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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

The Effectiveness Of Back Belts In Reducing The Incidence, Duration And Cost Of Low Back Pain Claims Associated With Manual Handling Injury In A Retail Hardware Chain, Nick Merdith, Jacques Oosthuizen, Milos Nedved Jan 2011

The Effectiveness Of Back Belts In Reducing The Incidence, Duration And Cost Of Low Back Pain Claims Associated With Manual Handling Injury In A Retail Hardware Chain, Nick Merdith, Jacques Oosthuizen, Milos Nedved

Research outputs 2011

The objective of this intervention study was to examine the effect of the mandatory introduction of back belts on the incidence, days lost and cost of occupational low back injuries resulting from manual handling in a retail hardware chain in Western Australia. The pre-intervention period extended for 21 months and included 2,265,933 work hours or 647 full-time equivalent positions, while the intervention period was 32 months for 4,411,352 hours worked or 827 full-time equivalent positions. Workers’ compensation claims for all occupational injuries occurring during the study period were analysed. During the intervention period there was a 14% reduction in the …


Attitudes And Behaviour Predict Women's Intention To Drink Alcohol During Pregnancy: The Challenge For Health Professionals, Elizabeth Peadon, Janet Payne, Nadine R. Henley, Heather D'Antoine, Anne Bartu, Colleen O'Leary, Carol Bower, Elizabeth Elliott Jan 2011

Attitudes And Behaviour Predict Women's Intention To Drink Alcohol During Pregnancy: The Challenge For Health Professionals, Elizabeth Peadon, Janet Payne, Nadine R. Henley, Heather D'Antoine, Anne Bartu, Colleen O'Leary, Carol Bower, Elizabeth Elliott

Research outputs 2011

Background: To explore women’s alcohol consumption in pregnancy, and potential predictors of alcohol consumption in pregnancy including: demographic characteristics; and women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding alcohol consumption in pregnancy and its effects on the fetus. Methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional survey via computer assisted telephone interview of 1103 Australian women aged 18 to 45 years. Participants were randomly selected from the Electronic White Pages. Pregnant women were not eligible to participate. Quotas were set for age groups and a minimum of 100 participants per state to ensure a national sample reflecting the population. The questionnaire was based on a …


Review Of Indigenous Offender Health [Journal Article], Jocelyn Grace, Ineke Krom, Caitlin Maling, Tony Butler, Richard Midford Jan 2011

Review Of Indigenous Offender Health [Journal Article], Jocelyn Grace, Ineke Krom, Caitlin Maling, Tony Butler, Richard Midford

Research outputs 2011

This review provides an overview of health issues facing the Indigenous offender population, including some of the social and historical factors relevant to Indigenous health and incarceration. In doing so, it is important to first understand how Indigenous people conceptualise health. Health as it is understood in western society is a fairly discrete category, which differs from the traditional Indigenous perspective of health as holistic [1]. This is made explicit in the 1989 National Aboriginal health strategy that states 'health to Aboriginal peoples is a matter of determining all aspects of their life, including control over their physical environment, of …


Construction Induction Training: How Effective For The Housing And Civil Construction Industries In Wa?, Susanne Bahn, Llandis Barratt-Pugh Jan 2011

Construction Induction Training: How Effective For The Housing And Civil Construction Industries In Wa?, Susanne Bahn, Llandis Barratt-Pugh

Research outputs 2011

Introducing practices to reduce the number of work-related injuries in the construction industry is a continual challenge, specifically in WA where the industry is adapting to the additional pressures of a second development boom this century. In 2006, Worksafe WA responded by introducing mandatory certification in safety awareness training for all employees, before they could begin work on a construction site. This paper reviews the impact of this training on the housing and civil sectors of the industry. It presents both the perceptions of the stakeholders from their survey responses and from the analyses the lost time injury/disease statistics. These …


Introducing Mandatory Training Systems? Investigating The Introduction Of Compulsory Pre-Site Construction Training, Sue Bahn, Llandis Barratt-Pugh Jan 2011

Introducing Mandatory Training Systems? Investigating The Introduction Of Compulsory Pre-Site Construction Training, Sue Bahn, Llandis Barratt-Pugh

ECU Research Week

No abstract provided.


