Digital Commons Network^™

What Influences Chronic Pain Management? A Best–Worst Scaling Experiment With Final Year Medical Students And General Practitioners, Linda Rankin, Christopher J. Fowler, Britt-Marie Stålnacke, Gisselle Gallego

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Chronic pain education is an essential determinant for optimal chronic pain management. Given that attitudes and preferences are involved in making treatment decisions, identifying which factors are most influential to final year medical students’ and general practitioners’ (GPs) chronic pain management choices is of importance. This study investigates Swedish and Australian students’ preferences with respect to a chronic pain condition, using a best–worst scaling (BWS) experiment, which is designed to rank alternatives.

Methods: BWS, a stated-preference method grounded in random utility theory, was used to explore the importance of factors influencing chronic pain management.

Results: All three cohorts considered …

Advances In Screening For Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation For Stroke Prevention And Implications For Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Literature Review And Research Agenda, Nestor Gahungu, Christopher Judkins, Eli Gabbay, David Playford

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of sustained cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, and its burden is expected to increase in most developed countries over the next few decades. Because AF can be silent, it is often not diagnosed until an AF-related complication occurs, such as stroke. AF is also associated with increased risk of heart failure, lower quality of life, and death. Anticoagulation has been shown to dramatically decrease embolic risk in the setting of atrial fibrillation, resulting in growing interest in early detection of previously undiagnosed AF. Newly developed monitoring devices have improved the detection …

An Education Intervention To Improve Decision Making And Health Literacy Among Older Australians: A Randomised Controlled Trial, Caroline A. Smith, Esther Chang, Gisselle Gallego, Afshan Khan, Mike Armour, Lynda G. Balneaves

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: National policies seek to involve older Australian’s in decisions regarding their care; however, research has found varying levels of decision self-efficacy and health literacy skills. An increasing number of older Australians use complementary medicine (CM). We examined the effectiveness of a CM educational intervention delivered using a web or DVD plus booklet format to increase older adults’ decision self-efficacy and health literacy.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted. We recruited individuals aged over 65years living in retirement villages or participating in community groups, in Sydney Australia. Participants were randomly allocated to receive a CM education intervention delivered using …

Long-Term Prevalence And Predictors Of Prolonged Grief Disorder Amongst Bereaved Cancer Caregivers: A Cohort Study, Rachel D. Zordan, Melanie L. Bell, Melanie Price, Cheryl Remedios, Elizabeth Lobb, Christopher Hall, Peter Hudson

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Context: The short-term impact of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) following bereavement is well documented. The longer term sequelae of PGD however are poorly understood, possibly unrecognized, and may be incorrectly attributed to other mental health disorders and hence undertreated.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to prospectively evaluate the prevalence of PGD three years post bereavement and to examine the predictors of long-term PGD in a population-based cohort of bereaved cancer caregivers.

Methods: A cohort of primary family caregivers of patients admitted to one of three palliative care services in Melbourne, Australia, participated in the study (n = …

Adrenal Insufficiency Due To Bilateral Adrenal Metastases - A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Philippa H. Tallis, R Louise Rushworth, David J. Torpy, Henrik Falhammar

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: Bilateral adrenal metastases may cause adrenal insufficiency (AI) but it is unclear if screening for AI in patients with bilateral adrenal metastases is justified, despite the potential for adrenal crises.

Method: A search using PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect and Cochrane Reviews was performed to collect all original research articles and all case reports from the past 50 years that describe AI in bilateral adrenal metastases.

Results: Twenty studies were included with 6 original research articles, 13 case reports and one case series. The quality was generally poor. The prevalence of AI was 3–8%. Of all cases of AI (n ¼ 25) …

What Is The Prevalence, And What Are The Clinical Correlates, Of Insulin Resistance In Young People Presenting For Mental Health Care? A Cross-Sectional Study, Elizabeth M. Scott, Joanne S. Carpenter, Frank Iorfino, Shane P.M Cross, Daniel F. Hermens, Jeanne Gehue, Chloe Wilson, Django White, Sharon L. Naismith, Adam J. Guastella, Ian B. Hickie

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: To report the distribution and predictors of insulin resistance (IR) in young people presenting to primary care-based mental health services.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Headspace-linked clinics operated by the Brain and Mind Centre of the University of Sydney.

Participants: 768 young people (66% female, mean age 19.7±3.5, range 12–30 years).

Main outcome measures: IR was estimated using the updated homeostatic model assessment (HOMA2-IR). Height and weight were collected from direct measurement or self-report for body mass index (BMI).

Results: For BMI, 20.6% of the cohort were overweight and 10.2% were obese. However,6.9 mmol/L). By contrast, 9.9% had a HOMA2-IR score …

Attitudes And Factors Involved In Decision-Making Around Complementary And Alternative Medicines (Cams) By Older Australians: A Qualitative Study, Gisselle Gallego, Saira Gugnani, Mike Armour, Caroline A. Smith, Esther Chang

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Recent evidence has indicated that older Australians are increasingly turning to complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) to address a variety of health issues. This qualitative study aimed to explore the attitudes and factors involved in decision-making around CAMs by older Australians upon the completion of a CAM educational intervention.

Methods: Men and women aged over 65 years living in New South Wales, Australia were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews after taking part in a randomised control trial. Interviews were analysed using the framework approach.

Results: A total of 20 participants aged over 65 years were interviewed. Themes captured …

Transnational Parent-Child Separation And Reunion During Early Childhood In Chinese Migrant Families: An Australian Snapshot, Yat Man Louise Hui, Julie Stevenson, Gisselle Gallego

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Limited international research exists on reasons for transnational child care, or developmental consequences of separations and reunions on young Chinese children. This descriptive study portrays a sample of children from Chinese migrant families residing in western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, whose parents temporarily relinquished their care to grandparents in China. Data were collected via retrospective health record audits. The majority of parents were first-time parents and the majority of children were first-borns sent back to China during infancy. The average duration of transnational parent–child separation was 20 months. Results showed that male child subjects who experienced multiple transnational separations …

Obesity Prevention And The Role Of Hospital And Community-Based Health Services: A Scoping Review, Claire Pearce, Lucie Rychetnik, Sonia Wutzke, Andrew Wilson

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Control of obesity is an important priority to reduce the burden of chronic disease. Clinical guidelines focus on the role of primary healthcare in obesity prevention. The purpose of this scoping review is to examine what the published literature indicates about the role of hospital and community based health services in adult obesity prevention in order to map the evidence and identify gaps in existing research.

Methods: Databases were searched for articles published in English between 2006 and 2016 and screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Further papers were highlighted through a manual search of the reference lists. Included …

Reducing Stroke Risk In Atrial Fibrillation: Adherence To Guidelines Has Improved, But Patient Persistence With Anticoagulant Therapy Remains Suboptimal., Nicole Lowres, Katrina Giskes, Charlotte Hespe, Ben Freedman

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a significant risk factor for avoidable stroke. Among high-risk patients with AF, stroke risk can be mitigated using oral anticoagulants (OACs), however reduction is largely contingent on physician prescription and patient persistence with OAC therapy. Over the past decade significant advances have occurred, with revisions to clinical practice guidelines relating to management of stroke risk in AF in several countries, and the introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist OACs (NOACs). This paper summarises the evolving body of research examining guideline-based clinician prescription over the past decade, and patient-level factors associated with OAC persistence. The review shows clinicians' …

Cyanoacrylate Closure For Peripheral Veins: Consensus Document Of The Australasian College Of Phlebology, Kurosh Parsi, Stefania Roberts, Mina Kang, Stephen Benson, Luke Baker, Ivor Berman, Lourens J. Bester, David E. Connor, Paul Dinnen, Joseph Grace, Andrew Stirling, Nabeel Ibrahim, Christopher Lekich, Adrian Lim, Luke Matar, Sanjay Nadkarni, Peter Paraskevas, Christopher Rogan, Paul K. Thibault, Simon Thibault, Andre Van Rij, Anes Yang

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Cyanoacrylates are fast-acting adhesives used in procedural medicine including closure of superficial wounds, embolization of truncal vessels pre-operatively, vascular anomalies, visceral false aneurysms, endoleaks, gastrointestinal varices and gastrointestinal bleeding. More recently, catheter-directed cyanoacrylate adhesive closure was introduced as an alternative to endovenous thermal ablation (ETA) to occlude superficial veins of the lower limbs.

Objectives: To formulate policies for the safe and effective delivery of cyanoacrylate adhesive closure procedures in Australasia, based on current experience and evidence.

