Digital Commons Network^™

Barriers And Facilitators To Providing Women Postpartum Care By Health Care Providers In The First 12 Months After Childbirth: A Systematic Qualitative Meta-Aggregation Review, Maryam Rouhi, Silvana Bettiol, Sarah Prior, Narges Rouhi, Theodora Dedo Azu, Christine Stirling, Lynne Staff, Linda Jones, Antigoni Leftherioti, Patricia Nicholson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Postpartum care is crucial for maternal and infant health but remains inconsistently administered. This systematic qualitative review aimed to synthesize health care providers’ perspectives by exploring the barriers and facilitators experienced by health care providers in administering optimal maternal care during the first 12 months after childbirth. Methods: A systematic qualitative meta-aggregation review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Peer-reviewed qualitative studies from January 2010 to April 2024 were retrieved from MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science. Findings were mapped onto the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Results: Twenty-three studies were included. Four key themes …

Single Joint Assessment Of Isometric Plantarflexor Force Characteristics Using Portable Force Plates: A Systematic Review Of Methods And Reliability, James Williams, Paul Comfort, Nicholas J. Ripley, Jack T. Fahey, Ritchie Barber, Christopher Bramah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The aim of this systematic review was to (1) identify differences in isometric force plate testing procedures for the ankle plantarflexors and (2) determine the reliability of existing methods to inform minimum reporting standards. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, MEDLINE and CINAHL was conducted from inception to 2025, for peer-reviewed studies using portable force plates to assess isometric plantarflexor force. PRISMA guidelines were followed. Two independent reviewers assessed methodological quality using the COSMIN Risk of Bias tool and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, with discrepancies resolved collaboratively. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria, revealing methodological variations …

Trends And Indications For Cesarean Section In The Origins Birth Cohort, Kristjana Einarsdottir, Lisa Gibson, Sarah Whalan, Jacqueline Davis, Laurence Amy Payette, Ravisha Srinivasjois, Desiree T. Silva

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Cesarean section (CS) rates have increased substantially in Australia, with particularly high use observed in private maternity care and for pre-labor CS. The aim of the present study was to describe the CS rates and the clinical indications for pre-labor CS in the ORIGINS birth cohort.

Methods: This study analyzed data from the ORIGINS birth cohort, a large birth cohort in Western Australia, including 9473 births occurring at Joondalup Health Campus between 2016 and 2024. Rates of CS and pre-labor CS were compared across study periods (2016–2020 and 2021–2024) and by facility type (public vs. private). Indications for pre-labor …

Culture, Community, And Development: Unpacking The ‘Socio-Cultural Milieu Dynamics’ Of Solomon Islands And Their Influence On Australia's Aid Localisation, Mark Opoku Amankwa, Gladys Nangira Murruka, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Vicki Frances Banham, Clement Amponsah, Emmanuel Enyinful

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Using public ethnography anchored in the post-development theory and interpretivist epistemological paradigm, this study examines what we term the ‘socio-cultural milieus dynamics’ (SCMD) of the Solomon Islands (SI) and how these shape meaning, discourse, and practice in ways that influence Australia's aid localisation efforts and aid outcomes. The findings indicate that local communities are deeply entrenched in complex SCMD with heterogeneous networks of decision-makers within the ecosystem. These SCMD, we argue, are evident in the structural and contested roles associated with the gendered composition of local committees, the power asymmetries between dominant local elites and subalternised groups, and the relationalities …

Tea And Coffee Intakes, Copd, Adult Asthma, And Lung Function In The Uk Biobank, Nicola P. Bondonno, Pratik Pokharel, Benjamin H. Parmenter, Alysha S. Thompson, Amy Jennings, Kevin Murray, Howraman Meteran, Jonathan Hodgson, Tilman Kühn, Aedín Cassidy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Previous studies suggest non-linear associations between tea and coffee intake and respiratory health, with lower risks at low-to-moderate intakes but higher, unexplored risks at high intakes. This study aims to investigate associations between tea and coffee intake and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adult-onset asthma. Methods: Among 366 869 participants of the UK Biobank, intakes of tea and coffee were derived from both a food frequency questionnaire and from repeated 24 hour diet assessments. Cross-sectional associations with measures of lung function [forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC] and …

