FRRR health & wellness program Yinnar & District Memorial Hall Committee evaluation report
- Porter, Joanne, Barbagallo, Michael, Dabkowski, Elissa, Prokopiv, Val, Federation University. Collaboration Evaluation Unit.
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Dabkowski, Elissa , Prokopiv, Val , Federation University. Collaboration Evaluation Unit.
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Technical report
- Full Text:
- Description: The primary focus of the Yinnar Health and Wellness Program is to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults in the Gippsland region by removing barriers to participation in facilitated health and wellbeing activities. This report provides analysis and evaluation of the impact of the Program using the CEU Participatory Evaluation Framework for the period February – December 2019. Working in collaboration with key stakeholders, a mixed methods approach was taken and included the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data. A literature review was also completed. Results of the data show that the Program successfully delivered weekly classes for a period of twelve months to a consistent number of participants with some significant positive outcomes. The Program was adaptive in design so that it met the individual needs of each participant. Participants reported improvements in their physical health and in their confidence. Results also showed that the Program had a positive impact on the social connectiveness of participants. In confirmation of the literature that was analysed the Program has shown that regular exercise classes have a positive physical, social, and psychological impact on individuals. Although the majority of the participants lived in Yinnar, there were a number of regulars that travelled to attend the program from neighbouring communities. There was a direct impact to the participant’s health with many individuals stating that their overall health, function and movement had improved because of attending the program. A total of 23 out of 24 participants agreed or strongly agreed that the Program had improved their fitness levels and overall confidence. Participants stated that the Program addressed a gap in the service delivery for the region. Not only did the Program improve recovery from illness it helped to maintain overall fitness levels of the participants which ultimately may lead to fewer hospital admissions. It also addressed the need for organised social connection activities for the aging population. The participants agreed that the Program met the needs of the community and the individuals, providing significant physical, mental and social benefits from regular attendance.
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Dabkowski, Elissa , Prokopiv, Val , Federation University. Collaboration Evaluation Unit.
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Technical report
- Full Text:
- Description: The primary focus of the Yinnar Health and Wellness Program is to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults in the Gippsland region by removing barriers to participation in facilitated health and wellbeing activities. This report provides analysis and evaluation of the impact of the Program using the CEU Participatory Evaluation Framework for the period February – December 2019. Working in collaboration with key stakeholders, a mixed methods approach was taken and included the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data. A literature review was also completed. Results of the data show that the Program successfully delivered weekly classes for a period of twelve months to a consistent number of participants with some significant positive outcomes. The Program was adaptive in design so that it met the individual needs of each participant. Participants reported improvements in their physical health and in their confidence. Results also showed that the Program had a positive impact on the social connectiveness of participants. In confirmation of the literature that was analysed the Program has shown that regular exercise classes have a positive physical, social, and psychological impact on individuals. Although the majority of the participants lived in Yinnar, there were a number of regulars that travelled to attend the program from neighbouring communities. There was a direct impact to the participant’s health with many individuals stating that their overall health, function and movement had improved because of attending the program. A total of 23 out of 24 participants agreed or strongly agreed that the Program had improved their fitness levels and overall confidence. Participants stated that the Program addressed a gap in the service delivery for the region. Not only did the Program improve recovery from illness it helped to maintain overall fitness levels of the participants which ultimately may lead to fewer hospital admissions. It also addressed the need for organised social connection activities for the aging population. The participants agreed that the Program met the needs of the community and the individuals, providing significant physical, mental and social benefits from regular attendance.
'I am ready' partnership : program evaluation report 1 February 2019-30 June 2020
- Porter, Joanne, Barbagallo, Michael, Bur, Jennifer, James, Michaelle, Prokopiv, Val, Federation University. Gippsland Collaborative Evaluation Unit
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Bur, Jennifer , James, Michaelle , Prokopiv, Val , Federation University. Gippsland Collaborative Evaluation Unit
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Technical report
- Full Text:
- Description: The ‘I Am Ready’ Program was an innovative approach to engaging secondary school students with learning barriers, to think, plan and actively move towards employment and or further education and training. This summary has been divided into five sections which demonstrates the triangulation of the evaluation findings, highlights the key findings and includes; Reach of the program, Lessons learnt, Breaking down barriers, Building confidence and Bright future for participants and the Program.
