A cluster randomised controlled trial of a telephone-based intervention targeting the home food environment of preschoolers (The Healthy Habits Trial): the effect on parent fruit and vegetable consumption

Abstract
Background: The home food environment is an important setting for the development of dietary patterns in childhood. Interventions that support parents to modify the home food environment for their children, however, may also improve parent diet. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a telephone-based intervention targeting the home food environment of preschool children on the fruit and vegetable consumption of parents.
Methods: In 2010, 394 parents of 3 – 5 year – old children from 30 preschools in the Hunter region of Australia were recruited to this cluster randomised controlled trial and were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Intervention group parents received four weekly 30-minute telephone calls and written resources. The scripted calls focused on; fruit and vegetable availability and accessibility, parental role-modelling, and supportive home food routines. Two items from the Australian National Nutrition Survey were used to assess the average number of serves of fruit and vegetables consumed each day by parents at baseline, and 2-, 6-, 12-, and 18-months later, using generalised estimating equations (adjusted for baseline values and clustering by preschool) and an intention-to-treat-approach.
Results: At each follow-up, vegetable consumption among intervention parents significantly exceeded that of controls. At 2-months the difference was 0.71 serves (95% CI: 0.58-0.85, p < 0.0001), and at 18-months the difference was 0.36 serves (95% CI: 0.10-0.61, p = 0.0067). Fruit consumption among intervention parents was found to significantly exceed consumption of control parents at the 2-,12- and 18-month follow-up, with the difference at 2-months being 0.26 serves (95% CI: 0.12-0.40, p = 0.0003), and 0.26 serves maintained at 18-months, (95% CI: 0.10-0.43, p = 0.0015).
Conclusions: A four-contact telephone-based intervention that focuses on changing characteristics of preschoolers’ home food environment can increase parents’ fruit and vegetable consumption.
(ANZCTR12609000820202)

Small area-level socioeconomic status and all-cause mortality within 10 years in a population-based cohort of women: Data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study

Background: The social gradient of health and mortality is well-documented. However, data are scarce regarding whether differences in mortality are observed across socio-economic status (SES) measured at the small area-level. We investigated associations between area-level SES and all-cause mortality in Australian women aged ≥. 20. years. Methods: We examined SES, obesity, hypertension, lifestyle behaviors and all-cause mortality within 10. years post-baseline (1994), for 1494 randomly-selected women. Participants' residential addresses were matched to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data to identify area-level SES, and deaths were ascertained from the Australian National Deaths Index. Logistic regression models were adjusted for age, and subsequent adjustments made for measures of weight status and lifestyle behaviors. Results: We observed 243 (16.3%) deaths within 10. years post-baseline. Females in SES quintiles 2-4 (less disadvantaged) had lower odds of mortality (0.49-0.59) compared to SES quintile 1 (most disadvantaged) under the best model, after adjusting for age, smoking status and low mobility. Conclusions: Compared to the lowest SES quintile (most disadvantaged), females in quintiles 2 to 5 (less disadvantaged) had significantly lower odds ratio of all-cause mortality within 10. years. Associations between extreme social disadvantage and mortality warrant further attention from research, public health and policy arenas.

Interview with Boediono, former Vice President of Indonesia

Boediono studied and worked in Australia on several occasions. He studied at the University of Western Australia in the 1960s on a Colombo Plan scholarship, completing a degree in economics in 1967. He then went on to complete a Masters degree at Monash University. He later obtained a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in the 1970s and also worked at the Australian National University as a research assistant. Boediono was a Bank of Indonesia deputy governor from 1997 to 1998 and served as State Minister of National Planning and Development from 1998 to October 1999. He served as Vice President of Indonesia 2009-2014 and has worked as an academic, teaching economics at Gadjah Mada University. The interview was conducted in English on 23 April 2014 by Professor David Lowe and Dr Jemma Purdey of Deakin University. This set comprises: an interview recording, a photograph, and a transcript of the interview.

Interview with Eric Hiariej

Eric Hiariej is an Indonesia who studied at the Australian National University on two occasions; in 2001-2003 and in 2005-2009. He completed his Masters degree in the first period of study, and his PhD in the second. Both degrees were in International Relations. The interview was conducted in English by Dr. Jemma Purdey of Deakin University on 27 May 2014. This set comprises: an interview recording, a timed summary and a photo.