Prevalence Of Dementia In Selected Middle East And North Africa (Mena) Countries: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mohsen Sedighi, Mohammad Hasan Shahabi, Alireza Amanollahi, Khurshid Alam, Soudabeh Shemehsavar, Zahra Shirzadi, Serena Sabatini, Ahmad R. Khatoonabadi, Matthew Prina, Akram A. Hosseini, Claire V. Burley, Jennifer Dunne, Simin Mahinrad, Iman Dajani, Ralph N. Martins, Blossom C.M. Stephan, Ali Chaari, Hamid R. Sohrabi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Data on dementia epidemiology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined dementia prevalence across MENA. Databases were searched up to October 2024. Analyses were stratified by country and sex. Pooled prevalence was estimated using a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Fifty-two studies on the selected countries met inclusion criteria, covering 87,219 individuals with dementia from a total population of 1,045,908. The pooled prevalence was 12.16% (95% CI: 9.61–14.96) for the region and the Israel had the highest prevalence (17.00%), followed by Iran (13.20%), Turkey (11.40%), Saudi Arabia …

Success Factors For Effective Workplace Bullying Interventions: A Scoping Review, Kate Blackwood, Azadeh Shafaei, Tim Bentley, Maryam Omari, Dayna Fawkes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose – The study aimed to comprehensively review the existing evaluated interventions on preventing workplace bullying and provide recommendations on the success factors for designing effective workplace bullying interventions. Design/methodology/approach – We used a scoping review framework (PRISMA-ScR) to explore, identify and shortlist a range of articles evaluating workplace bullying interventions. Specifically, this review examined the content and relative effectiveness of workplace bullying interventions related to their design and implementation. Findings – The study has found that no one specific intervention type consistently produced the desired outcome. However, interventions that are multifaceted, multi-level, focused on the organisational level, owned by …

Tourism Destination Mobile Applications: An Ai-Human Loop Analysis And Future Research Programme, Arghavan Hadinejad, Naser Pourazad, Lara Stocchi, Violetta Wilk

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Despite the rise in destination mobile applications (apps) and their significance in the tourism sector, there remains a notable dearth of critical assessments of knowledge on the topic, which is necessary to guide future academic and industry endeavours. To bridge the gap, this research conducts a systematic review to synthesise scholarly knowledge on tourism destination mobile apps. The analysis reveals topical clusters including prototyping and scoping, consolidation, and forecasting and further technological advancements between 2009 and 2023. The existing scholarship is predominantly quantitative and atheoretical, with the Technology Acceptance Model being the most frequently applied framework. The findings reveal four …

Employer Perspectives On Professional Identity And Its Role In Graduate Recruitment, Denise Jackson, Michael Tomlinson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Practice and theory on graduate employability continues to recognise the importance of professional identity (PI) as a key determinant of individuals perceived and realised worth in the labour market. However, studies are predominantly from student, graduate and academic perspectives with little exploration of employers’ perceptions on PI and its importance for graduates’ acculturation into practice and workplace outcomes. Accordingly, we explored employer perspectives on what PI means and what it signals during graduate recruitment. Using closed and open response questions, we gathered survey data from 339 employers closely involved in recruiting, developing, supervising and performance managing graduates in Australia. We …

Translation And Transformation Of Class Through Migration: Rethinking Social And Spatial Mobility Across Contexts, Jamie Coates, Catriona Turnbull, Maja Cederberg

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This issue of Current Sociology Monographs explores new conceptual opportunities at the intersection of migration studies and the sociology of class. The contributions examine migration as a distinct site where class is translated and transformed, using rich, empirically specific cases to show how social class is experienced and produced relationally, transnationally and temporally through the lives of migrants. Through this focus, the papers conceptualise class as a mobile process that travels with migrants, links different contexts and is translated through movement. Distinct from paradigms that tend to universalise a particular narrative or definition of class, this issue adopts a comparative …

Driven To Serve: Exploring Meaningful Work For Doctors Through The Lens Of Public Service Motivation, Abid Hussain, Uma Jogulu, Esme Franken, Rahatulaain Ahmad, Tim Bentley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper reports on a study of meaningful work amongst doctors in a non-Western context. This study advances the current understanding of meaningful work by establishing a connection with public service motivation theory. By examining unique contextual features where societal, public systems, institutional, and individual factors are diverse and unique, we contribute to public service motivation theory in three ways. First, public service motivation theory argues that individuals are not only driven by self-interest but also by a drive to contribute to society and to help others, and that this motivation is particularly high amongst public servants in the West. …

