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The need for community-controlled tools to monitor health impacts of housing and living conditions in Australia

We explore the contemporary landscape of housing investments and initiatives seeking to improve health outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, as well as the dearth of quality evidence and agreed approaches to evaluation.

Public health impact of current and proposed age-expanded perennial malaria chemoprevention: a modelling study

In 2022, the World Health Organization extended their guidelines for perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) from infants to children up to 24 months old. However, evidence for PMC's public health impact is primarily limited to children under 15 months. Further research is needed to assess the public health impact and cost-effectiveness of PMC, and the added benefit of further age-expansion. We integrated an individual-based model of malaria with pharmacological models of drug action to address these questions for PMC and a proposed age-expanded schedule (referred as PMC+, for children 03-36 months).

Delayed airway epithelial repair is correlated with airway obstruction in young adults born very preterm

Nasal epithelial cells from young adults with a history of very preterm birth show delayed closure following scratch-wounding. Repair correlated with lung function, suggesting epithelial barrier integrity may play a role in preterm-associated lung disease.

Small-area geographical variation in the prevalence of diabetes amongst Australian youth aged <20 years in 2021

To characterise small-area geographical variation in the prevalence of diabetes in Australian youth. A combined statistical reconstruction and small-area estimation algorithm was applied to privacy-modulated data from the 2021 Australian Census. 

Early markers of adult symptoms of depression and anxiety in the Raine Study

Early intervention offers the potential to mitigate adult mental illness; however, trials spanning decades present significant challenges, necessitating predictive early markers useable in trial settings. We hypothesised that parent evaluation using the child behaviour checklist (CBCL) total problem score at age two years predicted adult depressive and anxious symptoms and explored other potential parent ratings.

Future Proofing Study: a cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a universal school-based cognitive-behavioural programme for adolescent depression

Psychological prevention programmes delivered in schools may reduce symptoms of depression. However, high-quality, large-scale trials are lacking.

Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children: Adolescent never smoking and associations with individual, social, and environmental factors

Fuelled by the tobacco industry, commercial tobacco use is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Preventing adolescent smoking initiation is critical to reducing uptake. Understanding individual, social, and environmental factors that are protective against smoking can inform prevention strategies. 

Self-Compassion in University Students With ADHD: A Qualitative Exploration

This study explored the lived experience of university students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and identified factors that help or hinder their capacity for self-compassion in higher education. Fourteen university students with ADHD aged 18–25 participated in individual semi-structured interviews exploring experiences of self-compassion in academic contexts.

Evaluating placebo responses to intranasal oxytocin in autism: findings from the placebo lead-in phase of a randomised controlled trial

The placebo effect is established in clinical trials, but for paediatric research, questions remain about how to best manage its influence. Within the autism field, data on these issues is sparse. This is particularly important in the oxytocin field where placebo responses are thought to play an important role. This study reports on data from the single-blind, placebo lead-in phase of a randomised controlled trial to investigate the placebo response and its relationship to treatment response in autistic children. 

Child and Family Characteristics as Predictors of the Severity of Self-injurious Behaviours in Autistic Children and Adolescents

Autistic children demonstrate an increased likelihood of self-injurious behaviours (SIB). To support autistic individuals who exhibit SIB and understand the factors that contribute to SIB, we examined several child and family characteristics associated with the severity of SIB.