Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Introduction And Evaluation Of A Warfarin Management Strategy Into Illawarra Residential Aged Care Facilities, Margaret Jordan, Judy Mullan, Victoria Traynor

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Hope, Meaning And Responsibility Across Stages Of Recovery For Individuals Living With An Enduring Mental Illness, Vedrana Copic, Frank P. Deane, Trevor P. Crowe, Lindsay G. Oades

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study reports on the relationship between stage of recovery and hope, meaning and responsibility for individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness. Methods: Seventy-seven people with a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder of at least 6 months’ duration participated in the study. Participants completed the Self-Identified Stage of Recovery (SISR) scale, measures of component processes of recovery (Hope Scale; Positive Interpretation of Disease, SpREUK; Active Involvement, Personal Health Management Questionnaire (PHMQ) and the Recovery Assessment Scale-short (RAS). Results: Hope, meaning, Personal Confidence and Hope and Not Being Dominated by Symptoms varied significantly across stages of recovery; however, neither in a …

The Older Patient, The Doctor And The Trainee: Patients' Attitudes And Implications For Models Of Care, Andrew Bonney, Sandra Jones, Donald Iverson

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Aims & rationale/Objectives Population ageing poses major challenges for health systems. Additionally, training future general practitioners in the management of older and chronically ill patients is potentially hampered by the reluctance of these patients to consult trainees for chronic care. This paper reports a cross-sectional study investigating the attitudes of older patients to trainees, to inform strategies to improve older patient-trainee interaction. Methods The survey instrument was distributed to 1900 patients aged 60 and over from 38 training practices from five Australian states using a stratified, randomised cluster sampling process. Generalised estimating equation models were used for analysis. Principal findings …

Cerebellar White-Matter Changes In Cannabis Users With And Without Schizophrenia, N Solowij, M Yucel, C Respondek, S Whittle, E Lindsay, C Pantelis, D I. Lubman

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background. The cerebellum is rich in cannabinoid receptors and implicated in the neuropathology of schizophrenia. Long-term cannabis use is associated with functional and structural brain changes similar to those evident in schizophrenia, yet its impact on cerebellar structure has not been determined. We examined cerebellar grey and white matter in cannabis users with and without schizophrenia. Method. Seventeen patients with schizophrenia and 31 healthy controls were recruited ; 48% of the healthy group and 47% of the patients were long-term heavy cannabis users (mean 19.7 and 17.9 years near daily use respectively). Cerebellar measures were extracted from structural 3-T magnetic …

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Lessons Learnt From Accreditation Of Post Graduate Occupational Hygiene Courses, Jane L. Whitelaw, Sue Reed

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

For many years AIOH has had a systematic method for reviewing and accrediting post graduate Occupational Hygiene Courses. Applying institutions would submit a range of course documentation which was then reviewed by a panel under the auspices of the Education Committee. During 2010, the Education Committee developed a set of Learning Outcomes (LO’s) for Universities applying for accreditation to map their course against prior to applying. Whilst the system in place has served AIOH well and produced good Graduate outcomes; the inclusion of LO’s will enable a more transparent and objective evaluation of courses. In a recent study trip; the …

Verbal Learning And Memory In Adolescent Cannabis Users, Alcohol Users And Non-Users, Nadia Solowij, Katy A. Jones, Megan E. Rozman, Sasha M. Davis, Joseph Ciarrochi, Patrick C. L Heaven, Dan I. Lubman, Murat Yucel

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Rationale Long-term heavy cannabis use can result in memory impairment. Adolescent users may be especially vulnerable to the adverse neurocognitive effects of cannabis. Objectives and methods In a cross-sectional and prospective neuropsychological study of 181 adolescents aged 16–20 (mean 18.3 years), we compared performance indices from one of the most widely used measures of learning and memory—the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test—between cannabis users (n=52; mean 2.4 years of use, 14 days/month, median abstinence 20.3 h), alcohol users (n=67) and non-user controls (n=62) matched for age, education and premorbid intellectual ability (assessed prospectively), and alcohol consumption for cannabis and alcohol …