Time To Hang Up The Gloves: A Scoping Review Of Evidence On Non-Sterile Glove Use During Intravenous Antimicrobial Preparation And Administration, Natasya Raja Azlan, Debbie Massey, Lesley Andrew, Amanda Towell-Barnard, Seng Giap Marcus Ang, Carol Crevacore, Martina Costello, Aaron Alejandro, Weiting Liu, Naila Zaman, Peta Anne Zimmerman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: To systematically summarise evidence related to the use of non-sterile gloves when preparing and administering intravenous antimicrobials. Design: Scoping review. Methods: A rigorous scoping review was undertaken following Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) framework and the modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping review guidelines (2018). Five databases and grey literature were included in the search. Literature published between 2009 and 2024 was included. Data Sources: Five databases (Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science) and the grey literature were searched in February 2024. Results: Three studies were included; however, none directly addressed correct …

The Nurse's Role In Curative-To-Palliative Transitions In Advanced Cancer: A Theory Synthesis Using Turner's Method, Geya George, Deborah Kirk, Davina Porock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: This paper aims to explain the process of formulating a robust theory that comprehensively explains the nurse's role during the transition from curative to the palliative phase in advanced cancer care. Design: A qualitative theory synthesis approach was applied, utilising Turner's 9-step theory synthesis method to integrate five grounded theories and 10 qualitative studies. The Walker and Avant method of concept development and analysis further ensured rigour. Methods: Turner's theory synthesis was used to formulate a more comprehensive, testable theory from five existing grounded theories and 10 other qualitative studies that explain the nurse's role in supporting and facilitating …

Crafting The Inspirational Teacher: Governing Through Affect As Policy Response To Teacher Recruitment In Australia, Saul Karnovsky, Brad Gobby, George Variyan, Andrew W. Wilkins, Antonio Olmedo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As policymakers address a teacher attrition crisis, this paper examines how the Australian policy response mobilises affect to address and manage teacher recruitment. Drawing on affect theory and governmentality, we analyse a case study–the Australian Government’s Be That Teacher campaign–as a policy instrument that seeks to cultivate among would-be-teachers desirable feelings and aspirations aligned with state priorities. Our analysis shows how a sentimental and idealised figure of the ‘inspirational’ teacher is mobilised as a form of affective governmentality through two interconnected dynamics: (1) the construction of teaching as emotionally fulfilling and morally meaningful work through narratives of inspiration, care, and …

Modifiable Risk Factors And Hearing Loss: The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2020, Yulu Zheng, Tingting Li, Zhiyuan Wu, Yahong Zhu, Zheng Guo, Xingang Li

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To explore the associations between major modifiable risk factors and hearing loss.

Methods: This serial cross-sectional study was conducted within the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2020 in the United States. Associations were assessed using modified Poisson regression and within-sample population attributable fraction (PAF).

Results: Eight thousand seven hundred and seventy adults aged 40–85 years were included in the analyses, the mean (SD) age was 58.0 (11.7) years, with 4002 men (45.6%). Hearing loss was associated with low educational attainment with prevalence ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval (1.15, 1.31); low income 1.11 (1.04, 1.19); diabetes 1.10 (1.03, 1.18); …

Shared Stories, Diverse Settings: A Podcast Analysis Of Stakeholder Experiences In Rural, Remote, And International Professional Experience, Marnie Harris, Narelle Lemon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study explores the experiences and perspectives of individuals involved in rural, remote, and international professional experience, with a particular focus on the support provided to pre-service teachers. Drawing on data generated through a series of in-depth podcast interviews, the research foregrounds the relational and contextual dimensions of teacher preparation across rural, remote, and international settings. Rural and remote communities face ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining teachers; therefore, this study explored the vital role that partnerships and supportive networks play in preparing pre-service teachers to succeed in these and other unfamiliar professional experience contexts. Through thematic analysis, the research …

When The Panic Sets In: Ai-Proofing As Pedagogical Violence In Social Work Education, Norah Hosken, Susan Bailey

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Universities’ rushed responses to generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) constitute pedagogical violence against students and educators in social work programs. Drawing on Matusov and Sullivan’s pedagogical violence framework and Bourdieu’s symbolic violence, we examine how institutional mandates to ‘AI-proof’ assessments contradict core social work values while inflicting systematic harm. AI-proofing policies impose time-limited assessments disadvantaging disabled students and those with caring responsibilities, deploy surveillance technologies that discriminate against non-native English speakers, demand unsustainable workload increases from burned-out educators, and dismantle scaffolded pedagogy aligned with how social workers learn to practise. Using collaborative autoethnography, we document our experiences across Australian universities and …

