South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service
 
Population Health
graphic: print pagePrint page

Research Activity 2004/05
 
Research project Institution on whose behalf the research is being undertaken Researcher Description

Public Health
Legionnaires disease outbreak in Wollongong. Public Health Unit. Thackway S, 
Horne F,
Mayne D.		 In January/February 2005 the Public Health Unit investigated an outbreak of Legionnaire Pneumophilia (LP1). New methodology using GIS technology and historical climate data was trialled. Exposure data were collected for the maximum 10-day exposure period as a line listing of destinations as well as tracks. Tracks were rendered on transparencies overlaid on a scanned version
of UBD map. Each track was entered into MapInfo and assessed for proximity to suspected sources of LP1 infection. Historical climatic data over the past 30 years was accessed via the Bureau of Meteorology.
A health impact assessment of an environmental management plan: the impacts on physical activity and social cohesion. Population Health, in partnership with the Shellharbour City Council.
 		 Neville L, Furber S,
Thackway S,
Mayne D, Gray E,
Wallin T.		 The aim was to determine the potential impacts of the Shellharbour Foreshore Management Plan on physical activity and social cohesion.
Investigation into increased thyroid cancer. Public Health Unit. Thackway S,
Lunz R.		 Thyroid cancer is one of the few cancers more common among women than men. Between 1981-85 and 1996-2000 thyroid cancer incidence increased among Illawarra males, with all of this increase occurring in the late 1990s. The apparently sharp increase in incidence stands in contrast to the general NSW trend of gradually increasing rates over the last two decades. This study explored the hypothesis that the rates were related to of increased screening or alteration to clinical pathways. The most recent data show the rates are returning to normal.
Socio-economic gradients in the notification of chlamydia and hepatitis C. Public Health Unit, in partnership with the Shellharbour City Council. Mayne D,
Hindmarsh D,
Steel D,
Thackway S.		 This study investigated the association between the notification
of chlamydia / hepatitis C and Area-based socio-economic disadvantage at the Census Collection District (CCD) level. This research has implications for targeting public health interventions to reduce the incidence of infectious disease.
The truth about chickenpox: a review of published evidence on the positive predictive value of a chickenpox history for Varicella Zoster Virus immunity. Public Health Unit. Ferson MJ,
Ressler K-A,
Poulos R.		 We searched electronic databases for those papers on the relationship between history of Varicella Zoster Virus infection and serologically determined immune status, in particular the positive predictive value of history.
Bound for Sydney Town: health surveillance on international cruise vessels visiting the Port of Sydney. Public Health Unit. Ferson MJ,
Ressler K-A.		 A review of the end of voyage medical reporting program. In order to warn of actual or potential public health issues on board cruise ships, the South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit has developed a one-page end of voyage report, which is e-mailed to the Unit 24 hours prior to the ship’s arrival in Sydney Harbour. The report provides information on the numbers of passengers and crew who have received consultations for respiratory or gastrointestinal illness at the ship’s infirmary.
Enhanced Syphilis surveillance in
South Eastern Sydney: timely exercise.
 		 Public Health Unit. Botham SJ,
Ressler K-A,
Morgan K,
Christopher S, Smedley E,
Nurkic A, Ferson MJ. 		Enhanced syphilis surveillance was introduced in the South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit enabling the collection of additional information (disease classification, symptoms, country of birth and Aboriginality) following a notification of syphilis. Four complete years of enhanced syphilis surveillance data have now been collected; trends have been analysed.
Kindergarten Immunisation Certificate Survey. Public Health Unit. McNulty K,
Ressler K-A, McFarland K,
Botham SJ,
Ferson MJ. 		A two part survey of primary schools in the south eastern Sydney area to identify rates of compliance with school entry immunisation requirements, and to investigate if cultural factors play a role in non-compliance.
Investigation of elevated notifications for cryptosporidium. Public Health Unit. Morgan K,
Ressler K-A, Christopher S, Smedley E,
Botham SJ,
Ferson MJ. 		An increase in the number of notifications for Cryptosporidium, particularly from residents of the Sutherland Shire was observed during May 2005. The follow up of each case was conducted to identify illness characteristics and common exposures such as swimming pools or childcare. Results were passed on to NSW Health for compilation with the statewide investigation.
Towards evidence based health care interventions for viral hepatitis among people subjected to homelessness. Public Health Unit. Dixon J, Poulos R,
Mcfarland K,
Ferson MJ, Stern J, Lucey A, McCarthy M,
Polis S, Murray C.		 The aims of the study are to identify risk factors for acquiring hepatitis and promote and protect the health of people at risk of and living with hepatitis through offering hepatitis A and B vaccinations at the Haymarket Foundation Clinic.
Investigation of an outbreak of enteroviral meningitis. Public Health Unit. Morgan K,
Dermikol A,
Smedley E, Christopher S, Botham SJ, Ferson MJ.		 Following the notification of meningitis among several children in a local primary school and investigation was conducted to determine whether an outbreak was occurring and if so, its extent and aetiology. In the three weeks following the initial notification 16 cases of viral meningitis in children were identified. Enterovirus infection was confirmed in four cases.
Enhanced hepatitis C surveillance to identify acute hepatitis C cases and associated risk factors. South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit and the HIV/AIDS and Related Diseases Unit. Huber C, Smedley E,
Morgan K,
Botham SJ, Christopher S,
Ressler K-A.		 Enhanced hepatitis C surveillance was conducted from January 2000 – December 2003 to identify acute hepatitis C cases and associated risk factors.
Salmonella: a review of the last five year's notifications. Public Health Unit. Jacobson C,
Ressler K-A,
Morgan K,
Ferson MJ. 		Data on salmonella notifications in the south eastern Sydney area was reviewed and analysed, in addition to records kept from a personal database created by infectious disease staff, which documented the follow up of notified salmonella cases and outcomes. We also manually searched the hardcopy files to explore barriers to follow up of cases, in particular the timeliness of notification.
Improving health and wellbeing of homeless women with accompanying children in Sydney. Public Health Unit. Nirui M, Maher L,
Alperstein G.		 The aim of the project is to shed light on the needs of this particular homeless population living in Sydney. Main themes identified that will be used as the basis for the second phase of the study include: Measuring health professional's attitude towards homeless women and their children and access to the existing services, such as Families First, by the homeless target population.

