Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Stimulating An Interest In Mental Health Nursing, Lorna Moxham, Renee Brighton, Terry Froggatt, Susan Liersch, Patrea Andersen

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A team of researchers at the University of Wollongong are currently examining the experiences of Bachelor of Nursing (BN) students as they engage in a stimulating learning experience in mental health.

Riding The Wave Or Paddling In The Shallows? Understanding Older Australians' Use Of The Internet, Pippa Burns, Sandra C. Jones, Don Iverson, Peter Caputi

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Issues addressed: Australia's ageing population is set to become an increasing burden on an already over-stretched primary health care system. Potential strategies to alleviate this pressure need to be investigated. Increased knowledge of older Australians? use of the internet would allow the appropriateness of online health intervention to be assessed. This initial, exploratory study examined the proportion of people aged 55 years and older who accessed the internet. It investigated their duration of use, level of comfort, use of the internet to seek health information and perceived reliability of information found on the internet. Methods: A paper based survey was …

Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Humor Therapy In Residential Care: The Sydney Multisite Intervention Of Laughterbosses And Elderclowns (Smile), Belinda Goodenough, Lee-Fay Low, Anne-Nicole Casey, Lynn Chenoweth, Richard Fleming, Peter Spitzer, Jean-Paul Bell, Henry Brodaty

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Humor therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention with potential to improve mood and quality of life for institutionalized older persons, including those with dementia. The primary aims of the Sydney Multisite Intervention of LaughterBosses and ElderClowns (SMILE) are to examine the effects of humor therapy on residents' mood, quality of life, social engagement, and agitation. Methods: SMILE is a single-blinded cluster-randomized controlled trial where 398 consented residents in 35 residential aged care facilities will be allocated to receive humor therapy or usual care. Residents allocated to the intervention group will engage in humor therapy with professional performers (ElderClowns) and trained …

Recovery In Mental Health: A Movement Towards Well-Being And Meaning In Contrast To An Avoidance Of Symptoms, Samantha Clarke, Lindsay G. Oades, Trevor Patrick Crowe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: This paper examines the types of goals being set by individuals in the context of Australian mental health services and whether goal type differs across the stages of recovery. Methods: Goal records of 144 individuals accessing services were reviewed to examine goal content, ratio of approach and avoidance oriented goals and changes across stages of psychological recovery. Results: Individuals further along in their recovery set significantly more approach goals and types of goals set appeared to reflect broader life roles. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Setting approach goals and goals that reflect broader life roles tends to support the …

A Comparison Of The Effect Of Mobile Phone Use And Alcohol Consumption On Driving Simulation Performance, Sumie Leung, Rodney J. Croft, Melinda L. Jackson, Mark E. Howard, Raymond J. Mckenzie

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: The present study compared the effects of a variety of mobile phone usage conditions to different levels of alcohol intoxication on simulated driving performance and psychomotor vigilance. Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers participated in a crossover design in which each participant completed a simulated driving task on 2 days, separated by a 1-week washout period. On the mobile phone day, participants performed the simulated driving task under each of 4 conditions: no phone usage, a hands-free naturalistic conversation, a hands-free cognitively demanding conversation, and texting. On the alcohol day, participants performed the simulated driving task at four different blood alcohol …

Growing Use Of Social Media: How Can Dietitians Embrace This Trend?, Qingcai Peng, Yasmine Probst

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of The Dietadvice Website In The Clinical Trial And Primary Healthcare Contexts, Yasmine Probst, Kathryn Boyd, Virva Walkington, Linda C. Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the DietAdvice website, a self-administered online dietary assessment, in the context of a dietary intervention randomized controlled trial [ACTRN 12608000425392]. Data available from a total of n=118 volunteers recruited to the dietary trial and using the website in the clinic at t=0, 3 and 12mo was compared with that obtained from diet histories (DH) and 3-day food record (FR). Fasting blood samples from these time points were also correlated with the macronutrient values obtained. Complete web based records were obtained for 65% of participants at t=0, 83% at t=3 …

Reporting Of Dietary Assessment Methods And Use Of Information Technology In Food-Based Randomised Controlled Trials, Yasmine Probst

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The range of randomised controlled trials reported in the scientific literature is extensive. A systematic literature review was conducted with the aim of determining how dietary assessment methods were reported and the use of assisted technologies. OVID (Medline, PreMedline, PsychINFO, Cochrane, ERIC and Cynahl) and ScienceDirect databases 2000- 2010 were searched for food-based parallel randomised controlled trials in humans. Studies relating to drug testing, vitamin or mineral supplements, enteral or parenteral nutrition and behavioural/educational interventions were excluded. Meal replacement studies were included. A total of 1364 abstracts were reviews and 347 studies identified. Additional articles referred to in the methods …

