BackgroundResearch findings show that treatments commonly offered to patients with low back pain (LBP) are not evidence-based and are potentially harmful (e.g. opioids or routine imaging).Treatments for LBP, such as medication and bed rest, are often associated with higher disability compared to active management strategies and do not help patients develop self-management skills for their condition. Reviews have shown that most self-management approaches for LBP fail to address key healthy lifestyle behaviours (i.e. weight control, physical activity participation, sleep quality), known to be associated with the risk of developing chronic musculoskeletal pain.The effectiveness of using text messages to educate and empower patients to self-manage their acute LBP through lifestyle-based interventions is currently unknown. The TEXT4myBACK study seeks to answer this important question.AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of a lifestyle-focused intervention delivered by mobile phone text message for adults with no

Background Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, mental and social change that can be stressful, and which might have an adverse impact on the mental wellbeing of adolescents. Stress and depression in young people are highly correlated with other non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and substance use and physical activity. Adolescents, especially older ones (15-19 years) experience many key transitions such as developing intimate relationships with peers and increasing responsibility in decision-making. Successfully navigating these transitions can reduce stress and NCD risk factors and have a lasting impact on the quality of life right into adulthood. Aim To evaluate the feasibility, clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two community-based implementation strategies for life skills education among older adolescents with or at high risk of depression.Research MethodologyA life skills education program will be developed to promote physica

BackgroundWith the expanding body of clinical knowledge in surgical procedures, driven by evidence-based research and clinician experience, the demand for translating research findings into practice and implementing changes is increasing.The adoption of new techniques and phasing out of old ones in clinical practice can be slow, facing many barriers and significantly impacting patient outcomes.AimTo increase the efficiency and effectiveness of translating research findings into surgical clinical practice by connecting evidence-based research results with surgical clinical practice and ultimately improve patient outcomes.A keystone to the project is working closely with clinicians and a diverse range of experts to identify the barriers and facilitators of translating research findings into practice, ultimately culminating in an implementation framework for surgery.Research MethodologyThe research project will be collaborative in nature, with a four-step approach for developing a useful framework for clinicians

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a major global health issue, affecting 619 million people in 2020—a significant rise from 1990, with numbers expected to increase by another 36% by 2050. LBP is also the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting people's ability to work and enjoy daily life. Despite clear medical guidelines, there are major differences in the care that people with LBP receive. The 4th Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation highlights overuse of surgeries, with more than 14,000 lumbar spinal fusions performed between 2015 and 2018. A large review of 195,000 patients from multiple countries, including Australia, found that less than half of LBP patients received the right medications. Beyond medical treatments, people with low back pain often encounter difficulties accessing non-drug therapies and navigating the healthcare system. This makes it harder for patients to get the right care at the right time.AimTo explore the experiences of patients with low back pain through the

Background Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common and debilitating condition that primarily affects individuals over 50. It results from degenerative changes in the structures surrounding the spinal canal—such as the intervertebral discs, facet joints, and ligaments—that lead to a narrowing of the central lumbar spinal canal. People with LSS often experience pain, numbness, or weakness in one or both legs, which worsens with standing or walking but is relieved by sitting or bending forward. When symptoms do not improve with conservative treatments like medication or physiotherapy, surgery is often recommended. Decompression surgery, such as a laminectomy or laminotomy, involves removing bone and ligament tissue that contribute to the narrowing of the spinal canal. While some individuals experience symptom relief following surgery, strong evidence supporting the efficacy of this approach is still lacking. Aim This project aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety and cost-effect

BackgroundOptimal crash protection requires the most appropriate restraint for a child’s size. For children <7 years, Australian law dictates the restraint type to be used. For children ≥7 years, parents can choose the restraint that best suits their child, for example using seatbelts or a booster seat. However, current literature suggests that there is confusion about when their children can safely use seatbelts. This stems from the fact that optimal protection from a seatbelt requires a good match between child size and geometry of both the seatbelt and the vehicle seat. Yet there is a wide variation of seatbelt and vehicle seat geometry across different cars. This coupled with intrinsic variations in child size makes it difficult to provide advice using age or height. The result is that many children ≥7 years inappropriately use seatbelts, increasing risk of injury in a crash.Current best practice advice for parents to make transition decisions is the 5-step test. Our recent study shows that the 5

Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples demonstrate incredible resilience and strength in the face of health challenges, including cancer, which disproportionately affects their communities compared to other Australians. This disparity is driven by factors including delayed diagnosis, lower screening access, and lack of culturally appropriate care.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients often face challenges including racism, cultural insensitivity, communication barriers, and difficulties in navigating healthcare systems. Aboriginal Health Workers play a crucial role in providing holistic, culturally safe care that supports patients and their families along the healthcare journey. Aims Aim 1: Implementation of a culturally safe model of cancer care Objective: To employ Aboriginal Health Workers within the Cancer Services at South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient and their

Background Sex and gender impact our health yet there is a remarkable lack of understanding on this topic. For the sake of health equity, it is essential that everyone is adequately included in research and the development of health and medical advances. Proper training, guidelines and implementation are required to direct researchers and health care professionals to include sex and gender considerations. At stake is medical best practice and the delivery of optimal healthcare Aims This 17-month project aims to assess how well sex and gender inclusion is integrated into Victorian university curricula for medicine, dentistry and nursing, and 27 allied health professions recognised by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (VicDoH). It will also review policies of health and medical research organisations. The study aims to identify gaps and propose a set of recommendations to the VicDoH for improvement. The findings will also be publicly d

Background Speeding remains a major contributing factor in road crashes and associated road trauma. Non-compliance with posted speed limits is a widespread international problem and survey research consistently demonstrates widespread misperceptions about the risks of speeding and negative community attitudes towards speed management initiatives. Having positive public attitudes towards safe travel speeds is critical to speed limit compliance, as is public understanding of the risks associated with unsafe speeds. A widespread challenge relates to how to shift the community’s attitudes on speeding and increase their acceptance of speed management interventions which in turn would increase public demand for safer speeds. These sentiments are reflected in a 2016 Austroads report titled “Public Demand for Safer Speeds: Identification of Interventions for Trial” and are acknowledged by the Australian National Road Safety Strategy as it pushes for a wholistic approach to Speed Management. Trad