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ISSUE ADDRESSED Young parents (

There is a growing body of literature identifying the benefits for families from accessing information and communicating online. What is less investigated and reported is the potential downside of online information, support and networks for parents of young children. Parents with at least one child 0–5 years of age (n = 487) were asked if they felt online communication helped to support families with young children (3 options – yes, no, yes and no), and to provide a supporting statement. Respondents were also asked to indicate the reasons they used Facebook and parenting websites, blogs and forums. A descriptive and content analysis was undertaken. The proposition that online communication helped to support parents of young children was upheld by the majority (n = 302) while 12 responded ‘no’, 173 responded ‘yes and no’, and 337 parents provided a statement in support of their answer. The proposition responses illustrated three themes: ready access to information and advice; reduces isolation; and, staying in touch with family and friends. Cautionary responses described three themes: information but conflicting and judgemental; connection but potential for isolation; and, in touch but negative social comparison. Online information, support and networks can represent a paradox for parents of young children.

People who are homeless or marginalised have poor engagement with mainstream healthcare services. The aim of this study was to explore patient and staff perspectives of a street-based, primary health service, to help identify factors influencing patient access and management. A qualitative study was undertaken from April to September 2016. Interviews (n = 27) explored patients’ experiences of accessing healthcare services. Interviews with allied service staff (n = 5) explored referral pathways and patients’ access to healthcare. Factors influencing patients’ willingness to access primary healthcare through the street health service were identified as doctor–patient empathy, better understanding of patient circumstances, fostering of social capital, facilitating referral pathways and supporting the transition to mainstream general practice as circumstances improve. Hospital discharge planning and follow-up management were identified as gaps in the continuity of service. Ease of access provided by a street-based health service facilitates access to the healthcare system for homeless and marginalised patients.nbsp;div class="hor-line"nbsp;/div.

Background The RESIDential Environments (RESIDE) project is a unique longitudinal natural experiment designed to evaluate the health impacts of the “Liveable Neighbourhoods” planning policy, which was introduced by the Western Australian government to create more walkable suburbs. Objectives To summarize the RESIDE evidence of the impact of the planning policy on a range of health-supportive behaviours and wellbeing outcomes and to assess the consistency and direction of the estimates of associations. Methods An audit of 26 RESIDE research papers (from 2003 to 2012) identified the number of positive associations (statistically significant and consistent with policy expectations), negative associations (statistically significant and inconsistent with policy expectations), and null findings from multiple-exposure models between objective and perceived measures of 20 policy design requirements and 13 health-supportive behaviors and wellbeing outcomes. Results In total 332 eligible estimates of associations (n = 257 objective measures and n = 75 perceived measures) were identified. Positively significant findings were detected for: 57% of walking estimates with objectively measured policy design features (negative = 3%; null = 40%) (n = 115) and 54% perceived measures (negative = 0%; null = 33%) (n = 27); 42% of sense of community estimates with objectively measured of policy design features (negative = 8%; null = 50%) (n = 12) and 61% perceived measures (negative = 8%; null = 31%) (n = 13); 39% of safety or crime-related estimates with objectively measured of policy design features (negative = 22%; null = 39%) (n = 28) and 100% perceived measures (n = 7). All (n = 4) estimates for mental health outcomes with objectively measured policy-related design features were positively significant. Conclusions The synthesis of findings suggests that new suburban communities built in accordance with the “Liveable Neighbourhoods” policy have the potential to encourage health supportive behaviors and wellbeing outcomes including transport and recreation walking, and to create neighborhoods with a stronger sense of community where residents may feel safer., Highlights • The RESIDE study is a longitudinal natural experiment evaluating a new planning policy to create more walkable suburbs. • A process evaluation quantified how much of the policy had been implemented on-the-ground. • This review included 332 estimated associations from multiple-exposure predictor models extracted from 26 RESIDE papers. • It summarized the consistency, strength and direction of estimates of associations against the policy expectations. • New communities built to the policy principles may encourage walking and a sense of community where residents feel safer.

Background and objectives Street-based clinics provide general practice services to marginalised and homeless persons. The objective of this study was to examine prevalence, patterns and severity of multimorbidity in patients attending one such service. Method A retrospective cohort study (2006–15), comprising medical record review of patients (n = 4285), was undertaken. A Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) was used to assess multimorbidity. Results Average age of patients was 38.2 ± 17.9 years. Of 31.5% Aboriginal patients, 50.8% were female (37.6% in non Aboriginal patients). Of all patients, 53% had multimorbidity. Aboriginal patients had higher rates of multimorbidity than non-Aboriginal patients (58.0% vs 50.6%, P

Issue addressed The study aim was to investigate the relationships between social capital measures and playgroup participation in a local residential area for parents with children of playgroup age (1–4 years) compared with non-participation and participation in a playgroup outside the local residential area. Research indicates playgroup participation has benefits for families, however, less is known about the potential local community social capital for parents who participate in playgroups. Methods Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey from March 2013 to January 2014 in Perth, Western Australia. The data from a group of parents (n = 405) who had at least one child aged between 1 and 4 years were analysed using multivariable regression. Reported playgroup participation (local, outside the area or non-participation) in the previous 12 months was investigated for associations with three measures (Neighbourhood Cohesion Index, Social Capital and Citizenship Survey and local reciprocity) that capture attributes of social capital. Results Participation in playgroup locally was generally associated with higher levels of social capital than both participation in playgroup outside the local area and non-participation. Mothers with two or more children fared better for social capital measures than mothers with one child. Conclusions Participation in a locally placed playgroup may provide an important opportunity for families with children of playgroup age (1–4 years) to build social capital in their local community. So what? Playgroups in a family’s local area have the potential to foster locally placed social capital through community interaction, social networks and cohesion, which are important for mental health promotion in communities.

Aim To investigate the relationships between participation in mothers’ groups and social capital, social support and mental well-being measures for mothers whose oldest child was 0-5 years. Background Evaluations of facilitated mothers’ groups have found positive benefits for information sharing and support. Mothers’ groups often continue as parent-led groups; however, little is known about the potential benefits of ongoing participation compared with non-participation. Design Cross-sectional survey. Methods Data were collected through a survey from March 2013–January 2014 in Perth, Western Australia. The data from a subgroup of mothers (N = 313) whose oldest child was 0-5 years of age were analysed using multivariable regression. Participation in mothers’ groups in the previous 12 months was investigated for associations with social capital {Neighbourhood Cohesion Index (NCI); Families, Social Capital and Citizenship Survey (FSCCS) and Reciprocity}; social support {Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) and Parent Support Outside Home Scale (PSOHS)}; and mental well-being {Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS)}. Participation was measured as three groups – locally, outside area of residence and non-participation. Results Mothers who participated in mothers’ groups locally scored significantly higher than those who had not participated in mothers’ group for ‘social capital’ (NCI, FSCCS, Reciprocity), ‘social support’ (MOS-SSS, PSOHS) and ‘mental well-being’ (WEMWBS). Mothers who participated in mothers’ group outside the area scored significantly higher than those who had not participated in mothers’ groups for one measure of ‘social support’ (PSOHS). Conclusions Participation in mothers’ group locally may provide support and social capital benefits for mothers of children aged 0-5 years, which may influence mental well-being.