Dr Ratika Kumar
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Southern Cross University, Australia
Researcher biography
Dr Ratika Kumar is an adjunct Senior Lecturer at Southern Cross University. Her research primarily focuses on tobacco control, oral health and mental health, employing a range of methodologies such as mixed methods, social media evaluation, co-design, and implementation science. In particular, she is dedicated to addressing the needs of priority populations, including people living with mental illness, individuals from refugee like backgrounds, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Journal Articles
Gould, Gillian Sandra (Judean), Kumar, Ratika, Ryan, Nicole M., Stevenson, Leah, Oldmeadow, Christopher, La Hera Fuentes, Gina, Deeming, Simon, Hyland, Rebecca (Judean), Yuke (Yugambeh), Kym, McMillan, Faye (Wiradjuri), Oldenburg, Brian and Clarke, Marilyn J. (Worimi) (2022). Protocol for iSISTAQUIT: Implementation phase of the supporting indigenous smokers to assist quitting project. PLoS One, 17 (11) e0274139, 1-16. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274139
Gould, Gillian S, Ryan, Nicole M, Kumar, Ratika, Stevenson, Leah C, Carson‐Chahhoud, Kristin V, Oldmeadow, Christopher, Foster, Joley, Deeming, Simon, Boydell, Katherine, Doran, Christopher M, Searles, Andrew, Mattes, Joerg, Atkins, Louise and Clarke, Marilyn (2022). SISTAQUIT: training health care providers to help pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women quit smoking. A cluster randomised controlled trial. Medical Journal of Australia, 217 (1), 36-42. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51604
Sharma-Kumar, Ratika, Puljević, Cheneal, Morphett, Kylie, Meurk, Carla and Gartner, Coral (2021). The acceptability and effectiveness of videos promoting smoking cessation among Australians experiencing mental illness. Health Education and Behavior, 49 (3), 109019812110347-515. doi: 10.1177/10901981211034738
Kumar, Ratika, Eftekhari, Parivash and Gould, Gillian (2021). Pregnant women who smoke may be at greater risk of adverse effects from bushfires. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (12) 6223. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18126223
Friend, Nadia, Hughes, Jade, Kisely, Steve, Kumar, Ratika and Siskind, Dan (2020). Appraisal of physical health guidelines for severe mental illness. Australian Health Review, 44 (6), 904-915. doi: 10.1071/AH20080
Denham, Alexandra M. J., Baker, Amanda L., Spratt, Neil J., Wynne, Olivia, Hunt, Sally A., Bonevski, Billie and Kumar, Ratika (2019). YouTube as a resource for evaluating the unmet needs of caregivers of stroke survivors. Health Informatics Journal, 26 (3), 1460458219873538-1616. doi: 10.1177/1460458219873538
Kumar, Ratika and Gould, Gillian Sandra (2019). Tobacco harm reduction for women who cannot stop smoking during pregnancy-a viable option?. JAMA Pediatrics, 173 (7), 615-616. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.0902
Gujjar, Kumar Raghav, van Wijk, Arjen, Kumar, Ratika and de Jongh, Ad (2019). Efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy for the treatment of dental phobia in adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 62, 100-108. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.12.001
Gujjar, Kumar Raghav, van Wijk, Arjen, Kumar, Ratika and de Jongh, Ad (2019). Are technology-based interventions effective in reducing dental anxiety in children and adults? A systematic review. Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice, 19 (2), 140-155. doi: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2019.01.009
Sharma-Kumar, Ratika, Meurk, Carla, Ford, Pauline, Beere, Diana and Gartner, Coral (2018). Are Australian smokers with mental illness receiving adequate smoking cessation and harm reduction information?. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27 (6), 1673-1688. doi: 10.1111/inm.12465
Sharma, Ratika, Meurk, Carla, Bell, Stephanie, Ford, Pauline and Gartner, Coral (2018). Australian mental health care practitioners’ practices and attitudes for encouraging smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction in smokers with severe mental illness. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27 (1), 247-257. doi: 10.1111/inm.12314
