Food consumption habits in two states of Australia, as measured by a Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Background: Obesity is an important public health problem in Australia, and monitoring the nutritional intake of the population is an important endeavour. One way to assess food habits is via Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ). This pilot study used a routine telephone risk factor surveillance survey to recruit participants in South Australia (SA) and Western Australia (WA) to a postal survey investigating food consumption habits, using a FFQ.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccination coverage in Western Australia.

Objective: To assess pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccination coverage in Western Australians, up to 31 January 2010.

Design, Setting And Participants: Vaccination data for Western Australians aged 10 years and older were obtained from two sources: the WA Pandemic Influenza Vaccination Database (PIVD; which collected reports of pandemic influenza vaccinations from vaccination providers statewide) for the period 30 September 2009 to 31 January 2010, and the WA Health and Wellbeing Surveillance System (HWSS; a continuous population-based telephone survey) for the period 1 December 2009 to 31 January 2010. Data from the PIVD was used to input vaccination coverage estimates for at-risk subpopulations not assessed in the HWSS interviews.

Using risk factor surveillance as a basis for mixed-methodology research: an example from Australia using food intake and anthropometric measures.

Objectives: Risk factor surveillance is an integral part of public health, and can provide a ready-made sample for further research. This study assessed the utility of mixed-methodology research using telephone and postal surveys.

Methods: Adult respondents to telephone surveys in South Australia and Western Australia were recruited to a postal survey about food consumption, in particular, relating to fruit and vegetables.

Consumer perceptions of fruit and vegetables serving sizes.

Objective: To assess consumer understanding of fruit and vegetable serving sizes.

Design: The Western Australian Health Department launched the Go for 2&5(R) campaign to promote fruit and vegetables in March 2002. The Health & Wellbeing Surveillance System surveyed 1108 adults, aged 16 years and over, between September and November 2002 about what constituted a serving of fruit and of vegetables, their usual daily fruit and vegetables intake, and their recall of the campaign.

Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption: success of the Western Australian Go for 2&5 campaign.

Objective: The Western Australian Health Department's Go for 2&5 campaign aimed to increase adults' awareness of the need to eat more fruit and vegetables and encourage increased consumption of one serving over five years.

Design: The multi-strategy fruit and vegetable social marketing campaign, conducted from 2002 to 2005, included mass media advertising (television, radio, press and point-of-sale), public relations events, publications, a website (www.gofor2and5.