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Factors contributing to COPD hospitalisations from 2010 to 2015 : Variation among rural and metropolitan Australians

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Nguyen, Hoang , Kim, Jeong-Ah , Islam, Rafiqul
  • Date: 2019
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Clinical Respiratory Journal Vol. 13, no. 5 (2019), p. 306-313
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  • Description: Introduction: Rural and remote populations experience the greatest burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the fifth leading cause of death in Australia. Currently there is a need to prioritise health services to improve health outcomes among those at higher risk of COPD. Objectives: To investigate the differences in COPD hospitalisation between rural and urban populations and determine predictive factors contributing to COPD hospitalisation. Methods: Statewide hospitalisation data from 2010 to 2015 were obtained through the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset and other key data sets. The rates of hospitalisation were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression to examine the association between COPD hospitalisations and a number of predictor variables. Results: The highest COPD incidence occurred in metropolitan males aged 85 years of age and older (35.092 hospitalisations per 1000 population). Among metropolitan residents, smoking, population density and household income had a significant association with COPD hospitalisations for both sexes. Among rural males, smoking rates, household income and rural land use (farming) were significant predictors of COPD hospitalisations. There was an overall stability in statewide COPD hospitalisation over the 5 years to 2015, P = 0.420. Conclusion: This investigation highlights many rural and regional areas have much lower COPD hospitalisation rates than metropolitan areas. Between males and females, there are heterogenetic factors that contribute to the significant variation associated with COPD hospitalisation in metropolitan and rural areas, such as rural land use among rural males. This indicates that risk factor assessments, beyond smoking alone, need to be individualised and prioritised in practice to optimise care.

Lived experiences and insights into the advantages important to rural recruitment and retention of general practitioners

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Nguyen, Hoang , Schmitz, David , Baker, Ed
  • Date: 2018
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Rural and remote health Vol. 18, no. 3 (2018), p. 1-16
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  • Description: INTRODUCTION: Despite existing studies in this field, community factors behind recruiting and retaining rural general practitioners (GPs) are not fully understood. To address this issue, the Community Apgar Questionnaire (CAQ) was developed to extend the understanding of communities' assets and capabilities that impact GP recruitment and retention. However, more in-depth insights are vital to develop a comprehensive approach. METHODS: This mixed methods study was administered using face-to-face structured interviews with a total of 40 health service representatives. All interviews lasted 35-40 minutes and were audio-taped. Qualitative data were generated from the extended responses to the structured questions of the CAQ and later transcribed. Thematic analysis was conducted in relation to explanations, elaborations, and relevant strategic approaches to improving workforce retention. RESULTS: The qualitative findings illuminated the most important advantages of recruiting and retaining GPs were linked to medical support, hospital and community support, and economic factors, while the challenges were related to geographic factors. The underlying reasons for and nature of those advantages and challenges reinforce that health professionals' decisions to stay or leave are complex and multifactorial. CONCLUSION: The originality of the study rests on the administration of the CAQ accompanied by the opportunity for participants to provide extended responses, which gives critical insights into the complexities of rural recruitment and retention. As such, the results confirm the need for a flexible multifaceted response to improving rural GP workforce and informs decision-making in terms of addressing workforce issues within the scope of available resources and capacity.

Do not “let them eat cake” : Correlation of food-consumption patterns among rural primary school children from welfare and non-welfare households

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Ervin, Kaye , Soutter, Erin , Spiller, Renata , Nogare, Nicole , Hamilton, Andrew
  • Date: 2017
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 14, no. 1 (2017), p. 1-10
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  • Description: Physical and financial access impacts food choice and consumption, while educational attainment, employment, income, gender, and socioeconomic status are also influential. Within this context, the aim of the paper is to examine the association between various foods consumed and eating patterns of children between low and higher income households. A paper-based survey was completed by parents/carers of children in 41 primary schools in rural and regional areas of Victoria. Data collected included demographics and the consumption of fruit, vegetable, and other foods including drinks. Ordinal data were analysed using Spearman’s rank-order correlation. The main findings were that children who consumed more fruit and vegetables tended to have a higher intake of healthy drinks (plain milk and water) as well as a lower intake of unhealthy snacks and drinks (sugar sweetened drinks). Those who perceived that fruit and vegetables cost too much reported greater consumption of unhealthy snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages, which was more prominent in low-income households. Changing food consumption behaviours requires a complex systems-based approach that addresses more than just individual issues variables. A participatory approach that works with local communities and seeks to build an understanding of unique challenges within sub-groups has potential for embedding long-lasting and meaningful change in eating behaviours. © 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Communication training and its effects on carer and care-receiver outcomes in dementia settings : A systematic review

