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Associate Professor Ben Smith

Associate Professor Ben Smith

Health Social Science

PhD, MPH, BSW(Hons), GCHE

Telephone: +61 3 9903 1654
   
Facsimile: +61 3 9903 1658
   
Email:

ben.smith@med.monash.edu.au

Profile

With a background in community development, Ben brings to the department 20 years of experience as a health promotion practitioner and evaluator, having worked in regional health services and local government, and as a consultant for State and Commonwealth Governments in Australia, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Ben has a broad research portfolio, with interests in measurement of health risk factors and determinants, the role of the mass media in health promotion, and the design of chronic disease prevention strategies for health care settings. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Health Promotion Journal of Australia, and has published his work widely in Australia and overseas.

Research interests

  • Measurement of health risk factors and determinants
  • The role of the mass media in health promotion
  • Design of chronic disease prevention strategies for health care settings.

Teaching

Teaching areas include various aspects of health promotion.

Recent publications

2009

  • Merom D, Bauman A, Phongsavan P, Cerin E, Kassis M, Brown W, Smith BJ, Rissel C.Can a Motivational intervention overcome an unsupportive environment for walking-findings from the Step-by-Step study. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2009 Oct 6. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Thomas MM, Hodge W, Smith BJ. Building capacity in local government for integrated planning to increase physical activity: evaluation of the VicHealth MetroACTIVE program. Health Promotion International. 2009 Oct 13. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Phongsavan P, Smith BJ, Chey T, Havea D, Bauman A. Psychosocial profiles of adolescent non-smokers in the Pacific. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. In press, accepted 21st May, 2009
  • Bauman A, Bull F, Chey T, Craig CL, Ainsworth BE, Sallis JF, Bowles HR, Hagstromer M, Sjostrom M, Pratt M, Group I (Smith B listed author). The International Prevalence Study on Physical Activity: results from 20 countries. International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009; 6(1):21.
  • Merom D, Chey T, Chau J, Smith BJ, Barr M, Bauman AE. Are messages about lifestyle walking being heard? Trends in walking for all purposes in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Preventive Medicine 2009, 48: 341-4.
  • Cust AE, Armstrong BK, Smith BJ, Chau J, van der Ploeg H, Bauman A Is self-reported confidence in recall of physical activity a predictor of the validity and repeatability of physical activity questionnaires? Epidemiology 2009, 20: 433-41
  • Smith BJ. Health Promotion. In: Willis E, Reynolds L, Keleher H, eds. Understanding the Australian Health Care System. Melbourne: Elsevier Australia, 2009. p107-117.

