Predicting cardiac autonomic neuropathy category for diabetic data with missing values
- Abawajy, Jemal, Kelarev, Andrei, Chowdhury, Morshed, Stranieri, Andrew, Jelinek, Herbert
- Authors: Abawajy, Jemal , Kelarev, Andrei , Chowdhury, Morshed , Stranieri, Andrew , Jelinek, Herbert
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 43, no. 10 (2013), p. 1328-1333
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- Description: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a serious and well known complication of diabetes. Previous articles circumvented the problem of missing values in CAN data by deleting all records and fields with missing values and applying classifiers trained on different sets of features that were complete. Most of them also added alternative features to compensate for the deleted ones. Here we introduce and investigate a new method for classifying CAN data with missing values. In contrast to all previous papers, our new method does not delete attributes with missing values, does not use classifiers, and does not add features. Instead it is based on regression and meta-regression combined with the Ewing formula for identifying the classes of CAN. This is the first article using the Ewing formula and regression to classify CAN. We carried out extensive experiments to determine the best combination of regression and meta-regression techniques for classifying CAN data with missing values. The best outcomes have been obtained by the additive regression meta-learner based on M5Rules and combined with the Ewing formula. It has achieved the best accuracy of 99.78% for two classes of CAN, and 98.98% for three classes of CAN. These outcomes are substantially better than previous results obtained in the literature by deleting all missing attributes and applying traditional classifiers to different sets of features without regression. Another advantage of our method is that it does not require practitioners to perform more tests collecting additional alternative features. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
- Description: C1
- Authors: Abawajy, Jemal , Kelarev, Andrei , Chowdhury, Morshed , Stranieri, Andrew , Jelinek, Herbert
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 43, no. 10 (2013), p. 1328-1333
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a serious and well known complication of diabetes. Previous articles circumvented the problem of missing values in CAN data by deleting all records and fields with missing values and applying classifiers trained on different sets of features that were complete. Most of them also added alternative features to compensate for the deleted ones. Here we introduce and investigate a new method for classifying CAN data with missing values. In contrast to all previous papers, our new method does not delete attributes with missing values, does not use classifiers, and does not add features. Instead it is based on regression and meta-regression combined with the Ewing formula for identifying the classes of CAN. This is the first article using the Ewing formula and regression to classify CAN. We carried out extensive experiments to determine the best combination of regression and meta-regression techniques for classifying CAN data with missing values. The best outcomes have been obtained by the additive regression meta-learner based on M5Rules and combined with the Ewing formula. It has achieved the best accuracy of 99.78% for two classes of CAN, and 98.98% for three classes of CAN. These outcomes are substantially better than previous results obtained in the literature by deleting all missing attributes and applying traditional classifiers to different sets of features without regression. Another advantage of our method is that it does not require practitioners to perform more tests collecting additional alternative features. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
- Description: C1
Posttreatment attrition and its predictors, attrition bias, and treatment efficacy of the anxiety online programs
- Al-Asadi, Ali, Klein, Britt, Meyer, Denny
- Authors: Al-Asadi, Ali , Klein, Britt , Meyer, Denny
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 16, no. 10 (2014), p. e232
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Although relatively new, the field of e-mental health is becoming more popular with more attention given to researching its various aspects. However, there are many areas that still need further research, especially identifying attrition predictors at various phases of assessment and treatment delivery. Objective: The present study identified the predictors of posttreatment assessment completers based on 24 pre- and posttreatment demographic and personal variables and 1 treatment variable, their impact on attrition bias, and the efficacy of the 5 fully automated self-help anxiety treatment programs for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD/A), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: A complex algorithm was used to diagnose participants' mental disorders based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision; DSM-IV-TR). Those who received a primary or secondary diagnosis of 1 of 5 anxiety disorders were offered an online 12-week disorder-specific treatment program. A total of 3199 individuals did not formally drop out of the 12-week treatment cycle, whereas 142 individuals formally dropped out. However, only 347 participants who completed their treatment cycle also completed the posttreatment assessment measures. Based on these measures, predictors of attrition were identified and attrition bias was examined. The efficacy of the 5 treatment programs was assessed based on anxiety-specific severity scores and 5 additional treatment outcome measures. Results: On average, completers of posttreatment assessment measures were more likely to be seeking self-help online programs; have heard about the program from traditional media or from family and friends; were receiving mental health assistance; were more likely to learn best by reading, hearing and doing; had a lower pretreatment Kessler-6 total score; and were older in age. Predicted probabilities resulting from these attrition variables displayed no significant attrition bias using Heckman's method and thus allowing for the use of completer analysis. Six treatment outcome measures (Kessler-6 total score, number of diagnosed disorders, self-confidence in managing mental health issues, quality of life, and the corresponding pre- and posttreatment severity for each program-specific anxiety disorder and for major depressive episode) were used to assess the efficacy of the 5 anxiety treatment programs. Repeated measures MANOVA revealed a significant multivariate time effect for all treatment outcome measures for each treatment program. Follow-up repeated measures ANOVAs revealed significant improvements on all 6 treatment outcome measures for GAD and PTSD, 5 treatment outcome measures were significant for SAD and PD/A, and 4 treatment outcome measures were significant for OCD. Conclusions: Results identified predictors of posttreatment assessment completers and provided further support for the efficacy of self-help online treatment programs for the 5 anxiety disorders
- Authors: Al-Asadi, Ali , Klein, Britt , Meyer, Denny
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 16, no. 10 (2014), p. e232
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Although relatively new, the field of e-mental health is becoming more popular with more attention given to researching its various aspects. However, there are many areas that still need further research, especially identifying attrition predictors at various phases of assessment and treatment delivery. Objective: The present study identified the predictors of posttreatment assessment completers based on 24 pre- and posttreatment demographic and personal variables and 1 treatment variable, their impact on attrition bias, and the efficacy of the 5 fully automated self-help anxiety treatment programs for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD/A), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: A complex algorithm was used to diagnose participants' mental disorders based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision; DSM-IV-TR). Those who received a primary or secondary diagnosis of 1 of 5 anxiety disorders were offered an online 12-week disorder-specific treatment program. A total of 3199 individuals did not formally drop out of the 12-week treatment cycle, whereas 142 individuals formally dropped out. However, only 347 participants who completed their treatment cycle also completed the posttreatment assessment measures. Based on these measures, predictors of attrition were identified and attrition bias was examined. The efficacy of the 5 treatment programs was assessed based on anxiety-specific severity scores and 5 additional treatment outcome measures. Results: On average, completers of posttreatment assessment measures were more likely to be seeking self-help online programs; have heard about the program from traditional media or from family and friends; were receiving mental health assistance; were more likely to learn best by reading, hearing and doing; had a lower pretreatment Kessler-6 total score; and were older in age. Predicted probabilities resulting from these attrition variables displayed no significant attrition bias using Heckman's method and thus allowing for the use of completer analysis. Six treatment outcome measures (Kessler-6 total score, number of diagnosed disorders, self-confidence in managing mental health issues, quality of life, and the corresponding pre- and posttreatment severity for each program-specific anxiety disorder and for major depressive episode) were used to assess the efficacy of the 5 anxiety treatment programs. Repeated measures MANOVA revealed a significant multivariate time effect for all treatment outcome measures for each treatment program. Follow-up repeated measures ANOVAs revealed significant improvements on all 6 treatment outcome measures for GAD and PTSD, 5 treatment outcome measures were significant for SAD and PD/A, and 4 treatment outcome measures were significant for OCD. Conclusions: Results identified predictors of posttreatment assessment completers and provided further support for the efficacy of self-help online treatment programs for the 5 anxiety disorders
