GThelobe Newsletter of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine

Smokescreen – the smoking cessation program for use in general practice

smoking cessation techniques as they Professor Richmond, the training group are the deliverers of the interventions.” has comprised Dr Phillip Georgouras, Dr Colin Mendelsohn, Dr Steven The major funding sources for these Faux, and Professor Nicholas Zwar. studies in general practice are: The smoking cessation resources for NHMRC, National Heart Foundation of GPs have been translated into other , NSW Department of Health, languages such as Vietnamese, Arabic, Commonwealth Department of Health, Japanese, Malaysian and French. and pharmaceutical companies which Training workshops in the Smokescreen provide the nicotine replacement program have been conducted in products such as GlaxoSmithKline. New Zealand since 1986, in Mainz, Germany in 1994, in in 1995, in The RCTs carried out usually take Istanbul, Turkey in 1996, at the World between five and eight years to Conference in Tobacco or Health in complete. Consequently, it is Beijing in 1997, in specific training necessary to screen large numbers of workshops in Beijing, Shanghai, rofessor Robyn Richmond has patients in general practice to derive Changchun and Wuhan, in been conducting research in samples with eligible characteristics. 1997 and 1998, in Bangkok in 1998, Pgeneral practice to reduce This inevitably means that large Cambodia in 1998, France in 1999 and smoking prevalence for over a quarter numbers of subjects are managed Spain in 2007. of a century. Robyn explains: “I in trials and large databases are commenced research in this area developed with data collected for “When I commenced research in 1981 for my PhD and from then it has each individual at baseline, and at in smoking cessation the smoking blossomed into many research projects, three, six and twelve months. rates were 41% for males and 31% policy development and training and for females. By 2008 these rates have teaching.” Robyn says: “Over my research career reduced to 18% and 15%, respectively. my studies have recruited more than This downturn in smoking rates is “The majority of my research projects 3000 patients in general practice, due to the multipronged approach have been randomised research which has meant we have had to screen by many individuals, organisations trials (RCTs) in which we compare more than 22,000 patients to derive an intervention with a control group the study sample; over 600 general or placebo condition. In our studies practitioners and 31 practice nurses Inside this Issue we pilot test the research methods, have participated, and more than 2000 measures and multicomponent medical schools worldwide have been • Major successes in the NHMRC interventions. During the many screened three times over 10 years.” project grants years of conducting clinical trials we • Public health: A medical student’s have incorporated evidence based Critical to the success and longevity perspective components into our interventions. of any research program is the • Welcome to Muru Marri These include: the stage of readiness development of effective research to change smoking behaviour, various teams who will sustain through many • More research successes doses of cognitive behavioural therapy, of the issues and problems of clinical • Timor-Leste health and pharmacotherapies used to aid smoking trials and collaborate in further studies. development research forum cessation, booklets for distribution to Since mid 1980s the Smokescreen • New staff at the School smokers, and other services such as group has trained more than 8,500 • Bright young minds: Postgraduate Quitline. In the development phase GPs and over 2000 pharmacists in Research Student Conference we train doctors and practice nurses in smoking cessation methods. Apart from

