Dr Blythe O'Hara
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Dr Blythe O'Hara

BA, BSW, MAppSci, PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Prevention Research Collaboration
Sydney School of Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Phone
+61 2 9036 3291
Details
Dr Blythe O'Hara

Blythe is currently a Senior Research Fellow within the Prevention Research Collaboration. Blythe’s particular research interests include behaviour change (at an individual and population level), social marketing and mass media campaigns, program evaluation and translational research (and the process of adopting evidence to public health initiatives).

Publications

Journals

  • Kite, J., Grunseit, A., Mitchell, G., Cooper, P., Chan, L., Huang, B., Thomas, M., O'Hara, B., Smith, A. (2024). Impact of Traditional and New Media on Smoking Intentions and Behaviors: Secondary Analysis of Tasmania’s Tobacco Control Mass Media Campaign Program, 2019-2021. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26(1). [More Information]
  • Lee, K., Crane, M., Grunseit, A., O'Hara, B., Milat, A., Wolfenden, L., Bauman, A., Van Nassau, F. (2023). Development and Application of the Scale-Up Reflection Guide (SRG). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(11). [More Information]
  • Chan, L., Freeman, B., Hughes, C., Richmond, K., Dibbs, J., O'Hara, B. (2023). Exploring motivations for engagement with the Healthy Lunch Box campaign on social media. Health Promotion International, 38(6), 38. [More Information]

Conferences

  • O'Hara, B., Phongsavan, P., Eggins, D., Venugopal, K., Bauman, A. (2011). NSW Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service participant profile: reaching those most at need and facilitating lifestyle changes? International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity.
  • O'Hara, B. (2010). A case study in primary prevention: NSW Get Healthy Information & Coaching Service. Masters of Public Health: Module 2 Planning for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
  • O'Hara, B. (2010). Developing Innovative Health Management Programs for the public to prevent the onset of chronic disease: the Get Healthy Initiative. Population Health Management Conference.

Magazine / Newspaper Articles

  • O'Hara, B. (2012). Food choices a Lifestyle changes. How to fight cancer.
  • O'Hara, B. (2012). How smokers quit smoking. Medical Observer.
  • O'Hara, B. (2012). What is a healthy lifestyle? Prevention.

Research Reports

  • Gill, T., Hector, D., Rissel, C., Trieu, K., Zhong, A., O'Hara, B., Bauman, A. (2013). Whole of Government Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Rapid Review, January 2013, (pp. 5 - 184). Sydney, Australia: The Sax Institute.

2024

  • Kite, J., Grunseit, A., Mitchell, G., Cooper, P., Chan, L., Huang, B., Thomas, M., O'Hara, B., Smith, A. (2024). Impact of Traditional and New Media on Smoking Intentions and Behaviors: Secondary Analysis of Tasmania’s Tobacco Control Mass Media Campaign Program, 2019-2021. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26(1). [More Information]

2023

  • Lee, K., Crane, M., Grunseit, A., O'Hara, B., Milat, A., Wolfenden, L., Bauman, A., Van Nassau, F. (2023). Development and Application of the Scale-Up Reflection Guide (SRG). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(11). [More Information]
  • Chan, L., Freeman, B., Hughes, C., Richmond, K., Dibbs, J., O'Hara, B. (2023). Exploring motivations for engagement with the Healthy Lunch Box campaign on social media. Health Promotion International, 38(6), 38. [More Information]
  • McGill, B., Lees, D., Salisbury, J., Reynolds, T., Davidson, S., Dorney, E., Jeong, Y., O'Hara, B. (2023). Impact Evaluation of the Get Healthy in Pregnancy Program: Evidence of Effectiveness. Healthcare, 11(17). [More Information]

2022

  • Chan, L., Harris-Roxas, B., Freeman, B., MacKenzie, R., Woodland, L., O'Hara, B. (2022). Attitudes towards the ‘Shisha No Thanks’ campaign video: Content analysis of Facebook comments. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 20(October). [More Information]
  • McGill, B., Corbett, L., Grunseit, A., Irving, M., O'Hara, B. (2022). Co-Produce, Co-Design, Co-Create, or Co-Construct-Who Does It and How Is It Done in Chronic Disease Prevention? A Scoping Review. Healthcare, 10(4), 647. [More Information]
  • Chan, L., El-Haddad, N., Freeman, B., MacKenzie, R., Woodland, L., O'Hara, B., Harris-Roxas, B. (2022). Evaluation of 'Shisha No Thanks' - a co-design social marketing campaign on the harms of waterpipe smoking. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 386. [More Information]

2021

  • Chan, L., El-Haddad, N., Freeman, B., O'Hara, B., Woodland, L., Harris-Roxas, B. (2021). A case study of an SMS text message community panel survey and its potential for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. JMIR Formative Research, 5(11), 1-7. [More Information]
  • McGill, B., Grunseit, A., Phongsavan, P., Harper, C., O'Hara, B. (2021). Meal replacement soups and shakes: Do they have a place in public health practice to manage weight loss? Public Health Research and Practice, 31(1), e30012002. [More Information]

