Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Community Participation Group Interventions For Children And Adolescents With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities : A Systematic Review ; And, Community Participation For Girls And Women Living With Rett Syndrome, Jaimi Andrews

Theses : Honours

Community participation group interventions for children and adolescents with neurodevelopment disabilities : A systematic review

Objective: To describe the effectiveness of community integration interventions on community participation, self-esteem and quality of life for children and adolescents with a neurodevelopment intellectual disability.

Method: Electronic searches of five databases and manual searches of reference lists were conducted. Community integration interventions which targeted friendship development, recreation participation, quality of life and self-esteem were included.

Results: Thirteen studies were included in this review. A variety of study designs and interventions were used. Following interventions, all but one study reported significantly increased …

The Impact Of Powered Mobility Devices On Occupational Performance : A Systematic Review ; And, The Experience Of Being A Motorised Mobility Scooter User, Ryan Fomiatti

Theses : Honours

The impact of powered mobility devices on occupational performance: A systematic review

Purpose: To systematically review the impact powered mobility devices have on engagement in independent occupations for adults with acquired mobility limitations. Method: The following databases were searched electronically: CINAHL Plus, Medline, PsychInfo, OT Seeker, Joanna Briggs Institute and Physiotherapy Evidence Database. The search terms used a combination of words to encompass all terms which are used for powered mobility. Studies were included if they evaluated adults’ use of a motorised mobility device, and if individuals used a powered mobility device due to acquired mobility limitation. Results: Eleven studies …

Newborns With Feeding Issues: Parental Perceptions Of The Hospital Discharge, Transition Home And The Role Of Speech Pathology, Katie Louise Ilich

Theses : Honours

This study explored the perceptions of discharge from hospital and the transition home for mothers of newborns with feeding issues. To gain an understanding of their experiences, mothers were interviewed twice, once at discharge and once up to a month later. Participants had a strong desire for their babies to be discharged from hospital, but felt anxious and underprepared. Once home, more questions typically arose. Mothers found this a highly stressful and emotional experience, especially for those without consistent speech pathology involvement. Mothers valued being involved in the decision-making process, and found this an effective coping mechanism. The value of …

Aphasia Incidence And Intervention In The Acute Hospital Setting, Dominique Lidia Ferreira

Theses : Honours

Background: Current research highlights the significance of providing early and intensive aphasia therapy to maximise neural plasticity and enhance communication gains. Acute speech pathology service delivery in Australia does not consistently meet best practice standards recommended by the National Stroke Foundation. Aims: This study aimed to: i) investigate the incidence of post-stroke aphasia in the acute setting; ii) determine the referral rate to speech pathology for patients with aphasia; iii) investigate the amount of language therapy provided to people with aphasia and iv) explore the relative proportion of aphasia service delivery within the overall caseload management of speech pathologists. Method …

Knowledge Of The Uv Index Within Western Australia, David Mercovich

Theses : Honours

Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world and despite the dedicated efforts of preventative campaigns since 1981; this number has increased over the past ten years (Carter & Donovan, 2007). With most skin cancer being attributed to Ultra violet radiation there is a pressing need for proper education, health promotion and preventative means. Previous Western Australian skin UV Index research has yielded findings of moderate awareness. However, there is the association between skin cancer prevalence and the UV Index but a lack of knowledge and application of the UV Index as a means of preventative measures …

Constraint Induced Aphasia Therapy In The Very Early Phase Of Recovery Following Stroke, Sarah D'Souza

Theses : Honours

Background and purpose: Research suggests communication outcomes following stroke may be greater when treatment is administered in the acute phase of recovery. In addition, treatment outcomes are improved when therapy is provided at a greater intensity. Constraint Induced Aphasia Therapy (CIAT) has addressed the issue of treatment intensity by delivering therapy for three hours per weekday for two weeks, but its effectiveness has largely been investigated in the chronic phase of recovery. Treatment outcomes have typically been assessed on standardised tests and few studies have used connected speech and discourse measures to assess change. This research investigated daily intervention in …

Biochemical Markers As Evidence Of The Effects Of Environmental Enrichment On Physiological Processes In Huntington’S Disease Patients, Zarghona Ahmadzai Khan

Theses : Honours

Abstract not available.