  • Authors: Nguyen, Hoang , Terry, Daniel , Phan, Hoang , Vickers, James , McInerney, Fran
  • Date: 2019
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: Journal of Clinical Nursing Vol. 28, no. 7-8 (2019), p. 1050-1069
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  • Description: Aims and objectives To review communication interventions that aim to improve regular care interactions between people with dementia and their carers in various settings; and to examine the impact of such interventions on both carer and care-receiver outcomes. Background Effective communication is imperative to ensure quality of care for people living with dementia. Due to neurodegenerative changes, people with dementia encounter ongoing and progressive difficulties in both understanding and expressing themselves. This in turn creates challenges for carers, which highlights the need for equipping them with necessary communication skills to respond to the specific communication needs of people with dementia. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Method Medline, Embase, CINAHL, ProQuest and PsycINFO databases were searched for eligible interventions with any date of the publication. Hand searching was also conducted through reviewing the reference lists of relevant articles. The screening and selection of studies were based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria for eligibility and the methodological quality assessment checklist. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted on comparable quantitative data. The review is reported following the PRISMA reporting guidelines. Results Seventeen studies were included in the final review, including 12 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), three nonrandomised controlled trials (NRCTs) and two controlled before-after interventions. The intervention designs, settings and outcome measures were varied. The findings suggest that the communication training had a positive impact on both carer and care-receiver outcomes, albeit to different degrees. The intervention effects were found to be strongest on carer communication skills and knowledge. Conclusion There is solid evidence for the positive impact of communication training on the skills and knowledge of carers. More research is needed regarding the effects of such educational interventions on carer physio-psychological outcomes and care-receiver neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is important to establish best practices in training design, develop validated outcome measures and adopt consistent reporting approaches. Relevance to clinical practice The increasing global prevalence of people with dementia manifests across clinical and community contexts. The profound impact of dementia on communication and associated care raises the imperative for enhanced health worker and carer communication skills to meet the needs of this particular client group. The findings of this review indicate that educational interventions incorporating face-to-face and diverse instructional delivery methods in dementia communication showed positive outcomes for communication skills in all carer groups and warrant inclusion as strategies in dementia training.

Competing food consumption discourses and proper gendered behaviour among over 50s: are you really what you eat?

  • Authors: Malatzky, Christina , Terry, Daniel , Bourke, Lisa , Glenister, Kristen , Ervin, Kaye
  • Date: 2018
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Research for Consumers Vol. , no. 32 (2018), p. 1-31
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  • Description: The national narratives about proper food consumption and its relationship to health and wellbeing has been articulated in many Australian public health campaigns. These shape awareness, knowledge and behaviours as well as reporting on food consumption. This paper reports on the findings of a large-scale community health survey, conducted in four Victorian regional areas, related to the self-reported eating practices of respondents aged 50 years and over. It was found that women were more likely to report trying to eat a diet consistent with public health messages than men. Overall, however there was strong agreement amongst respondents that they tried to eat a healthy diet. These findings are contextualised within broader societal discourses, including the Australian national narrative about food consumption, proper gendered behaviour, good, moral, responsible citizenship, and the competing social meanings attached to food and food consumption. It is argued that understanding the social circumstances in which people report their dietary behaviours is essential to understanding why behavioural change is such a complex goal for public health and health promotion.