Issue 3: December 2008 www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au page 1  Smokescreen MAJOR SUCCESSES IN NHMRC GRANTS and governments. Our research in general practice has played its The School and its Centres have had major successes in the latest NHMRC small part in this significant change. Project Grants: When I commenced research in general practice, GPs did not engage QUIT IN GENERAL PRACTICE in preventive activities. Research $1,076,950 has shown the important role School of Public Health and Community Medicine that the GP can take in reducing Prof Nicholas A Zwar, Prof Robyn L Richmond, Dr Elizabeth J Halcomb, Dr John S smoking prevalence and has been Furler, Dr Julie P Smith substantially supported by the range of pharmacotherapies to aid cessation,” IMPROVING THE LIFESTYLE OF PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOTIC ILLNESSES says Robyn. $773,000 University of Newcastle The Smokescreen program forms A/Prof Amanda L Baker, Prof Robyn L Richmond, Prof Castle David, Prof Jayashri the basis of the smoking cessation Kulkarnie, A/Prof Jill M Williams, Dr Frances J Kay-Lambkin intervention in the Guidelines for Smoking Cessation for Australian ANGER AND VIOLENCE IN TIMOR LESTE General Practice which were developed $540,125 by an expert panel comprising School of Psychiatry Zwar, Richmond, Borland, Stillman, Prof Derrick Silove, Prof Anthony Zwi, Zachary Steel, Dr Robert Brooks, Cunningham and Litt and funded by Dr Susan Rees the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. The Guidelines CAN BETTER CLINICAL PRACTICE LOWER THE RATES OF SEXUALLY were launched to 23,000 GPs in TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IN REMOTE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES? Australia in 2004. Evaluation found $1,746,788 that 81% of GPs had adopted the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research Guidelines and were using them, three Prof John M Kaldor, James S Ward, Dr Alice R Rumbold, Rebecca J Guy, months after receiving them. Taking Prof Robyn A McDermott, A/Prof Lisa Maher a conservative estimate, there would be more than two million patients RCT COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF TAP WATER VERSUS NORMAL SALINE who were advised by their GPs to ON THE INFECTION AND HEALING RATES OF WOUNDS quit. With an average quit rate of 17% $583,250 at one year, then 351,900 smokers University of Western Sydney in Australia were assisted to quit. Prof Rhonda Griffiths AM, Dr Ritin Fernandez, A/Prof Mary-Louise McLaws, Dr Jeff Rowland, Assoc Investigator: Prof Patricia Davidson In the Canterbury region of New Zealand, the Smokescreen program was implemented into 40 general PATIENT SAFETY: ENABLING AND SUPPORTING CHANGE FOR A SAFER AND practices and also has been adapted for MORE EFFECTIVE HEALTH SYSTEM implementation in France. Recommended Budget $8,400,000 University of New South Wales Studies in general practice for smokers Prof Jeffrey Braithwaite, Prof Johanna Westbrook, Prof Enrico W Coiera, have also led to other research among Prof William B Runciman, Prof Richard Day smokers. These include studies among: indigenous smokers (two completed PhD candidates), prisoners (current NHMRC funded study), those with a mental illness (former and present NHMRC funded studies), general Chinthaka Balasooriya was practice with the practice nurse providing the smoking cessation awarded the Faculty Award intervention (recent NHMRC funded for Teaching Excellence study with Nick Zwar), smokers in hospital, workplace (police, and for his outstanding Australia Post), and education of undergraduate teaching. medical students on smoking cessation. Well done Chinthaka!

Issue 3: December 2008 www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au page 2 Public health: A medical student’s perspective

weekly topics and characterised by activities in community settings and supported by on-campus activities concluding with a case method tutorial at the end of the week. Kieran’s experiences with this approach were both positive and negative. Negative insofar as the practice-based learning sessions were very participant dependent.

“In my experience, an engaged group Kieran Owens is sitting on the right, next to him is Lachlan Donaldson (the other Co-Chair of MSAP) and on generally translated into a productive the left of the photo is Paolo Polimeni (works in the development sector and helps to provide oversight and monitoring/evaluation frameworks for the project). The photo was taken by Lucy Hobgood-Brown, the main session, whereas a more disinterested, collaborator from HandUp Congo. apathetic group tended to make sessions less effective. My suspicion is that student engagement was largely a function of the quality of the lecturer Kieran Owens shares his views with and the perceived relevance of the material by the students. The positive Sophie di Corpo side is that the practice-based learning style helped me to develop skills he undergraduate medicine • individual practitioners do not relevant to later pursuits”, he says. program (UMP) has a strong simply work in isolation, but exist as Tpublic/population health focus, part of a system whose coordination Kieran has already applied some of the introducing students to important is important if the overall health of skills that S&H 3 helped him develop. public health issues - particularly in the population is to be improved. “As the 2008 co-chair of the UNSW- the first four years of their six year based Medical Students’ Aid Project program. SPHCM plays an important Kieran says: “I enjoyed being (MSAP) I successfully applied for a role in ensuring this focus remains encouraged to view health from a grant for a collaborative project set in integral and supported in the program. number of different perspectives - the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Kieran Owens is a student in his third ethical, economic, epidemiological, collaborators were the group HandUp year of study in the under-graduate cultural, etc. Such thought experiments Congo and a Congolese womens’ NGO medical program. He recently are stimulating and can yield useful called Foundation Lucie Otaenga (FLO). completed the course Society and tools for approaching health issues.” In the development of this project I Health 3 (S&H3) which has given him have participated in brainstorming a greater insight into the role public “I feel that the course is very successful sessions similar to those found in the health plays in the overall health at both making a strong argument for S&H 3 practice-based learning sessions. system and how it may apply to his the importance of preventive medicine This helped me devise a questionnaire practice as a doctor in the future. and equipping students with the to deliver to members of the local tools required to evaluate prevention population which will help guide the Kieran identified three main lessons he programs. The course looks beyond project,” Kieran explained. learnt from S&H 3, these are that: the biomedical model to the socio- cultural determinants of health, which From mid-December Kieran will be the • health can, and arguably should, is important when trying to understand Australian Medical Students Association be conceptualised within a socio- health more broadly. However I did feel (AMSA) executive representative political framework which extends that the relevant political and historical for global health which will involve the traditional biomedical model; forces were under-addressed, though promoting opportunities in global I do realise that they are only partly health, both practical and educational, • that preventative health care of academic interest given that they to medical students. programs are important features of offer less tangible targets for practical a healthcare system and, when well intervention.” “I am sure that the contribution that designed/implemented, may yield S&H-3 made to my skill set will benefit important cost savings for resource- S&H 3 uses practice-based learning me in these areas”, he says. constrained systems; and strategies which are defined around

