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Faith and Health in Israel, Turkiye and the USA
No full textThis issue of JORH focuses upon faith and health within three nations that have contributed a great deal in terms of religion and health research during this century— namely Israel, Türkiye and the USA
Accelerating visual anticipation in sport through temporal occlusion training: A meta-analysis
No full textBackground: The video-based temporal occlusion paradigm has been consistently used in visual anticipation sport research.
Objective: This meta-analysis investigated the magnitude to which video-based temporal occlusion training could improve anticipation skill with transfer to representative laboratory and field tasks.
Methods: As there are considerably fewer anticipation training than performance studies, the meta-analysis included 12 intervention studies with 25 effect sizes where video simulation and/or field-based tests were used. The Downs and Black checklist adapted for sports science research was used to assess methodological quality of the included studies. Decision time and accuracy of anticipation were the outcome measures because both are relevant to sports skills. The changes in these measures between experimental and control groups from baseline to the transfer test context were used to calculate the magnitude of the training effect.
Results: Findings revealed a significant training effect, including a large meta-analytic effect size, and no difference in training benefit across video and field-based transfer tests. Publication bias analyses were inconclusive, likely due to the small number of available studies.
Conclusions: These findings are evidence that the temporal occlusion paradigm is an effective method to improve visual anticipation skill across representative perceptual and perceptual-motor transfer tests. The theoretical implication based upon the two-stage model of visual anticipation is that temporal occlusion training can improve use of early information for body positioning by the performer, which could in turn lead to improved execution of the skill goal
Midwifery students\u27 experiences of learning to be \u27with woman\u27: A scoping review
Get PDFBackground: Being ‘with woman’ is a fundamental concept deeply embedded within the midwifery profession and profoundly impacts maternal and infant wellbeing and outcomes. The clinical experiences of midwifery students shape their learning outcomes, future practice, and career aspirations. Understanding midwifery students\u27 experiences of learning to be ‘with woman’ is vital in shaping and optimising learning strategies for providing midwifery students with positive and effective student-centred learning outcomes.
Objective: This scoping review aims to gain meaningful insight and understanding into the existing literature on midwifery students’ experiences of learning to be ‘with woman’.
Design: The scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The search was conducted within the databases CINAHL, PubMed, AusHealth, Medline and PsycInfo in July 2023, October 2023 and again in April 2024. Inclusion criteria were “midwifery students” and “student midwives”, used in conjunction with key terms such as “experiences”, “perspectives”, “with woman”, and “woman-centred”. The search included qualitative and quantitative research studies published in English between 2018 and 2024. The articles were screened for eligibility by title, abstract and full-text review by three reviewers.
Results: A total of 1,172 articles were screened, with nine articles included within the scoping review. Selected papers were from various countries, including Australia, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Iceland, and Japan. Key themes identified were ‘Continuity of Care’, ‘Partnership with Woman’, ‘Preceptor and Practitioner Impact’ and ‘Context and Contrast’.
Conclusion: Limited literature exists to explore and provide an understanding of the learning experiences and outcomes of midwifery students providing woman-centred care and developing a midwifery philosophy to be ‘with woman.
Basal linear deposit: Normal physiological ageing or a defining lesion of age-related macular degeneration?
No full textObjective: To determine if basal linear deposit (BLinD) is a specific lesion of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: The cohort was selected from a clinically and histopathologically validated archive (Sarks Archive) and consisted of 10 normal eyes (age 55–80 years) without any macular basal laminar deposit (BLamD) (Sarks Group I) and 16 normal aged eyes (age 57–88 years) with patchy BLamD (Sarks Group II). Only eyes with in vivo fundus assessment and corresponding high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs of the macula were included. Semithin sections and fellow-eye paraffin sections were additionally examined. BLinD was defined as a diffuse layer of electron-lucent vesicles external to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) basement membrane by TEM and was graded as follows: (i) Grade 0, absence of a continuous layer; (ii) Grade 1, a continuous layer up to three times the thickness of the RPE basement membrane (0.9 µm); (iii) Grade 2, a continuous layer greater than 0.9 µm. Bruch’s membrane (BrM) hyalinisation and RPE abnormalities were determined by light microscopic examination of corresponding semithin and paraffin sections.
Results: BLinD was identified in both normal (30%) and normal aged (62.5%) eyes. BLinD was thicker in normal aged eyes (p = 0.045; 95% CI 0.04–3.4). BLinD thickness positively correlated with both the degree of BrM hyalinisation (p = 0.049; 95% CI 0.05–2.69) and increasing microscopic RPE abnormalities (p = 0.022; 95% CI 0.188–2.422). RPE abnormalities were more likely to be observed in eyes with increased BrM hyalinisation (p = 0.044; 95% CI 0.61–4.319).
