PowerLab. Welcome to PowerLab Newsletter POPULATION WELLBEING AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH LAB ISSUE 1 JUNE 2017 WELCOME FROM THE DIRECTORS

Transcription

1 PowerLab POPULATION WELLBEING AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH LAB ISSUE 1 JUNE 2017 Welcome to PowerLab Newsletter WELCOME FROM THE DIRECTORS Dr Xiaoqi Feng and Associate Professor Thomas Astell-Burt are the codirectors of PowerLab. The PowerLab is part of the School of Health and Society in the Faculty of Social Sciences. At present, obesity, type 2 diabetes, dementia and social isolation are the epidemics of modern times and have been linked to urbanization that prioritises profits over people. DR. XIAOQI FENG The goal of the PowerLab is to enhance understandings of how people and equity orientated changes in our urban environments can enable population wellbeing through supporting mental and physical health across the lifecourse. To deliver on this goal, Dr Xiaoqi Feng and Associate Professor Thomas Astell-Burt aim to co-produce, collaborate and communicate scientific research findings that demonstrate public, policy and practitioner relevance. They welcome interest from communities, organisations and people who share these values and aspire to make a difference. Dr Xiaoqi Feng and Associate Professor Thomas Astell-Burt s research is multidisciplinary and policy driven with a large focus on children s environmental health and environments for healthy, equitable ageing. POPULATION WELLBEING AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH LAB ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR THOMAS ASTELL-BURT 1

2 PowerTalks PROFESSOR BILLIE GILES-CORTI On Tuesday 14th March, Distinguished Professor Billie Giles-Corti of RMIT University and Director of its Urban Futures Enabling Capability Platform, visited UOW and PowerLab to present her seminar titled Can urban design policy influence health and wellbeing? Prof Giles-Corti is an Associate Investigator on an NHMRC project led by A/Prof Astell-Burt and Dr Feng. All three also work together as part of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities, led by Prof Giles-Corti The seminar was fully booked and very well received by those who attended. The reception that followed allowed for new connections to be made between Professor Giles-Corti and UOW academic staff and students. The seminar presented results from the RESIDE study, which is a long-term natural experiment evaluating the impacts of the Western Australian Liveable Neighbourhood urban design guidelines. In this talk, Professor Giles-Corti discussed the types of evidence with most policy impact, and reflected on the role of research partnerships and evidence to deliver healthy, liveable and more sustainable cities. NC STATE VISITORS PowerLab welcomed A/Prof David Reif, Prof Jane Hoppin and Ms Marissa Kosnik who visited from the CHHE NC State University, Raleigh across several days at the University of Wollongong. This visit was part of an ongoing international collaboration with the PowerLab and CHHE, funded by the University Global Partnership Network. On May 1st Research collaboration meetings were held and a seminar was presented to the UOW Community. This presentation introduced the PowerLab-CHHE alliance and provided intros to new research being conducted in population health, environmental and data sciences. Presentations were made by A/Prof Thomas Astell-Burt, A/Prof Jane Hoppin and A/Prof David Reif. The event was chaired by Dr Xiaoqi Feng. On Tuesday May 2nd further research collaboration meetings were held between PowerLab, CHHE, SMART, NIASRA and the Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry. 2 POWERLAB NEWSLETTER

3 PROFESSOR SUSAN THOMPSON On Monday 5th June, 2017 Professor Susan Thompson visited UOW and PowerLab to present her seminar titled, HEALTHY CITIES ARE WE THERE YET? AN URBAN PLANNER S REFLECTIONS ON THE JOURNEY AND WHERE TO NEXT! Susan Thompson is Professor of Planning and Head of the City Wellbeing Program in the City Futures Research Centre, University of New South Wales. Susan s academic career encompasses research and teaching in areas ranging from social and cultural diversity in urban planning, to migrant women s meanings of home, and the use of qualitative research in built environment disciplines. Since 2004 Susan has focussed on the interdisciplinary area of healthy urban planning, advancing understandings about the supportive nature of the built environment for health and wellbeing as part of everyday living, contributing to legislative innovation and professional practice. Susan s work aligns in many areas with the work underway in PowerLab. Prof Thompson is an Associate Investigator on an NHMRC project led by A/Prof Astell-Burt and Dr Feng. All three also work together as members of the Western Sydney Diabetes Leaders Alliance. PROPOSED VISITORS TO POWERLAB JULY: PROF TERRY HARTIG, UNIVERSITY OF UPPSALA, SWEDEN SEPTEMBER: PROF MARK NIEUWENHUIJSEN, ISGLOBAL, SPAIN. SOCIAL EVENTS Welcome party In early February members of the PowerLab office gathered to celebrate and welcome the new staff and students. Birthdays and new ventures were acknowledged at this event. SUMMER INTERN PRESENTATIONS PowerLab hosted two Summer Intern students over the summer of Elyse Kambisios and Aimee Marchesi were presented with awards and certificates upon completion of their internships. JOURNAL CLUB The PowerLab group held its first Journal Club in May. The group plans to regularly meet to discuss a journal article that is relevant to the group. Here articles are presented and discussed in detail, focussing upon quantitative methodological advances in the social sciences. We look forward to the upcoming meetings and hope to hold an Author in the Room meeting shortly with a visiting guest to PowerLab. POPULATION WELLBEING AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH LAB 3

