Social research - Current projects
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Providers
HPV vaccination program implementation in females aged 18–26 years
Survey of general practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and practices
This project has surveyed 300 GPs nationwide to identify the barriers and facilitators that GPs experience in delivering HPV vaccination to adult women as part of the catch-up program.
Collaborators include Dr Julia Brotherton at the Victorian Cytology Service, Dr Cath Jackson, University of Leeds, and Dr Lyndal Trevena and Dr Kirsten McCaffery, University of Sydney.
Health care worker vaccination
This study investigates health care worker attitudes to influenza and vaccination mandates in public hospitals. This project is led by Dr Holly Seale at the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of NSW.
A review of the implementation of the NSW Health Policy Directive for vaccination of health care workers
This project was undertaken by a visiting Fulbright Senior Scholar, Professor Charles Helms, a Professor in the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa and Medical Director of Clinical Quality, Safety and Performance Improvement at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The project reviewed implementation of the policy of mandatory health care worker (HCW) vaccination that was implemented in New South Wales in January 2007.
Research project support to small area immunisation coordinators
Immunisation coordinators from Divisions of General Practice and government regions occasionally request advice on social research projects they wish to undertake. NCIRS provides input into study design, sample, instruments, and analysis as required.
Consumers
Understanding under-immunisation in children from disadvantaged population groups
This study seeks to better understand why children from disadvantaged population groups are at risk for under-immunisation. It is a collaborative qualitative study which involves researchers from the University of Auckland (Immunisation Advisory Centre), University of Leeds, the University of Sydney, and South East Sydney Illawarra Public Health Unit. It is part-funded by the University of Sydney's International Program Development Fund.
Tracking parental attitudes to vaccination
This study tracks changes to parental attitudes to vaccination since 2001. Using population-based data collected via the NSW Health Survey Program, the study measures parental support for vaccination, perceptions of vaccine risk, common concerns about immunisation and parental ranking of vaccine-preventable diseases by perceived risk. It also investigates demographic predictors and changes in these factors over time.
Systematic review of strategies to improve immunisation coverage in Australia
NCIRS is undertaking a systematic review of the Australian literature on strategies to improve immunisation coverage. Using both peer reviewed and grey (unpublished) literature, this study seeks to consolidate current evidence of strategies which have been used to improve vaccination coverage across a wide variety of settings and population groups.
Systematic review of school-based vaccination evaluations
Using peer-reviewed literature only, this study is assessing all evaluations of school-based vaccination programs. This will provide evidence for the utility of school-based vaccination.
Parental attitudes to influenza vaccination of children: a review of the literature
This is a review of the literature on beliefs and attitudes of parents/caregivers to influenza vaccination in children. The study will provide information to assist program delivery, education and communication surrounding influenza prevention.
Influenza in children: perceptions and experiences of caregivers
The social research group are conducting a series of projects nested within the PIVOT trial (Paediatric Influenza Vaccine Outcomes Study). The trial evaluates the impact of vaccinating children in day care centres according to social, economic and health outcomes. The social research aspect involves two studies:
Part 1: Influenza in children: parents' perceptions of the disease and the vaccine
This is a mixed methods study investigating (1) parental beliefs and perceptions about influenza in the context of ideas about germs and contagion, and (2) perceived risks and benefits of influenza immunisation. It includes focus groups with parents undertaken by a PhD candidate, Catherine King, and a survey.
Part 2: Quality of life impact of influenza in families
This study identifies the psychosocial impact of a child's influenza on their families. One aspect compares quality of life scores between caregivers of children with recently diagnosed influenza and those without. The second is a more in-depth exploration of the emotional, social and occupational impact of a child's severe influenza-like illness on primary caregivers via qualitative semi-structured interviews.
Developing an HPV vaccination educational intervention to be used in a school-based vaccination setting
This project will involve the development and evaluation of a multi-faceted intervention that educates adolescents and reduces fear and anxiety about HPV and the HPV vaccine.
Evidence based decision tool for HPV vaccine and cervical cancer prevention
This study is a collaboration led by Dr Lyndal Trevena at the School of Public Health, University of Sydney, and funded by the NSW Cancer Council. It involves the development and evaluation of an evidence based decision tool for women participating in cancer screening programs. The tool includes an extensive component related to HPV vaccination.
The HPV vaccine program: what determines the success of a school-based approach?
This externally funded study is led by Dr Rachel Skinner, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney. It is a qualitative study of factors influencing vaccine completion and impact of vaccine on attitudes and behaviours of young people.
Protecting babies from the effects of whooping cough and influenza: a study of maternal and postnatal vaccination behaviours and an educational intervention to improve uptake
Whooping cough and influenza cause illness and death in infants. These diseases can be better controlled with vaccination of mothers but the majority are not getting vaccinated. Getting a more precise picture of how many women receive these vaccines, and the reasons why many don’t, will help to develop better campaigns. This study will look at what women think, feel and do about vaccination during pregnancy and after giving birth. Using these findings, we will develop an educational tool for women.
Best practices for communicating pertussis booster vaccine recommendations to pregnant women
This study investigates new mothers' awareness, attitudes and behaviours surrounding pertussis vaccination for themselves. It also examines the effect of different message frames. This study is a collaboration with Dr John Sinn at the Royal North Shore Hospital.
Mass communications
Australian newspapers' representation of HPV vaccination
Media information about HPV vaccination is likely to affect girls’ and parents’ decisions about vaccination. With the support of a summer scholar, Candy Pang, we conducted a content analysis of 131 Australian news stories published between October 2006 and December 2009. Each story analysed was coded for main themes of the article; completeness and accuracy of information presented; potential issues and concerns related to HPV vaccination; phrasing, emphasis, and language used in the article; and representation of experts.
Seasonal influenza in the news
This project involves an analysis of television news media coverage of seasonal influenza to identify the way messages about the disease and its vaccine are framed. The study forms part of Catherine King's PhD research.
Journalists' experiences and media representation of pandemic influenza in Australia
This is an investigation into how the media construct stories on avian and pandemic influenza to inform effective intra-pandemic communication. It includes qualitative in-depth interviews with journalists, editors and news producers in print, radio and television.