2020

  • McGill, B., Bauman, A., Phongsavan, P., Grunseit, A., Lees, D., Shepherd, L., Lawler, L., O'Hara, B. (2020). Beyond weight loss: Impact of a weight management programme for mid-older Australians in private health insurance. Clinical Obesity, 10(3), 1-11. [More Information]
  • Grunseit, A., O'Hara, B., Drayton, B., Learnihan, V., Hardy, L., Clark, E., Klarenaar, P., Engelen, L. (2020). Ecological study of playground space and physical activity among primary school children. BMJ Open, 10(6), e034586. [More Information]
  • Green, A., Mihrshahi, S., Innes-Hughes, C., O'Hara, B., McGill, B., Rissel, C. (2020). Implementation of an Early Childhood Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Program in New South Wales, Australia: Munch & Move. Frontiers in Public Health, 8(34), 1-9. [More Information]

2019

  • McGill, B., O'Hara, B., Bauman, A., Grunseit, A., Phongsavan, P. (2019). Are Financial Incentives for Lifestyle Behavior Change Informed or Inspired by Behavioral Economics? A Mapping Review. American Journal of Health Promotion, 33(1), 131-141. [More Information]
  • McGill, B., O'Hara, B., Grunseit, A., Bauman, A., Phongsavan, P., Lawler, L. (2019). Healthy Weight for Life programme: Evaluating the practice and effectiveness of a weight loss maintenance programme in the private health insurance setting. Sage Open Medicine, 7, 1-10. [More Information]
  • Cranney, L., O'Hara, B., Gale, J., Rissel, C., Bauman, A., Phongsavan, P. (2019). Telephone based coaching for adults at risk of diabetes: impact of Australia's Get Healthy Service. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 9(6), 1178-1185. [More Information]

2018

  • Thomas, M., Phongsavan, P., McGill, B., O'Hara, B., Bauman, A. (2018). A review of the impact of physical activity mass media campaigns on low compared to high socioeconomic groups. Health Education Research, 33(5), 429-446. [More Information]
  • McGill, B., O'Hara, B., Grunseit, A., Bauman, A., Osborne, D., Lawler, L., Phongsavan, P. (2018). Acceptability of financial incentives for maintenance of weight loss in mid-older adults: A mixed methods study. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 1-12. [More Information]
  • McGill, B., O'Hara, B., Phongsavan, P. (2018). Participant Perspectives of A 6-Month Telephone-Based Lifestyle Coaching Program. Public Health Research and Practice, 28(2), 1-8. [More Information]

2017

  • Partridge, S., Grunseit, A., Gallagher, P., Freeman, B., O'Hara, B., Neubeck, A., Due, S., Paull, G., Ding, D., Bauman, A., Phongsavan, P., Gallagher, R., et al (2017). Cardiac patients' experiences and perceptions of social media: mixed-methods study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(9), 1-16. [More Information]
  • Quinn, E., O'Hara, B., Ahmed, N., Winch, S., McGill, B., Banovic, D., Maxwell, M., Rissel, C. (2017). Enhancing the get healthy information and coaching service for Aboriginal adults: Evaluation of the process and impact of the program. International Journal for Equity in Health, 16, 1-11. [More Information]
  • O'Hara, B., Gale, J., McGill, B., Bauman, A., Hebden, L., Allman-Farinelli, M., Maxwell, M., Phongsavan, P. (2017). Weight-Related Goal Setting in a Telephone-Based Preventive Health-Coaching Program: Demonstration of Effectiveness. American Journal of Health Promotion, 31(6), 491-501. [More Information]

2016

  • O'Hara, B., Grunseit, A., Phongsavan, P., Bellew, W., Briggs, M., Bauman, A. (2016). Impact of the Swap It, Don't Stop It Australian National Mass Media Campaign on Promoting Small Changes to Lifestyle Behaviors. Journal of Health Communication, 21(12), 1276-1285. [More Information]
  • Crane, M., Scott, N., O'Hara, B., Aranda, S., Lafontaine, M., Stacey, I., Varlow, M., Currow, D. (2016). Knowledge of the signs and symptoms and risk factors of lung cancer in Australia: Mixed methods study. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 1-12. [More Information]
  • O'Hara, B., McGill, B., Phongsavan, P. (2016). Preventive health coaching: is there room to be more prescriptive? International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 54(2), 82-94. [More Information]

2015

  • Dixon, H., Scully, M., Durkin, S., Brennan, E., Cotter, T., Maloney, S., O'Hara, B., Wakefield, M. (2015). Finding the keys to successful adult-targeted advertisements on obesity prevention: An experimental audience testing study. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1-9. [More Information]
  • Grunseit, A., O'Hara, B., Chau, J., Briggs, M., Bauman, A. (2015). Getting the message across: Outcomes and risk profiles by awareness levels of the "measure-up" obesity prevention campaign in Australia. PloS One, 10(4), 1-15. [More Information]
  • O'Hara, B., Eggins, D., Phongsavan, P., Milat, A., Bauman, A., Wiggers, J. (2015). Piloting proactive marketing to recruit disadvantaged adults to a community-wide obesity prevention program. Public Health Research and Practice, 25(2), 1-8. [More Information]

