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Midwives' perceptions of the support they provide to new graduates and the role of the health service in Australia:A survey of midwives
Get PDFPROBLEM: Evidence suggests new midwifery graduates are leaving the profession prematurely during the initial graduate years due to workplace stress.BACKGROUND: Graduate midwives are essential to provide a future midwifery workforce. Support for new graduates in the initial years of practice is essential in retaining them in the midwifery profession.AIM: The aim of this study was to explore midwives' perspectives of the support they provide new graduates within existing midwifery graduate programs, and their experiences and perceptions of the health service processes to support midwifery graduates.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken with a purposive sample of Australian midwives. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse frequencies and percentages of responses. Spearman's correlational analyses were used to determine associations between the variables. Responses to open-ended questions were analysed by content analysis.FINDINGS: In total, 167 midwives responded to the survey. Just over a third (34.1 %) of midwives felt they had sufficient resources to support a midwifery graduate. Half (50.9 %) of the midwives engaged in reflective practice with midwifery graduates. The majority (97 %) of midwives reported that they felt it was important for midwifery graduates to have a mentor.DISCUSSION: A lack of protected time to provide mentoring opportunities and support new graduates to gain further experience and education was identified. These findings support the need for a formal mentorship program to be introduced.CONCLUSION: This study offers insights into the perspective of midwives dealing with the realities of striving to support midwifery graduates in their initial years of practice.</p
Minimal Data Elements for Surveillance and Reporting Of Musculoskeletal Injuries in the MILitary (ROMMIL) International Consensus Statement
No full textIntroduction A systematic approach to collecting and reporting injury data in military settings is necessary to maximize the impact of musculoskeletal injury-related research. An international consensus on recommended core data set of elements to capture and report is necessary. The purpose was to summarize the process and results from an international consensus study to establish recommended common minimum data elements for surveillance and Reporting Of Musculoskeletal injuries in the MILitary (ROMMIL).Methods A ten-step hybrid consensus process was performed. Knowledge users were embedded in the process for co-creation of pertinent questions, data elements, and voting. Evidence synthesis included a scoping review on the barriers and facilitators to implementing injury prevention programs, followed by a knowledge user survey. A sequential three round Delphi study refined and validated the final elements in the recommendation checklist. Consensus recommendations were presented to an international audience of stakeholders. Participants voted on each statement with 0 representing no importance, 5 somewhat important, and 10 maximum importance.Results The consensus recommendation includes one data principle of keeping continuous data continuous and 33 minimum data elements. Data elements include demographics, lifestyle, service branch, musculoskeletal/surgical history, exposure, and injury characteristics. The data principle endorsed by knowledge users recommends that continuous variables (e.g. age, weight, exposure) remain continuous and not categorized into groups. Dissenting viewpoints are detailed to provide fair and balanced consensus recommendations.Conclusions The ROMMIL checklist could be leveraged by clinicians, researchers and knowledge users working in miliary settings when comparing and harmonizing data across studies, service branches, and countries. The ROMMIL checklist will support improved data synthesis to better inform evidence-based practice in military medicine, and the ability to generate more useful prognostic models to quantify injury risk
Lines, edges and intersections:Building border criminology from the margins
Get PDFAn abridged version of this paper was delivered at the ANZSOC annual conference in Christchurch on 4 December 2024, after the presentation of the Distinguished Criminologist award. Amongst other omissions, the long anecdote about my arrival in the United Kingdom was not included in the lecture due to time constraints. All the material that was delivered orally on the day is reproduced here without significant changes.</p
Reinforcement Learning-Driven Path Generation for Ankle Rehabilitation Robot Using Musculoskeletal-Informed Energy Optimization
Get PDFIn rehabilitation robotics, optimizing energy consumption and high interaction forces is essential to prevent unnecessary muscle fatigue and excessive joint loading as they often cause an inefficient trajectory planning and disrupt natural movement patterns. Stroke patients frequently exhibit asymmetrical muscle activation and impaired neuromuscular coordination, making it necessary to design a system that adapts to their specific motor limitations with energy-efficient and excessive torque control. This study presents a reinforcement learning-based trajectory optimization framework for a 3-DOF ankle rehabilitation robot, integrating musculoskeletal modeling, transactive energy and real-time physiological feedback to generate adaptive rehabilitation trajectories. The methodology utilizes electromyography (EMG) signals from key ankle muscles and joint reaction forces to refine movement patterns to ensure biomechanical efficiency. The methodology is validated using data from ten stroke patients, demonstrating its potential to enhance rehabilitation effectiveness by promoting more natural, efficient, and physiologically accurate movement trajectories
