Digital Commons Network^™

It Was Part Of The Plan, So I Showed Up: An Exploration Of Patient Experiences With An Embedded Exercise Referral Process During Cancer Treatment, Mary A. Kennedy, Jack Dalla Via, Kim Edmunds, Pam Eldridge, Yvonne Zissiadis, Lauren Fortington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Exercise is a key part of cancer care, yet its integration into routine practice remains limited. This study explored the experiences of people living with and beyond cancer, with an updated, opt-out referral model embedded within a supportive oncology setting, focusing on initial engagement with exercise physiology appointments. Through this model, patients were automatically scheduled for a consultation with an in-house exercise professional during their cancer treatment. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design comprised of two focus groups with 13 participants was employed to explore views across pre-defined elements of the model: referral to exercise, appointments, counselling, and tailoring. Results: …

Peptidomic Profiling Of In Vitro Digesta From Diverse Microalgae Species, Sara Hamzelou, Damien Belobrajdic, Henri Brook, Wei Chen, Fletcher Hiten, Kim Lee Chang, Diane Purcell, Utpal Bose, Simone Osborne, Cassandra Pegg, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Microalgae are a sustainable protein source, yet few species are used for human nutrition. This study evaluated eight species for protein quality, digestibility, and peptide profiles after simulated gastrointestinal digestion using INFOGEST. Amino acid content, and intestinal-phase peptide mixtures were analysed by mass spectrometry. The methanol precipitation method was used to separate digested (supernatant) and undigested (pellet) peptides following in vitro INFOGEST digestion. The pellet was further separated by molecular weight into 3–10 kDa and >10 kDa fractions to isolate the lower molecular weight peptides from the higher ones. This separation method enabled the identification of potential digested peptides within …

Strengthening Social Structures To Improve Informal Care For Older People With Chronic Life-Limiting Illnesses In Rural Ghana, Barbara Adonteng-Kissi, Obed Adonteng-Kissi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Traditional family-based care for older people in Ghana is declining as globalization and social change weaken historical support systems. This analysis is informed by a review of scholarly literature concerning the implications of globalization for the provision of caregiving for older people managing chronic life-limiting illnesses. We aimed to explore ways of strengthening social structures to enhancing the quality of lives of older people with chronic life-limiting illnesses in rural Ghana amongst 15 older people; 15 family caregivers; 10 healthcare professionals. Critical Social Theory (CST) functions as the primary theoretical framework for conducting an interrogation of the systemic structures that …

Joint Cancer Nurses Society Of Australia–Clinical Oncology Society Of Australia Position Statement On The Contribution Of Nurses To Cancer Survivorship Care In Australia, Raymond J. Chan, Gemma Mcerlean, Fiona Crawford-Williams, Carla Thamm, Carmel O'Kane, Nicolas H. Hart, Gillian Blanchard, Anne Mellon, Justin Hargreaves, Mei Krishnasamy, Michael Jefford

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To describe the development, consultation, and endorsement process for a joint position statement from the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA) and the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) regarding the contribution of nurses to cancer survivorship care in Australia. Methods: A development team of nursing and oncology experts (n = 11) was convened in September 2025. The draft position statement was informed by key literature, including the COSA Model of Survivorship Care, Australian Cancer Plan, a modified Delphi study defining nurse capabilities in survivorship care, and an overview of systematic reviews on nurse-led care models. A consultation survey …

Machine Learning Derived Abdominal Aortic Calcification Is Associated With Physical Frailty In Community-Dwelling Adults: The Uk Biobank Imaging Study, Abadi K. Gebre, Marion Mundt, Elsa Dent, James Webster, Afsah Saleem, Syed Zulqarnain Gilani, Yuandan Zhang, Cassandra Smith, Parminder Raina, John P. Kemp, William D. Leslie, John T. Schousboe, Nicholas C. Harvey, Joshua R. Lewis, Marc Sim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) is often present in frail individuals. However, it remains unclear whether subclinical CVD, e.g., abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), is associated with frailty. This study investigated the cross-sectional relationship between AAC scored using a validated machine learning model (ML-AAC24) and physical frailty. 49,081 participants from the UK Biobank Imaging Study without atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) diagnosis were included. ML-AAC24 extent was categorised as low, moderate and high, based on established severity categories. Physical frailty was based on a modified Fried’s frailty phenotype comprising weak hand grip strength, slow walking speed, weight loss, exhaustion, and physical inactivity. Individuals with …