The Experiences Of Cancer Survivors As They Transition From Chemotherapy Treatment To Life After Cancer, Violet Platt

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study explored and described the experience of people with a diagnosis of cancer, as they transitioned from life as a chemotherapy patient to life after treatment as a cancer survivor. The purpose of this study was to ultimately improve the care of people as they transitioned into life after completion of chemotherapy treatment. There is minimal information related to this phase of the cancer trajectory, therefore this study was intentionally exploratory and descriptive. To achieve the proposed outcome a two-phased approach was undertaken. In Phase One a qualitative approach was followed using Grounded Theory to the descriptive level of …

Causes And Effects Of Physical Injuries To Prison Officers Employed In A High Risk And High Need Offender Management Environment In Western Australia, Bigboy Ngwenya

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Prison Officers (POs) involved in high need offender management frequently face risks that could affect their health, safety and wellbeing. Several studies have shown that direct client centred violence, inadequate management systems and the general nature of prison environments are major factors impacting on the well being of POs (Fisher & Gunnison, 2001; Kiekbusch, Price, & Theis, 2003; Mitchell, Mackenzie, Styve, & Gover, 2000).There is limited literature on causes and effects of physical injuries on this group of law enforcements officers. This is the first study conducted in Western Australia (WA) that investigated the causes and effects of physical injuries …

Role Of Testosterone In Prevention Of Alzheimer's Disease, Eka J. Wahjoepramono

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Abstract not available

The Effectiveness Of Airway Management In The Pre Hospital Treatment Of Traumatic Brain Injury : A Retrospective, Observational Study Of Pre Hospital Treatment Of Traumatic Brain Injury (Tbi) In The Western Australian Ambulance Service, Joseph Cuthbertson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

There is concern over mortality and the potential for secondary brain injury in the head-injured patient. The use of advanced airway management and rapid sequence intubation in the pre hospital treatment of patients with Traumatic Brain Injury is controversial. Currently in St John Ambulance Service Australia (WA) Inc. three forms of pre hospital treatment are utilized to manage the airway of the adult head-injured patient. If attended by on-road paramedic staff, basic airway management is utilized unless the patient is unconscious and areflexic, in which case advanced airway management utilising endotracheal intubation or laryngeal mask insertion is authorised. In the …

Assessment And Training Of Muscular Force And Power Qualities Of The Lower Limb Using Traditional And Cluster Loading, Keir Hansen

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

It is widely accepted that lower body muscular force and power capabilities are of significant importance to many athletic tasks. Thus the assessment and training of these qualities are a key focus in both sports science and strength and conditioning practice. The purpose of this thesis was firstly to investigate previously discussed but poorly researched methods of assessing force and power characteristics of the lower limb particularly focusing on the analysis of the force-time and power-time curves during the rebound jump squat, and secondly, to investigate the effectiveness of cluster loading, an alternative resistance training paradigm, in training for lower …

Investigating The Impact Of Cd147 And Its Expression On Neurodegenaration And Alzheimer's Disease (Ad), Limbikani J. Kanyenda

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

CD147, also known as basigin, extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, neurothelin, tumour cell-derived collagenase stimulatory factor, M6, HT7, OX47 or gp42, is a transmembrane glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin super-family. It is expressed in many neuronal and non-neuronal tissues with high expression in the hippocampus, pre-frontal cortex, thyroid, heart, early erythroid, amygdala and placenta. This protein is involved in various cellular and biological functions such as lymphocyte migration and maturation, tissue repair, cancer progression, T and B lymphocyte activation and induction of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase. The CD147 protein interacts with with cyclophilin A, cyclophilin B, sterol carrier protein, caveolin-1 and integrins, and …