Diagnostic radiography students’ neonatal mobile X-ray imaging infection prevention and control practices
Get PDFIntroduction: Neonates represent a unique population with complex medical needs. Diagnostic medical imaging is crucial for diagnosing and treating their conditions, often utilising mobile imaging equip- ment. A key aspect of providing mobile X-ray imaging for neonates is infection prevention and control (IPC). This study investigated the IPC practices of diagnostic radiography students conducting mobile X-ray imaging in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Method: This quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study employed purposive sampling and used an online questionnaire to collect data from diagnostic radiography students at a higher education institution in Gauteng, South Africa. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The survey had a response rate of 51.1% (n = 141, N = 276), primarily from the second-year cohort (44.7%). Most participants (n = 132; 93.6%) had access to dedicated NICU and IPC policies, but only 63.1% (n = 89) were familiar with the IPC protocols. The major- ity of participants (n = 134; 95%) recognised the importance of lim- iting cross-contamination in the NICU. Participants rated their IPC practices as average (n = 60; 49.6%) and high (n = 64; 45.4%). More reported cleaning the mobile X-ray machine (n = 89; 63%) and wash- ing hands (n = 114; 81%) before examinations rather than after, with image receptors (n = 106; 75%) mostly cleaned after the examination. Conclusion: The IPC practices of diagnostic radiography students during mobile X-ray imaging in the NICU were inconsistent. Most students understood the importance of IPC; however, inconsistencies in cleaning mobile X-ray machines, image receptors and radiographic markers were reported. It is necessary to explore the reasons for these divergent IPC practices to develop strategies to enhance IPC practice compliance
The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Public Attitudes Towards the Australian Police
No full textPositive public attitudes towards Australian police have reduced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following study aimed to explore these changing attitudes. Specifically, this study examined differences in attitudes towards the police across a pre-pandemic and during pandemic sample, taking into consideration the levels of contact participants had with the police and the Australian states they reside in. Furthermore, the associations between participant’s understanding of the role of police during the pandemic and their attitudes towards the police were identified. Using a cross-sectional survey design with quantitative measures, demographic data and participant’s opinions regarding the police were gathered. An open-ended survey question was also used to gain information regarding participant’s understanding of the role of police during the pandemic. Participants were 406 Australian adults (228 females, 175 males, and 3 others). When compared to pre-pandemic attitudes, a significant reduction in overall attitudes towards the police was identified during the pandemic. Participants living in states that were highly impacted by COVID-19 (i.e., Victoria, Australia) reported the least favourable attitudes towards the police. Finally, participants who had an accurate understanding of the role of police reported the most favourable attitudes towards the police. Each significant result displayed a high effect size. This study provides preliminary information for policing agencies on strategies that can be used to improve community to policing relationships in future disastrous events. Findings are discussed in relation to future research directions, educational implications and public awareness campaigns.</p
Wading through the Luyon-luyon:social perspectives on the tropical peatlands of the Leyte Sab-a Basin, Philippines
No full textPeatland restoration is considered as one of the most cost-effective interventions for climate mitigation and adaptation, sustaining local welfare and livelihoods, and building climate resilience of local communities. Yet, there is often a diversity of views and goals of restoring tropical peatlands. While technical approaches dominate peatland restoration literature, this study introduces a novel social-ecological framework that analyzed the value-driven priorities that shape restoration goals. Based on semi-structured interviews with 14 key informants and six focus groups with development agencies, local governments, non-governmental organizations, and local communities, participants highlight key issues in restoring peatlands, often influenced by the socioeconomic and historical context in which they are positioned. These results exemplify specific objectives for restoration in developing countries with relatively smaller yet equally important peatlands. The study’s novelty lies in applying sense-making and value-centric approaches to tropical peatland restoration, contributing to discourse by demonstrating how diverse social perspectives and values critically shape restoration outcomes, an underrepresented dimension in predominantly technical restoration literature.</p
