Publications by authors named "Karen Ciszek"
Aim: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of risk for developmental and behavioural problems for children in their first year of full-time primary education in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Methods: We conducted an analysis of the 2014-2017 Kindergarten Health Check (KHC), an annual series of complete enumeration surveys of all children in their first year of full-time primary education in the ACT. Risk for developmental and behavioural problems was determined using the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) questionnaire.
Background/objectives: To describe trends in overweight/obesity in early childhood for all children and those whose parents are concerned about their weight. To describe parents' perceptions of their child's weight and differences by their child's anthropometric and sociodemographic factors.
Subjects/methods: Analysis of the Kindergarten Health Check, a survey of all children enrolled in their first year of primary education in the Australian Capital Territory.
Objectives: There is mixed evidence on the relationship between physical activity and behavioural and mental health. We aimed to estimate the association between physical activity and risk of behavioural and mental health disorders in early school-aged children.
Design: A series of cross-sectional complete enumeration (census) surveys.
Objective: Pulmonary function abnormalities and hospital re-admissions in survivors of neonatal lung disease remain highly prevalent. The respiratory outcomes study (RESPOS) aimed to investigate the respiratory and associated atopy outcomes in preterm infants <30 weeks gestational age (GA) and/or birth-weight (BWt) <1000 g at primary school age, and to compare these outcomes between infants with and without chronic lung disease (CLD).
Methods: In the RESPOS 92 parents of preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal unit in Canberra Hospital between 1/1/2001 and 31/12/2003 were sent a questionnaire regarding their respiratory, atopy management and follow-up.
Background: This study investigated the prevalence of overweight and obese Indigenous kindergarten children in the Australian Capital Territory.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on data collected as part of the Kindergarten Health Check, a cross sectional population based survey conducted in the ACT from 2004 to 2008.
Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was statistically significantly higher among Indigenous (18%) compared to non-Indigenous kindergarten children (14%) (p=0.
Aim: A decline in asthma prevalence from 2000 to 2005 was reported previously. The objective is to examine the temporal trends for the prevalence of obesity and other childhood disorders and consider the extent to which associations between asthma and other co-morbidities can be accounted for by body mass index.
Methods: Serial cross-sectional surveys of primary school entrants (n = 18,999) in the Australian Capital Territory between 2001 and 2005 were used.
Aim. To measure the association between infant feeding practices and parent-reported nut allergy in school entrant children. Method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is little published on provider continuity in Australian general practice and none on its effect on inequality of care for children.
Method: Questionnaire administered to parents of the ACT Kindergarten Health Screen asking the name of their child's usual GP and practice address between 2001 and 2008.
Results: Parents of 30,789 children named 433 GPs and 141 practices.
Aim: To ascertain whether children with asthma in the Australian Capital Territory were taking preventer medications in accordance with National Asthma Council Australia guidelines.
Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to all parents who indicated in an ACT wide survey of school entry children in 2005 that their child had asthma (n=435), or experienced asthma symptoms/took asthma medication (n=501), exploring dose, frequency and mode of delivery of preventer their child was currently taking.
Results: Data were available for 256 children (response rate 27%).
Aim: To describe parent-reported prevalence and management of peanut and nut allergy in school entrant children.
Method: A population-based, cross-sectional study in the Australian National Capital.
Results: Out of 3851 children, parents reported 127 had a strong allergic reaction to peanuts and 19 to other nuts ever.
Background: Asthma prevalence has declined in some countries over the past 10 years. Most reports have been based on population surveys conducted at two points of time in a given location. Comparisons across countries and time periods can be limited by differences in study methodology or disease diagnostics in different communities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To analyse trends in asthma medications used by school-entry children whose parents report they have asthma.
Design And Setting: Annual cross-sectional study of all school-entry children (about 4400 each year) in the Australian Capital Territory in 2000-2005, by means of a questionnaire for parents on child health status and medication use; and a cross-sectional study of asthma prescriptions for children aged 5 years obtained from the Medicare Australia database for 2002-2005.
Participants: All school-entry children in the ACT with parent-reported asthma (numbers in the years 2000-2005 ranged between 435 and 589).