2008

  • Bauman, A., Bowels, H. R., Huhman, M., Heitzler, C. D., Owen, N., Smith, B. J., Reger-Nash, B., 2008, Testing a hierachy-of-effects model: pathways from awareness to outcomes in the VERB campaign 2002-2003, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol 34, issue 6S, Elsevier Inc., United States, pp. S249-S256.
  • Buffart, L. M., Allman-Farinelli, M., King, L., Van der Ploeg, H., Smith, B. J., Kurko, J., Bauman, A., 2008, Are general practitioners ready and willing to tackle obesity management?, Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, vol 2, Elsevier, Singapore, pp. 189-194.
  • Chau, J., Smith, B. J., Bauman, A., Merom, D., Eyeson-Annan, M., Chey, T., Farrell, L., 2008, Recent trends in physical activity in New South Wales. Is the tide of inactivity turning?, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol 32, issue 1, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia, Australia, pp. 82-85.
  • Cust, A. E., Smith, B. J., Chau, J., Van der Ploeg, H., Freidenreich, C., Armstrong, B. K., Bauman, A., 2008, Validity and repeatability of the EPIC physical activity questionnaire: using accelerometers as an objective measure, The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol 5, issue 33, BioMed Central Ltd., London UK, pp. 1-13.
  • Smith, B. J., Batras, D., Thomas, M., Hodge, W., 2008, Participation in community sport and active recreation (PICSAR) program evaluation progress report July 2008, Monash University, Melbourne, pp. 1-6.
  • Smith, B. J., Keleher, H. M., Fry, C. L., 2008, Developing values, evidence and advocacy to address the social determinants of health, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, vol 19, issue 3, Australian Health Promotion Association, North Melbourne Victoria Australia, pp. 171-172.
  • Smith, B. J., Phongsavan, P., Bampton, D., Peacocke, G., Gilmete, M., Havea, D., Chey, T., Bauman, A., 2008, Intentional injury reported by young people in the Federated States of Micronesia, Kingdom of Tonga and Vanuatu, BMC Public Health, vol 8, issue 145, BioMed Central Ltd, London UK, pp. 1-8.
  • Smith, B. J., Van der Ploeg, H., Buffart, L. M., Bauman, A., 2008, Encouraging physical activity: five steps for GPs, Australian Family Physician, vol 37, issue 1/2, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australia, pp. 24-28.
  • Zehle, K., Smith, B. J., Chey, T., McLean, M., Bauman, A., Cheung, N., 2008, Psychosocial factors related to diet among women with recent gestational diabetes: Oportunities for intervention, The Diabetes Educator, vol 34, issue 5, Sage Science Press, United States, pp. 807-814.
  • Buffart LM, van der Ploeg HP, Smith B.J., Kurko J, King LA, Bauman AE. General practitioners' perceptions and practices of physical activity counselling: changes over the past 10 years. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2008, Jul 15. [Epub ahead of print].

2007

  • Batras, D., Smith, B.J. and Keleher, H. (2007), The Vision Initiative 2006-7 Evaluation Report, Monash University and Vision 2020, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Bauman, A., O’Hara, L., Signal, L., Smith, B.J., Ritchie, J., Parker, E., Ratima, M., Tang, K. C. and Rissel, C. (2007), A perspective on changes in values in the profession of health promotion, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 3-6.
  • Bonfiglioli, C., King, L., Smith, B.J., Chapman, S. and Holding, S. Obesity in the media: political hot potato or human interest story?, Australian Journalism Review, vol. 29, pp. 53-61.
  • Bonfiglioli, C. M. F., Smith, B. J., King, L. A., Chapman, S. F. and Holding, S. J. (2007), Choice and voice: obesity debates in television news, Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 187, no. 8, pp. 442-5.
  • Bowles, H. R., Merom, D., Chey, T., Smith, B. J. and Bauman, A. (2007), Associations of type, organisation, and number of recreational activities with total activity, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, vol. 4, pp. 469-80.
  • Kelly, B., King, L., Bauman, A., Smith, B. J., Flood, V. (2007), The effects of different regulation systems on television food advertising to children, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 340-3.
  • Kelly, B., Smith, B.J., King, L., Flood, V., and Bauman, A. (2007). Television food advertising to children: the extent and nature of exposure. Public Health Nutrition, vol. 10, no.11, pp. 1234-40.
  • Merom, D., Rissel, C., Phongsavan, P., Smith, B.J., Van Kemenade, C., Brown, W. J., Bauman, A. E. (2007), Promoting Walking with Pedometers in the Community: the step-by-step trial, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 290-7.
  • Smith, B. J., Henriksen, H., Tapsell, L. C., McLean, M. and Bauman, A. (2007), A group-based healthy lifestyle program for women with previous gestational diabetes, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, vol. 77, pp. 333-4.
  • Smith, B.J., Phongsavan, P., Bauman, A., Havea, D., and Chey, T. (2007). Comparison of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drug usage among school students in three Pacific island societies. Drug and Alcohol Dependence; vol. 88: 9-18.
  • Smith, B. J., Phongsavan, P., Havea, D., Halavatau, V., Chey, T. & Members of the Health Behaviour and Lifestyle of Pacific Youth Survey Collaborating Group and Tonga Core Survey Team. (2007), Body mass index, physical activity and dietary behaviours among adolescents in the Kingdom of Tonga, Public Health Nutrition, vol. 10, no. 2, pp.137-44.
  • van der Ploeg, H. P., Smith, B. J., Stubbs, T., Vita, P., Holford, R. and Bauman, A. E. (2007), Physical activity promotion: Are GPs getting the message?, Australian Family Physician, vol. 36, no. 10, pp. 871-4

