Reports and Findings
Research
Change in Dental Visits Among Eligible Children Under the Impact of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule in AustraliaIn Australia, although there have been some improvements, child oral health continues to be a major public health issue. The Australian Government introduced the means-tested Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) in 2014 to support access to dental services for children and adolescents aged 0-17 years from low-income families.
Research
Psychosocial predictors of problem gambling severity in males: findings from a longitudinal study of Australian menGambling disorder has emerged as a significant public health issue in Australia. Men are more likely than women to gamble and to develop gambling disorder. This study aimed predict men’s problem gambling severity using a multivariate approach comprised of different indicators of psychosocial functioning, past gambling behavior, and demographics (age and socioeconomic disadvantage).
Research
Measuring cognitive and affective empathy across positive and negative emotions: psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Perth Empathy ScaleEmpathy, a complex and multidimensional construct essential for social functioning and mental health, has been extensively studied in both research and clinical settings. The Perth Empathy Scale (PES), a recently developed self-report measure, assesses cognitive and affective empathy across both positive and negative emotions and is based on the self-other model of empathy. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the PES in large Iranian sample.
Research
Comment on Karthikeyan et al. Concordance between In Vitro and In Vivo Relative Toxic Potencies of Diesel Exhaust Particles from Different Biodiesel Blends. Toxics 2024, 12, 290Dr Katherine Alexander Landwehr Larcombe BSc(Hons) BScEnv (Hons) PhD Senior Research Officer Honorary Research Fellow Katherine.landwehr@thekids.org.au Research Officer & PhD Honorary Research Fellow Katherine is a Senior Research Officer with the
Research
Establishing the lowest penicillin concentration to prevent pharyngitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes using a human challenge model (CHIPS)The in-vivo plasma concentration of penicillin needed to prevent Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis, recurrent acute rheumatic fever, and progressive rheumatic heart disease is not known. We used a human challenge model to assess the minimum penicillin concentration required to prevent streptococcal pharyngitis.
Research
Predicting immune protection against outcomes of infectious disease from population-level effectiveness data with application to COVID-19Quantifying the extent to which previous infections and vaccinations confer protection against future infection or disease outcomes is critical to managing the transmission and consequences of infectious diseases. We present a general statistical model for predicting the strength of protection conferred by different immunising exposures (numbers, types, and strains of both vaccines and infections), against multiple outcomes of interest, whilst accounting for immune waning.
Research
Predicting NSSI among trans young people: the role of transphobic experiences, body image, and gender dysphoriaNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is particularly common among trans young people. NSSI is most commonly used as an emotion regulation strategy, which may explain the high prevalence of the behavior among trans young people, who often experience unique stressors. In the current study we test an application of the Pantheoretical Framework of Dehumanization, in which transphobic experiences, body surveillance, body dissatisfaction, and gender dysphoria are all theorized to predict NSSI.
Research
The application of population data linkage to capture sibling health outcomes among children and young adults with neurodevelopmental conditions. A scoping reviewSiblings of children with neurodevelopmental conditions have unique experiences and challenges related to their sibling role. Some develop mental health concerns as measured by self-reported surveys or parent report. Few data are available at the population level, owing to difficulties capturing wide-scale health data for siblings. Data linkage is a technique that can facilitate such research.
Research
How immunity shapes the long-term dynamics of influenza H3N2Since its emergence in 1968, influenza A H3N2 has caused yearly epidemics in temperate regions. While infection confers immunity against antigenically similar strains, new antigenically distinct strains that evade existing immunity regularly emerge ('antigenic drift'). Immunity at the individual level is complex, depending on an individual's lifetime infection history.
Research
Resting Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Features in Children With Septo-Optic DysplasiaSepto-optic dysplasia (SOD) is a major cause of congenital hypopituitarism and is known to be associated with overweight and obesity in up to 44% of children. Given the role of the hypothalamus in hormonal regulation, we sought to assess the association of resting energy expenditure (REE), appetite and physical activity with SOD.