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The Role of Stigma in Help-Seeking Strategies Among African Migrants in Australia: A Qualitative Study
Get PDFAfrican migrants living in Western countries often report experiencing high levels of stress, trauma and mental health conditions due to migration-related challenges, including racial discrimination, social exclusion and economic hardships. This mixed-method study that sought to explore to This mixed-method study explored the help-seeking behaviours of Africans in Australia. The quantitative study engaged 167 participants, who completed an online survey, and the qualitative aspect involved an in-depth interview with 12 participants. This paper reports on the qualitative aspect of the study, which was seen as essential to gaining deep, rich insights into the everyday meaning-making processes of how African migrants in Australia understand and interact with mental health services. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed two strong recurring themes on mental health stigma among African migrants in Australia. The findings are discussed in two main themes: (1) judgment, shame and isolation (both communal and internalised) and (2) ‘madness’ tropes of mental health. The study highlights the critical need for culturally sensitive educational programs to address stigma and enhance mental health understanding within migrant communities, emphasising the importance of health professionals’ awareness of cultural dimensions of mental health to improve support and access to mental health services for this community.</p
Sex-specific effects of diet and physical activity on health outcomes in older adults
No full textPurpose of review:This review summarizes the current literature around sex-based differences in adaptations to diet and exercise in older adults. This review is timely as there is continued debate around the necessity of sex-based interventions across the lifespan.Recent findings:Evidence shows that exercise does not appear to confer many sex-based differences in adaptation to either muscle strengthening, or cardiovascular types of exercise, especially when these changes are reported in relative (percentage) terms.There appear to be some differences in response to dietary exposures between sexes. However, the extent of sex differences is still largely unclear due to many studies not reporting or analysing data by sex. Summary:Implications for clinical practice are that there is currently insufficient evidence for exercise-related changes in muscle strengthening or cardiovascular outcomes being significantly affected by sex in older adults. There are some sex-based differences in response to dietary factors, however, the mechanisms remain unclear. At present, individualized lifestyle prescriptions taking into consideration health conditions, risk factors, client history and goals appear to be logical over a blanket sex-based approach
Podcasts in health education—Insights from a scoping review and survey
Get PDFPodcasts have rapidly emerged as a powerful tool for health communication, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. While evidence shows that podcasts can enhance student knowledge, confidence, and flexibility in learning, their educational impact is primarily studied within formal academic contexts. Despite their popularity and potential, little is known about how bioscience-focused health podcasts engage broader audiences beyond structured health education programs. Limited research examines who listens, why they choose podcasts, and how this format influences their learning or behavior. To address this, we used a mixed-methods approach comprising a scoping review and an exploratory online survey. The scoping review, following PRISMA guidelines, identified 14 eligible studies published between 2008 and 2024. The survey, distributed via social media and Dr. Matt & Dr. Mike's Medical Education Podcast, captured responses from 226 participants—predominantly aged 25–34 and mostly from the USA—with two-thirds enrolled in health programs. Participants cited access to expert insights, enjoyment, and the ability to multitask as key reasons for podcast use. Content relevance and presenter expertise were rated the most important factors when selecting a health podcast. The preferred episode length was 30–60 min. On average, participants rated the impact of podcasts on their health knowledge at 4.22 out of 5, with 58% reporting changes in health-related behaviors. These findings suggest that podcasts offer a flexible, engaging way to communicate bioscience-focused health content and support learning across diverse audiences. Educators should consider listener motivations and preferences when integrating podcasts into educational practice.</p
Retaining Project Managers: Insights from the Volunteering Sector
No full textAustralia faces significant challenges in retaining skilled project managers due to high stress levels causing early departures, jeopardising project success. This study investigates retention strategies from the volunteer sector to enhance project manager retention. On one side, a systematic literature review identified challenges in project managers’ retention. On the other side, qualitative interviews within the volunteering sector found effective retention strategies within this sector. Based on the findings, a model categorising volunteer behaviours and the strategic approaches organisations in the volunteering sector implement to prevent volunteers from leaving were documented. In a final step, the documented strategies of the organisations in the volunteering sector were adapted to address project management challenges. The research offers actionable recommendations to foster a resilient project management workforce, contributing a novel perspective by leveraging insights from the volunteer sector. This study underscores the value of cross-sector learning in developing sustainable retention solutions for project management
Student Dietitians' Perceptions and Experiences of Objective Structured Clinical Examination to Assess Communication Skills
