Digital Commons Network^™

Qualitative Study Into Quality Of Life Issues Surrounding Insulin Pump Use In Type 1 Diabetes, Katharine D. Barnard, Timothy Chas Skinner

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Currently, there is a need for qualitative research about how insulin pump therapy changes quality of life, which is significant to people with type 1 diabetes. This study aimed to elicit the experiences of current insulin pump users in order to discover the therapy's benefits, downsides and effect on their quality of life. A qualitative approach was taken in order to reveal subjective experiences. This research will inform future research and assist with policy and guideline development by health care providers about pump therapy.

Participants were briefly interviewed by telephone about their experiences of living with an insulin pump. Four …

Call Centres And The Quality Of Work Life: A Public/Private Sector Comparison, Zeenobiyah N. Hannif

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The quality of work life is a traditionally under-researched area where call centres (CC) are concerned. Similarly, much of the existing call centre research is based on the private sector despite the public sector emerging as a large user of CC operations. This paper is based on empirical research conducted in two Australian CC’s to explore whether and how the quality of work life varies between the two sectors. Findings relating to three quality of work life elements are reported: job content, working hours & work-life balance, and managerial/supervisory style and strategies. Public sector call centre Govtcall emerges as being …

Water Quality In The Wingecarribee Shire, Nsw, Glennys A. O'Brien, Mark R. O'Donnell, Adrian C. Hutton

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

This paper reports on a water quality monitoring program carried out for Wingecarribee Shire Council between March 2002 and July 2004 by University of Wollongong staff and students. Initially 40 sites were sampled on four occasions over three months in a pilot program leading to the selection of sites and parameters for a two year program of monthly monitoring. A range of chemical, physical and biological parameters was measured including nutrients and faecal coliform bacteria on samples collected over the 26 approximately monthly sampling trips. Chlorophyll a, phaeophyton and blue-green algae were also determined over a shorter period. The sampling …

Changes In Tropospheric Composition And Air Quality Due To Stratospheric Ozone Depletion And Climate Change, Stephen R. Wilson, Keith R. Solomon, Xiaoyan Tang

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

It is well-understood that reductions in air quality play a significant role in both environmental and human health. Interactions between ozone depletion and global climate change will significantly alter atmospheric chemistry which, in turn, will cause changes in concentrations of natural and human-made gasses and aerosols. Models predict that tropospheric ozone near the surface will increase globally by up to 10 to 30 ppbv (33 to 100% increase) during the period 2000 to 2100. With the increase in the amount of the stratospheric ozone, increased transport from the stratosphere to the troposphere will result in different responses in polluted and …

Rqf Publication Quality Measures: Methodological Issues, John W. Lamp, Simon K. Milton, Linda Dawson, Julie Fisher

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The Research Quality Framework uses Thomson-ISI citation benchmarks as its main set of objective measures of research quality. The Thomson-ISI measures rely on identifying a core set of journals in which the major publications for a discipline are to be found. The core for a discipline is determined by applying a nontransparent process that is partly based on Bradford's Law (1934). Yet Bradford was not seeking measures about quality of publications or journals. How valid then is it to base measures of publication quality on Bradford's Law? We explore this by returning to Bradford's Law and subsequent related research asking …

Maintaining Quality Feedback In The Face Of Increasing Student Numbers, Simon B. Bedford

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

This study sought to use new and more effective methods of formative feedback to students within the context of Chemistry teaching in order to facilitate student learning. Emphasis was placed on the use of student directed assessment, and in particular, the use of student self- and peer-assessment. During semester 2 of the 2005-06 academic year, a cohort of some 100 Chemistry students and 33 Natural Sciences students attended a series of problem-based workshops designed to test self- and peer- assessment methods.

Water Quality Assessment - Issues From A Laboratory Management Perspective, Robert John Morrison, Mark R. O'Donnell, D. Springer

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

This paper considers issues relating to the measurement of water quality parameters in the laboratory, especially an external (usually commercial) laboratory. Many organisations now use testing laboratories for water quality measurements, a process that has advantages and some limitations. The interaction between the testing laboratory and the organization requiring the data is crucial, and this paper looks at some aspects where a full appreciation of the role of each partner is important. These include limits of detection and reporting, measurement uncertainty, sample storage and preservation times, and various quality control procedures.

Water Quality In The Illawarra-South Coast Region Of New South Wales, Australia, Robert John Morrison, Mark R. O'Donnell

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Water quality is a serious environmental concern in the South Coast region of New South Wales as many aspects of human ecology and the economy are dependant on good water quality. Apart from drinking water for residents and visitors, tourism and agricultural productivity rely on good quality water. This paper presents an overview of general issues with regard to the development of water quality assessment procedures and programs, and discusses a number of issues considered important for the region. These include the impacts of increasing urbanisation, industrial activity (including mining), the potential wider use of groundwater and the improved management …

Depression And Quality Of Life In Cancer Survivors: Is There A Relationship With Physical Activity?, Nancy Humpel, Donald Iverson

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background Evidence is growing on the benefit of physical activity to improve well-being following a cancer diagnosis. This study examined changes in physical activity from pre to post diagnosis and explored this relationship with quality of life and depression. Methods Participants were recruited by posters and by letter of invitation. The questionnaire was completed by 59 prostate and 32 breast cancer survivors. Results Physical activity decreased by 72 minutes per week from pre to post diagnosis, although 20.9% reported having increased activity post diagnosis. Over 30% were considered depressed. Breast cancer participants who increased physical activity post diagnosis reported higher …

Toward A Valid Measure Of E-Retailing Service Quality, John R. Rossiter

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

E-retailers are major players in the field of electronic commerce and their success would seem to depend on service quality, because they are selling the same products that traditional retailers sell. This article critiques Collier and Bienstocks [5] new measure of e-retailing service quality and shows how the stages of e-retailing service quality can be more validly measured by adopting Rossiters [12] C-OAR-SE procedure for scale development. Collier and Bienstock`s measure is insufficiently valid because the measure (1) fails to specify the hierarchical objects that form the construct, and measures the overall object, e-retailing, wrongly by focusing on completed transactions; …