the importance of social and personal demographic characteristics remains understudied., Identifying the factors responsible for creating health literacy challenges would help ensure that responses are tailored to individual or community needs.

Methods: This survey included questions from five domains from the Health Literacy Questionnaire. Descriptive analyses and hierarchical regression were used to explore the relationship between the demographic characteristics and health literacy. Qualitative questions were subjected to thematic analysis, to identify the current barriers and proposed solutions.

Results: A total of 255 participants completed the survey. Demographic characteristics that significantly predicted lower Health Literacy Questionnaire scores were having one or more chronic health conditions and living in an area of more socioeconomic disadvantage. Participants found 'navigating the health care system' the most difficult of the five elements measured. A total of 276 individual barriers to health literacy were identified and 162 solutions proposed.

Conclusions: This study provides an overview of our sample's health literacy and how their social demographic characteristics may predict their health literacy challenges. Findings from this study can be used to develop targeted interventions to respond to specific health literacy challenges identified within this population. SO WHAT?: Distinct from other research, whereby solutions are proposed by researchers, the participants in this study were encouraged to share their health literacy challenges and outline potential solutions to address these in their local context.

Issue addressed: Munch & Move is a New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Health program offering family day care (FDC) educators training to support children's healthy behaviours. This study examined educators' nutrition, physical activity and screen time practices and relationships between Munch & Move training and professional development (PD) on these practices.

Methods: NSW FDC educators (n = 186) completed an online survey from July 2020-June 2021. Differences between groups based on Munch & Move training (trained; not trained) and PD (those who completed PD ≥1 time per year; those who completed PD <1 time per year or never) were tested using bivariate analyses.

Results: A significantly higher proportion of educators trained in Munch & Move offered information to families regarding food serving sizes, nutrition policies, and children's physical activity and screen time. Over one-third in both groups did not meet the guideline of no screen time for children under 2 years old. Compared with those who completed PD ≥1 time per year, a significantly higher proportion of educators who completed PD <1 time per year or never did not provide families with nutrition guidelines or resources.

Conclusions: Educators trained in Munch & Move, and those who completed PD more frequently, demonstrated better nutrition, physical activity and screen time practices in several areas. SO WHAT?: This study demonstrated benefits of the Munch & Move program, implemented with support from Local Health District health promotion officers, and highlighted key areas for improvement in healthy practices in FDC.