Healthcare professionals' perceptions on providing support to informal carers within stroke care.

Background: The sudden nature of stroke onset does not provide carers with sufficient time to prepare for the demands associated with caring. Healthcare professionals can have a vital role in providing carers with support and training, which may reduce carer stress and strain, and allow for better health and rehabilitation outcomes for the stroke survivor. The experiences of healthcare professionals on supporting carers in stroke care, however, remain unclear.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to reduce burden, stress, and strain in informal stroke caregivers.

Objectives: To understand the nature and effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving informal stroke caregiver burden, stress, and strain.

Data Sources: In line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic search of CENTRAL, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo, and Web of Science was conducted in May 2022.

Review Methods: Studies were eligible if they included an intervention designed for informal stroke caregivers, reported on caregiver burden, strain, or stress, were published in English, and used a randomized controlled trial design.

Participation in physical activity and sport in adolescent girls from Middle Eastern backgrounds.

Objectives: This study investigated the barriers and facilitators to physical activity and sport participation among adolescent girls from Middle Eastern backgrounds. These factors were explored through the perspectives of both adolescent girls and parents of adolescent girls, living in Australia.

Design: A qualitative study design was used to understand perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity and sport in adolescent girls.

The impact of caregiving on the roles and valued activities of stroke carers: A systematic review of qualitative studies.

Objective: To understand the experiences of informal carers and the impact of role and activity changes on their health and wellbeing.

Methods: A systematic search of CINHAL, MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo, and Web of Science was conducted. Studies were eligible if they included informal stroke carers (≥18 years), used a qualitative methodology, explored the roles and valued activities of stroke carers, and were published in English.

A systematic review of culturally adapted physical activity interventions for culturally and linguistically diverse children and adolescents.

Objective: Limited evidence shows culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children and adolescents are less active, compared to the general population. It is unclear, how physical activity interventions have been adapted for CALD children and adolescents to enhance engagement. This study aimed to review culturally adapted physical activity interventions targeting CALD children and adolescents.

Determining priority areas for health promotion amongst Australian professional sporting organisations.

Objectives: Professional sporting organisations (PSOs) are well-positioned to promote health through their reach and standing within communities. However, the health promotion (HP) priority areas of interest of PSOs are unknown. The objectives of this study were to: identify HP priority areas amongst Australian PSOs and explore the development, implementation, and evaluation of HP programming within the identified priority areas.

Effectiveness of Adult Health Promotion Interventions Delivered Through Professional Sport: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Researchers are capitalising on the strong connections that sport fans have with their teams for health promotion programmes, yet no existing systematic reviews have evaluated the effectiveness of interventions delivered through professional sport.

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically collate, evaluate, and synthesise the evidence on health promotion interventions implemented in professional sport settings.

Methods: Randomised controlled trials reporting on adult health promotion initiatives delivered in professional sport settings were identified through electronic database searches in CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Google Scholar.

Experiences of young Australian mothers with infant feeding.

Background: Despite the overwhelming evidence of health and other benefits of breastfeeding and recommendations to breastfeed by peak health bodies, breastfeeding rates are significantly lower than recommended in Australia and globally. Young mothers are identified as being at high risk of not breastfeeding their infants according to infant feeding recommendations. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of young Australian mothers' experiences of infant feeding, and to explore the factors which facilitated or hindered adherence to recommended breastfeeding practices.

Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviours and Psychological Distress: A Longitudinal Study of Australian Adults Aged 45 Years and Older.

Individual associations between lifestyle behaviours and mental health have been established; however, evidence on the clustering of these behaviours and the subsequent impact on mental health is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between combined unhealthy lifestyle behaviours (physical activity, sitting time, sleep duration, processed meat consumption, vegetable consumption, fruit consumption, smoking status, alcohol consumption) and the development of psychological distress (measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) in a large Australian sample. Participants were 163,707 Australian adults from the 45 and Up Study.

Behavioural mediators of reduced energy intake in a physical activity, diet, and sleep behaviour weight loss intervention in adults.

Reduced energy intake is a major driver of weight loss and evidence suggests that physical activity, dietary, and sleep behaviours interact to influence energy intake. Energy restriction can be challenging to sustain. Therefore to improve intervention efficacy, evaluation of how changes in physical activity, diet, and sleep behaviours mediate reduced energy intake in adults with overweight/obesity who participated in a six-month multiple-behaviour-change weight loss intervention was undertaken.

Effect of a Scalable School-Based Intervention on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Cardiorespiratory fitness is an important marker of childhood health and low fitness levels are a risk factor for disease later in life. Levels of children's fitness have declined in recent decades. Whether school-based physical activity interventions can increase fitness at the population level remains unclear.

Feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored physical activity intervention for Arab-Australian women.

