Freidoon Khavarpour

Mental Health Status of Iranian Migrants in Sydney

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the levels and predictors of psychological distress within the Iranian community in Sydney, Australia. Method: Participants (n = 161) were identified using snowball sampling, and a questionnaire incorporating the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-20) and other migration-related factors was mailed to their preferred address. Results: A relatively high proportion of respondents (37%) had GHQ-20 scores above the recommended threshold (4+). Students were significantly more likely to report psychological distress compared with respondents who worked full-time. A feeling that migration had contributed to their distress was also found to be significantly associated with above-threshold GHQ-20 scores. Conclusions: Iranian migrants in Sydney may need mental health programs to address migration-related distress.

Resource Allocation and Economic Evaluation in Australia's Healthcare System

OBJECTIVE To explore dimensions and varieties of economic evaluations that healthcare decision-makers do or do not use. DESIGN Web-based survey. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A purposive sample of Australian healthcare decision-makers was recruited by direct invitation through email. All were invited to complete an online questionnaire derived from the EUROMET 2004 survey. RESULTS A total of 91 questionnaires were analysed. Almost all participants were involved in financial resource allocations. Most commonly, participants based their decisions on patient needs, effectiveness of interventions, cost of interventions or overall budgetary effect, and policy directives. Evidence from cost-effectiveness analysis was used by half of the participants. Timing, ethical issues and lack of knowledge about economic evaluation were the most significant barriers to the use of economic evaluations in resource allocation decisions. Most participants reported being moderately to very familiar with the cost-effectiveness analysis. There was a general impression that evidence from economic evaluations should play a larger role in the future. CONCLUSIONS Evidence from health economic evaluations may provide valuable information in some decisions; however, at present, it is not central to many decisions. The study suggests that, for economic evaluation to be helpful in real-life policy decisions, it has to be placed into context - a context which is complex, political and often resistant to voluntary change.

Factors associated with participation in resident action groups in metropolitan Sydney: a cross‐sectional survey

OBJECTIVE To explore the characteristics of participants in resident action groups in metropolitan Sydney. METHODS A stratified random sample of participants in 50 groups registered with local councils were surveyed in 1997. Demographic, social/psychological, cost/benefit, group process and group potency variables and four measures of amount of participation were examined. RESULTS An increase in the hours of participation per month was associated with a decrease in the self-reported costs of participation, an increase in the self-reported benefits of participation and an increase in group potency. Involvement in a greater number of activities was associated with a decrease in the self-reported costs and an increase in the self-reported benefits associated with participation, increased satisfaction with group processes, a decrease in group potency and an increase in the number of members known prior to group membership. Length of group membership was positively associated with age and more positive expectations of the groups future success. An increase in the proportion of meetings attended was associated with self-reported satisfaction with group processes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS An important principle of public health is community participation. The results of this study indicate that the greatest potential for increasing individual participation may be in efforts to reduce the costs associated with participation, increase the benefits associated with participation and increase the satisfaction of group members with group processes.