A/Prof. Christine Paul

Biography

A/Prof Paul is a research-only academic with the Health Behaviour Research group, part of the Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour and Hunter Medical Research Institute.

A/Prof Christine Paul is a behavioural scientist with considerable experience in the development and evaluation of strategies for achieving behavioural change on an individual, system and population level across preventive health issues and provision of patient care. Much of her early work was focused on cancer prevention and tobacco control, with an emphasis on the dissemination and adoption of effective behaviour change strategies. She retains a strong interest in cancer prevention and control, with a growing research portfolio relating to each of social disadvantage, chronic disease and health service delivery. Recent work involves applying behavioural approaches to challenges to large multi-site intervention studies in the fields of diabetes care, stroke treatment with and improving health among disadvantaged groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 1995

Research

Research keywords

• Indigenous health
• access to care
• cancer prevention
• cancer services
• diabetes
• health behaviour
• health services
• patient care
• public health
• social disadvantage
• solar protection
• stroke
• tobacco control

Research expertise

A/Prof Christine Paul is a behavioural scientist with considerable experience in the development and evaluation of strategies for achieving behavioural change on an individual, system and population level across preventive health issues and provision of patient care. Much of A/Prof Paul’s work has been focused on cancer prevention and tobacco control, with an emphasis on the dissemination and adoption of effective behaviour change strategies. Recent work involves applying behavioural approaches to challenges to large multi-site intervention studies in the fields of diabetes care, stroke treatment and improving health among disadvantaged groups.

In 2004, A/Prof Paul was awarded the prestigious National Heart Foundation Rudolf Gerstl Research Award for her proposal of a randomised controlled trial of the telemarketing of telephone support for smokers. This study has now been completed, with a number of related publications and presentations giving rise to both academic and public sector interest in this innovative approach to addressing behaviour change at a population level.

Research Translation: A series of bi-ennial state-wide community surveys on cancer-related issues which were used to successfully advocate for legislative changes in NSW such as bans on smoking in public places, bans on smoking in cars and the licensing of tobacco retailers. A large randomised controlled trial which demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of a ‘cold calling’ approach to recruiting smokers to cessation support. Publication of the trial results in 2009 has resulted in consideration of the approach by national and international Quitline operators. A quasi-experimental study of organisational change strategies for improving hospital-based smoking care has been used as a model for improving smoking care in hospitals. An exploration of solarium operations via simulated customers which was the first rigorous work demonstrating poor compliance with standards, followed by a later study showing no improvement in practices over time. This was one of several keys to successful efforts to regulate the solarium industry. Conducting applied research which is both relevant to practice and policy is one of the hallmarks of A/Prof Paul’s work to date.

Research Training: A/Prof Paul places a strong emphasis on training research higher degree students, with a number of her students being awarded postdoctoral fellowships and research awards. AProf Paul has also been nominated for and received awards for RHD student supervision.

Collaboration

AProf Paul is a strong collaborator with a long history of research projects in common with researchers across a range of disciplines.

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Hunter Medical Research Institute
• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Public Health

Memberships

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• provide research expertise & advice - Member, NSW Solaria Compliance Working Group
• Provide research expertise - NSW Cancer Council Tobacco Retailer Strategy Committee
• Provide direction & advice on implentation of skin cancer research funding - The Cancer Council NSW/University of Wollongong Skin Cancer Reference Group
• provide advice and research direction on cancer component of NSW study cohort - The Sax Institute-NSW 45 & up study cancer group
• advise on NSW tobacco evaluation framework - Tobacco Research and Evaluation Committee, NSW Department of Health

Appointments

Awards

Research Award.

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• behavioural science
• cancer prevention
• communication skills
• health promotion
• interactional skills
• public health

Teaching expertise

A/Prof Paul has written courses and curricula including the Cancer Control module of the Master of Public Health, RACOG Behavioural Medicine Unit and Interactional Skills for undergaduate students in the Faculty of Health. She continues to teach interactional skills and cancer control. Teaching of postgraduate research students continues to be a major focus of her work.