Life Sciences Commons^™

What Is The Role Of Spiritual Care Specialists In Teaching Generalist Spiritual Care? The Perspectives Of Pastoral Care Staff In A Large Catholic Health And Aged Care Organisation, Kate Fiona Jones, Jennifer Washington, Matthew Kearney, Megan C. Best

IES Papers and Journal Articles

The value of spiritual care training for all staff working in health and aged care has been demonstrated. This study investigated how spiritual care specialists (SCSs) perceive their role in delivering spiritual care education to other staff. Fourteen SCSs participated in three online focus groups. Two key themes were identified: First, SCSs build upon existing capacity of staff by: (i) recognising existing strengths and capabilities; (ii) using relevant stories; (iii) using language which makes spiritual care accessible; (iv) making training relevant and practical; (v) tapping into staff vocation or calling; and (vi) building awareness of one’s own spirituality. Second, SCSs …

Ars Moriendi: An Overview Of Approaches To The Art Of Dying, Grief And Loss For Nurses Working In Mental Health, Meagan G.A. Dickerson, Darren Conlon, Toby Raeburn

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

This historical discussion paper is an overview for nurses working in mental health of medieval and Early Modern texts known as Ars Moriendi literature, which focuses on the art of dying, grief and loss. Primary and secondary historical documents are used to describe Ars Moriendi literature and how historical understandings of death and dying were shaped within a spiritual context. Ars Moriendi concepts are compared with modern Western secularised and medicalised notions to prompt reflection on historical versus modern approaches to dying, grief and loss.

Designing And Evaluating Falls Prevention Education With Residents And Staff In Aged Care Homes: A Feasibility Study, Jacqueline Francis-Coad, Tessa Watts, Caroline Bulsara, Anne-Marie Hill

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to co-design a falls prevention education programme with aged care home residents and staff and evaluate its feasibility. The intention of providing the education programme was to assist residents to stay safe and mobile whilst reducing their risk of falling.

Design/methodology/approach: A two-phase mixed methods participatory design using a resident (n = 6) and care staff (n = 5) consumer engagement panel, pre- and post-programme resident (n = 35) survey and semi-structured care staff interviews (n = 8) was undertaken in two countries.

Findings: A poster, brochure, video and staff education guide featuring …

Cancer Patient Knowledge About And Behavioral Intentions After Germline Genome Sequencing, Christine E. Napier, Grace Davies, Phyllis N. Butow, Timothy E. Schlub, Megan C. Best, Nicci Bartley, Ilona Juraskova, Bettina Meiser, Katherine M. Tucker, Barbara B. Biesecker, David M. Thomas, Mandy L. Ballinger, Members Of The Pigeon Project

IES Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: Germline genome sequencing (GS) is becoming mainstream in cancer diagnosis and risk management. Identifying knowledge gaps and determinants of health behavior change intentions will enable effective targeting of educational and management strategies to translate genomic findings into improved cancer outcomes.

Methods: Probands diagnosed with cancer of likely genetic origin that consented to but not yet undergone GS, and their biological relatives, completed a cross-sectional questionnaire assessing GS knowledge and hypothetical intention to change behaviors.

Results: Probands (n = 348; 57% university educated) and relatives (n = 213; 38% university educated) had moderate GS knowledge levels, with greater knowledge associated …

Australian Perspectives On Spiritual Care Training In Healthcare: A Delphi Study, Kate F. Jones, Jennifer Washington, Matthew Kearney, David Kissane, Megan C. Best

IES Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: The aim was to establish core components of spiritual care training for healthcare professionals in Australia.

Methods: This study used the Delphi technique to undertake a consensus exercise with spiritual care experts in the field of healthcare. Participant opinion was sought on (i) the most important components of spiritual care training; (ii) preferred teaching methods; (iii) clinical scenarios to address in spiritual care training; and (iv) current spiritual assessment and referral procedures.

Results: Of the 107 participants who responded in the first round, 67 (62.6%) were female, 55 (51.4%) worked in pastoral care, and 84 (78.5%) selected Christian as …

Influence Of Age And Maturation Status On Sprint Acceleration Characteristics In Junior Australian Football, Toby Edwards, Jonathon Weakley, Harry G. Banyard, Ashley Cripps, Benjamin Piggott, G. Gregory Haff, Christopher Joyce

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

This study aimed to investigate the influence of chronological age and maturation status on sprint acceleration characteristics in junior Australian football (AF) players. Biological maturity of 109 subjects was assessed and subjects were grouped according to predicted years from peak height velocity (PHV) (pre-, mid-, and post-PHV) and chronological age (13 years, 14 years, and 15 years). A one-way multivariate analysis of variance and magnitude-based decisions were used to determine between-group differences. Instantaneous velocity was measured during two maximal 30m sprints via radar gun with the velocity-time data used to derive the force, velocity, and power characteristics. Chronologically, the greatest …