4 Our Work ENVIRONMENTS FOR HEALTHY EQUITABLE AGEING GREEN SPACE AND CHILD HEALTH DIABETES PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE IN CHINA For a long time, urban planning (or a lack thereof ) has resulted in sprawling built environments that privilege sedentary behaviour, promote consumption of inexpensive and energydense food, lengthen commute times, instil car dependency, increase vulnerability to heat island effects, worsen air quality, breed social isolation, cut local biodiversity and reduce human contact with nature. To support population wellbeing and healthy ageing, we need to build and regenerate our cities to empower people to be and do what they have reason to value. Funding received from Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited University of Wollongong Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council National Heart Foundation of Australia We know that many experiences we have in childhood stay with us, or put us on particular trajectories, which can shape our health and wellbeing over time. For better and for worse. Parks, tree canopy and other types of green space are increasingly considered resources that not only enable outdoor physical and social recreation, but also opportunities for relaxing, learning and feeling more in contact with nature. This all suggests great potential for urban greening strategies to help optimise health and wellbeing for all children, regardless of socioeconomic background. Funding received from Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited University of Wollongong Australian Government. In Australia an estimated 1 million people have type 2 diabetes and another 2 million are considered at high risk of developing diabetes. Diabetes affects people, their families and society more generally, costing over $15 billion annually. We have been working closely since 2012 with Western Sydney Local Health District and Primary Health Network to conduct policy-relevant research on diabetes prevention and management. As a member of the Western Sydney Diabetes Leadership Alliance, our joint research and advocacy has led to new diabetes detection initiatives in Blacktown and Mount Druitt emergency departments, raised awareness of how built and natural environments shape diabetes risk, and explored the consequences of a diabetes diagnosis for weight, lifestyles and mental health. Funding received from National Health and Medical Research Council Rapid urbanisation and economic development has had profound implications for China, lifting millions of people out of poverty, helping improve access to healthcare, making new jobs and educational opportunities available. However, these processes may have also had consequences that negatively influence health and wellbeing, such as increasing car dependence, altering diets, promoting sedentary lifestyles and changing the environments people live, work and learn in. Our collaborations with leading Chinese research institutions, including the National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), has resulted in new insights from quantitative analyses of large population health and mortality data. Funding received from The Australian Government. National Heart Foundation of Australia 4 POWERLAB NEWSLETTER

5 News and Media WOMEN OF IMPACT The UOW Women of Impact initiative aims to recognise and encourage women academics across all disciplines who are pursuing research of major importance, who are making a significant contribution to advancing knowledge, who are demonstrating success in teaching and learning, and/or who act as mentors and role models to others. Amongst fourty winners, Dr Xiaoqi Feng s work has been recognized in this initiative. TACKLING DIABETES Dr Feng leads research and teaching at UOW that is focused on how local health service provision and the built environment the availability of parks and fast food in neighbourhoods, for example influence the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. DIABETES THREATENS TO OVERWHELM WESTERN SYDNEY HOSPITALS AS OBESITY EPIDEMIC RAGES This article featured contributions from A/Prof Thomas Astell-Burt and Dr Xiaoqi Feng on the challenges posed by built environment, especially in Western Sydney, for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes in the community. This article features the research of A/Prof Thomas Astell-Burt. UOW STUDY TO EXPLORE HEALTHY GREEN SPACES Can living near parks and other green-spaces result in better pregnancy health outcomes? Can a child s wellbeing and academic scores be linked to the amount of vegetation around their neighbourhood? Do adults in greener areas experience better mental and physical health, do more physical activity and visit emergency departments less? These questions and more will be examined through a $3.2 million research project developed through the Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) Green Cities fund, in partnership with the Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at UOW. The five-year research project entitled Greener Cities Healthier Lives will be led by Dr Xiaoqi Feng and A/ Prof Thomas Astell-Burt, two of Australia s leading green space and public health researchers. OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP AWARD Award Recipients: A/Prof Thomas Astell-Burt, Dr Xiaoqi Feng and Western Sydney Local Health District Project: Taking The Heat Out Of Our Hotspot: The Western Sydney Diabetes Research Partnership POPULATION WELLBEING AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH LAB 5