In Search Of Wellness: Allied Health Professionals' Understandings Of Wellness In Childhood Disability Services, Lauren Breen, Helen Wildy, Sherry Saggers, Jeannine Millsteed, P Raghavendra Jan 2011

In Search Of Wellness: Allied Health Professionals' Understandings Of Wellness In Childhood Disability Services, Lauren Breen, Helen Wildy, Sherry Saggers, Jeannine Millsteed, P Raghavendra

Research outputs 2011

Purpose. Wellness approaches are not routine in childhood disability services, despite theoretical and empirical support and an increasing demand for them from health consumers and disability activists. We aimed to investigate how health professionals define or understand wellness and its practice in the context of childhood disability. Method. A qualitative, interpretive approach was taken. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 health professionals (allied health therapists and managers) providing early intervention and ongoing therapy within four Australian childhood health and disability services. Years of experience providing services to children with disabilities and their families ranged from 6 months to 30 years …


A 'Once In A Generation Opportunity'? Narratives About The Potential Impact Of Ohs Harmonisation On Smaller Firms In Australia, Rowena Barrett, Susanne Bahn, Susan Mayson Jan 2011

A 'Once In A Generation Opportunity'? Narratives About The Potential Impact Of Ohs Harmonisation On Smaller Firms In Australia, Rowena Barrett, Susanne Bahn, Susan Mayson

Research outputs 2011

Regulatory reform will see the introduction of harmonised Occupational Health and Safety laws across Australia. Here we consider the potential impact of this on smaller firms as the first step in assessing how they may adapt to this regulatory change. We use textual data consisting of recent media and blogs that highlight key stakeholders’ perceptions of the purpose and outcomes of harmonisation on smaller firms. The narratives perpetuate the negative discourse of regulation, not only for smaller firms, but for other key stakeholders. Critical analysis of stakeholders’ views of the effects of harmonisation articulates constraints and possibilities of regulatory change …


Review Of Volatile Substance Use Among Indigenous People, Richard Midford, Sarah Mclean, Michelle Catto, Neil Thomson, Olivier Debuyst Jan 2011

Review Of Volatile Substance Use Among Indigenous People, Richard Midford, Sarah Mclean, Michelle Catto, Neil Thomson, Olivier Debuyst

Research outputs 2011

The purpose of this review is to summarise key information from a number of substantial reports and other documents to make it more accessible to people involved in Indigenous health in Australia. The review draws heavily on the work undertaken in the preparation of Volatile substance misuse: a review of interventions. That very important report was authored by Peter d’Abbs and Sarah MacLean, the latter a co-author of this review. This review focuses on Australian Indigenous people, so no substantial attention is directed at the use of volatile substances among other indigenous peoples, or among other disadvantaged people in Australia …


The Implementation Of Electronic Health Records: A Two Country Comparison, Helen Cripps, Craig Standing, Vesna Prijatelj Jan 2011

The Implementation Of Electronic Health Records: A Two Country Comparison, Helen Cripps, Craig Standing, Vesna Prijatelj

Research outputs 2011

The adoption of electronic health records has been significantly slower in Australia than many European countries. This paper compares the implementation process in Australia with Slovenia, looking at the benefits, drawbacks and success factors of ehealth implementation. The authors use case studies collected in each country to discuss issues around ehealth implementation. Though Slovenia has progressed much further down the road of ehealth the commonality of the experiences between both cases was striking.


School-Based Strategies To Address Cyber Bullying, Donna Cross, Helen Monks, Marilyn Campbell, Barbara Spears, Phillips Slee Jan 2011

School-Based Strategies To Address Cyber Bullying, Donna Cross, Helen Monks, Marilyn Campbell, Barbara Spears, Phillips Slee

Research outputs 2011

Bullying and victimisation among school-age children are recognised as a major public health problem. In its 2009 report on the Australian Covert Bullying Prevalence Study (ACBPS), the Child Health Promotion Research Centre of Edith Cowan University reported that just over one quarter (27 per cent) of school students aged 8 to 14 years were bullied and 9 per cent bullied others on a frequent basis – every few weeks or more often (Cross et al, 2009).


