School of Public Health Winter Research projects
SPH#1: Meat industry influence on public health research and its dissemination
Project title: SPH#1 | Meat industry influence on public health research and its dissemination |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: between 25-30 hours |
Location: | Herston: Public Health Building |
Description: | This winter research project is part of a larger study examining meat industry influence on public health scientific research and its dissemination. The tactic of strategically producing and disseminating evidence that maximises the benefits and obscures the harmful effects of products with the goal of minimizing regulation and increasing sales has been studied in other industries, such as the sugar or fossil fuel industry. However, no research has examined this practice for the meat industry. To investigate this issue, we are currently undertaking a systematic review classifying studies that focus on meat production or consumption and their effects on human or environmental health by their funding, author affiliation, conflicts of interest, and conclusion (positive/negative for meat product/practice). We aim to determine whether meat industry influence leads to more favourable conclusions for the product or practice. This project involves a qualitative content analysis of the included studies, which involves examining the different meat industry-influenced studies and determining how they achieve positive conclusions. This may be through altering the research design, misinterpreting results, or other methods. An existing framework on industry influence on science will guide this analysis. The primary responsibility of the student will include data extraction and analysis of the provided papers, as well as producing components of a draft manuscript. We hope to publish the results of this study with the student as an author on the paper. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Increased skills and knowledge in qualitative research methods, research design, data extraction and content analysis, as well as conflicts of interest and how scientific evidence is created and used. They will also contribute to a publication. |
Suitable for: | A basic understanding of scientific research designs and methods, and interpretation of qualitative data would be helpful. Preferably a 3rd year or later for an undergraduate student, or a postgraduate student. Analytical skills will be necessary to conduct this research, plus good attention to detail skills. |
Primary Supervisor: | or Mr Navid Teimouri |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
SPH#2: Tobacco and nicotine product use and the impact of tobacco control/cessation interventions among culturally and linguistically diverse migrant populations in Australia: A scoping review
Project title: SPH#2 | Tobacco and nicotine product use and the impact of tobacco control/cessation interventions among culturally and linguistically diverse migrant populations in Australia: A scoping review |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: around 20 - 25 hours, exact hours will be negotiated with the student within the agreed specification |
Location: | Herston: Public Health Building |
Description: | This scoping review aims to synthesise the published literature on the tobacco use prevalence and the impact of tobacco control interventions among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) migrant populations residing in Australia, either on a temporary or permanent basis. A substantial proportion of the Australian population were born in another country. People from many different CALD populations reside in Australia, including people from non-English/European language speaking countries. Some of these birth countries have substantially higher tobacco use prevalence and a different range of tobacco products compared to Australia. Australia is considered a world leader in tobacco control policy and has implemented many policies, such as tobacco taxation and smokefree public spaces at a very high level compared to many other countries. Exposure to these policies and a low smoking prevalence environment may influence tobacco use behaviours among people from a CALD background residing in Australia, although many factors are likely to contribute to tobacco use status, including education and income level (many people emigrating to Australia are from professional backgrounds with low tobacco use prevalence, such as medical professionals). Ongoing connections to birth country and cultural communities in Australia may also influence tobacco use (e.g. Asian grocery stores in Australia have been found to supply smokeless tobacco, despite it being illegal to import commercially). Data will be extracted from the included publications using a charting form developed a priori and findings will be summarised and described in tabular and narrative form. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | The students will have opportunity to gain skills in data extraction using scoping review protocols – that is extraction of data from publications, summarising findings in tabular and narrative form; consultations with experts; publications. |
Suitable for: | Undergraduate, Honours, postgraduate students can apply. |
Primary Supervisor: | |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
SPH#3: Hysterectomy and oophorectomy in women aged 45 years and younger
Project title: SPH#3 | Hysterectomy and oophorectomy in women aged 45 years and younger |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: between 25-30 hours |
Location: | Herston: Public Health Building |
Description: | This project will allow a student to be involved in the Hysterectomy, Oophorectomy and Long-term chronic Disease (HOLD) study, improving our understanding of women who have these procedures aged 45 years and younger. A systematised literature review has already been performed and has identified several relevant studies. This project will involve the extraction of data from these results and synthesising the results. It will also lead to the identification of specific exposures that could be analysed in a full systematic review and meta-analysis. The Winter project will involve the protocol development for one of these reviews. The student will have the opportunity to improve their research skills by working with epidemiologists and they will receive mentoring on critically appraising studies, understanding and summarising results, and academic writing. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Key outcomes include: |
Suitable for: | Master of Epidemiology student or students considering a PhD. |
Primary Supervisor: | |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
SPH#4: Media analysis of portrayal of people who smoke or vape (or are experiencing diseases associated with smoking or vaping) in media stories
Project title: SPH#4 | Media analysis of portrayal of people who smoke or vape (or are experiencing diseases associated with smoking or vaping) in media stories |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: between 20-36 hours |
Location: | Herston: Edith Cavell Building |