Development of Australian mental health guidelines for community sport
Get PDFObjective: The need for clear and actionable guidelines for the promotion and protection of mental health in organised community sport has previously been identified. This study aimed to provide guidelines to promote and protect mental health in organised community sport in Australia. Methods: Guideline development was informed by (1) systematic reviews of the evidence pertaining to existing mental health guidelines in sport and mental health interventions in community sport; (2) an expert Delphi consensus study and (3) key stakeholder input via focus groups. A Guideline Development Committee comprising experts and key stakeholder representatives articulated nine distinct guidelines. Results: These guidelines address the areas of: mental health literacy training; mental health support pathways and processes; responding to mental health emergencies; responding to major events that may impact mental health; having a mental health plan in place; reducing stigmatising attitudes; appointing a dedicated mental health champion; coach education and promoting well-being within the organisation. Conclusions: We provide guidance for promoting and protecting mental health in community sport. Monitoring uptake and measuring the effectiveness of the guidelines are important areas of future work to advance positive mental health for everybody involved in community sport.</p
Disparities in primary cardiovascular risks and social determinants:multilevel analysis of national surveys
No full textInequalities in social determinants hinder effective CVD risk prevention. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify ten-year CVD risk in Brunei Darussalam and Iraq and identify associated individual- and community-level factors to improve targeted prevention efforts. Data were from the WHO STEPS national surveys, including 971 participants from Brunei Darussalam and 1,715 from Iraq, aged 40–69. The ten-year CVD risk was calculated using the WHO-2019 laboratory-based equation, and multilevel regression models identified associated factors. The expected ten-year CVD incidence rate (fatal or nonfatal) is 136 per 1,000 individuals in Iraq and 57 per 1,000 in Brunei Darussalam. Higher CVD risk was observed among males (Iraq: β [Beta coefficient percent] = 4.56, 95%CI [3.45–5.67], p < 0.001; Brunei Darussalam: β = 3.92, 95%CI [3.46–4.37], p < 0.001), widowed, divorced, or separated individuals (Iraq: β = 7.66, 95%CI [6.35–8.97], p < 0.001; Brunei Darussalam: β = 0.95, 95%CI [0.15–1.75], p < 0.05), those with less than primary/primary education (Iraq: β = 2.61, 95%CI [0.90–4.32], p < 0.01; Brunei Darussalam: β = 2.62, 95%CI [1.91–3.32], p < 0.001), retired/unable to work individuals (Iraq: β = 11.28, 95%CI [9.87–12.68], p < 0.001; Brunei Darussalam: β = 3.24, 95%CI [2.70–3.77], p < 0.001), and those with low physical activity (Iraq: β = 3.00, 95%CI [1.60–4.40], p < 0.001). Targeted CVD prevention efforts are needed for individuals who are widowed, divorced, or separated, have lower educational attainment, are retired or unable to work, or engage in low levels of physical activity.</p
Stroke-related factors associated with gait asymmetry in ambulatory stroke survivors:A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textBackground: Gait asymmetry, characterized by spatial (e.g., step length) and temporal (e.g., swing time) differences between the paretic and non-paretic limbs, is common after stroke. Despite increasing research on gait asymmetry, its associations with stroke-related factors remain unclear. Research question: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate these associations and provide insights for post-stroke rehabilitation. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus identified observational studies published between January 2000 and June 2024. Studies examining the relationship between stroke-related factors and post-stroke gait asymmetry were included. Meta-analyses were performed on factors with sufficient data, extracting correlation coefficients (r) to estimate effect sizes. Results: Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria, with eight studies (n = 468 participants) included in meta-analyses. Temporal asymmetry was significantly associated with lower limb motor and sensory deficits (r = −0.73; 95 % CI: −0.88 to −0.57; p < 0.01), leg strength (r = −0.50; 95 % CI: −0.64 to −0.36; p < 0.01), spasticity (r = 0.51; 95 % CI: 0.31–0.72; p < 0.01), and overall motor performance (r = −0.68; 95 % CI: −0.74 to −0.61; p < 0.01). Spatial asymmetry was significantly associated with leg strength (r = −0.31; 95 % CI: −0.45 to −0.17; p < 0.01), spasticity (r = 0.67; 95 % CI: 0.49–0.85; p < 0.01), and overall lower limb impairments (r = −0.44; 95 % CI: −0.64 to −0.23; p < 0.01). Significance: Lower limb motor and sensory deficits, along with overall motor performance, were the factors most strongly associated with temporal asymmetry. Spasticity and/or contracture was the factor most strongly associated with spatial asymmetry. These findings highlight the need to assess and manage gait asymmetry separately in post-stroke rehabilitation.</p