Conclusions: BLinD is most likely an age-related deposit rather than a specific lesion of AMD. Its accumulation is associated with increasing BrM hyalinisation and microscopic RPE abnormalities, suggesting a relationship with dysregulated RPE metabolism and/or transport
Quality of life following surgery for head and neck cancer: Evidence from ACRIN 6685
No full textBackground: This study examined the trajectory of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with clinical stage N0 HNSCC enrolled in ACRIN 6685 who underwent elective neck dissection(s).
Methods: HRQoL of 230 patients in the ACRIN 6685 trial was measured prospectively up to 2 years following surgery using the University of Washington Quality of Life instrument.
Results: General Health Within the Last 7 Days did not differ significantly from baseline at any follow-up. General Health Relative to Before Cancer fell significantly by 5.8 points following surgery (p = 0.048), and then returned to 3.0 points above baseline at 1 year (p = 0.65). For Overall Quality of Life, HRQoL fell significantly by 4.3 points following surgery (p = 0.031) and then returned to levels not significantly different from baseline.
Conclusions: Patients with stage N0 HNSCC experience significant declines in HRQoL immediately following surgery, including neck dissection, which recovers to near or better than baseline within 1-2 years
General practitioners\u27 attitudes and knowledge about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Insights from a survey
No full textObjective The Review of health services for children, young people and families within the NSW Health system identified that novel models of care were needed to improve access to clinical management for people with ADHD. The present study aimed to evaluate GPs’ knowledge of and attitudes towards ADHD and the challenges and opportunities for a more substantial role for GPs in ADHD management. Method An online survey of Australian GPs was conducted, with recruitment via email invitation. Results Out of 230 respondents, 213 surveys could be analysed. Of these, 97% believed ADHD was a genuine condition, with 90% identifying inattention as a primary symptom. Most (92%) had seen and diagnosed ADHD within the past year. Prevalent concerns included inadequate access to specialist assessment and treatment; 77% felt that GPs should have a more substantial role in ADHD management. Barriers included lack of time, knowledge and experience. Conclusions There was willingness amongst respondents take on a greater role in managing individuals with ADHD. However, a need for further training and education was highlighted. The Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for ADHD may resolve an identified need for clinical guidance
Pervasive user data collection from cyberspace: Privacy concerns and countermeasures
No full textThe increasing use of technologies, particularly computing and communication paradigms, has significantly influenced our daily lives. Interconnecting devices and networks provides convenient platforms for information exchange and facilitates pervasive user data collection. This new environment presents serious privacy challenges. User activities can be continuously monitored in both digital and physical realms. Gathered data can be aggregated and analysed, revealing aspects of user behaviour that may not be apparent from a single data point. The very items that facilitate connectivity simultaneously increase the risk of privacy breaches. The data gathered to provide services can also be used for monitoring and surveillance. This paper discerns three novel categories of privacy concerns relating to pervasive user data collection: privacy and user activity in cyberspace, privacy in personal cyber–physical systems, and privacy in proactive user-driven data collection. We emphasise the primary challenges, ranging from identity tracking in browsing histories to intricate issues in opportunistic networks, situating each within practical, real-world scenarios. Furthermore, we assess the effectiveness of current countermeasures, investigating their strengths and limitations. This paper explores the challenges in preserving privacy in user interactions with dynamic interconnected systems and suggests countermeasures to mitigate identified privacy risks
Psychiatric disorders in childhood cancer survivors: A retrospective matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations and community-based mental health services utilisation in Western Australia
No full textObjective: We examined the impact of long-term mental health outcomes on healthcare services utilisation among childhood cancer survivors in Western Australia using linked hospitalisations and community-based mental healthcare records from 1987 to 2019. Method: The study cohort included 2977 childhood cancer survivors diagnosed with cancer at age \u3c 18 years in Western Australia from 1982 to 2014 and a matched non-cancer control group of 24,994 individuals. Adjusted hazard ratios of recurrent events were estimated using the Andersen–Gill model. The cumulative burden of events over time was assessed using the method of mean cumulative count. The annual percentage change in events was estimated using the negative binomial regression model. Results: The results showed higher community-based service contacts (rate/100 person-years: 30.2, 95% confidence interval = [29.7–30.7] vs 