Digital Commons Network^™

Health-Related Quality Of Life And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease In North Carolina, David Brown, Roy Pleasants, Jill Ohar, Monica Kraft, James Donohue, David Mannino, Winston Liao, Harry Herric

David C. Brown

Background:

Comparisons of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adults in the general population are not well described.

Aims:

To examine associations between COPD and four measures of HRQOL in a population-based sample.

Patients & Methods:

These relationships were examined using data from 13,887 adults aged >18 years who participated in the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) conducted in North Carolina (NC). Logistic regression was used to obtain adjusted relative odds (aOR).

Results:

The age-adjusted prevalence of COPD among NC adults was 5.4% (standard error 0.27). Nearly half of adults …

Where Would Australian Travellers Seek Information About Bird Flu? Results Of Two Airport Intercept Surveys, Loiuse Waters, Sandra C. Jones

Sandra Jones

A potential bird flu pandemic has been the recent focus of the world’s attention. Successful control efforts will require using sources of information that both residents and visitors within a country will actively seek information from; this is critical to prevent panic and to elicit the desired public responses. This paper reports the combined results of two airport intercept surveys which illustrate the Australian traveller’s preferred and likely sources of information about bird flu in the event of a bird flu pandemic. Our results indicate that Australian travellers would be most likely to seek information from the internet and their …

Branding: An Adolescent Sun Protection Perspective, Melissa Lynch, Sandra C. Jones, Lyn Phillipson

Sandra Jones

Australian adolescents are consistently found to exhibit low levels of adherence to sun protection guidelines, resulting in high levels of skin cancer incidence in later life. Given the importance of image, appearance, and peer approval factors in adolescent sun protection, this study sought to examine adolescents’ perceptions of the “sun protection brand,” its competing brands, and possible complementary brands. A series of 14 focus groups were conducted with adolescents in Years 9 and 10 (junior high school), and the results are examined in the context of potential branding-related marketing strategies to overcome some of the barriers to sun protection.

Putting The ‘Community’ Back Into Community Standards For Advertising, Katherine Van Putten, Sandra C. Jones

Sandra Jones

The Advertising Standards Board passes judgments on complaints each year against what is referred to as prevailing community standards. There is however, no explicit definition of what these prevailing community standards are. This research found that there were two major issues that were of most concern to the public in regard to (un)acceptable advertising: the portrayal of women and the consequences of social marketing advertisements. Neither of these issues are adequately addressed by the current advertising Code of Ethics. The results of this research suggest there is an urgent need to develop a set of evidence based community standards for …

Are Negative Reactions To Sexist Appeals In Alcohol Advertisements A Function Of Feminism Or Gender?, Sandra C. Jones

Sandra Jones

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the use of sexual appeals in alcohol advertising is increasing. It has been shown that the use of sex appeals may result in a more negative attitude towards the brand, particularly among female consumers. This study investigates the proposition that this is the effect of feminist ideology rather than, or in addition to, biological gender. The results show that female respondents have more negative attitudes towards alcohol advertisements utilizing overt (or demeaning) sexual appeals than males and more positive attitudes towards alcohol advertisements utilizing feminist (empowering) appeals than males; and that there is no consistent independent …

Who Would The Australian Public Trust To Tell Them About Bird Flu? Results Of An Australia-Wide Cati Survey, Sandra C. Jones, L. Waters, Don C. Iverson

Sandra Jones

A potential bird flu pandemic is currently the cause of much debate worldwide. Successful control efforts will require effective risk communication, and the choice of credible spokespeople is critical to prevent panic and elicit the desired public responses. This paper reports the results of one Australia-wide CATI survey which examined the Australian public’s preferred sources of information on bird flu and credibility of spokespeople in the event of a bird flu pandemic in Australia. Our results indicate medical personnel and organisations are perceived by the public as being the most credible sources for delivering information about bird flu. These findings …

Children And The Internet: What Are "Safe" Websites Telling Our Kids About Food?, Sandra C. Jones, Belinda S. Fabrianesi

