19683 research outputs found
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Evaluation of My Rights Matter: A program to change understanding, skills and policy about supported decision making
No full textMy Rights Matter (MRM) aimed to promote the rights of people with intellectual disabilities to make their own decisions and support their leadership in awareness raising and changing policies about supported decision making (SDM). MRM was an initiative of the NSW Council on Intellectual Disability (CID) which ran from January 2022 to July 2024. It was funded by philanthropy and had several strands: training, advocacy and organisational, community and policy change. Through its multifaceted activities MRM increased the capacity of people with intellectual disabilities, supporters, community and service providers to understand and participate in SDM and was instrumental in changing attitudes and expectations, practice and laws about SDM. The project also demonstrated good practice for including people with intellectual disabilities in all parts of a project, including taking lead roles in workshop facilitation, advocacy and public speaking.An interim report, published in March 2023, evaluated the processes and outcomes of MRM over the first 12 months, from its inception to December 2022 (Bigby et al., 2023). That report included recommendations which had been workshopped with CID in December 2022. The recommendations helped to inform the second part of the project. Also, at the end of 2022, a six-month extension was negotiated with the funder to take account of the underspend of funds and longer than anticipated development time of the SDM Framework and training workshops.This final evaluation report reflects on the last 18 months of the project from January 2023 to July 2024. It 1) identifies the major changes following the interim evaluation report; 2) considers each component of MRM; the workshop series, peer mentoring, advocacy, Grants, Champions and information dissemination; 3) reviews CID’s inclusive ways of working in MRM; and 4) reflects on the overall success and learnings from the program for SDM generally and future initiatives by CID.</p
Representations of quadratic Heisenberg-Weyl algebras and polynomials in the fourth Painlevé transcendent
No full textWe provide new insights into the solvability property of a Hamiltonian involving the fourth Painlevé transcendent and its derivatives. This Hamiltonian is third-order shape invariant and can also be interpreted within the context of second supersymmetric quantum mechanics. In addition, this Hamiltonian admits third-order lowering and raising operators. We have considered the case when this Hamiltonian is irreducible, i.e., when no special solutions exist for given parameters and of the fourth Painlevé transcendent . This means that the Hamiltonian does not admit a potential in terms of rational functions (or the hypergeometric type of special functions) for those parameters. In such irreducible cases, the ladder operators are as well involving the fourth Painlevé transcendent and its derivative. An important case for which this occurs is when the second parameter (i.e., ) of the fourth Painlevé transcendent is strictly positive, . This Hamiltonian was studied for all hierarchies of rational solutions that come in three families connected to the generalized Hermite and Okamoto polynomials. The explicit form of ladder, the associated wavefunctions involving exceptional orthogonal polynomials, and recurrence relations were also completed described. Much less is known for the irreducible case, in particular the excited states. Here, we developed a description of the induced representations based on various commutator identities for the highest and lowest weight type representations. We also provided for such representations a new formula concerning the explicit form of the related excited states from the point of view of the Schrödinger equation as two-variables polynomials that involve the fourth Painlevé transcendent and its derivative.</p
Effectiveness of whole-body electromyostimulation on knee pain and physical function in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial
No full textIn a randomized, controlled study, whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) was investigated as a promising alternative treatment technique compared to conventional strength training for the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Seventy-two overweight participants with symptomatic knee OA were randomly assigned to WB-EMS (n = 36) or a usual care group (UCG, n = 36). For seven months, the WB-EMS group received three times per fortnight a WB-EMS training, while the UCG was prescribed six-times physiotherapeutic treatments. We observed significant effects for the primary outcome “pain”, as determined by the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), with more favourable changes in the WB-EMS group vs UCG (between-group difference 9.0 points, 95%CI 2.9–15.1, p = 0.004). Secondary outcomes, including the other KOOS subscales (symptoms, function in daily living, function in sports/recreational activities and quality of life), 7 day pain diary, hip/leg extensor strength and lower limb function (30s sit-to-stand test), were also statistically significant in favour of the WB-EMS group. Overall, WB-EMS was found to be effective in relieving knee pain symptoms and improving physical function in individuals with symptomatic knee OA compared to usual care treatment. WB-EMS could be used as an alternative therapy in the management of knee OA; particularly for patients that cannot be motivated for conventional training.</p
Cancer Nurses’ Voices and Recommendations to Address Workforce Challenges: A Qualitative Analysis
