ORIGINS Project Officer, Emily Segers, placed runner up in the Ramsay Research Month competition for her work in HBF-funded sub-project, Flourishing in Fatherhood.
In September, Ramsay Health Care invited all accredited researchers, VMO's, staff and research groups to submit a 3-minute video explaining the background, method and impact their research had on improving health care practice and patient outcomes.
After reviewing all submissions, Ramsay Health Care's internal judging panel awarded Ms Segers the runner up prize and referred to her submission as "clear, informative and very creative."
Watch Ms Segers video submission above.
Flourishing in Fatherhood is an ORIGINS sub-project which aims to assess the psychological, physiological, and psychosocial health of Australian fathers and understand how key indicators of health change over the fathering journey.
"A number of studies have shown that fathers provide important influences on child development in ways that are unique and independent to those of mothers," project lead, Professor Bu Yeap said, "however, there is little research into the health of expectant fathers, their post-natal health trajectories, and the impacts of this on fathering and children."
This research is made possible by HBF's Community Partnerships program, which provided over $270,000 in funding towards this life-changing research.
The first funding of its kind for ORIGINS and The Kids Research Institute Australia, the project hopes this will provide a foundation for larger grant applications to other funding bodies for bigger interventional trials. These trials will not only to improve the health of fathers but also determine whether paternal interventions can improve maternal wellbeing and the development of their children.
Key findings from Ms Segers video submission found:
- One in five fathers are hypertensive
- 22% have elevated serum cholesterol
- 28% have low vitamin D
- 14% presented with significant mental health concerns
The project also expects to find an increase in Body Mass Index and waist circumference, along with a reduction in self-rated health by the participants.
From these initial findings, the Flourishing in Fatherhood project has recommended the below for clinicians and policy makers:
- Consideration to implement health checks for fathers alongside mothers - specifically screening for dyslipidemia (abnormal levels of lipids in the bloodstream) and mental health concerns
- Moving towards a model of care that acknowledges the 'family unit'
- Leverage of fathers as support persons in times of stress and need
- Education focusing on child rearing extended to fathers
For more information
- Download the Participant Information Booklet
- Contact Emily Segers, Project Officer
- Email: originsflourishingfathers@thekids.org.au
- Phone: 0466 147 726