HIV/AIDS & Related Diseases
Access to hard reduction services and 'hidden' injectors: access issues, knowledge and risk practice among people who infrequently use primary needle and syringe programs in south eastern Sydney. HIV/AIDS and Related Diseases Unit, in partnership with the UNSW, National Centre
in HIV Social Research. Funded by NSW Health.		 Treloar C, Booth G,  Cao W, Trask L,
Lowth A,
Weatherall AM,
Dixon J, Denoe M,
Macdonald M,
Laybutt B.		 The study was undertaken to identify barriers and enablers to accessing clean injecting equipment and other harm reduction services. Specifically it will identify subpopulations who inject drugs but infrequently access primary needle and syringe programs; describe the demographic characteristics of these people; identify people who inject drugs who have lower knowledge of blood borne virus transmission methods, or who are at higher risk of contracting these infections; identify barriers and incentives to primary needle and syringe program access.
Towards evidence based health care interventions for viral hepatitis among people who inject drugs. HIV/AIDS and Related Diseases Unit, in partnership with the Haymarket Foundation Clinic.
 		 Dixon J, Poulos R, 
McFarland K,
Ferson M, Stern J,
Lucey A, McCarthy M, Lowth A.		 The study is being undertaken to identify risk factors for acquiring hepatitis A, B and C among participants in the study and to:  identify the prevalence of hepatitis A, B and C among participants in the study; decrease the incidence of hepatitis A, B and C co-infection by offering a course of hepatitis A and B vaccinations at the Haymarket Foundation Clinic; provide lifestyle education to those infected with hepatitis A, B and C; and gather evidence to inform best practice strategies for the prevention of hepatitis among people who are subject to homelessness.

Health Promotion
Resilience factors affecting refugees. Health Promotion Service, in partnership with the Multicultural Health Service.
 		 Oliver N,
Finney-Lamb C, D’Aviero S,
Facci F.		 A qualitative study to determine from refugees who have settled in the Illawarra, issues that have assisted them to settle in the area.
A role for health promotion in breastfeeding support and promotion in South East Health. Health Promotion Service Bravo A, Stickney B. Qualitative investigation undertaken to refine strategies to improve communication, co-ordination and consistency of breastfeeding information in south eastern Sydney.
A pedometer-based intervention to increase physical activity in people with heart disease. Health Promotion Service, in partnership with the National Heart Foundation, Centre for Physical Activity, UNSW and the Illawarra Cardiac Rehabilitation Service. Funded by NSW Health.
 Butler L, Furber S, Mark A, Bauman A, Owensby D, Ryan M. A project aiming to determine whether pedometers are effective in increasing physical activity in people with heart disease.
Use of pedometers to promote physical activity in individuals diagnosed with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes. Bulli Community Health Centre; Health Promotion Service. Monger C, Furber S, Franco L, Waters L, Mayne D, Mark A, Laws R, Kennedy M, Jones L. Preliminary results from this research suggest pedometers are effective in increasing physical activity in individuals diagnosed with, or at risk of type 2 diabetes.
Predictors for consumption of water by students at school. Health Promotion Service. Cass Y, Rimes T, Dobbins T. An investigation of knowledge about the benefits of water and environmental, behavioural and attitudinal factors on the consumption of water by students in four high schools in the area.
Evaluation of NRG @ OOSH nutrition and physical activity interventions in out of school hours child care settings in south eastern Sydney. Health Promotion Service. Sangster J, Cooke L, Eccleston P,
Knowles N.		 This project evaluates changes in nutrition and food safety practices and physical activity opportunities for children attending 104 Out of School Hours (OOSH) services. It measures changes in menus, programming and policies as well as examining the proportion of children that participated in physical activity. The knowledge and confidence of OOSH co-ordinators was measured and small grants offered to more disadvantaged services.
Needs assessment in out of school hours child care settings for the NRG @ OOSH project in Illawarra. Health Promotion Service. Porter S, Eccleston P, Laws R. A needs assessment was planned with 26 OOSH services in Illawarra to investigate nutrition, food safety and physical activity practices.
Towards equity: exploring the impact of a community kitchen on the lives of disadvantaged individuals. Warrawong Community Health Centre; Health Promotion Service. Jackson J,
Kirkwood D, Furber S, Laws R, Lee D.		 A project aiming to identify the processes that contribute to the social capital of disadvantaged individuals and how this relates to health and wellbeing.
Observational study of smoking on the St George Hospital campus. Health Promotion Service. Stride V, Eccleston P. This study examined the instances of smoking on the hospital site in a series of ‘snapshot’ measurements over a two week period. It measured smoking both within the hospital’s designated smoking areas and outside of them.
Developing an organisational model for the St George staff smoker support project. Health Promotion Service. Walford K,
Eccleston P, Stride V.		 This research project aimed to develop an organisational model to support NSW Health’s Smoke Free Workplace Policy at St George Hospital. The model proposed processes for staff to be assessed for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and to access cessation services. In addition, the model recommended pathways for the supply of NRT.
Evaluation of the Staff Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) Program. Health Promotion Service. Stride V, Walford K, Eccleston P. This project examines the effect of subsidised NRT and on-site counselling on smoking behaviour, as well as assessing participants’ satisfaction with major elements of the program.
Active transport at the Randwick Hospitals’ Campus. Health Promotion Service. Knowles N,
Stickney B,
Zoeller R.		 Final evaluation of a project encouraging staff and visitors to walk, cycle or catch public transport to the Randwick Hospitals’ Campus. Included assessment of organisational, policy and structural supports for active transport as well as changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.

