An item response theory analysis of measures of the behavioural activation and inhibition systems
- Authors: Cooper, Andrew , Gomez, Rapson
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Psychology Vol. 39, no. 5-6 (Oct-Dec 2004), p. 194-194
- Full Text: false
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- Description: C1
Same-sex sexuality and childhood gender non-conformity : A spurious connection
- Authors: Gottschalk, Lorene
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Gender Studies Vol. 12, no. 1 (Mar 2003), p. 35-50
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- Description: Biological and hormonal theories of same-sex sexuality are usually based upon an assumption of congenital gender inversion, that is, that a lesbian is in some way masculinised and a gay man in some way feminised. Commonly, and also because of the assumption of biology, such evidence of gender inversion is sought in childhood. In this paper I present a challenge to the theory that childhood gender non-conformity is associated with homosexuality, noting in particular that discussions of gender non-conformity and 'homosexuality' do not attempt to explain the experiences of heterosexual women. By demonstrating that childhood gender non-conformity has been wrongly associated with same-sex sexuality and posing an alternative explanation for childhood gender non-conformity, it is my intention to present a challenge to the theory that same-sex sexuality is related to congenital gender inversion.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000601
Being smart and being green : Entrepreneurial innovation in challenging times
- Authors: Braun, Patrice , Lowe, Julian
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 32nd Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship Conference, ISBE 2009, Liverpool, UK : 3rd-6th November 2009
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- Description: In difficult times business operators are looking for clever and affordable ways to grow their enterprises. This paper seeks to make a contribution to a better understanding of proactive environmental and innovation strategies for SMEs and the interaction between demand and supply towards sustainable and innovative business practices. The paper discusses the combined outcomes of the exit survey of a greening small business 2008 pilot program and the entry survey for the 2009 online training and networking version of the program, which fuses environmental, business and ICT- enabled skilling to enhance both SME entrepreneurship and innovation. The study suggests that SME business sustainability cannot be reduced to an oversimplified business case and that pro-environmental strategy adoption and behaviour, and particularly behavioural change, is highly complex. The outcomes of this research are expected to contribute to good practice in environmental and innovation skilling for SMEs, especially skilling that differentiates between supply and demand side skilling and brings together the two sides in a proactive resource acquisition, knowledge transfer and networking environment.
- Description: 2003007572
Serum lipids and their relationships with angry affect and behaviours in men
- Authors: Richards, Jeffrey , Hof, Alexandra , Alvarenga, Marlies
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Psychology Vol. 53, no. (2001), p. 171-171
- Full Text: false
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Family physical activity and sedentary environments and weight change in children
- Authors: Timperio, Anna , Salmon, Jo , Ball, Kylie , Baur, Louise , Telford, Amanda , Jackson, Michelle , Salmon, Louisa , Crawford, David
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Pediatric Obesity Vol. 3, no. 3 (2008), p. 160-167
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objective. To examine associations between family physical activity and sedentary environment and changes in body mass index (BMI) z-scores among 10-12-year-old children over three years. Method. Design. Longitudinal (three-year follow-up). Subjects. In total, 152 boys and 192 girls aged 10-12 years at baseline. Measurements. Measured height and weight at baseline and follow-up (weight status, BMI z-scores); aspects of the family physical activity and sedentary environment (parental and sibling modelling, reinforcement, social support, family-related barriers, rules/restrictions, home physical environment) measured with a questionnaire completed by parents at baseline. Results. At baseline, 29.6% of boys and 21.9% of girls were overweight or obese, and mean (standard deviation, SD) BMI z-scores were 0.44 (0.99) and 0.28 (0.89), respectively. There was a significant change in BMI z-score among girls (mean change=0.19, SD=0.55, p < 0.001), but not boys. Among boys, the number of items at home able to be used for sedentary behaviour (B=0.11, p=0.037) was associated with relatively greater increases in BMI z-score. Among girls, sibling engagement in physical activity at least three times/wk (B=-0.17, p=0.010) and the number of physical activity equipment items at home (B=-0.05, p=0.018) were associated with relatively greater decreases in BMI z-score. Conclusion. Sibling physical activity and environmental stimuli for sedentary behaviours and physical activity within the home may be important targets for prevention of weight gain during the transition from childhood to adolescence.