Issue 3: December 2008 www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au page 3 Welcome to Muru Marri

he Muru Marri Indigenous Health Unit works to develop Tculturally and contextually- appropriate curricula, partly by fostering links between medicine, students and Indigenous communities. The Unit was jointly founded four years ago by Dennis McDermott and Lisa Jackson Pulver and is a visible, active contributor to health and well-being Photo of the lawn outside of Photo depicting part of the ceremony of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parliament in the Members Hall peoples through research, service, teaching, publication, representation on 12 February 2008 in the Federal Muru Murri and her staff have been on peak national bodies and public Parliament of Australia for the first time, intimately involved in the work around advocacy throughout Australia ahead of the Parliamentary Apology advocating for an Apology and the to the Stolen Generations. In this proper recognition of the profound Lisa Jackson Pulver says: “Muru sacred ceremony, the Parliament – as effect of forced removal of Aboriginal Marri means many paths to health in representatives of all Australians - were and Torres Strait Islander children from the local Eora language and has an welcomed to Country by Ngambri their families, their homes and their associated meaning of an expansion elder Aunty Matilda House Williams. Country since its inception. of being well. This is in keeping with the proper definition of health for the Lisa says: “In this ceremony, not “Few of us have a strong sense of people of this continent.” only was the Parliament of Australia how the Welcome to Country and the welcomed – formally – for the first Apology will fan out over the next few To Aboriginal people, ill-health is time in the history of Australia, but years, and how that will be quantified more than physical illness and health non-Indigenous Australians, according and measured,” says Lisa. is much more than the absence of to an old wise Aunt of mine - through disease. Health does not just mean the their acceptance of the Welcome, The Muru Marri Indigenous Health physical well-being of the individual became obligated to looking after Unit also assists and advises a special but refers to the social, emotional, Country, learning about Country, being entry program into Medicine. This spiritual and cultural well-being of responsible on Country – and finally program is conducted by the Nura Gili the whole community. This is a whole about being able to belong. This is and the Rural Clinical School and is of life view and includes the cyclical something that few have thought about, designed to enable more Aboriginal concept of life-death-life. (1990: the and it is something that people will and Torres Strait Islander people to National Aboriginal Health Strategy slowly realise as time passes.” study medicine. (NAHS)) Yet many people really only think of Lisa says: “We will be there, as a Ill health can be a manifestation of the opening of Parliament in terms of specialised academic unit, continuing many other things, including spiritual the Parliamentary Apology. That in to do this work. And we know that and emotional alienation from Land itself was huge, and long overdue. But you are there, with us, helping us move and Country, family and culture. 80,000 days since the original boats things in the right direction.” Aboriginal people have a spiritual link sailed into Sydney Cove, and only 80 with Land and Country which provides days into the term of Prime Minister Photos from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/ a sense of identity, and which lies at Rudd, the long missing part of protocol 2008/02/12/2160117.htm?site=canberra the centre of peoples’ spiritual beliefs. was finally allowed to settle into place – the Welcome to Country – the Much of this relationship was exchange of protocols, the permission touched on in the recent Welcome to to be here and the responsibilities of all Country - a traditional welcome to those who now – formally - belong. country by Indigenous Elders - held

Issue 3: December 2008 www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au page 4 MORE RESEARCH SUCCESSES

A team of researchers from the The following School staff and colleagues were successful in the School was recently awarded ARC Funding Rounds for 2009 (Discovery and Linkage): over a million dollars to help SA Nathan; Dr CW Evers; A/Prof LR develop new ways to help Jackson Pulver; Dr CS Duncan; smokers give up the habit. Dr R Henley and Anne Bunde-Birouste, Social Cohesion through Football, $341,000 over 3 years. ARC Linkage.

