Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of A Brief Intervention Within A Stepped Care Whole Of Service Model For Personality Disorder, Elizabeth A. Huxley, Kate L. Lewis, Adam Coates, Wayne Borg, Caitlin Miller, Michelle L. Townsend, Brin F. S Grenyer

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Background Although there is growing evidence that stepped models of care are useful for providing appropriate, person centered care, there are very few studies applied to personality disorders. A brief, four session, psychological treatment intervention for personality disorder within a whole of service stepped care model was evaluated. The intervention stepped between acute emergency crisis mental health services and longer-term outpatient treatments. Methods Study 1 used service utilization data from 191 individuals referred to the brief intervention at a single community health site in a metropolitan health service. Proportions of individuals retained across the intervention and the referral pathways accessed …

Intervention Among Suicidal Men: Future Directions For Telephone Crisis Support Research, Tara Hunt, Coralie J. Wilson, Alan Woodward, Peter Caputi, Ian G. Wilson

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

Telephone crisis support is a confidential, accessible, and immediate service that is uniquely set up to reduce male suicide deaths through crisis intervention. However, research focusing on telephone crisis support with suicidal men is currently limited. To highlight the need to address service delivery for men experiencing suicidal crisis, this perspective article identifies key challenges facing current telephone crisis support research and proposes that understanding of the role of telephone crisis helplines in supporting suicidal men may be strengthened by careful examination of the context of telephone crisis support, together with the impact this has on help-provision for male suicidal …

A Systematic Review Of Intervention Studies Examining Nutritional And Herbal Therapies For Mild Cognitive Impairment And Dementia Using Neuroimaging Methods: Study Characteristics And Intervention Efficacy, Genevieve Z. Steiner, Danielle Mathersul, Freya Macmillan, David A. Camfield, Nerida Klupp, Sai Seto, Yong Huang, Mark Hohenberg, Dennis Chang

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Neuroimaging facilitates the assessment of complementary medicines (CMs) by providing a noninvasive insight into their mechanisms of action in the human brain. This is important for identifying the potential treatment options for target disease cohorts with complex pathophysiologies. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate study characteristics, intervention efficacy, and the structural and functional neuroimaging methods used in research assessing nutritional and herbal medicines for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Six databases were searched for articles reporting on CMs, dementia, and neuroimaging methods. Data were extracted from 21/2,742 eligible full text articles and risk of bias was …

Cost Effectiveness Of A Multi-Component School-Based Physical Activity Intervention Targeting Adolescents: The 'Physical Activity 4 Everyone' Cluster Randomized Trial, Rachel Sutherland, Penny Reeves, Elizabeth Campbell, David R. Lubans, Philip J. Morgan, Nicole Nathan, Luke Wolfenden, Anthony D. Okely, Karen Gillham, Lynda Davies, John Wiggers

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Background Few school-based interventions have been successful in reducing physical activity decline and preventing overweight and obesity in adolescent populations. As a result, few cost effectiveness analyses have been reported. The aim of this paper is to report the cost and cost effectiveness of the Physical Activity 4 Everyone (PA4E1) intervention which was a multi-component intervention implemented in secondary schools located in low-income communities. Cost effectiveness was assessed using both the physical activity and weight status trial outcomes.

Methods Intervention and Study Design: The PA4E1 cluster randomised controlled trial was implemented in 10 Australian secondary schools (5 intervention: 5 …

Feasibility Of Home-Based Dietetic Intervention To Improve The Nutritional Status Of Older Adults Post-Hospital Discharge, Aliza Haslinda Hamirudin, Karen L. Walton, Karen E. Charlton, Amanda Carrie, Linda C. Tapsell, Marianna Milosavljevic, Glen Pang, Jan M. Potter

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Aim To determine if a model of home-based dietetic care improves dietary intake and weight status in a specific group of older adults post-hospitalisation.

