Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Fluid Biomarkers In Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Seyed M. Savar, Bin Ma, Eugene Hone, Farzana Jahan, Shaun Markovic, Steve Pedrini, Soudabeh Shemehsavar, Vandhana Easwaran, Kevin Taddei, Samantha Gardener, Jasmeer P. Chhatwal, Ellis S. Van Etten, Matthias J. P. Van Osch, Daniel Clarke, Anastazija Gnjec, Mark A. Van Buchem, Marieke J. H. Wermer, Graeme J. Hankey, Steven M. Greenberg, Ralph N. Martins, Hamid R. Sohrabi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a type of cerebrovascular disorder characterised by the accumulation of amyloid within the leptomeninges and small/medium-sized cerebral blood vessels. Typically, cerebral haemorrhages are one of the first clinical manifestations of CAA, posing a considerable challenge to the timely diagnosis of CAA as the bleedings only occur during the later disease stages. Fluid biomarkers may change prior to imaging biomarkers, and therefore, they could be the future of CAA diagnosis. Additionally, they can be used as primary outcome markers in prospective clinical trials. Among fluid biomarkers, blood-based biomarkers offer a distinct advantage over cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers …

How Have We Measured Trial Outcomes Of Asthma Attack Treatment? A Systematic Review, Imran Howell, Aleksandra Howell, Sanjay Ramakrishnan, Mona Bafadhel, Ian Pavord

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background Asthma attacks are a common problem for people with asthma and are responsible for significant healthcare costs. There is interest in a precision medicine approach to treatment. However, the choice of trial outcome measures for asthma attack treatment is hampered by the absence of a consensus on suitability. We carried out a systematic review to understand the characteristics of outcome measures used in randomised controlled trials of asthma attack treatment. Have randomised controlled trials of asthma attack treatment measured outcomes that are useful to patients and healthcare providers? Methods The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022311479). We searched for …

Editorial - Emerging Talents In Alloimmunity And Transplantation: 2022, Guido Moll, Wai H. Lim, Olaf Penack

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In modern transplant and biomedicine, a proper understanding of both allo- and auto-immune processes is of key importance to minimize acute and chronic graft failure and consecutive rejection/pathology through both cellular and humoral effector mechanisms . . .

Effect Of Sampling Frequency On A Unilateral Isometric Hamstring Strength Assessment Using Force Plates, Nicholas J. Ripley, J. J. Mcmahon, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sampling frequency on the 90–90° (90-degrees hip and knee flexion) isometric hamstring assessment. Thirty-three elite female soccer players (age: 18.7 ± 3.7 years; height: 158.3 ± 5.9 cm; body mass: 62.8 ± 5.5 kg) performed three unilateral trials on a single occasion of the 90–90° isometric hamstring assessment. Force-time data were collected using force plates at 1000 Hz and down sampled to 500-, 250-, and 100 Hz. Peak force (N), force (N) at 100- and 200 ms and average rate of force development (aRFD) (N/s) over a 100- and …

Resistance Training Effects On Pubertal Children With A Risk Of Developing Pediatric Dynapenia, Cassio V. Victora Ruas, Sébastien Ratel, Kazunori Nosaka, Gabriela Castellano, Ronei S. Pinto

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Many modern-day children are at risk of pediatric dynapenia (muscle weakness). We examined the effects of a 12-week resistance training (RT) program on neuromuscular function and body composition parameters in pubertal children with a risk of dynapenia. Methods: Twelve children (13.4 ± 0.9 y) with dynapenia performed a progressive RT program consisting of knee extension and flexion, bench press, abdominal crunch, back extension, lateral pull-down, elbow flexion, and upright row (1–2 sets of 10–15 repetitions/exercise) twice/week for 12 weeks. Outcome measures included one-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque, rate of torque development (RTD), electromyographic (EMG) …

