CSIRO PUBLISHING - New South Wales Public Health Bulletin

Health impact assessment on an integrated chronic disease prevention campaign

Blythe O’Hara, Jenny Hughes, Paul Kehoe, Hannah Baird, Therese Milham and Sharon Hills

Abstract

A priority in the NSW Chronic Disease Prevention Strategy 2003–2007 is to: Design, test, develop and evaluate a state-based pilot of an overarching 'integration' strategy to draw together existing programs and activities dealing with tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, physical activity and mental health promotion with a view to progressing state-wide implementation if the evaluation results are favourable. It is proposed that this priority be addressed through a chronic disease prevention campaign promoting changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices on contributory risk factors to decrease the prevalence of chronic disease among 35–55 year olds. For the purposes of this campaign, chronic diseases include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic lung diseases and type 2 diabetes.