This project will help strengthen Australia’s social and economic fabric, one of the priority goals aimed at promoting and maintaining good health for all Australians. The proposed inter-disciplinary study will provide new evidence on how sports programs can foster community building, social inclusion and social cohesion, helping Prof J Braithwaite; Prof JI Westbrook, families and individuals to live healthy, Evaluating communities of productive, and fulfilling lives. The practice and social-professional “The Quit in General Practice proposed study will provide critically networks: the development, design, intervention is a flexible approach needed guidance on best-practice testing, refinement, simulation which involves teamwork between for governments and communities to and application of an evaluation the general practice nurse, the develop and evaluate sport-based and framework, $1.58 million over 5 patient’s GP and the Quitline,” says related programs to address social years. ARC Discovery. the team leader, Professor of General cohesion and social inclusion. The Practice Nick Zwar from the School result will enable humanitarian refugees Multiple national benefits are realised of Public Health and Community to overcome barriers that hinder their by this research, including addressing Medicine. participation in Australian communities. National Research Priority number 3 - Promoting and maintaining “The support for quitting will be good health. This project aims to primarily provided by the practice Prof D Silove; Dr SJ Rees; Prof AB understand more clearly the types nurse but can be adapted to meet Zwi ; Prof RM Thorpe, Understanding of behaviours and attitudes that the patient’s needs and other anger and its consequences amongst lead to, or inhibit, communities commitments. The nurse will provide women in conflict-affected Timor-Leste: and networks, which means that counselling and follow up and assist Implications for enhancing sustainable strategies can be developed to the patient with information about development, $634,220 over 5 years. improve these outcomes. Team based medicines to assist quitting.” ARC Discovery. workplaces can be more productive, socially satisfying and professionally Professor Zwar says that currently Australia has made a massive investment rewarding. Educational programs patients trying to quit commonly in the stabilisation of and will benefit from the results and do not access professional help other post-conflict countries including organisations can improve the way from their doctor, pharmacist or the aid for women’s organisations. Yet there they work and treat staff, customers Quitline but try quitting ‘cold turkey’, is a notable gap in the empirical base and other stakeholders. These but that many subsequently relapse. for designing programs for women. The results will be transferable to other proposed study will focus on women’s industries, Australia’s trading partners anger and has the potential to ground and the international community. psychosocial programming for women on a firm empirical base. The results may be transferable to other traumatised and disadvantaged communities.

Issue 3: December 2008 www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au page 5 Timor-Leste health and development research forum

