Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Atrophy Expansion Rates In Stargardt Disease Using Ultra-Widefield Fundus Autofluorescence, Rachael C. Heath-Jeffery, Jennifer A. Thompson, Johnny Lo, Tina M. Lamey, Terri L. Mclaren, Ian L. Mcallister, David A. Mackey, Ian J. Constable, John N. De Roach, Fred K. Chen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose To investigate atrophy expansion rate (ER) using ultra-widefield (UWF) fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in Stargardt disease (STGD1). Design Retrospective, longitudinal study. Participants Patients with biallelic ABCA4 mutations who were evaluated with UWF FAF and Heidelberg 30° × 30° and 55° × 55° FAF imaging. Methods Patients with atrophy secondary to STGD1 were classified into genotype groups: group A, biallelic severe or null-like variants with early-onset disease; group B, 1 intermediate variant in trans with severe or null-like variant; and group C, 1 mild variant in trans with severe or null-like variant or late-onset disease. The boundaries of definitely decreased autofluorescence …

The Effect Of Amplification On Cortical Synchrony In Children With Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, Garrett Cardon, Anu Sharma

Faculty Publications

Objective: The benefit of hearing aids as a clinical intervention strategy for children with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) remains controversial. The goal of this study was to determine whether amplification through hearing aid use increased cortical phase synchrony in children with ANSD. Design: Using inter-trial coherence (ITC) of the EEG signal as a measure of cortical phase-locking, we examined differences in cortical phase synchrony in children with ANSD using both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. Study Sample: Participants in the cross-sectional and longitudinal portions of the study included 58 and 16 children with clinical diagnoses of ANSD, respectively. Results: Results …

Association Between Transcription Factor 7-Like-2 Polymorphisms And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In A Ghanaian Population, Christian Obirikorang, Evans Asamoah Adu, Enoch Odame Anto, Emmanuel Acheampong, Lawrence Quaye, Brodrick Yeboah Amoah, Max Efui Annani-Akollor, Aaron Siaw Kwakye, Foster Fokuoh, Michael Appiah, Eric Nana Yaw Nyarko, Freeman Aidoo, Eric Adua, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Lois Balmer, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been strongly associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TCF7L2 gene. This study investigated the association between rs12255372, rs7903146 in the TCF7L2 gene and T2DM in a Ghanaian population. A case-control study design was used for this study. A total of 106 T2DM patients and 110 control participants were selected. Basic data collected included body mass index, blood pressure and socio-demographics. Fasting blood samples were collected and processed for: serum lipid analysis, plasma glucose estimation and plasma HbA1c estimation. Parts of the whole blood samples were used for DNA extraction using a modified …

Causal Relationship Between Lung Function And Atrial Fibrillation: A Two Sample Univariable And Multivariable, Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study, Qiaoyun Zhang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jie Zhang, Biyan Wang, Xiaoni Meng, Qiuyue Tian, Jinxia Zhang, Mengyang Jiang, Yiqiang Zhang, Deqiang Zheng, Lijuan Wu, Wei Wang, Baoguo Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Observational studies have identified impaired lung function accessed by forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) or the ratio of FEV1 over FVC (FEV1/FVC) as an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the result may be affected by confounders or reverse causality. Methods: We performed univariable MR (uvMR), multivariable MR (mvMR) and bidirectional two-sample MR to jointly estimate the causality of lung function with AF. Apart from the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach as the main MR analysis, three complementary sensitive analyses approaches including MR-Egger regression, weighted median (WM) MR and Pleiotropy Residual …

Prevalence Of Abdominal Obesity In Chinese Middle-Aged And Older Adults With A Normal Body Mass Index And Its Association With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationally Representative Cohort Study From 2011 To 2018, Xuan Chen, Mingrui Duan, Rui Hou, Manqi Zheng, Haibin Li, Manjot Singh, Changwei Li, Kuo Liu, Feng Zhang, Xinghua Yang, Yanxia Luo, Yan He, Lijuan Wu, Deqiang Zheng

