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Theses : Honours

2007

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Articles 1 - 11 of 11

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Understanding Personal Carers' Experiences Of Caring For Older People In Pain, Kristi Holloway Jan 2007

Understanding Personal Carers' Experiences Of Caring For Older People In Pain, Kristi Holloway

Theses : Honours

Pain is a complex phenomenon that can be challenging for staff working in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) (Fisher et al., 2002; Twycross, 2002). A high prevalence of pain reported by older individuals has been reported and suggests that further study in this area is warranted (Higgins, Madjar & Walton, 2004). Research suggests that a significant barrier to effective pain management in the elderly is the provision of primary care by care staff who have little or no education about pain, pain assessment or pain management (Allcock, McGarry & Elkan, 2002). Studies have identified personal carers as being in a …


Depression, Rumination And Dependency In Relation To Age And Gender, Alison J. Lee Jan 2007

Depression, Rumination And Dependency In Relation To Age And Gender, Alison J. Lee

Theses : Honours

Extensive research has been carried out in the field of depression and its relation to age and gender. This article reviews relevant literature in the field of depression, rumination and dependency and the relationships of these to age and gender. It has been shown in numerous studies that depression, rumination and dependency are related and exist in comorbidity with each other. This article also reviews some of the research that has been conducted on age and gender with relation to rumination and dependency. It has been found in relation to rumination, dependency and depression that women are more susceptible than …


A Descriptive Survey Of Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Desirable Leadership Qualities Of Nurse Preceptors, Melanie Zilembo Jan 2007

A Descriptive Survey Of Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Desirable Leadership Qualities Of Nurse Preceptors, Melanie Zilembo

Theses : Honours

Leadership in the nursing profession has gained much attention over the previous decade. However, there is a paucity of literature examining the context of leadership within the clinical preceptor/undergraduate nursing student relationship and the relevance of this to the clinical learning environment. Globally, the nursing profession is experiencing a climbing attrition rate, an accelerating ageing workforce and a trend toward part-time employment. Practical experience is based upon a preceptored model of supervision creating a potential for inconsistencies for student supervision and assessment within this mode of education. The purpose of this study was to explore, from the perspective of the …


Nutrition And Eating Behaviour In Older Adulthood, Catherine Helene Matringe Jan 2007

Nutrition And Eating Behaviour In Older Adulthood, Catherine Helene Matringe

Theses : Honours

In response to increasing number of older Australians (from 13% over 65 in 2004 to 28% by 2051), policy makers have been exploring strategies aimed at maintaining older adults' quality of life. Nutrition has been recognised as an effective preventive measure to promote well-being among older adults. The purpose of the current paper is to review relevant literature in the area of nutrition and eating behaviour in older adulthood. Biological issues, psychological factors, and social as well as environmental aspects are reviewed. Issues related to the ageing process, mental illness, chronic conditions, body image, social isolation and poverty represent barriers …


Assessment Of Static Balance Ability In An Athletic Pediatric Population, Cailyn Rogers Jan 2007

Assessment Of Static Balance Ability In An Athletic Pediatric Population, Cailyn Rogers

Theses : Honours

There is a large amount of conjecture surrounding the reliability of methods of balance assessment and the outcome variables used to assess balance in pediatric populations. There has also been limited research conducted on the balance ability of an athletic pediatric population, and the factors which may affect that ability. The purpose of this research is firstly to determine the reliability of postural sway measures used to assess balance including: average displacement of the centre of pressure in the mediolateral and anterior-posterior directions relative to both the centre of the plate and the centre of the base of support; peak …


From Gps To Psychologists: The Patients' Perspective On Help-Seeking And Referral, Zdenka Bartova Jan 2007

From Gps To Psychologists: The Patients' Perspective On Help-Seeking And Referral, Zdenka Bartova

Theses : Honours

The experience of living with psychological problems has a profound effect on an individual's life. For those actively seeking help, General Practitioners usually present the first point of contact. General Practitioners thus serve as gatekeepers who either decide to manage the individuals themselves and/or refer them to a mental health professional. The referral decision is part of a complex help-seeking process in which patients have to mediate their own understanding of their problems with that of the practitioner, all within the structural constraints of the current health care system. This literature review discusses constructs of mental illness and the impact …