Sandra Jones

Food advertising is a contentious issue in regards to childhood obesity and has increasing importance on the public policy agenda both in Australia and overseas. This study examines the nature and extent of food advertising/promotions on popular children’s websites. Three popular children’s websites were chosen: Total Girl, K-Zone and D-Mag. Each is linked to a top-selling magazine and targets children aged eight to12 years. The websites were monitored daily from 1-28 December 2005, with the increase or decrease of any food product advertisements recorded as well as any competitions, games, puzzles and recipes which promoted certain food products. Food product …

'Like Me, Want Me, Buy Me, Eat Me': Relationship-Building Marketing Communications In Children's Magazines, Sandra C. Jones, Nadia L. Mannino, Julia Green

Sandra Jones

Objective: Television, Internet and print media are saturated with advertisements for unhealthy food that use marketing tactics aimed to build long-term brand loyalty and ‘relationships’ with children. While research in this area has largely focused on television, the current study examines children’s responses to relationship-building marketing communications found in popular children’s magazines. Design: A qualitative study consisting of friendship-pair interviews in which children were interviewed and asked to comment on a range of recent food advertisements. Setting: A university-based after-school care programme in New SouthWales, Australia. Subjects: Ten children aged 6–13 years, interviewed in self-selected friendship pairs. Results: The children …

An Exploratory Study On The Effect Of Positive (Warmth Appeal) And Negative (Guilt Appeal) Print Imagery On Donation Behaviour In Animal Welfare, M. Haynes, Jennifer Thornton, Sandra C. Jones

Sandra Jones

Very few studies in social marketing empirically compare the effectiveness of positive and negative appeals. This study examines the effect of positive (warmth appeal) and negative (guilt appeal) print imagery on donation behaviour to an animal welfare organisation. A quasiexperimental design was used to test the appeals, using a convenience sample of 282 university students, with each experimental group being exposed to only one type of appeal. The results indicated that negative imagery which evoked guilt was more effective than positive imagery which evoked warmth, on intention to donate money and time to the animal welfare organisation.

'Most Men Drink... Especially Like When They Play Sports' - Alcohol Advertising During Sporting Broadcasts And The Potential Impact On Child Audiences, Sandra C. Jones, Lyn Phillipson, Lance R. Barrie

Sandra Jones

Alcohol advertising during sporting broadcasts, as well as the sponsorship of sporting events by the alcohol industry, is common practice in Australia, as in many other countries. The strength of the association between alcohol and sports prompts consideration of the potential for children who watch televised sport to be exposed to a considerable amount of alcohol advertising, and to learn to associate alcohol with sport and sporting success. This paper reviews the current alcohol advertising regulations in Australia, particularly in reference to the protection of children. It then details a pair of studies designed to examine the extent and nature …

Believability And Effectiveness Of Young Adult Safe-Drinking Messages, N. Breen, Sandra C. Jones

Sandra Jones

This study investigates eight safe-drinking messages, using appeals to the ‘self’ versus appeals about ‘others’, in combination with either a low or high physical threat, or a low or high social threat. The participants were18-25 year old second-year university marketing students. An experimental design was used for data collection, which involved 196 participants, with the groups comprised of participants with homogenous demographic characteristics and drinking behaviour. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the believability and effectiveness of the messages. It was determined that messages about ‘others’ were perceived as more believable and effective than the corresponding appeals used …

The Use Of Female Sexuality In Australian Alcohol Advertising: Public Policy Implications Of Young Adults' Reactions To Stereotypes, Sandra C. Jones, Amanda Reid

Sandra Jones

Coinciding with the rise of raunch culture, a new female stereotype has emerged in advertising - the lusty, busty exhibitionist who exudes sexual power and confidence. Previous research has generally found that women react less positively to female sexual images in alcohol advertising than males, but different sexual stereotypes have not been explicitly examined. The present study utilizes different types of sexual appeals in three televised advertisements for alcohol brands and investigates the relationship between types of sexual imagery and attitude to the advertisement, stated reasons for (dis)liking the advertisement and purchase intention (PI) among 268 Australian university students. Surprisingly, …