Variations In Strength-Speed-Power Performance Across The Season: Do True Changes Occur In Elite Rugby Players?, Irineu Loturco, Chris Bishop, Santiago Zabaloy, Túlio B. M. A. Moura, Maurício S. Ramos, Lucas A. Pereira, Michael R. Mcguigan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study aimed to determine, through the use of a highly sensitive statistical tool, whether real changes in performance were present; and compare the rates of meaningful variations in strength, speed, and power parameters at different time-points during the competitive season in national team rugby players. Thirty-two players were assessed 5 times across the season using the following tests: squat jump and countermovement jump tests; 30-m sprint velocity; and one-repetition maximum (1RM) in the half-squat and bench-press exercises. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted to test for differences between successive time-points. Individual coefficients of variation values were used to …

Athlete Monitoring Perspectives Of Sports Coaches And Support Staff: A Scoping Review, Wouter P. Timmerman, Chris R. Abbiss, Nathan G. Lawler, Mandy Stanley, Annette J. Raynor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To map and summarise the sports coaches’ and support staff's perspectives on athlete monitoring to explore the breadth of literature, identify knowledge gaps and inform future research. Design: Scoping review based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. Methods: SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, and Embase databases were searched in English until 6 September 2022. The inclusion criteria were (1) coach(es) and/or support staff were explicitly questioned about their knowledge, perceptions, understanding, opinions, and/or applied practice of athlete monitoring; (2) results could be directly attributed to coach(es) and/or support staff; (3) primary research projects that are available as full-text. Exclusion …

Effects Of Aerobic And Resistance Exercise For 9 Months On Serum Free Light Chains In Type 2 Diabetes, Youyoung Kim, John P. Campbell, Neil M. Johannsen, Timothy S. Church, Eunhan Cho, Jennifer Heaney, Guillaume Spielmann

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aims: Serum polyclonal free light chains (FLCs) levels are associated with overall survival in the general population, reflecting their utility as a biomarker of underlying immune activation and inflammation. Regular exercise is known to ameliorate low-grade inflammation in chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes; however, the effects of different exercise training modalities on FLCs in adults with type 2 diabetes is unknown. This study investigated the effects of 9-month of aerobic, resistance or combined supervised exercise on serum FLCs in 164 patients with type 2 diabetes (age 58 ± 8 years; 63% female). Methods: 164 participants from …

Good Manufacturing Practice In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: Challenges And Solutions For Compliance, Pelden Chejor, Thinley Dorji, Ngawang Dema, Andrew Stafford

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Approximately 2 billion people globally have limited access to essential medicines, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In addition, there is a higher prevalence of substandard and counterfeit medicines in LMICs, which may cause antimicrobial resistance and therapeutic failure. Good manufacturing practice (GMP) is key to ensuring access to high-quality, safe and effective medicines, including active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients used for manufacturing finished dosage forms. Compliance with GMP standards saves resources for both manufacturers (e.g. avoiding expensive product recalls) and governments (e.g. minimising compliance inspections). Concerted collaborations among different countries to harmonise GMP standards and procedures …

Twin Scholarships Of Glycomedicine And Precision Medicine In Times Of Single-Cell Multiomics, Seungyoul Oh, Weijie Cao, Manshu Song

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Systems biology and multiomics research expand the prospects of planetary health innovations. In this context, this mini-review unpacks the twin scholarships of glycomedicine and precision medicine in the current era of single-cell multiomics. A significant growth in glycan research has been observed over the past decade, unveiling and establishing co- and post-translational modifications as dynamic indicators of both pathological and physiological conditions. Systems biology technologies have enabled large-scale and high-throughput glycoprofiling and access to data-intensive biological repositories for global research. These advancements have established glycans as a pivotal third code of life, alongside nucleic acids and amino acids. However, challenges …

Insights From A National Database For Programs Supporting Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Of Dementia In Australia, Mustafa Atee, Thomas Morris, Daniel Whiting, Stephen Macfarlane, Marie Alford

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Midline Brain Structures In Adult Niemann-Pick Type C Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mark Walterfang, Tsutomu Takahashi, Maria A. Di Biase, Vanessa L. Cropley, Daiki Sasabayashi, Michio Suzuki, Dennis Velakoulis, Christos Pantelis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: A range of neuropathological changes occur in the brains of individuals with adult Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPC), a recessive disorder of cholesterol trafficking that results in accumulation of cholesterol and gangliosides in lysosomes, particularly in neurons. One of the most significant regions of grey matter loss occurs in the thalami, which abut the midline. What is not known is whether these are neurodevelopmental in origin well prior to symptomatic onset. We aimed to examine other markers of midline developmental anomalies in adults with NPC. Method: We examined the size of adhesio interthalamica (AI) and cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) …