Background: Despite being one of the largest migrant groups in Australia, few physical activity interventions exist for Arab-Australians. The primary aim of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week culturally tailored physical activity intervention for Arab-Australian women.

Methods: This study used a single-group pretest-posttest design, and was informed by extensive formative research and consultation involving the Arab-Australian community.

A systematic review of qualitative studies exploring the factors influencing the physical activity levels of Arab migrants.

Background: Evidence suggests that Arab migrant populations engage in low levels of physical activity. To our knowledge, there are no reviews that explore the perspectives of Arab migrant populations on the factors influencing physical activity. The aim of this systematic review was to thematically synthesise qualitative literature on the factors influencing physical activity among Arab migrant populations.

Interventions to promote exclusive breastfeeding among young mothers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding rates in many high-income countries are considerably lower than the World Health Organization recommendations. Younger mothers are less likely than older mothers to exclusively breastfeed or to exclusively breastfeed for a long duration. This systematic review explores interventions to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding among young mothers in high-income countries.

Factors Influencing the Early Introduction of Sugar Sweetened Beverages among Infants: Findings from the HSHK Birth Cohort Study.

Understanding the determinants of early introduction of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) may assist in designing effective public health interventions to prevent childhood weight related conditions (obesity). This study explores the relationship between family/infant characteristics and the early introduction of SSBs among infants in Sydney, Australia. Mothers ( = 934) from an ongoing birth cohort study were interviewed at 8, 17, 34, and 52 weeks postpartum.

Systematic review of randomised control trial health promotion intervention studies in the fire services: study characteristics, intervention design and impacts on health.

The objective of this study was to systematically review health promotion interventions in the fire services. Four databases were searched for articles reporting on health promotion interventions for firefighters evaluated in randomised controlled trials (RCT) and measuring efficacy on health or lifestyle behaviour outcomes. Data were extracted to create a narrative synthesis regarding study design, intervention characteristics and impact on outcomes.

Efficacy of a Multi-component m-Health Weight-loss Intervention in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: This study compared the efficacy of two multi-component m-health interventions with a wait-list control group on body weight (primary outcome), and secondary outcomes of cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle behaviours, and mental health.

Methods: Three-arm randomised controlled trial (Enhanced: physical activity, diet, sleep, Traditional: physical activity, diet, Control) with assessments conducted at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Participants ( = 116) were overweight or obese adults aged 19-65 (M = 44.

Determinants of Full Breastfeeding at 6 Months and Any Breastfeeding at 12 and 24 Months among Women in Sydney: Findings from the HSHK Birth Cohort Study.

The aim of this study was to report on breastfeeding duration up to 24 months and determine the predictors of breastfeeding duration among women in South Western Sydney, one of the most culturally diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged regions of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Mother-infant dyads ( = 1035) were recruited to the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids birth cohort study. Study data were collected through telephone interviews at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 months postpartum.

The perceptions, barriers and enablers to physical activity and minimising sedentary behaviour among Arab-Australian adults aged 35-64 years.

Issues Addressed: The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions, barriers and enablers to physical activity (PA) and minimising sedentary behaviour among Arab-Australians, a group who have lower levels of PA and higher rates of certain chronic diseases when compared with the general Australian population.

Methods: A total of 28 Arab-Australians aged 35-64 years participated in one of five focus groups conducted in Western Sydney during 2017-2018, a culturally diverse region in New South Wales, Australia. Focus group duration ranged from 35-90 minutes with 4-7 participants in each group.

Psychological distress among carers and the moderating effects of social support.

Background: Carers provide both practical and emotional support and often play an important role in coordination of care for recipients. The demands of caring may lead to increased levels of stress for the carer, which can affect mental health and quality of life. This study examined the relationship between being a carer and psychological distress (assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K10]), and explored the moderating effect of social support in that relationship using a large sample.

Older adults' evaluations of the standard and modified pedometer-based Green Prescription.

INTRODUCTION The Green Prescription is a primary care programme designed to increase physical activity in individuals with low activity levels. Older adults tend to engage in insufficient physical activity to obtain health-related gain. AIM To examine participants' ratings of the Healthy Steps intervention and to assess how participants rated the use of a pedometer-based Green Prescription in aiding their physical activity.

Successes and Challenges of an IT-Based Health Behaviour Change Program to Increase Physical Activity.

Health behaviour change programs that utilise IT-based delivery have great potential to improve health. Whilst more static Web 1.0 technologies have been somewhat effective, they often failed to promote longer-term user engagement required for greater health promotion impact.

Does self-determined motivation interact with environmental contexts to influence moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during a girls' youth sport camp?

: To explore whether basketball player's self-determined motivation interacts with environmental contexts and coach training to influence percentage time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (%MVPA). : A secondary analysis of data from 76 girls (mean ± SD, 10.5 ± 1.