Methods The Department of Veterans' Affairs clients aged 65 years and over were recruited from hospitals in a regional area of New South Wales, Australia (n = 32 men, n = 36 women). Nutritional status was assessed at home at baseline (within two weeks post-discharge) and three months post-discharge using a diet history, a food frequency checklist and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Personalised dietary advice was provided by a single dietitian according to participants' nutritional status. …

Validating The Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile For Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Who Are Slow-To-Recover, Anne Cusick, Natasha Lannin, Robyn Hanssen, Jeanine Allaous

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Background/aim The Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile (WNSSP) is designed to measure disorders of consciousness in people with severe traumatic brain injury who are slow-to-recover. This study explores internal consistency reliability and concurrent validity of the WNSSP with function and two other consciousness measures. Method Retrospective chart audit of all severe traumatic brain injury patients admitted to a specialist neurological rehabilitation centre from January 2001 to December 2006 in a vegetative or minimally conscious state. Medical record of demographical, clinical and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) data were recorded. To be included in the study, patients needed admission and discharge WNSSP …

Analysis Of The Psychological Impact Of A Vascular Risk Factor Intervention: Results From A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial In Australian General Practice, Suzanne Helen Mckenzie, Upali W. Jayasinghe, Mahnaz Fanaian, Megan Passey, Mark Fort Harris

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Background Screening for vascular disease, risk assessment and management are encouraged in general practice however there is limited evidence about the emotional impact on patients. The Health Improvement and Prevention Study evaluated the impact of a general practice-based vascular risk factor intervention on behavioural and physiological risk factors in 30 Australian practices. The primary aim of this analysis is to investigate the psychological impact of participating in the intervention arm of the trial. The secondary aim is to identify the mediating effects of changes in behavioural risk factors or BMI. Methods This study is an analysis of a secondary outcome …

Burden And Support Needs Of Carers Of Persons With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Systematic Review, Rachel Bailey, Brin F. S Grenyer

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Background: A major feature of personality disorders is significant impairment in interpersonal functioning, which may create challenges in close relationships. This article aims to systematically review the experience of carers of persons with personality disorders. Method: The PRISMA systematic review method was followed, and empirical studies written in English, published between 1996 and 2011, and cited in major electronic databases were searched. Studies meeting the following selection criteria were included: (1) carers or families of persons with personality disorders; (2) intervention involving the carers or families; (3) burden or related construct used. Studies were required to meet either criteria 1 …

Analyzing Weight Loss Intervention Studies With Missing Data: Which Method Should Be Used?, Marijka J. Batterham, Linda C. Tapsell, Karen E. Charlton

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

Objective: Missing data due to study dropout is common in weight loss trials and several statistical methods exist to account for it. The aim of this study was to identify methods in the literature and to compare the effects of methods of analysis using simulated data sets. Methods: Literature was obtained for a 1-y period to identify analytical methods used in reporting weight loss trials. A comparison of methods with large or small between-group weight loss, and missing data that was, or was not, missing randomly was conducted in simulated data sets based on previous research. Results: Twenty-seven studies, some …

Home-Based Dietetic Intervention Improves Nutritional Status Post Hospital Discharge In Older People, A H. Hamirudin, A Carrie, K Charlton, K Walton, L Tapsell, Marianna Milosavljevic, G Pang, J Potter

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

Abstract of poster that presented at 20th International Congress of Nutrition, Granada, September 2013.

Effectiveness Of Home Based Early Intervention On Children's Bmi At Age 2: Randomised Controlled Trial, Li Ming Wen, Louise A. Baur, Judy M. Simpson, Chris Rissel, Karen Wardle, Victoria M. Flood

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a home-based early intervention on children’s BMI at age two. Design: Randomised controlled trial Setting: The Healthy Beginnings Trial was conducted in socially and economically disadvantaged areas of Sydney, Australia during 2007-2010. Participants: A total of 667 first-time mothers and their infants. Intervention: The intervention consisted of eight home visits from specially trained community nurses delivering a staged home-based intervention, one in the antenatal period, and seven at 1, 3, 5, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months after birth. Timing of the visits was designed to coincide with early childhood developmental milestones. …

Study Protocol: A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Computer-Based Depression And Substance Abuse Intervention For People Attending Residential Substance Abuse Treatment, Peter J. Kelly, Frances Kay-Lambkin, Amanda Baker, Frank P. Deane, Adam C. Brooks, Alexandra Mitchell, Sarah Marshall, Meredith Whittington, Genevieve A. Dingle