Comorbidity structure of psychological disorders in the online e-PASS data as predictors of psychosocial adjustment measures: psychological distress, adequate social support, self-confidence, quality of life, and suicidal ideation
- Al-Asadi, Ali, Klein, Britt, Meyer, Denny
- Authors: Al-Asadi, Ali , Klein, Britt , Meyer, Denny
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 16, no. 10 (2014), p. e248
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: BACKGROUND: A relative newcomer to the field of psychology, e-mental health has been gaining momentum and has been given considerable research attention. Although several aspects of e-mental health have been studied, 1 aspect has yet to receive attention: the structure of comorbidity of psychological disorders and their relationships with measures of psychosocial adjustment including suicidal ideation in online samples. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study attempted to identify the structure of comorbidity of 21 psychological disorders assessed by an automated online electronic psychological assessment screening system (e-PASS). The resulting comorbidity factor scores were then used to assess the association between comorbidity factor scores and measures of psychosocial adjustments (ie, psychological distress, suicidal ideation, adequate social support, self-confidence in dealing with mental health issues, and quality of life). METHODS: A total of 13,414 participants were assessed using a complex online algorithm that resulted in primary and secondary Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision) diagnoses for 21 psychological disorders on dimensional severity scales. The scores on these severity scales were used in a principal component analysis (PCA) and the resulting comorbidity factor scores were related to 4 measures of psychosocial adjustments. RESULTS: A PCA based on 17 of the 21 psychological disorders resulted in a 4-factor model of comorbidity: anxiety-depression consisting of all anxiety disorders, major depressive episode (MDE), and insomnia; substance abuse consisting of alcohol and drug abuse and dependency; body image-eating consisting of eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorders; depression-sleep problems consisting of MDE, insomnia, and hypersomnia. All comorbidity factor scores were significantly associated with psychosocial measures of adjustment (P<.001). They were positively related to psychological distress and suicidal ideation, but negatively related to adequate social support, self-confidence, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study identified 4 comorbidity factors in the e-PASS data and these factor scores significantly predicted 5 psychosocial adjustment measures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN121611000704998; http://www.anzctr.org.au/trial_view.aspx?ID=336143 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/618r3wvOG).
- Authors: Al-Asadi, Ali , Klein, Britt , Meyer, Denny
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 16, no. 10 (2014), p. e248
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: BACKGROUND: A relative newcomer to the field of psychology, e-mental health has been gaining momentum and has been given considerable research attention. Although several aspects of e-mental health have been studied, 1 aspect has yet to receive attention: the structure of comorbidity of psychological disorders and their relationships with measures of psychosocial adjustment including suicidal ideation in online samples. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study attempted to identify the structure of comorbidity of 21 psychological disorders assessed by an automated online electronic psychological assessment screening system (e-PASS). The resulting comorbidity factor scores were then used to assess the association between comorbidity factor scores and measures of psychosocial adjustments (ie, psychological distress, suicidal ideation, adequate social support, self-confidence in dealing with mental health issues, and quality of life). METHODS: A total of 13,414 participants were assessed using a complex online algorithm that resulted in primary and secondary Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision) diagnoses for 21 psychological disorders on dimensional severity scales. The scores on these severity scales were used in a principal component analysis (PCA) and the resulting comorbidity factor scores were related to 4 measures of psychosocial adjustments. RESULTS: A PCA based on 17 of the 21 psychological disorders resulted in a 4-factor model of comorbidity: anxiety-depression consisting of all anxiety disorders, major depressive episode (MDE), and insomnia; substance abuse consisting of alcohol and drug abuse and dependency; body image-eating consisting of eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorders; depression-sleep problems consisting of MDE, insomnia, and hypersomnia. All comorbidity factor scores were significantly associated with psychosocial measures of adjustment (P<.001). They were positively related to psychological distress and suicidal ideation, but negatively related to adequate social support, self-confidence, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study identified 4 comorbidity factors in the e-PASS data and these factor scores significantly predicted 5 psychosocial adjustment measures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN121611000704998; http://www.anzctr.org.au/trial_view.aspx?ID=336143 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/618r3wvOG).
Differential associations of hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and depressive symptoms with cognitive dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea
- Alomri, Ridwan, Kennedy, Gerard, Wali, Siraj, Ahejaili, Faris, Robinson, Stephen
- Authors: Alomri, Ridwan , Kennedy, Gerard , Wali, Siraj , Ahejaili, Faris , Robinson, Stephen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sleep Vol. 44, no. 4 (2021), p.
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- Description: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete cessation of breathing during sleep and increased effort to breathe. This study examined patients who underwent overnight polysomnographic studies in a major sleep laboratory in Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to determine the extent to which intermittent hypoxia, sleep disruption, and depressive symptoms are independently associated with cognitive impairments in OSA. In the sample of 90 participants, 14 had no OSA, 30 mild OSA, 23 moderate OSA, and 23 severe OSA. The findings revealed that hypoxia and sleep fragmentation are independently associated with impairments of sustained attention and reaction time (RT). Sleep fragmentation, but not hypoxia, was independently associated with impairments in visuospatial deficits. Depressive symptoms were independently associated with impairments in the domains of sustained attention, RT, visuospatial ability, and semantic and episodic autobiographical memories. Since the depressive symptoms are independent of hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, effective reversal of cognitive impairment in OSA may require treatment interventions that target each of these factors. © Sleep Research Society 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Sleep Research Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.
- Authors: Alomri, Ridwan , Kennedy, Gerard , Wali, Siraj , Ahejaili, Faris , Robinson, Stephen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sleep Vol. 44, no. 4 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete cessation of breathing during sleep and increased effort to breathe. This study examined patients who underwent overnight polysomnographic studies in a major sleep laboratory in Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to determine the extent to which intermittent hypoxia, sleep disruption, and depressive symptoms are independently associated with cognitive impairments in OSA. In the sample of 90 participants, 14 had no OSA, 30 mild OSA, 23 moderate OSA, and 23 severe OSA. The findings revealed that hypoxia and sleep fragmentation are independently associated with impairments of sustained attention and reaction time (RT). Sleep fragmentation, but not hypoxia, was independently associated with impairments in visuospatial deficits. Depressive symptoms were independently associated with impairments in the domains of sustained attention, RT, visuospatial ability, and semantic and episodic autobiographical memories. Since the depressive symptoms are independent of hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, effective reversal of cognitive impairment in OSA may require treatment interventions that target each of these factors. © Sleep Research Society 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Sleep Research Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.
