Dr Roberto Forero

Senior Research Fellow

MA, MPH, PhD

School / Unit

The Simpson Centre for Health Services Research

Research Interests

Health services research in the Emergency Department. Measurement of chronic disease prevalence by using self reported data. Investigation of factors associated with deleterious lifestyle. Health Services research and community based programs for managing chronic complex diseases in the elderly. Measurement issues, validity, reliability and development of instruments in health promotion and health services research.

Broad Research Areas

I have been working with the Simpson Centre since January 2002. The main focus of my work has been in the application of behavioural epidemiology principles on health services research (HSR). A key area of HSR within the SC at present focus on equity, effectiveness and efficiency of the Emergency Department (ED). The Simpson Centre works in the conceptualisation and the implementation of the project in close collaboration with clinicians from Liverpool Hospital ED and other researchers from other academic institutions. The project also attempts to develop and or validate and develop measurement tools that can readily be used by ED clinicians and their staff.

Professional Associations

• Member of the Public Health Association of Australia
• Member of the Australian Epidemiological Association
• Full member of the Australian Health Promotion Association
• Member of the Health Services Association of Australia and New Zealand

Awards

Donaldson A, Forero R, Caroline Finch. Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Applied Research in Sports Medicine by a Research Team. Sports Safety Awards: NSW Sporting Injuries Committee, 2003.

Research Grants

• Hillman K, Bauman A, Ieraci S, Young L, Phung H, Forero R. (2002-2005). $390,000 for 3 years. Define and categorise patients according to appropriate placement after assessment in the ED department. Australian Health Minister’s Advisory Council- Priority Driven Research (AHMAC-PDR).
• Hillman K, Bauman A, Ieraci S, Forero R. (2002). $50,000. Changes in volume and nature of emergency presentations to Hospital. Australian Health Minister’s Advisory Council- Priority Driven Research (AHMAC-PDR).
• Davies L, Dumbrell S, Forero R, Whitecross P, (2000-2001). $20,000 per year for 2 years. Grant funded by the NSW Health Department Research & Development Grant Scheme. This project is investigating nutrition practices in Youth Housing Services in Northern Sydney.
• Forero R, Bauman (1998-1999). $10,000 for analysing and reporting on the mental health component of the 1996 ASSAD Survey data. Centre for Mental Health, NSW Health Department.

Peer Review Contributor to the Following Journals

• British Medical Journal
• Emergency Medicine Journal- BMJ Group
• Emergency Medicine of Australasia
• Tobacco Control
• Paediatrics
• Australian Health Review
• Drug and Alcohol Review
• Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
• Medical Journal of Australia
• Health Promotion Journal of Australia
• Journal of Adolescent Health
• International Journal of Clinical Practice.

Publications

Forero R, Hillman K, McCarthy S, Fatovich D, Joseph A, Richardson DW. Access block and Emergency Department Overcrowding. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 2010; 22:119-135. (In Press 15 April 2010).

Mohsin M, Bauman A, Forero R. Socio economic correlates and Trends in Smoking in Pregnancy in New South Wales, Australia. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (accepted February 2010, In Press).

Nugus P, Forero R. The importance of understanding interdepartmental and organizational work in the emergency department. An ethnographic approach. International Emergency Nursing (accepted March 2010. In Press)

Forero R, Hillman K, McCarthy S, Fatovich D, Joseph A, Richardson DW. Access block and ED Overcrowding: a systematic literature review, 1998-2008. Emergency Medicine Australasia (Submitted Dec 2008, under review).

Garrett P, Forero R, Dickson H, Whelan AK. How are language barriers bridged in acute hospital care? The tale of two methods of data collection. Australian Health Review (2008; 32: 755-765.

Garrett P, Dickson H, Young L, Whelan AK, Forero R. What do non-English speaking patients value in acute care? Cultural competency from the patient’s perspective: a qualitative study. Ethnicity and Health, 2008; 13: 479-496.

Garrett P, Forero R, Whelan AK, Dickson H. Communication and Healthcare Complexity in People with Little or No English: The Communication Complexity Score. Ethnicity and Health, 2008; 13: 203-217.

Forero R, Mohsin M, Young L, Ieraci S, McCarthy S, Hillman, Santiano N, Bauman A, Phung H. Prevalence of morphine use and time to initial analgesia in an Australian emergency department. Emergency Medicine of Australasia, 2008; 20:136-143.

Forero R. (Book Review) Inventing disease and pushing pills: pharmaceutical companies and the medicalisation of normal life by Jorg Blech. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2008; 19:74.

Mohsin M, Forero R, Berthelsen A, Bauman A, Jalaludin B, Gyaneshwar R. Social influences for smoking in pregnancy in South Western Sydney antenatal clinic attendees. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2007; 47: 207-212.