The perceptions of community change through promoting positive sexual health : a teenage pregnancy program evaluation

  • Authors: Lê, Quynh , Auckland, Stuart , Nguyen, Hoang , Terry, Daniel
  • Date: 2015
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 3, no. 2 (2015), p. 55-64
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  • Description: Teenage pregnancy is associated with adverse social, economic and health outcomes for both mother and child. The factors frequently associated with teenage pregnancy or related sexual health issues include teenagers' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about sex and other social-economic factors such as levels of poverty, academic success or failure, and parents' education. This paper reports on the evaluation of a teenage pregnancy program conducted in the Southern and North Western regions of Tasmania to address the high levels of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STIs) in these regions. The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the Teenage Pregnancy Programs by examining any evidence for a community change in attitudes and behaviours, and any changes in youth awareness about sexual health. The study adopted a qualitative approach and data were collected from a total of 25 participants (17 who were interviewed and eight who participated in focus groups) residing in the target regions. Data were analysed using thematic analysis using Nvivo 9.0. The study results indicated that the program was well managed and delivered. There were reported changes in the awareness, attitudes and behaviours regarding sexual health within the target communities, which were considered necessary for young people to make well informed choices. The evaluation of the program provides valuable knowledge regarding the processes and outcomes that may have application in future community based sexual health initiatives may be delivered into regional communities.

The valorisation of African languages and policies in the African education systems : a case of Uganda

  • Authors: Muzoora, Michael , Terry, Daniel , Asiimwe, Agatha
  • Date: 2014
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Universal Journal of Educational Research Vol. 2, no. 1 (2014), p. 42-50
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  • Description: This paper highlights the challenges of current language policies in education in Africa, with reference to Uganda. Also examined are the likely challenges to language policy in education, while indicating how these challenges can be curtailed or overcome. The authors suggest a different view is required when approaching this topic with a paradigm shift from modernist theories imbued with colonial and neo-colonial approaches experienced by African countries over decades. The use of a more post-modernist critical theory is required to envisage democracy, linguistic justice, linguistic human rights, linguistic citizenship, diversity and sustainability for quality education and development. The execution of outdated language policies in education that are often misguided and do not reflect reality continually cost individual learners and their societies. This is evidenced by the trend of education output and research by scholars worldwide on literacy and educational achievement in Africa. Many African governments are tending towards local/arterial languages in educational policy and are supportive of inclusion of African languages in education however the trend in literacy and educational attainment is stagnant with outcomes becoming worse. By advocating for a much wider collective approach, research based on these very communities by African researchers working with and in the communities can aid an improved outcome in the African settings. The approach advocates language policies in education to shift from borrowing colonial policies to pragmatic policies which are emancipatory and liberative with learner centred approaches to teaching and learning.

Migrants' perceptions of health promotion messages in rural Tasmania: Negotiating and communicating health risk

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Lê, Quynh , Hoang, Ha
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Health, Risk and Society Vol. 14, no. 7-8 (2012), p. 639-653
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  • Description: Asian migrants living in rural Tasmania experience a social and cultural environment dissimilar to larger Australian cities. This study investigated Asian migrants' lived experiences, their intercultural views with a focus on health risk behaviours within the challenge of a new rural environment. Certain health risks were identified and possible social and cultural connections. This exploratory study used a qualitative approach focussing on the personal experience of the Asian migrants living in rural Tasmania, Australia. Interviews were conducted from October to December 2011 with 36 Asian migrants residing in rural Tasmania, recruited through purposive sampling. Sub-populations such as Asian migrants residing in less dense culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including Tasmania, continue to maintain health and health risk beliefs from their culture. Migrant sub-population selectively adapted to their new environment, with longer term migrants acquiring western health conditions. The research provided insights about Asian migrant's views regarding non-communicable health issues in less dense culturally and linguistically diverse communities. In addition to adding to existing knowledge, the study provided some specific insights for better understanding of the relationship between health, risk and society and hopefully for improving primary health care access and delivery of care in rural and other small communities where sparse and less cohesive culturally and linguistically diverse communities exist. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Correct or global english : an instrument of social control or the great equaliser