Hidden And Unacknowledged: The Mental Health And Psychosocial Interventions Delivered By School Nurses In Western Australia, Anita Moyes, Shirley Mcgough, Dianne Wynaden

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Schools are an important setting for the early identification, assessment and intervention of mental health problems in children and young people. Internationally, many nurses work in schools, but the role of this group with young people experiencing mental health problems has had only limited investigation. This study explored the activities school nurses undertook with young people experiencing mental health problems in Australia. Reporting was guided by the COREQ checklist. Thirty-one nurses participated in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method of analysis as developed by Glaser and Strauss (1967). The findings identified that nurses working in …

In Vivo Human Medial Gastrocnemius Fascicle Behaviour And Belly Gear During Submaximal Eccentric Contractions Are Not Affected By Concentric Fatiguing Exercise, Matheus Daros Pinto, Kazunori Nosaka, Anthony J. Blazevich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Changes in muscle geometry and belly gearing during eccentric contractions influence fibre strain and susceptibility to muscle damage. They are modulated by the interaction between connective tissues and intracellular-intrafascicular fluid pressures and external pressures from neighbouring structures. Fatiguing exercise triggers fluid shifts (muscle swelling) and muscle activation changes that may influence these modulators. Our purpose was to measure medial gastrocnemius (MG) geometric changes in vivo during eccentric contractions before and after maximal concentric muscle work to test the hypothesis that fatigue would reduce fascicle rotation and muscle gear and provoke greater fascicle strain. Submaximal eccentric plantar flexor contractions at 40% …

Predicting Neurodegeneration From Sleep Related Biofluid Changes, Yue Yang, Woojin S. Kim, Johannes C. Michaelian, Simon J. G. Lewis, Craig L. Phillips, Angela L. D'Rozario, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Ralph N. Martins, Ron Grunstein, Glenda M. Halliday, Sharon L. Naismith

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sleep-wake disturbances are common in neurodegenerative diseases and may occur years before the clinical diagnosis, potentially either representing an early stage of the disease itself or acting as a pathophysiological driver. Therefore, discovering biomarkers that identify individuals with sleep-wake disturbances who are at risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases will allow early diagnosis and intervention. Given the association between sleep and neurodegeneration, the most frequently analyzed fluid biomarkers in people with sleep-wake disturbances to date include those directly associated with neurodegeneration itself, such as neurofilament light chain, phosphorylated tau, amyloid-beta and alpha-synuclein. Abnormalities in these biomarkers in patients with sleep-wake disturbances …

Quantitative Comparison Of Presenilin Protein Expression Reveals Greater Activity Of Ps2-Γ-Secretase, Melissa K. Eccles, Nathan Main, Rodrigo Carlessi, Ayeisha M. Armstrong, Miheer Sabale, Brigid Roberts-Mok, Janina E. E. Tirnitz-Parker, Mark Agostino, David Groth, Paul E. Fraser, Giuseppe Verdile

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

γ-secretase processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) has long been of interest in the pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to its role in the generation of amyloid- . The catalytic component of the enzyme is the presenilins of which there are two homologues, Presenilin-1 (PS1) and Presenilin-2 (PS2). The field has focussed on the PS1 form of this enzyme, as it is typically considered the more active at APP processing. However, much of this work has been completed without appropriate consideration of the specific levels of protein expression of PS1 and PS2. We propose that expression is an …

The Association Between Lateral Hip Muscle Size/Intramuscular Fat Infiltration And Hip Strength In Active Young Adults With Long Standing Hip/Groin Pain, Zuzana Perraton, Andrea B. Mosler, Peter R. Lawrenson, Kenneth Weber Ii, James M. Elliott, Evert O. Wesselink, Kay M. Crossley, Joanne L. Kemp, Christopher Stewart, Michael Girdwood, Matthew G. King, Joshua J. Heerey, Mark J. Scholes, Benjamin F. Mentiplay, Adam I. Semciw

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To investigate associations between lateral hip muscle size/intramuscular fat infiltration (MFI) and hip strength in active young adults with longstanding hip/groin pain.

Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: University/Clinical.

Participants: Sub-elite soccer and Australian Football players (n = 180; 37 female) with long standing hip/groin pain.

Main outcome measures: Muscle size (volume) and MFI of gluteus maximus, medius, and minimis, and tensor fascia latae (TFL) were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. Isometric hip strength was measured with handheld dynamometry. Associations between muscle size/MFI were assessed using linear regression models, adjusted for body mass index and age, with sex-specific interactions.

Results: Positive …

Unveiling The Link Between Systemic Inflammation Markers And Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults In The Us: A Population-Based Study Using Nhanes 2011–2014 Data, Zheng Guo, Yulu Zheng, Jian Geng, Zhiyuan Wu, Tao Wei, Guangle Shan, Yahong Zhu, Yuanyuan Zheng, Xingang Li

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the association between systemic inflammation markers and cognitive performance among older US adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 3,632 older participants from the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The main analysis included participants aged over 60 years. Systemic inflammation markers were quantified by calculating the composite inflammation indicators from the blood routine count, and cognitive performance was assessed using Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) test, Animal Fluency test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST). Results: There were 2,743 individuals enrolled in the current analysis. The overall …

Clinical-Grade Human Skin-Derived Abcb5+ Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Exert Anti-Apoptotic And Anti-Inflammatory Effects In Vitro And Modulate Mrna Expression In A Cisplatin-Induced Kidney Injury Murine Model, Erika Rendra, Adriana T. Crigna, Cristina Daniele, Carsten Sticht, Maike Cueppers, Mark A. Kluth, Christoph Ganss, Markus H. Frank, Norbert Gretz, Karen Bieback

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by a rapid reduction in renal function and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The broadly used anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin often induces AKI as an adverse drug side effect. Therapies targeted at the reversal of AKI and its potential progression to chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease are currently insufficiently effective. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess diverse immunomodulatory properties that confer upon them significant therapeutic potential for the treatment of diverse inflammatory disorders. Human dermal MSCs expressing ATP-Binding Cassette member B5 (ABCB5) have shown therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials in chronic skin wounds or …

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy For Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Australia: A Retrospective Real World Cohort Study, Luke S. Mclean, Annette M. Lim, Mathias Bressel, Jenny Lee, Rahul Ladwa, Alexander D. Guminski, Brett Hughes, Samantha Bowyer, Karen Briscoe, Samuel Harris, Craig Kukard, Rob Zielinski, Muhammad Alamgeer, Matteo Carlino, Jeremy Mo, John J. Park, Muhammad A. Khattak, Fiona Day, Danny Rischin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To review the outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) outside clinical trials. Study design: Retrospective observational study; review of patient records in fifteen Australian institutions. Setting, participants: All Australian adults with locally advanced or metastatic CSCC not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy treated with ICIs, 5 May 2017 – 23 May 2022, through a cemiplimab compassionate access scheme (Therapeutic Goods Administration Special Access Scheme) or who personally covered the cost of pembrolizumab prior to the start of the access scheme. Main outcome measures: Best overall response rate (ORR) according to …

Investigation Of Campylobacter Concisus Gastric Epithelial Pathogenicity Using Ags Cells, Christopher Y. M. Luk, Seul A. Lee, Nicholas Naidovski, Fang Liu, Alfred C. Y. Tay, Liang Wang, Stephen Riordan, Li Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Campylobacter concisus is an oral bacterium. Recent studies suggest that C. concisus may be involved in human gastric diseases. The mechanisms, however, by which C. concisus causes human gastric diseases have not been investigated. Here we examined the gastric epithelial pathogenicity of C. concisus using a cell culture model. Six C. concisus strains and the human gastric epithelial cell line AGS cells were used. IL-8 produced by AGS cells after incubation with C. concisus was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and AGS cell apoptosis was determined by caspase 3/7 activities. The effects of C. concisus on actin arrangement in …