Mohsin M, Forero R, Ieraci S, Bauman A, Young L, Santiano N. A population follow up study of patients who left emergency department without been seen by a medical officer. Emergency Medicine Journal. 2007; 24:175-179.

Lucumí DI, Sarmiento OL, Forero R, Gomez LF, Espinosa G. Community intervention to promote consumption of fruits and vegetables, smoke-free environments, and physical activity among home caregivers in Bogotá, Colombia. Preventing Chronic Disease [serial online] 2006 October Volume 3:No.4 (date cited: Nov 10 2006). Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/oct/06_0014.htm.

Garrett P, Forero R. Racism and healthcare: experiences of Arabic-speaking patients (letter). A&NZJ Pub Health; 2006:30(4):389.

Forero R, Ieraci S, Young L, Bauman A, Hillman K. Prevalence of psychological distress assessed in the Emergency Department-letter. Emergency Medicine Journal; 2006:23:489.

Gomez LF, Sarmiento OL, Lucumi DI, Espinosa G, Forero R, Bauman A. Prevalence and factors associated with walking and cycling for transport among young adults in two low income localities of Bogota, Colombia. Journal of Physical Activity and Health 2005; 2(4):445-459.

Corner H, Rissel C, Smith B, Forero R, et al. Sexual health behaviours among pacific island youth in Vanuatu, Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia. Australian Journal of Health Promotion; 2005, 16:2:144-150.

Forero R, Mohsin M, Bauman A, Ieraci S, Young L, Phung H, Hillman M, McCarthy S, Hugelmeyer D. Access-block in NSW hospitals: 1999 to 2001. Does the definition matter? Medical Journal of Australia 2004; 180: (19): 67-70

Donaldson A, Forero R, Finch C. The first aid policies and practices of community sports clubs in northern Sydney, Australia. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2004; 15 (2): 155-161.

Donaldson A, Forero R, Finch C, Hill T. A comparison of sport safety policies and practices of community sports clubs during training and competition in northern Sydney, Australia. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2004; 38:60-63.

Donaldson A, Hill T, Finch C, Forero R. The development of a tool to audit the safety policies and practices of community sports clubs. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2003; 6: (2): 226-230.

Forero R, Chen J, Rissel C, Bauman A. New Statistical Methods: Their role in Health Promotion Research and Evaluation- Part 2. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2002: 13: (3): 242-246.

Chen J, Forero R, Rissel C, Bauman A. New Statistical Methods: Their role in Health Promotion Research and Evaluation- Part 1. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2002: 13: (2):72-76.

Chen J, Bauman A, Rissel C, Tang KC, Forero R, Flaherty B. Substance use in high schools students in New South Wales, Australia, in relation to language spoken at home. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2000: 26:53-63.

Forero R., Bauman A. Population health approaches to defining the mental health problems of Australian adolescents. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 1999; 1(4): 26-33.

Forero R, McLellan L, Rissel C, Bauman A. Bullying behaviours and psychosocial health among school students in New South Wales, Australia. British Medical Journal, 1999; 319: 344-348.

Forero R, Bauman A, Chen XJ, Flaherty B. Substance use and sociodemographic factors amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students in New South Wales. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 1999; 23 :(2): 295-300.

Forero R, Bauman A, Chen XJ, Flaherty B. Alcohol and other drugs usage amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students in New South Wales, Australia. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health 1998; 10:(1):39-50.

Forero R. (Book Review) Substance misuse in adolescence by Gullota TP, Adams GR and Montemayor (Eds). Journal of Health Psychology 1997: (1): 118-120.

Forero R, Bauman A, Young L, Booth M and Nutbeam D. Asthma, health behaviours, social adjustment, and psychosomatic symptoms in adolescence. Journal of Asthma 1996;33:(3), 157-166.

Ramm J, Bauman A, Young L, Forero R. A survey of asthma knowledge and practices of child care workers. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 1994: 19:4 (Dec):18-24.

Forero R, Dechnicz V, Kerecz M, et al. Utilisation rates of primary care services at the Campbelltown Hospital Emergency Department. Australian Family Physician, 1994:23,1105-1113.

Young L, Forero R, and Bauman A. Adolescent asthma: prevalence, management and risk factors. Results from epidemiological studies. Paper presented at the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Australia and New Zealand Journal of Medicine. 1992:22.

Forero R, Bauman A, Young L, and Larkin P. Asthma prevalence and management in Australian adolescents: results from three community surveys. Journal of Adolescent Health, 1992:13:707-712.