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Lê, Thao
  • Date: 2015
  • Type: Text , Book chapter
  • Relation: Linguistics and Language Education in New Horizons: The Link between Theory, Research and Pedagogy p. 3-15
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  • Description: The English language has developed to become one of the more commonly languages globally. It is used for commerce, science and within the media; however, not all =Englishes' are equal. This chapter provides a brief overview of the development of English; its use as an international language, and to highlight the issues borne through =correct' English which leads to linguistic prejudice, superiority and judgment. Using a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) perspective, the chapter will focus on the discourse of English as social practice while examining the social injustices as they manifest among those who use the English language. Through this process, using CDA, the chapter seeks is to uncover the power relationship and social inequities among groups that use the English language. The example of non-native English authors is used to demonstrate that a more inclusive rather than divisive and exclusive English is advocated to be recognised. In so doing the dominance and hegemony of native users of standard English needs to be moderated. © 2015 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Community assets and capabilities to recruit and retain GPs : the community apgar questionnaire in rural Victoria

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Baker, Ed , Schmitz, David
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Rural and Remote Health Vol. 16, no. 4 (2016), p.
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  • Description: Introduction: Rural communities continue to experience significant challenges recruiting and retaining physicians. The Community Apgar Questionnaire (CAQ) was developed in Idaho in the USA to comprehensively assess the characteristics associated with successful recruitment and retention of rural physicians. The CAQ has been utilised and validated across the USA; however, its value in rural Australia has not been examined. The objective of this study was to use the CAQ in rural Australia to examine its utility and develop a greater understanding of the community factors that impact general practitioner (GP) recruitment and retention. Method: The project conducted structured face-to-face interviews with hospital chief executive officers (CEOs) and directors of clinical services (DCSs) from 14 of the 21 (76%) health services that agreed to participate in rural north-eastern Victoria, Australia. The interviews were undertaken to complete the CAQ, which contains 50 questions centred on factors that influence physician recruitment and retention. Once completed, CAQs were scored by assigning quantitative values to a community's strengths and challenges including the level of importance placed on each factor. As such, the most important factors in physician recruitment, whether they are advantages or challenges for that community, were then weighed for their relative importance. Scores were then combined to create a CAQ score. To ensure reliability and validity of the results, three additional CAQs were purposefully administered to key general practices within the region. Results: The 14 rural communities exhibited cumulative CAQ scores ranging from a high of 387 to a low score of 61. This suggests the tool was sensitive enough to differentiate between communities that were high and low performers in terms of physician recruitment. The groups of factors that had the greatest impact on recruitment and retention were ranked highest to lowest and included medical support, hospital/community support, economic, scope of practice and geographic factors. Overall, the highest individual factors to impact recruitment and retention were perception of quality, hospital leadership, nursing workforce and transfer arrangements. Conversely, the lowest factors and challenges to recruitment and retention were family related, specifically spousal satisfaction and access to schools. Conclusions: Hume, in rural Victoria, was the first international site to implement the CAQ to differentially diagnose a community's relative strengths and challenges in recruiting and retaining GPs, while supporting health facilities to prioritise achievable goals to improve long-term retention strategies. It provided each community with a tailored gap analysis, while confidentially sharing best practices of other health facilities. Within Hume, open communication and trust between GPs and health facility leadership and nursing staff ensures that GPs can feel valued and supported. Possible solutions for GP recruitment and retention must consider the social, employment and educational opportunities that are available for spouses and children. Participation in the program was useful as it helped health facilities ascertain how they were performing while highlighting areas for improvement. © James Cook University 2016.

Internet-mediated ethnography : issues and challenges in social science research discourse

  • Authors: Jang, Sun-hee , Terry, Daniel , Lê, Thao
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Book chapter
  • Relation: Conducting Research in a Changing and Challenging World p. 173-184
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  • Description: Turing their attention to the trend of social and cultural changes heavily influencedby the constant development of new technologies, researchers have endeavored to pavenew ways in conducting ethnographic studies to cultivate social meanings embedded inInternet-mediated environments. With the expansion of different ethnographic practicesin online settings, methodological operations documented in the literature are showingchanges in the way researchers shape and perform ethnography. When considering thenotion of ethnography, which cannot radically change, the traditional ethnographic viewtowards online ethnographic research is at odds with these researchers. Their attempts areseen as the inappropriateness of ethnographic studies, rather than facilitating innovativeapproaches to the ethnographic field.This chapter discusses three key arguments from the plethora of debate whichsurrounds Internet-mediated ethnographic studies. These key arguments include: how canthe research field be defined when borderless; is it ethnography when the observation ofindividuals and communities is not conducted in person; and how can text-basedconversation be merely trusted to be rich and meaningful enough to demonstrate a newsocial formation? Emphasising these issues contributes to the current discussion about developing newdirections of ethnography to unfold further social aspects of online culture. From anepistemological perspective, this chapter argues that the significance of ethnographicstudies is not simply defined by what ethnographical research is, but also by how itshould respectively be conducted. Therefore, there is a need for further attention tocontinually develop approaches which enable online ethnographic researchers to act in anexplicit and systematic manner to explore, with ease, the online domain and its culture. © 2010 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Transition to an unfamiliar environment : international students' living experiences in an Australian regional area

  • Authors: Yue, Yun , Le, Quynh , Terry, Daniel
  • Date: 2014
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of the Australia and New Zealand Student Services Association [JANZSSA] Vol. , no. 43 (2014), p. 10-20
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  • Description: Transition to an unfamiliar environment is a complex process. Many previous studies have paid more attention to international students' sociocultural adaptation than their basic living conditions and healthy behaviours. In fact, these factors are also closely associated with international students' physical and psychological wellbeing. This study, in the context of a university in a regional area in Australia, examined international students' satisfaction with their basic living conditions, as well as assessed their healthy behaviours to give important insights into international students' basic living experience in Australia. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative data in this study. Twenty international students were invited to give their insights and perceptions of their life in regional Australia. The study found that accommodation, transport, financial and food and diet are the four main considerations related to international students' basic living satisfaction....

Factors influencing community nursing roles and health service provision in rural areas : a review of literature

  • Authors: Barrett, Annette , Terry, Daniel , Lê, Quynh , Hoang, Ha
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Contemporary Nurse Vol. 52, no. 1 (2016), p. 119-135
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  • Description: Aims: This review sought to better understand the issues and challenges experienced by community nurses working in rural areas and how these factors shape their role. Methods: Databases were searched to identify relevant studies, published between 1990 and 2015, that focussed on issues and challenges experienced by rural community nurses. Generic and grey literature relating to the subject was also searched. The search was systematically conducted multiple times to assure accuracy. Results: A total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria. This critical review identified common issues impacting community nursing and included role definition, organisational change, human resource, workplace and geographic challenges. Conclusion: Community nurses are flexible, autonomous, able to adapt care to the service delivery setting, and have a diversity of knowledge and skills. Considerably more research is essential to identify factors that impact rural community nursing practice. In addition, greater advocacy is required to develop the role. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Asian migrants' lived experience and acculturation to western health care in rural Tasmania

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Ali, Mohammed , Lê, Quynh
  • Date: 2011
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australian Journal of Rural Health Vol. 19, no. 6 (2011), p. 318-323
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  • Description: Objectives: The study was designed to explore the lived experience of Asian migrants' health care-seeking behaviour in Tasmania, to discern the acculturation process by which Asian migrants are enabled to use the health system and to identify strategies, which assist migrants to understand and use the health system better. Methods: Qualitative research was adopted. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 36 Asian migrants residing in North, South and North West Tasmania, which were recruited through purposive sampling. Results: Six main themes emerged from the interviews: the acculturation process, interactions with the health care system, access issues, culturally appropriate health care, positive health care in Tasmania and suggestions for improving health care. Conclusions: The findings indicated that Asian migrants' views affected their health care-seeking behaviours because of the lack of information, poor communication, limited access and choices in Tasmania. Interestingly, those married to local Tasmanians had the shortest trajectory to health system acculturation. The study recommended developing health and well-being for Asian migrants by increasing access to information regarding navigating the health system and improving access to and awareness of language services. In addition, ensuring adequate, appropriately written, culturally specific and congruent information should be available to assist migrants' transition into a new health care system. Lastly, greater cultural awareness within the health profession to meet the needs of culturally specific individuals and communities is required when they seek care. © 2011 The Authors. Australian Journal of Rural Health © National Rural Health Alliance Inc.