A scalable framework for healthcare monitoring application using the Internet of Medical Things
- Balasubramanian, Venki, Jolfaei, Alireza
- Authors: Balasubramanian, Venki , Jolfaei, Alireza
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Software - Practice and Experience Vol. 51, no. 12 (2021), p. 2457-2468
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- Description: Internet of Things (IoT) is finding application in many areas, particularly in health care where an IoT can be effectively used in the form of an Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) to monitor the patients remotely. The quality of life of the patients and health care outcomes can be improved with the deployment of an IoMT because health care professionals can monitor conditions; access the electronic medical records and communicates with each other. This remote monitoring and consultations might reduce the traditional stressful and costly exercise of frequent hospitalization. Also, the rising costs of health care in many developed countries have influenced the introduction of the Healthcare Monitoring Application (HMA) to their existing health care practices. To materialize the HMA concepts for successful deployment for civilian and commercial use with ease, application developers can benefit from a generic, scalable framework that provides significant components for building an HMA. In this chapter, a generic maintainable HMA is advanced by amalgamating the advantages of event-driven and the layered architecture. The proposed framework is used to establish an HMA with an end-to-end Assistive Care Loop Framework (ACLF) to provide a real-time alarm and assistance to monitor pregnant women. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Authors: Balasubramanian, Venki , Jolfaei, Alireza
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Software - Practice and Experience Vol. 51, no. 12 (2021), p. 2457-2468
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Internet of Things (IoT) is finding application in many areas, particularly in health care where an IoT can be effectively used in the form of an Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) to monitor the patients remotely. The quality of life of the patients and health care outcomes can be improved with the deployment of an IoMT because health care professionals can monitor conditions; access the electronic medical records and communicates with each other. This remote monitoring and consultations might reduce the traditional stressful and costly exercise of frequent hospitalization. Also, the rising costs of health care in many developed countries have influenced the introduction of the Healthcare Monitoring Application (HMA) to their existing health care practices. To materialize the HMA concepts for successful deployment for civilian and commercial use with ease, application developers can benefit from a generic, scalable framework that provides significant components for building an HMA. In this chapter, a generic maintainable HMA is advanced by amalgamating the advantages of event-driven and the layered architecture. The proposed framework is used to establish an HMA with an end-to-end Assistive Care Loop Framework (ACLF) to provide a real-time alarm and assistance to monitor pregnant women. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Online dispute resolution in mediating EHR disputes : a case study on the impact of emotional intelligence
- Bellucci, Emilia, Venkatraman, Sitalakshmi, Stranieri, Andrew
- Authors: Bellucci, Emilia , Venkatraman, Sitalakshmi , Stranieri, Andrew
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Behaviour and Information Technology Vol. 39, no. 10 (2020), p. 1124-1139
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- Description: An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is an individual’s record of all health events that enables critical information to be documented and shared electronically amongst health care providers and patients. The introduction of an EHR, particularly a patient-accessible EHR, can be expected to lead to an escalation of enquiries, complaints and ultimately, disputes. Prevailing opinion is that Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) systems can help with the mediation of certain types of disputes electronically, particularly systems which deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce the need for a human mediator. However, disputes regarding health tend to invoke emotional responses from patients that may conceivably impact ODR efficacy. This raises an interesting question on the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) in the process of mediation. Using a phenomenological research methodology simulating doctor–patient disputes mediated with an AI Smart ODR system in place of a human mediator, we found an association between EI and the propensity for a participant to change their previously asserted claims. Our results indicate participants with lower EI tend to prolong resolution compared to those with higher EI. Future research include trialling larger scale ODR systems for specific cohorts of patients in the area of health related dispute resolution are advanced. © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
- Authors: Bellucci, Emilia , Venkatraman, Sitalakshmi , Stranieri, Andrew
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Behaviour and Information Technology Vol. 39, no. 10 (2020), p. 1124-1139
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is an individual’s record of all health events that enables critical information to be documented and shared electronically amongst health care providers and patients. The introduction of an EHR, particularly a patient-accessible EHR, can be expected to lead to an escalation of enquiries, complaints and ultimately, disputes. Prevailing opinion is that Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) systems can help with the mediation of certain types of disputes electronically, particularly systems which deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce the need for a human mediator. However, disputes regarding health tend to invoke emotional responses from patients that may conceivably impact ODR efficacy. This raises an interesting question on the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) in the process of mediation. Using a phenomenological research methodology simulating doctor–patient disputes mediated with an AI Smart ODR system in place of a human mediator, we found an association between EI and the propensity for a participant to change their previously asserted claims. Our results indicate participants with lower EI tend to prolong resolution compared to those with higher EI. Future research include trialling larger scale ODR systems for specific cohorts of patients in the area of health related dispute resolution are advanced. © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Collecting health and exposure data in Australian olympic combat sports : Feasibility study utilizing an electronic system
- Bromley, Sally, Drew, Michael, Talpey, Scott, McIntosh, Andrew, Finch, Caroline
- Authors: Bromley, Sally , Drew, Michael , Talpey, Scott , McIntosh, Andrew , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 20, no. 10 (2018), p. 1-11
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Electronic methods are increasingly being used to manage health-related data among sporting populations. Collection of such data permits the analysis of injury and illness trends, improves early detection of injuries and illnesses, collectively referred to as health problems, and provides evidence to inform prevention strategies. The Athlete Management System (AMS) has been employed across a range of sports to monitor health. Australian combat athletes train across the country without dedicated national medical or sports science teams to monitor and advocate for their health. Employing a Web-based system, such as the AMS, May provide an avenue to increase the visibility of health problems experienced by combat athletes and deliver key information to stakeholders detailing where prevention programs May be targeted. Objective: The objectives of this paper are to (1) report on the feasibility of utilizing the AMS to collect longitudinal injury and illness data of combat sports athletes and (2) describe the type, location, severity, and recurrence of injuries and illnesses that the cohort of athletes experience across a 12-week period. Methods: We invited 26 elite and developing athletes from 4 Olympic combat sports (boxing, judo, taekwondo, and wrestling) to participate in this study. Engagement with the AMS was measured, and collected health problems (injuries or illnesses) were coded using the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System (version 10.1) and International Classification of Primary Care (version 2). Results: Despite >160 contacts, athlete engagement with online tools was poor, with only 13% compliance across the 12-week period. No taekwondo or wrestling athletes were compliant. Despite low overall engagement, a large number of injuries or illness were recorded across 11 athletes who entered data—22 unique injuries, 8 unique illnesses, 30 recurrent injuries, and 2 recurrent illnesses. The most frequent injuries were to the knee in boxing (n=41) and thigh in judo (n=9). In this cohort, judo players experienced more severe, but less frequent, injuries than boxers, yet judo players sustained more illnesses than boxers. In 97.0% (126/130) of cases, athletes in this cohort continued to train irrespective of their health problems. Conclusions: Among athletes who reported injuries, many reported multiple conditions, indicating a need for health monitoring in Australian combat sports. A number of factors May have influenced engagement with the AMS, including access to the internet, the design of the system, coach views on the system, previous experiences with the system, and the existing culture within Australian combat sports. To increase engagement, there May be a requirement for sports staff to provide relevant feedback on data entered into the system. Until the Barriers are addressed, it is not feasible to implement the system in its current form across a larger cohort of combat athletes.
