Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Knowledge, Intentions And Attitudes Towards Osteoporosis And Other Health Conditions Among Older Australians, Phuong Dung Lam, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal, Christina M. Pollard, Jonine M. Jancey, Richard L. Prince, Deborah A. Kerr

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Osteoporosis burden is underdiagnosed and undertreated. While increasing community awareness and education are recognised priorities, research on how older adults view osteoporosis is limited. The aim was to assess osteoporosis-related knowledge, intentions and attitudes in relation to other health conditions in Australian adults aged 50 years and older.

Methods: A validated online questionnaire, developed with an expert panel, was administered to 1432 healthy volunteers, (64.3 ± 9.5 years). The questionnaire assessed knowledge of osteoporosis risk factors, attitudes and intentions. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with low knowledge.

Results: Knowledge score across six topics was 29.5 ± 14.5 (100 …

Restricting Outdoor Advertising Of Unhealthy Food: Feasibility Of Using A Nutrition Classification System In Australia, Claire E. Pulker, Frith Klug, Georgina S.A. Trapp, Ainslie Sartori, Michelle Mcintosh, Alexia Bivoltsis, Catrina Mcstay, Clare Whitton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Exposure to food advertising is associated with consumption. Globally, most outdoor food advertisements feature unhealthy foods or beverages. As Australian local government areas (LGAs) begin developing restriction policies, the feasibility of applying nutrient-based Nutrition Classification Systems to outdoor advertising requires evaluation.

Design: Observational study on 1) types of food business advertisements outdoors and 2) availability of quantitative nutrition and/or ingredient information for featured products. 178 outdoor advertisements were analysed, from a 500m audit around schools in 16 stratified LGAs (2019), along with bus shelter audits in four LGAs (2022). Advertisements were categorised as featuring ‘branded packaged products’, ‘food service …

A Qualitative Analysis To Identify Implementation Strategies For A Deprescribing Clinical Practice Guideline Using The Cfir-Eric Matching Tool: Perspectives From Consumers And Professional Stakeholders, Hui Wen Quek, Xisco Reus, Kenneth Lee, Veronika Seda, Leon Adams, Osvaldo P. Almeida, Gillian E. Caughey, Jennifer Gowan, Kerryn Hart, Andrew Heredia, Anne Marie Hill, Lisa Kalisch Ellett, Dina Logiudice, Arduino A. Mangoni, Anthony Marinucci, Treasure Mcguire, Nilufeur Mckay, Vasi Naganathan, Christopher Ng, Maz Osborne, Kevan R. Polkinghorne, Constance D. Pond, Sepehr Shakib, Angela Shiu, Andrew Stafford, Tim Whitmore, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Amy Page

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Deprescribing is the planned withdrawal or dose reduction of medicines when harms outweigh benefits or when they are no longer required. Following publication of the Clinical Practice Guideline for Deprescribing in Older People in September 2025, supporting its uptake into routine practice is a critical next step.

Aim: This study aimed to identify implementation strategies, informed by stakeholder-perceived barriers, to support the implementation of deprescribing guidelines.

Method: A qualitative analysis was undertaken of open-text responses collected during the guideline public consultation (24 April–31 May 2025). Inductive thematic analysis identified implementation barriers, which were then deductively mapped to the Consolidated …

Alcohol Advertising At The Beach: Insights From Young People In Western Australia, Renee N. Carey, Gemma Crawford, Nicola D'Orazio, Gina S.A. Trapp, Lauren Nimmo, Tina Lam, Jonine Jancey, Justine E. Leavy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Advertising and marketing by the alcohol industry serve to normalise alcohol use, with exposure to alcohol advertising linked to earlier and riskier drinking among young people. Advertising that portrays alcohol use in and around waterways is of particular concern, with one in five fatal drownings being associated with alcohol. Objective: This study aimed to explore the types of alcohol advertising that young people were exposed to, and to determine whether exposure to alcohol advertising was related to their alcohol use in aquatic environments. Methods: We surveyed 102 young people aged 18 to 25 years attending a free event at …

The Effect Of The Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion On The Risk Of Hospital Closure And Adolescent Hpv Immunization In Rural Counties, Juliette Des Rosiers

Scripps Senior Theses

From 2005 to 2025, over 200 rural hospitals shut their doors, often citing increased operational costs, staffing shortages, low patient volume, regulatory barriers, financial challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and uncompensated care as common contributors to the closures. Rural patients are often referred by their primary care physician to a hospital for regular immunizations, since smaller clinics have less capacity to provide immunizations due to a shortage of pediatricians and limited vaccine stock. A crucial vaccine that is not required by schools and underutilized in rural areas is that against human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that infects cutaneous and …

Exploring The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Preventive Healthcare Utilization In Rural Georgia, Ryan R. Traylor

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and preventive healthcare use among adults in Georgia, specifically within rural populations facing structural barriers. Using 2023 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, the research analyzes associations between ACE exposure, rural residence, and preventive care outcomes, including physical exams and flu vaccinations. Guided by an intersectionally adapted version of Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, the study evaluates how predisposing factors, enabling resources, and perceived barriers relate to healthcare engagement. Logistic regression analyses assess the correlation of ACE exposure, cost barriers, provider access, and sociodemographics with preventive …