- Description: C1
Going green : Women entrepreneurs and the environment
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 32nd Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship Conference, ISBE 2009, Liverpool, UK : 3rd-6th November 2009
- Full Text:
- Description: In economically challenging times business operators are looking for clever and affordable ways to grow their enterprises. This paper discusses the role of women entrepreneurs’ in proactively greening their small business. The paper highlights the combined outcomes of the exit survey of a greening small business 2008 pilot program and the entry survey for the 2009 online version of the training and networking program, which fuses environmental, business and ICT-enabled skilling to enhance both SME entrepreneurship and innovation. The study suggests that while reported environmental attitudes between male and female entrepreneurs do not differ significantly, women’s motivations differ from male entrepreneurs in terms of greening their business; and women are more proactive in pursuing green networking opportunities, where they can interact with like-minded businesses, access more clients, source alternative resources and expand their green business networks.
- Description: 2003007573
Endgame : Optimal selling strategies in online auctions
- Authors: Knox, Ian , Lynch, David
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 4th International AGSE Entrepreneurship Research Exchange : Regional Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research 2007, Brisbane Graduate School of Business, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland : 6th-9th February 2007
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- Description: Principal Topic: Online auctions have emerged as a major opportunity for individuals to start businesses or for established businesses to diversify and grow their markets. To-date, research interest has focused largely on the technological entrepreneur rather than the Internet based (cyber) entrepreneur. The aim of this study was to examine the behaviour of participants in online auctions, measuring their response to actual market conditions and rules. Do online markets react to quality uncertainly (Akerlof, 1970) in the same way as off line markets, and is the contention that Internet shopping emphasises cost reduction over brand-based differentiation (Pine and Gilmore, 1999) valid? The purpose of this paper is to present findings from an analysis of secondary data collected from online auctions. By better understanding buyer behaviour in online auctions, sellers will be able to select the best selling strategies for individual and/or unique businesses types. Methodology/Key Propositions: With the cooperation of an existing online book seller, the study examined three main auction-start pricing strategies; fully priced, cost priced and below cost priced. Auction duration and postage cost were also varied and the combined effects on buyer behaviour established. Data from 1,200 auctions was provided for the study. While the study primarily took an empirical approach, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods were used as information asymmetries play an important role in online auctions for both buyers and sellers. Subjective opinions of optimal selling strategies were gathered from online discussion boards, to allow comparisons to be made between auction user perceptions and measured auction outcomes. Results and Implications: Even within disparate product categories the study found that optimal selling strategies are predictable. The mix of start price, auction duration and postage cost, effects product sale price in a manner that indicates the desirability of high start pricing. In the rapidly evolving online auction marketplace there is a need for ongoing evaluation of buyer preferences to aid seller pricing strategies. Contrary to the findings of earlier Internet auction studies that focused on cost reduction as primary buyer motivators, this study found that buyers are drawing on a wide range of experiential value sources. Average selling prices on auction sites may actually have increased, although it is acknowledged that some product category prices may have fallen due to over supply. Auction selling management will become increasingly important.