Single Joint Posterior Chain Isometric Testing Using Force Plates: A Systematic Review Of The Methodologies And Reliability Of Testing Methods, Jack T. Fahey, Christopher Bramah, Richie Barber, James Williams, John J. Mcmahon, Paul Comfort, Nicholas J. Ripley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The posterior chain muscles (i.e. hamstring and gluteal) play an important role in performance and injury prevention. Posterior chain muscle injuries lead to time lost from training, competition and increased reinjury risk. Force plates enable valid and reliable assessment, current methods assessing isometric posterior chain (IPC) force production using force plates have yet to be reviewed. This review was designed to systematically review methods of single joint IPC force plate testing; establish existing reliability; and summarise descriptive data. A literature search was conducted using the following search terms: ‘force plat*’ AND ‘isometric’ AND (‘hamstring*’ OR ‘knee flex*’ OR ‘posterior chain’ …

Unlocking Students’ Creative Confidence Through Design Thinking Practices: A Parallel Mediation Of Collaboration And Diversity, And Creativity, Faisal Iddris, Agyapong, Emmanuel Mensah Kparl, Philip Opoku Mensah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Despite the consensus in the literature that design thinking practices spark innovation, research has yet to examine the creative confidence outcomes of design thinking practices. Integrating the Resource-Based Theory and the Componential Theory of Creativity, we hypothesised a parallel mediation model in which design thinking practices are associated with creative confidence via collaboration and diversity, and creativity. Based on a sample of 419 tertiary students in a Ghanaian University, it was found that design thinking facilitates students’ creative confidence. Also, collaboration and diversity partially mediate the relationship between design thinking and creative confidence. The study also found support for the …

Creatine Monohydrate For Lean Mass, Strength, And Bone Density In Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Siavash Naddafha, Jose Antonio, Richard B. Kreider, Jeffrey R. Stout

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Menopause is accompanied by accelerated losses in muscle mass and strength and declining bone density. Whether creatine monohydrate benefits postmenopausal women are uncertain. Methods: We systematically reviewed randomized, placebo-controlled trials examining creatine supplementation, with or without resistance training (RT), in postmenopausal women. MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from 2000 to August 2025, supplemented by trial registries and reference-list screening. Eligible studies included postmenopausal women aged ≥40–45 years, intervention durations ≥6 weeks for primary analyses, and outcomes including DXA-derived lean mass, one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength, bone mineral density, physical function, and safety. Dual …

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: …

Exploration Of Best Practice Of Market Surveillance And Type Approval Of Internal Combustion Engines Emissions For Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Examine_Nrmm), Rita Hagan, Eoin Mcgillicuddy, Aoife Donnelly

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study examines market surveillance methods for engines in non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) in selected European Union (EU) Member States and the UK, to inform the development of an Irish NRMM market surveillance process in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1628. The research found NRMM market surveillance approaches vary across Europe, with no uniform market surveillance strategy in place. Some countries, including Ireland, are currently developing an approach, while other countries have no set process in place. In countries, with an existing strategy, the process can be proactive, reactive or a combination of both.Findings highlight opportunities for Ireland to design a …

Evaluation Of Gpt-4o And Gemini Advanced On The Korean National Dental Licensing Examination: Accuracy, Consistency, And Question Generation, Eun Sun Song, Ga Hyeon Kim, Seung-Pyo Lee

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Large language models (LLMs), such as GPT-4o and Gemini Advanced, have performed strongly on global medical examinations. However, their capabilities in non-English, dentistry-specific licensing contexts remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to compare the performance, consistency, and question-generation abilities of GPT-4o and Gemini Advanced in the Korean National Dental Licensing Examination (KNDLE). Materials and methods This study used 1,401 text-based KNDLE questions from 2019 to 2023 in Korean. Each model responded to the questions in three separate runs. Accuracy and consistency were compared with human answers. The models generated new questions in four subject areas and attempted to solve …

Age-Related Hearing Loss Involves Mitochondrial Dna Instability And Copy Number Depletion In The Cochlea: Insights From In Vivo And In Vitro Models, Akil Turner, Bo Ding, Xiaoxia Zhu, Tam Nguyen, Parveen Bazard, Robert D. Frisina