Multicultural Health
Managing Cultural Diversity in South East Health (2004).
 		 Multicultural Health Service. Whelan A, Choucair S, Murray K,
Mihajlovic M.		 This project focused on exploring the perceptions and practices of managers to cultural diversity in their hospitals, to identify key gaps in their knowledge of diversity management, and to profile the diversity of managers themselves.
Multilingual information for patients. St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney / Sydney Eye Hospital, and UNSW. Short A. This collaborative, qualitative study was designed to assess the need for translated information, particularly health services information, among the three main language groups attending the St Vincent’s Hospital and Sydney / Sydney Eye Hospital - Chinese, Russian, and Greek speakers - and to identify the preferred media for such information.
Service utilisation.
 		 St Vincent’s Hospital. Rotem T, UNSW. The project aimed to document current use of the St Vincent's Hospital Diabetes Centre Services by people from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). The project provided data to the service to assist in planning and service development, and provide a methodology for ongoing monitoring and target setting.
Service utilisation – Drug and Alcohol. St Vincent’s Hospital. Rotem T, UNSW. The study aimed to document current use of the St Vincent's Hospital Alcohol and Drug Service by people from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). The project provided data to the service to assist in planning and service development, and provide a methodology for ongoing monitoring and target setting.

Women's Health
Factors influencing health, wellbeing and access to services among Macedonian women in south eastern Sydney. Women’s Health Unit . Tanevska M,
Ferguson C.		 Qualitative investigation employing discussion groups and interviews with Macedonian women and key informants.
Findings will be used to develop strategies for strengthening community capacity to identify and address health issues identified by women.
Health and service access issues for women living in public housing in Botany. Women’s Health Unit. Silveira M,
Ferguson C.		 Consultations are being undertaken with women representing the range of cultural and language groups and social situations (carers, single parents etc) in a public housing estate in Botany. The results will be combined with information gained from interviews with local service providers to develop strategies for building social capital and the community’s capacity to address women’s health issues.
Report on the pilot survey in to non-attendances at antenatal education program in South East Health. Women’s Health Unit. Clune L. This report presents findings from a survey conducted of women having their first babies but not attending antenatal education programs. The purpose of the survey was to explore reasons for their non attendance.
Shire Secrets, Women’s Over 50 and Domestic Violence in the Sutherland Shire Project. Caringbah Women’s Health and Information Centre; Women’s Health Unit. Project Steering Committee. This report explores the prevalence of domestic violence in women over 50 years of age and the sorts of actions that can be taken to asst women in this situation.
Utilisation of Southcare Services by people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds. Caringbah Women’s Health and Information Centre; Women’s Health Unit. Farrington C, Southcare, Sutherland Hospital and Community Health Service. Phase 1 of this project determined baseline utilisation levels of Southcare’s services by people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and current data collection processes. Phase 2 will explore current service utilisation issues
 
Exploring the health needs, expectations and experiences of the CALD community in the Sutherland Shire. Diversity Health Committee, The Sutherland Hospital & Community Health Service. Community Consultation Project Worker, Diversity Health Co-ordinator
 		 The project aims to gather descriptive and qualitative information from the CALD community in the Sutherland Shire on health issues, which can be used by the hospital in the planning and development of appropriate services and education for staff.