Bewick, BM, West, R, Gill, J, O'May, F, Mulhern, B, Barkham, M & Hill, AJ 2010, 'Providing Web-Based Feedback and Social Norms Information to Reduce Student Alcohol Intake: A Multisite Investigation', Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 12, no. 5, pp. e59-e59.
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Bush, S, Burgess, L & Street, D 2010, 'Optimal designs for stated choice experiments that incorporate ties', JOURNAL OF STATISTICAL PLANNING AND INFERENCE, vol. 140, no. 7, pp. 1712-1718.
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In 1970 Davidson generalised the Bradley-Terry model to allow respondents to say that the two options presented in a choice task were equally attractive. In this paper we extend this idea to the MNL model with m options in each choice set and we show that the optimal designs for the MNL model are also optimal in this setting. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Colagiuri, S, Vita, P, Cardona-Morrell, M, Singh, MF, Farrell, L, Milat, A, Haas, M & Bauman, A 2010, 'The Sydney Diabetes Prevention Program: A community-based translational study', BMC Public Health, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1-7.
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Background: Type 2 diabetes is a major public health problem in Australia with prevalence increasing in parallel with increasing obesity. Prevention is an essential component of strategies to reduce the diabetes burden. There is strong and consistent evidence from randomised controlled trials that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through lifestyle modification which improves diet, increases physical activity and achieves weight loss in at risk people. The current challenge is to translate this evidence into routine community settings, determine feasible and effective ways of delivering the intervention and providing on-going support to sustain successful behavioural changes.
de Raad, J, van Gool, K, Haas, M, Haywood, P, Faedo, M, Gallego, G, Pearson, S & Ward, R 2010, 'Nursing Takes Time: Workload Associated With Administering Cancer Protocols', Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 735-741.
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New medicines and therapeutic combinations are tested and marketed every year. Healthcare decision makers have to make explicit choices about adopting new treatments and deal with the resource consequences of their choices. The aim of this article is to examine the nursing workload of administering alternative chemotherapy protocols as a driver of costs. Data collection (focus groups with chemotherapy nurses and a survey of nurse unit managers) was conducted to ascertain the time required to undertake chemotherapy-related tasks and the sources of variability in six chemotherapy centers in New South Wales, Australia. Four task types (patient education, patient assessment, administration, and patient communication) were identified as being associated with administering chemotherapy. On average, patient education required 48 minutes during the first visit and 18.5 minutes thereafter, patient assessment took 20.3 minutes, administration averaged 23 minutes, and patient communication required 24.2 minutes. Each center treated an average of 14 patients per day. Each patient received 3.3 hours of staff time (1.7 hours of direct contact time and 1.6 hours of noncontact time). The result of this research will allow healthcare decision makers and evaluators to predict the amount of nursing time required to administer chemotherapy based on the characteristics of a wide range of chemotherapy protocols.
Gallego, G, Goodall, S & Eastman, CJ 2010, 'Iodine deficiency in Australia: is iodine supplementation for pregnant and lactating women warranted?', MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, vol. 192, no. 8, pp. 461-463.
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Recent research has confirmed that Australian children and pregnant women are mildly iodine deficient. A considerable proportion of the pregnant population is moderately to severely iodine deficient.
Gallego, G, Goodall, S & Eastman, CJ 2010, 'Iodine deficiency in Australia: is iodine supplementation for pregnant and lactating women warranted?', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 193, no. 5, pp. 309-311.
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Hall, J 2010, 'Australian health care reform: giant leap or small step?', JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH & POLICY, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 193-194.
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Hall, J 2010, 'HEALTH-CARE REFORM IN AUSTRALIA: ADVANCING OR SIDE-STEPPING?', HEALTH ECONOMICS, vol. 19, no. 11, pp. 1259-1263.
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The Australian Prime Minister and State premiers, after an intense period of negotiation, announced `the most significant reform to Australias health and hospitals system since the introduction of Medicare, and one of the largest reforms to service delivery in the history of the Federation (Council of Australian Governments, 2010a). The Australian health-care system has remained structurally stable since the introduction of national tax financed universal health care in 1984, with subsequent governments mostly preferring incremental change (Hall, 1999). The most interesting feature of Australian health care to those outside Australia has been the public subsidy of private health insurance, despite universal free access to public hospitals, universal subsidies for medical care and most prescription pharmaceuticals. Within Australia, the role of private health insurance and the cost of its subsidy have been the dominant national issue, while other components of the system have been unchanged. This new agreement is strongly focussed on public hospitals. Whether this will indeed prove the start of significant reform or merely a side-step is yet to be determined.