Wellbeing And Nature Connectedness For Emerging Adult Undergraduates After A Short Expedition: A Small Pilot Study, Michael J.A Down, Paola Chivers, Prudence Kirsch, Duncan Picknoll

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Issue addressed: Emerging adult university undergraduates are a vulnerable population due to various life stressors. Previous studies have reported a range of positive outcomes from outdoor expeditions for this population. This small pilot study aimed to investigate the impacts of an outdoor expedition on wellbeing and connectedness to nature and possible confounding by gender and living environment.

Methods: A sample of 54 Health and Physical Education emerging adult undergraduates in the second year of their four-year degree completed a 3-day/2-night immersion expedition. Pre-post differences and a repeated-measures analysis with confounders examined the expedition's impact on scores from the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental …

Exploring The Association Between Stroke And Acute Myocardial Infarction And Statins Adherence Following A Medicines Co-Payment Increase, Karla L. Seaman, Max K. Bulsara, Frank M. Sanfilippo, Anna Kemp-Casey, Elizabeth E. Roughead, Caroline Bulsara, Gerald F. Watts, David B. Preen

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: Patient contributions (co-payments) for one months’ supply of a publicly-subsidised medicine in Australia were increased by 21% in January 2005 (US$2.73-$3.31 for social security recipients and $17.05- $20.58 for others). This study investigates the relationship between patients’ use of statin medication and hospitalisation for acute coronary syndrome and stroke, following this large increase in co-payments.

Methods: We designed a retrospective cohort study of all patients in Western Australia who were dispensed statin medication between 2004 and 05. Data for the cohort was obtained from State and Federal linked databases. We divided the cohort into those who discontinued, reduced or …

Modulators Of Change-Of-Direction Economy After Repeated Sprints In Elite Soccer Players, Filippo Dolci, Andrew E. Kilding, Tania Spiteri, Paola Chivers, Ben Piggott, Andrew Maiorana, Nicolas H. Hart

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Purpose: To investigate the acute effect of repeated-sprint activity (RSA) on change-of-direction economy (assessed using shuttle running economy [SRE]) in soccer players and explore neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory characteristics that may modulate this effect.

Methods: Eleven young elite male soccer players (18.5 [1.4] y old) were tested on 2 different days during a 2-week period in their preseason. On day 1, lower-body stiffness, power and force were assessed via countermovement jumps, followed by an incremental treadmill test to exhaustion to measure maximal aerobic capacity. On day 2, 2 SRE tests were performed before and after a repeated-sprint protocol with …

Reducing Hospital Discharges Back Into Homelessness, Jake Turvey, Isaac Wood, Lisa Wood, Amanda Stafford

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Post-Stroke Lateropulsion And Rehabilitation Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis, Jessica Nolan, Erin Godecke, Katrina Spilsbury, Barbara Singer

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Purpose: A person with post-stroke lateropulsion actively pushes themselves toward their hemiplegic side, or resists moving onto their non-hemiplegic side. This study aimed to determine the association of lateropulsion severity with: • Change in function (Functional Independence Measure – FIM) and lateropulsion severity (Four-Point Pusher Score – 4PPS) during inpatient rehabilitation; • Inpatient rehabilitation length of stay (LOS); • Discharge destination from inpatient rehabilitation.

Methods: Retrospective data for 1,087 participants (aged ≥65 years) admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit (2005–2018) were analysed using multivariable regression models.

Results: Complete resolution of lateropulsion was seen in 69.4% of those with mild lateropulsion …

Operation Of The Basketball Jump Shooting Accuracy Test: Intra- And Inter-Rater Reliability Of Scoring Procedures And Floor And Ceiling Effects For Test Performance, Brenton J. Boddington, Ashley Cripps, Aaron T. Scanlan, Tania Spiteri

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The purpose of this study was to determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability of scoring procedures used in the newly developed Basketball Jump Shooting Accuracy Test (BJSAT) and assess for floor and ceiling effects in test performance. Thirty-one semi-professional basketball athletes completed four trials of the BJSAT. The BJSAT contains one jump shot at eight different locations, equally distributed across two- and three-point shots. Intra-rater reliability was determined by assessing the level of agreement between scores live in-person and watching captured video by the same assessor. Inter-rater reliability was determined by examining the level of agreement between two assessors who …