Measuring ‘Magnetism’ In Australian Nursing Environments, Joanne T. Joyce-Mccoach, Patrick A. Crookes

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective The aim of this research project was to use the NWI‑R:A tool to measure the organisational features that impact on ‘magnetism’ in Australian health facilities. Design The cross sectional survey questionnaire incorporated the Nursing Work Index‑Revised: Australian (NWI‑R:A) developed by Joyce and Crookes (2007). Subjects Participants were registered nursing staff (n=262) including ward nurses and managers within a group of four Australian hospitals. Main outcome measures To measure the organisational features that impact on ‘magnetism’ in Australian health facilities using the NWI‑R:A tool specifically developed for the Australian context. Results The results have identified a number of consistent patterns …

Developing Messages To Create Community Awareness Of Hypertension As A Risk Factor For Dementia, L Phillipson, Sandra C. Jones, Katherine Eagleton, Kelly Andrews

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Dementia is the leading single cause of disability in older Australians. Due to the ageing of the population, the number of people living with dementia will increase significantly over the coming decades and there is pressing need for effective prevention strategies. One relatively unknown but modifiable risk factor for dementia is hypertension. ‘Healthy Heart Healthy Mind’ is a social marketing campaign that aims to create awareness of the link between hypertension and dementia, and encourage improved hypertension management in the target audience in order to prevent dementia. This paper describes the use of behaviour change theory and qualitative research undertaken …

Dementia And Retirement From Driving: People With Dementia And Their Carers Critique Available Tools, Catherine Andrew, Victoria Traynor, Donald Iverson

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Introduction: - Discuss current thinking about the role of practitioners in supporting a person with dementia to consider retirement from driving - Highlight findings from a research project involving drivers over 55 and people with dementia about what support they consider helpful in considering retirement from driving

Do Australian Adolescent Female Fake Tan (Sunless Tan) Users Practice Better Sun-Protection Behaviors Than Non-Users?, Melinda Williams, Sandra C. Jones, Peter Caputi, Donald C. Iverson

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: To determine differences in sun-protection behaviours, and incidence of sunburn, between Australian adolescent female fake tan users and non-users. Design: Cross sectional survey. Method: 398 adolescent females aged 12 to 18 years participated in a survey at public venues, schools, and online. The main outcome measures were self-reported fake tan usage in the past 12 months, frequency of sunburns and habitual sun-protection behaviours. Setting: Surveys were completed in New South Wales, Australia. Results: The prevalence of self-reported use of fake tanning products in the past 12 months among Australian adolescent females was 34.5%. Female fake tan users were significantly …

Occupational Factors And Sick Leave In Australian Employees, Christopher Magee, Natalie Stefanic, Peter Caputi, Don Iverson

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objectives: To investigate occupational factors associated with sick leave over a 4-year period in Australian employees. Methods: Longitudinal data (self-report) from 2861 Australian full-time employees (69.4% male) were used. Occupational factors and relevant covariates were assessed at baseline with sick leave assessed yearly over a 4-year period. The data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression models. Results: Job strain and longer commuting time were associated with long sick leave, whereas long work hours were inversely associated with long sick leave. Conclusions: These results provide further evidence that certain aspects of work are associated with sick leave, whereas other work aspects …

Consumers' Salient Beliefs Regarding Dairy Products In The Functional Food Era: A Qualitative Study Using Concepts From The Theory Of Planned Behaviour, Deborah Nolan, Elizabeth Neale, Yasmine Probst, Karen E. Charlton, Linda C. Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background Inadequate consumption of dairy products without appropriate dietary substitution may have deleterious health consequences. Social research reveals the factors that may impede compliance with dietary recommendations. This is particularly important given the recent introduction of functional dairy products. One of the challenges for public health professionals is to demonstrate the efficacy of nutrition education in improving attitudes toward nutrient rich foods. The aim of this study was to explore the salient beliefs of adult weight loss trial participants regarding both traditional and functional dairy products and to compare these with a control group not exposed to nutrition education Methods …