Barriers And Enablers To A Healthy Food Environment In Australian Childcare Services: Exploring Directors' Perspectives, Amy Kirkegaard, Chris Irwin, Rebecca Byrne, Ros Sambell, Lisa Vincze

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Issue Addressed: Early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are ideal environments to optimise nutrition and positively influence children's food behaviours. However, recent research has identified the need to improve nutrition policies, food provision, and mealtime environments in Australian ECEC settings. This study explored the perceptions of ECEC directors regarding barriers and enablers to a health-promoting food environment within ECEC services. Methods: Eleven directors from ECEC services in Nerang, Queensland, and surrounding areas, participated in qualitative interviews between March and May 2021. Transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis that followed a deductive-inductive approach employing nutrition-related domains from the Wellness …

First-Line Chemoimmunotherapy And Immunotherapy In Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer And Brain Metastases: A Registry Study, Lauren J. Brown, Victor Khou, Chris Brown, Marliese Alexander, Dasantha Jayamanne, Joe Wei, Lauren Gray, Wei Chan, Samuel Smith, Susan Harden, Antony Mersiades, Lydia Warburton, Malinda Itchins, Jenny H. Lee, Nick Pavlakis, Stephen J. Clarke, Michael Boyer, Adnan Nagrial, Eric Hau, Ines Pires Da Silva, Steven Kao, Benjamin Y. Kong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Brain metastases commonly occur in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Standard first-line treatment for NSCLC, without an EGFR, ALK or ROS1 mutation, is either chemoimmunotherapy or anti-PD-1 monotherapy. Traditionally, patients with symptomatic or untreated brain metastases were excluded from the pivotal clinical trials that established first-line treatment recommendations. The intracranial effectiveness of these treatment protocols has only recently been elucidated in small-scale prospective trials. Methods: Patients with NSCLC and brain metastases, treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy or anti-PD-1 monotherapy were selected from the Australian Registry and biObank of thoracic cancers (AURORA) clinical database covering seven institutions. The primary …

Postoperative Fluid Therapy In Enhanced Recovery After Surgery For Pancreaticoduodenectomy, Sharnice Koek, Johnny Lo, Rupert Ledger, Mohammed Ballal

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Backgrounds/Aims: Optimal intravenous fluid management during the perioperative period for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) within the framework of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is unclear. Studies have indicated that excessive total body salt and water can contribute to the development of oedema, leading to increased morbidity and extended hospital stays. This study aimed to assess the effects of an intravenous therapy regimen during postoperative day (POD) 0 to 2 in PD patients within ERAS. Methods: A retrospective interventional cohort study was conducted, and it involved all PD patients before and after implementation of ERAS (2009–2017). In the ERAS group, a …

Airway Epithelium Respiratory Illnesses And Allergy (Aerial) Birth Cohort: Study Protocol, Elizabeth Kicic-Starcevich, David G. Hancock, Thomas Iosifidis, Patricia Agudelo-Romero, Jose A. Caparros-Martin, Yuliya V. Karpievitch, Desiree Silva, Lidija Turkovic, Peter N. Le Souef, Anthony Bosco, David J. Martino, Anthony Kicic, Susan L. Prescott, Stephen M. Stick

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Recurrent wheezing disorders including asthma are complex and heterogeneous diseases that affect up to 30% of all children, contributing to a major burden on children, their families, and global healthcare systems. It is now recognized that a dysfunctional airway epithelium plays a central role in the pathogenesis of recurrent wheeze, although the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. This prospective birth cohort aims to bridge this knowledge gap by investigating the influence of intrinsic epithelial dysfunction on the risk for developing respiratory disorders and the modulation of this risk by maternal morbidities, in utero exposures, and respiratory exposures …

Developmental Origins Of Psycho-Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity In Adolescence And Their Underlying Pathways Through Methylation Markers: A Two-Cohort Study, Priyanka Choudhary, Justiina Ronkainen, Jennie Carson, Ville Karhunen, Ashleigh Lin, Phillip E. Melton, Marjo-Riitta Jarvelin, Jouko Miettunen, Rae-Chi Huang, Sylvain Sebert