Readiness To Train: Return To Baseline Strength And Velocity Following Strength Or Power Training, Alexander Vernon, Christopher Joyce, Harry G. Banyard

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

This study investigated the return to baseline of movement velocity and maximal strength following a strength-orientated session and power-orientated session in the free-weight back-squat performed with maximal concentric velocity. Fourteen strength-trained males completed a strength-orientated session (five sets of five repetitions @80% of a one-repetition maximum) and a power-orientated session (three sets of six repetitions @50% one-repetition maximum ) in a randomised order over two weeks (e.g. strength week 1, power week 2). The back-squat was then performed with loads of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 90% and 100% one-repetition maximum at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h following the strength …

The Well-Being Of Carers Of Older Aboriginal People Living In The Kimberley Region Of Remote Western Australia: Empowerment, Depression, And Carer Burden, Dina Logiudice, Cathryn M. Josif, Roslyn Malay, Zoe Hyde, Melissa Haswell, Melissa A. Lindeman, Christopher Etherton-Beer, David Atkinson, Dawn Bessarab, Leon Flicker, Kate Smith

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: To describe demographic features and well-being of carers of Aboriginal Australians aged ≥45 years in remote Western Australia.

Method: Carer burden, empowerment, and depression were assessed in 124 Aboriginal carers in four remote Aboriginal communities.

Results: Carers were aged 38.8 ± 15.0 years, 73.4% were female, and 75.8% were children or grandchildren of the person cared for. The mean Zarit-6 score was 3.7 ± 3.6. Attending high school (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.1, 0.7]) and feeling empowered (OR = 0.2; 95% CI = [0.1, 0.8]) were inversely associated with carer burden; female carers …

Mesothelial Cells Regulate Immune Responses In Health And Disease: Role For Immunotherapy In Malignant Mesothelioma, Steven E. Mutsaers, Fiona J. Pixley, Cecilia M. PrêLe, Gerard F. Hoyne

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Highlights:

• Mesothelial and immune cell interactions play a crucial role in tissue homeostasis in the serosal cavities such as the pleura.

• Mesothelin is viewed as an attractive target for solid tumors, including malignant mesothelioma.

• Checkpoint inhibitor therapy has shown variable efficacy against malignant mesothelioma.

• CAR T cell therapies are being evaluated for malignant mesothelioma.

• Treatment of malignant mesothelioma will require multimodality approaches with immunotherapy central to future therapeutic approaches.

The mesothelium when first described was thought to function purely as a non-adhesive surface to facilitate intracoelomic movement of organs. However, the mesothelium is now recognized as a dynamic cellular membrane …

Sprint Acceleration Characteristics Across The Australian Football Participation Pathway, Toby Edwards, Benjamin Piggott, Harry G. Banyard, G Gregory Haff, Christopher Joyce

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The aim of this study was to compare the force, velocity and power profiles of a maximal sprint acceleration through different competition levels of the Australian Football (AF) participation pathway. One hundred and sixty-two junior AF athletes across five competition levels including State under 18’s (ST 18), State under 16’s (ST 16), local under 18’s (LOC 18), local under 15’s (LOC 15), and local under 14’s (LOC 14) participated in this cross-sectional study. Velocity-time data from maximal sprint accelerations were analysed to derive athlete’s sprint acceleration characteristics and split times. ST 18 showed a more force-orientated profile than the LOC …

Sprint Acceleration Force-Velocity-Power Characteristics In Drafted Vs Non-Drafted Junior Australian Football Players: Preliminary Results, Toby Edwards, Benjamin Piggott, Harry G. Banyard, G. Gregory Haff, Christopher Joyce

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

This investigation aimed to compare the maximal sprint acceleration profiles of drafted and non-drafted elite junior Australian football (AF) players. Nineteen players (10 drafted and 9 non-drafted) from an elite junior AF state team participated in this study. Instantaneous velocity was measured via radar gun during maximal 30 m sprints. The velocity-time data were analysed to derive individual force-velocity-power characteristics and sprint times. No significant differences existed between groups, however drafted players reached moderately faster maximum velocity (Hedges’ g = 0.70 [-0.08; 1.48] and theoretical maximum velocity (g = 0.65 [-0.13; 1.42]) than non-drafted players indicating a superior ability to …

Physical And Energy Demand Of Soccer: A Brief Review, Filippo Dolci, Nicolas H. Hart, Andrew E. Kilding, Paola Chivers, Benjamin Piggott, Tania Spiteri

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Soccer is a complex and exhaustive team-sport requiring a high level of tactical, technical, and physical ability to succeed. During a competitive match, a random combination of explosive and powerful activities, together with technical and tactical gestures, is performed in an intermittent manner over a 90-minute game. This review presents a detailed analysis and up-to-date synthesis of the literature describing activities and energy system contribution during soccer to provide to strength and conditioning coaches a clear understanding of soccer players’ physical needs during competition.