- Description: 2003005186
Providing services for acute low-back pain : A survey of Australian physiotherapists
- Authors: Keating, Jennifer , McKenzie, Joanne , O'Connor, Denise , French, Simon , Walker, Bruce , Charity, Melanie , Page, Matthew , Green, Sally
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Manual Therapy Vol. 22, no. (2016), p. 145-152
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objective: To determine whether physiotherapists avoid lumbar X-rays for acute non-specific low back pain and advise people to stay active. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional survey of Australian physiotherapists. 880 physiotherapists were randomly sampled from Victoria (495), South Australia (158), and Western Australia (227). Physiotherapists were asked which investigations they would order and interventions they would provide for five acute low back pain (LBP) presentations described in vignettes. Four of the five vignettes represented people who would not require a plain lumbar X-ray and would benefit from advice to stay active; one described a patient with a suspected vertebral fracture and would require a plain X-ray. Participants selected from a list of response options or provided free text responses. Results: Questionnaires were completed by 203 of 567 potentially eligible physiotherapists (response rate 36%). Across the four vignettes where an X-ray was not indicated, 75% (95%CI 71-78%) of physiotherapists reported they would practice concordant with the guidelines and not order an X-ray, and 62% (95%CI 57-66%) provided advice to stay active. Conclusions: Most physiotherapists report intended compliance with recommendations in Australian clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) regarding avoiding the use of X-rays and providing advice to stay active for people with simple acute low back pain, given a vignette based scenario. The majority of respondents reported that they would not advise bed rest. Possible opportunities to further enhance compliance need to be developed and tested to reinforce the role of CPGs in informing physiotherapy practice. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
Horse talk : Equine based learning programs and their engagement with individuals
- Authors: Townsend, Rob , Hood, Michelle
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Adult Learning Vol. 59, no. 2 (2019), p. 254-268
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Studies about equine therapies or equine experiential learning recommend that significantly more research, specifically longitudinal research, across age groups, genders, contexts and client cohorts needs to occur in diverse contexts. There exists diverse equine-related programs which engage with a range of cohorts, specifically; young children who have experienced abuse; adolescents who have experienced abuse and family violence and adults who have experienced family violence, psychiatric disorders, social anxiety and social isolation. The most common outcomes from the equine learning program studied for this article, from the case-studies and the thematic analysis includes; behavioural changes, stress relief, mind and body awareness and control, forming a relationship with an intuitive practitioner, guided meditations as a means of creating independent meditation techniques and re-engagement with education, work, friendships and family relationships. The mind-body awareness that is gained by participants of the program provides skills and techniques for individuals (and families) to utilise in every-day, with lifelong learning a crucial aspect of the program.
Infection prevention and control : Who is the judge, you or the guidelines?
- Authors: Bouchoucha, Stephane , Moore, Kathleen
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Infection Prevention Vol. , no. (2017), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the attitudes and behaviours of registered nurses and their colleagues around the adoption of standard precautions in order to determine strategies to promote adherence. Design: A qualitative exploratory descriptive design used interviews and focus group to collect data. Setting: Registered nurses and registered midwifes from a tertiary metropolitan hospital took part in the study. Participants: A voluntary sample of 29 adults was recruited from the Australian nursing (n = 25) and midwifery (n = 4) workforce. There were six men (mean age = 36.83 years; SD = 8.93) and 23 women (mean age = 41.36 years; SD = 10.25). Participants were recruited through advertisement on notice boards and emails from unit managers. Results: Thematic analysis revealed five themes but the focus here is on staff judgements which are against the guidelines. Participants indicated that where in their judgement the patient posed no risk and they judged themselves skilled in the procedure, they were justified in deviating from the guidelines. Some staff judgements appeared to be self-protecting, while others were irrational and inconsistent. Conclusions: Despite use of standard precautions being mandated, staff often deviated from them based on their own assessment of the situation or the patient. Any deviance from the guidelines is of concern but especially so when staff take it upon themselves to apply their own criteria or judgements. These results also suggest there may be some organisational inadequacies with regards to training and supervision of staff.
