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Walter TG, Bricknell LK, Preston RG, Crawford EGC. Climate Change Adaptation Methods for Public Health Prevention in Australia: an Integrative Review. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:71-87. [PMID: 38221599 PMCID: PMC10907446 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00422-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Climate change poses a serious threat to human health and well-being. Australia is not immune to the public health impacts and continues to be underprepared, putting the population health at risk. However, there is a dearth in knowledge about how the Australian public health system will address the impacts of climate change. RECENT FINDINGS This integrative review synthesises tools, frameworks, and guidance material suitable for climate change adaptation from a preventive public health perspective. The literature search was conducted in electronic databases MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Of 4507 articles identified, 19 articles met the inclusion criteria that focused on operational methods in public health and excluded the clinical context and reactive disaster response approaches. This review revealed that Australia is ill-prepared to manage climate change adverse health impacts due to ineffective adaptation strategies. The review highlights that Australia urgently requires effective adaptation strategies such as undertaking a National Adaptation Plan process and an improved understanding in managing complex health risks. Taking this action will strengthen the public health system and build health resilience especially for vulnerable populations. These findings will help understand and develop of the necessary adaptive strategies in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony G Walter
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, 554-700 Yaamba Road, Norman Gardens, 4701, Australia.
| | - Lisa K Bricknell
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, 554-700 Yaamba Road, Norman Gardens, 4701, Australia
| | - Robyn G Preston
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, 538 Flinders Street, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Elise G C Crawford
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, 554-700 Yaamba Road, Norman Gardens, 4701, Australia
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Hawkins G, Malatzky C, Wilson S, Dingle K. Exploring the gap between refugee-background communities' needs and existing community-based physical activity programs in Australia. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:7162646. [PMID: 37184580 PMCID: PMC10184685 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daad039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical activity programs run by local government, public health and not-for-profit sectors are a key public health strategy for improving rates of physical activity within local communities. However, these programs are underutilized. This is especially the case among members of refugee-background communities whose participation could have far-ranging and multilevel benefits. To explore how greater engagement among refugee-background communities with these programs could be fostered in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, a qualitative study was undertaken from the perspectives of both community-based physical activity program providers and agencies involved in delivering services to refugee-background communities. This study involved a series of semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of personnel from agencies that work with individuals and families from refugee-background communities and organizations that provide low-cost or no-cost physical activity programs and initiatives. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret meaning from these data. Three themes relating to how participation in community-based physical activity programs could be improved among refugee-background communities were identified: improving cultural safety through intersectoral collaboration; confronting constraints imposed by the broader public health policy environment; and building capacity and empowering the community to diversify the sector. The findings highlight the importance of localized, deep-level intersectoral collaborations in bridging the gap between the health and social care needs of refugee-background communities and existing physical activity programs. However, a range of systems-produced barriers to the creation of such collaborations must be addressed to enable local actors to help mitigate and address the systemic exclusion of marginalized populations from participation in broader society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Hawkins
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia
| | - Christina Malatzky
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia
| | - Susan Wilson
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia
| | - Kaeleen Dingle
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia
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Smith JA, Canuto K, Canuto K, Campbell N, Schmitt D, Bonson J, Smith L, Connolly P, Bonevski B, Rissel C, Aitken R, Dennis C, Williams C, Dyall D, Stephens D. Advancing health promotion in rural and remote Australia: Strategies for change. Health Promot J Austr 2022; 33:3-6. [PMID: 34989041 DOI: 10.1002/hpja.569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James A Smith
- Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Karla Canuto
- Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Kootsy Canuto
- Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Narelle Campbell
- Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Dagmar Schmitt
- Northern Territory Department of Health, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Jason Bonson
- Northern Territory Department of Health, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Le Smith
- Northern Territory Primary Health Network, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Paul Connolly
- Northern Territory Primary Health Network, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Billie Bonevski