"Spirituality Is Everybody's Business": An Exploration Of The Impact Of Spiritual Care Training Upon The Perceptions And Practice Of Rehabilitation Professionals, Kate Fiona Jones, Julie Pryor, Candice Care-Unger, Grahame Simpson

IES Papers and Journal Articles

Purpose: This study explored the impact of a brief spiritual care training program upon the perceptions and self-reported practice of rehabilitation professionals working in traumatic injury.

Methodology and methods: A qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were held with staff from a rehabilitation hospital in Sydney, Australia, between six and eight weeks after participation in spiritual care training. A thematic analysis was conducted.

Results: Of the 41 rehabilitation professionals who attended the training (1 h online, 1.5 h face to face), 16 agreed to be interviewed. The majority worked in spinal cord injury and were female. Half reported holding a Christian affiliation. …

Do Peers Increase Older Adults' Participation In Strength Training? Pilot Randomized Trial, Elissa Burton, Karen Levit, Jim Codde, Keith D. Hill, Anne-Marie Hill

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Fewer than 20% of older adults participate in strength training (ST). Barriers to ST participation include not knowing where to go or not having someone to go with. To address these barriers, the authors provided older adults with a peer (older person already participating in ST) to support their engagement. The aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to determine whether older adults who were provided with a peer when participating in ST were more likely to be participating in ST 4 weeks postintervention, compared with those receiving ST alone. Fifty-one ST participants were recruited; 40 completed the intervention …

Paediatric Nurses' Satisfaction With Organisational Communication, Job Satisfaction, And Intention To Stay: A Structural Equation Modelling Analysis, Gemma Doleman, Di Twigg, Sara Bayes, Paola T. Chivers

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Aims: To examine the effect of paediatric nurses’ organisational communication satisfaction on job satisfaction and intention to stay in their role.

Background: Nurses’ satisfaction with organisational communication has not been studied in-depth in recent years and specifically, there is a paucity of evidence in relation to paediatric nurses’ job satisfaction and intention to stay in their current job.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative research design using questionnaires was used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse demographic data and structural equation modelling was used to analyse the hypothesised models.

Findings: The constructs of supervisor relationships, communication climate and media quality had a …

Defining The Border Of The Subthalamic Nucleus For Deep Brain Stimulation: A Proposed Model Using The Symmetrical Sigmoid Curve Function, Anthony M.T Chau, Angela Jacques, Christopher R. Lind

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Background: The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an important target during deep brain stimulation (DBS). Accurate lead placement is integral to achieving satisfactory clinical outcomes; however, the STN remains a structure whose visualization is highly variable with borders often difficult to define. We aimed to develop an objective method of evaluating the visibility of the STN on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to standardize future comparative assessments between imaging protocols and patient-specific parameters.

Methods: An imaging study of 64 prospectively collected patients undergoing bilateral DBS of the STN for various movement disorders was performed with institutional approval. MRI scans were acquired …

Fatherhood Too Soon. Anxiety, Depression And Quality Of Life In Fathers Of Preterm And Term Babies: A Longitudinal Study, Ingrid Beatrice Petersen, Julie Anne Quinlivan

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Fathers are increasingly recognized as playing a critical role in the family unit and emotional development of children. The birth of a preterm baby can be confronting, yet there is limited research that explores how preterm birth might impact on father’s emotional wellbeing and quality of life. The aim of the study was to monitor quality of life and psychological wellbeing in a group of fathers to explore if a preterm birth altered outcomes in these two domains.

Methods: Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained. Australian men (N = 1000) were recruited in the antenatal period via their …

Association Between Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Infertility, Ectopic Pregnancy And The Development Of Ovarian Serous Borderline Tumor, Mucinous Borderline Tumor And Low-Grade Serous Carcinoma, Louise Stewart, C J.R Stewart, Katrina Spilsbury, P A. Cohen, S Jordan

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: Risk factors for ovarian borderline tumors and low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the association between infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, hysterectomy, tubal ligation and parity and the risk of serous borderline tumor (SBT), mucinous borderline tumor (MBT) and LGSC.