- Authors: Bromley, Sally , Drew, Michael , Talpey, Scott , McIntosh, Andrew , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol. 20, no. 10 (2018), p. 1-11
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Electronic methods are increasingly being used to manage health-related data among sporting populations. Collection of such data permits the analysis of injury and illness trends, improves early detection of injuries and illnesses, collectively referred to as health problems, and provides evidence to inform prevention strategies. The Athlete Management System (AMS) has been employed across a range of sports to monitor health. Australian combat athletes train across the country without dedicated national medical or sports science teams to monitor and advocate for their health. Employing a Web-based system, such as the AMS, May provide an avenue to increase the visibility of health problems experienced by combat athletes and deliver key information to stakeholders detailing where prevention programs May be targeted. Objective: The objectives of this paper are to (1) report on the feasibility of utilizing the AMS to collect longitudinal injury and illness data of combat sports athletes and (2) describe the type, location, severity, and recurrence of injuries and illnesses that the cohort of athletes experience across a 12-week period. Methods: We invited 26 elite and developing athletes from 4 Olympic combat sports (boxing, judo, taekwondo, and wrestling) to participate in this study. Engagement with the AMS was measured, and collected health problems (injuries or illnesses) were coded using the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System (version 10.1) and International Classification of Primary Care (version 2). Results: Despite >160 contacts, athlete engagement with online tools was poor, with only 13% compliance across the 12-week period. No taekwondo or wrestling athletes were compliant. Despite low overall engagement, a large number of injuries or illness were recorded across 11 athletes who entered data—22 unique injuries, 8 unique illnesses, 30 recurrent injuries, and 2 recurrent illnesses. The most frequent injuries were to the knee in boxing (n=41) and thigh in judo (n=9). In this cohort, judo players experienced more severe, but less frequent, injuries than boxers, yet judo players sustained more illnesses than boxers. In 97.0% (126/130) of cases, athletes in this cohort continued to train irrespective of their health problems. Conclusions: Among athletes who reported injuries, many reported multiple conditions, indicating a need for health monitoring in Australian combat sports. A number of factors May have influenced engagement with the AMS, including access to the internet, the design of the system, coach views on the system, previous experiences with the system, and the existing culture within Australian combat sports. To increase engagement, there May be a requirement for sports staff to provide relevant feedback on data entered into the system. Until the Barriers are addressed, it is not feasible to implement the system in its current form across a larger cohort of combat athletes.
Adaptive weighted non-parametric background model for efficient video coding
- Chakraborty, Subrata, Paul, Manoranjan, Murshed, Manzur, Ali, Mortuza
- Authors: Chakraborty, Subrata , Paul, Manoranjan , Murshed, Manzur , Ali, Mortuza
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Neurocomputing Vol. 226, no. (2017), p. 35-45
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Dynamic background frame based video coding using mixture of Gaussian (MoG) based background modelling has achieved better rate distortion performance compared to the H.264 standard. However, they suffer from high computation time, low coding efficiency for dynamic videos, and prior knowledge requirement of video content. In this paper, we introduce the application of the non-parametric (NP) background modelling approach for video coding domain. We present a novel background modelling technique, called weighted non-parametric (WNP) which balances the historical trend and the recent value of the pixel intensities adaptively based on the content and characteristics of any particular video. WNP is successfully embedded into the latest HEVC video coding standard for better rate-distortion performance. Moreover, a novel scene adaptive non-parametric (SANP) technique is also developed to handle video sequences with high dynamic background. Being non-parametric, the proposed techniques naturally exhibit superior performance in dynamic background modelling without a priori knowledge of video data distribution.
- Authors: Chakraborty, Subrata , Paul, Manoranjan , Murshed, Manzur , Ali, Mortuza
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Neurocomputing Vol. 226, no. (2017), p. 35-45
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Dynamic background frame based video coding using mixture of Gaussian (MoG) based background modelling has achieved better rate distortion performance compared to the H.264 standard. However, they suffer from high computation time, low coding efficiency for dynamic videos, and prior knowledge requirement of video content. In this paper, we introduce the application of the non-parametric (NP) background modelling approach for video coding domain. We present a novel background modelling technique, called weighted non-parametric (WNP) which balances the historical trend and the recent value of the pixel intensities adaptively based on the content and characteristics of any particular video. WNP is successfully embedded into the latest HEVC video coding standard for better rate-distortion performance. Moreover, a novel scene adaptive non-parametric (SANP) technique is also developed to handle video sequences with high dynamic background. Being non-parametric, the proposed techniques naturally exhibit superior performance in dynamic background modelling without a priori knowledge of video data distribution.
Understanding safety management system applicability in community sport
- Donaldson, Alex, Borys, David, Finch, Caroline
- Authors: Donaldson, Alex , Borys, David , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Safety Science Vol. 60, no. (2013), p. 95-104
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565907
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Despite recent interest in understanding the implementation context for sports injury prevention interventions, little research attention has been paid to the management structures and processes of community sporting organisations. This study developed expert consensus about the importance of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) setting-related safety management system (SMS) principles and performance indicators in the context of Australian community sporting organizations, and the feasibility of these organisations meeting the requirements for the SMS performance indicators. Twenty-nine sports injury prevention, community sports administration and OHS SMS experts participated in a three-round online Delphi study by rating the importance of 64 SMS performance indicators categorised under the five principles of Commitment and Policy; Planning; Implementation; Measurement and Evaluation; and Review and Improvement. Overall, consensus agreement - define as rated 'essential' or 'very important' on a five-point scale by ≥75% of the participants in Round 3 - was reached for 57 performance indicators. Ten (15%) performance indicators were rated as 'very difficult' or 'relatively difficult', and six (9%) were rated as 'very easy' or 'relatively easy' on a four-point scale, by ≥75% of participants. This research suggests that the guiding principles and associated performance indicators that underpin OHS safety management systems in the workplace are very relevant and applicable to community sporting organisations in Australia. However, considerable work is required to build organisational capacity to be able to develop and implement meaningfully and useful SMSs to prevent sports injuries in the most common setting in which they occur. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. Funded by NHMRC.
- Description: 2003011206
- Authors: Donaldson, Alex , Borys, David , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Safety Science Vol. 60, no. (2013), p. 95-104
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565907
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Despite recent interest in understanding the implementation context for sports injury prevention interventions, little research attention has been paid to the management structures and processes of community sporting organisations. This study developed expert consensus about the importance of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) setting-related safety management system (SMS) principles and performance indicators in the context of Australian community sporting organizations, and the feasibility of these organisations meeting the requirements for the SMS performance indicators. Twenty-nine sports injury prevention, community sports administration and OHS SMS experts participated in a three-round online Delphi study by rating the importance of 64 SMS performance indicators categorised under the five principles of Commitment and Policy; Planning; Implementation; Measurement and Evaluation; and Review and Improvement. Overall, consensus agreement - define as rated 'essential' or 'very important' on a five-point scale by ≥75% of the participants in Round 3 - was reached for 57 performance indicators. Ten (15%) performance indicators were rated as 'very difficult' or 'relatively difficult', and six (9%) were rated as 'very easy' or 'relatively easy' on a four-point scale, by ≥75% of participants. This research suggests that the guiding principles and associated performance indicators that underpin OHS safety management systems in the workplace are very relevant and applicable to community sporting organisations in Australia. However, considerable work is required to build organisational capacity to be able to develop and implement meaningfully and useful SMSs to prevent sports injuries in the most common setting in which they occur. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. Funded by NHMRC.
