University of the Sunshine Coast
USC Research Bank - University of the Sunshine CoastNot a member yet
28663 research outputs found
Sort by
Book Review: The Lies that Bind: Rethinking Identity. Creed, Country, Colour, Class, Culture , Appiah, Kwame Anthony, 2018. London: Profile Books. 256 pp. ISBN 9781781259238. eISBN 97811782833901, AUD $29.99
No full textNo abstract available
Parents use of information accessed through social media to make immunisation decisions for their young children
No full textIssue addressed:
Social media, while available to parents to inform decisions about their child’s health, including immunisation, is a new area of exploration in public health. To effectively source, interpret and use such information, parents need to be health literate. This pilot study explored how parents of young children under seven years of age obtained, understood and used immunisation information available through social media to inform immunisation decisions for their children.
Methods:
Purposive sampling followed by a snowball technique was used to recruit parents with one or more children under seven years of age living in the (blinded for peer review).. Face‐to‐face interviews collected qualitative data in relation to how parents obtained, understood and used information sourced via social media to make immunisation decisions for their children.
Results:
All participants were passively exposed to immunisation information on social media through Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Twitter, but did not report proactively searching for information. The majority understood the immunisation information obtained, however did not perceive it as credible and used other sources to clarify credibility including their healthcare professional. Some participants interacted with the information, but none used it to make immunisation decisions for their children.
Conclusions:
Whilst parents of children under seven years of age are exposed to immunisation information of social media, they do not use this information to make immunisation decisions for their children, and rely on healthcare professionals for credible information
Global prevalence and incidence of pressure injuries in hospitalised adult patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textBackground: Pressure injuries are frequently occurred adverse events in hospitals, affecting the well-being of patients and causing considerable financial burden to healthcare systems. However, the estimates of prevalence, incidence and hospital-acquired rate of pressure injury in hospitalised patients vary considerably in relevant published studies. Objectives:
To systematically quantify the prevalence and incidence of pressure injuries and the hospital-acquired pressure injuries rate in hospitalised adult patients and identify the most frequently occurring pressure injury stage(s) and affected anatomical location(s). Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and ProQuest databases from January 2008 to December 2018. Review methods: We included studies with observational, cross-sectional or longitudinal designs, reporting pressure injury among hospitalised adults (≥16 years) and published in English. Outcomes were point prevalence, incidence of pressure injuries and the hospital-acquired pressure injuries rate reported as percentages. Two reviewers independently appraised the methodological quality of included studies. Heterogeneity was assessed by using the I² statistic and random effects models were employed. Sources of heterogeneity were investigated by subgroup analysis and meta-regression. Results: Of 7,489 studies identified, 42 were included in the systematic review and 39 of them were eligible for meta-analysis, with a total sample of 2,579,049 patients. The pooled prevalence of 1,366,848 patients was 12.8% (95% CI 11.8–13.9%); pooled incidence rate of 681,885 patients was 5.4 per 10,000 patient-days (95% CI 3.4–7.8) and pooled hospital-acquired pressure injuries rate of 1,893,593 was 8.4% (95% CI 7.6–9.3%). Stages were reported in 16 studies (132,530 patients with 12,041 pressure injuries). The most frequently occurred stages were Stage I (43.5%) and Stage II (28.0%). The most affected body sites were sacrum, heels and hip. Significant heterogeneity was noted across some geographic regions. Meta-regression showed that the year of data collection, mean age and gender were independent predictors, explaining 67% variability in the prevalence of pressure injuries. The year of data collection and age alone explained 93% of variability in hospital-acquired pressure injuries rate. Conclusion: This study suggested that the burden of pressure injuries remains substantial with over one in ten adult patients admitted to hospitals affected. Superficial pressure injuries, such as Stage I and II, are most common stages and are preventable. Our results highlight healthcare institutions' focus on pressure injuries globally and supports the need to dedicate resources to prevention and treatment on pressure injuries
The effectiveness of multicomponent pressure injury prevention programs in adult intensive care patients: A systematic review