Young L, Forero R, Bauman A, and Larkin P. Sampling bias in asthma surveys of patients attending general practitioners in South Western Sydney. Australian Family Physician, 1992:21: 859-863.

Young L, Bauman A, Forero R, and Larkin P. Community-wide asthma education program in the Campbelltown Region of South-Western Sydney: A progress report. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 1992:2:23-27.

Forero R, Young L, and Bauman A. Asthma among adolescents: a new Issue? The Medical Journal of Australia, 1991:155: 62-63.

Reports

Forero R. Hillman K. Access Block and Overcrowding: A literature review. Report Commissioned by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Access Block Solutions Summit, Melbourne, 12 September 2008. Available from: http://www.acem.org.au/media/media_releases/Access_Block_Literature_Review_08_Sept_3.pdf

Hillman K, Bauman A, Forero R, Ieraci Sue, Young L, Phung H. Define and categorise patients according to appropriate placement in the Emergency department (ED). Final report to the AHMAC PDR. 2002-2005 Grant.

Berthelsen A, Bauman A, Jalaludin B, Mohsin M, Gyaneshwar R, Phung H, Young L, Forero R. Needs assessment of smoking in pregnancy in South Western Sydney. Report to SSWAHS Health Promotion Unit. May 2005.

Donaldson A, Hill T, Brnabic A, Finch C, Forero R, Wilson S. The sports safety policies and practices of community netball clubs. Northern Sydney Health Promotion, 2002.

Donaldson A, Brnabic A, Hill T, Finch C, Forero R, Wilson S. The sports safety policies and practices of community rugby league clubs. Northern Sydney Health Promotion, 2002.

Donaldson A, Hill T, Forero R, Brnabic A, Finch C, Wilson S. The sports safety policies and practices of community rugby union clubs. Northern Sydney Health Promotion, 2001.

Donaldson A, Hill T, Finch C, Forero R, Brnabic A, Wilson S. The sports safety policies and practices of community soccer clubs. Northern Sydney Health Promotion, 2001.

Forero R, Bauman A. Mental health report: 1996& 1999 NSW ASSAD surveys. Sydney: Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research Unit, University of Sydney, 2001.

Bauman A, McLellan L, Young L, Hogan A, Forero R. Trends in adolescent health in south western Sydney. SWSAHS Epidemiology Unit, 1999.

Forero R., Bauman A., Stewart G. Mental health indicators and co-morbidity factors among secondary school students in New South Wales. Centre for Mental Health, NSW Health Department.

Forero R, Rosier M, Bauman A et al. 1996 Australian School Students’ Alcohol and Drugs Survey (ASSAD)- NSW Data Technical Report. Sydney: NSW Health Department and the NSW Cancer Council (1997).

Forero R. After hours utilisation of services project. Final report to the Commonwealth Department of Health. (1994). Sydney: Macarthur Division of General Practice and the South Western Sydney Area Health Service.

Young L. Rowlands D, Bauman A, Forero R, et al. Adolescent health in South Western Sydney 1992. A population based study. Report to the Department of School Education. Sydney, 1993.

Forero R, Young L, Bauman A. Findings of the population surveys conducted by the Campbelltown Asthma Programme. Report to the General Practitioners who participated in the second population survey. Sydney, April 1992.

Forero R Asthma self-management behaviours and ethnic factors among patients from non-English speaking backgrounds. Report to the Campbelltown Asthma Project, Sydney, 1992.

Book Chapters

Forero R., Bauman A., Stewart G. Mental health indicators and substance use: a cross-sectional survey of secondary school children in New South Wales, Australia. In Singh NN, Leung JP, Singh AN (Editors). International perspectives on child and adolescent mental heatlh. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2000; 125-140.

Forero R, Bauman A. and Young L. Asthma morbidity among adolescents. In Kenny D and Job RFS (editors), Australia's Adolescents: A Health Psychology Perspective. Armidale: University Partnership Press, University of New England, 1995.

Conference Presentations

Forero R, Santiano N, McCarthy S, Young L. Measuring self-reported pain in a multi-culturally based emergency department in Sydney, Australia. (Abstract No. 801). 6th Congress of the European Federation of IASP (EFIC) Pain in Europe VI. Lisbon, Portugal September 9-12, 2009. European Journal of Pain; 2009: 13:S1: S230.

Forero R, Santiano N. Assessment of a dependency tool (DT) in the emergency department: implications for self-management. International Congress on Chronic Disease Self-management (oral presentation). Melbourne, Australia, 26-28 November 2008.

Forero R and Garrett P. The Communication Complexity Score- a model for estimating relative need for professional healthcare interpreters based on patient complexity. International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health Care (Poster presentation). Paris, France, 22-25 April 2008.

