Environmental health

An incoming government must provide a full range of curative, rehabilitative, preventive and promotive health services and must take responsibility for the health impacts of every policy.

Fran E Baum BA(Hons), PhD

Australian health policy can and should address, as a core aim, cardiovascular health in less economically advanced nations

Stephen R Leeder MD, PhD, FRACP

Public health messages need to be backed by sustained, inclusive and responsive strategies that engage the whole community.

Astika Kappagoda

CT screening of high-risk individuals approaches acceptable cost-effectiveness. But is there a better way?

Mark Hew MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Robert G Stirling BSc(Hons), MB BCh(Hons), FRACP · Michael J Abramson MB BS, PhD, FAFPHM

Closing the gap among First Nations children requires community involvement in service implementation, consistent monitoring of child health indicators, and a good understanding of how public policies affect children.

Sandra J Eades BMed, PhD · Fiona J Stanley MB BS, MSc, MD

This before-and-after study aimed to measure the short-term health value of promoting healthy eating by regularly supplying fresh produce to disadvantaged families. Episodes of illness and common clinical conditions, prescription of antibiotics and the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency were measured as indicators of the short-term health effects of having healthy food provided.

Andrew P Black MB BS(Hons), PhD, FAFPHM · Hassan Vally BSc(Hons), PhD, MAppEpi · Peter S Morris MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Mark Daniel BSc, MSc, PhD · Adrian J Esterman BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD · Fiona E Smith BSc, MNutrDiet, APD · Kerin O’Dea BSc, PhD

Children in two remote Northern Territory Aboriginal communities were studied to measure the impact of four weeks of daily swimming on rates of ear discharge with a tympanic membrane penetration and on the microbiology of the nasopharynx and middle ear.

Anna T N Stephen MPH · Amanda J Leach BAgSc(Hons), MAgSc, PhD · Peter S Morris MB BS, PhD, FRACP

While the quality of data in the peer-reviewed literature has improved over time, there are still some important gaps in the evidence. The findings of this study provide a framework to allow Indigenous communities, researchers, funding bodies and the NHMRC to consider priorities for future research.

Peter S Azzopardi MB BS, MEpi, FRACP · Elissa C Kennedy MPH, MB BS · George C Patton MB BS, MD, FRANZCP · Robert Power BSc(Econ), PhD, PGCE · Robert D Roseby MB BS(Hons), FRACP · Susan M Sawyer MB BS, MD, FRACP · Alex D Brown BMed, MPH, PhD

Diversifying educational opportunities for remote Indigenous students is a key step to improving health outcomesYoung people and old people, Bininj, Yol and Balanda; we need to stand together for the future. The health and wellbeing of our people and our country depends upon us all.1 Djelk Rangers Victor Rostron, Wesley Campion and Ivan Namarnyilk. (Djelk Indigenous Protected Area, Arnhem Land.) The terms Bininj and Yol are ...

Jessie C Webb BA(Hons) · Sally C Godinho BEd, MEd, PhD · Marilyn F Woolley BA(Hons), MEd · Kenneth D Winkel MB BS, PhD, FACTM

A study of disease notifications in general practice seeks to answer the question of whether increases in pertussis notifications in Australia since 2008 were due to a true increase in the disease or an increase in testing.

Marlena C Kaczmarek BSc, MPH · Lisa Valenti BEc, MMedStat · Heath A Kelly BSc, MB BS, MPH · Robert S Ware BSc(Hons), PhD · Helena C Britt BA, PhD · Stephen B Lambert MAppEpid, FAFPHM, PhD

A sensible approach to controlling tuberculosis in Australia would be universal screening of migrants from high-incidence countries, similar to the efficient and cost-effective program that is used in the United Kingdom

Justin T Denholm MPHTM, PhD, FRACP

We propose an expanded approach to evidence for cancer screening policy and practice. First, we need to better understand why and how screening happens the way it does, sometimes at odds with evidence of benefits and harms. Second, we need to systematically investigate the ethics of cancer screening to illuminate moral concerns and expand the scope of screening research to address ethical dilemmas. ...

Lucie Rychetnik BSc, MPH, PhD · Stacy M Carter BAppSci, MPH, PhD · Alexandra Barratt MB BS, MPH, PhD · Les Irwig BSc, MB BCh, PhD

With human papillomavirus vaccination for boys now on Australia’s National Immunisation Schedule, this study determined background rates of potential adverse events, assuming temporal association with vaccination but no other association. The findings will help to determine whether adverse event reports represent real safety flags that require urgent investigation.

Hazel J Clothier FIBMS, MSc, MAppEpid · Katherine J Lee BSc, MSc, PhD · Vijaya Sundararajan MD, MPH · Jim P Buttery FRACP, MD, MSc · Nigel W Crawford BM BS, MPH, PhD

Suicide prevention can be improved by implementing effective interventions, optimising public health strategies and prioritising innovationSuicide has overtaken motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death among young adults aged 15–44 years in Australia. In 2011, 410 Australians aged 25–34 years took their own lives, with a total of 2273 deaths from suicide reported across all age groups.1 In terms of funding allocations, the Australian Government’s investment in ...

Helen Christensen BA(Hons), MPsych, PhD · Katherine Petrie BSc(Psych)(Hons)

Vaccination remains the single best option for controlling influenza, but it is important not to overstate the effectiveness of current inactivated vaccines.

Heath A Kelly MB BS, MPH · Nicholas Kelley PhD