Description: | The media is a powerful influencer of public attitudes. How people with health conditions or risky health behaviours are portrayed in the media can influence attitudes positively or negatively. As smoking prevalence has decreased to a minority of the population, and knowledge of the health impacts of smoking are now widely known, smoking has become an increasingly stigmatised behaviour, like other substance use. Stigmatising portrayals of people who smoke could adversely impact on mental health, make people feel devalued and discourage treatment seeking. While public health interventions seek to discourage smoking, it is important that people who smoke are treated with dignity, respect and supported to access healthcare to assist them to stop smoking and to screen for tobacco-related diseases. This project will use qualitative research methods to analyse media stories that include references to people who smoke tobacco or vape nicotine products in Australia. The aim is to understand how people who practice these behaviours are represented to the public. The project will also compare how well these media stories adhere to media reporting guidelines, such as Mindframe (https://mindframe.org.au/), whether quotes are included from people with a lived experience of smoking/vaping/tobacco-related disease and whether medical or public health experts are cited in the article. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Contribution to a Journal Article. |
Suitable for: | Suitable for students from a wide range of backgrounds. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Kylie Morphett Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
SPH#5: Public education campaigns to reduce demand for illicit tobacco products
Project title: SPH#5 | Public education campaigns to reduce demand for illicit tobacco products |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: between 20-36 hours |
Location: | Herston: Edith Cavell Building |
Description: | Recent data from the Australian Taxation Office and Australian Border Force suggest notable recent increases in Australians’ purchasing of illicit tobacco and/or vaping products. The proposed project involves a review of existing international media and social marketing campaigns that have aimed to deter consumer purchasing of illicit tobacco and/or vaping products. Findings from this project will assist regulators to develop a local mass/social media campaign that aims to deter Queenslanders from purchasing illicit tobacco and/or vaping products. The project involves searching for and reviewing examples of campaigns internationally that aim to deter consumers from purchasing illicit tobacco products. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Contribution to a Journal article. |
Suitable for: | This project is suitable for a wide range of students, including criminology, business, political science, public health, medicine, communications and arts, nursing, other health related fields. |
Primary Supervisor: | Prof Coral Gartner Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
SPH#6: The Australian Prescription Nicotine Vaping Regulatory Model: A Scoping Review
Project title: SPH#6 | The Australian Prescription Nicotine Vaping Regulatory Model: A Scoping Review |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: between 20-36 hours |
Location: | Herston: Edith Cavell Building |
Description: | Objective: This scoping review aims to synthesise the published literature on Australia’s regulatory model for controlling the supply and use of nicotine vaping products. This review will be the most comprehensive synthesis of Australia’s unique regulatory context using a policy evaluation framework. Introduction: Australia has implemented a globally unique regulatory model for controlling the supply and use of nicotine vaping products. Internationally, the use of nicotine vaping products has increased, including among youth. The regulatory landscape for nicotine vaping products has been highly dynamic as different countries take varying approaches to regulating these products and reforming or refining their models. Australia regulates nicotine vaping products as prescription only medicines, but has developed a pathway to allow controlled access to these products without requiring them to be approved as medicines. Databases of peer-reviewed and grey literature will be systematically searched and results assessed against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data will be extracted from the included publications using a charting form developed a priori and findings will be summarised and described in tabular and narrative form. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Contribution to a Journal article. |
Suitable for: | This is suitable for students from a wide range of disciplines, including pharmacy, all health and medical programs (public health, medicine, health sciences), BEL faculty programs (e.g., political science), etc. |
Primary Supervisor: | Prof Coral Gartner Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
SPH#7:
Project title: SPH#7 | A systematic review of the evidence for psychologically distressed cancer carers affecting cancer patient wellbeing and health service use |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: 36 hours |
Location: | Herston: Public Health Building |
Description: | A cancer diagnosis is a major life changing event affecting not only patients but also family members. Family members, partners or friends provide considerable care to cancer patients, alongside professionally trained and paid carers. These informal carers play a vital role in managing symptoms and medications, providing emotional, financial, and practical support with daily tasks around the home, and personal care. They also gather information and act as advocates for the patient within the healthcare system. However, when informal caregivers receive inadequate support for their psychological needs, it can impair their ability to provide optimal care to cancer patients. This lack of support may result in increased hospital admissions and extended stays for patients, placing additional strain on healthcare systems. Addressing the health issues of both caregivers and patients becomes a significant challenge. This systematic review will investigate the association between carer distress and cancer patient wellbeing. The evidence will be used to draw greater attention to addressing the burden experienced by carers. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | The scholar will gain skills in conducting a systematic review according to PRISMA Statement. Specifically, the student will be involved with extracting data to collect key information from published studies and performing a quality appraisal. |
Suitable for: | This project is suitable for students enrolled in masters by coursework (MPH or MEpi) or third year Bachelor of Health Sciences students. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Tracey Di Sipio (UQ), A/Prof Vanessa Beesley (QIMRB), Prof Rachel Neale (QIMRB) |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
SPH#8: Patterns of physical activity across the lifespan
Project title: SPH#8 | Patterns of physical activity across the lifespan |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: between 36 hours |
Location: | Herston: Public Health Building |
Description: | Although the importance of physical activity for health is well established, much assumed knowledge in this field is based on methods that classify people as “active” or “inactive” at one-time point and do not account for changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour across the lifespan. This project will be part of a program of research that aims to advance knowledge of patterns of physical activity and sedentary behaviour across the life course. The project utilises self-report and accelerometer data from rich longitudinal population studies to investigate if there are optimal ways to accumulate the same amount of physical activity to maximise health benefits. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Students will be given the opportunity to develop skills in statistical analysis, systematic reviews of literature, and contribute to written or visual reports associated with the project. The student may also have the opportunity to generate presentation. |
Suitable for: | Applicants with background knowledge of epidemiology, public health and literature reviews are strongly encouraged to apply. |
Primary Supervisor: | |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |