Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Emergency Department Care Coordination Team Referrals In Older People Presenting With A Fall, Kristie J Harper, Nicholas P. Gibson, Annette D Barton, Antonio C Petta, Sara K Pearson, Antonio Celenza

Research outputs 2013

Objectives: The study aims to describe the characteristics of patients presenting to an ED with a fall and evaluate multidisciplinary Care Coordination Team (CCT) referrals on patient outcomes.

Methods: A single-centred retrospective analysis of electronic data at an adult tertiary hospital was performed using data from 2004 to 2009 of presentations for patients aged 65 years or over with a fall. The primary outcome measure was representation to hospital within 30 days, comparing patients referred to CCT and those not referred. Secondary outcomes were differences in demographic characteristics, mode of arrival, triage score and readmission.

Results: The proportion of ED …

Thermal Stress In North Western Australian Iron Ore Mining Staff, Jermiah John Peiffer, Chris Abbiss

Research outputs 2013

Introduction: Demand for Australian mined iron ore has increased employment within this sector, thus exposing increased numbers of workers to the harsh Australian climate. This study examined the influence of hot (>30°C wet bulb globe temperature) environmental temperatures, consistent with working in North Western Australia, on iron ore mining staff.

Methods: Core temperature, hydration status, perceived exertion, mood, and fatigue state were measured in 77 participants at three time points (pre-, mid-, and post-shift) during a normal 12-h shift at an open-cut iron ore mining/processing site (n = 31; Site1) and an iron ore processing/shipping site (n = 46; …

A Lower Limb Assessment Tool For Athletes At Risk Of Developing Patellar Tendinopathy, Kerry Mann, Suzi Edwards, Eric J. Drinkwater, Stephen Bird

Research outputs 2013

Achilles tendinopathy is a common injury in running sports however the exact etiology of Achilles injury is still unclear. In recent years, altered neuromotor recruitment patterns of the triceps surae have been hypothesized to create differential intra-tendinous loads leading to pathology; however, this hypothesis has not been investigated. Further, the effect foot orthoses may have on neuromotor recruitment of the triceps surae in Achilles tendinopathy has not been investigated. Methods: The electromyographic activity of the triceps surae was recorded during an over-ground running task. Fifteen Achilles injured participants and 19 asymptomatic controls were assessed in a footwear only condition. The …

Visual Analog Scale And Pressure Pain Threshold For Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Assessment, Wing Y. Lau, Makii Mishan Muthalib, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2013

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between two assessments to quantify delayed onset muscle soreness [DOMS]: visual analog scale [VAS] and pressure pain threshold [PPT].

Methods: Thirty-one healthy young men [25.8±5.5 years] performed 10 sets of six maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors with their non-dominant arm. Before and one to four days after the exercise, muscle pain perceived upon palpation of the biceps brachii at three sites [5, 9 and 13cm above the elbow crease] was assessed by VAS with a 100mm line [0=no pain, 100=extremely painful], and PPT of the same sites was determined by an algometer. Changes …

Correlation Of Throwing Velocity To The Results Of Lower Body Field Tests In Male College Baseball Players, G Lehman, Eric J. Drinkwater, David Behm

Research outputs 2013

Baseball-specific athleticism, potential, and performance have been difficult to predict. Increased muscle strength and power can increase throwing velocity but the majority of research has focused on the upper body. The present study sought to determine if bilateral or unilateral lower-body field testing correlates with throwing velocity. Baseball throwing velocity scores were correlated to the following tests: medicine ball (MB) scoop toss and squat throw, bilateral and unilateral vertical jumps, single and triple broad jumps, hop and stop in both directions, lateral to medial jumps, 10- and 60-yd sprints, and both left and right single-leg 10-yd hop for speed in …

A Blood-Based Predictor For Neocortical Aβ Burden In Alzheimer's Disease: Results From The Aibl Study, Samantha Burnham, Noel Faux, William Wilson, Simon Laws, David Ames, Justin Bedo, Ashley Bush, James Doecke, Kathryn Ellis, Richard Head, Gareth Jones, Harri Kiiveri, Ralph N. Martins, Alan Rembach, Christopher Rowe, Olivier Salvado, S Lance Macaulay, Colin Masters, Victor Villemagne