The challenges of conducting literature reviews in research : attempting to stand on the shoulders of giants

  • Authors: Terry, Melissa , Terry, Daniel
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Book chapter
  • Relation: Conducting Research in a Changing and Challenging World 4 p. 33-44
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  • Description: Post-graduate research has been paralleled to many familiar, but daunting activities including climbing a mountain, negotiating a maze or even eating an elephant or a whale. The common elements between these metaphors and research, is the difficulty of the task and the reward at its conclusion. This chapter introduces the challenges of conducting a literature review by addressing first, what a literature review actually is and its purpose. Further, the elements of preparation, organisation, persistence, patience, enthusiasm and communication are highlighted as essential elements to its success. In this chapter the common challenges of conducting a successful literature review are also reviewed. These include finding what is important; what is available and where; what the information means; how to keep track of it; and its reliability once gathered. In addition, tips are shared to make the review process more user friendly. As the chapter heading declares, by understanding the literature review and its process, we can truly stand on the shoulders of giants and subsequently enter the realm of published scholars.

The urban-rural divide : hypertensive disease hospitalisations in Victoria 2010–2015

  • Authors: Robins, Shalley , Gardiner, Samantha , Terry, Daniel
  • Date: 2017
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australasian Medical Journal Vol. 10, no. 11 (2017), p. 953-963
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  • Description: Background Hypertension is present in 23–32 per cent of Australians, making it one of the most prevalent diseases in the country. It is the greatest risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Australia and it affects rural populations at a higher rate than urban residents. Aims The aims of this study were to investigate the differences in hypertensive disease hospitalisations across rural and urban Victoria, and to determine predicting variables. Methods Hospital admission data from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2015 were obtained through the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset and other organisations. Data included various patient demographics for each hospital admission entry. The rates of hospitalisation for each Local Government Area were analysed. Further regression analysis was undertaken to examine the association between hypertensive disease hospitalisation and various predictor variables. Results From 2010–2015 11,205 hypertensive disease hospital admissions were recorded of which 64.8 per cent were female, 74.7 per cent admissions were at urban hospitals, and 65.0 per cent were public patients. Hospitalisation rates were consistently higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and rural residents on average stayed in hospital for longer. Significant predictor variables for hypertensive disease hospitalisation included various indicators of socioeconomic disadvantage, GPs per 1,000 population and GP attendance per 1,000 population. Conclusion Hypertensive disease hospitalisation in Victoria continues to rise and rates of hospitalisation of rural Victorians continue to be higher than their urban counterparts. Females were hospitalised almost twice as often as males. Further research is required to identify the specific factors that impede access to health services, particularly in the identified high-risk populations. © 2017, Australasian Medical Journal Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

Access to health care services in an Australian rural area – a qualitative case study

  • Authors: Le, Quynh , Nguyen, Hoang , Auckland, Stuart , Hoang, Ha , Terry, Daniel
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Annotative Interdisciplinary Research Vol. 1, no. 3 (2012), p. 29-36
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  • Description: The study is aimed at investigating access to primary health care by examining various access parameters such as availability, accessibility, and affordability in Meander Valley, Northern Tasmania, Australia. Qualitative research design and data analysis were adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 people that were recruited through convenience sampling. The findings indicated that participants generally expressed relative satisfaction with local health care service provision, although a number of participants cited satisfaction with some services and dissatisfaction with others. The main issues of concern were the absence of specialised, dental and after-hours care, high cost of services, and issues of access to transport. The resourcefulness of people with chronic health issues and their carers emerged as important, as was the relationship between lifestyle choices, alternative and mainstream health care options. This study revealed major barriers to health care access by residents in rural Australia, which calls for urgent corrective measures. Further research should be directed to the exploration of the experience and expertise of carers and health professionals so as to obtain a more complete picture of access to health care services in rural settings. In addition, the study recommends a thorough investigation of the alternative health care options.