2014

  • O'Hara, B., Phongsavan, P., King, L., Develin, E., Milat, A., Eggins, D., King, E., Smith, J., Bauman, A. (2014). 'Translational formative evaluation': critical in up-scaling public health programmes. Health Promotion International, 29(1), 38-46. [More Information]
  • Hardy, L., O'Hara, B., Rogers, K., St George, A., Bauman, A. (2014). Contribution of Organized and Nonorganized Activity to Children's Motor Skills and Fitness. Journal of School Health, 84(11), 690-696. [More Information]
  • O'Hara, B., Phongsavan, P., Gebel, K., Banovic, D., Buffett, K., Bauman, A. (2014). Longer Term Impact of the Mass Media Campaign to Promote the Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service(R): Increasing the Saliency of a New Public Health Program. Health Promotion Practice, 15(6), 828-838. [More Information]

2013

  • O'Hara, B., Phongsavan, P., Eakin, E., Develin, E., Smith, J., Greenaway, M., Bauman, A. (2013). Effectiveness of Australia's Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service(R): maintenance of self-reported anthropometric and behavioural changes after program completion. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 1-14. [More Information]
  • King, E., Grunseit, A., O'Hara, B., Bauman, A. (2013). Evaluating the effectiveness of an Australian obesity mass-media campaign: how did the 'Measure-Up' campaign measure up in New South Wales? Health Education Research, 28(6), 1029-1039. [More Information]
  • O'Hara, B., Bauman, A., Eakin, E., King, L., Haas, M., Allman-Farinelli, M., Owen, N., Cardona-Morrell, M., Farrell, L., Milat, A., Phongsavan, P. (2013). Evaluation Framework for Translational Research: Case Study of Australia's Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service(R). Health Promotion Practice, 14(3), 380-389. [More Information]

2012

  • O'Hara, B., Phongsavan, P., Venugopal, K., Eakin, E., Eggins, D., Caterson, H., King, L., Allman-Farinelli, M., Haas, M., Bauman, A. (2012). Effectiveness of Australia's Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service®: Translational research with population wide impact. Preventive Medicine, 55(4), 292-298. [More Information]
  • O'Hara, B. (2012). Food choices a Lifestyle changes. How to fight cancer.
  • O'Hara, B. (2012). How smokers quit smoking. Medical Observer.

2011

  • O'Hara, B. (2011). Cancer Institute identifies melanoma red zones. Border Mail Newspaper.
  • O'Hara, B., Phongsavan, P., Venugopal, K., Bauman, A. (2011). Characteristics of participants in Australia's Get Healthy telephone-based lifestyle information and coaching service: reaching disadvantaged communities and those most at need. Health Education Research, 26(6), 1097-1106. [More Information]
  • O'Hara, B. (2011). It won't happen to me! opinion piece on melanoma. Newcastle Herald.

2010

  • O'Hara, B. (2010). A case study in primary prevention: NSW Get Healthy Information & Coaching Service. Masters of Public Health: Module 2 Planning for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
  • O'Hara, B. (2010). Developing Innovative Health Management Programs for the public to prevent the onset of chronic disease: the Get Healthy Initiative. Population Health Management Conference.
  • O'Hara, B., Milat, A. (2010). Framing prevention: response to Fry, Gleeson and Rissel. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 21(3), 242-243. [More Information]

2009

  • Neville, L., O'Hara, B., Milat, A. (2009). Computer-tailored dietary behaviour change interventions: a systematic review. Health Education Research, 24(4), 699-720. [More Information]
  • Neville, L., O'Hara, B., Milat, A. (2009). Computer-tailored physical activity behavior change interventions targeting adults: A systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6, 30. [More Information]
  • Neville, L., Milat, A., O'Hara, B. (2009). Computer-tailored weight reduction interventions targeting adults: a narrative systematic review. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 20(1), 48-57. [More Information]

2008

  • Grant, A., O'Hara, B. (2008). Key characteristics of the commercial Australian executive coach training industry. International Coaching Psychology Review, 3(1), 57-73.
  • Grant, A., O'Hara, B. (2008). Key characteristics of the commercial Australian executive coach training industry. International Coaching Psychology Review, 3(1), 57-73.

2006

  • Grant, A., O'Hara, B. (2006). The self-presentation of Australian life coaching Schools: Cause for concern? International Coaching Psychology Review, 1(2), 21-33.

Selected Grants

2013

  • Improving outcomes for people with cardiovascular disease in the NSW community, Bauman A, Kitharides L, Banks E, Ding D, Neubeck A, Chalmers J, Grunseit A, Phongsavan P, O'Hara B, Furber S, National Heart Foundation of Australia/NSW CVRN Research Development Project Grant