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Associate Professor Rachel Skinner

Associate Professor in Paediatrics & Child Health
Paediatrics & Child Health, Children's Hospital, Westmead

T: +61 2 9845 3377
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Curriculum vitae

Biographical details

Dr Skinner is Associate Professor in the Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney and Adolescent Physician at the Children's Hospital Westmead in Sydney, Australia. Her clinical work is focussed on sexual and reproductive health and she consults in adolescent gynaecology through the Adolescent Medicine Unit at the Children's Hospital Westmead. Her MBBS (1989) was from the University of Melbourne and her specialist training in Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine was through the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, the Centre for Adolescent Health in Melbourne and the Adolescent Health Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, NY, USA. She was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in 1999. Dr Skinner was employed as a clinical academic (Senior Lecturer) in Adolescent Medicine at the School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia and the Princess Margaret Hospital from 2002-2007. She has been employed by the University of Sydney and Children's Hospital Westmead since 2007. [More...]

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Research interests

Dr Skinner's current research program spans several areas within the field of sexual and reproductive health, including 1) teenage pregnancy, condom and contraception use, 2) the correlates and antecedents of teenage sexual risk taking, 3) knowledge and acceptability, and promotion of HPV vaccination in school based and clinic vaccination programs in Australia, and 3) clinical trials of HPV vaccines.

Her research methods expertise is broad based and includes quantitative approaches such as longitudinal cohort studies, large cross-sectional surveys, community based health promotion interventions and qualitative research. Much of the subject area of her work (teenage sexuality, behaviour and education) is highly sensitive, and has specific ethical challenges.

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PhD and Masters' project opportunities

Adolescent Sexual Behaviours

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Current national competitive grants*

2012

Randomised Controlled Evaluation of a Complex Intervention to Promote Uptake of School-based HPV Vaccination
Skinner R, Cooper S, McCaffery K, Zimet G, McGeechan K, Whyte P, Regan D
NHMRC Project Grants ($723,634 over 3 years)

2011

Adolescent Rural Cohort Study Hormones, Health, Education, Environments and Relationships
Steinbeck K, Hawke C, Hazell P, Skinner R, Ivers R, Booy R, Cumming R, Fulcher G
National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant ($975,652 over 4 years)

2010

Childhood determinants of risky sexual behaviour in adolescence: a prospective cohort study
Skinner R, Hickey M, Mattes E, Doherty D, Smith A, Rosenthal S, Cooper S
NHMRC Project Grant ($371,025 over 3 years)

* Grants administered through the University of Sydney

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Keywords

Human papillomavirus; Vaccines and vaccinology; Sexually transmitted diseases; Adolescent health; Public health

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Publications

2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

2012

   
  • Smith, J., Fenwick, J., Skinner, R., Hallet, J., Merriman, G., Marshall, L. (2012), Sex, Condoms and Sexually Transmissible Infections: A Qualitative Study of Sexual Health in Young Australian Men. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 0, 0. [Abstract]

2011

   
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  • Robbins, S., Ward, K., Skinner, S. (2011), School-based vaccination: A systematic review of process evaluations. Vaccine. 29(52), 9588-99. [Abstract]
  • Garland, S., Skinner, S., Brotherton, J. (2011), Adolescent and young adult HPV vaccination in Australia: achievements and challenges. Preventive Medicine. 53(Suppl 1), S29-S35. [Abstract]
  • Yin, J., Wang, H., Skinner, S., Salkeld, G., Booy, R. (2011), Assessing seasonal vaccine-related cross-protection from 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza through teacher absenteeism. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. , 393-394. [Abstract]
  • Bernard, D., Cooper Robbins, S., McCaffery, K., Scott, C., Skinner, S. (2011), The domino effect: adolescent girls' response to human papillomavirus vaccination. The Medical Journal of Australia. 194(6), 297-300. [Abstract]
  • Smith, J., Skinner, R., Fenwick, J. (2011), How Australian Female Adolescents Prioritize Pregnancy Protection:A Grounded Theory Study of Contraceptive Histories. Journal of Adolescent Research. 26(5), 617-644.
  • Smith, J., Fenwick, J., Skinner, R., Merriman, G., Hallett, J. (2011), Young males' perspectives on pregnancy, fatherhood and condom use: Where does responsibility for birth control lie?. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare. 2(1), 37-42. [Abstract]
  • Skinner, R., Allen, D., Trottier, H., Ronsse, V., Castellsagué, X. (2011), Benefits of vaccinating young adult women against cervical cancer: A review of the evidence. Gynecologic Oncology. 121(2), S10–S20.