Physical Activity And Energy Expenditure In Haemodialysis Patients: An International Survey, Carla Maria Avesani, Stanislas Trolonge, Patrik Deleaval, Flavia Baria, Denise Mafra, Gerd Faxen-Irving, Phillipe Chauveau, Daniel Teta, Maria Ayako Kamimura, Maria Chan, Lilian Cuppari, Olof Heimburger, Denis Fouque

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background. The assessment of physical activity and energy expenditure is relevant to the care of maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate measurements of physical activity and energy expenditure in MHD patients from different centres and countries and explored the predictors of physical activity in these patients. Methods. In this cross-sectional multicentre study, 134MHD patients from four countries (France, Switzerland, Sweden and Brazil) were included. The physical activity was evaluated for 5.0 6 1.4 days (mean 6 SD) by a multisensory device (SenseWear Armband) and comprised the assessment of number of steps per day, activity-related …

Gender Differences In Wheelchair Marathon Performances - Oita Wheelchair Marathon From 1983 To 2011, Romuald Lepers, Paul J. Stapley, Beat Knechtle

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: The purpose of the study was (1) to examine the changes in participation and performance of males and females at the Oita International Wheelchair Marathon in Oita, Japan, between 1983 and 2011, and (2) to analyze the gender difference in the age of peak wheelchair marathon performance. Methods: Age and time performance data for all wheelchair athletes completing the Oita International Wheelchair Marathon from 1983 to 2011 were analyzed. Results: Mean annual number of finishers was 123 ± 43 for males and 6 ± 3 for females (5.0% ± 2.0% of all finishers), respectively. Mean age of overall finishers …

Poor Knowledge And Practices Related To Iodine Nutrition During Pregnancy And Lactation In Australian Women: Pre-And Post-Iodine Fortification, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Catherine Lucas, Samantha Axford, Luke Gemming, Fiona Houweling, Alison Goodfellow, Gary Ma

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A before-after review was undertaken to assess whether knowledge and practices related to iodine nutrition, supplementation and fortification has improved in Australian women since the introduction of mandatory iodine fortification in 2009. Surveys of pregnant (n = 139) and non-pregnant (n = 75) women in 2007-2008 are compared with surveys of pregnant (n = 147) and lactating women (n = 60) one to two years post-fortification in a regional area of New South Wales, Australia. A self-administered questionnaire was completed and dietary intake of iodine was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A generally poor knowledge about the role …

Is Early Childhood Care And Education A Good Investment For Egypt? Estimates Of Educational Impacts, Costs, And Benefits, Caroline Krafft

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This brief examines Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Egypt. Findings suggest that expansion of ECCE is a good investment. Providing kindergarten to all Egyptian children, and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, could be an important step toward greater equality, efficiency, and attainment in the education system.

Filles Eveillées ('Girls Awakened'): A Pilot Program For Migrant Adolescent Girls In Domestic Service In Urban Burkina Faso, Sarah Engebretsen, Gisele Kaboré, Leah Jarvis

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Young people in Burkina Faso, especially adolescent girls, have few economic opportunities, particularly in rural areas. This drives migration to urban areas in search of employment. In 2010, the Population council conducted formative research on migrant adolescent girls in domestic service in urban Burkina Faso. Findings revealed that girls typically live with their employers and spend long days performing arduous work, leaving little time for schooling, building social networks, and developing skills necessary for adulthood. Most programs designed for this population intervene after something has gone wrong rather than building girls’ protective assets. In response to these findings, the Population …

A Review And Evaluation Of Multi-Sectoral Response Services ('One-Stop Centers') For Gender-Based Violence In Kenya And Zambia, Jill Keesbury, Washington Onyango-Ouma, Chi-Chi Undie, Catherine Maternowska, Frederick Mugisha, Emmy Kageha, Ian Askew

Reproductive Health

An increasingly popular strategy for addressing sexual gender based violence (SGBV) is through the establishment of one-stop centers‘ (OSCs), which provide integrated, multi-disciplinary services in a single physical location. The goals of this assessment were two-fold: first, to assess the effectiveness of different OSC models in terms of health and legal outcomes for survivors, and the cost-effectiveness of these models; and second, to identify lessons learned in OSC implementation with recommendations for both start-up and scale-up. Findings from this study offer the first form of systematic evidence on the effectiveness of OSCs, which can guide national-level policymakers and program managers …

Situation Analysis Of Health Facilities With Special Reference To Family Planning Services In Pakistan, Arshad Mahmood, Muhammad Jamil Arshad, Maqsood Sadiq

