Knowing, performing and holding queerness : LGBTIQ+ student experiences in Australian tertiary education
- Authors: Waling, Andrea , Roffee, James
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sex Education Vol. 17, no. 3 (2017), p. 302-318
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- Description: This paper explores LGBTIQ+ students’ experiences of knowing, performing and holding queerness in a tertiary educational environment. Through interviews conducted with LGBTIQ+ students at a large Australian metropolitan university, we examine the students’ engagement with other LGBTIQ+ students in the tertiary educational space. Although originally intending to explore LGBTIQ+ students’ experience of violence, harassment and abuse on campus, the study identified a number of themes concerning the normalisation of a set of beliefs, practices, presentations and performances. Drawing on frameworks of hetero/homo and trans-normativity, we explore how LGBTIQ+ students articulated concerns in knowing, performing and holding ‘authentic’ queerness. We find LGBTIQ students experienced barred access to knowledge, hostility and dismissal by other LGBTIQ+ students when they were either perceived as too queer, or not queer enough. Behind these interactions and at the heart of these tensions is the notion of an authentic queer identity in a post-gay era and the continuous challenges all LGBTIQ+ students face within a heteronormative society. New insights into how LGBTIQ+ students negotiate, manage and shape their interactions in a higher educational settings are provided, and the implications for tertiary educational institutions, in particular the need to support a diverse LGBTIQ+ community, are discussed. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Papua New Guinea : A community nasal colonization prevalence study
- Authors: Laman, Moses , Greenhill, Andrew , Coombs, Geoffrey , Robinson, Owen , Pearson, Julie , Davis, Timothy , Manning, Laurens
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 111, no. 8 (2017), p. 360-362
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- Description: Background: There are few epidemiological data available to inform a national response to communityacquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey to determine the pattern of MRSA nasal colonization and the diversity of circulating MRSA clones among adults and adolescents in Madang Province, PNG. Results: S. aureus nasal colonization was confirmed in 44 (17.1%) of 257 participants. Four (9.1%) isolates were methicillin resistant. Resistance to other antimicrobial agents was uncommon. Detailed molecular typing of three MRSA isolates demonstrated multiple MRSA clones in this community, of which two carried the Panton-Valentin leukocidin-associated virulence genes. Conclusions: MRSA is likely to account for a clinically important proportion of staphylococcal disease in PNG. There are multiple MRSA clones in PNG. Ongoing surveillance of community and invasive isolates is a critical component of an effective response to the challenge of community-acquired MRSA in this and many other resource-limited contexts.
Near miss experiences of transport and recreational cyclists in New South Wales, Australia. Findings from a prospective cohort study
- Authors: Poulos, Roslyn , Hatfield, Julie , Rissel, Chris , Flack, Lloyd , Shaw, Louise , Grzebieta, Raphael , McIntosh, Andrew
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Accident Analysis and Prevention Vol. 101, no. (2017), p. 143-153
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- Description: This paper investigates events in which cyclists perceive a cycling crash is narrowly avoided (henceforth, a near miss). A cohort of 2038 adult transport and recreational cyclists from New South Wales (Australia) provided self-reported prospectively collected data from cycling diaries to allow the calculation of an exposure-based rate of near misses and investigation of near miss circumstances. During 25,971 days of cycling, 3437 near misses were reported. For a given time cycling, cyclists who rode mainly for transport (compared with those who rode mainly for recreation), and cyclists with less experience (compared to those with more experience) were more likely to report a near miss; older cyclists (60+ years) were less likely to report a near miss than younger cyclists (25-59 years). Where type of near miss was recorded, 72.0% involved motor vehicles, 10.9% involved pedestrians and 6.9% involved other cyclists. Results indicate some similarities between near misses and crashes reported by this cohort during the same reporting period. A bias toward reporting near misses with motor Vehicles was suggested, which likely reflects cyclists' perceptions that crashes involving motor vehicles are particularly serious, and highlights their impact on perceived safety. Given the relative rarity of crashes, and the limited breadth and depth of administrative data, collection of near miss data may contribute to our understanding of cycling safety by increasing the volume and detail of information available for analysis. Addressing the causes of near misses may offer an opportunity to improve both perceived and actual safety for cyclists. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Online news media reporting of football-related fatalities in Australia : A matter of life and death