Exploring Acculturation And Its Role In Substance Abuse Behaviors Among Refugee Populations In Bowling Green, Ky: An Interactive Learning Experience Through Provider’S Perspectives., Aishwarya Potluri

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Substance use among refugee populations is an emerging public health concern shaped/influenced by cultural, social, and structural factors associated with resettlement. This qualitative study explored providers’ perspectives on substance use behaviors among refugees in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Using Health Behavior Theory with acculturation as a contextual construct, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 providers working with refugee-serving organizations. Data collected through the interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis in NVivo. The findings indicate that substance use is being influenced by peer exposure, occupational stress, and the increased availability of substances in the United States. Providers identified cultural stigma surrounding mental …

Reducing School Absenteeism In Children With Avoidance Behaviors, Kimberly Carey

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Chronic absenteeism and school avoidance are a problem facing schools across the nation following the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic absenteeism is financially, emotionally, and academically expensive for society. Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to decrease absences by 50% over a 6-week timeframe when compared to the same timeframe from the previous year. Methods: Utilizing a Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, an intervention based on tracking multi-day consecutive absences and reaching out to families to provide education and support was implemented. At three days of absence, the school nurse would either call the family for absence with unknown etiology or email with an …

Adult Healthy Habits, Belinda E. Vicuna, Mahtab Soleimani, Yvonnie Baik, Elena Martinez, Theresa H. Cruz

Reports & Documents

No abstract provided.

Physical Activity And Health Outcomes In Children With Dyslexia During Summer Versus School Months, Tina J. Glatz

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Children in the United States continue to experience rising rates of overweight and obesity. Children with learning disabilities are twice as likely to have obesity than typically developing peers, partly due to difficulties with motor skills and behavior regulation. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare differences in health outcomes and physical activity (PA) during summer versus school months in children with dyslexia, using a within- subject study design.

At three timepoints (May, August, December 2025), children’s height, weight, and fitness were measured via a portable stadiometer, dual-frequency foot-to-foot bioelectric impedance device, and Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance …

Paneugenesis: A Regenerative Systems Hypothesis For Advancing Health Promotion, Craig M. Becker, Leslie Hoglund, Beth Chaney, Joseph G. L. Lee, Michael Stellefson, Alex Davis

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Despite major advances in health promotion science, dominant approaches remain largely prevention-and risk-reduction-oriented. The prevailing orientation creates a substantial opportunity to advance generative, system-design strategies that intentionally produce well-being rather than merely prevent disease. This article proposes paneugenesis as a regenerative systems framework and a testable theoretical model for the intentional creation of net-positive outcomes, thereby extending health promotion beyond its traditional pathogenic emphasis. Paneugenesis integrates systems science, salutogenesis, behavioral science, complexity theory, and quality management principles into a unified four-function process: operationalizing idealized outcomes, identifying key precursors, optimizing processes, and continually plotting progress through feedback mechanisms. The central hypothesis …

Exploring Biopsychosocial Influences On Hookup Culture And Disrupting Compulsory Behaviors In Emerging Adults: A Multidisciplinary Analysis Of A Contemporary Public Health Concern, Catherine Benjamin

Honors Theses and Capstones

Multidisciplinary analysis, including biology, psychology, and sociology, to better understand the compulsory Hookup Culture that exists as a contemporary public health concern among the age group defined as emerging adults. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) diagnoses are steadily rising in the United States and disproportionately affecting college students. Early socialization and current educational resources that contribute to shame and stigma are discussed to explain how lifestyle and social conditions can act as risk factors for individual health outcomes.

Promoting The Concept Healthy Ageing For Use In Gerontological Health And Social Care Policy And Practice, Claire Donnellan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: The concept of healthy or successful ageing dates back to the 1960s, where its goal is more realistic in today's ageing society as a result of effective interventions to control and reduce disability and health risks. The aim of this paper is to outline the importance of defining ageing, the semantics and indicators used, and to identify common challenges for health professionals' understanding and application of a healthy ageing approach in their everyday clinical practice. Design and Methods: This discursive paper demonstrates how realistic ageing indicators are for highlighting the variation and impact of challenges associated with ageing. It …

An Evaluation Of Programmatic Assessment Across Health Professions Education Using Contribution Analysis, Janica Jamieson, Claire Palermo, Margaret Hay, Rachel Bacon, Janna Lutze, Simone Gibson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Programmatic assessment is gaining traction in health professions education. Despite this popularity, educators continue to grapple with complex contextual factors that impact implementation and outcome attainment. We used contribution analysis, a theory-informed evaluation method, to understand the mechanisms underpinning successful implementation. Applying the six steps of contribution analysis, we developed a postulated theory of change (ToC) and then conducted a qualitative study with programmatic assessment stakeholders (graduates n = 15, supervisors n = 32, faculty n = 19) from four Australian dietetic programs. These data were analysed using the Framework Analysis method and integrated with data derived from a literature …

Governing Professional Mobility: An Llm-Assisted Framework And Empirical Taxonomy Of Health-Professional Mobility Agreements, David C. Benton, Andrew D. Benton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Health-professional mobility agreements (eg, compacts, mutual recognition arrangements, memoranda of understanding) are increasingly used to address workforce shortages, support crossborder practice, and enable new technology-mediated modes of service delivery. Regulators need rapid, reproducible ways to assess whether such instruments protect the public while facilitating proportionate professional mobility.