Reproductive Health

The FALAH project, launched in 2007, funded by USAID and implemented by a consortium of partners led by The Population Council, sought to shift family planning (FP) perception. This report details the findings of an assessment of FALAH’s FP and birth spacing impact. The study assessed public health facility readiness for offering FP and birth spacing services by interviewing in-charges and providers, as well as assessing the types of services provided and service providers’ characteristics. The study also examined the facilities’ quality of care through observing client and provider interactions, while client satisfaction was assessed in exit interviews. FALAH’s objective …

Attitudes, Croyances Et Pratiques Des Leaders D'Opinion Clés (Loc) Et Des Prestataires Sur La Contraception D'Urgence (Cu) Au Sénégal, Babacar Mane, Saumya Ramarao, Martha Brady, Fatou Bintou Mbow, Ababacar Thiam

Reproductive Health

In Senegal, initiatives for mainstreaming the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) in the family planning program are fairly recent. Service statistics indicate, however, that ECP distribution through the public sector is very low. While most users access ECPs through the private sector, the volume of sales is not clear, due to the absence of an operational information system of EC distribution through pharmacies. In an effort to strengthen EC provision in Senegal and reposition EC within the FP program, the Population Council conducted a study in collaboration with the Reproductive Health Division of the Ministry of Health, Senegal to document the …

Nurse-Led Cancer Care, Moira Stephens

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

In this issue of The Australian Journal of Cancer Nursing we focus on nurse-led cancer care. We have chosen three research studies in different settings, all of which demonstrate the impact of excellent cancer nursing and multidisciplinary care: an intervention enhancing survivorship for long-term survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma; a focus on the position of cancer coordinator-led care in a regional hospital and a project enabling nurse-led screening and interventions using a supportive care resource kit.

Exercise Counselling: When Undergraduate Practice-Based Learning And Community Outreach Combine, Everyone Appears To Be A Winner, Angela Douglas, Jennifer Wilkie, Herbert Groeller

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Abstract of paper presented at the 5th Exercise & Sports Science Australia Conference 2012.

Can You Get It Online? How To Enhance Professional And Clinical Learning Experiences For Exercise Physiology Students, Angela Douglas, Chris Brewer, Lisa Carrington

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Abstract of paper presented at the 5th Exercise & Sports Science Australia Conference 2012.

Possible Earthquake Trigger For 6th Century Mass Wasting Deposit At Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania), Bernd Wagner, Alexander Francke, Roberto Sulpizio, Giovanni Zanchetta, K Lindhorst, S Krastel, Hendrik Vogel, Janet Rethemeyer, G Daut, A Grazhdani, B Lushaj, S Trajanovski

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Lake Ohrid shared by the Republics of Albania and Macedonia is formed by a tectonically active graben within the south Balkans and suggested to be the oldest lake in Europe. Several studies have shown that the lake provides a valuable record of climatic and environmental changes and a distal tephrostratigraphic record of volcanic eruptions from Italy. Fault structures identified in seismic data demonstrate that sediments have also the potential to record tectonic activity in the region. Here, we provide an example of linking seismic and sedimentological information with tectonic activity and historical documents. Historical documents indicate that a major earthquake …

Realist Synthesis: Illustrating The Method For Implementation Research, Joanne Rycroft-Malone, Brendan Mccormack, Alison M. Hutchinson, Kara Decorby, Tracey K. Bucknall, Bridie Kent, Alyce Schultz, Erna Snelgrove-Clarke, Cheryl B. Stetler, Marita Titler, Lars Wallin, Valerie J. Wilson

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Background: Realist synthesis is an increasingly popular approach to the review and synthesis of evidence, which focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which an intervention works (or not). There are few published examples of realist synthesis. This paper therefore fills a gap by describing, in detail, the process used for a realist review and synthesis to answer the question 'what interventions and strategies are effective in enabling evidence-informed healthcare?' The strengths and challenges of conducting realist review are also considered.

Methods: The realist approach involves identifying underlying causal mechanisms and exploring how they work under what conditions. The …

Appreciation Of A Child's Journey: Implementation Of A Cardiac Action Research Project, Kate Alexa Dengler, Valerie J. Wilson, Sarah Redshaw, Gabrielle Scarfe

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the phases of the action research process involved in developing, implementing, and evaluating the Heart Beads program. The aim of the project is to enrich the hospital experience of children with cardiac conditions. Heart Beads involves children receiving unique beads specific to each cardiac treatment, procedure or event in recognition of their experiences, and endurance. An action research approach, involving a partnership between clinicians and researchers and emphasising the involvement of patients and their families, was used to guide the Heart Beads program. The project followed the five phases …

"Still Here, Trying To Find My Way": Understanding The Experiences Of Hiv Disruption And Reorganization Among Older African Americans In Detroit, Andrea Nevedal

Wayne State University Dissertations

Adults aged fifty and older are the fastest growing age group with HIV/AIDS. Research on older adults with HIV has focused primarily on health status and physiological changes that occur as people age with HIV. However, little is known about the socio-cultural consequences that occur when older adults are diagnosed with HIV and as they age with HIV. Drawing from an anthropological approach to the life course and Becker's (1997) framework of life disruption, this dissertation research explored to what extent people experienced disruption from living with HIV and reorganized their lives after experiencing disruption.