- Authors: Fortington, Lauren , Bekker, Sheree , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 21, no. 3 (2017), p. 245-249
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- Description: Objectives: While deaths in sports settings are rare, they do occur. To develop an understanding of the sports and people most at risk, and to identify opportunities for prevention, routine and systematic data detailing the occurrence of these fatalities is required. There is currently no routine reporting of data of this nature in Australia. As there is often strong community interest in these incidents, the media offers an opportunity for surveillance. However before this can occur, understanding of the terminology used by the media is required. The aim of this study was to identify the terminology most frequently used in online Australian news media coverage of football-related deaths. Design: Retrospective review of online news media. Methods: Three databases were searched for online news media reports of people who died while participating in football (all football codes) in Australia. A descriptive analysis of terminology was undertaken to identify the common language applied. Results: Thirty-four football-related fatalities in Australia were identified between 2010-2016, via 149 separate articles. The most frequent terms identified in the media items were: Family; Club; Rugby; Football; Player; League; Died; Game; Death; Life; Loved; Hospital; Match; Young; Community; Playing; Friends; Sport; Heart; AFL [Australian Football League]. Conclusions: This study identified terminology used in reporting football-related fatalities in Australia, identifying common reference to terms relating to 'death' as metaphors and the frequent celebration of 'life.' The findings suggest that a reliance on researcher-generated terminology will be insufficient to reflect media discourse in prospective monitoring of sports deaths for surveillance.
Sports biostatistician : A critical member of all sports science and medicine teams for injury prevention
- Authors: Casals, Martí , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 23, no. 6 (2017), p. 423-427
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 52, no. 22 (2018), p. 1457-1461
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- Description: Sports science and medicine need specialists to solve the challenges that arise with injury data. In the sports injury field, it is important to be able to optimise injury data to quantify injury occurrences, understand their aetiology and most importantly, prevent them. One of these specialty professions is that of Sports Biostatistician. The aim of this paper is to describe the emergent field of Sports Biostatistics and its relevance to injury prevention. A number of important issues regarding this profession and the science of sports injury prevention are highlighted. There is a clear need for more multidisciplinary teams that incorporate biostatistics, epidemiology and public health in the sports injury area. © Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited.
The impact of a Web-based educational program on the recognition and management of deteriorating patients
- Authors: Liaw, Sok , Chng, Devon , Wong, Lai , Ho, Jasmine , Mordiffi, Siti , Cooper, Simon J. , Chua, Wei , Ang, Emily
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Clinical Nursing Vol. 26, no. 23-24 (2017), p. 4848-4856
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- Description: Aims and objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Web-based educational program to enhance enrolled nurses’ knowledge and skills in the recognition and management of deteriorating patients. Background: Ward nurses of different skill levels play a pivotal role in detecting and responding to deteriorating patients. A skill mix of registered nurses, enrolled nurses, licensed practical nurses or healthcare assistants is often employed for the provision of nursing care in acute settings. Non-registered nurses frequently perform bedside care and are in the best position to detect deteriorating patients and initiate immediate actions, including commanding the attention of registered nurses. Education is needed to improve the knowledge and skills of these nurses. Design: A randomised controlled trial with a pretest–post-test design. Methods: The sample included enrolled nurses from an acute care tertiary hospital. Following a baseline evaluation, the experimental group received a Web-based educational intervention. Pre–post assessment of skills and knowledge was performed with a simulated scenario and a knowledge questionnaire. Sixty-four nurses completed the entire study. Results: Following the intervention, participants from the experimental group were significantly more likely than those in the control group to monitor the patient's respiratory and pulse rates. In addition, they had significantly higher post-test mean scores for knowledge and skills in assessing and managing clinical deterioration and reporting deterioration. Conclusion: The Web-based educational intervention significantly improved enrolled nurses’ knowledge and skills in the recognition and management of a deteriorating patient in a simulated setting. Relevance to clinical practice: Ease of access to the Web-based platform contributed to the feasibility and acceptability of this study, which has the potential to positively impact patient safety. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
