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AUSTRALIAN BEHAVIOURAL RESEARCH IN
CANCER
Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer
the US. The research will generate new knowledge, as Control (VCRCC), Queensland
well as an approach to the management of chronicdisease (coronary heart disease) that has the potential NHMRC accreditation
to improve risk factors, quality of life and thereby, The Queensland Cancer Fund (QCF) has received improve the life expectancy and morbidity of the accreditation from the National Health and Medical majority of patients following myocardial infarction (MI Research Council (NHMRC) as an independent research or heart attack). The trial seeks to implement and institute for the period 2007-2009, in recognition of the evaluate the six and 12-month health outcomes (primary high quality of research undertaken by its staff. QCF has outcomes include physical activity, nutrition and quality also received NHMRC Project Grant funding for two of life) and cost-effectiveness of an innovative care projects that commenced in January 2007. The first management model and delivery system directed at the builds on an existing research project and will improve rehabilitation, recovery and secondary prevention of adjustment for men diagnosed with localised prostate patients following MI; and identify the enablers and cancer. The second will improve management and barriers to the future system-wide implementation of secondary prevention for those diagnosed with heart disease. This is a new area of research for QCF and willbuild our experience in innovative home-based lifestyle Centre for Research in Cancer (CBRC),
and psychosocial interventions in cancer control, to Victoria
include the broader area of chronic diseasemanagement.
Evaluating Quit campaigns: development of a
comprehensive tracking system for Quit data
Predicting and promoting improved long term
Currently there is no mechanism for ongoing systematic adjustment for men with localised prostate cancer:
tracking and linking of Quit Victoria’s mass media campaigns to Quitline call data or Quit web traffic. Due The project will produce four key outcomes for health to the complications with integrating the data there is no standard overall evaluation of each campaign in terms of 1. Provide recommendations about the efficacy of tele- calls to Quitline or web hits. During 2006 researchers at based nurse counselling to facilitate better long-term CBRC have mapped Quit's current data collection and integration procedures and have identified proceduresand requirements for a new and ongoing systematic 2. Validate a method of screening for and identifying data tracking system. This system will by-pass manual men who are at risk of poorer long-term decision- procedures and will automatically link Quit Victoria’s related and psychosocial adjustment after localised mass media campaigns to Quitline call data and Quit prostate cancer, to provide a proven mechanism for web traffic. The system will provide automatic production of standardised reports for Quit 3. Provide an evidence-based decision support/ management, enabling Quit to examine how a psychosocial intervention for men with prostate campaign is performing and to determine whether cancer that can be easily integrated into community specific media buying strategies are effective in promoting cessation activity. Information from thesystem will allow media buys to be adjusted in order to 4. Provide information on the potential economic value maximise their effects. The system will also provide of the intervention that can be used by health opportunities to ascertain wear-out parameters of planners for efficient health service delivery.
particular campaigns and in doing so, identify when and The ProsCan study aims to assess the effectiveness of how often specific campaigns should be advertised to a decision support/psychosocial intervention in increase their efficiency. It is envisaged that the improving men’s adjustment at two and three years information obtained from the system will allow Quit to post-treatment and to identify men diagnosed with develop a model to predict the number and timing of localised prostate cancer at risk of poorer long-term calls to the Quitline in order to ensure adequate staffing.
Dietary behaviour and physical and sedentary
Implementation trial of a telephone-based care
activity among Australian secondary students in
management program for patients following
myocardial infarction
The aim of this study was to provide an assessment of This brings together an experienced multi-disciplinary Australian secondary students’ dietary, physical activity team of researchers and clinicians from Australia and and sedentary behaviour. Analyses were based on data CancerForum
from the 2005 Australian Secondary Students Alcohol Tobacco component of the Australian School
and Drug Survey (ASSAD), excluding West Australian Student's Alcohol and Drugs (ASSAD) Survey (SA
students. Most students were not meeting the daily specific) (TCRE)
requirement of four serves of vegetables and three Smoking prevalence and behaviour were investigated serves of fruit. Levels of participation in at least 60minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity every among South Australian school children in 2005 as part day (recommended level) were also low, whilst the of the triennial Australian School Students’ Alcohol and majority of students spent too much time doing Drugs (ASSAD) Survey. The data revealed that smoking sedentary activity (television, internet, computer rates declined significantly among 12-15 year olds and games). Results indicate that a significant proportion of slightly (but not significantly) among 15-17 year olds.
