HNEPH Research Papers Feel welcome to contact us for further HNE Population Health publications. Esler D, Ooi C, Merritt T Sexual health care for sex workers Australian Family Physician 37(7): 590-592 Pending http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/200807/25594 Dalton CB, Durrheim DN, Conroy MA Likely impact of school and childcare closures on Public Health workforce during an Influenza Pandemic: A survey Communicable Disease Intelligence 32(2): 261-262 An influenza pandemic, is likely to result in public health staff not reporting to work due to illness, transport disruptions or care responsibilities. A survey of public health staff found that 38% of staff may be absent due to the impact of childcare and school closure, however 73% of these staff would be able to work from home with most having broadband Internet access (71%). http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi3202i.htm Wolfenden L, Wiggers J, Campbell E, Knight J Pilot of a preoperative smoking cessation intervention incorporating post-discharge support from a Quitline Health Promotion Journal of Australia 19(2): 78-80 Pending http://www.healthpromotion.org.au/journal/August_articles/article13.php Eastwood K, Osbourn M, Francis L, Merritt T, Nicholas N, Cashman P, Durrheim DN, Wiggers J Improving communicable disease outbreak preparedness in residential aged care facilities using an interventional interview strategy Australasian Journal of Ageing 27(3): 143-149 A study was conducted in 2005/6 to improve the capacity of residential aged care facilities (RACFs) to respond to communicable disease outbreaks. Three computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted. The first survey gathered baseline information and then outbreak prevention resources were offered to address any perceived weaknesses. Subsequent surveys enabled the facilities’ progress to be monitored. Before the third survey, RACFs were sent a scorecard providing their standing against 19 readiness criteria. The number of RACFs with an outbreak management plan increased from 58 to 98%, and facilities reporting 16 or more of the 19 readiness criteria rose from 24 to 43% (P< 0.0006) at the second interview and 73% at the third interview (P< 0.0001). The strategy resulted in a substantial improvement in reported outbreak readiness. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117981049/home Ewald B, Durrheim DN Australian Bat Lyssavirus: examination of post-exposure treatment in NSW NSW Public Health Bulletin 19(5-6): 104-107 This review of the literature ten years after the identification of Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL), provides best practice evidence for management and control of this recently emerged lyssavirus. The review provided the evidence for bringing post-exposure treatment against ABL in line with international approaches to lyssavirus 1 (classical rabies). http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=NB07050.pdf Massey P, Durrheim DN Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at higher risk of invasive meningococcal disease in NSW NSW Public Health Bulletin 19(5-6): 100-103 A review of NSW invasive meningococcal disease notifications between 1991 and 2005 found that reporting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status had improved significantly over this period. A significantly higher rate of invasive disease was found in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0–4 years compared with their non-Aboriginal counterparts. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=NB07047.pdf Cashman P, Hueston L, Durrheim DN, Massey P, Doggett S, Russell R Barmah Forest Virus Serology: Implications For Diagnosis And Public Health Action Communicable Disease Intelligence 32(2): 263-265 Barmah Forest notifications diagnosed by a single positive IgM serology test have been increasing in the lower mid north coast of New South Wales. A prospective review of all routine notifications of BFV that 19% of patient sera contained no BFV antibodies, while 16% had BFV IgG only. A clinical presentation of fever with either rash or joint pain was associated with confirmation of recent BFV infection. Caution is advised in the interpretation of a single positive IgM for Barmah Forest disease. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/cda-pubs-cdi-cdicur.htm Barnes KI, Little F, Mabuza A, Mngomezulu N, Govere J, Durrheim DN, Roper C, Watkins B, White N Increased Gametocytemia after Treament: An Early Parasitological Indicator of Emerging Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine Resistance in Falciparum Malaria The Journal of Infectious Disease 197(11): 1605-1613 Reducing the carriage of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes is critical for limiting malaria transmission and the spread of resistance. Biannual assessment of clinical and parasitological responses to the fixed-dose combination of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria provided evidence that increased duration and density of gametocyte carriage after sulfadoxine pyrimethamine treatment was an early indicator of drug resistance. This increased gametocytemia among patients who have primary infections with drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum fuels the spread of resistance even before treatment failure rates increase significantly. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/jid/2008/197/11 Huppatz C, Durrheim DN, Lammie P, Kelly P, Melrose M Eliminating lymphatic filariasis - the surveillance challenge Tropical Medicine and International Health Journal 13(3): 292-294 Lymphatic filariasis is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. In 1997, the WHO launched the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, which aims to eliminate LF from 80 countries in which it is endemic, by the year 2020 using a primary strategy of annual mass drug administration for five years. Now that a number of countries have completed their planned number of MDA rounds important decisions are required about future surveillance needs. This paper reviews the challenges of surveillance of an infection that is often asymptomatic for an extended period, has relatively poor surveillance diagnostic tests available and which is becoming increasingly rare. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/tmih/2008/00000013/00000003;jsessionid=i0n3aqn6ae86.henrietta Dalton C, Cretikos M, DN Durrheim A food "lifeboat": food and nutrition considerations in the event of a pandemic or other catastrophe Medical Journal of Australia 188(11): 679 Rather than providing nutritional guides as to what foods should be stockpiled for household disaster preparedness, it is more useful to encourage families to increase the amount and rotation of the non-perishables they currently purchase. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/188_11_020608/letters_020608_fm-5.html Hopewell S, Wolfenden L, Clarke M Reporting of adverse events in systematic reviews can be improved: survey results Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 2008; 61(6): 597-602 Objective: To assess reporting of adverse events in systematic reviews. Study Design and Setting: Cochrane reviews and reviews (2003e2004) in the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DAREs) were included. Results: Over 50% of Cochrane (44/78) and DARE (46/79) reviews assessed drug interventions. Seventy-six percent (59/78) of Cochrane reviews mentioned adverse events as an outcome compared with 48% (38/79) of DARE reviews. Of reviews mentioning adverse events, 95% (56/59) of Cochrane reviews included only randomized trials and 73% (43/59) compared with, 58% (22/38) of DARE reviews. Conclusions: Most Cochrane reviews of drug interventions considered adverse events. This was not the case for DARE reviews and for Cochrane reviews of nondrug interventions. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18411039 Cretikos M, Eastwood K, Dalton C, Merritt T, Tuyl F, Winn L, Durrheim DN Household disaster preparedness and information sources: Rapid cluster survey after a storm in New South Wales, Australia Biomed Central Public Health Journal 2008; 8(195): 1:16 Background A storm-related disaster in the Hunter and Central Coast area of New South Wales, Australia in June 2007 caused infrastructure damage, interrupted essential services and presented significant public health risks. Household disaster preparedness and information sources used before and during the disaster was investigated using a survey tool. Methods A rapid cluster survey was conducted within a fortnight of the storm and included 320 randomly selected households in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. Results 227 households (71%) completed to the survey. By the day before the storm, 48% (95%CI 40-57%) of households reported that they were aware of a storm warning, principally through television (67%; 58-75%) and radio (57%; 49-66%). Storm preparations were made by 42% (28-56%) of these households. Storm information sources included: radio (78%; 68-88%); family, friends, colleagues and neighbours (50%; 40-60%); and television (41%; 30-52%). Radio was considered more useful than television (62%; 51-73% vs. 29%; 18-40%), even in households where electricity supply was uninterrupted (52%; 31-73% vs. 41%; 20-63%). Awareness that radio networks had a designated communication role during disasters with only 23% (16-30%) of households were aware of this important source of information. A battery-operated household radio and appropriate batteries were available in 42% (34-50%) of households, while only 23% (16-29%) maintained what is regarded as a complete basic set of survival gear: a torch, battery-operated radio, appropriate batteries, mobile phone, emergency contact list and first aid equipment. Conclusion Broadcast media are important information sources immediately before and during disasters. Health services should promote awareness of broadcast networks’ disaster role, especially the role of radio, and encourage general household disaster preparedness. They also have a role in promoting the maintenance of basic survival gear. A rapid cluster survey conducted shortly after a natural disaster provided practical, robust information for disaster planning. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/8/195 Freund M, Campbell E, Paul C, McElduff P, Walsh RA, Sakrouge R, Wiggers J, Knight J Smoking care provision in hospitals: A review of prevalence Nicotine and Tobacco Research Journal 2008; 10(5): 757-774 Despite hospitals being an important settings for the provision of smoking, limited evidence has described the prevalence such care delivered routinely in hospitals. We reviewed studies conducted in hospitals that were published between 1994 and 2005 and reported levels of smoking care delivery. This review describes the proportion of patients receiving, and the proportion of clinical staff providing, various smoking cessation care practices. Both descriptive and meta-analytic approaches were used. Meta-analytic outcomes demonstrated smoking status was assessed in 60% of patients, 42% were advised or counseled to quit, 14% were provided with or advised to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and 12% received referrals or follow-up. Approximately 81% of clinical staff reported they assessed smoking status, 70% advised or counseled patients to quit, 13% provided NRT or advised its use, and 39% provided referrals or follow-up. Statistical heterogeneity was indicated for all smoking care practices. It was concluded the level of smoking cessation care currently provided in hospitals is less than optimal. Research should endeavour to identify effective methods for increasing smoking care provision in hospitals. Hospitals should enhance and continue to monitor their delivery of smoking care. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a793512112~db=all~jumptype=rss Stafford R, Schluter P, Wilson A, Kirk M, Hall G, Unicomb L Population-Attributable Risk Estimates for Risk Factors Associated with Campylobacter Infection, Australia Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal 2008; 14(6): 895-901 Pending http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/6/pdfs/895.pdf Tuyl F, Gerlach R, Mengersen K A Comparison of Bayes-Laplace, Jeffreys, and Other Priors: The Case of Zero Events The American Statistician Journal 2008; 62(1): 40-44 Pending http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asa/tas/2008/00000062/00000001;jsessionid=glbabj88sn3ji.alice Freund M, Campbell E, Paul C, Wiggers J, Knight J, Mitchell E Provision of smoking care in NSW hospitals: opportunities for further enhancement NSW Public Health Bulletin 2008; 19(3-4): 50-55 The provision of smoking care is an important part of overall care for hospitalised patients, however, levels of smoking care delivery in hospitals are reported to be inadequate. Increasing smoking care across multiple units and hospitals within NSW Health will be challenging. This paper examines smoking care delivery levels in NSW hospitals, and potential strategies to increase such care. It also reviews NSW Health initiatives designed to enhance the delivery of smoking care and suggests further strategies that may facilitate this. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=NB07102.pdf Coleman M, Coleman M, Kok e G, Coetzee M, Durrheim D Evaluation of an operational malaria outbreak identification and response system in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa Malaria Journal 2008; 7(69): 1-26 Pending http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/69 Huppatz C, Munnoch S, Worgan T, Merritt T, Dalton C, Kelly P, Durrheim D A norovirus outbreak associated with consumption of NSW oysters: implications for quality assurance systems Communicable Disease Intelligence Journal 2008; 32(1): 88-91 Pending http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi3201-pdf-cnt.htm/$FILE/cdi3201l.pdf Hope K, Merritt T, Eastwood K, Main K, Durrheim D, Muscatello D, Todd K, Zheng W The Public Health value of Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance following a Natural Disaster Communicable Disease Intelligence Journal 2008; 32(1): 92-93 Pending http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi3201-pdf-cnt.htm/$FILE/cdi3201m.pdf Ng J, Eastwood K, Durrheim DN, Massey P, Walker B, Armson A, Ryan U Evidence supporting zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium in rural New South Wales Experiemental Parasitology Journal 2008; 119(1): 192-195 Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum are the two species primarily responsible for causing infection in humans. The study took Cryptosporidium in 7 human and 15 cattle cases of sporadic cryptosporidiosis in rural western NSW during the period from November 2005 to January 2006 and identified them to the level of species/genotype and subgenotypes. This was determined by PCR sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA and C. parvum and C. hominis isolates were subgenotyped by sequence analysis of the GP60 gene. Fourteen of 15 cattle-derived isolates were identified as C. parvum and 1 as a C. bovis/C. parvum mixture. Four of the human isolates were C. parvum and 3 were C. hominis. Two different subgenotypes were identified with the human C. hominis isolates and six different subgenotypes were identified within the C. parvum species from humans and cattle. All of the C. parvum subtypes found in humans were also found in the cattle, suggesting that zoonotic transmission may be an significant contributor to sporadic human cases of cryptosporidiosis in rural NSW. http://0-www.sciencedirect.com.library.newcastle.edu.au/science Cretikos M, Eastwood K, Durrheim DN Exercise Paton: A simulation exercise to test New South Wales Emergency Departments' Response to Pandemic Influenza Communicable Disease Intelligence Journal 2008; 31(4): 419-419 The short report on the influenza pandemic exercise, Exercise Paton, clearly demonstrates Australia’s commitment to preparing for an influenza pandemic. The exercise focused on containment activities, which forms the first phase of any Australian response. In order for containment to be effective, public health staff need to be able to rapidly identify suspected cases of pandemic influenza. Furthermore, successful home quarantine for contacts of pandemic influenza cases will depend on their ability to reliably monitor themselves for symptoms of influenza, including fever. The interim case definition for pandemic influenza includes a specific criterion for fever of ≥38ºC. The assumption that most community contacts of pandemic influenza will have a thermometer at home may be misguided as there is scant information regarding the availability of thermometers in Australian households. Data we collected during the storms in the Hunter region of NSW in June 2007 showed that only 48% (95% confidence interval 41-54%) of households had a thermometer available at home. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi3104-pdf-cnt.htm/$FILE/cdi3104l.pdf Wolfenden L, Campbell E, Wiggers J, Walsh RA, Bailey L Helping hospital patients quit: What the evidence supports and what guideliens recommend Preventive Medicine Journal 2008; 46(4): 346-357 The study aimed to review the Cochrane meta-analytic evidence for, and clinical practice guidelines recommendations regarding smoking cessation interventions for hospital patients. The review found that there was limited evidence from Cochrane reviews to assess the effectiveness of specific smoking cessation strategies for hospital patients. Clinical practice guidelines were found to provide recommendations for a variety of smoking cessation practices, such as the provision of brief advice, counselling, NRT and follow-up support. However at times, the clinical practice guideline recommendations were unsupported by, or conflicted with evidence from Cochrane meta-analyses. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00917435 WolfendenL. Smoke-free licensed premises: what will be the broader public health benefits? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2008; 32(1): 88. While supporting the pre-legislation assertions of the industry, the findings may be indicative of broader social and public health benefits of the ban. A rigorous evaluation of the effect of the legislation on other social and health-related behaviours may also strengthen the case for other governements to adopt such a strong public policy. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/azph/32/1 Durrheim DN, Wenitong M, Huppatz C, Rubin G. The first 100 days: an open letter to the new Minister for Health and Ageing. Medical Journal of Australia 2008; 188(3): 188-189. The greatest health challenge to the newly elected Federal Government is to effectively address the deplorable backlog in Aboriginal Health experience as a matter of urgency. This needs real investment in addressing the broad determinants of health status and the specific measures should be determined in consultation with Aboriginal leaders. The new Health Minister is challenged to serve as the champion of this issue amongst her Cabinet colleagues. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/188_03_040208/letters_040208_fm.pdf Mehta U, Durrheim DN, Blockman M, Kredo T, Gounden R, Barnes KI. Adverse drug reactions in adult medical inpatients in a South African hospital serving a community with a high HIV/AIDS prevalence: prospective observational study British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2007; Epub ahead of print: 1-12. The first Sub-Saharan African study in the HIV/AIDS era describing the contribution of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) to patient morbidity, hospitalisation and mortality found that cardiovascular medicines and antiretroviral therapy contributed the most to community-acquired ADRs at the time of hospital admission, while medicines used for opportunistic infections (such as antifungals, antibiotics and antituberculosis medicines) were most frequently implicated in hospital acquired ADRs. Many of the HIV-related admissions were among patients not receiving Anti Retroviral Therapy, and many ADRs were associated with medicines used for managing opportunistic infections. http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journals/BJCP Huppatz C, Durrheim DN. Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. New England Journal of Medicine 2007; 357(23): 2407-2408. The need for surveillance for the neglected tropical diseases is advocated. Despite resource and methodological challenges, without adequate surveillance the ultimate success of programmes will not be able to be established, nor ongoing elimination confirmed. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/extract/357/23/2407 Cretikos MA, Merritt TD, Main K, Eastwood K, Winn L, Moran L, Durrheim DN. Mitigating the health impacts of a natural disaster- the June 2007 long-weekend storm in the Hunter region of New South Wales Medical Journal of Australia 2007; 187(11-12): 670-673. A severe storm affecting Newcastle and the Hunter Valley during June 2007 caused widespread flooding and damage to houses, businesses, schools and health care facilities, and damaged critical infrastructure, resulting in a natural disaster being declared in 19 local government areas. Interruption of the electricity supply to over 200 000 homes and businesses, interruption of water and gas supplies, and sewerage system pump failures presented substantial public health threats. The activities conducted by the public health emergency operations centre coordinating surveillance activities, responding to acute public health issues and preventing disease outbreaks are presented. http://www.mja.com.au Massey P, Durrheim DN, Speare R. Inadequate chemoprophylaxis and the risk of malaria Australian Family Physician 2007; 36(12): 1058-1060. BACKGROUND Malaria is an important disease for Australian travellers, particularly to Papua New Guinea. Chemoprophylaxis along with mosquito-bite prevention strategies are effective in preventing malaria in travellers. During 2007, six people were diagnosed with malaria from a group of 38 who had travelled to Papua New Guinea. This cluster of cases prompted a public health investigation. METHOD A retrospective cohort investigation into malaria risk in a group of adult Australians that trekked the Kokoda trail in Papua New Guinea was undertaken. RESULTS All of the group members were contacted and agreed to be a part of the investigation. Of the 12 individuals who took chemoprophylaxis for the recommended period post-travel none developed malaria compared to 4/24 travellers who terminated prophylaxis prematurely, and 2/2 developed malaria who had taken no chemoprophylaxis for the trip. DISCUSSION Chemoprophylaxis is effective if taken for the full recommended period following travel to a malaria endemic area. The recommendations for the post-travel period are: 4 weeks for doxycycline and mefloquine, and 7 days for atovaquone+proguanil. http://www.afp.racgp.org.au/afp/200712/21099 Massey P, Durrheim DN. Income inequality and health status: A nursing issue Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing 2007; 25(2): 84-88. Objective To review the association between income inequality and health status, and consider an appropriate nursing response. Results There is an incontrovertible association between population health status, absolute income levels and income inequality. In a review of the social determinants of health, the World Health Organisation concluded that relative poverty, as well as absolute poverty and social exclusion, had major impacts on health. Relative poverty denies people access to housing, education, transport and other societal benefits. Health experiences are often poorer when people are treated as less than equal and excluded from society. Discussion Nursing practice must apply justice as one of the key principles to resolve the tension between the health of individuals and the health of communities and populations. It is easy to focus on the health of individuals and neglect the socio-economic challenges at a wider population level. Nursing has a central role in advocating for changes in area that would improve the health of the population. These areas include improved access to and quality of schooling, health care, social welfare and working conditions. Conclusion There is a definite relationship between income inequality and health. This relationship appears to be determined both by relative access to resources for health and relative social position. Improved social cohesion may explain the health differences in communities and populations where there is less income inequality. As social factors are at the base of much health inequality, this understanding needs to invoke political action and advocacy from the nursing profession. http://www.ajan.com.au/ajan_25.2.html Sanigorski AM, Bell AC, Kremer PJ, Swinburn BA High Childhood Obesity in an Australian Population Obesity 2007; 15(8): 1908-1912. Over weight and obesity in Australia is well documented. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in regional Australian children and to examine the likelihood of these children being overweight/obese by area- and individual-level indicators of household socioeconomic status. Scragg R, Sowers M, Bell C. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Ethnicity, and Blood Pressure in the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey American Journal of Hypertension 2007; 20(7): 713-719. Populations with low vitamin D status, such as blacks living in the US or UK, have increased blood pressure (BP) compared with whites. We analyzed the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and BP to determine whether low 25OHD explains any of the increased BP in blacks. The Third US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) is a cross-sectional survey representative of the US civilian population during 1988 to 1994. Analyses were restricted to 12,644 people aged ≥20 years with measurements of BP and 25OHD, after excluding those on hypertensive medication. Adjusted mean serum 25OHD was lowest in non-Hispanic blacks (49 nmol/L), intermediate in Mexican Americans (68 nmol/L), and highest in non-Hispanic whites (79 nmol/L). When participants were divided into 25OHD quintiles, mean (standard error) systolic BP was 3.0 (0.7) mm Hg lower (P = .0004) and diastolic BP was 1.6 (0.6) mm Hg lower (P = .011) for participants in the highest quintile (25OHD ≥85.7 nmol/L) compared with the lowest (25OHD ≤40.4 nmol/L), adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and physical activity. Further adjustment for body mass index (BMI) weakened the inverse association between 25OHD and BP, which remained significant for systolic BP (P < .05). Ethnic differences in 25OHD explained about half of the increased hypertension prevalence in non-Hispanic blacks compared with whites. Vitamin D status, which can be increased by safely increasing sun exposure or by supplementation, was associated inversely with BP in a large sample representative of the US population. www.elsevier.com/wps/product/cws_home/505742 Swinburn B, Bell C, King L, Magarey A, O'Brien K, Waters E. Obesity prevention programs demand high-quality evaluations Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2007; 31(4): 305-307. Obesity prevention programs are springing up in response to growing concerns about childhood obesity. This is a very welcome development following more than a decade of inaction since the epidemic was recognised in the mid-1990s. Another welcome development has been the increased emphasis on using evidence to inform public health practice, programs and policies. Unfortunately, knowing what works and what does not work for obesity prevention is difficult because the evidence base is so limited and the settings in which interventions have been tested are so few (mainly primary schools). The Primary Prevention Group of the Australian Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Research Network (ACAORN) is concerned that some obesity prevention programs are being planned or implemented with insufficient priority being placed on appropriate designs or sufficient funding for rigorous evaluation. Expensive programs with weak evaluations waste precious resources, fail to contribute to their own quality enhancement, and also fail to contribute much-needed effectiveness evidence to the literature. These exact concerns have also recently been raised about the United Kingdom (UK) response to childhood obesity by the UK Audit Office. This article proposes opportunities to lift the quality of evaluation of obesity prevention programs in the region. http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1326-0200 Measey M, Charles A, Tursan d'Espaignet E, Nicholas deKlerk CH, Douglass C. Aetiology of stillbirth: unexplored is not unexplained Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2007; 31(5): 444-449. To describe the rate of and demographic factors associated with fetal postmortem investigation and to classify the cause of all fetal deaths that underwent postmortem investigation. To compare the proportion of deaths remaining unexplained after postmortem investigation with estimates derived from death certificates. Method: All fetal deaths in Western Australia (WA) from 1990 to 1999 were identified. These data were used to calculate postmortem rates and describe the characteristics of women consenting to postmortems. A multidisciplinary team classified the cause of all deaths that underwent postmortem investigation using the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Perinatal Death Classification System. The proportion of deaths that were unexplained was compared with estimates based on death certificates. http://blackwell-synergy.com/toc/azph/31/5 Todd K, Durrheim DN, Pickles R, Eastwood K, Merritt T, Tapsall J, Sanghamitra R, Limnios A. Using epidemiological and molecular methods to investigate an outbreak of gonorrhoea associated with heterosexual contact in Newcastle, NSW, Australia Sexual Health 2007; 4(4): 233-236 Gonorrhoea is a laboratory-notifiable condition in NSW under the NSW Public Health Act 1991. The Hunter New England Health Area in NSW, with its population of 840 000, has an average of 49 notifications of gonococcal infection per annum (range 27-69 based on notifications for 1996-2004). By the third week of October 2005, it was noted that 16 cases of gonorrhoea had already been notified for that month. A retrospective epidemiological investigation of all notified cases and to prospectively followup all new notifications to determine risk factors for transmission and explore possible links between cases with a view to defining and interrupting the outbreak. http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/166/issue/3767.htm Merritt T, Durrheim DN, Hope K, Byron P. General practice intervention to increase opportunistic screening for chlamydia Sexual Health 2007; 4(4): 249-251 We describe an intervention in 6 General Practices over an 18-month period that was designed to improve opportunistic screening for chlamydia. Key strategies included engaging and informing general practitioners, adopting a simplified screening protocol, providing feedback on practice testing performance and developing resources for use with patients. The overall impact on testing was modest and largely transient, and was insufficient to impact on the current chlamydia epidemic. Major additional measures would be required to further substantially increase testing levels. These could include financial incentives linked to screening performance and increased community awareness to increase patient demand for testing. http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/166/issue/3767.htm Durrheim D. A clarion call for greater investment in global sanitation The Lancet 2007; 370(9599): 1592-1593. Thousands of people worldwide continue to die from cholera and other infections spread through faecally contaminated drinking water supplies. This reflects intolerable inequity at a global level. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aim to halve the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015. Work from rural Brazil provides evidence for the impact of sanitation schemes on reducing the impact of diarrhoea in childhood. Rigorous science is a valuable method for persuasive advocacy. http://www.thelancet.com Kremer PJ, Bell AC, Swinburn BA. Calibration and reliability of a school food checklist: a new tool for assessing school food and beverage consumption. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2006;15(4): 465-472 The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing in Australia and it is likely that inappropriate eating patterns are a major contributor. However, capturing childrens eating behaviours is difficult because of a lack of tools to assess the intake of food hec.server101.com/APJCN/loginpast.htm Govere JM, Durrheim DN. (Debboun M, Frances SP, Strickman DA. Insect Repellents: Principles, Methods, and Uses Chapter Techniques for Evaluating Insect repellents Taylor & Francis CRC Press 2007; 084371961: Chapter 8:147-159 Evaluation of insect repellents should be as simple and practical as possible to encourage standard comparison and universal acceptance. Although candidate repellents should be taken to the field to determine protection time and effectiveness under field www.taylorandfrancis.com Wells V, Gillham K, Licata M, Kempton A. An equity-focussed social impact assessment of the Lower Regional Strategy. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2007; 18(9-10): 166-168.  This paper reports on an equity-focused social impact assessment (SIA) of the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy, which was released by the Hunter Department of Planning. The aim of the SIA was to document the proposed social and health impacts of the Strategy. The SIA was undertaken in collaboration with representatives of the Hunter Regional Coordination Management Group and managed by NSW Premier's Department, Hunter Branch and Hunter New England Population Health. http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/226.htm Cashman P, Durrheim D, Massey P, Islam F, Merritt T, Eastwood K. Pneumonia cluster in a boarding school- implications for influenza control. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 2007; 31(3): 296-298. Communicable Disease Intelligence Journal 2008; 31(3): 296-298 An outbreak of community acquired pneumonia affected 25 previously well students in a New South Wales boarding school, with Streptococcus pneumoniae 1 confirmed in two cases. The school experienced a concurrent influenza outbreak with a high influenza-lik http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-pubs-cdi-cdiintro.htm Irwin M, Lloyd A, Massey P. Bug Breakfast in the Bulletin: Q fever. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2007; 18(7-8): 137-138.  Q fever remains a significant public health concern, particularly for rural communities. Australia has access to the only licensed vaccine against Q fever available worldwide (QVax, CSL Ltd). Immunisation of high-risk occupational groups has been the majo http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/226.htm Chui C, Durrheim D. A review of the efficacy of human Q fever vaccine registered in Australia. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2007; 18(7-8):133-136  Australia has a registered Q fever vaccine that is recommended in high risk occupational groups. A literature review found that its efficacy ranged from 83-100% but study designs limitations hampered a precise estimate. The Q fever vaccine available in Au http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/226.htm Mehta U, Durrheim D, Mabuza A, Blumberg L, Allen E, Barnes K. Malaria Pharmacovigilance in Africa Lessons from a Pilot Project in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Drug Safety 2007; 30(10): 899-910.  A pharmacovigilance strategy consisting of five methods of detecting serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and signals related to artesunate plus sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine was implemented in rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The evaluation demonstr http://drugsafety.adisonline.com/ Wolfenden L, Wiggers J. Addressing the heath costs of the Iraq war: the role of the health organisations. Medical Journal of Australia 2007; 186(7): 380-381.  The purpose of the letter was to describe the effects of the Iraq war on the health of the civilian population. The letter calls on health professionals, health associations and Governments to do more to alleviate the burden of a war which has already cla www.mja.com.au/ Monaghan K, Durrheim D, Arzey G, Branley J. Human Psittacosis Associated with Purchasing Birds from, or Visiting, a Pet Store in Newcastle, Australia. Environmental Health 2007; 7(2): 52-61.  Over an 18 month period five confirmed and one probable notified human psittacosis cases were linked to exposure to caged birds from the same pet store. A public health investigation identified a number of high risk practices at the implicated pet shop. T http://journal.aieh.org.au/index.php van Zutphen M, Bell AC, Kremer PJ, Swinburn BA. Association between the family environment and television viewing in Australian children. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2007; 43(6): 458-463.  Aim: To describe the time children spend watching television (TV) and to assess associations between TV viewing time, the family environment and weight status. Methods: As part of a large cross-sectional study conducted in 2002/3, parents in the Barwon http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/submit.asp?ref=1034-4810 Sanigorski AM, Bell AC, Swinburn BA. Association of key foods and beverages with obesity in Australian schoolchildren. Public Health Nutrition, 2007; 10(2): 152-157.  Objective: To examine the pattern of intake of key foods and beverages of children aged 4–12 years and the association with weight status. Parents/guardians of 2184 children from Barwon South Western region of Victoria, were interviewed to find out http://www.nutritionsociety.org/index.asp?nsm=3&page=63 Byles J, Parkinson L, Nair B, Watson J, Valentine M Determining priorities for research in ageing: A community survey  This paper reports the findings of a community survey undertaken as the last step in local priority settings for ageing research. Four research factors were identified: age-related diseases, symptoms and the problems of ageing, lifestyle factors, mental http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1741-6612.2007.00218.x Durrheim D, Kelly H, Ferson M, Featherstone D Remaining measles challenges in Australia  Measles is now rare in Australia, and cases are usually linked to importation from endemic countries. To prevent measles outbreaks in Australia, high vaccination coverage with two doses of the vaccine must be sustained. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/187_03_060807/dur10061_fm.html Wiggers J Reducing alcohol-related violence and improving community safety: the Alcohol Linking Program  Harm associated with the consumption of alcohol on licensed premises is an issue of increasing community concern. This paper reports on a decade-long research initiative that involved the development and the implementation of police systems designed to e http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=NB07061.pdf Wynd S, Durrheim D, Carron J, Selve B, Chaine JP, Leggat P, Melrose W Socio-cultural insights and lymphatic filariasis control - lessons from the Pacific  The increasing interest in socio-cultural LF research presents a unique opportunity for coupling socio-cultural and bio-medical understandings of LF. To address the backlog in the socio-cultural sphere it will require the investment of time and effort to http://www.filariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2883-6-3.pdf Vally H, Dowse G, Eastwood K, Cameron S An outbreak of chickenpox at a child care centre in Western Australia. Costs to the community and implications for vaccination policy  Between May and June 2002 an outbreak of chickenpox occurred at the child care centre in Perth, Western Australia. An epidemiological study was undertaken in order to determine the characteristics of the outbreak, assess vaccine effectiveness, and to als http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00027.x Finch M, Begley A, Sutherland R, Harrison M, Collins C Development and reproducibility of a tool to assess school food-purchasing practices and lifestyle habits of Australia primary school-aged children  The School Eating Habits and Lifestyle Survey has been developed and pilot-tested in primary school-aged children and has shown to have moderate stability over time. The results show that each phase of development, particularly those spent in consultatio http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/ndi/2007/00000064/00000002/art00005 Mehta U, Durrheim D, Blumberg L, Donohue S, Hansford F, Mabuza A, Kruger P, Gumede K, Immelman E, Canal Sanchez A, Hugo J, Swart G, Barnes K Malaria deaths as sentinel events to monitor healthcare delivery and antimalarial drug safety  To identify case management, health system and antimalarial drug factors contributing to malaria deaths. A confidential enquity into malaria-related deaths is a useful tool for identifying the preventable factors, health system failures and also adverse http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/tmi/12/5 Merritt T, Sintchenko V, Jelfs P, Worthing M, RObinson B, Durrheim D, Gilbert G An outbreak of pulmonary tuberculosis in young Australians  Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for pulmonary TB in a person presenting with a cough lasting more than 3 weeks, weight loss, haemoptysis, night sweats and also chest pain, even if the person is not an overseas-born or elderly. A comp http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/186_05_050307/mer10787_fm.html Wolfenden L, Dalton A, Bowman J, Knight J, Burrows S, Wiggers J Computerized assessment of surgical patients for tobacco use: accuracy and acceptability  Despite increased risks of postoperative complications among patients who use tobacco, a number of barriers hinder the systematic identification of the surgical patients who smoke. The study investigated the accuracy and the acceptability of a patient-co http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/fdm015v1.pdf Dalton C Business Continuity Management and Pandemic Influenza  Pandemic influenza planning presents challenges for both government and businesses. Effective cooperation and communication before and also during a pandemic will help mitigate the major threats to societal function. The major challenges for governement http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=NB06035.pdf Muscatello D, Cretikos M, Bartlett M, Churches T, Carter I, Eastwood K, Heron L, McPhie K Planning for pandemic influenza surveillance in NSW  Early detection of the novel strain of influenza virus in NSW population is the key to controlling a pandemic. If this occurs, then ongoing surveillance will help determine the epidemiology and risk factors of the virus as well as its impact on essential http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/date/2007.html Wynd S, Carron J, Selve B, Leggat P, Melrose P, Durrheim D Qualitative analysis of the impact of a lymphatic filariasis elimination programme using mass drug administration on Misima Island, Papua New Guinea  Although interim evaluation indicates the programme has been parasitologically successful, an appreciation that sustainable health gains depend on the understanding and accommodating of local beliefs prompted this qualitative study. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1770912 Sharp B, Kleinschmidt I, Streat E, Maharaj R, Barnes K, Durrheim D, Ridl F, Morris N, Seocharan I, Kunene S, Grange J, Mthembu J, Maartens F, Martin C, Barreto A Seven Years of Regional Malaria control collaboration - Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland  The Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative is a joint development program between governments of Mozambique, Swaziland, and South Africa which includes malaria control as a core component . http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/content/abstract/76/1/42 Ferson MJ, Durrheim DN Investing in capacity to meet the challenge of an Influenza Pandemic  Further developments and improvements in systems, including the staged introduction of electronic transfer of laboratory notifications and the linking of influenza diagnostic data from animal to human sources, will place NSW in a good position to provide http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/phb/phb.html Moses N, Wiggers J, Nicholas C, Cockburn J Development and psychometric analysis of the systemic lupus erythematosus needs questionnaire  This study aims to develop a self-administered needs assessment questionnaire for people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), assess its face, content and also construct validity and test reliability of the instrument. Eighty-four people with SLE, re http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17091357 Eastwood K, Massey P, Durrheim D Pandemic planning at the coal face: responsibilities of the Public Health Unit  Responding to an infectious disease pandemic requires a coordinated approach from all the essential services. Public health units across NSW will plan an important role in a range of control activities. These include: surveillance, education, communicati http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/phb/phb.html Durrheim D, Ferson M Preparing for the inevitable - An Influenza Pandemic  The world is currently at 'Global Phase 3' of the World Health Organisation's influenza pandemic alert phases. Given instability of the influenza virus, the world is waiting for the first influenza pandemic of the twenty-first century. It is thus timely http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/phb/phb.html Durrheim D, Massey P, Kelly H Re-emerging poliomyelitis - is Australia's surveillance adequate?  In the past two years there has been a resurgence of polio, 21 previously polio-free countries importing wild poliovirus. Wild poliovirus importations into polio-free areas continue to occur until endemic transmission is interrupted globally. Australias http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi3003a.htm Burkot TR, Durrheim D, Melrose WD, Speare R, Ichimori K The argument for integrating vector control with multiple drug administration campaigns to ensure elimination of lymphatic filariasis  Although the global lymphatic filariasis elimination programme is based on repeated annual mass drug therapy there are indications that this will not be adequate to ensure elimination in all environments. Vector control has been demonstrated to eliminate http://www.filariajournal.com/content/5/1/10 Unicomb L, Ferguson J, Stafford R, Ashbolt R, Kirk M, Becker N, Patel M, Gilbert G, Valcanis M, Mickan L Low-Level Fluoroquinolone Resistance among Campylobacter jejuni Isolates in Australia  Ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter jejuni isolates obtain from the infected patients in Australia have not been detected in studies of isolates from specific geographic areas. The Australian government prohibited the use of fluoroquinolone in food-pro http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v42n10/38489/38489.web.pdf Finch M, Sutherland R, Harrison M, Collins C Canteen purchasing practices of year 1-6 primary school children and association with SES and weight status  This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Primary schools were randomly selected from a list of government schools and 5,206 students from years 1-6, 16 schools were invited to participate. Findings show the ma http://www.phaa.net.au/members_only/journalpdf_2006/june_2006/ANZJPH%202006-3%20-%20Finch.pdf Johnstone E, Knight J, Gillham K, Campbell E, Nicholas C, Wiggers J System-wide adoption of health promotion practices by schools: evaluation of a telephone and mail-based dissemination strategy in Australia  Schools can potentially benefit from system-wide approaches to the dissemination of health promotion practices. This intervention study undertaken in the Hunter Region of NSW, Australia used a pre-post design to assess whether the phone and mail interven http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/dal020v1 Speare R, Latasi F, Nelesone T, Harmen S, Melrose W, Durrheim D, Heukelbach J Prevalence of soil transmitted nematodes on Nukufetau, a remote Pacific Island in Tuvalu  Nukufetau is a remote coral atoll island in the nation of Tuvalu in the Western Pacific. Annual mass drug administration with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole occurred in 2001, 2002 and 2003 for lymphatic filariasis elimination. A cross-sectional surve http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/6/110 Kypri K, Donaldson A, Johnstone E The Physical Inactivity Matrix: Lessons from the classifications of physical inactivity interventions  The aims of this study were to (1) develop a system for classifying physical inactivity intervention studies, (2) examine the distribution of the PI interventions published in the peer-reviewed health literature using a developed system, and (3) consider Campbell E, Walsh RA, Sanson-Fisher R, Burrows S, Stojanovski E A group randomised trial of two methods for disseminating a smoking cessation programme to public antenatal clinics: Effects on patient outcomes  The intervention was directed at the clinic with the intention of changing patient outcomes. Public antenatal clinics were allocated at random to either the SD or ID condition. Outcome data was collected using two independent cross sectional surveys of wo http://tc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/15/2/97 Durrheim D, Muller R, Saunders V, Speare R, Lowe J. A population survey: Would Australian general practice be the first point of contact during an anthrax bioterrorism event?  To explore how the Australian population might respond to an anthrax bioterrorism event, a national telephone survey was conducted. Sixty percent of respondents indicated that with a suspected anthrax bioterrorism event general practitioners would be the http://www.racgp.org.au/document.asp?id=20092 Dalton CB, Bates LI Impact of closure of a large lead-zinc smelter on elevated blood lead levels of children in adjacent suburbs, Boolaroo, Australia  A 1991 study of children living near a lead-zinc smelter, which had been established in 1897, found that 84% of children under 5 years of age had blood lead levels >10 µg/dl. An Environmental Health Centre was established to provide free blood lead tes http://library.witpress.com/pages/listPapers.asp?q_bid=338#15811 Adams RJ, Wilson DH, Taylor AW, Daly A, d'Espaignet Tursan E, Grande Dal E, Ruffin R Coexistent Chronic Conditions and Asthma Quality of Life  Reports of the prevalence and impact of comorbid conditions among people with asthma have been limited to certain population groups and or convenience samples. Our aim was to examine the prevalence of major comorbidity in asthma and associations with qua http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/full/129/2/285 Williams K, Leonard H, d'Espaignet Tursan E, Colvin L, Slack-Smith L, Stanley F Hospitalisation from birth to 5 years in a population cohort of Western Australian children with intellectual disability  Although intellectual disability (ID) comprises about 7% of all disabling conditions in Australia, relatively little is known about its causes and sequelae. A similar situation applies in other economically developed countries. The US Surgeon General re http://adc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/90/12/1243 Oxenford CJ, Black AP, Bell RJ, Munnoch SA, Irwin MJ, Hanson RN, Owen RL Investigation of a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Hvittingfoss using a web-based case reporting form  Hvittingfoss is a serovar often isolated from human, animal and environmental sources in northern Queensland, but is rarely identified in other parts of Australia. OzFoodNet used NetEpi to investigate this outbreak on behalf of the Communicable Disease Ne http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi2904f.htm Wright A, Harris M, Wiggers J, Jorm A, Cotton S, Harrigan S, Hurworth R, McGorry P Recognition of depression and psychosis by young Australians and their beliefs about treatment  A survey was conducted as a baseline measure for the community awareness campaign. The survey identified gaps in mental health literacy which may help to improve community educations and the responsiveness of the health care system, thus ensuring that yo