Interview with Nabiela Naily

Nabiela Naily is an Indonesian who studied at the Australian National University in 2006-2008. She studied on an Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) Scholarship and completed a Masters in Asian Studies. The interview was conducted in English on 31 May 2014 by Dr. Jemma Purdey of Deakin University and Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia. This set comprises: an interview recording and a timed summary.

Interview with Yulfita Rahardjo

Yulfita Rahardjo is an Indonesian who studied at the Australian National University on two occasions; in 1976-1978 and in 1980-1986. In her first period of study in Australia she studied on a Population Council scholarship, and she completed a Masters of Demography. In her second period of study, she studided on an Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB) Scholarship and completed a PhD in Anthropology. The interview was conducted in English on 24 April 2014 by Dr. Jemma Purdey and Prof. David Lowe, both of Deakin University. This set comprises: an interview recording, a timed summary, and a photograph.

Interview with Mrs. Roosmalawati Rusman

Mrs Roosmalawati Rusman is an Indonesian who studied at the Australian National University (ANU) in 1986-1991. She studied on an Australian International Development Assistance (AIDAB) Scholarship and completed a PhD in Demography. The interview was conducted on 24 April 2014 by Dr. Jemma Purdey and Prof. David Lowe, both of Deakin University. This set comprises: an interview recording, a photograph, and a timed summary.

Interview with Endang Turmudi

Endang Turmudi is an Indonesian who studied in Australia on two occasions; in 1988-1990 at Flinders University, and in 1992-1996 at the Australian National University (ANU). On both occasions, he studied on Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB) Scholarships. He completed his Masters in Sociology during his time at Flinders University before completing his PhD in the same field at ANU. The interview was conducted in English on 24 April 2014 by Dr. Jemma Purdey and Prof. David Lowe, both of Deakin University, and Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia. This set comprises: an interview recording, a timed summary, and a photo.

Interview with Prof. Yunita Triwardani Winarto

Prof. Yunita Triwardani Winarto is an Indonesian who studied at the Australian National University (ANU) in 1991-1997. She studied on an Equity and Merit Scholarship Scheme (EMSS) and completed a PhD in Demography. The interview was conducted in English on 28 April 2014 by Dr. Jemma Purdey of Deakin University and Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia. This set comprises: an interview recording, a photograph, and a timed summary.

Interview with Zulkifli

Zulkifli is an Indonesian who studied at the Australian National University (ANU) in 1992-1994. He studied on an Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB) Scholarship and completed a Masters in Anthropology. The interview was conducted in English on 15 January 2015 by Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia. This set comprises: an interview recording and a transcript of the interview.

Interview with Frederika Korain

Frederika Korain is an Indonesian who studied at the Australian National University in 2011-2013. She studied on an Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) and completed a Masters in Applied Anthropology. The interview was conducted in English on 27 July 2014 by Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia. This set comprises: an interview recording, a timed summary, and a photograph.

Interview with Rahman Patji

Rahman Patji is an Indonesian who studied at the Australian National University in 1989-1991. She studied on an Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB) Scholarship and completed a Masters in Anthropology. The interview was conducted in Indonesian on 16 May 2014 by Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia. This set comprises: an interview recording, and a transcript of the interview (also in Indonesian).

Interview with Ismatu Ropi

Ismatu Ropi is an Indonesian who studied at the Australian National University (ANU) in 2006-2010. He studied on an Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) and completed a PhD in Asian Studies. The interview was conducted in English on 12 January 2015 by Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia. This set comprises: an interview recording, and a timed summary.

Interview with Dr Ray Anere (d. 2015)

The late Dr Ray Anere was a Papua New Guinean who studied in Australia at the Australian National University in 1982 - 1985. He was awarded an Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB) scholarship and completed a Master degree in Arts. He later completed a PhD at Claremont University in California, USA under a Fulbright Scholarship. Dr Anere was a Senior Research Fellow at the National Research Institute in PNG and maintained strong connections with Australia and with the USA. Dr Anere was a member of the PNG USA Alumni Association and the PNG Australia Alumni Association. Dr Anere passed away in April 2015. The interview was conducted in English on 17 December 2014 by Dr Musawe Sinebare and Mr Gande James, both of Pacific Adventist University. This set comprises: an interview recording, a timed summary and a photograph.

Interview with Seniorl Anzu

Seniorl Anzu is a Papua New Guinean who studied in Australia at the Australian National University in 2011. He studied on an Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) and completed a Masters in Science Communication. The interview was conducted in English on 8 September 2014 by Dr Jonathan Ritchie of Deakin University. This set comprises: an interview recording, a timed summary and a photograph.