Australian secondary students appear to fall short of These declines are consistent with a significant decline current, national dietary and physical activity in smoking rates in 15-29 year olds in South Australia over the past year (as found in a representativepopulation survey). 2006-07 National Sun Survey
During summer data was collected for the second Support and information packs pilot evaluation
national sun survey. On Monday and Tuesday evenings A support and information pack for cancer patients is approximately 5000 adults and 700 adolescents in being trialled across several South Australian hospitals, Australia were interviewed by telephone about their including one regional hospital. One hundred and fifty sun-related outdoor activities on the previous weekend.
patients are being recruited to trial the pack.
Interviews continued for eight weeks from 27 Participants undertake a written survey approximately November 2006 to 29 January 2007. The details of one month after receiving the pack. Survey results will people’s sun protective behaviour, sunburn, related serve to inform the style and content of the pack before knowledge and attitudes and their awareness of recent more widespread distribution. Focus groups with media campaigns will be assessed. The protocol was oncologists and nursing staff at centres involved with developed in consultation with research, evaluation and the trial will inform the timing and method of program staff from most states and territories. The Cancer Council Victoria is coordinating the conduct,analysis and reporting of the study. This collaborative Evaluation of Staying Healthy After Cancer
research project aims to provide national data to support Pre, post and follow-up surveys (six-month) are being evaluation of skin cancer control programs and undertaken with participants of the Staying Healthy campaigns at the state and national levels. The research After Cancer Program (SHAC) to assess the short-term is being funded by The Cancer Council Australia and the and intermediate impact of the program. SHAC is a Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
chronic disease self-management program developed Centre for Cancer Control Research (CCCR)
by Stanford University, which aims to develop self- and Tobacco Control Research and
efficacy among people with chronic conditions. Theevaluation is ongoing and will assess changes in self- Evaluation Program (TCRE), South Australia
efficacy, pain levels, fatigue and health enhancing Early Childhood Centres SunSmart Program
Evaluation
SmokeCheck (TCRE)
A survey of 189 early childhood centres was conductedin October 2006 to assess the impact of the SunSmart TCRE is evaluating SmokeCheck, a training program for Early Childhood program in South Australia (response health professionals working with Indigenous clients, by rate=63%), following similar methodology to the 2001 assessing its effects on health professionals’ baseline survey. Results indicate a marked improvement discussions about smoking with clients and by in sun protection policies and practices since the examining quit rates. Results will be available in mid- program was initiated, with a higher quality of policy and practice in SunSmart centres. Childcare centres aremore receptive to the program than kindergartens.
Centre for Health Research and
Trial of subsidised nicotine replacement therapy for
Psycho-oncology (CHeRP), NSW
low income smokers – six month follow-up survey
Solaria operations in NSW in 2006
results (TCRE)
In 2003 CHeRP, in conjunction with NSW Health, Consistent with many clinical studies, the results of the conducted a study of solarium industry practices. A second (six-month) follow-up suggest that adding follow-up study was conducted in 2006 to identify subsidised NRT to telephone support increases quit current levels of compliance with the Australian and rates and in this instance among low-income New Zealand Standard on Solaria Operations and to populations. Subsequent studies are underway to follow- estimate whether compliance levels had increased up study participants to assess 12 month behavioural following industry efforts in 2003 and 2004. In both outcomes to see if the apparent benefits persist.