Research outputs 2013

Dementia is a global epidemic with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the leading cause. Early identification of patients at risk of developing AD is now becoming an international priority. Neocortical Aβ (extracellular β-amyloid) burden (NAB), as assessed by positron emission tomography (PET), represents one such marker for early identification. These scans are expensive and are not widely available, thus, there is a need for cheaper and more widely accessible alternatives. Addressing this need, a blood biomarker-based signature having efficacy for the prediction of NAB and which can be easily adapted for population screening is described. Blood data (176 analytes measured in …

Can A Specific Neck Strengthening Program Decrease Cervical Spine Injuries In A Men's Professional Rugby Union Team? A Retrospective Analysis, Robert Naish, Angus Burnett, Sally Burrows, Warren Andrews, Brendyn Appleby

Research outputs 2013

Cervical spine injuries in Rugby Union are a concerning issue at all levels of the game. The primary aim of this retrospective analysis conducted in a professional Rugby Union squad was to determine whether a 26-week isometric neck strengthening intervention program (13-week strengthening phase and 13- week maintenance phase) was effective in reducing the number and severity of cervical spine injuries. The secondary aim was to determine whether at week five, where the program had been the similar for all players, there was increased isometric neck strength. All 27 players who were common to both the 2007- 2008 and 2008-2009 …

Occupational Respiratory Health Surveillance At Minara Resources, Murrin Murrin Mine Site [Journal Article], Martyn Cross, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2013

A respiratory health study of fly-in-fly-out workers potentially exposed to airborne contaminants, and a control group, was conducted at the Murrin Murrin mine site in Western Australia. Lung function was measured in terms of validated protocols (American Thoracic Society, 1995; Miller et al, 2005). The effect of length of service, as well as work area/department on lung function was established. Repeat lung function tests were conducted after approximately two years, in order to measure decrements over time. Furthermore, testing was conducted on a cohort of refinery workers prior to commencement and upon completion of their work period on-site (swing), in …

Expertise Paradigms For Investigating The Neural Substrates Of Stable Memories, Guillermo Campitelli, Craig Speelman

Research outputs 2013

No abstract available.

Physical Activity: Its Implication On Attention Span And Quality Of Life In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Beron W.Z. Tan, Lynne Cohen, Julie A. Pooley

Research outputs 2013

This study examined the effects of physical activity on the attention span and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children in Singapore. Male participants (N = 12) aged 2-6 years, diagnosed with ASD were randomly assigned to either a physical activity or non-physical activity group. In the physical activity group, participants were administered 8 tri-cycling sessions; both groups of participants were measured for their attention span, and their parents completed the HRQoL questionnaires. Results indicate that as the exercise increases, the physical activity group demonstrated increasingly longer duration of attention span. These results extend the findings …

Patterns Of Physical And Psychological Development In Future Teenage Mothers, Daniel Nettle, Thomas E. Dickins, David A. Coall, Paul De Monrnay Davis

Research outputs 2013

Background and objectives: Teenage childbearing may have childhood origins and can be viewed as the outcome of a coherent reproductive strategy associated with early environmental conditions. Life-history theory would predict that where futures are uncertain fitness can be maximized through diverting effort from somatic development into reproduction. Even before the childbearing years, future teenage mothers differ from their peers both physically and psychologically, indicating early calibration to key ecological factors. Cohort data have not been deliberately collected to test life-history hypotheses within Western populations. Nonetheless, existing data sets can be used to pursue relevant patterns using socioeconomic variables as indices …

Prediction Models For Solitary Pulmonary Nodules Based On Curvelet Textural Features And Clinical Parameters, Jing-Jing Wang, Hai-Feng Wu, Tao Sun, Xia Li, Wei Wang, Li-Xin Tao, Da Huo, Ping-Xin Lv, Wen He, Xiu-Hua Guo

