Director: Associate Professor Ben Smith
This Unit is engaged in a broad range of research to build the evidence base for the programs and policies that are needed to tackle current public health challenges. The work of the Unit is oriented towards major population health issues, particularly chronic diseases and related risks, and persistent problems arising from underlying social inequities. The research is guided by an interest in strategies that can be applied within existing contexts and settings, and in the infrastructure needed for sustained and effective health promotion
The research of the Unit draws upon quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods approaches. The scope of the research encompasses population needs analyses, studies of health determinants, development of data collection instruments, media analysis, evaluation of health promotion strategies, organisational change studies and policy analysis. Set out below are brief descriptions, under thematic headings, of the research projects being undertaken within the Unit.
Social Inclusion and Health
Poor access to the resources required for health, weak social ties, the experience of discrimination, and other aspects of social exclusion are factors that contribute to health inequity. These inequities persist even against a background of wider population health improvement, and there is a strong need for evidence to guide advocacy, policy and programs to address this.
1) Evaluation of VicHealth Participation in Community Sport and Active Recreation Program
Investigators:
Associate Professor Ben Smith
Margaret Thomas, ARTD Ltd
Wendy Hodge, ARTD Ltd
Funding: VicHealth
VicHealth has funded a wide range of sporting and community organisations in Victoria to address the barriers that are experienced by disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in relation to sports and active recreation opportunities. The PICSAR program is supporting the development of strategies to boost participation by a range of priority groups (women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, diverse cultural groups) so that they can experience the health benefits of physical activity and the psychosocial benefits of greater community engagement. The evaluation is examining the strategies being used in 22 of the funded projects and the impacts that these achieve.
2) Evaluation of the VicHealth Active Participation Scheme in metropolitan Melbourne
Investigator:
Associate Professor Ben Smith
Funding: VicHealth
A number of Councils and community organisations in Melbourne have been funded to build partnerships and develop strategies to increase participation in sports and active recreation by socially disadvantaged and underrepresented groups. The evaluation of the APG scheme is employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods over the three years of program implementation to investigate the strengths and limitations of different methods of engaging the priority groups and the benefits that project participants experience.
3) Promoting health through access to higher education
Investigators:
Dr Ruth Bell, University College London
Dr KC Tang, WHO Geneva
Associate Professor Ben Smith
While the social, economic and health benefits of access to basic education have been extensively reported, there has been much less attention to the contribution that social differentials in higher education may make to health inequities. A review of published literature and policy documents was initiated by the World Health Organisation to investigate socioeconomic differences in higher education participation in different countries, the public health benefits of higher education, the key determinants of disparities of participation, and policies that have are being used to promote equitable access to higher education.
Media, marketing and health
The media is understood to have a major influence upon knowledge, attitudes and social norms at the population level in ways that may both facilitate and threaten health. This influence is exercised through the campaigns undertaken by public health authorities, the construction of health issues within news and entertainment media, and the advertising and marketing practices of private industries. The research being undertaken under this theme encompasses these multiple dimensions of media influence in order to build a knowledge base for health communication strategies and policies related to promotion and marketing practices.
1) Cycling in the news
Investigators
Adrian Emilsen, Macquarie University
Associate Professor Chris Rissel, Sydney South West Area Health Service
Dr Catriona Bonfiglioli, University of Technology Sydney
Associate Professor Ben Smith
Funding: Multiple sources
Cycling continues to grow in popularity in Australia and offers potential public benefits in health, transport, environmental and economic terms. The type of news coverage cycling receives is likely to be shaping public understandings of cyclists and has a potential influence on public policy support for cycling. This study is investigating the nature and trends in portrayals of cycling over 10 years in the major newspapers both NSW and Victoria.
2) Funding of junior sport: examining opportunities for health promotion
Investigators:
Professor Louise Baur, University of Sydney
Professor Adrian Bauman, University of Sydney
Associate Professor Ben Smith
Kathy Chapman, NSW Cancer Council
Lesley King, University of Sydney
Funding: ARC Linkage Grant
The nature of sports club sponsorship is one of the range of factors that influence the extent to which these settings are health promoting environments. This study is examining the prevalence and characteristics of food and drink company sponsorship of major childrens sports.
3) Changing the media diet - Investigating the power of the news media to prevent obesity
Investigators:
Dr Catriona Bonfiglioli, University of Technology, Sydney
Professor Simon Chapman, University of Sydney
Associate Professor Ben Smith
Funding: ARC Discovery Grant
This project is investigating the news media's role in Australia's response to the epidemic of obesity and inactivity. It will be first study to generate evidence from the whole media life cycle: news messages and media debates about causes of and solutions to obesity, public understanding of this information and journalists' professional practice.
4) Role of the mass media for promoting physical activity in cancer prevention
Investigators:
Prof Bill Reger-Nash, West Virginia University
Dr Julie Patrick, West Virginia University
Professor Adrian Bauman, University of Sydney
Professor Neville Owen, University of Queensland
Cora Craig, Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute
Associate Professor Ben Smith
Dr Nick Cavill, Cavill Associates
Dr Melvyn Hilsdon, University of Bristol
Funding: US National Cancer Institutes
The international collaborate study is conducting a critical re-analysis of five existing physical activity media campaign data sets from four countries to better understand how mass media campaigns influence physical activity behaviour. It will identify the key ingredients and outcomes of physical activity campaigns, and is likely to have broader generalization to the mechanisms underpinning mass media campaigns addressing other health issues.