2006

  • Smith, B.J., Tang, K.C., and Nutbeam, D. (2006). WHO Health Promotion Glossary: New terms. Health Promotion International; 21:340-345.
  • Smith, B.J., Bauman, A.E., Chen, J., Loveday, S., Costello, M., Mackie, B., & Dore. G. (2006). Hepatitis C in Australia: Impact of a mass media campaign. American Journal of Preventive Medicine; 31:492-498.
  • Bauman A, Smith B.J., Reger B, Maibach E. Evaluation of mass media campaigns for physical activity. Evaluation and Program Planning 2006; 29: 312-322.
  • Sjöström M, Oja P, Hagströmer M, Smith B.J., Bauman, A. Health-enhancing physical activity across European Union countries: the Eurobarometer study. Journal of Public Health 2006; 14: 291-300.
  • Smith B.J., Zehle K, Bauman A, Chau J, Hawkshaw B, Frost S, Thomas, M. Quantitative methods used in Australian health promotion research: a review of publications from 1992-2002. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2006; 17: 32-6.

2005

  • Smith, B.J., Marshall, A.L., and Huang, N. (2005). Screening for physical activity in family practice: Evaluation of two brief assessment tools. American Journal of Preventive Medicine; 29:256-264.
  • Smith B.J., Bauman A. Physical environments. In: Kerr J, Weitkunat R, Moretti M, eds. ABC of Behavior Change: A Guide to Successful Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Edinburgh: Elsevier; 2005. p 139-152.
  • Smith B.J., Cheung NW, Bauman AE, Zehle K, McLean M. Post-partum physical activity and related risk factors among women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 2005; 28: 2650-4.
  • Corner H, Rissel C, Smith BJ, Forero R, Olatunbosun-Alakija A, Phongsavan P, Havea D, Members of the Health Behaviour and Lifestyle of Pacific Youth Survey Collaborating Group and Core Survey Teams. Sexual health behaviors among Pacific lsland youth in Vanuatu, Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2005; 16:144-150.
  • Eakin EG, Smith BJ, Bauman AE. Evaluating the population health impact of physical activity interventions in primary care: are we asking the right questions? Journal of Physical Activity and Health 2005; 2: 197-215.
  • Phongsavan P, Olatunbosun-Alakija A, Havea B, Bauman A, Smith BJ, Galea G, Chen J, Members of the Health Behaviour and Lifestyle of Pacific Youth Survey Collaborating Group and Core Survey Teams. Health behaviour and lifestyle of Pacific youth surveys: a resource for capacity building. Health Promotion International 2005; 20:238-248.
  • McLean G, Smith B.J., Bauman AE, Tobias M, Carr H. The public health ‘Bledisloe Cup’: physical activity prevalence differences between New Zealand and Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2005; 29: 490-491.
  • Chen J, Smith B.J., Loveday S, Bauman A, Costello M, Mackie B. Impact of a mass media campaign upon calls to the New South Wales Hep C Helpline. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2005; 16: 11-14.
  • Marshall AL, Smith B.J., Bauman AE, Kaur S. Reliability and validity of a brief physical activity assessment for use by family physicians. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2005; 39: 294-297.
  • Smith B.J., Bauman A, McKenzie J, Thomas, M Awareness of message source and its association with the impacts of sun protection campaigns in Australia. Health Education 2005; 105: 42-52.