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Bur, Jennifer , James, Michaelle , Prokopiv, Val , Federation University. Gippsland Collaborative Evaluation Unit
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Technical report
- Full Text:
- Description: The ‘I Am Ready’ Program was an innovative approach to engaging secondary school students with learning barriers, to think, plan and actively move towards employment and or further education and training. This summary has been divided into five sections which demonstrates the triangulation of the evaluation findings, highlights the key findings and includes; Reach of the program, Lessons learnt, Breaking down barriers, Building confidence and Bright future for participants and the Program.
Evaluation of a blended online and digital learning mode of anatomy and physiology for undergraduate nursing students
- Barbagallo, Michael, Porter, Joanne, Lamunu, Medina
- Authors: Barbagallo, Michael , Porter, Joanne , Lamunu, Medina
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: CIN - Computers Informatics Nursing Vol. 38, no. 12 (2020), p. 633-637
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Blended online and digital learning includes a variety of activities that combine engaging classroom-based education with online learning. The aim of this study is to evaluate undergraduate students' perceptions of a blended online and digital curriculum for anatomy and physiology in the nursing degree program. A quantitative methodology was used with a sample of 100 undergraduate nursing students from a single Australian University. Descriptive statistics are and presented in this article. Of the 100 participants, 90% were enrolled in the standard mode compared to 10% in a flexible mode of delivery. Results indicated that 29% of participants preferred laboratory classes as having the most impact. Participants (46%) also agreed that recorded lectures were useful, with 36% indicating that the online platform was easy to navigate going as far as wanting more online quizzes (49%). More than half of the participants (54%) acknowledged that anatomy and physiology was important for their future careers. The blended online and digital learner preferences in delivering anatomy and physiology-related courses should be adjusted in order for learning to be effective for undergraduate students in the future. © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Authors: Barbagallo, Michael , Porter, Joanne , Lamunu, Medina
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: CIN - Computers Informatics Nursing Vol. 38, no. 12 (2020), p. 633-637
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Blended online and digital learning includes a variety of activities that combine engaging classroom-based education with online learning. The aim of this study is to evaluate undergraduate students' perceptions of a blended online and digital curriculum for anatomy and physiology in the nursing degree program. A quantitative methodology was used with a sample of 100 undergraduate nursing students from a single Australian University. Descriptive statistics are and presented in this article. Of the 100 participants, 90% were enrolled in the standard mode compared to 10% in a flexible mode of delivery. Results indicated that 29% of participants preferred laboratory classes as having the most impact. Participants (46%) also agreed that recorded lectures were useful, with 36% indicating that the online platform was easy to navigate going as far as wanting more online quizzes (49%). More than half of the participants (54%) acknowledged that anatomy and physiology was important for their future careers. The blended online and digital learner preferences in delivering anatomy and physiology-related courses should be adjusted in order for learning to be effective for undergraduate students in the future. © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Latrobe City Council Community Engagement Survey 2021 Analysis
- Porter, Joanne, Barbagallo, Michael, Reimers, Vaughan, Prokopiv, Valerie, James, Michelle, Dabkowski, Elissa, Prezioso, Michelle, Federation University. Collaborative Evaluation Unit (CEU)
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Reimers, Vaughan , Prokopiv, Valerie , James, Michelle , Dabkowski, Elissa , Prezioso, Michelle , Federation University. Collaborative Evaluation Unit (CEU)
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Technical report
- Full Text:
- Description: As part of Latrobe City’s community engagement strategy, a survey was developed and distributed during May to June 2021, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data to capture feedback and suggestions on how Latrobe City could be a better place to live, work, visit and play. The survey also invited residents to share their thoughts on current and future challenges for the City. A total of 1552 responses to the survey were received of which 69 were blank, with 1453 making up the final data set. This report highlights the findings from the survey. The majority of the participants were female (65%, n=744), 33% were from Traralgon, 35% from smaller townships with the remaining 32% from Moe, Newborough, Morwell and Churchill. The participants ranged in age from 17-30 years (15%), 31-40 years (27%), 41-70 years (43%) 70+ years (10%). The majority of the participants were employed in healthcare, education and administrative roles with 89% stating that they live and work in Latrobe City. Friends are family was cited as the most common reason why participants believed that Latrobe City was a good place, with Location in Victoria, Affordability and Natural environment rounding off the top four responses. The most common reason people gave for Latrobe City being a good place to work was Distance from home (n=504) and similarly the most common reason participants gave for it being a good place to study was Close to home. Safety, Economy and Built environment were considered the things most important for Latrobe City Council to focus on this was evident in both the quantitative and qualitative responses. A thematic analysis process was used to analyse the content from the six open-ended questions in the survey. Six main themes emerged; Employment, Safety, Transport, Education, Sport and Entertainment and Hope for the future.