Research outputs 2013

Lung cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, usually appears as solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) which are hard to diagnose using the naked eye. In this paper, curvelet-based textural features and clinical parameters are used with three prediction models [a multilevel model, a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression method, and a support vector machine (SVM)] to improve the diagnosis of benign and malignant SPNs. Dimensionality reduction of the original curvelet-based textural features was achieved using principal component analysis. In addition, non-conditional logistical regression was used to find clinical predictors among demographic parameters and morphological features. …

Creativity In An Online Community As A Response To The Chaos Of A Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Cynthia Witney, Lelia Green, Leesa Costello, Vanessa Bradshaw

Research outputs 2013

No abstract provided.

International Perceptions Of Stalking And Responsibility: The Influence Of Prior Relationship And Severity Of Behavior, Adrian J. Scott, Nikki Rajakaruna, Lorraine Sheridan, Emma Sleath

Research outputs 2013

This study investigates the influence of prior relationship and severity of behavior on perceptions of stalking and responsibility with a combined sample of 1,080 members of the community from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Participants were presented with 1 of 12 versions of a hypothetical stalking scenario and responded to scale items regarding the behavior of a male perpetrator toward a female target. Prior relationship and severity of behavior influenced perceptions of stalking and responsibility, and the pattern of findings was consistent across the three countries. The perpetrator’s behavior was perceived to constitute stalking, and necessitate police …

The Influence Of Prior Relationship On Perceptions Of Stalking: A Comparison Of Laypersons, Nonspecialist Police Officers And Specialist Police Officers, Adrian J. Scott, Keri Nixon, Lorraine Sheridan

Research outputs 2013

The current research examined the influence of prior relationship on perceptions of stalking, and compared the perceptions of laypersons, nonspecialist police officers, and specialist police officers. Two studies employed experimental designs where participants were presented with one of three vignettes in which the nature of the prior relationship was manipulated so that the perpetrator and victim were portrayed as strangers, acquaintances, or ex-partners. Participants comprised 101 nonspecialist police officers and 108 laypersons in Study 1, and 49 specialist police officers and 49 nonspecialist police officers in Study 2. Findings indicate that nonspecialist police officers and laypersons shared the common misperception …

Framing And Perceptions Of Stalking: The Influence Of Conduct Severity And The Perpetrator-Target Relationship, Adrian J. Scott, Nikki Rajakaruna, Lorraine P. Sheridan

Research outputs 2013

Research has demonstrated that the way in which questions are presented (i.e. framed) has the capacity to influence responses to subsequent questions. In the context of stalking, perception research has often been framed in terms of whether or not particular behaviours constitute stalking. The current research investigates whether the framing of the opening question (question frame), conduct severity and the perpetrator target relationship influence perceptions of stalking. Two studies employed experimental 3 3 independent factorial designs: one to examine question frame and conduct severity, the other to examine question frame and the perpetrator target relationship. Participants in both studies (total …

Understanding Perceptions Of Stalking: The Impact Of Additional Contextual Information Regarding The Breakdown Of Relationships, Simon C. Duff, Adrian J. Scott

Research outputs 2013

Purpose: Perception research has demonstrated that people view stranger stalkers to be more persistentand dangerous than ex-partner stalkers. Although these findings are consistent with the outcome of legal processes where stranger stalkers are more likely to be convicted, they contrast with the findings of national surveys and applied research where ex-partner stalkers represent the most persistent and dangerous relational subtype. The aim of the current study is to further examine the influence of prior relationship on perceptions of stalking by considering the impact of additional contextual information regarding the breakdown of ex-partners’ relationships for the first time.

