Melissa Hobbs has a research background in women’s health and completed a Master of Public Health at the University of NSW in 1997.Melissa joined MCHR in 2006 as a full-time PhD student.Melissa’s doctoral research, which is being supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry), is a study to assess whether the rescheduling of the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) to over-the-counter status in Australia has improved its accessibility and use by women at risk of unwanted pregnancy. This is a sub-study of the study of the provision of the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) over-the-counter (OTC) in Australia.
MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS
Women’s health, sexual and reproductive health
CURRENT PROJECTS
A study of the provision of the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) over-the-counter (OTC) in Australia
Team:
Angela Taft, Kay Stewart, Lisa Amir, Colin Chapman, Judith Lumley, Julia Shelley, Anthony Smith, Melissa Hobbs, Safeera Hussainy
Funding:
ARC Linkage Grant
Status:
Letter published; paper submitted. Focus group analysis complete. Women’s national CATI survey completed and data analysis underway; national random pharmacy survey to be implemented soon
Australian women’s use of the emergency contraceptive pill: a descriptive study
Team:
Angela Taft, Melissa Hobbs, Lisa Amir, Lyn Watson, in collaboration with Women’s Health Australia, University of Newcastle
Funding:
None
Status:
Preliminary analysis completed and findings presented at Population Health Congress in July 2008
PUBLICATIONS (Selected)
Hobbs M, Taft A, Amir LH. Emergency contraception [Letter]. Aust Fam Physician, 2007;36(12):982
REPORTS
Hobbs M, Taft A, Amir L. The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) rescheduled: exploring women’s knowledge, attitudes and experiences, MCHR, 2008
CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
Hobbs M, Taft A, Amir L. “The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) rescheduled: exploring women’s knowledge, attitudes and experiences”, Population Health Congress, Brisbane, July 2008.
