Publications
Below is a selection of our publications.
Misinformation Trends in Australia: Prospective Longitudinal National Survey – Kristen Pickles et al
Misinformation about COVID-19 is common and has been spreading rapidly across the globe through social media platforms and other information systems. Understanding what the public knows about COVID-19 and identifying beliefs based on misinformation can help shape effective public health communications to ensure efforts to [...]
The role of older patients’ goals in GP decision-making about medicines: a qualitative study – Kristie Weir et al
To optimise medication use in older people, it is recommended that clinicians evaluate evidence on potential benefits and harms of medicines in light of the patients’ overall health, values and goals. This suggests general practitioners (GPs) should attempt to facilitate patient involvement in decision-making. In [...]
‘Your hopes can run away with your realistic expectations’: a qualitative study of women and men’s decision-making when undergoing multiple cycles of IVF – Tessa Copp et al
Infertility affects about one in six Australian couples of reproductive age. Regarding IVF, some couples with a good prognosis drop out of treatment prematurely, whilst others continue for multiple cycles, despite limited chances of success. Little is known about what factors contribute to the decision [...]
Promise and perils of patient decision aids for reducing low-value care – Rachel Thompson et al
Recognition of excessive waste and harm in health systems has prompted efforts to reduce low-value care, which has been defined as ‘use of an intervention where evidence suggests it confers no or very little benefit on patients, or risk of harm exceeds likely benefit, or, [...]
Concerns and motivations about COVID-19 vaccination – Rachael Dodd et al (Comment)
More than 200 COVID-19 vaccines are in development worldwide, with governments securing deals to access advance doses. But access is only one issue. Willingness to accept a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available has varied considerably across countries over the course of the pandemic.
Getting the timing right: Women’s views on the best time to announce changes to cancer screening policy recommendations – Rachael Dodd et al
In December 2017, the Australian National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) changed from 2-yearly cervical cytology to 5-yearly primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, starting at age 25 and with an exit test when aged 70–74. Women showed limited awareness of these changes prior to their implementation. [...]
What positives can be taken from the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia? Sam Cornell et al (Preprint)
This study investigated whether Australians have experienced any positive effects during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the disruption to society and daily life. National online longitudinal survey. As part of a June 2020 survey, participants (n=1370) were asked "In your life, have you experienced any positive [...]
COVID-19 misinformation in Australia: key groups and trends over time in a national longitudinal survey – Kristen Pickles et al
Misinformation about COVID-19 is common and has spread rapidly across the globe through social media platforms and other information systems. Understanding what the public know about COVID-19 and identifying beliefs based on misinformation can help shape effective public health communications to ensure efforts to reduce [...]
Health literacy and disparities in COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours in Australia – Kirsten McCaffery et al
To explore the variation in understanding of, attitudes towards, and uptake of, health advice on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the 2020 pandemic stage 3 restrictions ('lockdown') by health literacy in the Australian population.
Clinician Be My Guide in Active Surveillance of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma – Kirsten McCaffery & Brooke Nickel (Editorial)
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has sharpened our focus on unnecessary health care. Now more than ever we need to avoid unnecessary interventions that may cause harm and waste resources that could be better used elsewhere for those who will experience a genuine benefit. [...]