Hall, J 2010, 'Medicare Select: A Bold Reform?', AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC REVIEW, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 63-70.
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This article examines the Medicare Select proposal. It describes the features of the model and the extent to which it is consistent with other reforms proposed or implemented in other countries, and then analyses the conditions necessary for the purported benefits to be realised.
Hall, JP, Haas, MR & Viney, RC 2010, 'Get sick, stay home, deal with it', Business 21C, vol. 2, no. Spring, pp. 51-53.
Hargraves, T-L, Bennett, AA & Brien, J-AE 2010, 'Evaluating outpatient pharmacy services: a literature review of specialist heart failure services', International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 3-9.
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AbstractObjectiveTo identify appropriate methods to evaluate a specialist pharmacy service for heart failure patients in an ambulatory care setting.MethodAn extensive literature review was undertaken to identify the published data on evaluative studies of specialist pharmacy services, including those directed at heart failure patients in an ambulatory care model of service provision.Key findingsSix studies were identified evaluating outpatient pharmacy services for heart failure. The pharmacy services provided in these settings were not well defined. The impact of the pharmacist was compared to ‘usual care’, that is care delivered without a pharmacist, by either a prospective randomised controlled trial (RCT), or before and after studies. In most cases the service was delivered by one pharmacist at one site. Services were primarily targeted at patients and focused on medication and lifestyle education, adverse drug reaction monitoring, and compliance/adherence. In all studies, there was a trend for improvement in the outcomes measured. Different study endpoints were examined, including process indicators such as compliance and outcome measures such as morbidity (clinical), quality of life (humanistic), and hospital admissions (economic). The ideal evaluative study would be an adequately powered, prospective, randomised controlled trial, comparing the effect of the pharmacist service to usual care (without the specified pharmacy service). Appropriate study endpoints including process indicators and outcome measures are needed. Identification of specific components and the extent of the service that would provide the most benefit to selected patient groups would be of interest.ConclusionsSpecialist ambu...
Kenny, PM, Hall, JP, Zapart, S & Davis, PR 2010, 'Informal Care and Home-Based Palliative Care: The Health-Related Quality of Life of Carers', JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 35-48.
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Health is an important factor in the capacity of family and friends (informal carers) to continue providing care for palliative care patients at home. This study investigates associations between the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of current informal carers and characteristics of the carers and their caregiving situation, in a sample of Australian carers of palliative care patients. The cross-sectional study used the Short Form-36 Health Survey to measure HRQOL. It found carers to have better physical health and worse mental health than the general population. Of 178 carers, 35% reported their health to be worse than it was one year ago. Multiple regression analyses found that the HRQOL of carers whose health had deteriorated in the previous year was associated with the patient's care needs but not the carer's time input, unlike the carers reporting stable health. Clinicians caring for palliative care patients should be alert to the potential health impairments of informal carers and ensure that they are adequately supported in their caregiving role and have access to appropriate treatment and preventive health care. © 2010 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Liu, H, Patel, A, Brown, A, Eades, S, Hayman, N, Jan, S, Ring, I, Stewart, G, Tonkin, A, Weeramanthri, T, Wade, V, Rodgers, A, Usherwood, T, Neal, B, Peiris, D, Burke, H, Reid, C & Cass, A 2010, 'Rationale and design of the Kanyini guidelines adherence with the polypill (Kanyini-GAP) study: a randomised controlled trial of a polypill-based strategy amongst Indigenous and non Indigenous people at high cardiovascular risk', BMC Public Health, vol. 10, no. 1.
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Abstract Background The Kanyini Guidelines Adherence with the Polypill (Kanyini-GAP) Study aims to examine whether a polypill-based strategy (using a single capsule containing aspirin, a statin and two blood pressure-lowering agents) amongst Indigenous and non-Indigenous people at high risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event will improve adherence to guideline-indicated therapies, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Methods/Design The study is an open, randomised, controlled, multi-centre trial involving 1000 participants at high risk of cardiovascular events recruited from mainstream general practices and Aboriginal Medical Services, followed for an average of 18 months. The participants will be randomised to one of two versions of the polypill, the version chosen by the treating health professional according to clinical features of the patient, or to usual care. The primary study outcomes will be changes, from baseline measures, in serum cholesterol and systolic blood pressure and self-reported current use of aspirin, a statin and at least two blood pressure lowering agents. Secondary study outcomes include cardiovascular events, renal outcomes, self-reported barriers to indicated therapy, prescription of indicated therapy, occurrence of serious adverse events and changes in quality-of-life. The trial will be supplemented by formal economic and process evaluations. Discussion The Kanyini-GAP trial will provide new evidence as to whether or not a polypill-based strategy improves adherence to effective cardiovascular medications amongst individuals in whom these treatments are indicated. ...