Increased Intake Of Dietary Polyunsaturated Fat Does Not Promote Whole Body Or Preferential Abdominal Fat Mass Loss In Overweight Adults, Sze-Yen Tan, Marijka Batterham, Linda Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: There is evidence that increasing the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in a diet can enhance the rate of fat oxidation acutely. Higher PUFA in a diet has also been associated with greater abdominal fat loss in longer term studies. This study aimed to investigate if higher PUFA intake would result in greater fat mass loss over a 12-week period, mainly from the abdominal region.

Methods: Data at the 12-week time point from two weight loss studies, both comparing high PUFA versus low PUFA diets was, accessed for 141 overweight subjects from the same area. Specifically, data on …

Exposure To Alcohol Advertising And Alcohol Consumption Among Australian Adolescents, Sandra C. Jones, Christopher A. Magee

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Aims: Underage drinking is a major problem in Australia and may be influenced by exposure to alcohol advertising. The objective of the present study was to collect data on 12 17 year old Australian adolescents' exposure to different types of alcohol advertising and examine the association between exposure to advertising and alcohol consumption. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1113 adolescents aged 12 17 years recruited with a variety of methods to gain a cross-section of participants across metropolitan, regional and rural New South Wales (including independent schools, mall intercepts and online). Participants answered a series of questions assessing adolescents' exposure …

Specific Electromagnetic Effects Of Microwave Radiation On Escherichia Coli, Yury Shamis, Alex Taube, Natasa Mitik-Dineva, Rodney Croft, Russell J. Crawford, Elena P. Ivanova

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The present study investigated the effects of microwave (MW) radiation on Escherichia coli applied under a sub-lethal temperature. The experiments were conducted at a frequency of 18 GHz and performed at a temperature below 40oC to avoid the thermal degradation of bacterial cells during exposure. The absorbed power was calculated to be 1500 kW/m3 and the electric field was determined to be 300 V/m. Both values were theoretically confirmed using CST Microwave Studio 3D Electromagnetic Simulation Software. As a negative control, E. coli cells were also thermally heated up to temperatures up to 40oC using Peltier Plate heating. Scanning Electron …

Sex And Sexism In Australian Alcohol Advertising: (Why) Are Women More Offended Than Men?, Sandra C. Jones, A Reid

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Alcohol advertisements often attract criticism for portraying women in an overtly sexual and demeaning fashion, with past research finding that women are more critical than men. The first study reported here found that neither feminism nor gender role identity added substantial explanatory power beyond that of gender. Females reported more negative attitudes toward ads that used demeaning sexual appeals and more positive attitudes toward empowering appeals. The second study provided quantitative evidence in support of the assumption that it is offensive sexual portrayals, rather than other aspects of sexist advertisements, that are disliked.

Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior And Barriers To Treatment To Predict Intention To Enter Further Treatment Following Residential Drug And Alcohol Detoxification: A Pilot Study, Peter J. Kelly, Frank P. Deane, Zoe Mccarthy, Trevor P. Crowe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

There has been limited research examining the impact of clients’ behavioural beliefs on whether they intend to access further treatment following residential drug and alcohol detoxification. Treatment post-detoxification is generally recommended to reduce relapse and for more sustained positive outcomes. The present pilot study examined the extent to which (1) primary components of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), (2) perceived barriers to accessing treatment and (3) the participants’ previous involvement in substance abuse treatment predicted intentions to enter further treatment following residential detoxification. One hundred and sixty eight participants accessing Salvation Army detoxification units in Australia completed a survey …

Explaining Social Exclusion In Alcohol-Related Dementia: A Literature Review, Renee Brighton, Janette Curtis, Victoria Traynor