Design/methodology/approach: In this …

The Attribution Of Responsibility In Cases Of Stalking, Adrian J. Scott, Jeffery Gavin, Emma Sleath, Lorraine Sheridan

Research outputs 2013

There is a general belief that stranger stalkers present the greatest threat to the personal safety of victims, despite national victimisation surveys and applied research demonstrating that ex-partner stalkers are generally more persistent and violent. The just-world hypothesis offers a possible explanation for this apparent contradiction. The current research used nine hypothetical scenarios, administered to 328 university students, to investigate the assumptions that underlie attributions of responsibility in cases of stalking. It explores whether these assumptions are consistent with the proposed mechanisms of the just-world hypothesis, and whether they vary according to the nature of the perpetrator–victim relationship and conduct …

Activity Profiles And Demands Of Seasonal And Tournament Basketball Competition, Markus J. Klusemann, David B. Pyne, Will G. Hopkins, Eric J. Drinkwater

Research outputs 2013

Competition-specific conditioning for tournament basketball games is challenging, as the demands of tournament formats are not well characterized.

Purpose: To compare the physical, physiological, and tactical demands of seasonal and tournament basketball competition and determine the pattern of changes within an international tournament.

Methods: Eight elite junior male basketball players (age 17.8 ± 0.2 y, height 1.93 ± 0.07 m, mass 85 ± 3 kg; mean ± SD) were monitored in 6 seasonal games played over 4 mo in an Australian second-division national league and in 7 games of an international under-18 tournament played over 8 days. Movement patterns and …

Work Integrated Learning: A Whole Of Curriculum Approach, Catharine Andre, Beverley A. Ewens, Fiona Foxall

Research outputs 2013

The School of Nursing and Midwifery at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia is currently developing an innovative work integrated learning masters to service the needs of students and industry. As this paper details, the program is aimed at Registered Nurses and Midwives to support and develop the skills to conceptualise and implement a work integrated program of study, the products of which are then used as recognised assessment items. Unlike many other work integrated learning initiatives, this curriculum is entirely work integrated learning based with early units of study providing students with the foundational skills and conceptual understanding required to …

Mining Workers Ability To Identify Hazards Using A Picture Survey, Susanne T. Bahn

Research outputs 2013

This paper presents the first phase on a study investigating the skills of workers in the resource sector at their safety induction to identify workplace hazards. This study questioned the ability of managers and employees to identify workplace hazards correctly (phase 1) and to determine the processes that can be used to increase hazard identification skills (phase 2). Fifty-four completed surveys that contained 6 pictures displaying complex and hazardous work environments in an underground mine in WA are analysed. The analysis sought to determine the average number of hazards that each participant could identify out of a possible 10 in …

Improving Safety Culture: The Impact Of The Construction Induction Training On The Construction Industry In Western Australia, Susanne T. Bahn, Llandis G. Barratt-Pugh

Research outputs 2013

Australia strives to be a world leader in safety practice however improving safety cultures to reduce work-related injuries in the hazardous environment of the construction industry is a continual challenge. It is particularly difficult in Western Australia (WA) where the industry is engaging with the second development boom this century, often in isolated locations, and simultaneously adapting to the national harmonisation of OHS regulations. In 2006, Worksafe WA introduced 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 construction industry, presenting …

The Unmet Promise Of Occupational Health And Safety Harmonisation: Continued Complexity For Small, Multi-Jurisdictional Firms, Susanne T. Bahn, Susan Mayson, Rowena Barrett, Llandis G. Barratt-Pugh

Research outputs 2013

Harmonisation of state-based occupational health and safety (OHS) regimes is a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) initiative designed to ‘cut red tape’ for Australian firms. However Western Australia’s, South Australia’s and Victoria’s lack of harmonisation makes it problematic for firms that conduct business in multiple jurisdictions. In this paper we investigate what impacts harmonisation has on firms generally and specifically smaller, multi-jurisdictional firms. First, we look at the requirements of the model WHS Act and what it said about managerial responsibilities for OHS. We focus on the due diligence clause which places personal liability on company directors or persons conducting …

Harmonisation Of Construction Health And Safety Laws In Australia, Manikam Pillay