The impact of Saudi hospital accreditation on quality of care : a mixed methods study
- Authors: Almasabi, Mohammed , Thomas, Shane
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Health Planning and Management Vol. 32, no. 4 (2017), p. e261-e278
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- Description: In 2005, the Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) was launched in Saudi Arabia in order to improve the quality of care. By 2010, the first hospital was accredited by CBAHI, followed by many hospitals in following years. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of CBAHI on quality of care. In this study we used a mixed methods approach involving surveys, documentary analyses and semi-structure interviews. Surveys data were collected from 669 staff. Documentary analyses included mortality, infection and length of stay. The semi-structure interview data were gathered from 12 senior managers. Data were collected from three accredited public hospitals. Although some improvements in procedure were recognised, CBAHI does not monitor the continuity of health care delivery and had no effect on quality outcomes in our analysis. This study illustrates a need to sustain improvements over time in the accreditation cycle. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new scale for disaster nursing core competencies : Development and psychometric testing
- Authors: Al Thobaity, Abdulellah , Williams, Brett , Plummer, Virginia
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 19, no. 1 (2016), p. 11-19
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- Description: Background: All nurses must have core competencies in preparing for, responding to and recovering from a disaster. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as in many other countries, disaster nursing core competencies are not fully understood and lack reliable, validated tools. Thus, it is imperative to develop a scale for exploring disaster nursing core competencies, roles and barriers in the KSA. Objectives: This study's objective is to develop a valid, reliable scale that identifies and explores core competencies of disaster nursing, nurses' roles in disaster management and barriers to developing disaster nursing in the KSA. Methods: This study developed a new scale testing its validity and reliability. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to develop and test psychometric properties of the new scale. The PCA used a purposive sample of nurses from emergency departments in two hospitals in the KSA. Participants rated 93 paper-based, self-report questionnaire items from 1 to 10 on a Likert scale. PCA using Varimax rotation was conducted to explore factors emerging from responses. Findings: The study's participants were 132 nurses (66% response rate). PCA of the 93 questionnaire items revealed 49 redundant items (which were deleted) and 3 factors with eigenvalues of >1. The remaining 44 items accounted for 77.3% of the total variance. The overall Cronbach's alpha was 0.96 for all factors: 0.98 for Factor 1, 0.92 for Factor 2 and 0.86 for Factor 3. Conclusions: This study provided a validated, reliable scale for exploring nurses' core competencies, nurses' roles and barriers to developing disaster nursing in the KSA. The new scale has many implications, such as for improving education, planning and curricula. © 2015.
An Australian mixed methods pilot study exploring students performing patient risk screening
- Authors: Gibson, Simone , Golder, Janet , Cant, Robyn , Davidson, Zoe
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nursing and Health Sciences Vol. 18, no. 2 (2016), p. 203-209
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- Description: Clinical placement shortages and rising costs have created demand to provide low-resource, high value student learning opportunities. Malnutrition screening provides a vehicle for achieving this. A mixed methods explanatory sequential intervention study investigated time costs, and students' perceptions of preparedness after performing routine patient screening tasks, as well as students' overall views on their feelings of confidence and preparedness when commencing their first clinical placements. Pre-clinical student dietitians commencing initial placements participated (n=58), with 16 of these forming a subgroup who performed malnutrition screening tasks while the others attended usual placement orientation. The time saved when students undertook screening tasks usually assigned to nurses was substantial. Questionnaires revealed that student perceived confidence increased in the screening group when compared with controls. Focus group themes included "anxiety and confidence," "learning in the clinical learning environment," "communication skill development," and "the pre-placement screening experience." Students performing routine patient-screening tasks prior to initial clinical placement has potential cost savings for healthcare organizations and was perceived to be valuable for learning. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
