Experimental investigation of parents and their children's social interaction intentions towards obese children.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine if parent intentions to facilitate social interactions between their child and a peer, or parental perceptions of their child's peer social interaction intentions, differ according to the weight status of a child's peer. METHODS: During a telephone survey, 250 Australian parents of children 5-12 years were randomly assigned to listen to one of two descriptions of a hypothetical child differing by group in the description of child weight status ('quite overweight' or 'healthy weight'). Parents then completed the Social Interaction Intention Scale, which assessed how likely they or their child would engage in a number of behaviours that may facilitate social interaction with the child described in the profile. RESULTS: Means scores on the overall scale and the child sub-scale of the Child Social Interaction Intention Scale were significantly higher among participants allocated to the healthy weight child profile, indicating more positive social intentions. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that negative weight-based stereotypes hinder the development of peer friendships by obese children.

Flutracking: a weekly Australian community online survey of influenza-like illness in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Surveillance for influenza is an important public health function as it allows initiation and evaluation of public health measures. Flutracking is a weekly online survey of influenza-like illness (ILI) completed by community members that has been trialled in the 2006, 2007, and 2008 winter influenza seasons. The online survey allows participants to record their past and current influenza immunisation status and they receive a weekly email prompt to answer questions on the previous week's experience of cough, fever and time absent from normal activities. The weekly survey takes participants less than 15 seconds to complete. Symptom rates of Flutracking participants were compared by influenza vaccination status to estimate the incidence and severity of influenza and the field effectiveness of influenza vaccine. Participation rates increased from 394 in 2006 to 982 in 2007 and 4,827 in 2008. In 2008, 56% of participants were from New South Wales and 26% were from Tasmania. Greater than 70% of respondents replied within 24 hours of the survey being sent in 2007 and 2008. The 2008 influenza season appeared milder than 2007 with the peak weekly rate of cough and fever among all unvaccinated participants at 7% in 2008 compared with 15% in 2007. The peak week of influenza activity detected by Flutracking in 2008 was the week ending 31 August, which was contemporaneous with the peak week in other syndromic and laboratory influenza surveillance systems. Participation in the survey continues to grow and appears sustainable. A more balanced recruitment across jurisdictions will provide a more national perspective.

Improving communicable disease outbreak preparedness in residential aged care facilities using an interventional interview strategy.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the capacity of residential aged care facilities (RACFs) to respond to communicable disease outbreaks. METHODS: Three computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted with RACFs. The first survey gathered baseline information. Outbreak prevention resources were then offered to address identified weaknesses. Subsequent surveys enabled the facilities' progress to be monitored. Before the third survey, RACFs were sent a personalized scorecard documenting their standing against 19 readiness criteria. RESULTS: RACFs reporting an outbreak management plan increased from 58 to 98%, and facilities reporting 16 or more of the 19 readiness criteria rose from 24 to 43% (P < 0.0006) at the second interview and 73% at the third interview (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The strategy resulted in a significant improvement in reported outbreak readiness.