2003 and 2006, the study involved the use of simulated CancerForum
customer scenarios designed to represent typical adult Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer
solaria users. The sample was identified via the Control (CBRCC), Western Australia
electronic Yellow Pages and included both tanning- Longitudinal investigation of pharmacological
focused establishments and smaller operators such as smoking cessation aids in real-life settings
hairdressers and beauty therapists who operated atleast one sunbed. Data on the 2006 sample of 167 There is robust evidence from randomised control trials establishments included a total of 106 establishments to suggest that smokers attempting to quit are twice assuccessful as those going cold-turkey if they use a visited in both 2003 and 2006. It was found that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product, such as although compliance varied over the time period for patches, gum or lozenges, and three-times more most establishments, there was no evidence of successful if using buproprion, such as Zyban. Uptake of improvements in compliance between 2003 and 2006.
these products has been facilitated greatly by NRT Compliance with a number of aspects of the standard products becoming available without prescription since remained moderate or low. For example, approximately 1997 and Zyban being heavily subsidised by the half of the establishments did not indicate that parental Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) since 2001.
permission was required for those aged under 18 years, Despite their promise, the availability of these products even when prompted. Few establishments were does not appear to have impacted appreciably upon compliant with all 13 of the items studied. quitting rates within the general population. CBRCC hasbeen awarded an NHMRC grant for 2007 to 2009 to Cancer Survival Study
conduct a two-year longitudinal study of 1300 smokers In 2005, CHeRP commenced the Cancer Survival Study, to gauge their awareness and attitudes towards which is Australia’s first population-based longitudinal pharmaceutical cessation aids and to track their use in study to examine the psychosocial well-being and quitting attempts and for other reasons. lifestyle behaviours of adult cancer survivors over the Community asbestos exposure and implications for
first five years since a cancer diagnosis. One thousand prevention of asbestos related diseases
six hundred and sixty cancer patients newly diagnosed The overall aim of this 30-month project is to examine the with one of the top eight incident cancers are being distribution of asbestos in the community, community recruited from the Cancer Registry in two states and exposure to asbestos and actions taken to minimise surveyed at six months, one year, two years and five exposure. A national survey will provide the first ever years post-diagnosis. Although the design of the study baseline community data about exposure to asbestos in is one of its key strengths, accruing a large and the Australian population. This data will be used to heterogeneous study cohort, ascertaining cases early calculate accurate predictions of future mesothelioma through cancer registries, retaining and following up incidence. An in-depth study of a sample of community participants long-term, and managing large-scale data members who have been exposed to asbestos will collection is challenging. A number of strategies have provide information about their knowledge, perceptions been implemented, including the use of scannable of risk and their behaviours in relation to exposure to surveys and the development of a data dictionary, to asbestos and their preferences for intervention help ensure the success of the study.
approaches. This will inform the development ofinterventions aimed at reducing the development of Since October 2005, two thirds of the total cohort has asbestos related disease in community members. been recruited from the cancer registries. To date, 80%of eligible participants have returned baseline surveys, Preventing high risk alcohol use by university
students
56% have provided the details of a ‘secondary contact’who will know where participants are if they have A two-year project is trialling the use of the Internet for moved, and 43% have agreed to be approached about epidemiological and intervention research aimed atreducing high risk drinking by university students. Stage future survivorship research conducted by CHeRP.
1 utilised a series of focus groups to collate information Wave two of data collection commenced in August on student experiences of alcohol use, their patterns of 2006. The results of this study will help identify the use, behaviours engaged in by their peers, perceptions onset, duration, frequency and severity of the of safe and unsafe drinking behaviours, and feedback on psychosocial effects of cancer and determine when the development of Internet interventions. Stage 2 will survivors’ psychosocial outcomes return to general involve an Internet-based survey of undergraduate population levels. This study is funded by the National students at Curtin University. A sample of 3000 will be Health and Medical Research Council, The Cancer selected to receive an Internet-based intervention Council NSW and Hunter Medical Research Institute.
CancerForum

Source: http://www.cancerforum.org.au/File/2007/March/CF07Mar_43-45.pdf