Birds as Totemic beings and creators in the Lower Murray, South Australia
- Authors: Clarke, Philip
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Ethnobiology Vol. 36, no. 2 (2016), p. 277-293
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- Description: This paper is a literature review of the relationships Indigenous peoples in the Lower Murray of temperate South Australia had with the local avifauna as recorded in the early years of European settlement. Birds were prominent as clan ancestors in their creation stories, being credited with the formation of landforms and the establishment of law and custom. Aboriginal origin stories describe bird behavior and detail the relationships between birds, plants, rain, and fire. Ornithological bodies of knowledge that are framed outside of Western science, such as the ethno-ornithological information discussed here, provide an alternative lens with which to view avifaunal biodiversity in a manner that respects local cultural values
Collaboration between nurses and physicians in an Indonesian Emergency Department
- Authors: Suryanto , Plummer, Virginia , Copnell, Beverley
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 19, no. 2 (2016), p. 82-89
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- Description: Background: Positive collaboration between nurses and physicians is essential in emergency practice because it has a significant relationship with the quality, safety, accountability, and responsibility of care. The aim of this study was to examine nurses' and physicians' attitudes towards collaboration in the Emergency Department in the Indonesian context. Methods: The study was a comparative study using a modified Jefferson Scale of Attitude towards Physician-Nurse Collaboration. Data were collected from 47 nurses and 24 physicians of one of 25 general hospitals in Malang, Indonesia, by anonymous survey. Results: Emergency nurses had significantly more positive attitudes towards collaboration than emergency physicians (P < 0.001). Emergency nurses had significantly higher scores in three of four domains of the instrument, "physician dominance", "nurse autonomy", and "caring as opposed to curing". The effects of gender, age, and education on nurses' and physicians' attitude towards collaboration were not statistically significant. However, experience in the Emergency Department of the general hospital was significantly related to participants' attitudes towards collaboration (P = 0.023). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that attitudes towards collaboration among the two professions should be enhanced. Inter-professional education and promotion of teamwork may be solutions to improve the relationship, not only between nurses and physicians, but also other healthcare providers. © 2016 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia.
ED-HOME : Improving educator confidence and patient education in the Emergency Department
- Authors: Coombs, Nicole , Porter, Joanne , Beauchamp, Alison
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 19, no. 3 (2016), p. 133-137
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- Description: Background Barriers to effective patient communication in the emergency department (ED) are well recognised; time, resources and staff and consumer expectations. This project aimed to improve the quality of health education provided in the ED by increasing nurses’ confidence as educators. Method By providing a staff information package including the introduction of a new structured education tool; ED-HOME, and by assessing the confidence and self-efficacy of the nurses in the process, we hoped to determine if an improvement in practice and confidence was achieved. A quantitative, pre and post-test questionnaire comparison study was undertaken before and after a four week implementation period. The project examined the attitudes and practices of registered emergency nurses and was conducted in one metropolitan emergency department. Results Results indicated that nurse confidence and self-efficacy improved by using the new structured ED-HOME format and both staff satisfaction and education competence increased. Participants positively responded to the new tool and recommended future use in the ED. Conclusion This project demonstrates that if emergency nurses feel more confident with their educating practices and by using a structured format, patients will benefit from better quality patient education provided in the ED. © 2016 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia
Enhancing the management of deteriorating patients with Australian on line e-simulation software : Acceptability, transferability, and impact in Hong Kong
- Authors: Sparkes, Louise , Chan, Maggie , Cooper, Simon J. , Pang, Michelle , Tiwari, Agnes
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nursing and Health Sciences Vol. 18, no. 3 (2016), p. 393-399