Covert Violence In Nursing: A Western Australian Experience, Susette Bakker

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Covert violence in the workplace has been extensively theorized amongst social scientists as having negative effects on the worker’s self esteem, job satisfaction and stress, resulting in increased absenteeism and a reduction in productivity, and yet it continues to fester in nursing. The purpose of this research was twofold. The first was to answer the question, ‘What are the characteristics of covert violence experienced by Western Australian nurses?’ and through the description of Western Australian nurses’ experience of covert violence and describe the characteristics related to this to form a definition of covert violence. The second question was ‘What are …

Finite Element Analysis Of Stress Distribution Within Metal-On-Metal Joint Replacements, Yujing Liu

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Demand for joint replacements is rising in Australia, driven by a sharp increase in the number of joint problems associated with population aging and obesity. In artificial joints, delamination or failure within the coatings occurs when the stress reaches a critical level, resulting in large wear debris particles appearing on the contact surface between the head and the cup. The process has been described as due to a stress-corrosion-cracking mechanism. Under the same loading, stress increases when the contact area decreases, which happens in the vicinity of wear debris. As such, once wear debris is generated, a catastrophic process could …

Paediatric Nursing : An Investigation Of The Effect Of Specialist Paediatric Nurse Education On The Quality Of Children’S Nursing Care In Western Australia, Jonathan Mark Mould

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In Australia, specialist education in paediatrics is not a requirement for nurses caring for hospitalised children. Thus, nurses can work in paediatrics without any prior knowledge of the unique needs of children such as developmental stages or separation anxiety. As a consequence, there are some clinicians and authors who advocate that when children require health care, they should be cared for by nurses who are educated in, and understand the specific physical, psychological and social needs of children. Despite this, the evidence is lacking as to whether specialist nurse education affects the quality of care in paediatrics. This study investigates …

Practical Precooling Strategies And Cycling Time Trial Performance, Megan L. Ross

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Whole-body precooling can improve endurance exercise performance, especially in the heat; however there are logistical considerations that restrict the use of various precooling strategies prior to actual competition. Precooling is proposed to collectively reduce deep skin and body temperature and in effect, increase the heat storage capacity of an athlete, thereby allowing a greater amount of work to be completed prior to attainment of a critical core temperature. While there is a sound theoretical basis for implementing precooling to improve cycling time trial performance in the heat, the practicalities of employing effective precooling strategies in the field warrant further investigation. …

Monitoring Neuromuscular Fatigue In High Performance Athletes, Kristie-Lee Taylor

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

With improving professionalism of sports around the world, the volume and frequency of training required for competitive performances at the elite level has increased concurrently. With this amplification in training load comes an increased need to closely monitor the associated fatigue responses, since maximising the adaptive response to training is also reliant on avoiding the negative consequences of excessive fatigue. The rationale for the experimental chapters in this thesis was established after considering survey responses regarding current best practice for monitoring fatigue in high performance sporting environments (Chapter 3). On the basis of the results, vertical jump assessments were selected …

A Kinanthropometric Analysis Of Accurate And Inaccurate Kickers: Implications For Kicking Accuracy In Australian Football, Nicolas H. Hart

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

A paucity of research exists investigating the potential relationship between the technical and temporal strategy of accurate and inaccurate kickers in response to physical parameters modifiable by athletic conditioning. While recent studies have produced improvements in performance when kicking for distance following structured resistance training interventions, no studies have examined the influence of such interventions on the enhancement of kicking accuracy. It was therefore the purpose of this thesis to extend scientific understanding of those mechanisms which might underpin accurate kicking performances through examining kinanthropometric, strength and muscularity profiles of accurate and inaccurate kickers in Australian Football using a series …

Portraits Of Nursing Resilience: Listening For A Story, Vicki Cope

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The nursing workforce in Australia is a workforce under pressure. Within in-patient settings, rapidly increasing turnover of more acutely ill or co-morbid patients, and staff retention issues, place those staff that remain under extra pressure to maintain a quality service. In nurse education settings the increasing imperative to recruit more students into the profession combined with financial cutbacks leading to staff retention issues creates a similar tension. Yet many Registered Nurses (RNs) do remain in their chosen work setting displaying tenacity and resilience despite well documented trials and tribulations.

A qualitative approach, Portraiture, was used to construct a collection of …