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Reimers, Vaughan , Prokopiv, Valerie , James, Michelle , Dabkowski, Elissa , Prezioso, Michelle , Federation University. Collaborative Evaluation Unit (CEU)
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Technical report
- Full Text:
- Description: As part of Latrobe City’s community engagement strategy, a survey was developed and distributed during May to June 2021, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data to capture feedback and suggestions on how Latrobe City could be a better place to live, work, visit and play. The survey also invited residents to share their thoughts on current and future challenges for the City. A total of 1552 responses to the survey were received of which 69 were blank, with 1453 making up the final data set. This report highlights the findings from the survey. The majority of the participants were female (65%, n=744), 33% were from Traralgon, 35% from smaller townships with the remaining 32% from Moe, Newborough, Morwell and Churchill. The participants ranged in age from 17-30 years (15%), 31-40 years (27%), 41-70 years (43%) 70+ years (10%). The majority of the participants were employed in healthcare, education and administrative roles with 89% stating that they live and work in Latrobe City. Friends are family was cited as the most common reason why participants believed that Latrobe City was a good place, with Location in Victoria, Affordability and Natural environment rounding off the top four responses. The most common reason people gave for Latrobe City being a good place to work was Distance from home (n=504) and similarly the most common reason participants gave for it being a good place to study was Close to home. Safety, Economy and Built environment were considered the things most important for Latrobe City Council to focus on this was evident in both the quantitative and qualitative responses. A thematic analysis process was used to analyse the content from the six open-ended questions in the survey. Six main themes emerged; Employment, Safety, Transport, Education, Sport and Entertainment and Hope for the future.
A creative approach for undergraduate nursing students to learn anatomy and physiology : a qualitative exploratory study
- Barbagallo, Michael, Porter, Joanne, Abdelkader, Amany, James, Ainsley
- Authors: Barbagallo, Michael , Porter, Joanne , Abdelkader, Amany , James, Ainsley
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship Vol. 19, no. 1 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) courses in undergraduate nursing programs are often considered challenging for students. Typically, a wide variety of teaching strategies, including dissection, experiments, illustrations and photographs are used to engage students. This study aimed to explore and describe the learning experiences of an open creative assessment task on undergraduate nursing students of learning A&P. A total of eight students participated in semi-structured interviews. Two major themes emerged from the data, this included 'Bringing A&P to life' which included two sub-themes of 'Learning through peer teaching' and 'An easy way to learn', with the second major theme, 'Custom made learning' which included four sub-themes, 'To grade or not to grade', 'Catering for different learning styles', 'Logistics of group work', and 'Effect of group dynamics'. This qualitative exploratory study contributes to further pedagogical insights into art and/or creative approaches to teaching. © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.
- Authors: Barbagallo, Michael , Porter, Joanne , Abdelkader, Amany , James, Ainsley
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship Vol. 19, no. 1 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) courses in undergraduate nursing programs are often considered challenging for students. Typically, a wide variety of teaching strategies, including dissection, experiments, illustrations and photographs are used to engage students. This study aimed to explore and describe the learning experiences of an open creative assessment task on undergraduate nursing students of learning A&P. A total of eight students participated in semi-structured interviews. Two major themes emerged from the data, this included 'Bringing A&P to life' which included two sub-themes of 'Learning through peer teaching' and 'An easy way to learn', with the second major theme, 'Custom made learning' which included four sub-themes, 'To grade or not to grade', 'Catering for different learning styles', 'Logistics of group work', and 'Effect of group dynamics'. This qualitative exploratory study contributes to further pedagogical insights into art and/or creative approaches to teaching. © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.