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Few studies have focused on the prevalence of abdominal obesity in Chinese middle-aged and older adults with a normal body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, it is still unclear whether abdominal obesity is an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Participants with a normal BMI are usually neglected during assessments of abdominal obesity-associated T2DM risk since the current recommendations for medical interventions are mainly focused on overall body mass index rather than fat deposition patterns. Methods: In this study, 7942 normal-BMI participants aged over 45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were included to …

Psychological Distress And Quality Of Life Following Provision Of Vascular Imaging Results Of The Coronary And Carotid Arteries To Asymptomatic Adults: A Scoping Review Protocol, Reindolf Anokye, Ben Jackson, James Dimmock, Joanne M. Dickson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Non-invasive screening for atherosclerosis or asymptomatic cardiovascular disease of the coronary and carotid arteries is commonly undertaken, and research has been focussed on how results from these screenings lead to behaviour change. However, no review has focused on the effects of these results on psychological distress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This protocol will outline how a scoping review will be conducted to map all available evidence on psychological distress and/or HRQoL outcomes following the provision of vascular imaging results of the coronary and carotid arteries. Methods: Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework subsequently enhanced by Levac et al. …

Nursing And Allied Health Staff Perceptions And Experiences Of A Volunteer Stroke Peer Support Program: A Qualitative Study, Rosemary Saunders, Kien Chan, Renée M. Graham, Elena Adams, Caroline E. Bulsara, Karla Seaman, Marcella Cranny-Connolly

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Stroke brings about physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes and, conse-quently, many stroke survivors feel underprepared for the transition from hospital to home. Nursing and allied health staff have a key role in stroke rehabilitation. Peer support programs have been found effective in supporting stroke survivors, alongside hospital staff caring for stroke patients, by providing experiential knowledge that staff are not able to provide. Aim: This study explored the perceptions and experiences of nursing and allied health staff of a volunteer peer support program for stroke inpatients. Methods: This study utilised a qualitative, evaluative case study design. This study was …

Co-Design Of A Digital Dietary Intervention For Adults At Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Brenda S. J. Tay, Sarah M. Edney, Grant D. Brinkworth, David N. Cox, Bonnie Wiggins, Aaron Davis, Ian Gwilt, Annemien Haveman-Nies, Jillian C. Ryan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background Co-design has the potential to create interventions that lead to sustainable health behaviour change. Evidence suggests application of co-design in various health domains has been growing; however, few public-facing digital interventions have been co-designed to specifically address the needs of adults at risk of Type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aims to: (1) co-design, with key stakeholders, a digital dietary intervention to promote health behaviour change among adults at risk of T2D, and (2) evaluate the co-design process involved in developing the intervention prototype. Methods The co-design study was based on a partnership between nutrition researchers and designers experienced …

Identifying Critical Features Of Type Two Diabetes Prevention Interventions: A Delphi Study With Key Stakeholders, Jillian C. Ryan, Bonnie Wiggins, Sarah Edney, Grant D. Brinkworth, Natalie D. Luscombe-March, Kristin V. Carson-Chahhoud, Pennie J. Taylor, Annemien A. Haveman-Nies, David N. Cox

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Aims This study aims to identify critically important features of digital type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevention interventions. Methods A stakeholder mapping exercise was undertaken to identify key end-user and professional stakeholders, followed by a three-round Delphi procedure to generate and evaluate evidence statements related to the critical elements of digital T2DM prevention interventions in terms of product (intervention), price (funding models/financial cost), place (distribution/delivery channels), and promotion (target audiences). Results End-user (n = 38) and professional (n = 38) stakeholders including patients, dietitians, credentialed diabetes educators, nurses, medical doctors, research scientists, and exercise physiologists participated in the Delphi study. …

Genome-Wide Association Study Of Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients In The United Arab Emirates, Mira Mousa, Hema Vurivi, Hussein Kannout, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Bassam Mahboub, Guan K. Tay, Habiba S. Alsafar

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: The heterogeneity in symptomatology and phenotypic profile attributable to COVID-19 is widely unknown. The objective of this manuscript is to conduct a trans-ancestry genome wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of COVID-19 severity to improve the understanding of potentially causal targets for SARS-CoV-2. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 646 participants in the UAE that were divided into two phenotypic groups based on the severity of COVID-19 phenotypes, hospitalized (n=482) and non-hospitalized (n=164) participants. Hospitalized participants were COVID-19 patients that developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia or progression to respiratory failure that required supplemental oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation support …

Quadruple Convergence – Rising Cannabis Prevalence, Intensity, Concentration And Use Disorder Treatment, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In collating and synthesizing several data sources on cannabis exposure, Manthey and colleagues have elegantly compiled a foundational resource for subsequent epidemiological studies on cannabis use [1]. The study includes an impressive body of evidence on cannabis use prevalence (in the month and year prior to interview), high risk cannabis use (daily or near daily), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC—the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis) concentration in European cannabis herb and processed resin (cannabis concentrates), and treatment demand for Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). All four domains studied show a modest to dramatic increases across 2010-2019.

Life In A Time Of Covid: A Mixed Method Study Of The Changes In Lifestyle, Mental And Psychosocial Health During And After Lockdown In Western Australians, Ranila Bhoyroo, Paola Chivers, Lynne Millar, Caroline Bulsara, Ben Piggott, Michelle Lambert, Jim Codde

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Western Australian government imposed multiple restrictions that impacted daily life activities and the social life. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on the community’s physical, mental and psychosocial health. Methods: Approximately 2 months after a three-month lockdown, a cross-sectional study was opened to Western Australian adults for an 8-week period (25th August – 21 October 2020). Participants competed a 25-min questionnaire adapted from the Western Australia Health and Wellbeing Surveillance system. Participants provided information on their socio-demographic status, lifestyle behaviours, mental health, and psychosocial …

High-Intensity Physical Activity Is Not Associated With Better Cognition In The Elder: Evidence From The China Health And Retirement Longitudinal Study, Zhiyuan Wu, Haiping Zhang, Xinlei Miao, Haibin Li, Huiying Pan, Di Zhou, Yue Liu, Zhiwei Li, Jinqi Wang, Xiangtong Liu, Deqiang Zheng, Xia Li, Wei Wang, Xiuhua Guo, Lixin Tao

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: To evaluate the association of physical activity (PA) intensity with cognitive performance at baseline and during follow-up. Methods: A total of 4039 participants aged 45 years or above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were enrolled in visit 1 (2011–2012) and followed for cognitive function in visit 2 (2013–2014), visit 3 (2015–2016), and visit 4 (2017–2018). We analyzed the association of PA intensity with global cognition, episodic memory, and mental intactness at baseline using adjusted regression methods and evaluated the long-term effect of PA intensity using multiple measures of cognition scores by mixed effect model. Results: In …

Pleural Fluid Investigations For Pleural Infections, Bapti Roy, Hui Juin Shak, Y. C.Gary Lee

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Over 1.5 million patients are admitted to hospital with pneumonia in the United States each year. Up to 50% of them can develop a parapneumonic effusion which is associated with higher mortality. The incidence of pleural infection continues to rise, particularly in the elderly and those with comorbidities. Parapneumonic effusions cover a spectrum of presentations from a free-flowing 'simple parapneumonic effusion' to a septated 'complicated parapneumonic effusion' (CPE) (usually from bacterial pleural invasion) and 'empyema' (presence of pleural pus). Pleural infection is defined as either CPE or empyema, and usually requires evacuation of the infected fluid. Laboratory investigations play an …

Gut Microbiota Interplay With Covid-19 Reveals Links To Host Lipid Metabolism Among Middle Eastern Populations, Mohammad Tahseen Al Bataineh, Andreas Henschel, Mira Mousa, Marianne Daou, Fathimathuz Waasia, Hussein Kannout, Mariam Khalili, Mohd Azzam Kayasseh, Abdulmajeed Alkhajeh, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan K. Tay, Samuel F. Feng, Ahmed F. Yousef, Habiba S. Alsafar, Uae Covid-19 Collaborative Partnership