Are Current Social Marketing Campaigns Getting Through To Undergraduate University Students?, Sandra C. Jones

Sandra Jones

In this study, we conduct a survey of health behaviours among undergraduate university students. The health behaviours include weight control, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, use of illicit drugs, and safe-sex practices. By comparing the results with national survey results, we test the hypothesis that university students – who have completed high school, with better than average grades – are more likely to exhibit healthy behaviours and avoid unhealthy or unsafe behaviours than the general population. Detailed information on the health behaviours of university students is not currently available (see Australia’s Health 2000, in which there are no reports of health …

Using Market Segmentation Theory To Select Target Markets For Sun Protection Campaigns, Sandra C. Jones, L. Rees, Danika Hall, A. Tang

Sandra Jones

This paper describes the initial steps in target market segmentation and evaluation as part of an industry-linked research project to develop a social marketing program for sun protection. The Project Reference Group developed a set of segmentation evaluation criteria based on recommendations from marketing and health promotion literature, as well as adding criteria specifically relevant to the industry partner. The process enabled an informed, representative and defensible selection of a primary target market as an initial starting point for further target market research and segmentation. It also demonstrated that bridging terminology from the fields of marketing and health promotion as …

What Does Alcohol Advertising Tell Young People About Drinking?, Sandra C. Jones, Parri Gregory

Sandra Jones

Alcohol has long been known to be the cause of significant physical, emotional and social harm in our society. Given that the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcoholic products is big business all over the world, clearly the marketing, advertising and promotion of these products is essential. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the relationship between advertising and alcohol consumption and, importantly, the influence of this advertising on harmful drinking patterns. To examine the potential influence of alcohol advertising on young people (both under and over the legal drinking age), a convenience sample of 287 young people recruited from …

Older Patients' Attitudes To General Practice Registrars: A Qualitative Study, Andrew D. Bonney, Lyn Phillipson, Sandra C. Jones, Donald Iverson

Sandra Jones

Background Research suggests that older patients may be reluctant to engage general practice registrars (GPRs) in their care. The authors undertook a qualitative study of the attitudes of older patients to GPRs to investigate this issue. Method Thirty-eight patients aged 60 years and over from three training practices participated in semistructured telephone interviews, which explored patients responses to GPRs. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using a template analysis approach. Results Analysis of the interviews produced five major themes concerning patient attitudes to GPRs: desire for continuity, desire for access, openness, trust and a desire for meaningful communication. Discussion …

Awareness Of Alcohol Advertising Among Children Who Watch Televised Sports, Lyn Phillipson, Sandra C. Jones

Sandra Jones

Are children being adversely affected by advertising directed at adult consumers? Is it socially responsible to advertise alcohol during programs with a young viewing audience? One potential area requiring consideration is the potential impact of alcohol advertising and promotion during sporting broadcasts on the alcohol beliefs of children in Australia. In this paper, the frequent alcohol advertising during the finals of the One Day Cricket Series broadcast during the summer of 2006 was found to contain features potentially appealing to young children. Qualitative data collected during friendship pair discussions with Grade five and six primary school students found that children …

Parents' Inferences About Other Parents' Motives For Food Choices For Children: A Pilot Study, Sandra C. Jones, Danielle Mcvie, Gary Noble

Sandra Jones

The traditional approach to improving children’s diets has been to educate parents about the importance of healthy food choices. However, it is recognized that knowledge does not necessarily lead to improved food choices. This study used an indirect measure to investigate the underlying reasons for parents’ decisions about their children’s diets. We found a significant difference in parents’ perceptions of a hypothetical mother on items that related directly to food choices. It appears from these results that parents do indeed make value judgments about the food choices that mothers make for their children. Our results suggest that indirect question techniques, …

Regulatory Issues And Functional Health Claims For Bioactive Dairy Compounds, P. Roupas, P. G. Williams, C. Margetts

Peter Williams

Dairy foods and ingredients have a natural advantage over new/novel foods, from a regulatory viewpoint, because they are generally considered as “traditional” foods, that is, there is a long history of human consumption. However, the regulatory landscape on adding bioactive ingredients, whether from dairy streams or from non-dairy sources, into dairy foods is rapidly evolving, and the dairy industry will need to be aware of potential regulatory challenges, within the countries they wish to market their products.