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a highly prevalent sensory neurodegenerative disorder that involves various molecular mechanisms. The present study investigated if age-related oxidative stress (OS) induces alterations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and heteroplasmy, using complementary in vivo and in vitro models. Aged (30-month) CBA/CaJ mice have elevated auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds amplitudes vs. young (3-month) CBA/CaJ mice, a key physiological characteristic of ARHL The in vitro experiments employed the strial SV-K1 cochlear cell line treated with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Both the aged cochleae and H₂O₂-treated cells exhibited a significant …

Orchestrating Bone Healing: Biomaterial-Driven Immunoengineering Of The Bone Microenvironment For Advanced Regenerative Therapies, Ah Joung Rachel Yu, Mohammad Reza Zare, Edikan Ogunnaike, Mostafa Yazdi

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Bone regeneration is a multistage and tightly regulated process driven by coordinated interactions between the immune and skeletal systems. While inflammation is essential for initiating repair, its dysregulation contributes to delayed union, nonunion, and impaired healing commonly seen in trauma, chronic disease, and aging. Traditional interventions, including autografts and inert biomaterials, provide structural support but fail to engage or modulate the immune microenvironment that governs successful regeneration. Emerging research in osteoimmunology has revealed the centrality of immune cell populations such as macrophages, T regulatory cells, dendritic cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in directing osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and the resolution of inflammation. …

The Silent Language Of Trauma: Defendant Behavior, Juror Bias, And Expert Testimony, Jensen Goldman

Scripps Senior Theses

Trauma can profoundly influence behavioral presentation, yet jurors often rely on demeanor as a diagnostic cue for guilt, credibility, and remorse. Such reliance poses risks within a legal system that seldom equips jurors to interpret trauma related behaviors accurately. The proposed study will examine how two trauma-linked affective presentations– overemotionality and flat affect– shape juror perceptions of credibility and guilt, and whether expert psychological testimony about trauma-related affect can mitigate these biases. Online survey participants will read one of five trial vignettes with varying defendant conditions (flat affect vs. overemotional) and varying expert testimony conditions (present or not present) and …

Mixed Methods Studies Examining The Physical Activity Practices Among African American And Black Women: Protocol For A Methodological Scoping Review, Annette Moore Hubbell, Laura Killingsworth, Michele Shropshire

Faculty Publications - Mennonite College of Nursing

Background: African American and Black women are among the least physically active demographic groups in the United States and experience disproportionate burdens of chronic disease that may be reduced through regular physical activity (PA). Mixed methods research is increasingly used to examine the behavioral, social, and contextual factors that influence PA in this population.

Objective: This study aims to identify, examine, and describe the mixed methods designs used in research on PA practices among African American and Black women in the United States; compare methodological approaches; identify gaps in the literature; and provide recommendations for future research.

Methods: This scoping …

The Impossible Motherhood: Education Accompanying Mothers (Peidu Mama) And Transnational Migration In China’S Global Era, Jingxue Zhang Dr.

Theses and Dissertations--Gender and Women's Studies

This dissertation examines transnational educational relocation as a gendered project of future making through the figure of Chinese educational accompanying mothers, or peidu mama, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and the Greater Los Angeles area in the United States. It investigates how educational migration is organized through the intersection of affective governance, moralized motherhood, and unequal global conditions. It seeks to answer how transnational educational motherhood is represented in state-endorsed media and public discourse; how women narrate and justify educational relocation while negotiating the morally unstable label of peidu mama; how aspiration, risk, and the idea of “a better …

Nh 4-H Animal Fair Book 2026, Hannah Majewski

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Communication Access In Action: Evaluating Aac Supports For Young Children In A Community Museum, Amy L. Yacucci, Sarah L. Ballard

Faculty Publications – Communication Sciences and Disorders

This utilization-focused evaluation study aimed to describe augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports to enhance communication accessibility for children with significant communication support needs in a children’s museum. Most of the participants had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which informed the design and interpretation of AAC strategies implemented in the museum setting. Utilizing feedback from museum staff and parents of children with communication disabilities, the study sought to identify practical strategies to improve the effectiveness of AAC supports in creating more inclusive community spaces. A utilization-focused evaluation framework guided the assessment of embedded-aided communication supports within the museum, …