Prof Samantha Thomas
@docsamantha.bsky.social
5.6K followers 2K following 880 posts
Professor of Public Health @ Deakin, Australia. Editor-in-Chief @healthpromint.bsky.social @ottawacharter40.bsky.social Commercial and political determinants of health with current projects on: gambling, fossil fuels, menopause, conflicts of interest.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
docsamantha.bsky.social
They kicked @davidpocock.bsky.social out of the sports club!!! What is going on.....🤷‍♀

Seriously, this is yet another example of how the lobbying rules in Australia must be strengthened to protect public health policy from being influenced by vested interests.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Former Wallabies star David Pocock booted from parliamentary sports club
Exclusive: Senator accused of bringing social club into disrepute after raising concerns about its association with betting lobby
www.theguardian.com
docsamantha.bsky.social
Thanks! Good luck with your essay!
Reposted by Prof Samantha Thomas
Reposted by Prof Samantha Thomas
socialsciencein.bsky.social
Example of visual social science. Participants took photos of their walks, recorded audio field notes of their sensory experiences, annotated a Google map, and participated in interviews

bsky.app/profile/docs... #socialscience #health
Reposted by Prof Samantha Thomas
mikedaube.bsky.social
Tuesday marks 75 years since the historic September 30, 1950 Doll & Hill BMJ paper confirming smoking as a cause of lung cancer. For 75 years tobacco companies have been selling and promoting products they know are lethal when used as intended.

www.bmj.com/content/2/46...
docsamantha.bsky.social
Recognising the information environment as a determinant of health #ottawa40 @ottawacharter40.bsky.social

Editorial: academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...

Interview with Tina Purnat, Elisabeth Wilhelm and Becky White:

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5uvj...

YouTube: youtu.be/ChRESMxyojY?...
docsamantha.bsky.social
And a massive thanks to the peer reviewers who provided such brilliant and thoughtful reviews on the paper 🙏.
docsamantha.bsky.social
Huge thanks to @sarahwhit10.bsky.social and Jean Hailes for supporting the data collection for this study! And brilliant coauthors @simonemccarthy.bsky.social @gracearnot.bsky.social @hannahpitt.bsky.social @katrinawood.bsky.social
docsamantha.bsky.social
We conclude that ensuring the availability of independent, evidence-based information, and regulating commercial influence in health communication, are all critical steps as part of a comprehensive public health approach to supporting individuals during the menopause transition.
docsamantha.bsky.social
“Who can you trust?”

Participants advocated for an increased focus on the provision of credible, trustworthy, and accessible information - from governments, health professionals and services.
docsamantha.bsky.social
“Yes misinformation can exacerbate feelings of confusion or anxiety during an already challenging time.”

Participants acknowledged that misinformation created significant financial and emotional risks for women.
docsamantha.bsky.social
“A lot of companies are trying to make money but are not addressing the real issues for women. Not everyone has access to reliable facts.”

However, there were concerns that those with vested interests (e.g wellness industry, some influencers, pharma) were driving menopause narratives for profits.
docsamantha.bsky.social
“Women are learning that we don't have to suffer in silence. We don't have to be ashamed and society is a little more tolerant.”

Participant’s said public awareness was important in challenging stereotypes, stigma and shame, in normalising menopause and breaking intergenerational silence.
docsamantha.bsky.social
Public narratives about menopause are framed by a range of stakeholders, who contribute to shaping women's experiences of and attitudes towards menopause.

Our new study sought
Australian women's opinions about increased public attention to menopause. 🧵/

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
“Menopause is not a dirty word.” Australian women's opinions about increased public attention to menopause
Public narratives about menopause are framed by a range of stakeholders, who contribute to shaping women's experiences of and attitudes towards menopa…
www.sciencedirect.com
Reposted by Prof Samantha Thomas
dthlab.bsky.social
What are the #DigitalDeterminantsOfHealth – and why do they matter now? #Editorial by @louiseholly.bsky.social, #SoeYuNaing, #HannahPitt, @docsamantha.bsky.social & #IlonaKickbusch explores how #DigitalTech, #AI & #DataSystems are reshaping health.

Read: academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...
docsamantha.bsky.social
“The club is chaired by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese. Its corporate members include fossil fuel company Ampol, alcohol companies Lion and Diageo, outsourcing company Serco, consultancy firm Canberra Consulting and other companies.”

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Gambling lobby’s sponsorship of Australian parliament’s sports club condemned by crossbench MPs
Exclusive: Kate Chaney calls on PM to remove Responsible Wagering Australia’s membership, which allows sponsors to access ‘key opinion leaders’
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Prof Samantha Thomas
crismontenegro.bsky.social
New article in Social Theory & Health, co-authored with
@judegreen.bsky.social, open access.

In a nutshell we argue that that lived-experience research is not the same as qualitative sociology in health research. The difference exists and matters.

Read here: rdcu.be/evZ7F