Sharma, Ratika, Alla, Kristel, Pfeffer, Daniel, Meurk, Carla, Ford, Pauline, Kisely, Steve and Gartner, Coral (2017). An appraisal of practice guidelines for smoking cessation in people with severe mental illness. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 51 (11), 1106-1120. doi: 10.1177/0004867417726176
Gujjar, Kumar Raghav, van Wijk, Arjen, Sharma, Ratika and de Jongh, Ad (2017). Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for the Treatment of Dental Phobia: A Controlled Feasibility Study. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 46 (3), 1-7. doi: 10.1017/S1352465817000534
Sharma, Ratika, Gartner, Coral E., Castle, David J. and Mendelsohn, Colin P. (2017). Should we encourage smokers with severe mental illness to switch to electronic cigarettes?. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 51 (7), 663-664. doi: 10.1177/0004867417697823
Gujjar, Kumar Raghav, Sharma, Ratika and De Jongh, Ad (2017). Virtual reality exposure therapy for treatment of dental phobia. Dental Update, 44 (5), 423-435. doi: 10.12968/denu.2017.44.5.423
Sharma, Ratika, Wigginton, Britta, Meurk, Carla, Ford, Pauline and Gartner, Coral E. (2017). Motivations and limitations associated with vaping among people with mental illness: a qualitative analysis of Reddit discussions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14 (1) 7, 7.1-7.15. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14010007
Meurk, Carla, Ford, Pauline, Sharma, Ratika, Fitzgerald, Lisa and Gartner, Coral (2016). Views and preferences for nicotine products as an alternative to smoking: a focus group study of people living with mental disorders. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13 (11) 1166, 1166. doi: 10.3390/ijerph13111166
Sharma, Ratika, Gartner, Coral E. and Hall, Wayne D. (2016). The challenge of reducing smoking in people with serious mental illness. Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 4 (10), 835-844. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(16)30228-4
Sharma, Ratika, Lucas, Maya, Ford, Pauline, Meurk, Carla and Gartner, Coral E. (2016). YouTube as a source of quit smoking information for people living with mental illness. Tobacco Control, 25 (6), 634-637. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052713
Doustjalali, Saeid Reza, Dar, Hlaing Thaw, Zin, Khin Thant, Gujjar, Kumar Raghav, Sharma, Ratika, Jasman, Nabil Nuraiman, Bhaukaurally, Waseem, Sisay, Fatoumatta Laibo, Jin, Lim Sook, Hilmy, Izyan Yusoff, Lwin, Ye Kyaw, Al-Jashamy, Karim, Irfan, Mohammed, Sersi, Magdi El, Linn, Nyan Htain, Lin, Wai Ma, Appalanaidu, Vinothini, Kadir, Samiah Yasmin Abdul, Mohamad, Rohaini, Ah-Chin, Wong, Yusuf, Ahmad, Wong, Rebecca S. Y., Kumarasamy, Vinoth, Nadankutty, Jeyaseelan, Suhaimi, Nazrila S. F., Christinal, P. W.T., Htwe, Myo Nandar, Khalaf, Ahmad Taha, Htet, Htet ... Sabet, Negar Shafiei (2016). Correlation between body mass index (BMI) and fasting total blood cholesterol level among undergraduate students. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 15 (9), 873-877. doi: 10.3923/PJN.2016.873.877
Doustjalali, Saeid R., Gujjar, Kumar Raghav, Sharma, Ratika, Nurfatiha, M., Nur Firzanah, R., Muhamad Syukri, M. K., Napatr, W. A., Nurul Syahirah, T. K. Z., Al-Jashamy, Karim, Irfan, Mohammed, El-Sersi, Magdi, Zin, Khin Thant, Linn, Nyan Htain, Lin, Wai Ma, Appalanaidu, Vinothini, Kadir, Samiah Yasmin Abdul, Mohamad, Rohaini, Ah-Chin, Wong, Yusuf, Ahmad, Rebecca Wong, S. Y., Kumarasamy, Vinoth, Nadankutty, Jeyaseelan, Nazrila Suhaimi, S. F., Dar, Hlaing Thaw, Htwe, Myo Nandar, Nazmul, M. H. M., Khalaf, Ahmad Taha, Htet, Htet, Yong, Saw Ai ... Sabet, Negar Shafiei (2016). Correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) among undergraduate students. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 15 (7), 618-624. doi: 10.3923/pjn.2016.618.624
Kumar, Raghav Gujjar, Ratika, Sharma, Amith, H. V., Smitha, D. and Indushekar, K. R. (2015). Apical plug technique in a calcified immature tooth: a case report. General Dentistry, 63 (1), e12-e15.