Garrett P.W., Dickson H.G., Young L., Klinken Whelan A. Forero R. The Cultural Empowerment Model of Cultural Competency: The experiences and constructions of patients with limited English. Symposium Presentation in Conference Program and Abstract Book, Diversity in Health Conference, Strengths and Sustainable Solutions, 10–12 March 2008. Sydney, NSW.

Garrett P.W., Forero R, Dickson H.G., Klinken Whelan A. The Illusion that it has Been Accomplished: Access to interpreters in the acute hospital. Symposium Presentation in Conference Program and Abstract Book, Diversity in Health Conference, Strengths and Sustainable Solutions, 10–12 March 2008.Sydney, NSW.

Garrett P.W., Forero R., Dickson H.G. & Klinken Whelan A. Constructing a Score Measuring Complexity in Populations of Limited English Elderly Patients. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, ‘Getting on with Life: Rehabilitation and chronic illness in old age’ 1–2 April 2008. Wollongong, NSW

Forero R and Tang KC, Using quantitative and qualitative research in surveillance systems for adolescents health behaviour and lifestyles. PAHO Health Promotion Forum in the Americas. (oral presentation). Santiago, Chile, 20-24 October 2002.

Forero R, Phongsavan P, Olatunbosun-Alakija A, Galea G, Bauman A, Smith B, Chen J, Tang KC, Rissel C. Implementing surveillance programs for adolescents in the South Pacific. A case study of cross country collaboration. PAHO Health Promotion Forum in the Americas (poster presentation). Santiago, Chile, 20-24 October 2002.

Forero R & Tang KC (Spanish), El uso de técnicas cuantitativas y cualitativas en el desarrollo de sistemas de monitoreo del estilo de vida y de los comportamientos saludables. II Chilean Health Promotion Congress, (oral presentation). Santiago, Chile, 24-26 October 2002.

Forero R, Bauman A. (Paper presentation). Self reported mental health problems in adolescence: cross sectional surveys of secondary school children in 1996 and 1999. Third International Conference on Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 11-15 June 2002, Brisbane. Elsevier Science Ltd.

Forero R, Donaldson A. (Paper presentation). The meaning of “don’t know” responses: issues of validity and reliability using a sport safety audit tool in injury prevention research. 33rd Public Health Association Conference. 23-26 September 2001, Hilton Hotel, Sydney.

Forero R, Rissel C, Chen J, Tang KC, Smith B, Thomas M, Bauman A. Using quantitative & qualitative research in adolescent surveys (workshop). 33rd Public Health Association Conference. 23-26 September 2001, Hilton Hotel, Sydney.

Forero R, McLellan L, Rissel C, Bauman A. The use of multinomial logistic regression in STATA to assess bullying behaviours in schools. (Conference presentation: AASR Annual Conference 1999:12-13 February 1999, Australian Association for Social Research Conference, University of New South Wales, Sydney).

Forero R, Bauman A, Stewart G. Mental health problems and substance use among NSW secondary school students (Conference presentation): First International Conference on Drugs and Young People, 22-24 November 1998, Melbourne. Australian Drug Foundation.

Forero R, Bauman A, Stewart G. Substance use and self reported indicators of mental health among 12-17 year olds: a cross sectional survey of secondary school children in 1996 (Conference presentation: First International Conference on Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2-6 June 1998, Hong Kong. Elsevier Science Ltd).

Forero R. Alcohol and other drugs usage amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students in New South Wales, Australia. Paper presented at the First International Conference on Health and Culture in Adolescence, sponsored by the International Association for Adolescent Health, Jerusalem, Israel, 24-27 November 1996.

Forero R Bauman A, Chen JXC, Flaherty B. Alcohol and other drug usage amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school children. Paper presented at the Drugs and Young People Conference, Australian Drug Foundation, Sydney University, September 28-October 1 1996.

Forero R, Bauman A, Chen J, Cooney A, Dobbinson S and Flaherty Bruce. 1993 survey of drug use by primary school students in NSW, Australia. Paper presented at the Child Health 2000 International Conference, Vancouver, Canada, May 30-June 3 1995.

Forero R, Bauman A, Chen J, Cooney A, Dobbinson S and Flaherty Bruce. Trends of drug use among NSW primary school students. Paper presented at the Youth Alcohol Seminar, Australian Drug Foundation, Melbourne, Victoria, April 10-12, 1995.

Forero R, Bauman A, Young L, Booth M and Nutbeam D. Smoking, drinking and asthma prevalence among South Western Sydney Adolescents. Proceedings of the Australasian Epidemiological Association Conference, Adelaide: 25 September 1994, Vol 1: 10.