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- Description: International concerns relating to healthcare professionals’ failure to rescue deteriorating patients exist. Web-based training programs have been developed and evaluated in Western settings but further testing is required before application in non-Western countries, as traditional modalities of learning may differ between cultures. We trialed an Australian English language online simulation program for the management of deteriorating patients, Feedback Incorporating Review and Simulation Techniques to Act on Clinical Trends (FIRST2ACTWeb), to test cultural acceptability, transferability, and educational impact. The study was designed as a quasi-experimental evaluation of the FIRST2ACTWeb program with final year nursing students from a Bachelor of Nursing program at the University of Hong Kong. Participants completed pre-course and post-course tests, three interactive scenarios, and program evaluations. The program was positively evaluated, with significant improvements in knowledge, skills, self-rating of performance, confidence, and competence. Outcomes were comparable to earlier evaluations with Australian students, demonstrating that an interactive simulation-based program of patient deterioration management has cultural and language acceptability and transferability across communities with significant educational impact. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
Improving the non-technical skills of hospital medical emergency teams : The Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM™)
- Authors: Cant, Robyn , Porter, Joanne , Cooper, Simon J. , Roberts, Kate , Wilson, Ian , Gartside, Christopher
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: EMA - Emergency Medicine Australasia Vol. 28, no. 6 (2016), p. 641-646
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- Description: Objectives: This prospective descriptive study aimed to test the validity and feasibility of the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM™) for assessing real-world medical emergency teams' non-technical skills. Second, the present study aimed to explore the instrument's contribution to practice regarding teamwork and learning outcomes. Methods: Registered nurses (RNs) and medical staff (n = 104) in two hospital EDs in rural Victoria, Australia, participated. Over a 10 month period, the (TEAM™) instrument was completed by multiple clinicians at medical emergency episodes. Results: In 80 real-world medical emergency team resuscitation episodes (283 clinician assessments), non-technical skills ratings averaged 89% per episode (39 of a possible 44 points). Twenty-one episodes were rated in the lowest quartile (i.e. ≤37 points out of 44). Ratings differed by discipline, with significantly higher scores given by medical raters (mean: 41.1 ± 4.4) than RNs (38.7 ± 5.4) (P = 0.001). This difference occurred in the Leadership domain. The tool was reliable with Cronbach's alpha 0.78, high uni-dimensional validity and mean inter-item correlation of 0.45. Concurrent validity was confirmed by strong correlation between TEAM™ score and the awarded Global Rating (P < 0.001), with 38.4% of shared variance. RNs praised the instrument as it initiated staff reflection and debriefing discussions around performance improvement. Conclusion: Non-technical skills of medical emergency teams are known to often be suboptimal; however, average ratings of 89% were achieved in this real-world study. TEAM™ is a valid, reliable and easy to use tool, for both training and clinical settings, with benefits for team performance when used as an assessment and/or debriefing tool. © 2016 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine
Interventions preventing ankle sprains; previous injury and high-risk sport participation as predictors of compliance
- Authors: Janssen, Kasper , Van Der Zwaard, Babette , Finch, Caroline , van Mechelen, Willem , Verhagen, Evert
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 19, no. 6 (Jun 2016), p. 465-469
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- Description: Objectives: To describe the association between participants' person-related potential predictor variables and cumulative compliance with interventions for preventing ankle sprains: neuromuscular training, wearing an ankle brace, and a combined training and bracing. Design: Secondary analysis of compliance data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing measures preventing ankle ligament injuries. Methods: Ordinal regression with a backward selection method was used to obtain a descriptive statistical model linking participants' person-related potential predictor variables with the monthly cumulative compliance measurements for three interventions preventing ankle ligament injuries. Results: Having had a previous ankle injury was significantly associated with a higher compliance with all of the preventive measures trialed. Overall compliance with bracing and the combined intervention was significantly lower than the compliance with NM training. Per group analysis found that participating in a high-risk sport, like soccer, basketball, and volleyball, was significantly associated with a higher compliance with bracing, or a combined bracing and NM training. In contrast, participating in a high-risk sport was significantly associated with a lower per group compliance with NM training. Conclusions: Future studies should include at least registration of previous ankle sprains, sport participation (high- or low-risk), experience in NM training, and hours of sport exposure as possible predictors of compliance with interventions preventing ankle sprains. Practitioners should take into account these variables when prescribing preventive neuromuscular training or bracing. (C) 2015 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Measuring teamwork performance: Validity testing of the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) with clinical resuscitation teams