- Description: 2003011206
Optimizing prediction of binge eating episodes : A comparison approach to test alternative conceptualizations of the affect regulation model
- Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew, Richardson, Ben, Skouteris, Helen, Austin, David, Castle, David, Busija, Lucy, Klein, Britt, Holmes, Milllicent, Broadbent, Jaclyn
- Authors: Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew , Richardson, Ben , Skouteris, Helen , Austin, David , Castle, David , Busija, Lucy , Klein, Britt , Holmes, Milllicent , Broadbent, Jaclyn
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Eating Disorders Vol. 2, no. 1 (2014), p. 1-8
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Although a wealth of studies have tested the link between negative mood states and likelihood of a subsequent binge eating episode, the assumption that this relationship follows a typical linear dose-response pattern (i.e., that risk of a binge episode increases in proportion to level of negative mood) has not been challenged. The present study demonstrates the applicability of an alternative, non-linear conceptualization of this relationship, in which the strength of association between negative mood and probability of a binge episode increases above a threshold value for the mood variable relative to the slope below this threshold value (threshold dose response model).Methods: A sample of 93 women aged 18 to 40 completed an online survey at random intervals seven times per day for a period of one week. Participants self-reported their current mood state and whether they had recently engaged in an eating episode symptomatic of a binge.Results: As hypothesized, the threshold approach was a better predictor than the linear dose-response modeling of likelihood of a binge episode. The superiority of the threshold approach was found even at low levels of negative mood (3 out of 10, with higher scores reflecting more negative mood). Additionally, severity of negative mood beyond this threshold value appears to be useful for predicting time to onset of a binge episode.Conclusions: Present findings suggest that simple dose-response formulations for the association between negative mood and onset of binge episodes miss vital aspects of this relationship. Most notably, the impact of mood on binge eating appears to depend on whether a threshold value of negative mood has been breached, and elevation in mood beyond this point may be useful for clinicians and researchers to identify time to onset. © 2014 Fuller-Tyszkiewicz et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
- Authors: Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew , Richardson, Ben , Skouteris, Helen , Austin, David , Castle, David , Busija, Lucy , Klein, Britt , Holmes, Milllicent , Broadbent, Jaclyn
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Eating Disorders Vol. 2, no. 1 (2014), p. 1-8
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Although a wealth of studies have tested the link between negative mood states and likelihood of a subsequent binge eating episode, the assumption that this relationship follows a typical linear dose-response pattern (i.e., that risk of a binge episode increases in proportion to level of negative mood) has not been challenged. The present study demonstrates the applicability of an alternative, non-linear conceptualization of this relationship, in which the strength of association between negative mood and probability of a binge episode increases above a threshold value for the mood variable relative to the slope below this threshold value (threshold dose response model).Methods: A sample of 93 women aged 18 to 40 completed an online survey at random intervals seven times per day for a period of one week. Participants self-reported their current mood state and whether they had recently engaged in an eating episode symptomatic of a binge.Results: As hypothesized, the threshold approach was a better predictor than the linear dose-response modeling of likelihood of a binge episode. The superiority of the threshold approach was found even at low levels of negative mood (3 out of 10, with higher scores reflecting more negative mood). Additionally, severity of negative mood beyond this threshold value appears to be useful for predicting time to onset of a binge episode.Conclusions: Present findings suggest that simple dose-response formulations for the association between negative mood and onset of binge episodes miss vital aspects of this relationship. Most notably, the impact of mood on binge eating appears to depend on whether a threshold value of negative mood has been breached, and elevation in mood beyond this point may be useful for clinicians and researchers to identify time to onset. © 2014 Fuller-Tyszkiewicz et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Working to rule or working safely? Part 2 : The management of safety rules and procedures
- Authors: Hale, Andrew , Borys, David
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Safety Science Vol.55, no. (2012), p.54-59
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Part 1, the companion paper to this paper () reviews the literature from 1986 on the management of those safety rules and procedures which relate to the workplace level in organisations. It contrasts two different paradigms of how work rules and their development and use are perceived and managed. The first is a top-down classical, rational approach in which rules are seen as static, comprehensive limits of freedom of choice, imposed on operators at the sharp end and violations are seen as negative behaviour to be suppressed. The second is a bottom-up constructivist view of rules as dynamic, local, situated constructions of operators as experts, where competence is seen to a great extent as the ability to adapt rules to the diversity of reality. That paper explores the research underlying and illustrating these two paradigms. In this second paper we draw on that literature study to propose a framework of rule management which attempts to draw the lessons from both paradigms. It places the monitoring and adaptation of rules central to its management process and emphasises the need for participation of the intended rule followers in the processes of rule-making, but more importantly in keeping those rules alive and up to date in a process of regular and explicit dialogue with first-line supervision, and through them with the technical, safety and legal experts on the system functioning. The framework is proposed for testing in the field as a benchmark for good practice. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Hale, Andrew , Borys, David
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Safety Science Vol.55, no. (2012), p.54-59
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Part 1, the companion paper to this paper () reviews the literature from 1986 on the management of those safety rules and procedures which relate to the workplace level in organisations. It contrasts two different paradigms of how work rules and their development and use are perceived and managed. The first is a top-down classical, rational approach in which rules are seen as static, comprehensive limits of freedom of choice, imposed on operators at the sharp end and violations are seen as negative behaviour to be suppressed. The second is a bottom-up constructivist view of rules as dynamic, local, situated constructions of operators as experts, where competence is seen to a great extent as the ability to adapt rules to the diversity of reality. That paper explores the research underlying and illustrating these two paradigms. In this second paper we draw on that literature study to propose a framework of rule management which attempts to draw the lessons from both paradigms. It places the monitoring and adaptation of rules central to its management process and emphasises the need for participation of the intended rule followers in the processes of rule-making, but more importantly in keeping those rules alive and up to date in a process of regular and explicit dialogue with first-line supervision, and through them with the technical, safety and legal experts on the system functioning. The framework is proposed for testing in the field as a benchmark for good practice. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Working to rule, or working safely? Part 1 : A state of the art review
- Authors: Hale, Andrew , Borys, David
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Safety Science Vol.55, no. June (2013), p.207-221
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The paper reviews the literature from 1986 on the management of those safety rules and procedures which relate to the workplace level in organisations. It contrasts two different paradigms of how rules and their development and use are perceived and managed. The first is a top-down classical, rational approach in which rules are seen as static, comprehensive limits of freedom of choice, imposed on operators at the sharp end and violations are seen as negative behaviour to be suppressed. The second is a bottom-up constructivist view of rules as dynamic, local, situated constructions of operators as experts, where competence is seen to a great extent as the ability to adapt rules to the diversity of reality. The paper explores the research underlying and illustrating these two paradigms, drawn from psychology, sociology and ethnography, organisational studies and behavioural economics. In a separate paper following on from this review (Hale and Borys, this issue http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753512001312#b0285) the authors propose a framework of rule management which attempts to draw the lessons from both paradigms. It places the monitoring and adaptation of rules central to its management process. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Hale, Andrew , Borys, David
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Safety Science Vol.55, no. June (2013), p.207-221
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The paper reviews the literature from 1986 on the management of those safety rules and procedures which relate to the workplace level in organisations. It contrasts two different paradigms of how rules and their development and use are perceived and managed. The first is a top-down classical, rational approach in which rules are seen as static, comprehensive limits of freedom of choice, imposed on operators at the sharp end and violations are seen as negative behaviour to be suppressed. The second is a bottom-up constructivist view of rules as dynamic, local, situated constructions of operators as experts, where competence is seen to a great extent as the ability to adapt rules to the diversity of reality. The paper explores the research underlying and illustrating these two paradigms, drawn from psychology, sociology and ethnography, organisational studies and behavioural economics. In a separate paper following on from this review (Hale and Borys, this issue http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753512001312#b0285) the authors propose a framework of rule management which attempts to draw the lessons from both paradigms. It places the monitoring and adaptation of rules central to its management process. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Sleep and mental health among paramedics from Australia and Saudi Arabia : a comparison study
- Khan, Wahaj, Conduit, Russell, Kennedy, Gerard, Alslamah, Ahmed, Alsuwayeh, Mohammad, Jackson, Melinda
- Authors: Khan, Wahaj , Conduit, Russell , Kennedy, Gerard , Alslamah, Ahmed , Alsuwayeh, Mohammad , Jackson, Melinda
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Clocks & Sleep Vol. 2, no. 2 (JUN 2020), p. 246-257
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Paramedics face many challenges while on duty, one of which is working different types of shifts. Shift work has been linked to a number of health issues such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Besides shift work, Saudi paramedics, a group that has not been investigated for sleep or mental health issues previously, may be facing more demands than Australian paramedics due to lower numbers of paramedics in comparison to the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep and mental health disorders among paramedics in Saudi Arabia and Australia. Paramedics were invited to complete a survey to assess stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep quality, shift work disorder, obstructive sleep apnoea, fatigue, and general health. A total of 104 males Saudi paramedics (M age = 32.5 +/- 6.1 years) and 83 males paramedics from Australia (M age = 44.1 +/- 12.1 years) responded to the survey. Significantly higher rates of depression, PTSD, insomnia, and fatigue, along with significantly poorer physical functioning were observed among Saudi paramedics in comparison with Australian paramedics. However, Australian paramedics reported significantly poorer sleep quality and general health in comparison to Saudi paramedics. After removing the effect of driving and working durations, outcomes were no longer significant. The higher burden of depression and PTSD among Saudi paramedics may be explained by longer hours spent driving and longer work durations reported by this group. Taking into consideration the outcomes reported in this study, more investigations are needed to study their possible effects on paramedics' cognition, performance, and safety.