6 Selected Publications ENVIRONMENTS FOR HEALTHY EQUITABLE AGEING Feng X, Wilson A. Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage modifies the relationship between weight status and weight-related satisfaction. International Journal of Obesity (12): pdf?origin=ppub Astell-Burt T, Feng X, Kolt GS, Jalaludin B. More arealevel crime, more sitting and less active? Longitudinal evidence from 37,162 Australians. American Journal of Epidemiology ; 184(12): More-Area-Level-Crime-Associated-With-More Feng X, Astell-Burt T. What types of social interactions reduce the risk of psychological distress? Fixed effects longitudinal analysis of a cohort of 30,271 middle-toolder aged Australians. Journal of Affective Disorders : GREEN SPACE AND CHILD HEALTH Feng X, Astell-Burt T. The relationship between neighbourhood green space and child mental wellbeing depends upon whom you ask: Multilevel evidence from 3,083 children aged years. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017;14:235. DOI: /ijerph Feng X, Astell-Burt T. Residential green space quantity and quality and child wellbeing: a longitudinal study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Accepted 10/05/2017. Feng X, Astell-Burt T. Do greener areas promote more equitable child health? Health and Place. Accepted 10/05/2017. Feng X, Astell-Burt T. Is Neighborhood Green Space Protective against Associations between Child Asthma, Neighborhood Traffic Volume and Perceived Lack of Area Safety? Multilevel Analysis of 4447 Australian Children. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Accepted 04/05/2017. DIABETES PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT Feng X, Astell-Burt T. Impact of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis on mental health, quality of life and social contacts: a longitudinal study. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care (5): e Hng T-M, Hor A, Ravi S, Feng X, Lin J, Astell-Burt T, Chipps D, McLean M, Maberly G.. Diabetes case finding in the Emergency Department using HbA1c: An opportunity to improve diabetes detection, prevention and care. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care (1): e Feng X, Astell-Burt T. Does area of residence influence weight loss following a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes? Fixed effects longitudinal analysis of 54,707 middle-toolder aged Australians. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice : OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE IN CHINA Astell-Burt T, Zhang, M. Feng, X. Wang, L. Li, Y. Page, A. Zhou, M. Wang, L. Geographical inequality in tobacco control in China: multilevel evidence from 98,058 participants. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. Accepted: 04/05/2017. Zhou M, Feng X, Yong J, Zhang M, Page A, Astell-Burt T, Zhao W. Lifting the lid on geographic complexity in the relationship between body mass index and education in China. Health and Place. 2017; 46; Yin P, Feng X, Astell-Burt T, Page A, Liu J, Liu Y, Liu S, Wang L, Wang L, Zhou M. Temporal trends and geographic variations in dementia mortality in China between 2006 and Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders (4): Li Y, Feng X, Zhang M, Zhou M, Wang N, Wang N. Clustering of cardiovascular behavioral risk factors and blood pressure among people diagnosed with hypertension: A nationally representative survey in China. Nature Scientific Reports : Feng, X. Liu, Y. Astell-Burt, T. Yin, P. Page, A. Liu, S. Liu, J. Wang, L. Zhou, M. Analysis of health service amenable and non-amenable mortality before and since China s expansion of health coverage in BMJ Open. 2016; 6: e bmjopen pdf 6 POWERLAB NEWSLETTER

7 Powerlab Staff and Student Profiles Dr Xiaoqi Feng Co-Director Theme lead for Childrens Environmental Health Associate Prof Thomas Astell-Burt Co-Director Theme lead for Environments for healthy, equitable ageing Mrs Tamara Raso PowerLab Project Officer Tamara is the Project Officer for the PowerLab. RESEARCH STAFF Dr Sonam Jamtsho Associate Research Fellow Spatial Scientist Area of work: Geographic Information Systems. PhD CANDIDATES Mr Faysal Shuvo PhD Candidate Area of study: Green space planning, Geographic Information System, Urban health. Dr Mehbub Anwar Associate Research Fellow Statistician Area of work: Urban planning, Population wellbeing, Transport and advanced statistics. Ms Stephanie Clingan PhD Candidate Area of study: Type 2 Diabetes Management Considering Environmental Impact Factors. Ms Limin Buchanan Research Assistant Area of work: University students health and wellbeing. Mr Tashi Dendup PhD Candidate Area of Work: The influence of neighbourhood on Type 2 Diabetes. POPULATION WELLBEING AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH LAB 7

8 HONOURS STUDENT Ms Grace Norton Honours Student Area of work: Greenspace, physical activity & health. SUMMER INTERNS Ms Aimee Marchesi Undergraduate Intern Bachelor of Public Health - majoring in Epidemiology Ms Elyse Kambisios Undergraduate Intern Bachelor of Social Science (Dean s Scholar) majoring in Public Health MAJOR PROJECT STUDENTS Vaidehi Bhojane MPH Student Jessica Cerni MPH Student DEAN S SCHOLAR PROGRAM Lauren Abdilla Jacqueline Hodge Kate Linsley Visit the PowerLab website: socialsciences.uow.edu.au/powerlab CONTACT DETAILS Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab) School of Health and Society Faculty of Social Sciences Room 203, Building 21, Early Start University of Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia PowerLab Enquiries powerlab-enquiries@uow.edu.au Ph POWERLAB NEWSLETTER