Negotiating Relationships With Food, The Body, And Physical Activity: Who Is The Healthiest Of Them All?, Valeria Varea, Victoria Evans, Dawn Penney, Eibhlish O'Hara

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Healthy eating and regular exercise are things that many people aspire to, mainly for health reasons. However, these practices can be complex given broader societal discourses. This paper aims to critically interrogate the social conditions and discursive formations that underpin everyday exercisers’ relationships with food, the body, and physical activity by using biopower and biopedagogies as a theoretical approach, and healthism as a set of discourses. Photo elicitation interviews with vignettes were conducted with nine participants who were regular exercisers. We constructed three different scenarios from the interview data and the theoretical approach: 1. Anna: A performance-driven, health compliant, private …

Meta-Analysis Of Dna Methylation Aging Signatures In 17 Human Tissues, Macsue Jacques, Kirsten Seale, Sarah Voisin, Anna Lysenko, Robin Grolaux, Bernadette Jones-Freeman, Severine Lamon, Mandhri Abeysooriya, Itamar Levinger, Carlie Bauer, Adam P. Sharples, Aino Heikkinen, Elina Sillanpaa, Miina Ollikainen, Cassandra Smith, James R. Broatch, Navabeh Zarekookandeh, Linn Gillberg, Ida Blom, Jesse R. Poganik, Mahdi Moqri, Vadim N. Gladyshev, Matthew Taper, Cassandra Malecki, Sean Lal, Nathalie Saurat, Steve Horvath, Andrew Teschendorff, Nir Eynon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Epigenetic changes, in particular DNA methylation, accumulate with age across different tissues, but whether these changes follow consistent patterns across different organs remains poorly understood. Here we show, through a meta-analysis of more than 15,000 human methylation profiles spanning 17 tissues, that aging produces both conserved and tissue-specific epigenetic signatures. We identify systemic shifts in methylation levels, increases in methylation variability, and growing molecular disorder across tissues. Network analysis revealed tightly connected gene clusters that are not modified by beneficial interventions, alongside a more modifiable cluster linked to NAD⁺ metabolism, supporting NAD⁺ as a potential therapeutic target in …

Patients’ And Health Professionals’ Perspectives On Transforming The Burden Of Haemodialysis (Hd) Treatment To An Opportunity: An In-Depth Qualitative Investigation, Haseeba Shouket, Eyal Gringart, Deirdre Drake, Ulrich Steinwandel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Most patients with End Stage Kidney Failure (ESKF) in Pakistan must undergo maintenance haemodialysis (HD) to survive. Session duration and the often lifelong nature of this treatment, along with other factors associated with HD, make it difficult to tolerate. This study took a positive psychological perspective and considered that HD sessions’ duration, which has been a major challenge for HD patients, can be turned to an opportunity for patients’ meaningful engagement. Such meaningful engagement can positively transform Pakistani patients’ experience of HD and extend into their lives outside HD. Twenty-four HD patients and six healthcare professionals were interviewed to explore …

Tall Orders: A Comparison Of Resident Food Behaviours By Dwelling Type And Apartment Characteristics In Australia, Joelie Mandzufas, Siobhan Hickling, Kevin Murray, Sarah Foster, Gina S.A. Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

To accommodate population growth, Australian cities are becoming denser, with more Australians living in apartments. However, there is little understanding of whether this shift towards apartment living raises any potential short- and long-term implications for dietary health. Using an Australian nationally representative household survey, this cross-sectional study compared meal-purchasing frequency and fruit and vegetable intake by dwelling type, apartment block height, and number of bedrooms in the apartment. Adjusted mean differences were derived from linear regressions, adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics. Apartment residents purchased 0.72 more meals out each week than house residents (p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.599,0.831]) and consumed 0.10 fewer daily serves of vegetables (p = 0.002, 95% CI [0.038,0.163]). Among apartment residents, those in high-rise blocks purchased 0.80 more meals out each week than low-rise residents (p = 0.012, 95% CI [0.250,1.348]), and residents of one-bedroom or studio apartments ate 0.25 fewer serves of fruit per day than residents in apartments with at least three bedrooms (p = 0.003, 95% CI [0.038,0.163]). These findings provide important evidence to inform policy and targeted interventions that promote healthy food behaviours in apartment-living populations.

