The relationship of physical health and mental health status.

Working partners:

Date of commencement:

• To investigate differences in self-reported mental health status (K10 or K5) among health Areas.
• To examine associations between K10 (K5 in OPHS 1999) and selected demographic variables.
• To examine the relationship between self-reported physical health and mental health (K10 scores) status using the NSW Health Survey (1997/1998) and Older Persons Health Survey (OPHS) (1999).
• To raise awareness of the relationship between mental and physical well being.

Date of commencement:

• To examine basic characteristics of the SWAHS Emergency Department population.
• To study the patient flow pattern of SWAHS Emergency Department.
• To model the SWAHS Emergency Department patient flow according to the UK experience .
• To follow-up the UK’s IDEA trials and their outcome.
• To review NSW’s Emergency Department administration and its compatibility with IDEA .

Date of commencement:

• To compile the area HIE hospital and emergency department data tables into user friendly patient based unit record files.
• To examine hospital and emergency department utilisation with respect to major illnesses and hospital services.

• HIE data are compiled to a patient based unit record file every six months and data are examined for any abnormality.

Date of commencement:

• To provide evidence as to type and level of local nutrition expertise and support required by primary schools in a disadvantaged socioeconomic area,
• To implement positive nutritional changes now that healthy canteens are mandatory in all government schools.

Date of commencement:

• To provide accurate and meaningful information for clinical practice and program planning.
• To enable effective implementation of injury strategies and public policy.
• To assist managers in the development of injury prevention and intervention programs.
• To facilitate clinicians in their injury management and work practice.
• To support the improvement of quality data collection.
• Where possible, to measure trends and make comparisons of injury management, access to services and quality outcomes between different geographic areas or services.

Date of commencement:

1. To assess the effectiveness of the Immunisation Awareness Program in meeting the information needs of the community and providers in Sydney West Health area.
2. To assess the impact of the Immunisation Awareness Program on community and provider knowledge of vaccine preventable diseases and the current Australian immunisation schedule in Sydney West Health area.

1. To provide baseline and ongoing profiles of immunisation information needs of the community in SWAHS, including:

• satisfaction with available information resources,
• accessibility of these resources, and
• possibilities for improving ways of receiving and accessing the information.

2. To provide baseline and ongoing profiles of needs of providers in SWAHS, regarding:

• satisfaction with available information resources,
• accessibility of these resources,
• satisfaction with levels of support for promoting immunisation in their setting and
• possibilities for improving resources and levels of support.

3. To compare community and provider knowledge of vaccine preventable diseases and the current Australian immunisation schedule pre- and post-2005 Immunisation Awareness program.

4. To monitor changes in knowledge of vaccine preventable diseases and childhood immunisation update in the community over time in Sydney West Health area.

1. The evaluation was based on pre and post intervention design.
2. Close ended and multiple questionnaires were used.
   Questionnaires for parents and providers were developed and questionnaires for the pre period were distributed and collected. Data analyses are expected to start in early June.
   

Date of commencement:

To provide quick and easy access to social and health information of SWAHS residents for all health workers including public health practitioners, planners, policy analysts and researchers in the Area. It may extend to be used by students and health consumers.

• To provide an overview of the demographic, social and health profile of the people in SWAHS.
• To present key health indicators of SWAHS residents.
• To demonstrate health inequalities in SWAHS.
• To highlight emerging health concerns and new health data issues of SWAHS.
• To update the site annually (December) with the latest available data.
  

• Contents Plan developed.
• Capacity and compatibility of the two mapping softwares (mapinfo and website) explored.
• Information, data and map are being published on Epidemiology map by stage.
  

Date of commencement:

To facilitate a sustainable collection process and reporting mechanism of Sydney West Area Health Service’s HIV, HepC and STI epidemiological profile.

• To establish a sustainable process that reports on the SWAHS HIV, HepC and STI epidemiological profile for relevant populations including new migrants, gay men, young people, intravenous drug users and ATSI.
• To incorporate these data in reports to relevant AHS providers and local government agencies.

Notifiable Diseases Database (NDD) and HIV data initially analysed. Currently liaising with local STI clinics and Government agencies and collecting pertinent literatures.

Date of commencement:

To provide relevant information for health practitioners and community partners on the profile and extent of overweight and obesity problem amongst children and adolescent in SWAHS

• To provide the most up to date information on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in SWAHS, NSW, Australia and overseas.
• To provide information on the contributory and risk factors of, health consequences and suggested management and treatment for overweight and obesity.
• To provide information that will assist managers in the development of overweight/obesity surveillance programs, prevention and intervention programs.
  

Prevalence data are being collected.

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

• Develop a base of trained staff and a capacity for further provider (general and specialist nursing, general practitioner, community health) education.
• Establish and evaluate a program of assessment and case management for high risk patients using existing providers (hospital based, community and primary care).
• Develop and test patient (and carer) and provider education resources.
• Establish and evaluate mechanisms for patient recruitment, initial risk assessment and referral.
• Establish and evaluate flexible mechanisms for communication between various levels of care.
  

• The CVRAMP project was completed in October 2003. The project has produced two reports to-date:
  • Preliminary Audit Report May, 2002 (Available upon request).
  • Project Review April, 2003 (Available upon request).
• The final project evaluation report is in draft format.

The CVRAMP project has been established as a sustainable chronic care program. The program has been integrated into the Western Sydney Area Health Service Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and renamed Cardiac Rehabilitation & Chronic Care Program.