Get PDFINTRODUCTION: Communication skills are essential to dietetic practice and are therefore embedded in dietetics curricula worldwide. Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are often used to teach and assess communication skills, yet student dietitians' experiences remain underexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate student dietitians' perceptions and experiences of OSCEs to assess communication skills.METHODS: Student dietitians participated in OSCEs for the assessment of communication skills before the first of two substantial periods of practice-based learning. These consisted of two or three OSCE stations reflecting in-patient and out-patient dietetic scenarios. A questionnaire survey measuring students' perceptions and experiences of the OSCE was conducted. The survey measured five domains: (1) preparedness; (2) environment and processes; (3) fairness; (4) authenticity; and (5) assessment for learning, with responses recorded on a five-point Likert scale (strongly agree to strongly disagree).RESULTS: The complete case analysis consisted of 130 student dietitians over four academic years. In general student dietitians had highly positive experiences of the OSCEs, particularly in relation to assessment of learning (83.3% positive experience score) and authenticity (80% positive experience score). Fairness resulted in the lowest positive experience score (50%). Younger students reported lower positive experiences of preparedness (60%) compared with older students (80%) (p = 0.045).CONCLUSIONS: Student dietitians have generally positive perceptions and experiences of OSCEs for the assessment of communication skills, but this is not universal for all domains of their experience. There is a need for strategies that enhance preparedness and reduce anxiety in relation to OSCEs in dietetics.</p
Gala: A Case Study of Accessible Design for Interactive Virtual Reality Cinema
No full textThis paper presents a comprehensive account of the development of Gala, an interactive virtual reality film. This accessible approach involves a single designer working within the constraints of a limited budget while utilising the game engine Unity, the Zoom video conferencing platform, an iPhone, and the software Reallusion. The significance of Gala lies in its capacity to serve as an exemplar of accessible technologies, underlining its pragmatic use of 3D assets, avatars, and real-world data, all of which collectively emphasise innovation, making it not only accessible but also a relevant example of contemporary technological advancements driving new forms of expression. The paper examines how these techniques might be used to create new forms of interactive and immersive storytelling, and to create a new cinematic language within VR filmmaking. There is evidence that virtual film production is expanding as digital production equipment becomes more widely available, accelerating the development of virtual production tools and workflows. This study is significant for the traditional film production industry as it transitions to digital production technology
The Elements of Negligence in a Statutory Context
No full textThe constituent elements of the tort of negligence are prerequisites for liability and serve as an important analytical tool to separate out distinct legal inquiries and isolate questions of facts and law, relevant to establishing each. However, many of the reforms enacted by the various Civil Liability Acts do not fit easily into the framework of negligence. This poses analytical challenges. Do different ways of classifying enactments make any practical difference in their operation? Do we analyse difficult-to-classify statutory enactments as ‘outside’ the framework of negligence law, or do we attempt to incorporate them into the negligence framework, even where they distort or overly complicate that framework? This article explores these questions and concludes that we cannot ignore the impact such provisions have on the overall structure of negligence law
Functional outcomes following inpatient versus outpatient hip or knee arthroplasty: a systematic review
No full textBackground:The prevalence of hip and knee osteoarthritis is climbing in line with increases in global lifespan, higher levels of obesity and a rise in youth sporting injuries. With osteoarthritis being the most commonly reported reason for undergoing lower limb arthroplasty it is not surprising that a subsequent surge in hip and knee arthroplasty procedures is predicted. As the economic burden associated with these procedures grows, optimisation of health care resources and sustainable perioperative delivery models are of critical consideration.One strategy for improving cost containment is by reducing the length of hospital stay after a hip or knee arthroplasty procedure. The financial incentive along with surgical advances and rapid recovery protocols has led to the number of average days a patient stays after arthroplasty surgery decline. In line with this trend for reducing the length of stay, an outpatient or same-day discharge surgery service, that can be managed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery facility, is being offered to select lower limb arthroplasty patients with increasing frequency.Purpose:To date, most studies have focused on the comparison between inpatient and outpatient settings assessing the safety and success of the surgery as defined by costs and feasibility, or complications and readmissions. Therefore, this systematic review aims to explore the available evidence for the effect on functional outcomes following inpatient versus outpatient hip or knee arthroplasty.Methods:This systematic review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and the protocol was prospectively registered (https://osf.io/8bfae/). An electronic search of PubMed, CINAHL and EMBASE databases was conducted to identify eligible studies. All studies investigating inpatient and outpatient comparator groups, for a population of patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty, that assessed one or more functional outcomes, were included. A methodological quality appraisal was undertaken for the final studies contained in this review. A narrative synthesis of results is described along with quantitative outcomes presented in tables and figures.Results:Seven