The Best Practice Guide For Early Childhood Education And Care Food Environment: Module 6: Quality, Leadership And Governance (Version 1.0), Helen Alexiou, Lochie Clark, Amanda Devine, Audrey Elford, Connie N. Ihlein, Peter D’Cress, Kasie Jackson, Karen Hunter, Stacey Mckenzie, Avalon O’Dowd, Asha Rojahn, Ros Sambell, Blake Stewart, Henry Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Quality, Leadership and Governance are central pillars in the role early learning settings play in children’s growth, development and wellbeing. By meeting regulatory requirements and quality standards through stringent business procedures and continuous improvement practices, services can provide high-quality food environments for all children – shaping their thoughts, feelings, and practices around food and eating.

This Quality, Leadership and Governance (QLG) module aims to:

- Provide critical context for how the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) food environment is intertwined with National Law and Regulations.

- Support services to meet regulatory requirements, through specific resources and guidance.

- Provide …

The Best Practice Guide For Early Childhood Education And Care Food Environment: Module 5: Sustainable Food Practices (Version 1.0), Helen Alexiou, Lennie Barblett, Caterina Benati, Fiona Champion, Bek Clancy, Penelope Clark, Lochie Clark, Kathy Cologon, Wendy Cook, Amanda Devine, Katie Dix, Kirsty Elliott, Audrey Elford, Leanne Elliston, Amanda Ferguson, Ricky Gelman, Jodie Gray, Natalie Gulberti, Lorraine Hingston, Connie N. Ihlein, Karen Krist, Deana Leahy, Rebecca Lindberg, Stacey Mckenzie, Merryn Netting, Ciara O’Flaherty, Asha Rojahn, Ros Sambell, Blake Stewart, Leah Stuart-Douglas, Aimee Sullivan, Suzanne Tamone, Henry Tan, Sandra Vale, Jill Whelan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

ECEC food environments are uniquely positioned to support sustainability by implementing practices that can reduce environmental impacts while creating meaningful opportunities for children to experience and explore the interconnections between people, animals, plants, lands and water through food.

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) (Version 2.0) recognises sustainability as an important consideration for children’s learning and development and that educators and children have active roles to play in contributing to more sustainable communities.1 Through the food provided, mealtimes, and food education, ECEC services can provide meaningful opportunities for children to experience and engage with sustainable food practices.

This Sustainable Food …

The Best Practice Guide For Early Childhood Education And Care Food Environment: Module 4: Staff And Family Engagement (Version 1.0), Helen Helen Alexiou, Lennie Barblett, Fiona Champion, Penelope Clark, Lochie Clark, Kathy Cologon, Wendy Cook, Amanda Devine, Katie Dix, Kirsty Elliott, Audrey Elford, Leanne Elliston, Amanda Ferguson, Yuna Ribeiro Ferreira Alves, Ricky Gelman, Jodie Gray, Natalie Gulberti, Lena Harle, Connie N. Ihlein, Jill Whelan, Karen Krist, Ashton Leach, Deana Leahy, Stacey Mckenzie, Lauren Moore, Merryn Netting, Ciara O’Flaherty, Asha Rojahn, Ros Sambell, Blake Stewart, Aimee Sullivan, Suzanne Tamone, Henry Tan, Courtney Trezona, Sandra Vale, Kathy Cologon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Engaging with families is a core responsibility of ECEC services and staff. By building positive, personal relationships with families, ECEC staff are able to share concerns or queries about the children in their care in a sensitive way.

One of the more sensitive topics that can come up is food – what they are eating, how much they are eating, their eating behaviours and skills, and everything in between. Through quick conversations at drop-off or via formal communication platforms, services can share a range of information about a child’s eating patterns and behaviours, and also gather information from families to …

The Best Practice Guide For Early Childhood Education And Care Food Environment: Module 3: Food Education (Version 1.0), Helen Alexiou, Lennie Barblett, Fiona Champion, Penelope Clark, Lochie Clark, Kathy Cologon, Wendy Cook, Amanda Devine, Katie Dix, Audrey Elford, Leanne Elliston, Amanda Ferguson, Ricky Gelman, Jodie Gray, Natalie Gulberti, Connie N. Ihlein, Debbie Jordan, Karen Krist, Deana Leahy, Stacey Mckenzie, Sandra Murphy, Merryn Netting, Ciara O’Flaherty, Asha Rojahn, Ros Sambell, Blake Stewart, Aimee Sullivan, Suzanne Tamone, Henry Tan, Sandra Vale, Danielle Waterson, Jill Whelan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Food education (FE) in early learning settings is more than cooking – it is an opportunity to experience food in ways that include cooking but go far beyond. Food education gives children the opportunity for exploration, experimentation, learning, teamwork, skill building and much more. At the same time, services must balance safety, regulatory requirements, diverse developmental and cultural needs, family expectations and practical constraints such as time and staffing.

The FE module has been developed to support Early Childhood Education and Care settings (ECEC), for children from birth to 5 years, to create food experiences that are safe, engaging, inclusive …

The Best Practice Guide For Early Childhood Education And Care Food Environment: Module 2: Menu And Meal Quality (Version 1.0), Helen Alexiou, Lennie Barblett, Caterina Benati, Fiona Champion, Bek Clancy, Penelope Clark, Lochie Clark, Kathy Cologon, Wendy Cook, Amanda Devine, Katie Dix, Kirsty Elliott, Audrey Elford, Leanne Elliston, Amanda Ferguson, Ricky Gelman, Jodie Gray, Natalie Gulberti, Lorraine Hingston, Connie N. Ihlein, Karen Krist, Deana Leahy, Penny Love, Stacey Mckenzie, Tamia Matthews, Merryn Netting, Ciara O’Flaherty, Asha Rojahn, Ros Sambell, Blake Stewart, Aimee Sullivan, Suzanne Tamone, Henry Tan, Sandra Vale, Jill Whelan, Erin Wild

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Menu and meal quality is central to the role early learning settings play in children’s growth, development and wellbeing. The food provided across the day shapes children’s nutrient intake, their developing relationship with food, and the eating patterns they carry into later life. At the same time, services must balance nutritional quality with food safety, food allergen management and dietary needs, cultural diversity, family expectations, and practical constraints such as budgets, time and access to supplies.

This Menu and Meal Quality (MMQ) module aims to:

- Support ECEC services to provide menus and meals that align with the Australian Dietary …

Sport Participation And The Pursuit Of Active And Healthy Lifestyles: Everyday Athletes’ Relationships With Eating And Exercise, Valeria Varea, Eibhlish O'Hara, Dawn Penney, Victoria Evans

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose – Athletes are more likely to experience eating and exercise disorders than non-athletes. Little is known about the incidence of eating and exercise disorders amongst non-elite participants, many of whom participate outside of club governance and support structures. The aim of this paper is to explore eating and exercise attitudes and behaviours amongst participants in both formal and informal sport and, in so doing, generate insights to inform future educational initiatives that seek to promote healthy and active lifestyles. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was completed by 110 participants, 9 of whom were interviewed for the second phase of …

Senior Heart Health Facilitating Hypertension Management, Heather Hodgens Lupo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hypertension affects approximately 70% of adults aged 65 years and older and remains a leading contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the United States, highlighting the need for effective community-based hypertension management interventions. Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines, gaps in education and self-management persist among older adults. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project, Senior Heart Health: Facilitating Hypertension Management, was designed to improve hypertension-related knowledge among adults aged 55 years and older through a structured, community-based health coaching intervention.

The project was implemented in a rural community and consisted of four weekly educational sessions delivered …