No full textBackground: Pressure injuries are potentially preventable but frequently occurring adverse events. Intensive care patients have major risk factors for pressure injury with a reported pressure injury prevalence of 12–33%. Multi-faceted interventions, also known as programs or care bundles, are recommended to prevent pressure injuries. Aim: This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of pressure injury prevention programs in reducing pressure injury prevalence and incidence in the adult intensive care population. It also critically appraised the program components and strategies used to implement these programs. Method: We searched PubMed, EMBASE (embase.com), Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCOhost CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases separately for papers published in English and Chinese from the year of 2000 to May 2018. After removing duplicates, two authors independently screened the title and abstracts, then full-text against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was extracted by one author and checked by a second author. Quality appraisal was conducted by two authors by using the Quality Improvement Minimum Quality Criteria Set, and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Content analysis was used to categorise program components. Implementation strategies were grouped into six classifications: dissemination strategies, implementation process strategies, integration strategies, capacity building strategies, sustainability strategies, and scale up strategies. Results: Twenty-one peer reviewed papers (12 quality improvement projects, and 9 research papers from 8 studies) were included. Pressure injury prevention programs with 2–11 components were commonly implemented. Common components of the programs included: clarification of staff roles, introducing new roles, repositioning, staff and patient education, support surfaces use, pressure injury risk assessment, skin assessment, nutrition needs assessment, documentation, multidisciplinary team involvement, and mobilisation. Implementation strategies commonly used were education, audit and feedback, and standardising documentation. Five of the eight research studies and one of the quality improvement projects reported significant decrease in pressure injury prevalence, and/or increase in compliance to pressure injury prevention protocols and strategies. Two quality improvement papers reported cost savings of $1 million and £2.6 million respectively after the implementation of the programs. Conclusion: Much of the work on multicomponent pressure injury prevention programs has been undertaken as quality improvement projects and before and after research studies with limited rigour. However, positive outcomes and strong theoretical rationales for the components in the programs suggest that they are beneficial. This calls for future high-quality research such as randomised controlled trials to test the effectiveness of multicomponent interventions and their implementation strategies
Wound care practices across two acute care settings: A comparative study
No full textAims and objectives: Describe and compare current surgical wound care practices across two hospitals in two health services districts, Australia. Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are a complication of surgery and occur in up to 9.5% of surgical procedures, yet they are preventable. Despite the existence of clinical guidelines for SSI prevention, there remains high variation in wound care practice. Design: Prospective comparative design using structured observations and chart audit. Methods: A specifically developed audit tool was used to collect data on observed wound care practices, documentation of wound assessment and practice, and patients’ clinical characteristics from patients’ electronic medical records. Structured observations of a consecutive sample of surgical patients receiving wound care with a convenience sample of nurses were undertaken. The manuscript adheres to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement. Results: In total, 154 nurses undertaking acute wound care and 257 surgical patients who received wound care were observed. Across hospitals, hand hygiene adherence after dressing change was lowest (Hospital A: 8/113, 7%; Hospital B: 16/144, 11%; χ2: 8.93, p = .347). Most wound dressing practices were similar across sites, except hand hygiene prior to dressing change (Hospital A: 107/113, 95%; Hospital B: 131/144, 91%; (χ2: 7.736, p = .021) and use of clean gloves using nontouch technique (Hospital A: 88/113, 78%; Hospital B: 90/144, 63%; χ2: 8.313, p = .016). The most commonly documented wound characteristic was wound type (Hospital A: 43/113, 38%; Hospital B: 70/144, 49%). What nurses documented differed significantly across sites (p < .05). Conclusions: Clinical variations in wound care practice are likely influenced by clinical context. Relevance to clinical practice: Using an evidence‐based approach to surgical wound management will help reduce patients’ risk of wound‐related complications
Wood Microbiology: Decay and Its Prevention. 2nd Edition
No full textWood Microbiology, Second Edition, presents the latest advances in wood decay and its prevention. Coverage includes classification of fungi and bacteria, factors affecting growth and survival, fungal metabolism, and wood chemistry. There are also chapters that focus on the anatomical aspects, chemical changes, and ultrastructural effects of wood decay. Additionally, this book discusses major issues associated with wood decay, detecting decay, and how to take protective action against it.
