Publications
Below is a selection of our publications.
Preferences for more or less health care and association with health literacy of men eligible for prostate-specific antigen screening in Australia – Kristen Pickles et al
This study aimed to determine whether individuals’ preferences for more or less health care are associated with informed choice and understanding of overdiagnosis in routine prostate cancer screening and to examine associations among preferences, educational status, and health literacy.
Using feasibility data and codesign to refine a group-based health literacy intervention for new parents – Danielle Muscat et al
Few health literacy interventions exist for new parents. We developed a group-based health literacy program (“Parenting Plus”), which was initially tested in a feasibility study in 2018. In this brief report, we describe how feasibility findings were incorporated into the Parenting Plus program. Using a [...]
The readability of official public health information on COVID-19 – Olivia Mac et al (Research letter)
Public health information should be easily accessible to the general public. Despite the WHO and the National Academy of Medicine endorsing plain language, practice has not been aligned with guidelines. The high health literacy demands of vaccination information in Australia has important implications for vaccination [...]
Do hospital consent forms for cardiology procedures meet health literacy standards? Evaluation of understandability and readability – Ruwani Peiris et al
Consent forms that are difficult to understand may jeopardise informed consent. The aim of this study was to determine whether consent documents for cardiology-related procedures could be easily read and understood by patients with low health literacy.
The Influence of Social Distancing Behaviors and Psychosocial Factors on Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Survey Study – Troy Cross et al
The COVID-19 pandemic has arguably facilitated a shift toward increased sedentariness and reduced physical activity. Moreover, there is mounting evidence that mental health has also declined during the pandemic. However, it remains unknown to what extent social distancing behaviors and mental health have affected the [...]
Consumer understanding of terms used in imaging reports requested for low back pain: a cross-sectional survey – Caitlin Farmer et al
The aim of this study was to investigate (1) self-reported societal comprehension of common and usually non-serious terms found in lumbar spine imaging reports and (2) its relationship to perceived seriousness, likely persistence of low back pain (LBP), fear of movement, back beliefs and history [...]
Development of a patient decision aid on subacromial decompression surgery and rotator cuff repair surgery: an international mixed-methods study – Joshua Zadro et al
To develop and user test a patient decision aid for people with subacromial pain syndrome that presents evidence-based information on the benefits and harms of subacromial decompression surgery and rotator cuff repair surgery. We assembled a multidisciplinary steering group, and used existing decision aids and [...]
Doctors’ Attitudes to Patient Question Asking, Patient-Generated Question Lists, and Question Prompt Lists: A Qualitative Study – Marguerite Tracy et al
Participation by patients in their own health care improves quality and safety. Question prompt lists (QPLs) can improve participation, particularly with doctors’ endorsement. Few data have explored doctors’ attitudes on these tools. We sought the experiences and attitudes of general practitioners and other specialists toward [...]
Behavioural barriers to COVID-19 testing in Australia: Two national surveys to identify barriers and estimate prevalence by health literacy level – Carissa Bonner et al (Preprint)
COVID-19 testing and contact tracing has been crucial in Australia's prevention strategy. However, testing for COVID-19 is far from optimal, and behavioural barriers are unknown. Study 1 aimed to identify the range of barriers to testing. Study 2 aimed to estimate prevalence in a nationally [...]
Understanding overuse of diagnostic imaging for patients with low back pain in the Emergency Department: a qualitative study – Johan Blokzijl, Rachael Dodd, Tessa Copp, Sweekriti Sharma et al
Overuse of lumbar imaging in the Emergency Department is a well-recognised healthcare challenge. Studies to date have not provided robust evidence that available interventions can reduce overuse. For an intervention aimed at reducing imaging to be effective, insight into how both patients and clinicians view [...]