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The interplay between the compositional changes in the gastrointestinal microbiome, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) susceptibility and severity, and host functions is complex and yet to be fully understood. This study performed 16S rRNA gene-based microbial profiling of 143 subjects. We observed structural and compositional alterations in the gut microbiota of the SARS-CoV-2-infected group in comparison to non-infected controls. The gut microbiota composition of the SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals showed an increase in anti-inflammatory bacteria such as Faecalibacterium (p-value = 1.72 × 10–6) and Bacteroides (p-value = 5.67 × 10–8). We also revealed a higher relative abundance of the highly …

Acceptability And Preliminary Efficacy Of A Web-And Telephone-Based Personalised Exercise Intervention For Individuals With Metastatic Prostate Cancer: The Exerciseguide Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial, Holly E. L. Evans, Daniel A. Galvão, Cynthia C. Forbes, Danielle Girard, Corneel Vandelanotte, Robert U. Newton, Andrew D. Vincent, Gary Wittert, Ganessan Kichenadasse, Suzanne Chambers, Nicholas Brook, Camille E. Short

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Preliminary research has shown the effectiveness of supervised exercise-based interventions in alleviating sequela resulting from metastatic prostate cancer. However, many individuals encounter barriers that limit the uptake of face-to-face exercise. Technology-enabled interventions offer a distance-based alternative. This pilot study aimed to explore the acceptability, safety and preliminary efficacy of a web-based exercise intervention (ExerciseGuide) in individuals with metastatic prostate cancer. Forty participants (70.2 ± 8.5 years) with metastatic prostate cancer were randomised into the 8-week intervention (N = 20) or a wait-list control (N = 20). The intervention arm had access to a computer-tailored website, personalised exercise prescription and remote …

Digital Interventions To Improve Health Literacy Among Parents Of Children Aged 0 To 12 Years With A Health Condition: Systematic Review, Evalotte Mörelius, Suzanne Robinson, Diana Arabiat, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Parental health literacy is associated with child health outcomes. Parents are increasingly turning to the internet to obtain health information. In response, health care providers are using digital interventions to communicate information to assist parents in managing their child’s health conditions. Despite the emergence of interventions to improve parental health literacy, to date, no systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of the interventions has been undertaken.

Objective:

The aim of this review is to examine the effect of digital health interventions on health literacy among parents of children aged 0-12 years with a health condition. This includes evaluating parents’ engagement …

Isolated Joint Block Progression Training Improves Leaping Performance In Dancers, Paige E. Rice, Kiisa Nishikawa, Sophia Nimphius

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week ankle-specific block progression training program on saut de chat leaping performance [leap height, peak power (PP), joint kinetics and kinematics], maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexion (MVIP) strength, and Achilles tendon (AT) stiffness. Dancers (training group n = 7, control group n = 7) performed MVIP at plantarflexed (10◦) and neutral ankle positions (0◦) followed by ramping isometric contractions equipped with ultrasound to assess strength and AT stiffness, respectively. Dancers also performed saut de chat leaps surrounded by 3-D motion capture atop force platforms to determine center of …

Understanding The Barriers To Ghanaian Midwives’ Ability To Provide Quality Care: Using Classic Grounded Theory Methodology In A New Context, Yakubu Ismaila, Sara Bayes, Sadie Geraghty

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Interpretive-naturalist methodologies, including Grounded Theory are increasingly being used in health research in Ghana however, none of the studies that have used Grounded Theory in the setting has used the methodology in full.

Aim:

The main aim of this article is to describe the experiences, the strengths and limitations of using Glaserian Grounded Theory methodology to understand the barriers to Ghanaian midwives’ ability to provide quality maternal and neonatal care.