Performance Of Body Mass Index In Predicting Diabetes And Hypertension In The Eastern Province Of Saudi Arabia, Ali M. Almajwal, Nadira A. Al-Baghli, Marijka J. Batterham, Peter G. Williams, Khalid A. Al-Turki, Aqeel J. Al-Ghamdi

Peter Williams

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: BMI is the most widely used measure to diagnose obesity but its accuracy and usefulness in Saudi subjects is unknown. This study aimed to assess the validity of standard BMI cut-point values in the Saudi population. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: 197,681 adults participated in a cross-sectional study to detect diabetes and hypertension in the Saudi Eastern province in 2004/5, with blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, height and weight measurements taken. Sensitivities, specificities, areas under the curves, predictive values, likelihood ratios, false positive, false negatives and total misclassification ratios were calculated for various BMI values determined from receiver operating characteristic …

Infection Risk Along U.S. Highways? The Case Of A ‘Truckchaser’ Cruising For Truckers, Mona Shattell, Yorghos Apostolopoulos, Sevil Sönmez, Richard Rothenberg, Rose Weitz, John Smith

Richard Rothenberg

This article explores potential infection risks linked with trucker cruising along U.S. highways. Specifically, the article delineates the settings and social organization of trucker cruising, examines the structure of sex partnerships of truckers and cruisers, and delves into the unique database of one truckchaser who recorded 4,162 sex interactions with 2,499 different truckers during a 13-year period. Concurrent sexual partnerships of bisexual and particularly straight-identified truckers hold increased potential for amplifying infection risk as they enable pathogens to operate as bridges along disparate geographies, demographies, and epidemiologies.

A Combined Phase I And Ii Open Label Study On The Effects Of A Seaweed Extract Nutrient Complex On Osteoarthritis, Stephen P. Myers, Joan O'Connor, J Helen Fitton, Lyndon O. Brooks, Margaret Rolfe, Paul A. Connellan, Hans Wohlmuth, Phillip A. Cheras, Carol A. Morris

Dr Lyndon O Brooks

Background: Isolated fucoidans from brown marine algae have been shown to have a range of anti-inflammatory effects. Purpose: This present study tested a Maritech® extract formulation, containing a blend of extracts from three different species of brown algae, plus nutrients in an open label combined phase I and II pilot scale study to determine both acute safety and efficacy in osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients and methods: Participants (n = 12, five females [mean age, 62 ± 11.06 years] and seven males [mean age, 57.14 ± 9.20 years]) with a confirmed diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee were randomized to …

A Forced Titration Study Of The Antioxidant And Immunomodulatory Effects Of Ambrotose Ao Supplement, Stephen P. Myers, Lesley M. Stevenson, Phillip A. Cheras, Joan M. O'Connor, Lyndon O. Brooks, Margaret I. Rolfe, Paul A. Connellan, Carol A. Morris

Dr Lyndon O Brooks

Background: Oxidative stress plays a role in acute and chronic inflammatory disease and antioxidant supplementation has demonstrated beneficial effects in the treatment of these conditions. This study was designed to determine the optimal dose of an antioxidant supplement in healthy volunteers to inform a Phase 3 clinical trial.Methods: The study was designed as a combined Phase 1 and 2 open label, forced titration dose response study in healthy volunteers (n = 21) to determine both acute safety and efficacy. Participants received a dietary supplement in a forced titration over five weeks commencing with a no treatment baseline through 1, 2, …

Six Year Follow-Up Of Students Who Participated In A School-Based Physical Activity Intervention: A Longitudinal Cohort Study, Lisa M. Barnett, Eric Van Beurden, Philip J. Morgan, Lyndon O. Brooks, Avigdor Zask, John R. Beard

