VEMA trial
Family Planning NSW is participating in the international trial 'Efficacy of Very Early Medical Abortion (VEMA) - a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial'.
Madorra study
Vaginal dryness (secondary to vulvovaginal atrophy) affects over half of post-menopausal women, who may experience everyday discomfort, increased rates of urinary tract and yeast infections, and pain with sexual intercourse. It is also often experienced by breast cancer survivors, due to treatments that cause oestrogen levels to drop. Currently, the most effective treatment for vaginal dryness is topical hormone therapy; however the safety of this is of concern for some women, such as breast cancer survivors.
The female condom: How acceptable is it to Australian women?
The female/internal condom is a barrier method for prevention of sexually transmissible infections and unintended pregnancy, however uptake remains low in Australia. Family Planning NSW conducted a study which aimed to explore the views and experiences of women in NSW regarding the female condom. (This was an investigator-initiated study, partially funded by the Female Health Company, and with FC2 female condoms provided by GLYDE Health. Ethics approval for the study was obtained from the Family Planning NSW Human Research Ethics Committee (approval #R2018-08))
Project Evaluation: Capacity building of bilingual community educators to deliver cervical screening updates to refugee women in South Western and Western Sydney Local Health Districts
Family Planning NSW (FPNSW) is working with existing bilingual community educators (BCEs) in South Western and Western Sydney to develop a training manual and a suite of culturally appropriate education and community resources around changes to the National Cervical Screening Program. Female BCEs will be trained as part of the project to facilitate and deliver culturally tailored, updated information to women from refugee communities, specifically Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Myanmar. An evaluation will be undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the training provided to the BCEs.
Impact Study - National Human Papillomavirus Genotype Surveillance Program
This study is administered by The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne. Family Planning NSW is a study partner, assisting with recruitment of participants at the Ashfield and Hunter FPNSW clinics. Please note we are no longer recruiting for this study.
Feasibility study to establish a national Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) data collection process
Female genital mutilation, also referred to as female circumcision or female genital cutting (FGM/C), refers to any procedure that involves partial or total removal of the external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is estimated that at least 125 million women and girls have undergone FGM/C in more than 30 countries where this practise is prevalent.
Survey of men's knowledge and attitudes towards sexually transmissible infections and contraception
In 2014, Family Planning NSW, in partnership with the national online dating website ‘RSVP’, conducted an anonymous online survey among male online dating users to investigate their experiences, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding contraceptive use and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). In total, 3781 responses were collected.
Acceptability of the Copper Intrauterine Device (Cu-IUD) as a form of emergency contraception
Emergency contraception (EC) can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. Currently three main methods of EC are available in Australia: Ulipristal Acetate pill, 1.5mg Levonorgestrel pill, and the Copper Intrauterine Device (Cu-IUD). The Cu-IUD is the most effective EC, and is also the only form of EC to provide ongoing, effective reversible contraception. However, it is the least frequently used method of EC.
Aboriginal Reproductive Health: A Collaborative Approach to Understanding and Improvement
This study, led by the University of Newcastle, was undertaken to investigate the reproductive health service gaps and needs of the Walgett community, to contribute an evidence base for improved reproductive health outcomes.
The study was conducted in collaboration with Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited, Walgett Dharriwaa Elders Group, and the wider Walgett community.
Multimodal Literacy in the Contemporary Workplace
Contemporary organisations increasingly require their staff to work with a wide range of internal and external forms of communication – brochures, manuals, flowcharts, online management systems, PowerPoint presentations, newsletters, websites, videos, and more. To do so effectively, staff members must be able to use, or at least to understand and evaluate, a wide range of modes of communication – spoken and written language, layout, still and moving images, colour, typography, and other aspects of design. In short, they must be multimodally literate.