A scoping review of community-based adult suicide prevention initiatives in rural and regional australia
- Dabkowski, Elissa, Porter, Joanne, Barbagallo, Michael, Prokopiv, Valerie, Jackson, Megan
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Prokopiv, Valerie , Jackson, Megan
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 19, no. 12 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The need for continued research into suicide prevention strategies is undeniable, with high global statistics demonstrating the urgency of this public health issue. In Australia, approximately 3000 people end their lives each year, with those living in rural and regional areas identified as having a higher risk of dying by suicide. Due to decreased access and support services in these areas, community-based suicide prevention initiatives provide opportunities to educate and support local communities. A scoping review was conducted to explore the literature pertaining to such programs in rural and/or regional communities in Australia. This review follows the five-stage Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Nine databases were searched, from which studies were considered eligible if suicide prevention programs were community-based and catered for adults (aged
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Prokopiv, Valerie , Jackson, Megan
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 19, no. 12 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The need for continued research into suicide prevention strategies is undeniable, with high global statistics demonstrating the urgency of this public health issue. In Australia, approximately 3000 people end their lives each year, with those living in rural and regional areas identified as having a higher risk of dying by suicide. Due to decreased access and support services in these areas, community-based suicide prevention initiatives provide opportunities to educate and support local communities. A scoping review was conducted to explore the literature pertaining to such programs in rural and/or regional communities in Australia. This review follows the five-stage Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Nine databases were searched, from which studies were considered eligible if suicide prevention programs were community-based and catered for adults (aged
Public health education by emergency nurses : a scoping review and narrative synthesis
- Coombs, Nicole, Porter, Joanne, Barbagallo, Michael, Plummer, Virginia
- Authors: Coombs, Nicole , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Plummer, Virginia
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Patient Education and Counseling Vol. 105, no. 5 (2022), p. 1181-1187
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: To identify the extent, range, and nature of the evidence on public health education provided by emergency nurses. Methods: A scoping review, using the methodological guidance of Joanna Briggs Institute, was conducted to scope and map the literature and research activity. Using predetermined criteria, databases, grey literature, and reference lists were searched for eligible sources. At least two authors reviewed each article. A narrative synthesis methodology was utilised to analyse and report the findings. Results: There was significant methodological heterogeneity between sources (n = 6). Three themes were identified: 1) Benefits of the system: An opportunity to inform the public, 2) The barriers: Time pressures and being prepared and 3) The strategies: Plan for structured and created teachable moments Conclusion: Limited research is being conducted in this area. Further research is needed to understand emergency nurse's practice and attitudes towards providing public health messages. Practice implications: Emergency nurses need to utilise the ‘teachable moment‘ for every emergency admission, providing opportunistic preventative education to improve health outcomes and reduce demand on the healthcare system. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
- Authors: Coombs, Nicole , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Plummer, Virginia
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Patient Education and Counseling Vol. 105, no. 5 (2022), p. 1181-1187
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: To identify the extent, range, and nature of the evidence on public health education provided by emergency nurses. Methods: A scoping review, using the methodological guidance of Joanna Briggs Institute, was conducted to scope and map the literature and research activity. Using predetermined criteria, databases, grey literature, and reference lists were searched for eligible sources. At least two authors reviewed each article. A narrative synthesis methodology was utilised to analyse and report the findings. Results: There was significant methodological heterogeneity between sources (n = 6). Three themes were identified: 1) Benefits of the system: An opportunity to inform the public, 2) The barriers: Time pressures and being prepared and 3) The strategies: Plan for structured and created teachable moments Conclusion: Limited research is being conducted in this area. Further research is needed to understand emergency nurse's practice and attitudes towards providing public health messages. Practice implications: Emergency nurses need to utilise the ‘teachable moment‘ for every emergency admission, providing opportunistic preventative education to improve health outcomes and reduce demand on the healthcare system. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
‘I Am Deadly’ project evaluation December 2022
- Porter, Joanne, Johnson, Nicholas, Prokopiv, Valerie, Jackson, Megan, Prezioso, Michelle, Cowan, Amy, Barbagallo, Michael, Dabkowski, Elissa
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Johnson, Nicholas , Prokopiv, Valerie , Jackson, Megan , Prezioso, Michelle , Cowan, Amy , Barbagallo, Michael , Dabkowski, Elissa
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Technical report , Report
- Full Text:
- Description: CERC (formally CERG) evaluated the implementation of the ‘I Am Deadly’ project, which is a version of the ‘I Am Ready’ project targeting young Aboriginal students. The project aimed at encouraging up to 20 Aboriginal students to take up a trade and providing them with a pathway into a trade. It also aimed to encourage Aboriginal Students to continue their education to allow a greater choice for employment options post-secondary school.