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: The purpose of our project is to explore the lived experience of people with alcohol-related dementia and their carers to explain the impact of social exclusion. The literature review has been completed. The empirical study will be a qualitative study using narrative storylines (Keady et al., 2009) to understand the Australian experience of alcohol-related dementia. Methods: Academic and publishers’ databases (CINAHL, ScienceDirect, Wiley Interscience and SAGE) were searched using the terms: ‘alcohol-related dementia’, ‘diagnosis’, ‘carer’, ‘services’, ‘treatment’ and ‘stigma’. Snowballing techniques were also used to source papers and Google Scholar for grey literature. Findings: A total of 35 articles …

Quality Of Life Among People With Schizophrenia In Saudi Arabia, Amira Ali Alshowkan, Janette Curtis, Yvonne White

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Research aims: To provide a profile of the quality of life of people with schizophrenia in Saudi Arabia. To investigate the relationships between Socio-demographic characteristics and their quality of life.

Who Do Parents Perceive Is Pressuring Them To Buy Unhealthy (And Healthy) Foods?, Sandra C. Jones, Laura Robinson, Lisa Kervin

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Increasingly, academic and lay discussion of children’s nutrition has focused on the role of the media, and marketing more generally, in influencing children’s food choices. While numerous studies have focused on the direct effects of chidlren’s exposure to advertisng on their food preferences and choices, there have been fewer studies on the role of marketing in influencing parent’s decisions about what foods they give to their child. We surveyed parents about their children’s food requests and the perceived influences on their food choices; and found that parents experience, or perceive, a number of external pressures on them in making food …

Dosimetric Image Reconstruction In Eye Brachytherapy Using Silicon Pixelated Detectors, M Weaver, M Petasecca, M L. F Lerch, D Cutajar, J Jakubek, S Pospisil, Anatoly B. Rosenfeld

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study presents a high spatial resolution dosimetry system for quality assurance of I-125 eye plaques. The system is based on a silicon pixelated detector and is capable of deriving 3D dose distributions. A simple design was implemented, incorporating a movable eye plaque in a small water phantom above the silicon Medipix2 detector. It is designed for obtaining 2D dose distributions at different depths in water, for subsequent 3D dose mapping. The effect of backscattering in a medium placed behind the Medipix2 to simulate surrounding tissue has been studied in terms of dose distribution. Additionally, two modes of acquisition, event …

Luminescence Dating Of K-Feldspar From Sediments: A Protocol Without Anomalous Fading Correction, Bo Li, Sheng-Hua Li

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

A protocol for optical dating of potassium-rich feldspar (K-feldspar) is proposed. It utilizes the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signal measured by progressively increasing the stimulation temperature from 50 to 250 °C in step of 50 °C, so-called multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL (MET-pIRIR) measurements. Negligible anomalous fading was observed for the MET-pIRIR signals obtained at 200 and 250 °C. This was supported by equivalent dose (De) measurements using the IRSL and MET-pIRIR signals. The De values increase progressively from 50 °C to 200 °C, but similar De values were obtained for the MET-pIRIR signal at 200 and 250 °C. Measurement of modern …

Reply To Comment By Huntley On "Isochron Dating Of Sediments Using Luminescence Of K-Feldspar Grains", Bo Li, Sheng-Hua Li, Hui Zhao

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

In our isochron studies using grains of different sizes, we observed that the IRSL ages obtained from K‐feldspar without correction for fading show an increase with increasing grain size [Li et al., 2007, 2008]. Huntley [2011a] argued that this result was caused by different fading rates for grains of different sizes or by different source materials for different sizes of grains. We replied to his comment [Li et al., 2011], suggesting that the phenomenon could be explained by there being different fading rates for the IRSL signals produced by natural and laboratory irradiation [Li et al., 2007, 2008]. Instead of …

