Jean Hailes research update
The Jean Hailes Research Team is a multidisciplinary group of researchers, including medical, nursing, scientists and allied health professionals. The team works on a variety of research projects from basic science on a cellular level through to working on ways to help people live healthier lives. The varied and overlapping background of the team gives our research a wide-ranging and unique perspective into women’s health.
The Jean Hailes Research Team is focusing on the early lifestyle-related stages of disease in order to find successful ways to prevent or delay the progression to serious illness.
Maintaining strong connections with Government, community organisations and other professional health bodies, the Jean Hailes Research Team is well-positioned to educate women and health professionals, influence national health policy and implement research results directly into clinical care practice Australia-wide.Today, lifestyle-related diseases are a primary public health challenge. An adverse lifestyle, including inactivity and obesity, leads inevitably to major chronic illness, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The team is currently focused on looking at the major cause of chronic illnesses in Australia – our lifestyles. While modern medicine and public health measures have made many advances we are currently experiencing an epidemic – not of infectious diseases – but of lifestyle-related diseases. This includes obesity, prediabetes, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.An estimated 90 per cent of cardiovascular disease – the number one killer of Australian women – is due to lifestyle factors and therefore reversible. Our research team is focusing on these conditions, which often begin early in life with inadequate activity and excess weight. This can progress through to more serious chronic illness, significantly impacting on quality of life. The research team is addressing many important questions along this path to prevent disease and improve quality of life as we age.
Exciting new study
Health-related behaviours and psychosocial aspects of lifestyle-related diseases
The large majority of illnesses affecting women as we age are now related to our lifestyles, especially to the increasing prevalence of being overweight and inactive. Traditional approaches to healthy lifestyle education are not enough. We all need more support to make these changes. The Jean Hailes Research Team is exploring the reasons behind why changing our lifestyle behaviours is so hard and how we can provide more help and support to assist women in making these vital changes.
The way that we think and feel about our health influences both our physical and psychological wellbeing, our risk of further health problems and even our mortality. Understanding what motivates people to make healthier choices is important to better health outcomes. Previous research has shown that by changing just a few lifestyle-related behaviours, we can reduce our risk of developing further illness, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, many of us do not make these changes and instead, increase our risk of further disease.
This project aims to explore how women who have lifestyle-related diseases think, feel and behave in relation to their physical and emotional health and wellbeing. We will look at what the barriers are to improving lifestyles and health-related behaviours and how we can better support women to achieve their health goals.
This large and exciting study will include 400 women across many different groups and will provide us with much-needed information about what impacts on our health behaviours, beliefs and attitudes. The information will better equip us to improve quality of life in all women through optimising prevention of these diseases. It will also enable us to better support women to make healthy life choices, and the findings will inform Government and health professionals on how best to assist Australian women to lead healthier lives.
Projects now recruiting for healthy lifestyle and disease prevention
Exercise in overweight women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
A randomised intensive 12 week exercise trial looking at an overweight population with and without PCOS (controls). The impact on metabolic and cardiovascular muscles is analysed at the end of the study. We are seeking overweight, healthy women to take part in this free exercise trial.
Emotional wellbeing in PCOS
A survey-based study of women with PCOS to assess aspects such as depression, anxiety, body image, selfesteem and risk perception in women with PCOS.
Diabetes new treatments
A research study investigating a new medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Non-oral contraceptive study
A new trial of an existing non-oral contraceptive.
Interested in our studies?
We will be recruiting for the health-related behaviours study in the near future. Please monitor our website for further details. To register interest in this study women will need to fit a lifestyle-related disease category, such as obesity, PCOS, gestational diabetes, diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
For further information on any of our studies, please log on to www.jeanhailes.org.au or call tollfree on 1800 151 441. If you would like to volunteer for any of the trials currently being recruited or would like to register interest in the health-related behaviours study, please send an email with your details to
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or phone 03 9594 7545.
What’s new in education
Our focus this year across all programs will be the importance of nutrition and physical activity to keep chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, at bay. We are exploring innovative ways to relay clear, practical messages to assist Australian women to make sustainable changes in their current lifestyle to increase their quality of life as they age.
Increased funding will enable us to reach more remote areas of Australia and fulfill requests from other states, in particular the Northern Territory. We also are continuing to expand our use of information technology for health professionals and the community. This year will see the introduction of more webcasts, podcasts and videoconferencing events, available via our new suite of websites.
For women
Community education
Across Victoria
Our experienced health educators are available to deliver high quality, accurate and relevant women’s health information sessions to community groups across rural and metropolitan areas in Victoria.
Inquiries:
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Community seminars
Across Australia
In March we held two successful community events in Griffith, in partnership with Greater Southern Area Health Service and Griffith Neighbourhood Community House. Women had the opportunity to find out the latest on midlife health, including a range of treatment options for symptoms of menopause, as well as self-management strategies including healthy eating, physical activity and looking after your emotional health.
Our next program will be in Darwin, NT on August 10, partnering with Family Planning Welfare Association of the Northern Territory. Further details to come. We hope to hold a community seminar this year in Port Macquarie, NSW. Details to come.
Inquiries:
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Fact sheets (English and multicultural)
Our English health fact sheets are continually growing. New fact sheets include:
- Dr Rick’s 10 top tips to be a healthy weight
- Perimenopause
- Understanding your menstrual cycle
- Heavy uterine bleeding
- Understanding your thyroid gland
Multicultural fact sheets on menopause are available in 16 languages.
Our English and multicultural fact sheets are available by calling 1800 151 441 or by logging on to www.jeanhailes.org.au
For Health Professionals
Videoconferences
Following on from last year’s success, we have three videoconferences planned for this year. The Foundation is offering the first 20 site registrations free!
The first topic for 2007 was:
Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity in women presented by Professor Helena Teede and dietitian Cate Lombard.
Upcoming topics include:
Libido and testosterone levels in women – June 19
Medically induced menopause – October 23
CPD points have been applied for with both the RACGP and ACCRM. This is a category 2 (2 points per hour) activity. This activity is an approved APA CPD activity.
Inquiries:
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Bookings: www.telehealth.com.au
Webcasts available online
Our past videoconferencing programs can now be accessed by health professionals Australia-wide as webcasts by logging on to www.jeanhailes.org.au
Topics include:
- Hormone therapy update
- A biopsychosocial approach to menopause and midlife
- Polycystic ovary syndrome and gestational diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity in women (available shortly)
Active Learning Modules (ALMs)
Two ALMs will be available this year for GPs and other health professionals via our website, including:
- Weighing up the evidence for prescribing Hormone Therapy (HT)
- Osteoporosis – under-diagnosed and under-treated
All ALMs are accredited with the RACGP for category 1 QA and CPD points (30 points) for the 2005-2007 triennium.
Development of Women’s Health resources
Resource manuals
By mid-2007 we will have completed a comprehensive women’s health resource manual. This up-to-date, evidenced- based manual covers a range of women’s health issues, with a particular focus on the middle years (35 years plus).We will also have available a ‘working with women’s groups’ resource manual which will contain a wide range of strategies and information on establishing and facilitating groups for women.Please check our web shop at www.jeanhailes.org.au from June to check when these will become available.
GP and Health Professional meetings
This year health professional updates are in place for:
Darwin, NT
Thursday August 19
Top End Division of General Practice
1st Floor, Stuart House
5 Shepherd St
Darwin
Port Macquarie, NSW Details to come
We are also looking at the possibility of updates in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
Inquiries:
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Resources
For dates of other community and health professional events, plus new resources being developed, log on to www.jeanhailes.org.au or email
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Content updated May 14, 2007
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