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Johnson, Nicholas , Prokopiv, Valerie , Jackson, Megan , Prezioso, Michelle , Cowan, Amy , Barbagallo, Michael , Dabkowski, Elissa
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Technical report , Report
- Full Text:
- Description: CERC (formally CERG) evaluated the implementation of the ‘I Am Deadly’ project, which is a version of the ‘I Am Ready’ project targeting young Aboriginal students. The project aimed at encouraging up to 20 Aboriginal students to take up a trade and providing them with a pathway into a trade. It also aimed to encourage Aboriginal Students to continue their education to allow a greater choice for employment options post-secondary school.
A systematic literature review of workplace physical activity programs : an exploration of barriers and enabling factors
- Dabkowski, Elissa, Porter, Joanne, Barbagallo, Michael, Prokopiv, Val, Snell, Christopher, Missen, Karen
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Prokopiv, Val , Snell, Christopher , Missen, Karen
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Cogent Psychology Vol. 10, no. 1 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Physical inactivity continues to be a global issue with many adolescents and adults failing to meet the recommendations for daily exercise. Efforts to reduce physical inactivity in adults include the incorporation of strategies such as workplace physical activity programs, especially for sedentary workers. In this systematic literature review we examined current literature about the efficacy of workplace physical activity programs, as well as the barriers and enablers to these programs. Six EBSCO databases were searched (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, APA PsycArticles and SPORTDiscus with full text) between a ten year period (2011 to 2021). The search terms used were “physical activity”, “workplace” and “program” along with their variations. Following a systematic process, eighteen papers met the eligibility criteria. The authors analysed the findings using a narrative synthesis, in which four themes emerged from the data. These include Benefits to physical health, Benefits to mental health, Barriers to workplace physical activity and Workplace activity enablers. These findings provided several recommendations for organizations that endeavour to improve the health of workplace employees. Generalised workplace physical activity programs were viewed favourably by both employees and employers. Incorporating these practices into daily work structures may provide favourable outcomes such as increased work productivity and reduced physical inactivity. © 2023 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.
- Authors: Dabkowski, Elissa , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael , Prokopiv, Val , Snell, Christopher , Missen, Karen
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Cogent Psychology Vol. 10, no. 1 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Physical inactivity continues to be a global issue with many adolescents and adults failing to meet the recommendations for daily exercise. Efforts to reduce physical inactivity in adults include the incorporation of strategies such as workplace physical activity programs, especially for sedentary workers. In this systematic literature review we examined current literature about the efficacy of workplace physical activity programs, as well as the barriers and enablers to these programs. Six EBSCO databases were searched (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, APA PsycArticles and SPORTDiscus with full text) between a ten year period (2011 to 2021). The search terms used were “physical activity”, “workplace” and “program” along with their variations. Following a systematic process, eighteen papers met the eligibility criteria. The authors analysed the findings using a narrative synthesis, in which four themes emerged from the data. These include Benefits to physical health, Benefits to mental health, Barriers to workplace physical activity and Workplace activity enablers. These findings provided several recommendations for organizations that endeavour to improve the health of workplace employees. Generalised workplace physical activity programs were viewed favourably by both employees and employers. Incorporating these practices into daily work structures may provide favourable outcomes such as increased work productivity and reduced physical inactivity. © 2023 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.