Norman, R, King, MT, Clarke, D, Viney, R, Cronin, P & Street, D 2010, 'Does mode of administration matter? Comparison of online and face-to-face administration of a time trade-off task', QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 499-508.
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Purpose Developments in electronic data collection methods have allowed researchers to generate larger datasets at lower costs, but relatively little is known about the comparative performance of the new methods. This paper considers the comparability of two modes of administration (face-to-face and remote electronic) for the time trade-off. Method Data were collected from a convenience sample of adults (n = 135) randomised to either a face-to-face time trade-off or a remote electronic tool. Patterns of responses were considered. For each sample, standard regression analysis was undertaken to generate a valuation set, which were then contrasted. Results The pattern of responses differed by mode of administration, with the electronic tool yielding larger standard deviations and higher proportions of responses at -1, 0 and 1. The impact of this on the regression was difficult to disentangle from the high variability around individual scores of states, which is a common feature of responses to time trade-off tasks. Under the scoring algorithms generated by mode of administration, the difference between scores exceeded 0.1 for 100 of the 243 EQ-5D health states. Conclusions This comparison demonstrates that variability arising from mode of administration needs to be considered in developing health state valuations. While electronic administration has considerable cost advantages, particular attention to the design of the task is required. This has wider implications, as all modes of administration may have mode-specific impacts on the distribution of valuation responses. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010.
Owen, K, Pettman, T, Haas, M, Viney, R & Misan, G 2010, 'Individual preferences for diet and exercise programmes: changes over a lifestyle intervention and their link with outcomes', Public Health Nutrition, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 245-252.
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AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the influence of a trial lifestyle intervention on participants’ preferences for a range of exercise and diet programmes and whether these differ between successful and unsuccessful participants.DesignHypothetical scenarios that describe attributes of diet and exercise programmes were developed using an experimental design. Participants completed an online questionnaire at baseline, 16 weeks and 12 months where they chose their most preferred of three programmes in each of sixteen scenarios. Discrete choice modelling was used to identify which attributes participants emphasised at each time point.SubjectsFifty-five individuals who exhibited symptoms of metabolic syndrome and who participated in a 16-week trial lifestyle intervention.ResultsThere was a clear shift in programme preferences from structure to flexibility over the intervention. At baseline, emphasis was on individually designed and supervised exercise, structured diets and high levels of support, with Gainers focusing almost exclusively on support and supervision. Losers tended to consider a wider range of programme attributes. After 16 weeks preferences shifted towards self-directed rather than organised/supervised exercise and support was less important (this depended on the type of participant and whether they were in the follow-up group). Cost became significant for Gainers following the end of the primary intervention.Conclusio...
Page, K & Page, L 2010, 'Alone against the crowd: Individual differences in referees’ ability to cope under pressure', Journal of Economic Psychology, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 192-199.
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Page, L & Page, K 2010, 'Last shall be first: A field study of biases in sequential performance evaluation on the Idol series', Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 186-198.
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Pearce, AM, Haas, M, van Gool, K & Investigators, E 2010, 'THE COST OF CHEMOTHERAPY SIDE EFFECTS', VALUE IN HEALTH, vol. 13, no. 7, pp. A515-A515.
Rowen, D, Carlton, J, Brazier, JE, Mulhern, B, Palfreyman, S, Stevens, K & Tsuchiya, A 2010, 'Two important points', BMJ, vol. 341, no. oct05 2, pp. c5454-c5454.
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Sangster, J, Furber, S, Allman-Farinelli, M, Haas, M, Phongsavan, P, Mark, A & Bauman, A 2010, 'A population-based lifestyle intervention to promote healthy weight and physical activity in people with cardiac disease: The PANACHE (Physical Activity, Nutrition And Cardiac HEalth) study protocol', BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1-8.
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Methods/Design: This study is a randomised controlled trial. People referred for CR at two urban and two rural Australian hospitals will be invited to participate. The intervention (healthy weight) group will participate in four telephone delivered behavioural coaching and goal setting sessions over eight weeks. The coaching sessions will be on weight, nutrition and physical activity and will be supported by written materials, a pedometer and two follow-up booster telephone calls. The control (physical activity) group will participate in a six week intervention previously shown to increase physical activity, consisting of two telephone delivered behavioural coaching and goal setting sessions on physical activity, supported by written materials, a pedometer and two booster phone calls. Data will be collected at baseline, eight weeks and eight months for the intervention group (baseline, six weeks and six months for the control group). The primary outcome is weight change. Secondary outcomes include physical activity, sedentary time and nutrition habits. Costs will be compared with outcomes
Ting, JHY, Haas, MR, Valenzuela, SM & Martin, DK 2010, 'Terminating polyelectrolyte in multilayer films influences growth and morphology of adhering cells', IET NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 77-90.