- Authors: Cooper, Simon J. , Cant, Robyn , Connell, Cliff , Sims, Lyndall , Porter, Joanne , Symmons, Mark , Nestel, Debra , Liaw, Sok Ying
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Resuscitation Vol. 101, no. (2016), p. 97-101
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- Description: AimTo test the resuscitation non-technical Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) for feasibility, validity and reliability, in two Australian Emergency Departments (ED). BackgroundNon-technical (teamwork) skills have been identified as inadequate and as such have a significant impact on patient safety. Valid and reliable teamwork assessment tools are an important element of performance assessment and debriefing processes. MethodsA quasi experimental design based on observational ratings of resuscitation non-technical skills in two metropolitan ED. Senior nursing staff rated 106 adult resuscitation team events over a ten month period where three or more resuscitation team members attended. Resuscitation events, team performance and validity and reliability data was collected for the TEAM. ResultsMost rated events were for full cardiac resuscitation (43%) with 3–15 team members present for an average of 45min. The TEAM was found to be feasible and quickly completed with minimal or no training. Discriminant validity was good as was internal consistency with a Cronbach alpha of 0.94. Uni-dimensional and concurrent validity also reached acceptable standards, 0.94 and >0.63 (p=<0.001), respectively, and a single ‘teamwork’ construct was identified. Non-technical skills overall were good but leadership was rated notably lower than task and teamwork performance indicating a need for leadership training. ConclusionThe TEAM is a feasible, valid and reliable non-technical assessment measure in simulated and real clinical settings. Emergency teams need to develop leadership skills through training and reflective debriefing.
Modern Malaysian-based students perceive Southeast Asian jungle environments as places of high risk and discomfort
- Authors: Loft, Marisa , Lee, Christina , Tagg, Brendon , Loo, Jasmine
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecopsychology Vol. 8, no. 1 (2016), p. 35-44
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- Description: While the interaction between people and their environments has long been a focus of psychological research, there is need for more understanding of how non-Westerners relate to natural and urban environments, including areas of dense jungle. For this study we conducted focus group discussions with 19 individuals from the urban Southeast Asian city of Kuala Lumpur and 19 individuals from the rural Malaysian state of Terengganu centered on their experiences of both urban and natural environments. Three themes relating to the natural and urban settings' potential to promote a sense of restoration emerged, namely: "risk perception," "comfort," and "place attachment." While individual preferences varied, participants from both settings described a strong sense of dependence on the conveniences of the modern world. Elements from within each environment, sociocultural factors, and the temporal dimension seemed important for determining whether the environment was considered restorative. In this regard, these participants' views of the natural environment seem broadly analogous to those of people living in major Western metropolises such as Chicago, New York City, or London. A new nonlinear approach to understanding restoration in tropical environments is proposed. Key Words: Urban environments - Natural environments - Preference - Restoration - Place attachment - Risk perception - Comfort. © Copyright 2016, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2016.
Musculoskeletal screening as a predictor of seasonal injury in elite Olympic class sailors
- Authors: Schultz, Adrian , Taaffe, Dennis , Blackburn, Michael , Logan, Peter , White, Donna , Drew, Michael , Lockie, Robert
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 19, no. 11 (2016), p. 903-909
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- Description: Objectives: To investigate seasonal injury incidence and musculoskeletal screening as a predictor of injury in elite Olympic class sailors. Methods: A 12-month analysis of injury surveillance data was performed for elite Australian sailors (age = 16-30 years, N= 22). Pre-season musculoskeletal screening (incorporating mobility, stability and neural tests) and seasonal injury data were analysed for predictive relationships, and associations between potential predictor variables and injury status. Results: Injuries requiring medical attention occurred at a rate of 3.6 injuries/athlete, while injuries resulting in disability occurred at a rate of 0.6 injuries/athlete, with the lumbar spine the main site of injury (23% and 33%, respectively). Wrist and hand injury resulted in the