Methods: A panel of phlebologists including vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, dermatologists and research scientists systematically reviewed the available data on cyanoacrylate products used …

Using Participatory Design Methodologies To Co-Design And Culturally Adapt The Spanish Version Of The Mental Health Eclinic: Qualitative Study, Laura Ospina-Pinillos, Tracey Davenport, Antonio Mendoza Diaz, Alvaro Navarro-Mancilla, Elizabeth M. Scott, Ian B. Hickie

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: The Mental Health eClinic (MHeC) aims to deliver best-practice clinical services to young people experiencing mental health problems by making clinical care accessible, affordable, and available to young people whenever and wherever they need it most. The original MHeC consists of home page with a visible triage system for those requiring urgent help; a online physical and mental health self-report assessment; a results dashboard; a booking and videoconferencing system; and the generation of a personalized well-being plan. Populations who do not speak English and reside in English-speaking countries are less likely to receive mental health care. In Australia, international …

Prevalence Of Sexual Harassment Of Nurses And Nursing Students In China: A Meta-Analysis Of Observational Studies, Liang-Nan Zeng, Qian-Qian Zong, Ji-Wen Zhang, Li Lu, Feng-Rong An, Chee H. Ng, Gabor S. Ungvari, Fang-Yu Yang, Teris Cheung, Ligang Chen, Yu-Tao Xiang

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Sexual harassment experienced by nurses and nursing students is common and significantly associated with negative consequences. This study is a meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of sexual harassment of nurses and nursing students in China. Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Ovid, China National Knowledge Internet, WanFang, SinoMed and Chinese VIP Information) were independently and systematically searched by two reviewers from their commencement date to 12 March 2018. Forty-one studies that reported the prevalence of sexual harassment were analyzed using the random-effects model. The pooled prevalence of sexual harassment was 7.5% (95% CI: 5.5%-10.1%), with 7.5% (5.5%-10.2%) …

How Does The Duration Of Consults Vary For Upper Respiratory Tract Infections In General Practice Where An Antibiotic Has Been Prescribed?, Phoebe R. Darlison Shepherd, Catherine J. Krejany, Moyez Jiwa

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: There is limited data on the duration of consults resulting in the prescription of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in general practice.

Objective: To explore how demographic factors influence consult duration where antibiotics have been prescribed for URTI in Australian general practice.

Methods: 2985 URTI-specific presentations were identified from a national study of patients who were prescribed an antibiotic after presenting to general practice between June and September 2017. Consult duration was analysed to assess for any variation in visit length based on demographic factors.

Results: The overall median consult duration was 11.42 minutes [interquartile range (IQR) …

Impulse Control Disorders In Dopamine Agonist-Treated Hyperprolactinemia: Prevalence And Risk Factors, Sunita M.C De Sousa, John Baranoff, R Louise Rushworth, Jessica Butler, Jane Sorbello, Juanita Vorster, Tanya Thompson, Ann I. Mccormack, Warrick J. Inder, David J. Torpy

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Context: There are growing reports of dopamine agonist (DA)-induced impulse control disorders (ICDs) in hyperprolactinemic patients. However, the magnitude of this risk and predictive factors remain uncertain.

Objective: To determine ICD prevalence and risk factors in DA-treated hyperprolactinemic patients compared to community controls.

Design, Setting and Participants: Multicenter cross-sectional analysis of 113 patients and 99 healthy controls.

Main Outcome Measures: Participants completed a neuropsychological questionnaire consisting of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21), Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson’s disease (QUIP-S), Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI), Hypersexual Behavior Consequences Scale and Social Desirability Response Set Scale. Demographic and clinical data were …

'Through The Eyes Of The Dying' - Identifying Who May Benefit From Bereavement Follow-Up: A Qualitative Study, Jane L. Phillips, Elizabeth A. Lobb, Francis Bellemore, Terrence Hays, David C. Currow

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Bereavement support is an integral element of palliative care. Emerging evidence stipulates that bereavement support should be reserved for those most at risk of poor outcomes. While this evidence makes identifying those at risk of experiencing a complex bereavement a necessary first step, it has been difficult to arrive at a consensus as to whom that should be.

Aim: To explore whether palliative care in-patients with advanced disease are concerned about the bereavement needs of others and, if so, is it their next-of-kin.

Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis using a constant comparative method.

Setting/participants: …

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 …

Morbidity After Surgical Management Of Cervical Cancer In Low And Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Emma R. Allanson, Aime Powell, Max Bulsara, Hong Lim Lee, Lynette Denny, Yee Leung, Paul Cohen

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: To investigate morbidity for patients after the primary surgical management of cervical cancer in low and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Methods: The Pubmed, Cochrane, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, LILACS and CINAHL were searched for published studies from 1st Jan 2000 to 30th June 2017 reporting outcomes of surgical management of cervical cancer in LMIC. Randomeffects meta-analytical models were used to calculate pooled estimates of surgical complications including blood transfusions, ureteric, bladder, bowel, vascular and nerve injury, fistulae and thromboembolic events. Secondary outcomes included five-year progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Findings: Data were available …

Variable- And Person-Centered Approaches To Examining Construct-Relevant Multidimensionality In Writing Self-Efficacy, Morgan Debusk-Lane

Theses and Dissertations

Writing self-efficacy is a vital component to a students’ motivation and will to succeed towards writing. The measurement of writing self-efficacy over the past 40 years, despite its development, continues to largely be represented by Confirmatory Factor Analysis models that are limited due to their restricted item to factor constraints. These constraints, given prior literature and the theoretical understanding of self-efficacy, do not adequately model construct- relevant psychometric multidimensionality as a product of conceptual overlap or a hierarchical or general factor. Given this, the present study’s purpose was to examine the adapted Self-efficacy for Writing Scale (SEWS) for the presence …

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies Of Synthetic Cathinones And Related Agents, Rachel A. Davies

Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic cathinones and related agents represent an international drug abuse problem, and at the same time an important class of clinically useful compounds. Structure-activity relationship studies are needed to elucidate molecular features underlying the pharmacology of these agents. Illicit methcathinone (i.e., MCAT), the prototype of the synthetic cathinone class, exists as a racemic mixture. Though the differences in potency and target selectivity between the positional and optical isomers of synthetic cathinones and related agents have been demonstrated to have important implications for abuse and therapeutic potential, the two MCAT isomers have never been directly compared at their molecular targets: the …

Do Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Symptoms Improve With School-Based Adhd Interventions? Outcomes And Predictors Of Change., Zoe Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is a construct that includes symptoms of slowness, mental confusion, excessive daydreaming, low motivation, and drowsiness/sleepiness. SCT is often co-morbid with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and SCT symptoms are associated with significant academic and interpersonal impairment above and beyond the influence of ADHD symptoms. Despite the overlap between ADHD and SCT and associated impairments, no studies have evaluated how evidence-based psychosocial interventions for adolescents with ADHD impact symptoms of SCT. This study examined whether SCT symptoms improved in a sample of 274 young adolescents with ADHD who received either an organizational skills or a homework completion intervention. …

An Adaptation And Psychometric Evaluation Of The Teacher Attribution Measure For Early Elementary (Tam-Ee), Shannon L. Nemer

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the reliability and validity of the Teacher Attribution Measure for Early Elementary (TAM-EE), a measure adapted from the Preschool Teaching Attributions (PTA) measure, to assess the challenging behavior attributions of early elementary teachers. Like the PTA, the TAM-EE uses a series of student-specific behavior scenarios as prompts for teachers who then rate statements aligned with dimensions of attribution theory on a 6-point scale. A sample of 41 teachers completed the TAM-EE on 79 students in grades K-3 screened for risk of emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). Teachers also completed reports of student behavior, self-efficacy, and perceptions of …

Teacher-Child Relationships, Interactions, And Problem Behavior: A Longitudinal Analysis Examining Bi-Directional Associations, Rachel Kunemund

Theses and Dissertations

A number of preschool children engage in consistent problem behaviors that place them at-risk for developing emotional and behavioral disorders. These problem behaviors have been associated with poorer short and long-term outcomes for young children. Teacher-child relationships (i.e. conflict and closeness) and positive interactions between teachers and children may be reciprocally associated with problem behavior (e.g. teacher-child closeness reducing problem behavior). The purpose of this study was to explore the longitudinal bi-directional relations between teacher-child relationships, teacher-child interactions, and problem behavior over a single school year. Using a cross-lagged panel model, data from a larger randomized control trial of the …

Exploring The Standard: A Look Into Modern Voice And Speech Curriculum, Taylor L. Bosta

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the current state of voice and speech education to discover if there is a standard of learning from university to university. By examining the history of voice and speech, discovering basic skills, breaking down teaching methodologies, and taking a look at current university and conservatory acting programs, the thesis discovers there is not a standard way of teaching, but there is a standard set of skills that should be upheld when planning voice and speech curriculum.