studies of overall good methodological quality containing 1,876 participants were included in this review. Study design varied, five provided a cohort study, one a randomised control trial and one a case–control study. Twenty different functional outcomes were utilised, of which 18 were patient-reported tools. Results of functional outcomes offered mixed support for inpatient and outpatient pathways.Conclusion(s):The results of this systematic review suggest that outpatient or inpatient pathway selection for hip or knee arthroplasty should not be based on the superiority of functional outcomes alone. However, given there is growing evidence in support of an outpatient pathway in select patients with respect to cost savings and without any increase in complications, it could be proposed that an equivalency of post-operative function between the two settings makes same-day discharge favourable.Implications:Research investigating outcomes of function and physical performance appears to be limited. If patient functional outcomes are equivalent or superior to those associated with an inpatient stay, then this combined with existing evidence to suggest the outpatient setting is both cost-effective and safe, adds further support for the uptake of the outpatient model in selected patients.Keywords:Knee arthroplastyHip arthroplastyOutpatient surgeryFunding acknowledgements:This systematic review did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.Primary topic:Orthopaedic
Profiling the Physiological Demands of a Wilderness Paramedics Selection Course
No full textBackground:Wilderness paramedics are specialised paramedics who are responsible for attending to medical emergencies in remote regions with limited accessibility. Entry to the wilderness paramedic units, like many other specialist first responder units, is governed by a selection course however little is known about these selection courses. Purpose:The aim of this study was to profile the physiological demands of two elements of a state based wilderness paramedic selection course to inform those training or treating individuals attending these courses. Methods:A total of eight candidates completed an initial track walk of 4.8km wearing 20.4kg of load, and 10 candidates completed a follow on 9km mountain walk across various undulating terrains wearing 15kg of load. Participants were monitored with Polar Team Pro physiological harnesses to profile each walk, monitoring distance, speed, and heart rate response.Results:There were significant physiological demands encountered in both assessments. Candidates were significantly quicker in the track walk than the mountain walk, average speeds were significantly higher in the track walk (7.6km/hr) than the mountain walk (3.6km/hr), however maximum speed was significantly higher in the mountain walk (13.7km/hr vs 10.4km/hr). Maximum heart rates were similar (track walk 179.0±12.7bpm, mountain walk 179.7±15.8 bpm), average heart rates slightly higher in the track walk (163.6±15.5bpm, mountain walk 156.6±14.7bpm) and minimum heart rates higher in the track walk (123.3±18.8bpm) when compared to the mountain walk (97.9±20.6bpm). Conclusion(s):Despite the differences both walks elicited a similarly high physiological response as measured by high peak heart rates. As such, the track work can serve as a precursor to the mountain walk, which is conducted in a more austere environment. Both walks appear to be occupationally relevant with candidates adopting different strategies based on terrain. Implications:Clinicians treating individuals from or preparing candidates for this unique occupation need to understand the significant physiological demands associated with this profession. The loads carried, distances traversed, an physiological demands appear to be reflective of occupational demands encountered by members of these units
Challenging the fairness of MMIs for direct entry vs. graduate entry medical students
No full textIntroduction: The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) has become a prominent tool in assessing non-cognitive skills essential for medical professionals. However, concerns have been raised regarding its fairness across different entry pathways into medical school. This study investigates the fairness of using MMIs for both direct entry and graduate entry students, aiming to ensure equitable admissions processes in medical education.Objective: This research addresses several key questions:•Do MMIs demonstrate factorial validity for both direct entry and graduate entry students?•Are the attributes measured by MMIs interpreted consistently across these groups?•Are there significant differences in MMI performance between direct entry and graduate entry students?Method: The individuals involved (N = 432) are prospective students at Bond University's medical program for 2024. Data were analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to assess the dimensionality and factorial validity of MMIs. Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MG-CFA) was employed to determine if MMIs measure the same underlying construct for both direct entry and graduate entry students. Latent mean differences were examined to identify any significant group disparities in MMI performance.Results: CFA results provided robust evidence supporting the construct validity of MMIs across both direct entry and graduate entry student cohorts. The core attributes assessed by MMIs were found to be consistent across these groups, demonstrating measurement equivalence. Importantly, there were no significant performance differences in overall MMI scores between direct entry and graduate entry students.Discussion/Conclusion:This study affirms the fairness and validity of MMIs in medical school admissions, showing that MMIs are effective tools for assessing non-cognitive skills across different entry pathways. These findings support the continued use of MMIs to ensure an equitable selection process. The results have significant implications for admissions committees and policymakers striving to maintain fairness and inclusivity in medical school admissions.Keywords: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI), Fairness, Construct Validity, Entry Pathways<br/