This is a one-stop reference resource for wood scientists, wood processing and preserving professionals, foresters and forest pathologists, as well as students of forestry, and wood science and technology courses. It is authored by two leading experts with over 80 years of experience working with timber durability
Creating Quality Rubrics through Conversations
No full textDespite significant reforms in the past decade in relation to criteria- and standards-based assessment in tertiary education contexts, assessment remains the most significantly criticised aspect of the student tertiary experience and a major driver of student engagement. The key tool in this experience is the rubric, also known as the criteria sheet or the ‘Guide to Making Judgments’. This book discusses the significance of assessment rubrics in tertiary education. Assessment rubrics impact the student experience in multiple ways: as a guide to students and assessors prior to grading; at the point of grading by the assessor; when moderating during the post-grading process; in providing an additional guide to students in the assessment planning stage; and as a feedback mechanism to students once results are released. This book explains how the rubric reflects key principles of assessment. It explores different models of rubrics used in tertiary contexts, and provides data from students and academics on the efficacy of these various models as the key tool when marking, moderating and providing feedback. It also details exemplars of rubrics used in academic disciplines, and discusses how higher education teachers use exemplars and how they integrate exemplars with criteria and rubrics. It captures the student voice by explaining how students use rubrics for self-assessment and self-regulation purposes. A key inclusion is the importance of sessional staff input into the creation of assessment rubrics prior to the grading, moderating and feedback processes. [Book Synopsis
Talking about rubrics in higher education: exploring academic agency
No full textDespite significant reforms in the past decade in relation to criteria- and standards-based assessment in tertiary education contexts, assessment remains the most significantly criticised aspect of the student tertiary experience and a major driver of student engagement. The key tool in this experience is the rubric, also known as the criteria sheet or the ‘Guide to Making Judgments’. This book discusses the significance of assessment rubrics in tertiary education. Assessment rubrics impact the student experience in multiple ways: as a guide to students and assessors prior to grading; at the point of grading by the assessor; when moderating during the post-grading process; in providing an additional guide to students in the assessment planning stage; and as a feedback mechanism to students once results are released. This book explains how the rubric reflects key principles of assessment. It explores different models of rubrics used in tertiary contexts, and provides data from students and academics on the efficacy of these various models as the key tool when marking, moderating and providing feedback. It also details exemplars of rubrics used in academic disciplines, and discusses how higher education teachers use exemplars and how they integrate exemplars with criteria and rubrics. It captures the student voice by explaining how students use rubrics for self-assessment and self-regulation purposes. A key inclusion is the importance of sessional staff input into the creation of assessment rubrics prior to the grading, moderating and feedback processes. [Book Synopsis
A more than casual approach: an argument for a team approach to assessment and rubric design
No full textDespite significant reforms in the past decade in relation to criteria- and standards-based assessment in tertiary education contexts, assessment remains the most significantly criticised aspect of the student tertiary experience and a major driver of student engagement. The key tool in this experience is the rubric, also known as the criteria sheet or the ‘Guide to Making Judgments’. This book discusses the significance of assessment rubrics in tertiary education. Assessment rubrics impact the student experience in multiple ways: as a guide to students and assessors prior to grading; at the point of grading by the assessor; when moderating during the post-grading process; in providing an additional guide to students in the assessment planning stage; and as a feedback mechanism to students once results are released. This book explains how the rubric reflects key principles of assessment. It explores different models of rubrics used in tertiary contexts, and provides data from students and academics on the efficacy of these various models as the key tool when marking, moderating and providing feedback. It also details exemplars of rubrics used in academic disciplines, and discusses how higher education teachers use exemplars and how they integrate exemplars with criteria and rubrics. It captures the student voice by explaining how students use rubrics for self-assessment and self-regulation purposes. A key inclusion is the importance of sessional staff input into the creation of assessment rubrics prior to the grading, moderating and feedback processes. [Book Synopsis
Investigating the Links between Adolescent Sleep Deprivation, Fronto-limbic connectivity and the Onset of Mental Disorders: A Review of the Literature
No full textThe importance of sleep for mental health has been known for some time. Although it was initially suggested that mental health conditions negatively impact sleep, it is now widely understood that this association is bidirectional. Adolescence is a period where people are at an increased risk of being sleep deprived largely due to a late shift in the circadian rhythm around puberty combined with early school start times. Combined these may lead to adolescents being at an increased risk of mental health problems. Adolescence is also a period of continued brain development with white matter maturation continuing in the frontal brain regions throughout adolescence and into early adulthood. White matter development involves myelination of axons that link areas of grey matter and is integral for communication speed and efficiency. Studies have demonstrated that sufficient sleep is required for myelination to occur. The uncinate fasciculus (UF) is one of the last white matter tracts to be myelinated with this process occurring throughout adolescence and running between the amygdala in the limbic system and the orbitofrontal (OFC) and medial prefrontal cortices (mPFC). Recent studies have shown that connectivity between the amygdala and OFC is important for an individual’s ability to exert top-down executive control over amygdala based automatic emotional responses to experiences perceived as threatening. The current literature review provides an overview of these mechanisms and concludes by proposing a model of adolescent sleep deprivation leading to potential life-long mental health issues through the moderating impact of reduced UF development