Asian migrants' lived experience and acculturation to western health care in rural Tasmania
- Authors: Terry, Daniel , Ali, Mohammed , Lê, Quynh
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Rural Health Vol. 19, no. 6 (2011), p. 318-323
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- Description: Objectives: The study was designed to explore the lived experience of Asian migrants' health care-seeking behaviour in Tasmania, to discern the acculturation process by which Asian migrants are enabled to use the health system and to identify strategies, which assist migrants to understand and use the health system better. Methods: Qualitative research was adopted. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 36 Asian migrants residing in North, South and North West Tasmania, which were recruited through purposive sampling. Results: Six main themes emerged from the interviews: the acculturation process, interactions with the health care system, access issues, culturally appropriate health care, positive health care in Tasmania and suggestions for improving health care. Conclusions: The findings indicated that Asian migrants' views affected their health care-seeking behaviours because of the lack of information, poor communication, limited access and choices in Tasmania. Interestingly, those married to local Tasmanians had the shortest trajectory to health system acculturation. The study recommended developing health and well-being for Asian migrants by increasing access to information regarding navigating the health system and improving access to and awareness of language services. In addition, ensuring adequate, appropriately written, culturally specific and congruent information should be available to assist migrants' transition into a new health care system. Lastly, greater cultural awareness within the health profession to meet the needs of culturally specific individuals and communities is required when they seek care. © 2011 The Authors. Australian Journal of Rural Health © National Rural Health Alliance Inc.
Understanding parental monitoring through analysis of monitoring episodes in context
- Authors: Hayes, Louise , Hudson, Alan , Matthews, Jan
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Behavioral and Consultation Therapy Vol. 3, no. 1 (2007), p. 96-108
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- Description: A model of monitoring interactions was proposed that is based on behavioural principles and places episodic parent-adolescent interactions at the centre of analysis for monitoring. The process-monitoring model contends that monitoring is an interactive process between parents and their adolescents, nested within a socialsetting. In the model it is proposed that monitoring occurs in discrete episodes that change over the course of adolescent development. To explain monitoring interactions it is essential to expand research to include a functional assessment of monitoring exchanges between parents and adolescents and to also measure thequality of parent-adolescent relationships, consider adolescent age and development, parental characteristics, and the context of the family.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005786
Does the national competency standards framework for pharmacists in Australia support the provision of behaviour change interventions?
- Authors: Singh, Harjit , Kennedy, Gerard , Stupans, Ieva
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Promotion Journal of Australia Vol. 33, no. 2 (2022), p. 480-487
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- Description: Issue addressed: Australian pharmacists are increasingly moving towards the provision of patient-centred professional pharmacy services for chronic disease management. Some of these services are targeted towards improving patients’ health and wellbeing through the facilitation of patient-driven health behaviour change. This paper investigates whether the provision of behaviour change interventions by Australian pharmacists is adequately underpinned by the current competency framework. Methods: The foundation and behaviour change competences within each of the domains in the generic health behaviour change competency framework (GHBC-CF), was mapped to the Australian pharmacist competency framework. Results: Although the Australian competency framework underpins most of the foundation and behaviour change competences of the GHB-CF required to undertake low-intensity interventions, for medium to high-intensity interventions four specific task-related competences need to be addressed. These are F12 ‘Ability to recognise barriers to and facilitators of implementing interventions’, BC4 ‘ability to agree on goals for the intervention’, BC5 ‘capacity to implement behaviour change models in a flexible but coherent manner’ and BC6 ‘capacity to select and skilfully apply most appropriate intervention method’. Conclusion: Additional training is necessary if pharmacists aspire to provide behaviour change interventions for chronic disease management, in particular those that are complex as they involve changes to multiple health behaviours. So what?: The identification of these gaps is critical and can potentially be addressed in postgraduate training programs and as pharmacy curricula are updated. © 2021 Australian Health Promotion Association.
Tobacco retailer density and smoking behaviour : how are exposure and outcome measures classified? A systematic review
- Authors: Baker, John , Lenz, Katrin , Masood, Mohd , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz , Begg, Stephen
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Public Health Vol. 23, no. 1 (2023), p.