Determining Success Factors In Interprofessional Practice With Dynamic Teams, Danah Alsane

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The interprofessional healthcare team is dynamic to cope with complex issues and needs existing in the healthcare environment. Understanding the important factors that predict dynamic team effectiveness helps health educators to establish team training models that focus on improving collaborative student performance that facilitates their transition to practice and helps to improve the health and system outcomes.

Objectives:1) Assess the impact of a practice-based interprofessional education (IPE) model on student attitudes and knowledge toward interprofessional teamwork.2) Evaluate predictors associated with team effectiveness among dynamic student teams participating in a practice-based IPE setting.

Methods: This was an exploratory cross-sectional …

Dating Violence And Latina/O Emerging Adult’S Attitudes Towards Condoms And Condom Use Behaviors: Examining The Role Of Culture, Melissa Avila

Theses and Dissertations

Latina/o emerging adults living in southern states may be especially at risk of being disproportionately affected by HIV. In 2015, Latina/os aged 20 to 24 accounted for 14.7% of all 20-24-year old’s living with HIV in southern states, despite the fact that 20 to 24-year-olds make up 3.7% of the region’s overall population of individuals living with HIV (CDC, 2016; U.S. Census Bureau, 2017). Specifically, there continues to be groups of Latina/o emerging adults who do not use condoms when they are sexually active and who are not using condoms consistently. Condom use literature suggests that relationship factors, such as …

The Implied Editor: A Theory Of Craft And Poetics, Mary Selph

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation advances a new theory of the editor. Editors are pervasively influential for shaping our evaluations of all kinds of work, from literature, to news, to scholarship, and beyond. I test my theory on editorial influence in little magazines, providing close readings, recovering historical contexts, and identifying a wide variety of rhetorical affordances available to little magazines’ editors. I draw on rhetorical narrative theory, most especially the “implied author” concept, which I build on in order to theorize an “implied editor.” I furthermore demonstrate that understanding the authored and edited texts as distinct is important for teasing apart the …

The Prodigal Daughter: An Edition Of An Anonymous Text, Paige Deans

Theses and Dissertations

The Prodigal Daughter (1736) is a poem that, on the surface, appears to be an approachable text that was likely geared towards a children’s audience during New England’s first Great Awakening, within the approachable format of a chapbook. However, when explored further, The Prodigal Daughter reveals a complicated textual history during a time of theological and social revival in New England. This thesis considers the historical context of The Prodigal Daughter’s narrative, as well as the poem’s publication history. The text’s transmission is carefully examined and encapsulated in this edition—giving the reader a transcription that is the result of …

Why Women Give To Women: A Portrait Of Gender-Based Philanthropy, Amy C. G. Beck

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

WHY WOMEN GIVE TO WOMEN: A PORTRAIT OF GENDER-BASED PHILANTHROPY AT A PUBLIC COLLEGE IN VIRGINIA

By Amy Gray Beck, Ph.D.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2019

Chair: Katherine Cumings Mansfield, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations, School of Education, UNC Greensboro

The cost of public higher education is steadily increasing, with state and federal government cutting its support year after year. Students are having to pay more out of pocket for classes and tuition, and institutions rely on …

Predictors Of Peripartum Care Attendance Among A Sample Of African American Women At Increased Risk For Poor Prenatal Care Compliance, Anna B. Parlier-Ahmad

Theses and Dissertations

Prenatal and postpartum care are important for reducing maternal and infant morbidity. Racial and ethnic disparities are prevalent in maternal peripartum health and infant birth outcomes as well as peripartum care access and utilization. They highlight the need to identify and better understand correlates of poor prenatal and postpartum care compliance. While risk factors for low adherence to peripartum care have been identified, no studies have looked specifically at predictors of prenatal and postpartum care attendance in an at-risk sample of African American pregnant women. Using existing data from an RCT targeting maternal and infant health disparities and comparing a …