Design:

Glaserian Grounded Theory methodological principles were adhered to in this study in relation to the use of literature, participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, and theory development. Data …

A Species-Wide Genetic Atlas Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Clostridioides Difficile, Korakrit Imwattana, César Rodríguez, Thomas V. Riley, Daniel R. Knight

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and spread of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), the leading healthcare-related gastrointestinal infection in the world. An association between AMR and CDI outbreaks is well documented, however, data is limited to a few ‘epidemic’ strains in specific geographical regions. Here, through detailed analysis of 10330 publicly-available C. difficile genomes from strains isolated worldwide (spanning 270 multilocus sequence types (STs) across all known evolu-tionary clades), this study provides the first species-wide snapshot of AMR genomic epidemiology in C. difficile. Of the 10330 C. difficile genomes, 4532 (43.9%) in 89 STs across clades …

Deep Learning For 3d Ear Detection: A Complete Pipeline From Data Generation To Segmentation, Md Mursalin, Syed Mohammed Shamsul Islam

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The human ear has distinguishing features that can be used for identification. Automated ear detection from 3D profile face images plays a vital role in ear-based human recognition. This work proposes a complete pipeline including synthetic data generation and ground-truth data labeling for ear detection in 3D point clouds. The ear detection problem is formulated as a semantic part segmentation problem that detects the ear directly in 3D point clouds of profile face data. We introduce EarNet, a modified version of the PointNet++ architecture, and apply rotation augmentation to handle different pose variations in the real data. We demonstrate that …

Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation Modulates Neural Processing Of Sensory And Motor Circuits – From Potential Cellular Mechanisms To Behaviour: A Scoping Review, Weronika Potok, Onno Van Der Groen, Marc Bächinger, Dylan Edwards, Nicole Wenderoth

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Noise introduced in the human nervous system from cellular to systems levels can have a major impact on signal processing. Using transcranial stimulation, electrical noise can be added to cortical circuits to modulate neuronal activity and enhance function in the healthy brain and in neurological patients. Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is a promising technique that is less well understood than other non-invasive neuromodulatory methods. The aim of the present scoping review is to collate published evidence on the effects of electrical noise at the cellular, systems, and behavioural levels, and discuss how this emerging method might be harnessed to …

Breeching The System: An Exploration Of Women’S Experiences And Breech Care Recommendations, Sara Morris

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Aim:

This presentation reports the findings of a mixed methods study exploring women’s experiences of breech birth in Western Australia (WA) and professional recommendations for breech care.

Methods:

This pragmatic study consisted of a clinical guideline review, semi-structured interviews with women who had experienced a breech birth in WA and a multi-national e-Delphi study involving professionals with knowledge and/or experience of caring for women with a breech presenting fetus. These methods were deemed the optimal way of incorporating current clinical practice guidelines, with multi-disciplinary recommendations and consumer feedback.

Findings:

The clinical guideline review revealed similarities in antenatal care structure and …

Exercise Effects On Muscle Quality In Older Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Régis Radaelli, Dennis Taaffe, Robert Newton, Daniel A. Galvao, Pedro Lopez

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

To systematically review and analyse the effects of exercise on morphological and neuromuscular muscle quality (MQ) outcomes in older adults and assess a range of possible moderators that may affect the impact of exercise on MQ outcomes. Using PRISMA guidelines, randomised controlled trials were searched in CINAHL, EMBASE, LILACS, PubMed, SciELO, Web of Science, MedNar, OpenGrey and OpenThesis databases. Eligible trials examined the effects of exercise interventions on morphological and neuromuscular MQ in older adults ( ≥ 60 years). Twenty-one trials (n = 973 participants) were included. Exercise significantly improved morphological MQ (effect size (ES) = 0.32, 95% CI 0.13–0.51, …

Glucosinolates From Cruciferous Vegetables And Their Potential Role In Chronic Disease: Investigating The Preclinical And Clinical Evidence, Emma Connolly, Marc Sim, Nikolaj Travica, Wolfgang Marx, Gemma Beasy, Gordon S. Lynch, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