Rural community nurses : insights into health workforce and health service needs in Tasmania

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Lê, Quynh , Hoang, Ha , Barrett, Annette
  • Date: 2015
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: The International Journal of Health, Wellness, and Society Vol. 5, no. 3 (2015), p. 109-120
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  • Description: Abstract: Community nurses often work in isolation, particularly in rural areas where many other non-government adjunct health services are absent. At times, they feel overwhelmed, stressed and undervalued while undertaking diverse responsibilities. The study aimed to examine the benefits and challenges community nurses experience when working in rural and remote areas of Tasmania, Australia while determining the specialty skills and practices to meet rural health needs. An explorative research design using a phenomenological approach was adopted. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a convenient sample of 15 community nurses from the North and North-west areas of Tasmania. This yielded insight into the rural workforce challenges, gaps in services and the community nurses' lived experience of providing adequate health services to these communities. The results indicated significant variations in the structure and type of community nursing services and a number of key challenges were identified within the profession. Despite these challenges community nurses interviewed indicated high levels of job satisfaction and long term employment. Given the diversity in both community nursing roles and factors impacting on the role further research is required to examine the exact roles and levels of integration between specialist and generalist community nursing roles while exploring and more clearly defining the role of the contemporary community nurse in Australia. Consideration should also be given to embracing community nursing diversity which is an important aspect of best practice for future community nursing.

Singing the blues : a literature review of the effects of music on postnatal depression

  • Authors: Terry, Melissa , Terry, Daniel
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Innovative Interdisciplinary Research Vol. , no. 3 (2012), p.
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  • Description: Postnatal depression, also known as postpartum depression, is not a new condition, but has been well documented for decades, as have the treatments. The most common treatments for postnatal depression include pharmacological, psychological, psychosocial, relaxation and other holistic methods and may be used individually or in various combinations. Recently, the western world has come to acknowledge and use more traditional or complementary and alternative styles of therapy. These specifically include massage, meditation and yoga, and music therapy. Music has become more popular as more research defines its power over the body, both physically and mentally. It is anticipated with the right information any woman, no matter her location, could use this powerful tool to alleviate the symptoms of postnatal depression. This would also save further distress of separation from family and other support networks as well as reduce financial burdens when seeking care. A literature review was conducted to determine if this relatively new intervention in western society has been used and to determine what the outcomes have been. Currently, no research has been conducted which relates to the use of music as an intervention for women with postnatal depression, particularly those in rural areas.

Twinning with Tonga : the experiences of Tongan stakeholders with a long-term partnership with regional Victoria, Australia

  • Authors: Mornane, Carolyn , Franc, Michelle , Waddington, Maureen , Peck, Blake , Terry, Daniel
  • Date: 2019
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 7, no. 3 (2019), p. 144-150
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  • Description: Twinning programs in health have gained increased recognition as a WHO preferred strategy for providing a sustainable strategy for enhancing the delivery of best practice healthcare globally. The Tonga Twinning Program (TTP), represents a longstanding relationship of some twenty-five years between The Ministry of Health in Tonga and St John of God Hospital, Ballarat, Australia and provides a compelling example of what can be achieved. This article presents the findings from a longitudinal exploration of the experiences and perceptions of the TTP through the voices of those key-stakeholders situated in Tonga who have engaged with the program. Informed by the tenets of hermeneutic phenomenology, a modified thematic analysis highlighted two major themes, ‘A shared mission’ and ‘The outcomes are more than the tangibles’, which supported by a series of sub-themes, identify the core components of the experience of the TTP. This study suggests that the TTP has supported a collective sense of bringing the very best available knowledge and skills to the people of Tonga and has fostered a genuine and open dialogue between partners as a mechanism for change that goes well beyond simply a capacity to replicate skills and instead has establish a genuine reciprocity akin to being a family.