Factors influencing reductions in smoking among Australian adolescents.

A continued increase in the proportion of adolescents who never smoke, as well as an understanding of factors that influence reductions in smoking among this susceptible population, is crucial. The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provides an appropriate structure to briefly examine Australian and New South Wales policies and programs that are influencing reductions in smoking among adolescents in Australia. This paper provides an overview of price and recent tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco, the evolution of smoke-free environment policies, changes to tobacco labelling and packaging, public education campaigns, and restrictions to curb tobacco advertising.

Tobacco Smoking in Islands of the Pacific Region, 2001-2013.

We provide an overview of tobacco smoking patterns in Pacific island countries and territories to facilitate monitoring progress toward the goal of a Tobacco-Free Pacific by 2025. We examined data from 4 surveys conducted in the region between 2001 and 2013, including the STEPwise approach to surveillance for adults (25-64 years); the Global School-Based Student Health Survey and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (students 13-15 years); and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (grade 9-12 students) in United States affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPIs). Adult smoking prevalence ranged from less than 5% of women in Vanuatu to almost 75% of men in Kiribati.

Overweight, obesity, physical activity and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adolescents of Pacific islands: results from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.

Background: Overweight, obesity and their consequences are challenges to sustainable social and economic development in Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs). Complementing previous analyses for adults, the purpose of this paper is to synthesise available data on overweight, obesity and their risk factors in adolescents in the region. The resulting Pacific perspective for the younger generation will inform both the national and regional public health response to the crisis of noncommunicable diseases.

Alcohol use in the Pacific region: Results from the STEPwise approach to surveillance, Global School-Based Student Health Survey and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.

Introduction And Aims: Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for disease and injury in Pacific Island countries and territories (PICT). This paper examines drinking patterns across 20 PICTs.

Design And Methods: We synthesised published data from the STEPwise approach to surveillance or similar surveys for adults 25-64 years, and from the Global School-Based Student Health surveys and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) for youth.

Noncommunicable diseases and risk factors in adult populations of several Pacific Islands: results from the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance.

Objective: To provide an overview of the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors in several Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs), in accordance with global NCD targets.

Methods: For six risk factors, data for adults (aged 25-64 years) from published reports of the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to NCD surveillance, or methodologically similar surveys, were collated, age standardised and compared across fifteen PICTs.

Results: In the majority of PICT populations, more than half of male current drinkers drank heavily and more than 40% of men and 20% of women were current smokers.

Battling tuberculosis in an island context with a high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases: epidemiology, progress, and lessons learned in Kiribati, 2000 to 2012.

Objectives: To examine the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in Kiribati from 2000 to 2012, document lessons learned, and recommend ways to mitigate the burden of TB in Kiribati.

Methods: A descriptive study was performed using data on TB case notifications, prevalence, incidence, mortality, and treatment outcomes from global reports and data files. Progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal TB target (to reduce TB incidence by 2015) and the Regional Strategy to Stop Tuberculosis in the Western Pacific 2011-2015 targets (to reduce TB prevalence and mortality by half by 2015 relative to the level in 2000) was examined.

Supporting Pacific Island countries to strengthen their resistance to tobacco industry interference in tobacco control: a case study of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Tobacco use is the biggest single preventable cause of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Western Pacific region. Currently, 14 Pacific Island countries have ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and, in having done so, are committed to implementing tobacco control measures aligned with the FCTC. Progressing strong and effective tobacco control legislation is essential to achieving long term gains in public health in small island countries.

Australians' use of fake tanning lotions: another piece of the puzzle.

Objective: To assess community attitudes and practices in relation to fake tanning lotions.

Methods: 1,509 New South Wales residents aged 15 years and over, selected at random, completed a computer-assisted telephone survey.

Results: Thirty-three per cent of respondents thought fake tanning lotions were unsafe.

Has the investment in public cancer education delivered observable changes in knowledge over the past 10 years?

Background: During the 1990s, Western countries, such as Australia, directed substantial funds toward public cancer education. An important indicator of whether this investment has been worthwhile is a shift over time in the proportion of the population who have accurate knowledge regarding cancer.

Methods: In the year 2000, a cross-sectional telephone survey was administered to 685 residents selected from the New South Wales (Australia) Electronic White Pages telephone directory.

Environmental tobacco smoke in homes, motor vehicles and licensed premises: community attitudes and practices.

Objective: To assess community knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) especially in homes, private motor vehicles and licensed premises, and to document levels of support for further government legislation.

Methods: 656 persons aged 18 years and over, a sub-sample in a computer-assisted telephone survey of 2,087 randomly selected respondents across NSW, answered 12 ETS-specific questions. The whole sample was asked demographic, smoking status and household membership questions.

Impacts from repeated mass media campaigns to promote sun protection in Australia.

Campaigns using television, radio and print media were conducted over three summers in New South Wales, Australia, aiming to increase the use of sun protection measures among children under 12 years. The evaluation entailed cross-sectional telephone surveys before and after each of the first two campaigns and following the third campaign. The study group were parents of children under 12 years.