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Chris Rissel
- Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Robyn Aitken
- Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Christine Dennis
- Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Carmel Williams
- Centre for Health in All Policies Research Translation, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Danielle Dyall
- Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Donna Stephens
- Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, Darwin, NT, Australia
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Dale MJ, Carroll SJ, Daniel M. The conflict between Public Health and 'Big Food': A Counterinsurgency? Health Promot J Austr 2021; 33:614-617. [PMID: 34543486 DOI: 10.1002/hpja.544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
This commentary characterises as an insurgency those elements of the Food Industry seeking to retain and expand industry profit-making opportunity with scant regard to the effect on public health and wellbeing. Premised on a conflict in which the battlespace encompasses the drivers of (un)healthful behaviour, our view encourages opponents of Food Industry methods to consider an approach based on analogy of successful Counter-Insurgency strategies to a health promotion context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Dale
- Australian Geo-Spatial Health Laboratory, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Suzanne J Carroll
- Australian Geo-Spatial Health Laboratory, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Mark Daniel
- Australian Geo-Spatial Health Laboratory, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia.,Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
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Guzys D, Tori K, Mather C. Moral distress in community health nursing practice. Aust J Prim Health 2021; 27:350-353. [PMID: 34247698 DOI: 10.1071/py20276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Contemporary sociopolitical circumstance impedes the delivery of primary health care in keeping with its underlying philosophy and tenets. Skills to negotiate the maintenance of best practice and quality care in an evolving practice environment are fundamental to nursing. Nurse education needs to incorporate the ideals of best practice ideology to ensure that all are prepared to negotiate the realities of nursing practice. In this discussion paper the experience of moral distress by community health nurses is used to illustrate why skills in political advocacy and action are equally essential as clinical skills in nurse education and professional practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Guzys
- School of Nursing, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1322, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia; and Corresponding author.
| | - Kathleen Tori
- School of Nursing, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1322, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia
| | - Carey Mather
- School of Nursing, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1322, Launceston, Tas. 7250, Australia
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Smith JA, Wells L, Gelbart L, Lawson T. Beyond COVID-19: Consumers call for greater focus on health equity. Health Promot J Austr 2021; 32:3-5. [PMID: 33448086 PMCID: PMC8013688 DOI: 10.1002/hpja.450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James A. Smith
- Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic DiseasesMenzies School of Health ResearchCasuarinaAustralia
| | - Leanne Wells
- Consumer Health Forum of AustraliaDeakinAustralia
| | - Lisa Gelbart
- Consumer Health Forum of AustraliaDeakinAustralia
| | - Tony Lawson
- Consumer Health Forum of AustraliaDeakinAustralia
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Skehan J, Paton E, Tynan R. The uptake of evidence-informed guidelines for reporting suicide into media codes of practice and policies in Australia. Health Promot J Austr 2020; 31:482-490. [PMID: 31846517 DOI: 10.1002/hpja.316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
ISSUE ADDRESSED Despite different models and frameworks for effective suicide prevention, a universal intervention that is consistently highlighted is the need for responsible and safe media reporting of suicide. This is based on evidence of an association between media reporting of suicide and subsequent suicidal behaviour. This study examines the extent to which media-led policies and codes of practice in Australia have integrated and aligned with evidence-informed recommendations about reporting suicide. METHODS An online search of Australian media agency websites was used to identify codes of practice or similar guidance for news reporting. Content analysis was conducted on all identified documents, assessing alignment with 16 key recommendations from the Mindframe media guidelines for reporting on suicide. RESULTS A total of 17 documents across 12 media agencies were identified. Ten of the 12 agencies provided specific advice about the reporting of suicide, with all agencies that issue codes of practice or editorial policies including between two and 10 recommendations aligned with the Mindframe guidelines. CONCLUSIONS While the results of this study are positive, significant variation between media agencies shows that there are opportunities to enhance adoption and implementation of evidence-informed guidance for media professionals in Australia. SO WHAT?: With over 3000 people dying by suicide and over 60 000 people attempting suicide each year in Australia, the prevention of suicide remains a key public health priority requiring a multi-sector and health-in-all-policies approach. This study reveals that there is a strong platform for ongoing collaboration with the Australian media to ensure safe and sensitive coverage of suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaelea Skehan
- Everymind, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Paton
- Everymind, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,School of Creative Industries, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Ross Tynan
- Everymind, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
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