Australian men’s sheds and their role in the health and wellbeing of men : a systematic review
- Barbagallo, Michael, Brito, Sara, Porter, Joanne
- Authors: Barbagallo, Michael , Brito, Sara , Porter, Joanne
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health & Social care in the Community Vol. 2023, no. (2023), p. 1-9
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Men’s sheds are a community-based organisation that allows a space for a community of men to interact and engage with one another with hands-on activities. As such, men’s sheds form an appropriate setting to deliver health and wellbeing initiatives. This review aims to understand the role of Australian men’s sheds with respect to the health and wellbeing of their male participants. This review was conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) following a three-step process of planning, conducting, and reporting the review. All three authors reviewed all the eligible articles. There was significant methodological heterogeneity between the sources identified (n = 11). A narrative synthesis identified three key themes: health promotion, wellbeing, and socialisation intergenerational mentoring and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men’s health. Men’s sheds serve as ideal locations for the delivery of initiatives that can positively impact on the health and wellbeing of their male participants. Furthermore, research is needed to explore the implementation and evaluation of these health and wellbeing initiatives for men in their respective communities.
- Authors: Barbagallo, Michael , Brito, Sara , Porter, Joanne
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health & Social care in the Community Vol. 2023, no. (2023), p. 1-9
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Men’s sheds are a community-based organisation that allows a space for a community of men to interact and engage with one another with hands-on activities. As such, men’s sheds form an appropriate setting to deliver health and wellbeing initiatives. This review aims to understand the role of Australian men’s sheds with respect to the health and wellbeing of their male participants. This review was conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) following a three-step process of planning, conducting, and reporting the review. All three authors reviewed all the eligible articles. There was significant methodological heterogeneity between the sources identified (n = 11). A narrative synthesis identified three key themes: health promotion, wellbeing, and socialisation intergenerational mentoring and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men’s health. Men’s sheds serve as ideal locations for the delivery of initiatives that can positively impact on the health and wellbeing of their male participants. Furthermore, research is needed to explore the implementation and evaluation of these health and wellbeing initiatives for men in their respective communities.
Food security and wellbeing project evaluation 2022-2023
- Porter, Joanne, Simic, Megan, Miller, Elizabeth, Bransgrove, Natalie, Barbagallo, Michael, Peck, Blake, Unsworth, Carolyn, Hewitt, Alana, Soldatenko, Daria, Hualda, Luis, My, Sambath, Prokopiv, Valerie
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Simic, Megan , Miller, Elizabeth , Bransgrove, Natalie , Barbagallo, Michael , Peck, Blake , Unsworth, Carolyn , Hewitt, Alana , Soldatenko, Daria , Hualda, Luis , My, Sambath , Prokopiv, Valerie
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Technical report , Report
- Full Text:
- Description: Although the country is transitioning out of COVID-19 lockdowns and easing restrictions, Australians are now facing increased costs of living. Global political unrest, interest rate rises, and inflation have seen the prices of fuel, food and household bills surge, increasing the strain on individuals and families. Fruit and vegetables have seen cost increases by almost 7% from last year, with this figure only estimated to rise. During the same period, however, takeaway food prices increased marginally by 0.7%, potentially due to government subsidy and voucher systems introduced post COVID-19 lockdowns. The strain of food prices is felt even more greatly by those living in regional, rural and remote Australia, with prices increasing due to freight costs. The Morwell Neighbourhood House (MNH) Food Bank provides emergency relief without requiring an appointment and is unrestricted by postcode or healthcare card status. The Food Bank is supported by St Vinnies Morwell, which provides $12,000 annually towards the cost of food, and by numerous community organisations, individuals and businesses. Demand for the Food Bank has increased steadily and particularly so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The immediate precursor to the People’s Kitchen was a 2019 project named Cooking for a Purpose. That involved GippsTAFE VCAL students preparing nutritious frozen meals using ingredients provided by MNH. The availability of frozen home-cooked meals has ensured that Food Bank clients have at least one nutritious hot meal per day. The CERC was commissioned to explore the activities of the MNH, gaining an insight into how the whole of person approach to food security was being implemented. This understanding was gained through the perspective of those who were paid employees, Volunteers or accessed the MNH services, outlining the benefits, barriers and future suggestions for the MNH operations when addressing food security in the Latrobe Valley. Data were collected between 2022 - 2023 using a mixed methods approach to understand the impact of the MNH services on participants. Participants included MNH stakeholders, staff, Volunteers, secondary school students and people who accessed the MNH services. In addition to this, a comprehensive literature review was performed to understand the global landscape of food insecurity, exploring how people access Food Banks, the opportunities that arise from engaging with food security service activities and the perspectives of employees who ran these services.
