PhD Students
Lauren Spark
Supervisors: Eakin E, Fjeldsoe B, Reeves M
Title: Understanding and influencing the maintenance of physical activity and dietary behaviour change among breast cancer survivors
Aim: There is lots of evidence to support how initial interventions can change people’s behaviour, but much less is known about how to maintain those changes over time. Lauren is investigating what psychological, social, and environmental factors predict the maintenance of physical activity and dietary change, and is evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile phone text-message maintenance intervention for successfully sustaining physical activity and dietary behaviour change among breast cancer survivors following an initial weight loss intervention. Lauren’s PhD studies are supported by the Australian Government’s Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) scholarship funding.
Commenced: July 2010
Due to complete: December 2013
Maike Neuhaus
Supervisors: Eakin E, Healy G, Dunstan D, Owen N
Title: Reducing sitting time in office workers
Aim: Compelling epidemiological evidence is demonstrating a detrimental association of too much sitting (as distinct from too little exercise) with numerous chronic health conditions. Office workers sit for an average of 75% of their working day and therefore comprise a high-risk group. Maike’s PhD studies aim to identify an effective way to reduce sitting time in the workplace using height-adjustable desks.
Commenced: June 2011
Due to complete: June 2014
Megan Whelan
Supervisors: Reeves M, Hickman I, Eakin E.
Title: Effectiveness of a telephone-based weight loss program delivered in a tertiary hospital outpatient setting.
Aim: Megan will investigate the use of telephone-based modalities in weight management for improving access to services in a tertiary hospital setting. Her study will compare the effectiveness of a telephone delivered weight loss intervention to usual outpatient weight management services, with emphasis on improving weight loss, dietary and physical activity behaviours.
Commenced: July 2011
Due to complete: July 2014
Natasha Begovic
Supervisors: Healy G, Eakin L
Title: Sedentary behaviour in targeted groups (tentative)
Aim: TBA
Commenced: January 2013
Due to complete: January 2016
Samantha Mulcahy
Supervisors: Healy G, Eakin L, Trost S
Title: The how and when of change: Following interventions to decrease sedentary time or increase physical activity.
Aim: To examine how and when changes to sedentary time and physical activity occur following successful intervention studies
Commenced: January 2013
Due to complete: January 2014
Submitting PhD Students
Ruth Mabry (External Part-Time) Supervisors:- Neville Owen, Elizabeth Eakin, Marina Reeves.
Physical activity and metabolic syndrome in Oman.
Completed PhD Students
Paul Gardiner (Full-Time) Supervisors:- Neville Owen, Elizabeth Eakin.
Evaluation of an internet-based intervention to promote physical activity among older adults.
Submitted – December 2012; Conferred – March 2013
Bronwyn Clark (Full-Time) Supervisors:- Neville Owen, Takemi Sugiyama, David Dunstan(Baker IDI).
Gender differences in the health effects of sedentary behaviour.
Submitted – December 2012; Conferred – March 2013
Ana Goode (nee Urbanic-Kenny) (Full-Time) Supervisors:- Elizabeth Eakin, Marina Reeves, Neville Owen.
Evaluating the community-based dissemination of a telephone counselling program for health behaviour change in overweight and obese patients.
Submitted – December 2012; Conferred – March 2013
Lauren Waters (Full-Time) Supervisors:- Elizabeth Eakin, Neville Owen.
Understanding why control groups in physical activity intervention trials improve.
Submitted – December 2012; Conferred – March 2013
Dr Satyamurthy Anuradha - Anu (Full-time) Supervisors:- Neville Owen, David Dunstan (Baker IDI).
Association of retinal vascular calibre with physical activity and sedentary behaviour in adults.
Submitted – December 2012; Conferred – March 2013