The specific aims included identifying …

Power, Race, And The Neglect Of Science: The Hiv Epidemics In Sub-Saharan Africa, Eileen Stillwaggon, Larry Sawers

Economics Faculty Publications

This work addresses racial stereotyping and the effect it has in distorting AIDS policy for sub-Saharan Africa.

Culture Ontogeny: Lifespan Development Of Religion And The Ethics Of Spiritual Counselling, Glen Milstein, Amy Manierre

Publications and Research

The counsellor has an ethical obligation to treat the whole person. Humans are cultural beings and the foundation of most cultures is religion. Religion and culture are received from our early relation~ ships and modified through later relationships across the lifespan. The paper introduces the term "culture ontogeny" to emphasize that this is a biological process wherein abstract ideas of culture and religion become material in the developing neurophysiology of each brain. A framework and methods are offered to examine the changing roles of religion in clients' emotional self~ structure, inclusive of those who describe themselves as spiritual, not religious. …

Cross-Cultural Comparison Of Perceptions About School Feeding Programs From Ghanaian And U.S. Adults, Yolanda L. Jackson

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Because of an increase in food insecurity over the past decade, the U.S. and many developing countries are focusing efforts on issues relating to child hunger. School feeding programs have been in existence for roughly 220 years but modifications have been made over the years to improve the quality of food they serve. Little research has been conducted about adult perceptions of school feeding programs and the impact it has on the community in the U.S. as well as developing countries such as Ghana, West Africa. Because of the gap in literature on school feeding programs and adult perceptions about …

Key Opinion Leaders' Views Regarding Emergency Contraception In India, M.E. Khan, Isha Bhatnagar, Deepthi S. Varma, Anvita Dixit

Reproductive Health

This policy brief explores the views of key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the field of reproductive health and family welfare on provision of emergency contraception (ECPs). The study’s objective was to gain a better understanding of how the attitudes and beliefs of KOLs might influence policy and program implementation, either encouraging or opposing ECP promotion and service delivery. Results suggest strong support by the majority of KOLs to continue the sale of ECP as an over-the-counter drug. KOLs also emphasized the importance of comprehending and addressing the main barriers to ECP provision and use: poor knowledge, lack of training, moral …

Community Midwifery Services In Kenya: Implementation Guidelines, Kenya Ministry Of Health

Reproductive Health

Community midwifery guidelines by the Kenya Minister for Health have been revised in order to standardize the implementation of community midwifery services as a strategy for improving skilled attendance in the provision of maternal and newborn health care at the community level. The revised guidelines address key policies that are outlined in the Kenya Health Policy regarding the provision of essential packages for health in line with the new constitution, Vision 2030, and the Community Health Strategy. The policy emphasizes a shift of focus to preventive and promotive health care; major strategies include improving access, realizing equity goals, and providing …

Country Mapping: Kenya, Francis Obare, Wilson Liambila, Harriet Birungi, Eseoise Itombra, Heather Clark, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

The Population Council embarked on a three-year project to explore the acceptability of the progesterone vaginal ring (PVR) among women in sub-Saharan Africa and to develop a strategic plan for its introduction. This technical report presents the findings of the assessments in Kenya with specific focus on: (1) the country’s demographic profile; (2) the health systems, health policy, and family planning program context; and (3) stakeholder perspectives regarding the PVR. The findings suggest that the introduction of the PVR would fill a gap in the family planning needs of breastfeeding women in Kenya, and there is strong support from stakeholders …

Country Mapping: Senegal, Babacar Mane, Nafissatou Diop, Nancy Termini Lachance, Saumya Ramarao, Heather Clark

Reproductive Health

The Population Council embarked on a three-year project to explore the acceptability of the progesterone vaginal ring (PVR) among women in sub-Saharan Africa and its potential introduction. This technical report presents results from assessments undertaken to map the existing landscape of family planning programs and new contraceptive technologies in Senegal in an effort to identify national priorities and assess the level of interest in the PVR among stakeholders and to design appropriate preintroductory activities. This country mapping exercise confirms that Senegal is a promising context for the introduction of the PVR: the government is committed to repositioning family planning and …