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Polyelectrolyte films of anionic poly(sodium 4-styrenesulphonate) (PSS) and cationic poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) were constructed using layer-by-layer assembly. The authors examined the cytocompatibility of these films for future use in nanobiotechnology applications. Cell lines HEK-293 and 3T3-L1 were cultured on these films and the initial attachment, adhesion, proliferation and cytotoxicity of the cells were measured using a propidium iodide assay. The morphology and spread of the cells were measured by phase-contrast microscopy. The actin cytoskeleton was observed using fluorescent microscopy. Neither the PAH-terminated nor the PSS-terminated polyelectrolyte films were cytotoxic. The PAH-terminated polyelectrolyte films improved the initial attachment and subsequent adhesion of the cells, in addition to enhancing the production of extracellular matrix and the modelling of the actin filaments. The PSS-terminated film enhanced the proliferation of the cells compared to the PAH-terminated film. That was despite the cell cycle, the spreading or the cytotoxicity of both cell types being similar for either the PSS-terminated surfaces or the PAH-terminated surfaces. Cell behaviour can be modulated by the final surface charge of the polyelectrolyte film and the results are useful in guiding the choice of substrates and/or coatings for potential biomedical applications (e.g. implants) as well as cell biology research.
Viney, R, Norman, R, King, M, Street, DJ, Knox, S & Cronin, P 2010, 'ME1 METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUSTRALIAN ALGORITHM FOR THE EQ-5D', Value in Health, vol. 13, no. 7, pp. A505-A505.
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Church, J, Goodall, S & Cameron, A MSAC 2010, Middle ear implant for sensorineural, conductive and mixed hearing losses: MSAC Application 1137, pp. 1-194.
Cronin, PA, Goodall, S, Norman, R & Church, J CHERE University of Technology, Sydney 2010, The impact of a new bowel cancer screening test on detection of colorectal cancer: Part B Replacing FOBT with new test, Sydney.
Cronin, PA, Goodall, S, Norman, R & Church, J CHERE University of Technology, Sydney 2010, The impact of a new bowel cancer screening test on detection of colorectal cancer: Part B2 FOBT + New screening test in a triage model.
Cronin, PA, Goodall, S, Norman, R, Church, J & Gallego, G CHERE University of Technology, Sydney 2010, The impact of improving screening participation rate on bowel screening for colorectal cancer: Final report part A, Sydney.
Gurgacz, S, Church, J, Cameron, A & Goodall, S MSAC 2010, Radiofrequency Ablation for Barrett's Oesophagus with Dysplasia: MSAC Application 1143, pp. 1-85, Canberra.
Hall, JP Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia 2010, Designing the structure for Australia's health system. Occasional Paper 2010 Number 1, pp. 1-29, Canberra, Australia.
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Public hospitals and their performance was the major health issue in the 2007 national election. The now Prime Minister, as Opposition leader, announced that he would develop a national reform plan 'designed to eliminate duplication and overlap between the States and the Commonwealth' and 'to move beyond the blame game'.1 He also stated his intention to hold a national referendum to allow the Commonwealth to take over the running of public hospitals if reform could not be achieved cooperatively with the States by the middle of 2009.
Hilferty, F, Mullan, K, Van Gool, K, Chan, S, Eastman, C, Reeve, RD, Heese, K, Haas, MR, Newton, B, Griffiths, M & Katz, I Social Policy Research Centre 2010, The evaluation of Brighter Futures, NSW Community Services' early intervention program: Final report, pp. 1-305, Australia.
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This report presents the findings of the evaluation of the NSW Community Services` early intervention program, Brighter Futures. Brighter Futures is an innovative program, which has changed the practice of child abuse prevention services in NSW. The program has broken new ground nationally and internationally by developing an evidence-based service model; requiring caseworkers to use validated instruments for assessment and reporting; and being delivered through a cross-sectoral partnership between Community Services and non-government organisations. It is also innovative in specifically targeting families who are at most risk of entering the child protection system.
Kenny, PM, Haas, MR & Hall, JP CHERE 2010, Costs of non-melanoma skin cancer: Final report, pp. 1-14, Sydney.