An increasing body of evidence highlights the strong potential for a diet rich in fruit and vegetables to delay, and often prevent, the onset of chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic, neurological, and musculoskeletal conditions, and certain cancers. A possible protective component, glucosinolates, which are phytochemicals found almost exclusively in cruciferous vegetables, have been identified from preclinical and clinical studies. Current research suggests that glucosinolates (and isothiocyanates) act via several mechanisms, ultimately exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chemo-protective effects. This review summarizes the current knowledge surrounding cruciferous vegetables and their glucosinolates in relation to the specified health conditions. Although there is evidence that …

The Knowledge, Attitudes And Beliefs Of Midwives On The Vaccination Coverage Rates In Perth’S Aboriginal Children, Rebecca Carman, Lesley Andrew, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Midwives are well placed to promote vaccination awareness throughout a women’s pregnancy and strengthen childhood vaccination demand following hospital discharge. In Perth, Western Australia, Aboriginal children experience some of the lowest vaccination coverage rates across the nation. To identify factors preventing greater vaccination uptake amongst the target population, a theory-based study was conducted with midwives across two Perth maternity hospitals to explore behavioural attributes, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs surrounding vaccination provision and the vaccines administered to Aboriginal children.

Methods:

A purpose-designed questionnaire was distributed to midwives working in two Perth public maternity hospitals. The proximal constructs of The Theory …

Exercise Attenuates Bone Mineral Density Loss During Diet-Induced Weight Loss In Adults With Overweight And Obesity: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jakub Mesinovic, Paul Jansons, Ayse Zengin, Barbora De Courten, Alexander J. Rodriguez, Robin M. Daly, Peter R. Ebeling, David Scott

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Weight-loss-induced fat loss improves cardiometabolic health in individuals with overweight and obesity; however, weight loss can also result in bone loss and increased fracture risk. Weight-loss-induced bone loss may be attenuated with exercise. Our aim was to compare changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in adults with overweight and obesity who undertook diet-induced weight loss alone or in combination with exercise. Methods: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in adults with overweight or obesity (aged ≥ 18 years; body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) that prescribed diet-induced weight loss alone or in combination with supervised exercise, and measured any …

Estimating The Magnitude And Risk Associated With Heat Exposure Among Ghanaian Mining Workers, Victor Fannam Nunfam, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Eddie Van Etten, Kwasi Frimpong, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Many occupational settings located outdoors in direct sun, such as open cut mining, pose a health, safety, and productivity risk to workers because of their increased exposure to heat. This issue is exacerbated by climate change effects, the physical nature of the work, the requirement to work extended shifts and the need to wear protective clothing which restricts evaporative cooling. Though Ghana has a rapidly expanding mining sector with a large workforce, there appears to be no study that has assessed the magnitude and risk of heat exposure on mining workers and its potential impact on this workforce. Questionnaires and …

The Effects Of A Mirror On Cognitive Strategy And Performance Of A Muscular Endurance Task, Brianna M. Simmons

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Context: Mirrors are common-place in exercise facilities, however, the effect the mirror has on cognitive strategy (i.e., where the mind’s at) and performance time has not been examined in a muscular endurance task (i.e., a wall sit). Objective: To determine, (1) the mirror’s effect on cognitive state during a wall sit to volitional exhaustion, (2) the mirror's effect on time to volitional exhaustion during a wall sit, and (3) the mirror’s effect on the participant’s rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during the wall sit. Design: Repeated measures design. Setting: Indoor exercise facility. Participants: Twenty resistance-trained Georgia Southern University Students (9 …

Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Health: Ncaa Division I Coaches' Experiences, Perceived Role, And Barriers, Kelsey Kinnamon

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The opportunity for coaches to play an important role in supporting student-athlete mental health has been increasingly identified (Biggin et al., 2017; Gulliver et al., 2013; Henrikson et al., 2020). Findings suggest that coaches have the potential to help identify athletes who may benefit from mental health services, as well as foster an environment supportive of mental health and help-seeking (Bapat et al., 2009; Bissett et al., 2020). Recommendations have been set forth regarding how coaches may best engage in their role of supporting mental health, however, the literature lacks evidence of what collegiate coaches are actually doing to support …