Introducing Mandatory Training Systems? Investigating The Implementation Of Compulsory Pre-Site Construction Training, Llandis Barratt-Pugh, Susanne Bahn Jan 2011

Introducing Mandatory Training Systems? Investigating The Implementation Of Compulsory Pre-Site Construction Training, Llandis Barratt-Pugh, Susanne Bahn

Research outputs 2011

There can be no more effective learning than that achieved by training systems to reduce death and injury. In such cases the imposition of a mandatory course would appear justifiable, especially where there is a history of unfortunate incidents and current rapid workforce growth. Installing learning as an imperative within a vibrant industry requires considerable negotiation between stakeholders to turn evidence into policy, industry intent, regulatory curriculum and subsequent workplace practice. This paper reflects back and reviews the introduction of such training within the construction industry in Western Australia as it adapts to the additional pressures of the development boom. …


The Sun Safety Attitudes Of Parents And The Effects On Their Children, Matthew Welch Jan 2011

The Sun Safety Attitudes Of Parents And The Effects On Their Children, Matthew Welch

Theses : Honours

Parents are seen as the most important role models in the development of health practice behaviours, including sun safety for their children. The aim of the current study is to explore the experiences and sun protection knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of a parent of a child who has seen a UV photograph of both themselves and their child. By utilising UV flash photography, parents were able to see the damage done to their face and their child’s face caused by overexposure to the sun. The study was conducted through a qualitative, phenomenological approach, with the data analysed through the process …


Scald Burn Admissions To Princess Margaret Hospital In 1998 And 2008: A Comparative Analysis, Lisa Martin Jan 2011

Scald Burn Admissions To Princess Margaret Hospital In 1998 And 2008: A Comparative Analysis, Lisa Martin

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Scald is the most common form of burn in young children, accounting for over 50% of all paediatric burn admissions in Western Australia (WA). Interventions implemented over the past few years focussed on prevention, first aid, and improved services postinjury (Department of Health Western Australia, 2009). The population of children in WA is rising and an epidemiological study was undertaken to assess changes in the profile of scald injury among WA children and to assess priorities for future action. Data were collected from all acute inpatient admissions presenting with scald injury for 1998 and 2008. These data were compared with …


Feedback Control For Exergames, Jeff Sinclair Jan 2011

Feedback Control For Exergames, Jeff Sinclair

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The concept of merging exercise equipment with video games, known as exergaming, has the potential to be one of the main tools used in addressing the current rising obesity epidemic. Existing research shows that exergaming can help improve fitness and additionally motivate people to become more active. The two key elements of attractiveness - how much people want to play or use the exergaming system; and effectiveness – how effective the exergaming system is in actually increasing or maintaining physical fitness, need to be maximised to obtain the best outcomes from an exergaming system; we put this forward as the …


Creating Persuasive Messages To Promote Abstinence From Alcohol During Pregnancy, Kathryn France Jan 2011

Creating Persuasive Messages To Promote Abstinence From Alcohol During Pregnancy, Kathryn France

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

While the rates of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder within Australia are unknown, the rates of alcohol use during pregnancy and at-risk alcohol use by women of childbearing age highlight the need for universal prevention strategies addressing prenatal alcohol exposure. Though many awareness-raising campaigns for alcohol use during pregnancy have been conducted, predominantly in North America, they have rarely been developed using formative research nor have they been comprehensively evaluated (Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, 2009; Elliott et al., 2008). This lack of published information on the development and evaluation of campaigns makes it difficult to determine what communication elements are most credible …


Occupational Respiratory Health Surveillance At Minara Resources, Murrin Murrin Mine Site, Martyn Cross Jan 2011

Occupational Respiratory Health Surveillance At Minara Resources, Murrin Murrin Mine Site, Martyn Cross

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis outlines the results of occupational respiratory health surveillance at Minara Resources, Murrin Murrin mine site. The research was conducted as part of a collaborative agreement between Edith Cowan University and Minara Resources, the overarching title of which was ‗Establishing best practice protocols in the management of occupational and environmental health in a high-risk mining and ore-processing environment‘. To form the basis of this research it was hypothesised that although the chemical hazards had been adequately identified, and the occupational exposures in each work area at Murrin Murrin were generally well below their respective occupational exposure levels, it was …