Research outputs 2013

For over four decades all states and territories in Australia have maintained their own and separate set of laws for the management of health and safety risks in construction. This resulted in at least ten different sets of health and safety legislation. Responding to calls for national uniformity, a harmonised set of laws wer issued in 2011 by the Federal Government, in the form of Model Work Health and safety Act and Regulations. These, together with industry-specific codes of practice, are expected to provide construction organisations their first ever common set of standards and benchmarks across the states and territories …

Plain Language Review Of Cardiovascular Health Among Indigenous Australians, Caitlin Gray

Research outputs 2013

This document summarises, in plain language, information about the cardiovascular health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It provides information about :

• the various cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors
• the extent of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including prevalence, hospitalisation and death rates
• types and levels of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CVD patients
• strategies and programs that aim to improve the cardiovascular health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The publication is a plain language summary of the Review of cardiovascular health among Indigenous Australians (2013) by …

Overview Of The Health Of Indigenous People In Western Australia 2013, Neil Thomson, Andrea Macrae, Anomie, Jane Burns, Belinda D'Costa, Caitlin Gray, Joanne Hoareau, Leah Levitan, Miranda Poynton, Kathy Ride, Avinna Trzesinski

Research outputs 2013

This Overview has been prepared by the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet as a part of our contributions to ‘closing the gap’ in health between Indigenous people and other Australians by making relevant, high quality knowledge and information easily accessible to policy makers, health service providers, program managers, clinicians, researchers, students and the general community.

The main purpose of the Overview is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent indicators of the health of Indigenous people.

Research for this Overview involved the collection, collation, and analysis of a wide range of relevant information, including both published and unpublished material. Sources …

Physiological Demands Of Road Sprinting In Professional And U23 Cycling. A Pilot Study, Paolo Menaspa, Marc Quod, David Martin, James Victor, Chris Abbiss

Research outputs 2013

This pilot study described and compared the power output (absolute, relative to body weight and relative to frontal area) recorded during successful road sprints in professional and under 23 men’s cycling races. The study also described the exercise intensity and requirements of sprinters throughout final 10 min of the race. Nine successful (top 3) sprints performed by a professional (PRO: 23 y old, 1.76 m, 71.8 kg) and an under 23 (U23: 18 y old, 1.67 m, 63.2 kg) cyclist sprinter were analysed in this study. No statistical differences were found in absolute peak and average sprint power (PRO: 1370±51 …

Review Of Physical Activity Among Indigenous People, Caitlin A. Gray, Rona Macniven, Neil J. Thomson

Research outputs 2013

Physical activity is important for all Australians, particularly in the prevention, management and treatment of chronic conditions, and for social and emotional wellbeing. Chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular conditions, endocrine conditions (such as diabetes), and certain cancers, account for 70% of the observed difference in the burden of disease between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Modifiable risk factors, particularly behavioural determinants such as physical activity, can help to reduce the extent and impact of these conditions, and assist in the prevention, management and treatment of disease. The levels and impacts of physical inactivity are greater for Indigenous people than they …

Review Of Kidney Disease Among Indigenous People, Sasha A. Stumpers, Neil J. Thomson

Research outputs 2013

Kidney disease is a significant health problem for all Australians, but severe kidney disease is more common among Indigenous people than among non- Indigenous people. In particular, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the overall levels of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are consistently reported as significantly higher than among other Australians. Information on CKD among Indigenous Australians is available from self-reported survey data, as well as from community-based studies and screening programs [10-20] but the main focus in the literature has been on ESKD. The incidence of ESKD is especially high …

Review Of Ear Health And Hearing Among Indigenous Australians, Jane F. Burns, Neil J. Thomson

Research outputs 2013

Indigenous Australians experience some of the highest levels of ear disease and hearing loss in the world, with rates up to ten times more than those for non-Indigenous Australians [4]. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to ear infections. The most common ear disease among Indigenous children is otitis media (OM), which is inflammation/infection of the middle ear typically caused by bacterial and viral pathogens. Indigenous children living in urban, rural and, particularly, remote areas, are more likely than their non-Indigenous counterparts to have OM at younger ages, more often, at a greater level of severity, and with more likelihood …