highest number of days of disability (110 days), followed by injury to the lumbar spine (87 days). Across the season 75% of injuries to the lumbar spine occurred in the latter half of the season. The only screening measure predictive of injured/uninjured status was better left-sided single-leg decline-squat performance (OR= 0.29; 95% CI = 0.09-0.88; p = 0.03), while increasing age was significantly (p = 0.03) associated with thoracic (OR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.03-2.12) and lumbar spine (OR= 1.46; 95% CI = 1.04-2.04) injury. Conclusions: Though clinically useful, current screening protocols do not adequately assess the risk of seasonal injury in elite Olympic class sailors, and should be revised. Due to the increased risk of spinal injury and potential lost/modified participation in older Olympic class sailors, injury prevention activities should be individualised and age appropriate. (C) 2016 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Normative MRI, ultrasound and muscle functional MRI findings in the forearms of asymptomatic elite rowers
- Authors: Drew, Michael , Trease, Larissa , Caneiro, J. P. , Hooper, Ivan , Ooi, Chin-Chin , Counsel, Peter , Connell, David , Rice, Anthony , Knight, Emma , Hoy, Gregory , Lovell, Gregory
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 19, no. 2 (2016), p. 103-108
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- Description: Objectives Forearm injuries are common and debilitating to elite rowers. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome, intersection syndrome and proximal radial bone stress injuries have been documented in this population. This paper explores the imaging findings related to these conditions in asymptomatic elite rowers. Design Observational study. Methods 19 asymptomatic senior elite and under-23 rowers currently competing at National level or above underwent ultrasound (US), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and muscle functional MRI evaluation of their forearms. A comprehensive evaluation sheet identifying characteristics of bone stress, intersection syndrome and chronic exertional compartment syndrome was utilised based on a literature search and review by senior clinicians working with this population. Results Peritendinous fluid of Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus (n=10, 53%) or Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (n=6, 32%) was a common finding on US. MRI had a higher rate of identification than US. Extensor Digitorum (Coeff=−1.76, 95%CI −3.04 to −0.49), Flexor Carpi Radialis (Coeff=−2.86, 95%CI −5.35 to −0.38) and Flexor Carpi Ulnaris (Coeff=−3.31, 95%CI −5.30 to −1.32), Pronator Teres (Coeff=−3.94, 95%CI −6.89 to −0.99), and Supinator (Coeff=−168, 95%CI −3.28 to −0.02) showed statistically significant changes immediately post-exercise. Mild proximal radial marrow hyperintensity was present (n=15, 78.9%) with three participants (15.8%) also having mild periosteal oedema of the radius. Conclusions Imaging findings commonly seen in symptomatic populations are observed in elite, asymptomatic rowers. Care should be taken when diagnosing bone stress injuries, intersection syndrome and compartment syndrome on imaging findings alone. Data presented can be utilised as a normative dataset for future case studies.
Patterns of time use among regional and rural adolescent girls : Associations with correlates of physical activity and health-related quality of life
- Authors: Casey, Meghan , Harvey, Jack , Telford, Amanda , Eime, Rochelle , Mooney, Amanda , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 19, no. 11 (2016), p. 931-935
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP0990206
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- Description: Objectives: To describe patterns of time use among regional and rural adolescent girls and compare identified clusters with respect to correlates of physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: Data were from Year 7-9 adolescent girls (aged 12-15 years) from 16 schools involved in a cluster-randomised trial in regional and rural Victoria, Australia (n = 494). Time use data were collected using 24-h Previous Day Physical Activity Recall (PDPAR-24) questionnaire, collapsed into 17 categories of time use. Differences between time use clusters with regard to demographics, correlates of PA and HRQoL measured using PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales, were investigated. Results: Two time use clusters were identified and were associated with correlates of PA and HRQoL. Girls who spent significantly more time in teams sports, non-team sports, school classes, watching TV and sleeping had higher levels of positively aligned PA correlates (e.g. self-efficacy, perceived sports competence) and HRQoL than girls characterised with high levels of computer use and video gaming. Conclusions: These findings highlight how different activity patterns of regional and rural girls affect HRQoL and can inform future intervention strategies to improve PA levels and HRQoL. Clusters characterised by low levels of PA and high computer use and video gaming require targeted interventions to address barriers to their participation. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Sports Medicine Australia.