2010

   
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  • Cooper Robbins, S., Bernard, D., McCaffery, K., Brotherton, J., Skinner, S. (2010), "I just signed": Factors influencing decision-making for school-based HPV vaccination of adolescent girls. Health Psychology. 29(6), 618-625. [Abstract]
  • Lewis, L., Doherty, D., Hickey, M., Skinner, S. (2010), Predictors of sexual intercourse and rapid-repeat pregnancy among teenage mothers: an Australian prospective longitudinal study. Medical Journal of Australia. 193(6), 338-342. [Abstract]
  • Skinner, S., Cooper Robbins, S. (2010), Voluntary school-based human papillomavirus vaccination: an efficient and acceptable model for achieving high vaccine coverage in adolescents. The Journal of Adolescent Health. 47, 215-218. [Abstract]
  • Robbins, S., Bernard, D., McCaffery, K., Skinner, S. (2010), 'It's a logistical nightmare!' Recommendations for optimising human papillomavirus school-based vaccination experience. Sexual Health. 7(3), 271-278. [Abstract]
  • Kang, M., Skinner, R., Usherwood, T. (2010), Interventions for young people in Australia to reduce HIV and sexually transmissible infections: a systematic review. Sexual Health. 7(2), 107-128. [Abstract]
  • Lewis, L., Doherty, D., Hickey, M., Skinner, S. (2010), Implanon as a contraceptive choice for teenage mothers: a comparison of contraceptive choices, acceptability and repeat pregnancy. Contraception. 81(5), 421-426. [Abstract]
  • Cooper Robbins, S., Bernard, D., McCaffery, K., Brotherton, J., Garland, S., Skinner, S. (2010), "Is cancer contagious?": Australian adolescent girls and their parents: making the most of limited information about HPV and HPV vaccination. Vaccine. 28(19), 3398-3408. [Abstract]

2009

   
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  • Cooper, S., Skinner, R. (2009), Clarifying the importance of HPV vaccination. Singapore Medical Journal. , 841-2; author reply 843. [Abstract]
  • Paavonen, J., Naud, P., Salmerón, J., Wheeler, C., Chow, S., Apter, D., Kitchener, H., Castellsague, X., Teixeira, J., Skinner, S., Hedrick, J., Jaisamrarn, U., Limson, G., Garland, S., Szarewski, A., Romanowski, B., Aoki, F., Schwarz, T., Poppe, W., Bosch, F., Jenkins, D., Hardt, K., Zahaf, T., Descamps, D., Struyf, F., Lehtinen, M., Dubin, G., Greenacre, M. (2009), Efficacy of human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine against cervical infection and precancer caused by oncogenic HPV types (PATRICIA): final analysis of a double-blind, randomised study in young women. Lancet. 374(9686), 301-314. [Abstract]
  • Skinner, S., Smith, J., Fenwick, J., Hendriks, J., Fyfe, S., Kendall, G. (2009), Pregnancy and protection: perceptions, attitudes and experiences of Australian female adolescents. Women and birth. 22(2), 50-56. [Abstract]
  • Lewis, L., Hickey, M., Doherty, D., Skinner, S. (2009), How do pregnancy outcomes differ in teenage mothers? A Western Australian study. The Medical Journal of Australia. 190(10), 537-541. [Abstract]
  • Weisberg, E., Bateson, D., McCaffery, K., Skinner, S. (2009), HPV vaccination catch up program - utilisation by young Australian women. Australian Family Physician. 38(1-2), 72-76. [Abstract]
  • Skinner, R., Parsons, A., Kang, M., Williams, H., Fairley, C. (2009), Young people and sexually transmitted infections. In: Challenges in Adolescent Health: An Australian Perspective. (pp.205-215).United States: Nova Science Publishers.
  • Cooper, S., Skinner, R. (2009), Letter to the Editor: clarifying the importance of HPV Vaccination. Singapore Medical Journal. 50, 1-2.

2008

   
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  • Skinner, S., Smith, J., Fenwick, J., Fyfe, S., Hendriks, J. (2008), Perceptions and experiences of first sexual intercourse in Australian adolescent females. The Journal of adolescent health. 43(6), 593-599. [Abstract]
  • Garland, S., Brotherton, J., Skinner, S., Pitts, M., Saville, M., Mola, G., Jones, R. (2008), Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer in Australasia and Oceania: risk-factors, epidemiology and prevention. Vaccine. 26 Suppl 12, M80-8. [Abstract]
  • Skinner, S., Garland, S., Stanley, M., Pitts, M., Quinn, M. (2008), Human papillomavirus vaccination for the prevention of cervical neoplasia: is it appropriate to vaccinate women older than 26?. The Medical journal of Australia. 188(4), 238-42. [Abstract]
  • Skinner, R., Brotherton, J. (2008), Sexual risk assessment is not helpful for recommendations on human papillomavirus vaccination. Therapy. 5(3), 283-287.

2007

   
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  • Kang, M., Skinner, R., Foran, T. (2007), Sex, contraception and health. Australian family physician. 36(8), 594-599. [Abstract]
  • Paavonen, J., Jenkins, D., Bosch, F., Naud, P., Salmerón, J., Wheeler, C., Chow, S., Apter, D., Kitchener, H., Castellsague, X., de Carvalho, N., Skinner, S., Harper, D., Hedrick, J., Jaisamrarn, U., Limson, G., Dionne, M., Quint, W., Spiessens, B., Peeters, P., Struyf, F., Wieting, S., Lehtinen, M., Dubin, G. (2007), Efficacy of a prophylactic adjuvanted bivalent L1 virus-like-particle vaccine against infection with human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in young women: an interim analysis of a phase III double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 369(9580), 2161-2170. [Abstract]
  • Skinner, S., Kang, M., Rosenthal, S. (2007), Vaccinating young adults against human papillomavirus: the importance of understanding health decision-making and behaviour. Sexual Health. 4(2), 129-132. [Abstract]
  • Skinner, S., Parsons, A., Kang, M., Williams, H., Fairley, C. (2007), Sexually transmitted infections. Initiatives for prevention. International journal of adolescent medicine and health. 19(3), 285-294. [Abstract]

2006

   
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  • Skinner, S., Kang, M. (2006), Human papillomavirus prevalence in Canberra high school students: significance for vaccination strategies and adolescent health. Sexual Health. , 299-300. [Abstract]