Dr Lyndon O Brooks

Background: The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the long-term impact of a childhood motor skill intervention on adolescent motor skills and physical activity. Methods: In 2006, we undertook a follow-up of motor skill proficiency (catch, kick, throw, vertical jump, side gallop) and physical activity in adolescents who had participated in a one-year primary school intervention Move It Groove It (MIGI) in 2000. Logistic regression models were analysed for each skill to determine whether the probability of children in the intervention group achieving mastery or near mastery was either maintained or had increased in subsequent years, relative to controls. …

Human Dimensions Of Heavy Load Carriage, J. Drain, R. Orr, D. Billing, S. Rudzki

Rob Marc Orr

No abstract provided.

A Forced Titration Study Of The Antioxidant And Immunomodulatory Effects Of Ambrotose Ao Supplement, Stephen P. Myers, Lesley M. Stevenson, Phillip A. Cheras, Joan M. O'Connor, Lyndon O. Brooks, Margaret I. Rolfe, Paul A. Connellan, Carol A. Morris

Adjunct Professor Stephen P Myers

Background: Oxidative stress plays a role in acute and chronic inflammatory disease and antioxidant supplementation has demonstrated beneficial effects in the treatment of these conditions. This study was designed to determine the optimal dose of an antioxidant supplement in healthy volunteers to inform a Phase 3 clinical trial.Methods: The study was designed as a combined Phase 1 and 2 open label, forced titration dose response study in healthy volunteers (n = 21) to determine both acute safety and efficacy. Participants received a dietary supplement in a forced titration over five weeks commencing with a no treatment baseline through 1, 2, …

Western News: Rewriting The Record On Legs, Lesley Craig, Paul Mayne

Vivian C. McAlister

No abstract provided.

Similarities And Differences In Health Care Use And Hiv-Related Concerns Based On Immigration Profile: Findings From The Blacch Study Interviews, Shamara M. Baidoobonso, Harina Mokanan, Monica Abdelkader, Greta Bauer

Shamara M Baidoobonso, PhD

Background and Objectives: Most HIV and health studies in African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities occur in large urban centres and rarely examine how the interactions between race, migration, gender, HIV-related stigma, service use and multiple dimensions of social position interact and act individually to affect health and HIV vulnerability. This lack of information negatively impacts HIV prevention efforts for ACB communities. This analysis explores the HIV-related experiences of people from different immigration classes. Methods: Using a community-based approach, a purposive sample of 22 ACB community members were interviewed to collect information about health-related experiences in London, Ontario. Respondents represented …

Introducing The Black, African And Caribbean Canadian Health (Blacch) Study, Shamara M. Baidoobonso, Harina Mokanan, Mercy Nleya-Ncube, Greta Bauer

Shamara M Baidoobonso, PhD

Background and Objectives: African, Caribbean and other Black (ACB) persons account for an increasing proportion of new HIV cases in Canada, and are 12.6 times more likely to acquire HIV than the rest of Canada’s population. Few studies have fully acknowledged the ethnic, religious and socioeconomic diversity in ACB communities. Also, studies have rarely considered the social determinants of health and broader context in which ACB persons live and access health services, and how these may potentially impact HIV vulnerability. This lack of information negatively impacts HIV prevention and care efforts. The Black, African and Caribbean Canadian Health (BLACCH) Study …

Information Placed In Trust: Older Gay Men And Social Workers On Talking About Sexual Identity In Aged Care, Mark Hughes

Professor Mark Hughes

As more men who openly identify as gay approach older age, it is important for health and aged care professionals to consider the appropriateness of talking with these men about their sexual identity. This paper reports findings from a pilot study that examined how sexual identity should be acknowledged in aged care practice. The paper draws on qualitative data from two focus groups; one with older gay men and one with social workers. An analysis of the themes that overlapped the two groups highlighted the extent to which participants thought sexual identity should be discussed openly, the value placed on …