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

"Background: A large proportion of people attending residential alcohol and other substance abuse treatment have a co-occurring mental illness. Empirical evidence suggests that it is important to treat both the substance abuse problem and co-occurring mental illness concurrently and in an integrated fashion. However, the majority of residential alcohol and other substance abuse services do not address mental illness in a systematic way. It is likely that computer delivered interventions could improve the ability of substance abuse services to address co-occurring mental illness. This protocol describes a study in which we will assess the effectiveness of adding a computer delivered …

Seven Out Of Ten Most Popular Vegetables Remain Top Choice During First 3 Months Of A 12 Month Weight Loss Dietary Intervention Trial, Jane O'Shea, Yasmine Probst, Rebecca Thorne, Sara Grafenauer, Linda Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Increasing vegetable consumption is part of dietary advice for weight loss, but how this converts to vegetable choices is not known. In this context, our aim was to identify the main vegetable groups reported by the study sample in the Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Trial [ACTRN1260000784011] at baseline (Oct 2010-Feb 2011) and after 3mo (Feb - May 2011). Data from diet histories (DH) were analyzed using the AUSNUT 2007 database in Foodworks (Xyris, version 6.0.2562) to determine the average daily amount (g) of vegetables consumed by the study sample. Baseline DH (n=113 subjects; 85 female) exposed 32 vegetable categories. The …

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 …

The Effect Of A Brief Family Intervention On Primary Carer's Functioning And Their Schizophrenic Relatives Levels Of Psychopathology In India, Virupaksha Devaramane, Nagesh B. Pai, Shae-Leigh Vella

Graduate School of Medicine - Papers (Archive)

This study examined the short term effects of a brief familial intervention on schizophrenic the patient’s levels of psychopathology and their primary caregiver’s functioning in India. Caregiver functioning was measured by the caregiver’s levels of burden and coping along with the patient’s perceived level of expressed emotion (EE). The participants were 18 schizophrenic patients and their related primary carer from a medical facility in India. The patients’ levels of psychopathology and EE were assessed at baseline and at completion of the study with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS; Kay et al., 1987) and the Family Emotional Involvement And …

Validation Of Fingertip Whole Blood Against Common Blood Biomarkers Of Omega-3 Status In A Dose-Response Intervention, C E. Sparkes, A J. Sinclair, R A. Gibson, P L. Else, B J. Meyer

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Process Evaluation Of An Innovative Sun Protection Intervention Targeting Adolescents, Sandra C. Jones, Keryn M. Johnson, Donald C. Iverson, Jeffrey Thom

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The purpose of the current intervention was to target a defined segment of the adolescent population with a sun protection ‘offering’ that positioned sun protection as beneficial and addressed identified barriers (particularly inconvenience and image). A community intervention was conducted in one defined geographic region over the 2009/2010 Summer school holidays. Key elements of the intervention included the distribution of augmented products, promotional materials with a pre-tested impactful message, and partnerships with community and commercial organisations. The intervention was successful in creating interest and attention among adolescents. This paper reports on the process evaluations, focusing on barriers, facilitators and lessons …

Case Study In Academic And Industry Collaboration: The Development Of An Adolescent Targeted Sun Protection Intervention In Nsw, Melinda Williams, Sandra Jones, Donald Iverson, Peter Caputi, Sofia Potente

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Academic and industry collaboration is increasingly identified as a critical element in the future health of Australians through linking theory and practice, with the major priority for academic institutions being the identification of new knowledge and the transfer of this knowledge into changes in policy and health services. Collaborations between academia and industry are increasingly encouraged in Australia by research funding schemes such as ARCLinkage and, more recently, NHMRC Partnerships. While a recent US study suggests that such schemes have a moderate effect on academics’ propensity to work with industry (Bozeman and Gaughan, 2007), industry groups have recognised the value …

Development And Early Experience From An Intervention To Facilitate Teamwork Between General Practices And Allied Health Providers: The Team-Link Study, Mark Fort Harris, Bibiana Chan, Christopher Daniel, Qing Wan, Nicholas Zwar, Gawaine Powell Davies

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

Abstract. Background. This paper describes the development and implementation of an intervention to facilitate teamwork between general practice and outside allied and community health services and providers. Methods. A review of organizational theory and a qualitative study of 9 practices was used to design an intervention which was applied in four Divisions of General Practice and 26 urban practices. Clinical record review and qualitative interviews with participants were used to determine the key lessons from its implementation. Results. Facilitating teamwork across organizational boundaries was very challenging. The quality of the relationship between professionals was of key importance. This was enabled …

Gatekeeper Training As A Preventative Intervention For Suicide: A Systematic Review, Michael Isaac, Brenda Elias, Laurence Y. Katz, Shay-Lee Belik, Frank P. Deane, Murray W. Enns, Jitender Sareen

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Gatekeeper training is successful at imparting knowledge, building skills, and molding the attitudes of trainees; however, more work needs to be done on longevity of these traits and referral patterns of gatekeepers. There is a need for randomized controlled trials. In addition, the unique effect of gatekeeper training on suicide rates needs to be fully elucidated.

