Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals
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Health Promot J Austr · Apr 2019
Reducing stress and burnout in the public-sector work environment: A mindfulness meditation pilot study.
Identifying ways to manage the psychological and emotional costs of workplace stress is essential. Mindfulness meditation is reported to support mental well-being; however, findings are limited in Australian business settings. Accordingly, this study explored the efficacy of a mindfulness meditation program tailored for an Australian public-sector workplace. ⋯ Qualitative results extend comparable quantitative research by detailing how an appropriately tailored 8-week meditation-based program has the potential to decrease perceived stress in highly stressful work environments. SO WHAT?: Triangulated data suggest that an appropriately adapted mindfulness meditation program can be an effective, efficient and low-cost inclusion within an organisation's health promotion repertoire to help increase mental health among staff.
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Health Promot J Austr · Jan 2019
Assessing the availability, price, nutritional value and consumer views about foods and beverages from vending machines across university campuses in regional New South Wales, Australia.
Vending machines are ubiquitous. However, there is limited evidence on the nutritional value of food and beverages vended on university campuses and on the views of potential users. This study identified the availability, price and nutritional value of food and beverages vended on regional university campuses and investigated the views of university staff and students. ⋯ Vending machines on regional university campuses contained a high proportion of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods which contribute to an obesogenic environment. Regional university staff and students desire healthier vending options. SO WHAT?: Findings can be used to inform stakeholders of the need to improve the nutritional quality of food and beverages vended on regional university campuses. Development of food policy for university settings and adoption of strategies to improve the availability and price of healthy foods would promote healthier food choices.
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Health Promot J Austr · Aug 2018
Barriers to adequate first aid for paediatric burns at the scene of the injury.
The recommended first aid for burns, consisting of 20 minutes of cool running water (CRW) delivered within three hours of the injury, offers a simple yet effective means of improving health outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine patient and injury characteristics associated with inadequate CRW therapy among children with thermal burns, with the goal of identifying populations at greatest risk of undertreatment. ⋯ Although most burns occurred in close proximity to sources of CRW, first aid was poor across all demographics. The highest levels of undertreatment were found in children aged 0-2, adolescents aged 15-16, those living rurally or remotely, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. SO WHAT?: The study highlights the need for improved public education of first aid for burn injuries.
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Health Promot J Austr · Apr 2016
Satisfaction with transport and enjoyment of the commute by commuting mode in inner Sydney.
Issue addressed Travel satisfaction has become an increasingly popular construct for the assessment and monitoring of transport systems and services. However, satisfaction may not adequately assess emotion or mood towards walking and cycling, especially when infrastructure is biased towards motor vehicle modes. In this exploratory study we sought to examine the associations of both satisfaction with transport and enjoyment from the commute to work or study by commute mode in an Australian inner city context where transport mode choices are readily available. ⋯ Conclusions People who walked or cycled to work or study in inner Sydney reported higher levels of enjoyment from their commute compared with those who drove. This suggests enjoyment may be another benefit of active travel. So what? Focusing on 'enjoyment' associated with walking or cycling to work may be a positive motivator to encourage active travel.
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Health Promot J Austr · Feb 2016
Building research and evaluation capacity in population health: the NSW Health approach.
Issue addressed An organisational culture that values and uses research and evaluation (R&E) evidence to inform policy and practice is fundamental to improving health outcomes. The 2016 NSW Government Program Evaluation Guidelines recommend investment in training and development to improve evaluation capacity. The purpose of this paper is to outline the approaches taken by the NSW Ministry of Health to develop R&E capacity and assess these against existing models of practice. ⋯ From January 2013 to June 2014 divisional staff published 84 peer-reviewed papers and one book chapter. Conclusion A strategic approach to R&E capacity building compares favourably with organisational dimensions of ECB and has facilitated the generation of high quality population health R&E in NSW. So what? An evidence-based multistrategy approach to population health R&E can result in substantial contributions to the population-health evidence base.