- Authors: Porter, Joanne , Simic, Megan , Miller, Elizabeth , Bransgrove, Natalie , Barbagallo, Michael , Peck, Blake , Unsworth, Carolyn , Hewitt, Alana , Soldatenko, Daria , Hualda, Luis , My, Sambath , Prokopiv, Valerie
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Technical report , Report
- Full Text:
- Description: Although the country is transitioning out of COVID-19 lockdowns and easing restrictions, Australians are now facing increased costs of living. Global political unrest, interest rate rises, and inflation have seen the prices of fuel, food and household bills surge, increasing the strain on individuals and families. Fruit and vegetables have seen cost increases by almost 7% from last year, with this figure only estimated to rise. During the same period, however, takeaway food prices increased marginally by 0.7%, potentially due to government subsidy and voucher systems introduced post COVID-19 lockdowns. The strain of food prices is felt even more greatly by those living in regional, rural and remote Australia, with prices increasing due to freight costs. The Morwell Neighbourhood House (MNH) Food Bank provides emergency relief without requiring an appointment and is unrestricted by postcode or healthcare card status. The Food Bank is supported by St Vinnies Morwell, which provides $12,000 annually towards the cost of food, and by numerous community organisations, individuals and businesses. Demand for the Food Bank has increased steadily and particularly so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The immediate precursor to the People’s Kitchen was a 2019 project named Cooking for a Purpose. That involved GippsTAFE VCAL students preparing nutritious frozen meals using ingredients provided by MNH. The availability of frozen home-cooked meals has ensured that Food Bank clients have at least one nutritious hot meal per day. The CERC was commissioned to explore the activities of the MNH, gaining an insight into how the whole of person approach to food security was being implemented. This understanding was gained through the perspective of those who were paid employees, Volunteers or accessed the MNH services, outlining the benefits, barriers and future suggestions for the MNH operations when addressing food security in the Latrobe Valley. Data were collected between 2022 - 2023 using a mixed methods approach to understand the impact of the MNH services on participants. Participants included MNH stakeholders, staff, Volunteers, secondary school students and people who accessed the MNH services. In addition to this, a comprehensive literature review was performed to understand the global landscape of food insecurity, exploring how people access Food Banks, the opportunities that arise from engaging with food security service activities and the perspectives of employees who ran these services.
Simplifying qualitative case study research methodology : a step-by-step guide using a palliative care example
- Miller, Elizabeth, Porter, Joanne, Barbagallo, Michael
- Authors: Miller, Elizabeth , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Qualitative Report Vol. 28, no. 8 (2023), p. 2363-2379
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Qualitative case study research can be a helpful methodology when conducting health research. However, it can be overlooked or dismissed as a possible methodological choice due to different epistemological positionings by case study theorists and often confusing and contradictory definitions and terminology. Much has been written about case studies, but it takes time to wade through volumes of often philosophically and methodologically dense material to locate a theorist who presents case study research at a depth the novice researcher can understand. Case study research literature may offer a condensed summary of processes but often needs more theoretical detail. Therefore, discerning where to begin can be time-consuming, frustrating, and overwhelming. There are very few qualitative case study protocols and no step-by-step guide describing the planning and decision-making process within nursing. To address the need for clarity, this article endeavors to set out how to conduct a qualitative case study in a step-by-step guide using the approaches of Merriam and Stake as the foundation using a palliative care setting as an application example. It contributes to knowledge and practice by developing a foundational understanding of case study methodology in the hope that novice researchers will consider case study research as a methodological choice for their study and conduct it in a trustworthy and rigorous manner. Copyright 2023: Elizabeth M. Miller, Joanne E. Porter, Michael S. Barbagallo, and Nova Southeastern University.
