Table 1 Project characteristics, key implications and dissemination methods used for HPDRG projects 2000-2006

Making Connections (2000)

10,000

Action research

Community development

None (no comparator)

Goal of developing an early intervention program was not able to be achieved.

Report

Nutrition Practices in Youth Housing (2000)

38,100

Literature review and formative assessment

Nutrition standards

Improved nutritional practices (no comparator)

Provided input into the nutritional policy process for standards and accreditation of youth housing services, but was success limited by the political and institutional context.

Report, conference presentations, policy briefing

Reducing Smoking in Mental Health Units (2000)

38,449

Mixed methods (clinical audit, in depth interviews, surveys)

NRT, counseling with follow-up & organizational change

Offer and acceptance of NRT (no comparator)

Demonstrated NRT is acceptable to many staff and patients of mental health units and important for managing nicotine dependence in the context of a Smoke Free Workplace Policy. Identified key organizational and cultural barriers to practice change.

Report, conference presentations, presentation to local networks

Rural Hearing Conservation (2000)

17,670

Mixed methods (screening, mail survey)

Hearing screening and education

Hearing conservation behavior(no comparator)

Confirmed the extent of hearing loss in farmers and salience in rural communities. Recommended that the Rural Hearing Conservation Program be continued and, where possible, expanded.

Report, summaries, conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers, policy briefings, website

Secondary Prevention in Patients with CVD (2000)

239,295

Cluster RCT

Mailed information packages for patients, general practitioners and combined intervention

Medication use (NS) Behavioral risk advice [exercise, diet & smoking cessation] (NS) except for physical activity (P = 0.04) in patient intervention stream

There is insufficient evidence upon which to make a recommendation that information only interventions should be incorporated into the routine practice of CVD registers.

Report, conferences, presentations to local clinical groups

Tai Chi and Falls Prevention for Older People (2000)

274,384

RCT

Tai chi exercise

Falls incident rate (P = 0.008)

Participation in weekly tai chi classes prevents people falling multiple times and improves balance in community dwelling older people. As the trial used existing community facilities it provided a model for an effective and sustainable public health intervention.

Report, conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers, thesis, presentations to practitioner networks

Balance:

Sway on floor (P = 0.04)

Sway on foam mat (P = 0.001)

Lateral stability (P = 0.04)

Coordinated stability (P = 0.005).

Mental Health First Aid Training (2002)

178,432

Cluster RCT & qualitative evaluation

Mental health literacy training

Correct diagnosis (P=0.001) Help offered to person with mental health problem (P = 0.031)

The training course produced positive changes in knowledge, attitudes and behavior when given to members of the public by instructors from a local health service. Showed strong promise a strategy in broader mental health promotion and workforce development initiatives.

Report, conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers (open access), policy briefings, training, political advocacy, websites, media

Safer Streetscapes for Older People (2002)

179,609

Mixed qualitative methods

Fall risk assessment and capital works

Environmental and policy change (no comparator)

Qualitative consultative methods employed elicited information from older people that can be used to advocate for changes to the streetscape.

Report, conferences, council briefings

Treatment of Nicotine Dependant Inpatients (2002)

249,970

Quasi-experimental design

Smoking care provision

Smoking care outcomes:

Incorporation of smoking care intervention strategies into routine clinical and organization performance management and accreditation processes has the potential to facilitate widespread NRT provision in hospitals.

Report, conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers, thesis, presentations to policy, practitioner & university networks, media

Smoking status identified (NS)

Management of smoking discussed (P = 0.01)

Offered NRT (P <0.001);

Provided NRT (P <0.01)

Provided written resources (P <0.01)

Provided post-discharge NRT (P = 0.03).

Monitored withdrawal (NS)

Advised discharge support (NS)

Pedometers in Cardiac Rehab (2004)

200,000

RCT and focus groups

Pedometers, step calendar, and behavioral counseling and goal setting

Physical activity:

A pedometer based intervention can be offered as an effective and accessible option for those who do not attend cardiac rehabilitation to increase their physical activity levels. This intervention could also be promoted as an important adjunct to existing cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Report, conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers, thesis, local presentations

Total physical activity time (P = 0.044)

Total physical activity sessions (P = 0.016)

Walking sessions (P = 0.035)

Psychosocial:

Cognitive self-management strategy use (P = 0.001)

Psychological distress (P <0.001)

Reducing Falls Injuries within Aged Care (2004)

300,000

Cluster RCT

Multi-strategic best practice falls prevention strategies

Facility level:

It was difficult to change the culture within residential aged care and particularly of the visiting medical officers. It seems unlikely that any sustained reduction in hip fractures in residential aged care facilities can be obtained without outside support.

Report, conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers, presentations to policy & practitioner networks

Fall risk assessment (P = 0.002)

Monthly number of falls (NS)

Any fracture (NS)

Hip fracture (NS)

Death (NS)

Individual level:

Hip fracture (NS)

Death (NS)

Walk-to-School (2004)

257,000

Cluster RCT

Education, travel access guides, environment change

Student mode of travel reported by students:

No clear pattern in the results, due to the high variation in the percentages of students in the intervention and control schools who changed their travel mode. The research identified the strong influence of the parent’s journey to work on their child’s journey to school. The project contributed to methodological development in this field of research.

Report, conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers, presentations to local councils, media

Morning journey (NS)

Afternoon journey (NS)

Student mode of travel reported by parents:

Morning journey (NS), except walking trips in a usual week (P = 0.05)

Afternoon journey: (NS)

Cycling Infrastructure and its Promotion (2006)

280,537

Quasi-experimental

Community engagement and social marketing

Sufficient activity to confer health benefit (NS)

There was no overall increase in the prevalence of cycling in the intervention area, and therefore there was no difference in overall levels of physical activity between the intervention and comparison areas. After adjusting for baseline levels of minutes riding, there was a significant increase in the total mean number of minutes riding in the intervention area compared with the comparison area.

Report, conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers

Mean minutes of physical activity (NS)

Adjusted mean number of minutes riding (P = 0.039)

Exercise to Prevent Falls After Stroke (2006)

292,708

RCT

Group-based physiotherapist-led exercise classes and advice

Falls incident rate (NS)

No overall effect on falls, exploratory analysis however did find a significant differential effect of the intervention according to baseline walking speed. The intervention was more likely to prevent falls in faster walkers.

Report, conference presentations, peer-reviewed papers, policy briefings, newsletters, practitioner networks, political advocacy

Falls based on faster initial walking speed (P = 0.03)

Smoking Cessation in Indigenous Communities (2006)

290,200

Action research (mixed qualitative and quantitative methods)

Subsidized nicotine replacement therapy and weekly support sessions with case manager

Provision and use of NRT (no comparator) 12 month quit rate (no comparator)

Twenty-four percent of Smokers Program participants remained smoke-free at a minimum of 12 months after Program completion. Program prompted people to attempt quitting and provided opportunities for health workers to talk about smoking and smoking-related illness with their clients.

Report, conference presentations, local seminars, Aboriginal health worker research forums

TOTAL

2,846,354