Indigenous vascular risk assessment and management program (IVRAMP) – pending update, information available upon request.

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

• To describe utilisation of primary health care services by residents of an area of relative socioeconomic disadvantage.
• To describe barriers to accessing primary health care services by residents of an area of relative socioeconomic disadvantage.
• To examine predictors of utilisation of primary health care services by residents of an area of relative socioeconomic disadvantage.
  
  

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

• To decrease the number of people smoking in Blacktown LGA.
• To increase participation in tobacco control strategies by engaging communities and service providers in Blacktown LGA for better health outcomes.
• To facilitate planning and inter-sectorial action by working better together.
• To increase the number of homes and cars that are SMOKEFREE.
  

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

1. To locate all available data sources of HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections, which pertain to local government areas of Sydney West Area Health Service.
2. To compile a comprehensive single surveillance report that draws together relevant data from the sources identified above.
3. To disseminate these findings in accessible and timely ways to relevant sexual health peak bodies, service providers and community organisations in SWAHS.
4. To investigate the feasibility of establishing an annual reporting system and updates that will be distributed to interested parties in SWAHS and NSW peak bodies.

Initial sexual health data from Notifiable Diseases Database (NDD) through Health Outcomes Information and Statistical Toolkit (HOIST) is being gathered. Request for HIV data has been submitted. Sexual Health Clinic data access is in process. Requests for Western Sydney profiles of state and nation wide projects completed for National Centre in HIV, Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECHR), National Centre in HIV Social Research (NCHSR), La Trobe University (Sex in Australia) in process.

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

Data analysis has been completed and the report has been completed. A journal article is being written.

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

• To determine the definition of sexual assault held by staff.
• To determine the attitudes of staff to the behaviour of victims prior to sexual assault.
• To determine the attitudes of staff to the perpetrator of sexual assault.
• To determine the knowledge of staff regarding drink spiking in pubs and clubs.
• To determine the views of staff regarding the effectiveness of strategies to prevent sexual assault in pubs and clubs.

Data analysis has been completed and the report has been completed. A further 198 surveys were received that were not initially included. This data has now been included. Analysis is nearly complete.

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

Working with the relevant team to:

• Identify aims/objectives for the program.
• Examine the program’s components and assess compatibility with desired outcomes.
• Design instruments for dual collection of clinical and research data.
• Monitor ongoing service delivery and data collection.
• Manage evaluation process.
• Draft timelines.
• Produce a written report of the evaluation of the program.
  
  

Date of commencement:

• To provide information of the area population including the latest socio-economic index by LGAs in SWAHS.
• To examine hospital utilisation with respect to major illness and variation among the nine LGAs in SWAHS.
• To provide information on health risk factors using the NSW population surveys.
• To provide information on mortality patterns in the nine LGAs in SWAHS and make comparisons with urban and rural NSW.
• To raise awareness of health risk factors, hospitalisation and mortality within SWAHS.

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

• To provide a wide range of demographic and socioeconomic information from the 2001 Census at small geographic levels using maps to assist understanding and interpretation of information by area.
• To update health information on residents of the five LGAs of Auburn, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Holroyd and Parramatta and allow comparisons with other areas.
• To examine levels of access to and use of health services by residents of the identified LGAs.
• To identify patterns of health risk behaviour from NSW Health Survey for residents in the five LGAs and make comparisons with other areas.
• To examine relationships between advantaged and disadvantaged populations with regard to determinants of health and health status.
  

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

• To provide baseline data on the prevalence of influenza and influenza related conditions among the elderly and at-risk groups admitted to Sydney West hospitals.
• To provide baseline mortality data where influenza and influenza related conditions were identified as the cause of death in the population of interest.
• To examine (i) length of hospital stay related to influenza and influenza related conditions, and (ii) number of procedures among patients with respiratory and circulatory problems.
• To describe the potential costs and benefits of influenza vaccinations among the elderly and at-risk groups admitted to Sydney West hospitals.
  

Initial data analysis: 2001-2002 ISC and 2001-2002 death data completed. Pertinent publications collected and reviewed. Report completed and published on Epidemiology web.

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

1. Elevated separation rates reflect differences in the asthma data of areas of interest to the NSW average.
2. Elevated separation rates reflect differences in the use of hospital services by residents areas of interest and their admitting doctors to the NSW average.
3. Elevated separation rates reflect differences in how asthma is managed in the home/school/community of residents in areas of interest to the NSW average.
4. Elevated separation rates reflect higher incidence and/or severity of asthma in the areas of interest to the NSW average.
5. Elevated separation rates reflect differences in residential socio economic factors between the areas of interest and the NSW average.

Completed
Data analysis has been completed and the report has been completed. Needs approval to put on web.

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

• To provide the most up to date demographic information on the Indigenous population residing in the five LGAs of Auburn, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Holroyd and Parramatta and the 12 Indigenous areas of Blacktown LGA.
• To allow comparison of Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations within the LGAs by social determinants of health - schooling, employment, unemployment, weekly earning and housing.
  

Date of commencement:

Expected date of completion:

• To provide the most up to date information on the selected demographic profile of SWAHS Indigenous population.
• To provide information on aspects of social determinants of health such as schooling, employment, unemployment, weekly earning and housing among SWAHS Indigenous population.
  

Report published on Epidemiology Website.