22.8, 95% confidence interval = [22.6–22.9]) and hospitalisations (rate/1000 person-years: 14.8, 95% confidence interval = [13.6–16.0] vs 12.7, 95% confidence interval = [12.3–13.1]) in childhood cancer survivors compared to the control group. Childhood cancer survivors had a significantly higher risk of any event (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.5, 95% confidence interval = [1.1–2.0]). The cumulative burden of events increased with time since diagnosis and across age groups. The annual percentage change for hospitalisations and service contacts significantly increased over time (p \u3c 0.05). Substance abuse was the leading cause of hospitalisations, while mood/affective and anxiety disorders were common causes of service contacts. Risk factors associated with increased service events included cancer diagnosis at age \u3c 5 years, leukaemia diagnosis, high socioeconomic deprivation, and an attained age of \u3c 18 years. Conclusions: The elevated utilisation of healthcare services observed among childhood cancer survivors emphasises the need for periodic assessment of psychiatric disorders, particularly in high-risk survivors, to facilitate early management and optimise healthcare resources
A randomised investigation of film-forming silicone gel in superficial partial thickness face and neck burn patients: Indication of improved early scar pigmentation outcomes
No full textIntroduction: Burns to the face and neck are a source of considerable distress and a challenge to manage with dressings. Further, these often superficial injuries pose a risk of scarring and altered pigmentation. Silicone gels have emerged as a potential solution to the challenges of conservative management for face and neck burn injuries. The aims of this study were to explore the effect of topical silicone compared to routine treatment of conservatively managed burns to the face and neck.
Methods: This single-blind, randomised, controlled trial compared topical silicone filmforming dressing to standard of care for superficial partial thickness burns to the face and neck. Time to healing was the primary outcome and secondary outcomes included: 1) scar assessments (modified Vancouver Scar Scale, Dermalab Combo and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale) at six weeks and three months; and 2) pain intensity scale at wound review appointments.
Results: Of the 55 participants in the face/neck study, 34 were male and 21 were female. Median age was 36 years (range from 25 to 47 years). The median time to healing for the silicone group was 9 days (CI 7.6 −10.4) and the control group was 7 days (CI 5.3- 8.7), p = 0.056. Analysis demonstrated significantly reduced pigmentation at six weeks in mVSS scores for the silicone group (Md = 0, IQR = 0) compared to the control group (Md = 0, IQR =0 – 3), p = 0.043. We found no evidence of differences in reported pain between the groups (Silicone - Md = 1.15, IQR 0.3 – 4.5 vs control group - Md = 1.5, IQR 0.6 – 3.8, z = −0.63, p = 0.53). No other differences were observed, and no adverse events were associated with the topical silicone in the study whereas an infection and a reaction were experienced in the control group.
Conclusion: Film-forming silicone gel had comparable effects to standard of care emollient on wound healing of superficial partial thickness burns of the face and neck. Silicone treated wounds were associated with a significant improvement in scar pigmentation outcome at six weeks post-burn
Spinal degeneration and lumbar multifidus muscle quality may independently affect clinical outcomes in patients conservatively managed for low back or leg pain
No full textFew non-surgical, longitudinal studies have evaluated the relations between spinal degeneration, lumbar multifdus muscle (LMM) quality, and clinical outcomes. None have assessed the potential mediating role of the LMM between degenerative pathology and 12-month clinical outcomes.This prospective cohort study used baseline and 12-month follow-up data from 569 patients conservatively managed for low back or back-related leg pain to estimate the efects of aggregate degenerative lumbar MRI fndings and LMM quality on 12-month low back and leg pain intensity (0–10) and disability (0–23) outcomes, and explored the mediating role of LMM quality between degenerative findings and 12-month clinical outcomes. Adjusted mixed effects generalized linear models separately estimated the effect of aggregate spinal pathology and LMM quality. Mediation models estimated the direct and indirect effects of pathology on leg pain, and pathology and LMM quality on leg pain, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified a leg pain rating change of 0.99 [0.14; 1.84] (unstandardized beta coefficients [95% CI]) in the presence of≥ 4 pathologies, and a disability rating change of − 0.65 [− 0.14; − 1.16] for each 10% increase in muscle quality, but no effect on back pain intensity. Muscle quality had a non-significant mediating role (13.4%) between pathology and leg pain intensity. The number of diferent pathologies present demonstrated a small efect on 12-month leg pain intensity outcomes, while higher LMM quality had a direct efect on 12-month disability ratings but no mediating efect between pathology and leg pain. The relations between degenerative pathology, LMM quality, and pain-related outcomes appear complex and may include independent pathways