Joanne Dono

Joanne Dono

School of Psychology

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Dr Jo Dono (BA Psych Hons; Master of Psychology, PhD) is Deputy Director at the Health Policy Centre, SAHMRI, a Cancer Council Early Career Research Fellow, and a Senior Adjunct Fellow at the University of Adelaide. With a background in psychology and public health, she specialises in population approaches to preventive health behaviour change. She was recently awarded funding to investigate the potential of re-framing unhealthy foods and drinks as ultra-processed to convey dietary risk having previously led the development of multiple studies investigating warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages. She also currently manages the tobacco control research and evaluation program, overseeing population monitoring, social marketing campaign evaluation and policy evaluation projects on vaping and tobacco use. She has designed, implemented, and managed numerous research and evaluation studies in Tobacco Control that have delivered evidence (60+ reports and briefings) to policy makers for health initiatives. Dr Dono was also integral to the SAHMRI COVID-19 Analytics Unit, producing over 30 timely evidence-based briefings on strategic public health COVID-19 policy decisions. Dr Dono has extensive experience in a variety of research methods that have a central aim of understanding and changing health behaviour.

Available to supervise Honours, Masters and co-supervise PhDs.

My broad research interest is in social psychology, health communication and public health approaches to health behaviour change, with a specific interest in preventing chronic health conditions associated with over-consumption of ultra-processed food and drinks.
 

I have listed specific student projects below as examples, but I am also open to discussing potential ideas and projects related to applied health behaviour change. 

Project: Conduct problem-centered interviews with end-users (i.e. clinicians, health agencies, policy makers) who bring with them their own experiences plus perspectives on solutions to the problem of communicating dietary advice.

Description:

The aim of this study is to understand how best to frame the problem and solution of providing brief dietary advice interventions to consumers who are at risk of chronic health problems due to over-consuming ultra-processed foods and drinks.

Project available for: Hons, Masters thesis, PhD

Research project start: Semester 1 or 2

Special requirements: Good working knowledge of behavioural theory and qualitative research methods.

 

Project: What on-pack warning label design features are most influential in reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption?  

Description:

This study builds on existing experimental study data and psychology theory regarding risk taking behaviour. It will consist of an experimental online survey aimed at refining different design aspects of warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages to achieve optimal outcomes to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

Project available for: Hons, MPH thesis, HDR

Research project start: Semester 1 or 2

Special requirements: Good working knowledge of behavioural theory, survey design and statistics.

 

Project: Developing strategies to inform effective communication about quitting smoking to smokers who are at risk of requiring vascular surgery

Description:

The aim of the research will be to develop strategies to facilitate communication between surgeons and their patients about quitting smoking. Areas of investigation will include:

  • Effective messaging about the immediate benefits of smoking cessation on surgical outcomes
  • Adapting the brief model of intervention used by other health professionals (ask, advise, refer) to suit the more complex needs of smokers in this context
  • The role of policy in supporting smoking cessation interventions in surgical contexts 

Project available for: PhD

Research project start: Semester 1 or 2

Special requirements: Good working knowledge of behavioural theory, survey design and statistics.

 

Supervisors: Jo.dono@sahmri.com; Caroline.miller@sahmri.com


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