Methods: This was a population-based cohort study using linked administrative and hospital data. Participants were 441,382 women born between 1945 and 1975 who had been admitted to hospital in Western Australia between 1 January 1980 and 30 June 2014. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios …

The Potential Therapeutic Effects Of Creatine Supplementation On Body Composition And Muscle Function In Cancer, C M. Fairman, K L. Kendall, Nicolas H. Hart, D R. Taaffe, D A. Galvao, R U. Newton

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Low muscle mass in individuals with cancer has a profound impact on quality of life and independence and is associated with greater treatment toxicity and poorer prognosis. Exercise interventions are regularly being investigated as a means to ameliorate treatment-related adverse effects, and nutritional/supplementation strategies to augment adaptations to exercise are highly valuable. Creatine (Cr) is a naturally-occurring substance in the human body that plays a critical role in energy provision during muscle contraction. Given the beneficial effects of Cr supplementation on lean body mass, strength, and physical function in a variety of clinical populations, there is therapeutic potential in individuals …

Genetic Predictors Of Match Performance In Sub-Elite Australian Football Players: A Pilot Study, Ysabel Jacob, Paola Chivers, Ryan S. Anderton

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The current study aimed to determine whether previously identified candidate polymorphisms were associated with match performance in sub-elite Australian Rules Football (ARF) players. The genotypes of thirty players were analysed along with 3x1-kilometre time trial results, ARF-specific skill assessments (handball and kicking), and match performance (direct game involvements) per minute (DGIs/min) to investigate if there was a relationship between any of the variables. Results support previous findings that aerobic time trials are a significant predictor of DGIs/min in sub-elite ARF players. Significant associations were found for genotypes ADRB2 CC (p = .001), PPARGC1A AA (p = .001), PPARGC1A …

Poly-Arginine Peptide R18d Reduces Neuroinflammation And Functional Deficits Following Traumatic Brain Injury In The Long-Evans Rat, Li Shan Chiu, Ryan S. Anderton, Jane L. Cross, Vince W. Clark, Neville W. Knuckey, Bruno P. Meloni

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

We have previously demonstrated that the poly-arginine peptide R18 can improve histological and functional outcomes following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the Sprague–Dawley rat. Since D-enantiomer peptides are often exploited in pharmacology for their increased stability and potency, the present study compared the effects of R18 and its D-enantiomer, R18D, following TBI in the Long-Evans rat. Following a closed-head impact delivered via a weight-drop apparatus, peptide was administered at a dose of 1000 nmol/kg at 30 min after TBI. Treatment with R18D, but not R18 resulted in significant reductions in sensorimotor (p = 0.026) and vestibulomotor (p = 0.049) deficits …

Treatment, Prevention And Public Health Management Of Impetigo, Scabies, Crusted Scabies And Fungal Skin Infections In Endemic Populations: A Systematic Review, Philippa J. May, Steven Y.C Tong, Andrew C. Steer, Bart J. Currie, Ross M. Andrews, Jonathan R. Carapetis, Asha C. Bowen

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

We conducted a systematic review of the treatment, prevention and public health control of skin infections including impetigo, scabies, crusted scabies and tinea in resource-limited settings where skin infections are endemic. The aim is to inform strategies, guidelines and research to improve skin health in populations that are inequitably affected by infections of the skin and the downstream consequences of these. The systematic review is reported according to the PRISMA statement. From

1759 titles identified, 81 full text studies were reviewed and key findings outlined for impetigo, scabies, crusted scabies and tinea. Improvements in primary care and public health management …

The Validity And Reliability Of The Basketball Jump Shooting Accuracy Test, Brenton J. Boddington, Ashley Cripps, Aaron T. Scanlan, Tania Spiteri

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The aim of this study was to examine the content validity, construct validity and reliability of the newly developed Basketball Jump Shooting Accuracy Test (BJSAT). Basketball athletes from different playing levels (State Basketball League [SBL], n = 30, age: 22.7 ± 6.1 yr; SBL Division I, n = 11, age: 20.6 ± 2.1 yr) completed four separate trials of the BJSAT with each trial consisting of shot attempts from two- and three-point distances at pre-determined court locations. Each shot attempt was scored utilising a criteria where higher scores were given when greater accuracy was exhibited. The BJSAT detected a significant, …

In Their Own Words: A Qualitative Study Exploring Influences On The Food Choices Of University Students, Michelle Lambert, Paola Chivers, Fiona Farringdon

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Issue addressed: University students generally make independent decisions regarding food choices. Current research about knowledge of Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG), sources of nutrition information and influences on food choices for this group is scarce.

Methods: Qualitative data were collected from gender‐separated focus groups comprising four female (n = 31) and four male (n = 18) to identify: knowledge of ADG; sources of nutrition information; factors that influence food choices; perceived relevant nutrition messages and how best to deliver them.

Results: Gaps in knowledge were identified particularly regarding number of serves and serving size for food groups. Social media was the …