Publications
Below is a selection of our publications.
Benefits and Harms of Hypertension and High-Normal Labels: A Randomized Experiment – Danielle Muscat et al
Recent US guidelines lowered the threshold for diagnosing hypertension while other international guidelines use alternative/no labels for the same group (blood pressure [BP], <140/90 mm Hg). We investigated potential benefits and harms of hypertension and high-normal BP labels, compared with control, among people at lower [...]
The Psychological Impact of Hypertension During COVID-19 Restrictions: Retrospective Case-Control Study – Carissa Bonner et al
It is unclear how people with hypertension are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic given their increased risk, and whether targeted public health strategies are needed. This retrospective case-control study compared people with hypertension to matched healthy controls during the COVID-19 lockdown to determine whether they [...]
Using Facebook to recruit to a national online survey investigating complementary medicine product use in pregnancy and lactation: A case study of method – Larisa Barnes et al
Online recruitment can be targeted efficiently to recruit specific samples for survey research. It has been shown to be a cost-effective method of recruitment, and useful for geographically dispersed populations.
Effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention to improve emergency department care of low back pain: a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised trial – Danielle Coombs et al
Overuse of lumbar imaging is common in the emergency department (ED). Few trials have examined interventions to address this. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention to implement guideline recommendations for low back pain in the emergency department.
Breast Density Notification: A Systematic Review of the Impact on Primary Care Practitioners – Brooke Nickel et al
In the last decade, there has been an unprecedented amount of advocacy and attention surrounding the issue of breast density (BD) in relation to mammography screening. It is largely unknown what impact notifying women of their BD has had on clinical practice for PCPs. This [...]
Examining Australian’s beliefs, misconceptions and sources of information for COVID-19: a national online survey – Rae Thomas et al
Public cooperation to practise preventive health behaviours is essential to manage the transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. We aimed to investigate beliefs about COVID-19 diagnosis, transmission and prevention that have the potential to impact the uptake of recommended public health strategies.
“I would not go to him”: Focus groups exploring community responses to a public health campaign aimed at reducing unnecessary diagnostic imaging of low back pain – Sweekriti Sharma et al
This study aimed to evaluate community responses to a public health campaign designed for health service waiting rooms that focuses on the harms of unnecessary diagnostic imaging for low back pain.
Development and evaluation of a health literacy training program for allied health professionals: A pre‐post study assessing impact and implementation outcomes – Danielle Muscat et al
This study developed and evaluated a health literacy training program for allied health professionals, and explored the feasibility of a train‐the‐trainer model to support dissemination.
Supporting patients to be involved in decisions about their health and care: Development of a best practice health literacy App for Australian adults living with Chronic Kidney Disease – Danielle Muscat et al
Inadequate health literacy is common in those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially among culturally and linguistically diverse groups. Patient information for people with CKD, including those with kidney failure requiring dialysis, is often written beyond their literacy level, and many CKD‐related apps are not [...]
Effect of health literacy interventions on pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review – Jessica Zibellini, Danielle Muscat et al
Low health literacy has been associated with worse health outcomes, but little is known about the effectiveness of health literacy interventions developed for pregnant women. This study assessed the effectiveness of health literacy interventions on pregnancy outcomes through a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.