lobal Health @ UNSW held the Ministry of Health regarding the first Timor-Leste Health and enhanced mechanisms to support GDevelopment Research Forum health care providers in delivering on Friday 24 October 2008. Over desired health care improvements. 40 people from academic institutions The Forum was the first opportunity and organisations across Australia the team had to present their participated in the event. Fourteen preliminary findings to a receptive papers were presented and lively audience, and this has since been discussion took place over the course of followed up by a Findings Workshop the day. The Forum was enhanced by the presented in Dili on 27 November. presence of Timorese members of a team working with SPHCM on the Timor-Leste The Forum theme recognises that in Support of the Asia-Pacific Futures Health Care Seeking Behaviour Study order to meet today’s global health care Research Network, funded by the ARC, as well as numerous Timorese currently challenges, it is crucial to understand greatly facilitated the attendance of working, studying or pursuing research people’s beliefs, social structures PhD candidates from across Australia opportunities in Australia. and behaviours and their relation to at the Forum. The funding gave these health and health care seeking. The students the opportunity to present The School’s involvement with Timor- ‘resuscitation’ of primary health care, and gain valuable feedback on their Leste has a long history. Shortly after taking place this year alongside the papers from seasoned researchers of the 1999 referendum which led to 30th Anniversary of the Alma Ata the country similarly committed to massive violence and disruption, Declaration, provides a fitting backdrop informing more effective responses members of the then School of for emphasising the importance to health and development issues Health Services Management led a of community engagement and in Timor-Leste. A reader-friendly management training initiative with participation in health issues. Drawing publication bringing together the emerging health leaders. When on socio-cultural research evidence insights from the presentations is Professor Anthony Zwi joined the to inform national policy, planning currently under consideration. School in 2002 with a strong interest and decision making has enormous in health system development and potential to help solve problems We were privileged to have Darian policy in post-conflict settings, a range confronting resource-constrained Clark from AusAID, and the Consulate- of longer-term research and capacity health services in countries in the General of Timor-Leste, Mr Abel building linkages with Timorese health Asia-Pacific and throughout the world. Guterres, address Forum participants professionals and the Timorese Ministry and give the closing remarks. Mr of Health was established. One recent A focal presentation for the day was Guterres clearly communicated his initiative has been around the Timor- given by the SPHCM Team (Basilio enthusiasm for all the researchers’ Leste Health Care Seeking Behaviour Pinto, Elias Ferreira, Nica Correia initiatives being ultimately aimed Study, a research initiative with strong and Diana Glazebrook) on the Timor- at helping the Timorese people to policy and practice implications. Leste Health Care Seeking Behaviour enhance their health and livelihoods. Study. The research team is led by The theme of the Timor-Leste Health Anthony Zwi and Ilse Blignault from The Forum was a unique opportunity to and Development Research Forum the School of Public Health and meet and discuss, among academics, was ‘Culture and Health’. This Community Medicine, funded by students and professionals, their was addressed through a range of AusAID and managed through UNSW interest in Timor-Leste, and to share presentations, providing insights of Global by Cynthia Grant. The goal new research knowledge, debate relevance to women’s health, child of the mixed-methods study is to implications of findings, and foster health, maternal health and HIV/ improve the health of the population partnerships for possible future AIDS, amongst others. All offered of Timor-Leste through increasing the collaboration. It is hoped the Forum thoughtful ideas, experience and use of health services in communities. will stimulate the creation of new ideas research evidence on current Among the issues examined in the and fruitful projects that will enhance health and social challenges study were factors that influence or and improve health and development facing Timor-Leste. Presenters and determine health and health care research in Timor-Leste. Special participants came from a wide array seeking behaviours, decision making thanks go out to all the presenters who of disciplinary backgrounds, with processes of users, and attitudes, generously gave their time and energy expertise in anthropology, nutrition, preferences and experiences at the to enrich the Forum’s offerings. sociology, public health, psychology, interface between health care providers human geography, political studies, and the community. Insights from economics, education, statistics and health care providers will also inform cultural studies.

Issue 3: December 2008 www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au page 6 New staff at the School

of Rural and Remote Medicine, and is He says: “In Australia, I have been in the final stages of a PhD. the director of the Western New South Wales Public Health Unit John has extensive experience in public from 1992-1994. This involved the health at the international, national, delivery of public health programs to district and community levels. He the population of Western NSW. This has demonstrated a commitment to included management responsibility working with, and building capacity in, for environmental health, local Ministries of Health, academic immunisation services, HIV/AIDS, institutions and non-government health information and surveillance. I organisations over the past 25 years. also worked on projects investigating He says: “As principal medical officer lead poisoning in children in Broken with Community Health Services in Hill and the Aboriginal communities Vanuatu between 1990 and1992 I in Walgett, Bourke and Wilcannia.” was responsible for the day-to-day John Hall John has been at the School of Public technical, financial, human resource Health at Sydney University since and infrastructure needs of the Associate Professor John Hall has 2002, where he played a major role public health programs for the whole been appointed Director, AusAID in their flagship program, the Master country. This involved responsibility Human Resources for Health Hub, of International Public Health. His for communicable diseases (HIV/AIDS, which is located at the SPHCM. contribution to the MIPH has been malaria/dengue, TB/leprosy), non- John graduated from medicine at acknowledged with the awarding of communicable diseases, maternal and UNSW in 1979 and, on the eve of his a Faculty of Medicine (University of child health, health promotion, and 30th anniversary since graduation, Sydney) Teaching Award in November health information/surveillance systems.” returns to his Alma Mater after being 2007 for “Student life cycle support Postgraduate Coordinator of the Over the last ten years John has for culturally diverse cohorts”. Masters of International Public Health undertaken consultancy work for John will work closely with the other at the University of Sydney. He also AusAID, WHO, UNICEF, USAID, ADB senior academics at the Hub towards has a Masters of International and and DFID in , fulfilling the vision for this innovative Tropical Health, a Fellowship of the Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and exciting new initiative. Faculty of Public Health Medicine, a Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Kenya, Fellowship of the Australian College Congo, and Zimbabwe.

experience across health, academic immunisation coverage, parent and and government organisations in NSW, provider attitudes to immunisation WA, Victoria and overseas. Glenda has and changes in disease epidemiology taught in nursing, science and public over time. My teaching interests health, and coordinated the Vaccines include epidemiology, applied in Public Health elective for the research methods and infectious University of Sydney MPH since 2004. diseases.”

