International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
Emergency service workers (ESWs) are at high risk of experiencing poor mental health, including p... more Emergency service workers (ESWs) are at high risk of experiencing poor mental health, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Programs led by ex-service organizations may play an unrecognized but critical role in mental health prevention and promotion. Behind the Seen (BTS) is an Australian ex-service organization that runs workshops to raise awareness and facilitate conversations around the mental health of ESWs. The purpose of the study is to conduct a qualitative evaluation of workshop participants’ experiences, to understand the acceptability and perceived usefulness over the immediate- (within 1 month), intermediate- (6 months) and longer-terms (12 months). Participants (n = 59 ESWs) were recruited using purposive sampling across five fire and rescue services in metropolitan, regional, and rural locations. Focus groups methodology was used for data collection and data were analyzed using iterative categorization techniques. Participants reported (i) a high perceived nee...
AimThe aim of this study was to comprehensively assess dietary intake, nutrition knowledge and fo... more AimThe aim of this study was to comprehensively assess dietary intake, nutrition knowledge and food addiction in young people with mental illness.MethodsThis was a three‐arm cross‐sectional study of 16–25‐year‐olds attending community mental health services who met criteria for: (i) first‐episode psychosis (FEP), (ii) ultra‐high risk for psychosis (UHR) or (iii) depression/anxiety. Participants self‐completed three validated questionnaires: (i) Australian Eating Survey, (ii) General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire—Revised and (iii) Yale Food Addiction Score Questionnaire.ResultsThirty participants (mean age 19.7 ± 2.5 years) completed the study (10 per study arm); 43% of the energy intake was obtained from energy‐dense, non‐nutritious foods, higher than the recommended upper limit (<15%) and the levels reported in the general population (35%). Mean diet quality score was 33.5 ± 11.8 of 73. Mean food addiction symptom score was 3.3 ± 3.7. Prevalence of food addiction was 37%. Nu...
Objective: Carers of people with psychosis may experience psychological distress and caregiving b... more Objective: Carers of people with psychosis may experience psychological distress and caregiving burden. However, few studies have examined both psychological and physical health of carers of young people with first episode psychosis (FEP). Method: A total of 32 young people with FEP and 42 of their carers were recruited from a mental health service. Standardised scales were administered to assess carers’ psychological distress and risk for development of Type 2 diabetes. Their body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured. Results: A total of 24% ( n = 10) of carers experienced high/very high psychological distress and 39.0% ( n = 16) had high risk for Type 2 diabetes. It was common for carers to be overweight ( n = 33, 78.6%) and to have hypertension ( n = 14, 33.3%). Carers’ higher levels of psychological distress were associated with shorter duration of illness in the young person. Conclusions: Caring for a young person with FEP is associated with poor phy...
To comprehensively assess cardio-metabolic risk factors and their management in a large sample of... more To comprehensively assess cardio-metabolic risk factors and their management in a large sample of outpatients treated with clozapine. Observational cross-sectional study of all clozapine users attending specialized clozapine monitoring outpatient clinics in three public hospitals in Sydney, Australia were approached to participate over the one-year period 01/10/2015-30/09/2016. Cardio-metabolic risk factors including metabolic syndrome, risk for future development of diabetes, smoking, physical activity, nutrition, and prescribed medications were assessed at face-to-face interview and through medical record review. Among patients who had cardio-metabolic risk factors, the proportion receiving appropriate management was assessed. Of 451 registered clozapine clinic attenders, 92.2% completed questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. 58.3% met criteria for metabolic syndrome. 79.6% were overweight or obese. 55.9% had blood pressure meeting metabolic syndrome criteria. 46.6% had e...