Outcomes From A Pilot Project On Workplace Culture Observations: Getting Evaluation And Outcomes On The Agenda, Jan Dewing, Sue Moore, Rachel Lohrey, Julia Hoogesteger, Zena Sale, Chris Winstanley

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

Abstract Aims and objectives: The overall aim of this mini project was to collaboratively engage in a learning activity that would provide evidence about the workplace culture to be used to inform other aspects of practice development work. The objectives were: to enhance observation skills; contribute to a team development activity; share and develop critical questions for use with local practice development action planning and build up active commitment to practice development work within the group. Design: A small pilot project embedded within a larger complex emancipatory practice development programme. Method: An unstructured observation method was used and followed up …

Longevity, Lipids And C. Elegans, Anthony J. Hulbert

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

Scientific investigation of mechanisms that determine lifespan can be divided into three general approaches. The first approach (the comparative method) began over a century ago comparing species differing greatly in maximum longevity and implicated a role for the speed of metabolism in determining the length of life [1]. The second approach commenced after the 1930s investigated the mechanisms whereby “calorierestriction” extended lifespan [2]. The third approach gained popularity in the 1990s and centred on genetic mutations that significantly extend longevity [3]. There has been little overlap between these three approaches. The paper by Shmookler Reis et al. in this issue …

Scrubs, House, Grey's Anatomy: Are Medical Students Learning Bad Habits?, Roslyn Weaver, Ian Wilson

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

Television loves particular careers: detectives, lawyers, forensic experts and, perhaps most of all, doctors. Popular long-running shows such as House and Grey's Anatomy join a long list of medical programs that have created a fictional world of medicine over the past sixty years.

'The Worst Fire Season Ever' … Until Next Year, Ross Bradstock

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

Bushfires are part of the Australian landscape and the psyche of its human inhabitants. This is particularly true as months of hot, dry weather approach. Recent warnings have predicted a dire summer ahead with the potential for major fires across the continent. So will this year's fire season be particularly bad? What are the different types of bushfire activity found across our continent? And how can these bushfire types help us predict how climate change will affect future fire seasons?

What Happens When We Have Data?, Andrew Alexis Miller

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

The current issue of the Journal of Radiation Oncology provides a report [1] that highlights the potential role of routine clinical data in Radiation Oncology and how to make better use of it. While routine data is not only important to Radiation Oncology but all other areas of medicine also, in Radiation Oncology we have the luxury of two environmental factors. Firstly, we have relatively few software products which are increasingly being driven to the goal of interoperability by the IHE-RO initiative started by Dr Prabhakhar Triperenini in the USA[2]. Secondly, there are some well defined standards now implemented, especially …

Why Do Medical Students Volunteer To Train Simulated Patients? A Qualitative Evaluation Of Motivations And Incentives, E Ashcroft, I Potter, J Bushnell

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

The willingness to actively volunteer is an expected trait of medical students. Their compliance to participate in teaching and learning interventions is well described in the medical education literature The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether medical students' motivations to volunteer are congruent with motivational drives of other community members. We recruited eighteen (18) medical students, who contributed to the 2010 patient volunteer training as interview partners. One focus of their involvement was to develop feedback skills in newly recruited simulated patients. Ten (10) of these students participated in our audio-recorded focus group interviews. A thematic analysis of …

Quantitative Characterization Of Emissions From Biomass Burning Using Remote Sensing Measurements, Clare Paton-Walsh, Emma Young, David Griffith

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

We present a new method for deriving total emissions estimates from large vegetation fires using satellite-based measurements of aerosol optical depth. This method is based upon simultaneous measurements of total column amounts of trace gases and aerosol optical depth of the atmosphere through smoke plumes from Australian fires. These measurements were derived from ground-based solar remote sensing spectrometers in the infrared and UV-visible spectral regions and also provide emission ratios that may be used in more conventional bottom-up estimates of total emissions. Measurements of emissions from Australian forest fires are relatively sparse given the significance of this source to the …