Qigong As A Mindful Exercise Intervention For People Living With Mental Ill Health, Chris Lloyd, H. Tsang, Frank P. Deane

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Individuals with schizophrenia are more likely to be overweight or obese than the general population, and the associated health problems put them at a higher risk of death. Exercise is therefore an important non-pharmacological intervention that mental health workers can assist clients to engage in, and mindful exercise approaches may be particularly well-suited to this population. Content: This article describes the concept of qigong as a mindful exercise and looks at preliminary evidence suggesting that mindful exercise is of physical and emotional benefit to people with mental ill health. The authors propose an easy, standardized exercise protocol which clinicians …

The Effectiveness Of A Brief Intervention Using A Pedometer And Step-Recording Diary In Promoting Physical Activity In People Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes Or Impaired Glucose Tolerance, Susan Furber, Claire Monger, Lisa Franco, Darren Mayne, Lauren A. Jones, Rachel Laws, Louise Waters

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Issue addressed: To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief intervention using a pedometer and step-recording diary on promoting physical activity in people with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Methods: People with type 2 diabetes or IGT who attended the Illawarra Diabetes Service were invited to participate. Participants in the intervention group received a pedometer and a diary to record their daily steps for a two-week period. Both the intervention and comparison group received advice on physical activity. Physical activity levels were measured using the Active Australia Survey at baseline, and at two and 20 weeks. Results: A …

Educational Acculturation And Academic Integrity: Outcomes Of An Intervention Subject For International Post-Graduate Students In Public Health, Julie M. Shaw, Paul J. Moore, Senthilkumar Gandhidasan

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper discusses a case study of a subject developed and implemented in a post-graduate public health program at the University of Wollongong that aims to foster the development of student academic integrity and related skills as students are introduced to a new educational culture. The subject adopts a formative, task-based approach where written and oral pedagogic tasks focus on various components of a final written assessment task. The subject was collaboratively developed by faculty and learning development staff and, in addition to the subject co-ordinator, its implementation is supported by library and learning development staff, as well as a …

Does Hero Always Help? Differences In Nutrient Intake Among Obese Subjects With And Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Prior To Dietary Intervention, Sze Yen Tan, Lynda J. Gillen, Marijka Batterham, Xu-Feng Huang, Cassandra J. Quick, Yasmine Probst, Serina Faraji, Linda C. Tapsell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at The 2006 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, 29 November - 2 December, Sydney, Australia

Erythrocyte Biomarker-Based Validation Of A Diet History Method Used In A Dietary Intervention Trial, Craig S. Patch, Karen J Murphy, Jackie Mansour, Linda C. Tapsell, Barbara J. Meyer, Trevor A Mori, Manny Noakes, P Clifton, I Puddey, P Howe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Relative Bias In Diet History Measurements: A Quality Control Technique For Dietary Intervention Trials, Gina S. Martin, Linda C. Tapsell, Marijka Batterham, Kenneth G. Russell

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: Investigation of relative bias in diet history measurement during dietary intervention trials.

Design: Retrospective analysis of human dietary data from two randomised controlled trials examining modified fat diets in the prevention and treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.

Setting: Wollongong, Australia.

Subjects: Thirty-five overweight, otherwise healthy subjects in trial 1 and 56 subjects with diabetes in trial 2.

Interventions: Diet history interviews and three-day weighed food records administered at one-month intervals in trial 1 and three-month intervals in trial 2.

Results: In a cross-sectional bias analysis, graphs of the association between bias and mean dietary intake showed that bias …

Profiles Of Underreporting In Healthy Adults And Adults With Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus Participating In A Dietary Intervention Trial, Gina Martin, Linda C. Tapsell, Marijka Batterham

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract from The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia, 2002.