International Journal of Sexual Health, Jan 2, 2021
Abstract Objectives: To examine the relationship of food insecurity with sexual intercourse, mult... more Abstract Objectives: To examine the relationship of food insecurity with sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners and non-condom use. Methods: Data on food insecurity (hunger) and sexual behaviors from 205,296 adolescents from 53 countries. Associations were analyzed using meta-analysis. Results: Overall, 16.0% of the adolescents ever had sexual intercourse and the prevalence of moderate and severe food insecurity was 44.9% and 6.2%, respectively. Moderate and severe food insecurity was associated with higher odds for sexual intercourse. Any food insecurity was significantly associated with condom nonuse at last sex. Conclusions: Food insecurity was associated with higher odds of ever having sexual intercourse dose-dependently.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
Emergency service workers (ESWs) are at high risk of experiencing poor mental health, including p... more Emergency service workers (ESWs) are at high risk of experiencing poor mental health, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Programs led by ex-service organizations may play an unrecognized but critical role in mental health prevention and promotion. Behind the Seen (BTS) is an Australian ex-service organization that runs workshops to raise awareness and facilitate conversations around the mental health of ESWs. The purpose of the study is to conduct a qualitative evaluation of workshop participants’ experiences, to understand the acceptability and perceived usefulness over the immediate- (within 1 month), intermediate- (6 months) and longer-terms (12 months). Participants (n = 59 ESWs) were recruited using purposive sampling across five fire and rescue services in metropolitan, regional, and rural locations. Focus groups methodology was used for data collection and data were analyzed using iterative categorization techniques. Participants reported (i) a high perceived nee...
AimThe aim of this study was to comprehensively assess dietary intake, nutrition knowledge and fo... more AimThe aim of this study was to comprehensively assess dietary intake, nutrition knowledge and food addiction in young people with mental illness.MethodsThis was a three‐arm cross‐sectional study of 16–25‐year‐olds attending community mental health services who met criteria for: (i) first‐episode psychosis (FEP), (ii) ultra‐high risk for psychosis (UHR) or (iii) depression/anxiety. Participants self‐completed three validated questionnaires: (i) Australian Eating Survey, (ii) General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire—Revised and (iii) Yale Food Addiction Score Questionnaire.ResultsThirty participants (mean age 19.7 ± 2.5 years) completed the study (10 per study arm); 43% of the energy intake was obtained from energy‐dense, non‐nutritious foods, higher than the recommended upper limit (<15%) and the levels reported in the general population (35%). Mean diet quality score was 33.5 ± 11.8 of 73. Mean food addiction symptom score was 3.3 ± 3.7. Prevalence of food addiction was 37%. Nu...
Objective: Carers of people with psychosis may experience psychological distress and caregiving b... more Objective: Carers of people with psychosis may experience psychological distress and caregiving burden. However, few studies have examined both psychological and physical health of carers of young people with first episode psychosis (FEP). Method: A total of 32 young people with FEP and 42 of their carers were recruited from a mental health service. Standardised scales were administered to assess carers’ psychological distress and risk for development of Type 2 diabetes. Their body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured. Results: A total of 24% ( n = 10) of carers experienced high/very high psychological distress and 39.0% ( n = 16) had high risk for Type 2 diabetes. It was common for carers to be overweight ( n = 33, 78.6%) and to have hypertension ( n = 14, 33.3%). Carers’ higher levels of psychological distress were associated with shorter duration of illness in the young person. Conclusions: Caring for a young person with FEP is associated with poor phy...
To comprehensively assess cardio-metabolic risk factors and their management in a large sample of... more To comprehensively assess cardio-metabolic risk factors and their management in a large sample of outpatients treated with clozapine. Observational cross-sectional study of all clozapine users attending specialized clozapine monitoring outpatient clinics in three public hospitals in Sydney, Australia were approached to participate over the one-year period 01/10/2015-30/09/2016. Cardio-metabolic risk factors including metabolic syndrome, risk for future development of diabetes, smoking, physical activity, nutrition, and prescribed medications were assessed at face-to-face interview and through medical record review. Among patients who had cardio-metabolic risk factors, the proportion receiving appropriate management was assessed. Of 451 registered clozapine clinic attenders, 92.2% completed questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. 58.3% met criteria for metabolic syndrome. 79.6% were overweight or obese. 55.9% had blood pressure meeting metabolic syndrome criteria. 46.6% had e...
International Journal of Sexual Health, Jan 2, 2021
Abstract Objectives: To examine the relationship of food insecurity with sexual intercourse, mult... more Abstract Objectives: To examine the relationship of food insecurity with sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners and non-condom use. Methods: Data on food insecurity (hunger) and sexual behaviors from 205,296 adolescents from 53 countries. Associations were analyzed using meta-analysis. Results: Overall, 16.0% of the adolescents ever had sexual intercourse and the prevalence of moderate and severe food insecurity was 44.9% and 6.2%, respectively. Moderate and severe food insecurity was associated with higher odds for sexual intercourse. Any food insecurity was significantly associated with condom nonuse at last sex. Conclusions: Food insecurity was associated with higher odds of ever having sexual intercourse dose-dependently.
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Papers by Philip B Ward