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- Description: Introduction: To date only a limited number of reviews have focused on how exposure and outcome measures are defined in the existing literature on associations between tobacco retailer density (‘density’) and smoking behaviour (‘smoking’). Therefore this systematic review classified and summarised how both density and smoking variables are operationalised in the existing literature, and provides several methodological recommendations for future density and smoking research. Methods: Two literature searches between March and April 2018 and April 2022 were conducted across 10 databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed and keyword database searches were undertaken. Studies were imported into Covidence. Cross-sectional studies that met the inclusion criteria were extracted and a quality assessment was undertaken. Studies were categorised according to the density measure used, and smoking was re-categorised using a modified classification tool. Results: Large heterogeneity was found in the operationalisation of both measures in the 47 studies included for analysis. Density was most commonly measured directly from geocoded locations using circular buffers at various distances (n = 14). After smoking was reclassified using a smoking classification tool, past-month smoking was the most common smoking type reported (n = 26). Conclusions: It is recommended that density is measured through length-distance and travel time using the street network and weighted (e.g. by the size of an area), or by using Kernel Density Estimates as these methods provide a more accurate measure of geographical to tobacco and e-cigarette retailer density. The consistent application of a smoking measures classification tool, such as the one developed for this systematic review, would enable better comparisons between studies. Future research should measure exposure and outcome measures in a way that makes them comparable with other studies. Implications: This systematic review provides a strong case for improving data collection and analysis methodologies in studies assessing tobacco retailer density and smoking behaviour to ensure that both exposure and outcome measures are clearly defined and captured. As large heterogeneity was found in the operationalisation of both density and smoking behaviour measures in the studies included for analysis, there is a need for future studies to capture, measure and classify exposure measures accurately, and to define outcome measures in a manner that makes them comparable with other studies. © 2023, BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.
If it's not on, is it still on? A model of condom use for rural Australian adolescents
- Authors: Jenkins, Megan , McLaren, Suzanne
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Rural Psychology Vol. 4, no. (2003), p. 1-16
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- Description: Recent research indicates that rural Australian adolescents experience a number of barriers to their health, and in particular, their sexual health. Consequently, the present study aimed to examine levels of sexual health knowledge, sexual activity, condom use and attitudes towards condoms in a rural, adolescent population. In addition, the research tested a comprehensive model of condom use. One hundred and thirty six 15 to 19 year old students, 51 males (M age = 16.75, SD =.74 ) and 85 females (M age = 16.73, SD = .85), from schools in five towns of population not more than 6000 residents completed a survey package that included demographic information, a Sexual Health Knowledge Scale, the Condom Attitudes Scale and the Adolescent and Young Adult contraceptive Self-efficacy Scale. Results indicated that overall knowledge levels were low, with males knowing significantly less than females. Sixty-five percent of the participants had engaged in sexual intercourse, with over half of those reporting being inconsistent users or non-users of condoms. Within the context of the model, knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intention to use condoms, all contributed to predicting condom use. Results suggest that rural adolescents require education and assistance to obtain and use condoms in a non-threatening environment.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000490
Practical and clinical approaches using pacing to improve self-regulation in special populations such as children and people with mental health or learning disabilities
- Authors: Edwards, Andrew , Abonie, Ulric , Hettinga, Florentina , Pyne, David , Oh, Tomasina , Polman, Remco
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of rehabilitation medicine. Clinical communications Vol. 4, no. 1 (2021), p. jrmcc00057
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: For special populations such as people with a mental health issue or learning disability, a disconnect between the ability to accurately monitor and regulate exercise behaviour can lead to reduced levels of physical activity, which, in turn, is associated with additional physical or mental health problems. Activity pacing is a strategy used in clinical settings to address issues of pain amelioration, while self-pacing research is now well addressed in sport and exercise science literature. It has been proposed recently that these overlapping areas of investigation collectively support the development of self-regulatory, lifestyle exercise skills across broad population groups. Activity pacing appears to have substantial application in numerous development and rehabilitation settings and, therefore, the purpose of this short communication is to articulate how an activity pacing approach could be utilized among population groups in whom self-regulatory skills may require development. This paper provides specific examples of exercise practice across 2 discrete populations: children, and people with mental health and learning difficulties. In these cases, homeostatic regulatory processes may either be altered, or the individual may require extrinsic support to appropriately self-regulate exercise performance. A support-based exercise environment or approach such as programmatic activity (lifestyle) pacing would be beneficial to facilitate supervised and education-based self-regulation until such time as fully self-regulated exercise is feasible.