Purpose: To develop and internally test a 10-dimension, 41-subdimension assessment framework for health-professional mobility agreements; examine whether large language model (LLM)–assisted coding can approximate expert legal regulatory assessment; and derive an empirical taxonomy of mobility and other similar instruments.

Methods: A focused documentary synthesis of legal instruments, academic literature, and intergovernmental guidance …

Sugar Consumption In Aboriginal Children Explored From A Social Practice Perspective, Amy Budrikis, Angela Durey, Dan Mcaullay, Paul Ward, Hanny Calache, Thierry Ng, Roma Winmar, Linda Slack-Smith

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Australian Aboriginal children have higher sugar intake and are disproportionately affected by sugar-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes and dental caries than non-Aboriginal children. The intention of this paper was to highlight the need for approaches that can capture the complexity of health practices without reducing them to either individual choice or structural determination. We explore sugar consumption in Aboriginal children from a social practice perspective. Here, the unit of analysis is the practice, not the individual, where the elements of a social practice (competence, materials and meanings) are integrated into its performance. We conducted qualitative research using elements of …

Sexuality Education In An Age Of Resistance: Reflections At The Nexus Of Education, Health And Rights, Sarah Vrankovich, Katrina Marson, Giselle Woodley, Jordina Quain, Hanna Saltis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is internationally recognised as essential to public health and young people’s rights. Yet its implementation in Australia and globally is increasingly undermined by conservative backlash, moral panic and political interference. This paper offers a critical reflection on the current landscape of CSE, drawing on insights from a panel discussion at the 2025 World Association for Sexual Health congress, and collaborative analysis. As early-career researchers, sexologists and practitioners working across education, communications, public health and sexual violence prevention, we utilise our collective experience to examine how various influences shape and constrain the delivery of CSE. We map …

Scope And Adherence To The Consider Statement In Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Injury Prevention Research In Australia, Bep Uink, Michelle Barrett, Courtney Ryder, Aleina Humphreys, Graham Peter Barker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Effective injury prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people hinges on the availability of culturally safe policies, resources and programmes, alongside best-practice research. Contemporary injury prevention research has increasingly centred Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, yet there is still room for improvement. Identification of relevant resources, policies and programmes, as well as the extent to which injury prevention research meets international criteria for ethical research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will provide practitioners with critical insights into best-practice injury prevention initiatives. Method: We examined the breadth and scope of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander injury-related …

The Best Practice Guide For Early Childhood Education And Care Food Environment: Module 3: Food Education (Version 1.0), Ros Sambell, Connie N. Ihlein, Audrey Elford, Lochie Clark, Amanda Devine, Helen Alexiou, Lennie Barblett, Fiona Champion, Penelope Clark, Kathy Cologon, Wendy Cook, Katie Dix, Leanne Elliston, Amanda Ferguson, Ricky Gelman, Jodie Gray, Natalie Gulberti, Debbie Jordan, Karen Krist, Deana Leahy, Stacey Mckenzie, Sandra Murphy, Merryn Netting, Ciara O’Flaherty, Asha Rojahn, Blake Stewart, Aimee Sullivan, Suzanne Tamone, Henry Tan, Sandra Vale, Danielle Waterson, Jill Whelan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Food education (FE) in early learning settings is more than cooking – it is an opportunity to experience food in ways that include cooking but go far beyond. Food education gives children the opportunity for exploration, experimentation, learning, teamwork, skill building and much more. At the same time, services must balance safety, regulatory requirements, diverse developmental and cultural needs, family expectations and practical constraints such as time and staffing.

The FE module has been developed to support Early Childhood Education and Care settings (ECEC), for children from birth to 5 years, to create food experiences that are safe, engaging, inclusive …

The Best Practice Guide For Early Childhood Education And Care Food Environment: Module 6: Quality, Leadership And Governance (Version 1.0), Ros Sambell, Audrey Elford, Connie N. Ihlein, Lochie Clark, Amanda Devine, Helen Alexiou, Peter D’Cress, Kasie Jackson, Karen Hunter, Stacey Mckenzie, Avalon O’Dowd, Asha Rojahn, Blake Stewart, Henry Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Quality, Leadership and Governance are central pillars in the role early learning settings play in children’s growth, development and wellbeing. By meeting regulatory requirements and quality standards through stringent business procedures and continuous improvement practices, services can provide high-quality food environments for all children – shaping their thoughts, feelings, and practices around food and eating.

This Quality, Leadership and Governance (QLG) module aims to:

- Provide critical context for how the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) food environment is intertwined with National Law and Regulations.

- Support services to meet regulatory requirements, through specific resources and guidance.

- Provide …