Sharma, Ratika, Hebbal, Mamata, Ankola, Anil, Murugaboopathy, Vikneshan and Shetty, Sindhu (2014). Effect of two herbal mouthwashes on gingival health of school children. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 4 (4), 272-278. doi: 10.4103/2225-4110.131373
Murugaboopathy, Vikneshan, Ankola, Anil V, Hebbal, Mamata and Sharma, Ratika (2013). Indian dental students' attitudes and practices regarding tobacco cessation counseling. Journal of Dental Education, 77 (4), 510-7.
Ankola, Anil V., Hebbal, Mamarta, Sharma, Ratika and Nayak, Shushma S. (2013). Traumatic dental injuries in primary school children of South India - a report from district-wide oral health survey. Dental Traumatology, 29 (2), 134-138. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-9657.2012.01139.x
Sharma, Ratika (2012). Cardamom comfort. Dental Research Journal, 9 (2), 237. doi: 10.4103/1735-3327.95243
Hebbal, Mamata, Ankola, Anil V., Sharma, Ratika and Johri, Shefali (2012). Effectiveness of Herbal and Fluoridated Toothpaste on Plaque and Gingival Scores Among Residents of a Working Women's Hostel - A Randomised Controlled Trial. Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry, 10 (4), 389-395.
Sharma, Ratika, Hebbal, Mamata, VAnkola, Anil and Murugabupathy, Vikneshan (2011). Mobile-phone text messaging (SMS) for providing oral health education to mothers of preschool children in Belgaum city. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 17 (8), 432-436. doi: 10.1258/jtt.2011.110416
Conference Papers
Denham, Alexandra, Baker, Amanda, Spratt, Neil, Hunt, Sally, Sharma, Ratika and Bonevski, Billie (2018). YouTube as a source of information on the needs and concerns of caregivers of stroke survivors. Stroke 2018 Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 7-10 August 2018. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
Sharma, Ratika, Meurk, Carla, Bell, Stephanie Kate, Ford, Pauline and Gartner, Coral Elizabeth (2017). Australian health practitioners’ adherence to the 5A’s of smoking cessation and barriers to delivering smoking cessation assistance to smokers with severe mental illness. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting, Florence, Italy, 8-11 March 2017.
Sharma, Ratika, Wigginton, Britta, Meurk, Carla, Ford, Pauline and Gartner, Coral Elizabeth (2017). “Vaping not only saved my life, but freed me from a cage": A qualitative analysis of social media discussions about motivations for and barriers to smokers with mental illness switching to e-cigarettes. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting, Florence, Italy, 8-11 March 2017.
Gartner, Coral Elizabeth, Bell, Stephanie Kate, Sharma Ratika, Meurk, Carla, Judith Dean, Charles Gilks and Boyd, Mark (2017). Health practitioners' attitudes toward tobacco harm reduction approaches for smokers from priority populations with co-morbidities.. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting., Florence, Italy, 8-11 March 2017.
Sharma, Ratika, Alla, Kristel, Daniel Pfeffer, Meurk, Carla, Ford, Pauline, Kisely, Steve and Gartner, Coral Elizabeth (2017). Assessing practice guidelines for smoking cessation in severe mental illness: an AGREE II appraisal. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting, Florence, Italy, 8-11 March 2017.
Cockburn, Nicole, Sharma, Ratika, Peardon, Shelley and Kavanagh, David (2016). Smoking and preferences for cessation support for dental patients. The Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists Association Queensland conference, Brisbane, Australia, 14 October 2016.
Thesis
Kumar, Ratika (2018). Evaluation and development of smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction information sources for people with mental illness: A multiple methods approach. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.822