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Understanding the biological mechanisms behind multimorbidity patterns in adolescence is important as they may act as intermediary risk factor for long-term health. We aimed to explore relationship between prenatal exposures and adolescent’s psycho-cardiometabolic intermediary traits mediated through epigenetic biomarkers, using structural equation modeling (SEM). We used data from mother–child dyads from pregnancy and adolescents at 16–17 years from two prospective cohorts: Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC1986) and Raine Study from Australia. Factor analysis was applied to generate two different latent factor structures: (a) prenatal exposures and (b) adolescence psycho-cardiometabolic intermediary traits. Furthermore, three types of epigenetic biomarkers were included: …

Ecology Of Emergency Care In Lower-Tier Healthcare Providers In Ghana: An Empirical Data-Driven Bayesian Network Analytical Approach, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Victor F. Nunfam, Bernard A. Kwanin, Kwasi Frimpong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The healthcare landscape in Ghana is primarily composed of lower-tier providers, which serve as the initial point of contact for most medical emergencies. This study aimed to assess the emergency care preparedness and readiness of primary healthcare providers using a robust evaluation approach. A multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 460 healthcare facilities using the standardised Health Facilities Emergency Preparedness Assessment Tool (HeFEPAT). Data were analysed via Bayesian Belief network. Emergency preparedness was associated with facility location, type, ownership, and in-charge personnel. Over 70% of facilities lacked specialised emergency/critical care personnel. Although 65% of in-charges reported protocol knowledge, only …

How Do Professional Connections And Relationships Impact Midwives’ Well-Being And Career Sustainability? A Grounded Theory Study Protocol, Lynnelle Moran, Sara Bayes, Kim Foster

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Significant attrition and projected workforce shortages within the midwifery profession are global issues. Extensive research has identified that high levels of workplace adversity, chronic stress, and increasing rates of vicarious trauma and moral injury experienced by midwives, underpin this situation. Researchers have explored midwives’ intention to stay in the midwifery workforce and identified ways to support students’ transition to professional practice. Supportive collegial relationships have been reported to be protective for new and early career midwives’ well-being and resilience. However, there is a gap in knowledge and understanding of the impact and significance of professional connections and relationships for midwives …

Parent Implementation Of A Treatment For Late Talkers Based On Cross-Situational Statistical Learning Principles: Treatment Fidelity And Acceptability, Suzanne J. Meldrum, Jennifer Fisk, Jennifer Stopher, Emily F. Hunt

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose:

Early intervention based on principles of cross-situational statistical learning (CSSL) for late-talking children has shown promise. This study explored whether parents could be trained to deliver this intervention protocol with fidelity and if they found the intervention to be acceptable.

Method:

Mothers of four English-speaking children aged 18–30 months who scored < 10th centile for expressive vocabulary were recruited to an 8-week group training program. Parents were taught principles of CSSL and asked to perform 16 home treatment sessions (30 minutes each) in total, providing auditory bombardment of target words in full sentences at high dose number and syntactic variability, using a range of physical exemplars. Home diaries and two videotaped sessions measured treatment fidelity. Pre- and post-treatment questionnaires measured acceptability. Result: One parent discontinued the study after the second group training session. Three parents completed 15/16 group training sessions and reported completing 87% of home sessions. Two parents demonstrated implementing the intervention as per the target dose number by the first fidelity session (Weeks 2/3), and the third parent was very close to meeting target dose number by the second fidelity session (Weeks 7/8).

Conclusion:

Parents can be trained to deliver an intervention based on cross-situational statistical learning principles.

Parents’ Experiences Of Their Child’S Best Interests During A Hospital Stay In Australia, Angela A. Quaye, Mandie Foster, Lisa Whitehead, Inger K. Hallström

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Determining the child’s best interests in a hospital setting will ideally involve the combined views of children, parents, and healthcare professionals. However, few studies have explored parents’ experiences of their child’s best interests when they engage with the healthcare system. Therefore, this study aimed to explore parents’ experiences of their child’s best interests during hospitalisation. A descriptive qualitative inductive design using face-to-face parent–child combined interviews, analysed by latent content analysis, was used. Sixteen parents recruited from a tertiary hospital in Western Australia were interviewed. Collaboration, development of trustworthy relationships, and effective communication were essential in shaping parents’ experiences of their …