Academic - Practice Bridges: Implications For Lecturers When The Complexities Of Change Meets The Higher Education And Nurse Education Systems, Adrianne Jones Jan 2007

Academic - Practice Bridges: Implications For Lecturers When The Complexities Of Change Meets The Higher Education And Nurse Education Systems, Adrianne Jones

Theses : Honours

Government, industry, enterprises and the community expect the Vocational and Educational Training (VET) system to provide up-to-date educational programs that provide pathways from school-based learning to the higher education facilities such as universities and to employment opportunities. Reforms in the VET sector over the past ten years have had a significant impact on the work of staff employed in the area. Educators now operate in more competitive markets and face increased demands for higher quality and more relevant training programs from clients. Understanding and keeping up with the changes and working in new and more flexible ways have been major …


Why It Is Important To Look At Long-Term Abstinence From Heroin Use: A Review Life Beyond Heroin: An Exploration Of The Motivations For Long-Term Heroin Abstinence, Lucy Dann Jan 2007

Why It Is Important To Look At Long-Term Abstinence From Heroin Use: A Review Life Beyond Heroin: An Exploration Of The Motivations For Long-Term Heroin Abstinence, Lucy Dann

Theses : Honours

The phenomenon of achieving long-term abstinence from drug use remains to be thoroughly understood in the alcohol and other drug (AOD) community, particularly in the area of heroin use. This review assesses research in the field of long-term abstinence from drug use and highlights the need to examine long-term abstinence from heroin use. Prochaska and DiClemente's (1986) Stages of Change model of behaviour change is examined as well as literature examining its importance in the AOD field. Studies examining long-term abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, cocaine and heroin use are reviewed from a psychological perspective, focusing on cognitive-behavioural constructs. Findings revealed …


Behavioural Activation Treatment For Depression: A Review Of The Literature ; Effects Of A Brief Behavioural Activation Treatment On Activity Levels And Depression, Debra L. Bailey Jan 2007

Behavioural Activation Treatment For Depression: A Review Of The Literature ; Effects Of A Brief Behavioural Activation Treatment On Activity Levels And Depression, Debra L. Bailey

Theses : Honours

Behavioural activation (BA) is an emergent psychological treatment for depression rooted in the tradition of behavioural theory. This paper discusses the manner in which BA arose as a result of the seminal Jacobson et al. (1996) study, which dismantled the behavioural and cognitive components of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT; Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979). Published empirical studies examining the effectiveness of BA are reviewed and considerations for future research are offered. It is concluded that BA shows promise as a parsimonious, effective, and potentially cost-efficient psychological treatment for depression. However, more large-scale research is needed: in samples with low …


Do Auditory Simulations Of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Change Young Adults' Attitudes Towards Noise Exposure?, Claire Roockley Jan 2007

Do Auditory Simulations Of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Change Young Adults' Attitudes Towards Noise Exposure?, Claire Roockley

Theses : Honours

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), or hearing damage from regular exposure to loud noise, can profoundly affect a person's hearing capabilities and overall well-being. Many individuals continue to expose themselves to hazardous levels of noise, and, in turn, put themselves at risk of developing a NIHL. This review critically examines the existing literature presented on NIHL. Emphasis is placed on the increasing prevalence of NIHL in young adults from exposure to loud recreational noise. The effectiveness of current educational strategies that have been employed to reduce or prevent the occurrence of NIHL in this cohort is also examined. Research indicates that …


Development Of A Blood Test For The Detection Of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma, Rebecca Slattery Jan 2007

Development Of A Blood Test For The Detection Of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma, Rebecca Slattery

Theses : Honours

Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer that has a tendency to metastasise. In its early stages, the 5-year survival rate of patients is greater than 90% following surgical excision of an in situ tumour. However, following metastasis of the tumour, the 5-year survival rate declines to 5-35%. Due to the correlation between metastasis and declining survival, studies have attempted to identify potential metastasis as early as possible. Molecular markers of melanoma cells in the peripheral blood of CMM patients have been investigated, as the invasion of tumour cells into the blood is one of the …