- Authors: Miller, Elizabeth , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Qualitative Report Vol. 28, no. 8 (2023), p. 2363-2379
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Qualitative case study research can be a helpful methodology when conducting health research. However, it can be overlooked or dismissed as a possible methodological choice due to different epistemological positionings by case study theorists and often confusing and contradictory definitions and terminology. Much has been written about case studies, but it takes time to wade through volumes of often philosophically and methodologically dense material to locate a theorist who presents case study research at a depth the novice researcher can understand. Case study research literature may offer a condensed summary of processes but often needs more theoretical detail. Therefore, discerning where to begin can be time-consuming, frustrating, and overwhelming. There are very few qualitative case study protocols and no step-by-step guide describing the planning and decision-making process within nursing. To address the need for clarity, this article endeavors to set out how to conduct a qualitative case study in a step-by-step guide using the approaches of Merriam and Stake as the foundation using a palliative care setting as an application example. It contributes to knowledge and practice by developing a foundational understanding of case study methodology in the hope that novice researchers will consider case study research as a methodological choice for their study and conduct it in a trustworthy and rigorous manner. Copyright 2023: Elizabeth M. Miller, Joanne E. Porter, Michael S. Barbagallo, and Nova Southeastern University.
The effects of the ward environment and language in palliative care : a qualitative exploratory study of Victorian nurses’ perspectives
- Miller, Elizabeth, Porter, Joanne, Barbagallo, Michael
- Authors: Miller, Elizabeth , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Environments Research and Design Journal Vol. 16, no. 4 (2023), p. 146-158
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- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: The current study aimed to explore regional nurses’ perspectives of how bad news is delivered and the physical, natural, social, and symbolic environments where these conversations occur. Background: In regional hospitals within Victoria, Australia, palliative and end-of-life patients are cared for in acute wards that are often busy, noisy, and do not have a palliative psychosocial focus. On the other hand, Palliative Care Units (PCUs) have more home-like dedicated spaces, yet nearly all these facilities are in metropolitan areas. Diagnostic/prognostic (bad news) conversations about life-limiting illnesses often occur at the bedside in both environments. Method: Nurses providing palliative or end-of-life care in regional or metropolitan Victorian hospital inpatient wards were invited to interview and recruited through social media and snowballing. Six semi-structured, audio-recorded online interviews were conducted between March and May 2022, and themes were developed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with six female, registered nurses, four of whom worked in regional Victorian hospitals and two in metropolitan PCUs as Nurse Unit Managers. Three central themes were developed: “conducting family meetings,” “palliative care practice,” and “the environment matters.” Conclusions: A therapeutic environment for palliative patients and their families consists of home-like ambience and aesthetics and a psychosocial environment created by staff who can provide holistic palliative care. Holistic palliative care requires mentoring and mirroring of expert practice to increase the expertise and capacity of the palliative care workforce in acute general hospital wards. © The Author(s) 2023.
- Authors: Miller, Elizabeth , Porter, Joanne , Barbagallo, Michael
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Environments Research and Design Journal Vol. 16, no. 4 (2023), p. 146-158
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: The current study aimed to explore regional nurses’ perspectives of how bad news is delivered and the physical, natural, social, and symbolic environments where these conversations occur. Background: In regional hospitals within Victoria, Australia, palliative and end-of-life patients are cared for in acute wards that are often busy, noisy, and do not have a palliative psychosocial focus. On the other hand, Palliative Care Units (PCUs) have more home-like dedicated spaces, yet nearly all these facilities are in metropolitan areas. Diagnostic/prognostic (bad news) conversations about life-limiting illnesses often occur at the bedside in both environments. Method: Nurses providing palliative or end-of-life care in regional or metropolitan Victorian hospital inpatient wards were invited to interview and recruited through social media and snowballing. Six semi-structured, audio-recorded online interviews were conducted between March and May 2022, and themes were developed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with six female, registered nurses, four of whom worked in regional Victorian hospitals and two in metropolitan PCUs as Nurse Unit Managers. Three central themes were developed: “conducting family meetings,” “palliative care practice,” and “the environment matters.” Conclusions: A therapeutic environment for palliative patients and their families consists of home-like ambience and aesthetics and a psychosocial environment created by staff who can provide holistic palliative care. Holistic palliative care requires mentoring and mirroring of expert practice to increase the expertise and capacity of the palliative care workforce in acute general hospital wards. © The Author(s) 2023.
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