- Authors: Khan, Wahaj , Conduit, Russell , Kennedy, Gerard , Alslamah, Ahmed , Alsuwayeh, Mohammad , Jackson, Melinda
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Clocks & Sleep Vol. 2, no. 2 (JUN 2020), p. 246-257
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Paramedics face many challenges while on duty, one of which is working different types of shifts. Shift work has been linked to a number of health issues such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Besides shift work, Saudi paramedics, a group that has not been investigated for sleep or mental health issues previously, may be facing more demands than Australian paramedics due to lower numbers of paramedics in comparison to the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep and mental health disorders among paramedics in Saudi Arabia and Australia. Paramedics were invited to complete a survey to assess stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep quality, shift work disorder, obstructive sleep apnoea, fatigue, and general health. A total of 104 males Saudi paramedics (M age = 32.5 +/- 6.1 years) and 83 males paramedics from Australia (M age = 44.1 +/- 12.1 years) responded to the survey. Significantly higher rates of depression, PTSD, insomnia, and fatigue, along with significantly poorer physical functioning were observed among Saudi paramedics in comparison with Australian paramedics. However, Australian paramedics reported significantly poorer sleep quality and general health in comparison to Saudi paramedics. After removing the effect of driving and working durations, outcomes were no longer significant. The higher burden of depression and PTSD among Saudi paramedics may be explained by longer hours spent driving and longer work durations reported by this group. Taking into consideration the outcomes reported in this study, more investigations are needed to study their possible effects on paramedics' cognition, performance, and safety.
Success in national level junior tennis : Tactical perspectives
- Klaus, Anne, Bradshaw, Ryan, Young, Warren, O’Brien, Brendan, Zois, James
- Authors: Klaus, Anne , Bradshaw, Ryan , Young, Warren , O’Brien, Brendan , Zois, James
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching Vol. 12, no. 5 (2017), p. 618-622
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- Description: Purpose: Point duration in competitive tennis is becoming shorter, highlighting a greater emphasis on performance of the first strokes of each point, in particular, the performance of the server. Methods: Descriptive measures of the video-based analysis included stroke type, point outcome and stroke position of the first two strokes of the server (service and first shot) during 10 randomly selected sets of competition on hard court. All participants (male; n=8) were of the age group 14 years and below and competed in national level events. Results: The performance of the first serve is characterized by an “in-percentage” of 54.6% and an improved chance of winning the point (for the server) following a first serve (55.9%; P<0.001) compared to a second serve (42.9%). The majority of stroke positions for first-shot winners were located in the central zone of the court (52.1%; P<0.01). In comparison to the error rate of all examined strokes, we observed an increased error rate of the first shot (16.5% vs. 22.4%; P<0.01). Conclusion: Contrasting to professionals, juniors produce more first-serve errors and win fewer points directly via the serve. Success in junior tennis relies in minimizing errors within short rallies specifically on the first shot of the server. Coaches of national level junior tennis players should focus on strategies to optimize court position following the serve and service percentage to increase competitive success rate. To achieve this, the server should utilize the serve as a “set-up” tool, dictating the direction of the returner’s return of serve within the central zones of the court. © The Author(s) 2017.
- Authors: Klaus, Anne , Bradshaw, Ryan , Young, Warren , O’Brien, Brendan , Zois, James
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching Vol. 12, no. 5 (2017), p. 618-622
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose: Point duration in competitive tennis is becoming shorter, highlighting a greater emphasis on performance of the first strokes of each point, in particular, the performance of the server. Methods: Descriptive measures of the video-based analysis included stroke type, point outcome and stroke position of the first two strokes of the server (service and first shot) during 10 randomly selected sets of competition on hard court. All participants (male; n=8) were of the age group 14 years and below and competed in national level events. Results: The performance of the first serve is characterized by an “in-percentage” of 54.6% and an improved chance of winning the point (for the server) following a first serve (55.9%; P<0.001) compared to a second serve (42.9%). The majority of stroke positions for first-shot winners were located in the central zone of the court (52.1%; P<0.01). In comparison to the error rate of all examined strokes, we observed an increased error rate of the first shot (16.5% vs. 22.4%; P<0.01). Conclusion: Contrasting to professionals, juniors produce more first-serve errors and win fewer points directly via the serve. Success in junior tennis relies in minimizing errors within short rallies specifically on the first shot of the server. Coaches of national level junior tennis players should focus on strategies to optimize court position following the serve and service percentage to increase competitive success rate. To achieve this, the server should utilize the serve as a “set-up” tool, dictating the direction of the returner’s return of serve within the central zones of the court. © The Author(s) 2017.
