Professor David Thomas
Head, Tobacco Control Research
Qualifications:
PhD, Northern Territory University, 2001; Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, 1993; Master of Medical Science (Clinical Epidemiology), University of Newcastle, 1995; Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, University of Liverpool, 1988; Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Sydney, 1985.
Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:
Principal Supervisor for PhD
Location:
Darwin - Royal Darwin Hospital campus
Biography:
Professor Thomas has worked in Indigenous health and health research for 30 years. He has worked as a doctor for three Aboriginal community controlled health services. He has published peer-reviewed research articles about many aspects of Indigenous health and the book, Reading Doctors’ Writing (Aboriginal Studies Press, 2004).
Prof Thomas established and has led the Tobacco Control Research Program at Menzies since 2007. He has completed research about many aspects of Indigenous tobacco control, including the national longitudinal study ‘Talking About The Smokes’, an RCT, Cochrane reviews, qualitative research (including the examination of historical tobacco industry documents), evaluations of local and national policies and projects, and monitoring trends in smoking. This work has been in collaboration with Australian and international researchers, including many Indigenous researchers, and in close partnership with Indigenous communities and organisations, especially Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
Prof Thomas is involved in the translation of research into policy and practice through advocacy, collaborations with policy makers and practitioners, and his membership on several important national and NT committees.
Research Themes
- Thomas, D.P., Scollo, M. (2018) Should a smoking question be added to the Australian 2021 census? [Editorial] Aust N Z J Public Health Early View. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12788
- Thomas, D.P., Abbot, P. (2018) Smoking [book chapter]. In: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. National guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Evidence base. 3rd edn. East Melbourne, Vic: RACGP. p12-17. Available at: https://www.racgp.org.au/download/Documents/Guidelines/National-guide-3rd-ed-web-final.pdf.
- Thomas, D.P., Davey, M.E., Panaretto, K.S., van der Sterren, A.E. (2017) Cannabis use among two national samples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tobacco smokers. Drug Alc Rev. DOI: 10.1111/dar. Available: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.12609/pdf
- Thomas, D.P., Panaretto, K., Davey, M., Briggs, V., Borland, R. (2017) The social determinants and starting and sustaining quit attempts in a national sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers. Aust NZ J Public Health;41:230-36. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12626, Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1753-6405.12626/pdf
- Thomas, D., Davey, M., Briggs, V., & Borland, R. (2015). Talking about the smokes: summary and key findings. Medical Journal of Australia, 202(10): S3-S4.
- Thomas, D., Briggs, V., Couzos, S., Davey, M., Hunt, J., Panaretto, K., et al. (2015). Research methods of ‘Talking about the Smokes’: An International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Medical Journal of Australia, 202(10): S5-S12.
- Thomas, D., Panaretto, K., Stevens, M., Bennet, P., & Borland, R. (2015). Smoke-free homes and workplaces of a national sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Medical Journal of Australia, 202(10): S33-S38.
- Walker, N., Johnston, V., Glover, M., Bullen, C., Trenholme, A., Thomas, D.P., et al. (2015). The effect of a family-centred environmental tobacco smoke intervention to reduce respiratory illness in Indigenous infants: A randomised controlled trial. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17: 48-57.
- Thomas, D.P., Bainbridge, R., & Tsey, K. (2014). Changing discourses of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, 1914-2013. Medical Journal of Australia, 201(1 Suppl): S15-S18.
- Thomas, D.P., & Stevens, M. (2014). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoke-free homes, 2002 to 2008. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 38(2): 147-153.
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