http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_01_040705/wri10870_fm.html Ho Y, Muller R, Veitch C, Rane A, Durrheim D Faecal incontinence: an unrecognised epidemic in rural North Queensland? Results of a hospital-based outpatient study  The prevalence of faecal incontinence (FI) in a referral hospital outpatient population in North Queensland was determined as 20.7%. The median duration of FI was 2 years with more than half of those affected soiling themselves at least once a month with http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1440-1854.2004.00642.x Mabuza A, Govere J, la Grange K, M ngomezulu N, Allen E, Zitha A, M bokazi M, Durrheim D, Barnes K Therapeutic efficacy of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for Plasmodium falciparum malaria  The therapeutic efficacy of sulfadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) was determined 5 years after introduction as first-line treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Mpumalanga, South Africa. As gametocyte carriage has increased significantly, a http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15931450&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum Barnett F, Durrheim D, Speare R, Muller R. Management of Irukandji Syndrome in Northern Australia  Irukandji syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that follows the sting of small carybdeid jellyfish. It was considered important to document current management practices throughout coastal northern Australia to assess the availability of m http://rrh.deakin.edu.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=369 Nelesone T, Durrheim D, Speare R, Kiedrzynski T, Melrose W. Strengthening sub-national communicable disease surveillance in a remote Pacific Island country by adapting a successful African outbreak surveillance model  The SARS pandemic proved that global communicable disease surveillance was only as robust as sub-national surveillance in each developing country. Effective sub-national surveillance depends on effective bidirectional information flow to and from the peri http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2005.01534.x Kypri K, Voas R, Langley J, Stephenson S, Begg D, Tippetts S, Davie G. Lowering the Minimum Purchase Age for Alcohol Increased Traffic Crash Injuries among 15-19 year olds in New Zealand  In 1999, New Zealand lowered the minimum purchasing age for alcohol by two years. This age was reduced from 20 to 18 years. Significantly more alcohol-involved crashes had occurred among 15-19 years olds than would have occurred if the purchase age was Durrheim D, Muller R, Saunders V, Speare R, Lowe J. Australian Public and Smallpox  Small pox and anthrax is a potential bioterrorism agent and although small pox response guidelines have been prepared, the level of community awareness is unknown. A cross-sectional national survey of 1001 Australians was conducted to assess knowledge and views about smallpox, vaccination, and other mitigation strategies. Participants were unclear about their personal smallpox vaccination status and had many false beliefs relating to smallpox and appropriate prevention and management measures. www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no11/04-1129.htm Unicombe L, Simmon G, Merritt T, Gregory J, Nicol C, Jelfs P, Kirk M, Tan A, Thomson R, Adamopoulos J, Little C, Currie A, Dalton C. Sesame seed products contaminated with Salmonella: three outbreaks associated with tahini  The association of salmonellosis with consumption of tahini has resulted in a policy change with the introduction of routine testing of imported sesame-based products in Australia. In New Zealand, under an emergency food standard, all sesame seed-based p http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FHYG%2FHYG133_06%2FS0950268805004085a.pdf&code=554330575c7213eb0244640216120c97 Hanson D, Hanson J, McFarlane K, Lloyd J, Muller R, Durrheim D. The injury iceberg: an ecological approach to planning sustainable community safety interventions  A literature review of 143 English-language articles addressing the topics of 'ecological injury prevention or safety promotion', 'ecological health promotion', 'sustainable economic, health or ecological systems', and 'steady state' found that injury pre www.healthpromotion.org.au/journal Baratiny G, Campbell E, Sanson-Fisher R, Cockburn J. Hospital patients receptive to quit smoking advice  Public hospitals are well positioned to play an active role in encouraging patients to quit smoking. Bans on smoking in hospital precincts make attending a public hospital an opportune trigger to motivate smokers to quit. As smokers are not allowed to smo www.healthpromotion.org.au/journal Corkrey R, Parkinson L, Bates L. Pressing the key pad: Trial of a novel approach to health promotion advice. Preventive Medicine 2005; 41(2): 657-666.  BACKGROUND.: The Pap test is relatively simple procedure which is effective in detecting early changes in the cervix; despite this many at-risk women do not have regular Pap tests. METHODS.: This paper describes a randomized controlled trial of an int http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=JournalURL&_cdi=6990&_auth=y&_acct=C000047922&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=915767&md5=5f7c3a216070e159ec657fd0a4351b18 Corkrey R, Parkinson L, Bates L, Green S, Htun A. Pilot of a novel cervical screening intervention: interactive voice response. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2005; 29(3): 261-264.  THE IVR call was successful used by a large number of women who obtained information about cervical cancer screening, with higher use by recognised risk groups. The results suggest that an IVR reminder could be useful to increase cervical screening rates http://www.phaa.net.au/anzjph/anzjph.htm Freund M, Campbell E, Paul C, Sakrouge R, Wiggers J. Smoking care provision in smoke-free hospitals in Australia. Preventive Medicine 2005; 41(1): 151-158.  Background: The study aimed to (1) measure the current routine smoking care that public hospitals in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, provide to inpatient smokers; (2) determine current strategies supporting such care; and (3) examine the association be http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=JournalURL&_cdi=6990&_auth=y&_acct=C000047922&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=915767&md5=5f7c3a216070e159ec657fd0a4351b18 Freund M, Campbell E, Paul C, Sakrouge R, Wiggers J. Smoking care provision in smoke-free hospitals in Australia. Preventive Medicine 2005; 41(1): 151-158.  Background: The study aimed to (1) measure the current routine smoking care that public hospitals in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, provide to inpatient smokers; (2) determine current strategies supporting such care; and (3) examine the association be http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=JournalURL&_cdi=6990&_auth=y&_acct=C000047922&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=915767&md5=5f7c3a216070e159ec657fd0a4351b18 Wolfenden L, Wiggers J, Knight J, Campbell E, Spigelman A, Kerridge R, Moore K. Increasing smoking cessation care in a preoperative clinic: a randomized controlled trial. Preventive Medicine 2005; 41(1): 284-290.  Background: Evidence suggests that preoperative clinics fail to systematically provide smoking cessation care to patients having planned surgery. Methods: The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy, acceptability, and cost of a multifaceted inte http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=JournalURL&_cdi=6990&_auth=y&_acct=C000047922&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=915767&md5=5f7c3a216070e159ec657fd0a4351b18 Monaghan, K A Country's Hidden and Untapped Resource: Exploring Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceptions and Knowledge of Hygiene in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Environmental Health 2005; 5(1): 62-72.  A qualitative study using participatory action research was used to explore attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and knowledge of hygiene and hygiene related behaviour involving 122 women and 89 men in Kandahar, Afghanistan over a four-week period in Dec/Jan 2 http://www.aieh.org.au/journal/index.php Moses N, Wiggers J, Nicholas C and Cockburn J. Prevalence and correlates of perceived unmet needs of people with systemic lupus erythematosus. Patient Education and Counselling 2005; 57: 30-38.  The prevalence and correlates of perceived unmet need among people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was assessed for 386 people with SLE, recruited from a support association in NSW, Australia. The mail-back survey included 97 items measuring perc http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/505955/description#description Dürrheim DN, Williams HA. Assuring effective malaria treatment in Africa: Drug efficacy is necessary but not sufficient. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2005; 59(3): 178-179.  Malaria drug resistance has resulted in dramatic increases in malaria prevalence and mortality during the past decade in sub-Saharan Africa. The early results from field trials of artemisinin containing combination therapy (ACT) have been promising. A n http://0-jech.bmjjournals.com.library.newcastle.edu.au/contents-by-date.0.shtml Wolfenden L, Wiggers J, Knight J, Campbell E, Rissel C, Kerridge R, Spigelman AD, Moore KA. A programme for reducing smoking in pre-operative surgical patients: randomised controlled trial. Anaesthesia 2005; 60(2): 172-9.  The primary aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of a comprehensive smoking cessation intervention in increasing the smoking abstinence rates of surgical patients. Two hundred and ten smoking patients attending a preoperative clinic were randomly http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2044.2004.04070.x Daly J, Licata M, Gillham K, Wiggers J. Increasing the health promotion practices of workplaces in Australia using a proactive telephone based intervention. American Journal of Health Promotion 2005; 19(3): 163-166.  The efficacy of a proactive telephone-based intervention aimed at increasing workplace adoption of health promotion initiatives in Australia was examined. Of the 320 eligible worksites in the region, 227 (71%) provided data at baseline and again 4 years http://www.healthpromotionjournal.com/ Wiggers J, Jauncey M, Considine R, Daly J, Kingsland M, Purss K, Burrows S, Nicholas C, Waites B. Strategies and outcomes in translating alcohol harm reduction research into practice: The Alcohol Linking Program. Drug and Alcohol Review. 2004 Sep 13; 23: 355-364.  This paper reports on a system intervention to enhance police enforcement of liquor laws by providing data-based feedback to police and licensees about alcohol-related crime following drinking on specific licensed premises. As a result of its success in r http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/09595236.asp Wolfenden L, Freund M, Campbell E, Wiggers J, Paul C, Mitchell E. Managing nicotine dependence in hospital patients: Meeting the ongoing challenges in NSW. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2004; 15(5-6): 98-101.  This article describes the implications of the NSW Smoke-Free Workplace Policy on hospitals and discusses the development and utility of the Guide in the context of the ongoing challenge of improving care for patients who are dependent on nicotine. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/phb/phb.html Sutherland R, Gill T, Binns C. Do parents, teachers and health professionals support school-based obesity prevention. Nutrition and Dietetics 2004; 61(3): 65-72.  This paper explores parents', teachers' and health professionals' attitudes to factors leading to childhood obesity and the role of the school in preventing obesity in children. http://www.ajnd.org.au/ Dalton C. Food borne disease surveillance in New South Wales. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2004;15(1-2): 1-2.  This is a review of articles on food borne disease surveillance in NSW. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/phb/phb.html Kypri K, Saunders J, Williams S, McGee R, Langley J, Cashell-Smith M, Gallagher S. Web-based screening and brief intervention for hazardous drinking: A double blind randomized controlled trial. Addiction 2004; 99(11): 1410-1417.  This paper discussed a double blind randomised controlled trial in which the efficacy of using web based screening and brief intervention (e-SBI) to reduce hazardous drinking was evaluated. Results revealed that e-SBI offers promise as a strategy to red http://www.addictionjournal.org/ Donaldson A, Forero R, Finch C. The first aid policies and practices of community sports clubs in northern Sydney, Australia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2004;15(2): 155-161.  Although first aid is a recommended sports injury prevention and management strategy, few community sports clubs have policies or implemented practices to address this issue comprehensively. This paper provides baseline data which compares first aid poli http://www.healthpromotion.org.au/journal.php Johnson N, Fisher J, Nagle A, Inder K, Wiggers J. Factors associated with referral to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation services. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 2004; 24(3): 165-170.  The purpose of the study was to determine what factors were associated with referring patients to cardiac rehabilitation outpatient services. The paper concludes that additional strategies are required to increase cardiac rehabilitation referral rates fo http://www.lww.com/product/?0883-9212 Oberdorfer A, Wiggers J, Bowman J, Burrows S, Cockburn J, Considine R. Monitoring and educational feedback to improve the compliance of tattooists and body piercers with infection control standards: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Infection Control 2004; 32(3): 147-154.  A randomised control trial was conducted amongst 37 tattooists and body-piercing premises in Sydney, NSW Australia. The findings demonstrate the efficacy of an audit and feedback strategy in increasing tattooists and piercers' infection control complianc http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?action=searchDB&searchDBfor=home&ID=ic Green S, Parkinson L, Bonevski B, Considine R. Community health needs assessment for health service planning: Realising consumer participation in the health service setting. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2004; 15(2): 137-145.  The aims of this paper are to describe a four-step process for community health needs assessment used in one community, to discuss satisfaction with the community consultation process, and to examine the cost and usefulness of the process for guiding heal http://www.healthpromotion.org.au/journal.php Kypri K, Langley J, Stephenson S. Assessment of nonresponse bias in an internet survey of alcohol use. Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, 28(4) 630-4.  The purpose of the study was to assess nonresponse bias in Internet surveys of alcohol use. 1910 university students with a response rate of 82% (N=1564) conducted the study. The aim was to identify nonresponse bias and to quantify its effects on estim http://users.tpg.com.au/kypri/Downloads/Publications/Nonresponse Kypri et al 2004.pdf Dalton C. Food borne disease surveillance in NSW: Moving towards performance standards. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2004;15(1-2): 2-5.  This article describes the evolution of the recent investment in food borne disease surveillance and control in NSW and discusses the opportunities to produce measurable enhancements of food safety from these investments. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/phb/phb.html Radvan D, Wiggers J, Hazell T. HEALTH C.H.I.P.s: Opportunistic community use of computerized health information programs. Health Education Research 2004; 19: 581-590.  This paper describes two studies which investigate the potential of using touchscreen computer kiosks for health education in a range of community settings. http://her.oupjournals.org/ Paul C, Wiggers J, Daly J, Green S, Walsh R, Knight J, Girgis A. Direct telemarketing of smoking cessation interventions: Will smokers take the call? Addiction 2004; 99: 907-913.  This paper explores the views of current adult smokers regarding the acceptability, likely uptake and barriers to update of smoking cessation services offered by direct telemarketing. The data suggests there is support for this method of marketing smoki http://www.addictionjournal.org/ Kypri K, Gallagher S, Cashell-Smith M. An internet-based survey method for college student drinking research. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2004; 76: 45-53.  The purpose for the study was to describe and assess the utility of an internet-based survey method for characterizing the alcohol consumption of college students. The paper discusses research methods and reviews and discusses the results. The researcher http://users.tpg.com.au/kypri/Downloads/Publications/Web survey Kypri et al 2004.pdf Bates L, Sinclair D, MacKenzie A. Attitudes to routine testing of blood lead levels of children near a lead smelter in North Lake Macquarie Environmental Health 2004 Mar 1;4(1): 45-52 This paper reports on a self administered, pencil and paper questionnaire conducted with participating North Lake Macquarie families on their knowledge of blood lead testing program, satisfaction and opportunities for improvement. The results reveal that http://www.neha.org/JEH/

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