A randomized head to head trial of MoodSwings.net.au: An internet based self-help program for bipolar disorder
- Lauder, Sue, Chester, Andrea, Castle, David, Dodd, Seetal, Gliddon, Emma, Berk, Lesley, Chamberlain, James, Klein, Britt, Gilbert, Monica, Austin, David, Berk, Michael
- Authors: Lauder, Sue , Chester, Andrea , Castle, David , Dodd, Seetal , Gliddon, Emma , Berk, Lesley , Chamberlain, James , Klein, Britt , Gilbert, Monica , Austin, David , Berk, Michael
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Affective Disorders Vol. 171, no. (2014), p. 13-21
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- Description: Background Adjunctive psychosocial interventions are efficacious in bipolar disorder, but their incorporation into routine management plans are often confounded by cost and access constraints. We report here a comparative evaluation of two online programs hosted on a single website (www.moodswings.net.au). A basic version, called MoodSwings (MS), contains psychoeducation material and asynchronous discussion boards; and a more interactive program, MoodSwings Plus (MS-Plus), combined the basic psychoeducation material and discussion boards with elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. These programs were evaluated in a head-to-head study design. Method Participants with Bipolar I or II disorder (n=156) were randomized to receive either MoodSwings or MoodSwings-Plus. Outcomes included mood symptoms, the occurrence of relapse, functionality, Locus of Control, social support, quality of life and medication adherence. Results Participants in both groups showed baseline to endpoint reductions in mood symptoms and improvements in functionality, quality of life and medication adherence. The MoodSwings-Plus group showed a greater number of within-group changes on symptoms and functioning in depression and mania, quality of life and social support, across both poles of the illness. MoodSwings-Plus was superior to MoodSwings in improvement on symptoms of mania scores at 12 months (p=0.02) but not on the incidence of recurrence. Limitations The study did not have an attention control group and therefore could not demonstrate efficacy of the two active arms. There was notable (81%) attrition by 12 months from baseline. Conclusion This study suggests that both CBT and psychoeducation delivered online may have utility in the management of bipolar disorder. They are feasible, readily accepted, and associated with improvement. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Lauder, Sue , Chester, Andrea , Castle, David , Dodd, Seetal , Gliddon, Emma , Berk, Lesley , Chamberlain, James , Klein, Britt , Gilbert, Monica , Austin, David , Berk, Michael
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Affective Disorders Vol. 171, no. (2014), p. 13-21
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background Adjunctive psychosocial interventions are efficacious in bipolar disorder, but their incorporation into routine management plans are often confounded by cost and access constraints. We report here a comparative evaluation of two online programs hosted on a single website (www.moodswings.net.au). A basic version, called MoodSwings (MS), contains psychoeducation material and asynchronous discussion boards; and a more interactive program, MoodSwings Plus (MS-Plus), combined the basic psychoeducation material and discussion boards with elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. These programs were evaluated in a head-to-head study design. Method Participants with Bipolar I or II disorder (n=156) were randomized to receive either MoodSwings or MoodSwings-Plus. Outcomes included mood symptoms, the occurrence of relapse, functionality, Locus of Control, social support, quality of life and medication adherence. Results Participants in both groups showed baseline to endpoint reductions in mood symptoms and improvements in functionality, quality of life and medication adherence. The MoodSwings-Plus group showed a greater number of within-group changes on symptoms and functioning in depression and mania, quality of life and social support, across both poles of the illness. MoodSwings-Plus was superior to MoodSwings in improvement on symptoms of mania scores at 12 months (p=0.02) but not on the incidence of recurrence. Limitations The study did not have an attention control group and therefore could not demonstrate efficacy of the two active arms. There was notable (81%) attrition by 12 months from baseline. Conclusion This study suggests that both CBT and psychoeducation delivered online may have utility in the management of bipolar disorder. They are feasible, readily accepted, and associated with improvement. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Internet Gaming Disorder : The interplay between physical activity and user–avatar relationship
- Liew, Lucas, Stavropoulos, Vasileios, Adams, Baxter, Burleigh, Tyrone, Griffiths, Mark
- Authors: Liew, Lucas , Stavropoulos, Vasileios , Adams, Baxter , Burleigh, Tyrone , Griffiths, Mark
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Behaviour and Information Technology Vol. 37, no. 6 (2018), p. 558-574
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Understanding both the risk and protective factors associated with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been viewed by many in the gaming studies field as an area of research priority. The present study focused on the potential risk and protective effects of user–avatar (game figure) relationship and physical activity (PA), respectively. To address these aims, a cross-sectional and a longitudinal mixed-methods design were combined (comprising both psychological and physiological assessments). A sample of 121 emerging adult gamers (18–29 years) residing in Australia, who played massively multiplayer online games, were assessed in relation to their IGD behaviours using the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form. Additionally, the Proto-Self-Presence (PSP) scale was used to evaluate the extent to which gamers identified with the body of their avatar. Finally, a PA monitor (Fitbit Flex) measured levels of energy consumed during real-world daily activities (active minutes). A number of linear regressions and moderation analyses were conducted. Findings confirmed that PSP functioned as an IGD risk factor and that PA acted protectively, weakening the association between PSP and IGD behaviours. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to IGD treatment and gaming development aspects.
- Authors: Liew, Lucas , Stavropoulos, Vasileios , Adams, Baxter , Burleigh, Tyrone , Griffiths, Mark
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Behaviour and Information Technology Vol. 37, no. 6 (2018), p. 558-574
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Understanding both the risk and protective factors associated with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been viewed by many in the gaming studies field as an area of research priority. The present study focused on the potential risk and protective effects of user–avatar (game figure) relationship and physical activity (PA), respectively. To address these aims, a cross-sectional and a longitudinal mixed-methods design were combined (comprising both psychological and physiological assessments). A sample of 121 emerging adult gamers (18–29 years) residing in Australia, who played massively multiplayer online games, were assessed in relation to their IGD behaviours using the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form. Additionally, the Proto-Self-Presence (PSP) scale was used to evaluate the extent to which gamers identified with the body of their avatar. Finally, a PA monitor (Fitbit Flex) measured levels of energy consumed during real-world daily activities (active minutes). A number of linear regressions and moderation analyses were conducted. Findings confirmed that PSP functioned as an IGD risk factor and that PA acted protectively, weakening the association between PSP and IGD behaviours. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to IGD treatment and gaming development aspects.
Netflix and chill? What sex differences can tell us about mate preferences in (hypothetical) booty-call relationships
- March, Evita, Van Doorn, George, Grieve, Rachel
- Authors: March, Evita , Van Doorn, George , Grieve, Rachel
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Evolutionary Psychology Vol. 16, no. 4 (2018), p. 1-10
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The booty-call relationship is defined by both sexual characteristics and emotional involvement. In the current study, men’s and women’s preferences for a booty-call mate were explored. Men and women were predicted to exhibit different mate preferences depending on whether they considered a booty-call relationship a short- or long-term relationship. Participants (N = 559, 74% women) completed an anonymous online questionnaire, designing their ideal booty-call mate using the mate dollars paradigm. Both sexes considered the physical attractiveness and kindness of a booty-call mate a necessity, expressing both short- and long-term mate preferences. The current study highlights the need to explore mate preferences outside the dichotomy of short- and long-term relationships, providing evidence of a compromise relationship.
- Authors: March, Evita , Van Doorn, George , Grieve, Rachel
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Evolutionary Psychology Vol. 16, no. 4 (2018), p. 1-10
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The booty-call relationship is defined by both sexual characteristics and emotional involvement. In the current study, men’s and women’s preferences for a booty-call mate were explored. Men and women were predicted to exhibit different mate preferences depending on whether they considered a booty-call relationship a short- or long-term relationship. Participants (N = 559, 74% women) completed an anonymous online questionnaire, designing their ideal booty-call mate using the mate dollars paradigm. Both sexes considered the physical attractiveness and kindness of a booty-call mate a necessity, expressing both short- and long-term mate preferences. The current study highlights the need to explore mate preferences outside the dichotomy of short- and long-term relationships, providing evidence of a compromise relationship.