Glenda says: “My primary research At NCIRS Glenda developed and/ interests are in the prevention and or co-ordinated major projects control of communicable diseases in the surveillance of adverse through evidence-based policy events following immunisation, and public health action. Prior immunisation coverage and to joining the School of Public the accuracy of ACIR data, and Glenda Lawrence Health and Community Medicine parents and provider attitudes at UNSW, I worked at the National to immunisation. Other interests Glenda Lawrence joined the School Centre for Immunisation Research include the epidemiology of in October as an associate professor and Surveillance (NCIRS) for seven vaccine preventable diseases, and and has qualifications in general and years as an epidemiologist and immunisation in adults, adolescents intensive care nursing, biological senior research fellow focussing and occupational groups. sciences (BSc Hons I, UNSW), on research to inform national molecular virology (PhD, Cambridge immunisation policies and monitor Glenda will continue to collaborate University), public health (MPH Hons, and evaluate immunisation programs. with NCIRS in immunisation-related Sydney) and applied epidemiology research, as well as research in the (MAppEpid, ANU). She has clinical, “Specific areas included surveillance of epidemiology of infectious diseases, research, teaching and management adverse events following immunisation, including the use of data linkage.

Issue 3: December 2008 www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au page 7 Bright young minds: The 6th Annual SPHCM Postgraduate Research Student Conference

ith 38 presenters, the 6th Annual SPHCM Postgraduate WResearch Student Conference was the largest staged thus far. Held at UNSW on 13 November, the Conference continued the School’s tradition of giving our research students the opportunity to practice their presentation skills, as well as showcasing their fantastic array of projects. The ten scheduled sessions covered health attitudes and behaviour, correction centres and crime, primary health care management, alcohol and drug use, primary health care, health system and management, injury epidemiology and surveillance, mental health and Hepatitis C research, HIV • Catherine Esposito (Stream 1, first Thank you to everyone involved for and antiretroviral therapy, and economic runner-up) for “HIV and mental making it such an enjoyable and and policy evaluation. Feedback on health in Vietnam”. interesting day, particularly those of the presentations was excellent – with you who came along to support the impressed audience members coming • Jan Gralton (Stream 2, first runner- students. Special thanks go to the from other Schools, as well as from our up) for “Protecting healthcare lecturers and conjoints who chaired own Centres and SPHCM. workers from pandemic influenza: the sessions; Dr James Wood, Dr P2 or surgical masks?” Mohamud Sheikh and Associate Congratulations to the following Professor Glenda Lawrence for judging presenters who were recipients of prizes: • Sanjyot Vagholkar (Stream duties; Holly Seale and Tony Newall 1, best new presenter at an for assistance in organising the day; • Steve Frost (Stream 1, best SPHCM Student Conference) for Christine Rousselis for her fabulous presentation) for “Timing of repeated “Cardiovascular absolute risk graphic design work; and Karsten bone mineral density measurements: assessment in general practice and Sommer for convincing the computers Development of an absolute risk- impact on prescribing”. to work for us. based prognostic model”. • Heather Gidding (Stream 2, best We hope to see an even larger • Ben Harris-Roxas (Stream 2, best new presenter at an SPHCM audience next year! presentation) for “Evaluating the Student Conference) for “The impact and effectiveness of Equity epidemiology of Hepatitis There are some spare copies of the Focused Health Impact Assessment C in Australia – a review of abstract booklet still available – if you on planning within the health sector”. notifications, treatment uptake, and are interested in receiving a booklet associated liver transplantations please email Kate at: 1997-2006”. [email protected]

Let’s hear from you We would like to keep in touch with former staff and students of the School. Please send your contributions to the editor, Kevin Forde: [email protected]

Published by the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales.

Opinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of New South Wales. Information was correct at the time of publication but is liable to change. Please visit the School website for the latest information: www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au

The School of Public Health and Community Medicine The University of New South Wales UNSW Sydney NSW 2052, Australia Tel: +61 (2) 9385 2517 Fax: +61 (2) 9313 6185 CRICOS Provider No: 00098G

Issue 3: December 2008 www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au page 8