Comparison of physical activity in small-sided basketball games versus full-sided games
- McCormick, Brian, Hannon, James, Newton, Maria, Shultz, Barry, Miller, Nicole, Young, Warren
- Authors: McCormick, Brian , Hannon, James , Newton, Maria , Shultz, Barry , Miller, Nicole , Young, Warren
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching Vol. 7, no. 4 (2012), p. 689-697
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Organized youth sports leagues attempt to meet many goals. Three primary needs for a youth sports league are to meet the participants' desires, provide quality learning experiences, and develop the competencies needed for continued participation. Possessing the ball, shooting more, and being more involved with a team's offense lead to more enjoyment and feelings of competence. Therefore, increasing the involvement of each player through more ball contacts should be a goal of youth sports leagues. Twelve male basketball players (age=15) from one high-school basketball team participated in this study. This study used paired t-tests to examine the differences between three-on-three basketball games and five-on-five basketball games that lasted for eight minutes in terms of average heart rate, moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, vigorous intensity activity, and ball contacts. There were no significant differences between average heart rate, moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity, or vigorous intensity activity in the two conditions, but there were significantly more ball contacts on average in the three-on-three games. These results suggest that three-on-three leagues may be an appropriate sport for the initial exposure to basketball for youth players.
- Description: 2003010574
- Authors: McCormick, Brian , Hannon, James , Newton, Maria , Shultz, Barry , Miller, Nicole , Young, Warren
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching Vol. 7, no. 4 (2012), p. 689-697
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Organized youth sports leagues attempt to meet many goals. Three primary needs for a youth sports league are to meet the participants' desires, provide quality learning experiences, and develop the competencies needed for continued participation. Possessing the ball, shooting more, and being more involved with a team's offense lead to more enjoyment and feelings of competence. Therefore, increasing the involvement of each player through more ball contacts should be a goal of youth sports leagues. Twelve male basketball players (age=15) from one high-school basketball team participated in this study. This study used paired t-tests to examine the differences between three-on-three basketball games and five-on-five basketball games that lasted for eight minutes in terms of average heart rate, moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, vigorous intensity activity, and ball contacts. There were no significant differences between average heart rate, moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity, or vigorous intensity activity in the two conditions, but there were significantly more ball contacts on average in the three-on-three games. These results suggest that three-on-three leagues may be an appropriate sport for the initial exposure to basketball for youth players.
- Description: 2003010574
Marital status and suicidal ideation among Australian older adults: the mediating role of sense of belonging
- McLaren, Suzanne, Gomez, Rapson, Gill, Peter, Chester, Jessica
- Authors: McLaren, Suzanne , Gomez, Rapson , Gill, Peter , Chester, Jessica
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Psychogeriatrics Vol. 27, no. 1 (2014), p. 145-154
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Marriage has been identified as a protective factor in relation to suicide among older adults. The current study aimed to investigate whether sense of belonging mediated the marital status-suicidal ideation relationship, and whether gender moderated the mediation model. It was hypothesized that the relationship between being widowed and lower levels of sense of belonging, and between lower levels of belonging and higher levels of suicidal ideation, would be stronger for older men than older women. A community sample of Australian men (n = 286) and women (n = 383) aged from 65 to 98 years completed the psychological subscale of the Sense of Belonging Instrument and the suicide subscale of the General Health Questionnaire. The results supported the moderated mediation model, with gender influencing the marital status-sense of belonging relation. For men, widowhood was associated with lower levels of belongingness, whereas for women, marital status was unrelated to sense of belonging. It would appear crucial to develop and implement interventions which assist older men to find new ways to feel important and valued after the death of their spouse.
- Authors: McLaren, Suzanne , Gomez, Rapson , Gill, Peter , Chester, Jessica
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Psychogeriatrics Vol. 27, no. 1 (2014), p. 145-154
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Marriage has been identified as a protective factor in relation to suicide among older adults. The current study aimed to investigate whether sense of belonging mediated the marital status-suicidal ideation relationship, and whether gender moderated the mediation model. It was hypothesized that the relationship between being widowed and lower levels of sense of belonging, and between lower levels of belonging and higher levels of suicidal ideation, would be stronger for older men than older women. A community sample of Australian men (n = 286) and women (n = 383) aged from 65 to 98 years completed the psychological subscale of the Sense of Belonging Instrument and the suicide subscale of the General Health Questionnaire. The results supported the moderated mediation model, with gender influencing the marital status-sense of belonging relation. For men, widowhood was associated with lower levels of belongingness, whereas for women, marital status was unrelated to sense of belonging. It would appear crucial to develop and implement interventions which assist older men to find new ways to feel important and valued after the death of their spouse.
Examining the accuracy and in-game performance effects between pre- and post-performance routines : A mixed methods study
- Mesagno, Christopher, Hill, Denise, Larkin, Paul
- Authors: Mesagno, Christopher , Hill, Denise , Larkin, Paul
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Psychology of Sport and Exercise Vol. 19, no. (2015), p. 85-94
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- Description: Objectives: Researchers have identified that pre-performance routines improve performance under pressure, yet have not investigated the effects of post-performance routines. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine whether the type of performance routine training could improve tenpin bowling accuracy and in-game performance. Design: A mixed-method design was adopted, whereby the impact of a performance routine intervention on performance accuracy and in-game performance was examined. This was followed by participants completing semi-structured interviews which explored the perceived effect of those routines. Method: Thirty-six experienced tenpin bowlers completed 30 accuracy shots pre- and post-intervention training, with league scores obtained for in-game performance comparison. Four groups (i.e., pre-performance routine [PPR], post-performance routine [POST], combined pre-post routine, and a control group) practiced 12 games across four weeks while listening to the group specific routine instruction on an IPod. Results: It was noted that accuracy improved (albeit non-significantly) for the PPR and combined pre-post routine group, but not the other groups. Critically, all intervention groups (PPR, POST & COMBO) improved in-game performance. The qualitative data indicated that both the PPR and POST was perceived to influence positively performance, attentional and emotional control, self-awareness, self-confidence, motivation. The PPR was also considered to enhance a state of readiness, and perceived control. Conclusions: Results indicate that the PPR training enhanced accuracy and in-game performance, with the POST training acting as a supportive role for in-game performance as evidenced by the qualitative and quantitative data. Future research should continue to investigate the effects of POSTs. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Mesagno, Christopher , Hill, Denise , Larkin, Paul
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Psychology of Sport and Exercise Vol. 19, no. (2015), p. 85-94
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: Researchers have identified that pre-performance routines improve performance under pressure, yet have not investigated the effects of post-performance routines. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine whether the type of performance routine training could improve tenpin bowling accuracy and in-game performance. Design: A mixed-method design was adopted, whereby the impact of a performance routine intervention on performance accuracy and in-game performance was examined. This was followed by participants completing semi-structured interviews which explored the perceived effect of those routines. Method: Thirty-six experienced tenpin bowlers completed 30 accuracy shots pre- and post-intervention training, with league scores obtained for in-game performance comparison. Four groups (i.e., pre-performance routine [PPR], post-performance routine [POST], combined pre-post routine, and a control group) practiced 12 games across four weeks while listening to the group specific routine instruction on an IPod. Results: It was noted that accuracy improved (albeit non-significantly) for the PPR and combined pre-post routine group, but not the other groups. Critically, all intervention groups (PPR, POST & COMBO) improved in-game performance. The qualitative data indicated that both the PPR and POST was perceived to influence positively performance, attentional and emotional control, self-awareness, self-confidence, motivation. The PPR was also considered to enhance a state of readiness, and perceived control. Conclusions: Results indicate that the PPR training enhanced accuracy and in-game performance, with the POST training acting as a supportive role for in-game performance as evidenced by the qualitative and quantitative data. Future research should continue to investigate the effects of POSTs. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.