No full textObjectives: Amidst the fulfilment of making a positive impact on patients’ lives, cancer nurses also contend with high workloads, limited resources, and barriers to career advancement. Understanding the perceptions of cancer nurses is essential in addressing these challenges and fostering an environment that promotes both professional satisfaction and optimal patient care. Our aim was to explore Australian cancer nurses' experiences and perspectives of workforce challenges and their proposed solutions to address them. Methods: The Cancer Nurses Society Australia workforce cross-sectional survey was distributed online in 2022 through professional networks and social media. Free text responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and inductive processes. Results: Responses from 601 cancer nurses highlight the intricate interplay between rewards and obstacles experienced by the profession and identify key areas for improvement. Positive and negative quotes highlight the passion of cancer nurses which were summarized into themes and subthemes: 1) Finding fulfilment while struggling against the tide. While feeling undervalued and facing workload pressures, burnout and limited opportunities for career progression, nurses express love for their jobs, finding it rewarding yet emotionally challenging. 2) Grassroots solutions versus organizational inertia. Proposed solutions included addressing nurse-to-patient ratios, proactive succession planning, more specific education, dedicated time for learning, and mentorship and career development programs. Perceived barriers to initiatives included lethargic management and resistance to change. Networking opportunities, appropriate remuneration, and interdisciplinary teamwork with an appreciation of individual expertise are desired. Conclusions: Our findings give a voice to the cancer nurses of Australia. Nurses identified a range of solutions to address workforce challenges. Implications for nursing practice: Addressing the systemic issues that contribute to high workload and impede nurses’ well-being and their recognition, and promoting policies to support professional growth will increase satisfaction, enhance patient care outcomes, and contribute to a sustainable workforce.</p
Employers most desirable attributes in early-career physiotherapists: a content analysis of job advertisements
No full textBackground: Ensuring a sufficient, appropriately qualified health workforce is of global concern. Understanding the attributes that employers seek is critical in recruitment, retention, and educational design. In physiotherapy, there is a dearth of evidence on desirable attributes that employers seek from early-career physiotherapists. This study directly addresses this gap. The aims of this study were to identify the characteristics of the jobs advertised for early-career physiotherapists in Australia; determine which attributes were most desired when employing an early-career physiotherapist; and identify if there were differences in the attributes required based upon workplace location. Methods: New graduate and early-career physiotherapy job advertisements were collected for six months from 1st October 2020 until 31st March 2021 from SEEK.com.au, a large online employment marketplace that operates across ten countries in the Asia Pacific and Latin America. Job advertisements needed to specify new graduate or early-career physiotherapist eligibility and be located within Australia. Data extraction were completed using QuestionPro®. The Modified Monash Model was used to classify rurality of job location. Job advertisements were analysed descriptively and using content analysis to identify attributes. Results: The search yielded 578 job advertisements with the greatest number collected in October 2020 (25.3%). Of the advertisements, 428 (74.0%) were in metropolitan locations (Modified Monash 1), 47 (8.1%) were in regional (Modified Monash 2), 99 (17.1%) were in rural locations (Modified Monash 3–5), and 4 (0.8%) were in remote locations (Modified Monash 6–7). Most roles were in private practice (63.3%) or aged care (21.7%). The top five attributes requested by employers were client focus, communication and interpersonal skills, team player, willingness to learn, and being able to build rapport, relationships, and networks. Academic results, resilience, and empathy were the least requested attributes. Differences in requested employability attributes increased with rurality. Conclusions: This study addresses the current knowledge about attributes sought by employers for early-career physiotherapists. The most prevalent attributes requested were client focus and communication and interpersonal skills. This exploration of attributes can help to better prepare graduates for their first roles, align expectations, and increase understanding of priorities for entry level university programs, as well as identify priorities for support during transition to practice. Desired attributes should be clearly defined by employers in recruitment and retention processes.</p
What Helps Children and Young People to Disclose their Experience of Sexual Abuse and What Gets in the Way? A Systematic Scoping Review
No full textAbstract:- Background: Global research has found that prevalence rates of child sexual abuse suggest that this is a significant ongoing public health concern. A recent Australian study, for example, revealed that more than three girls and almost one in five boys reported experiencing sexual abuse before the age of 18. Self-reported rates of abuse, however, far exceed official figures, suggesting that large numbers of children who experience sexual abuse do not come to the attention of relevant authorities. Whether and how those children have tried to tell their stories remains unclear. Objective: The goal of the review was to explore scholarly literature to determine what was known about what enables or constrains children to disclose their experience of sexual abuse. Method: A systematic scoping review was undertaken to better understand the current state of knowledge in the scholarly literature on child sexual abuse disclosure. Thirty-two scholarly publications were included for analysis following a rigorous process of sourcing articles from five databases and systematically screening them based on transparent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ecological systems and trauma-informed theoretical paradigms underpinned an inductive thematic analysis of the included manuscripts. Results: Three multi-dimensional themes were identified from the thirty-two publications. These themes were: factors enabling disclosure are multifaceted; barriers to disclosure include a complex interplay of individual, familial, contextual and cultural issues; and Indigenous victims and survivors, male survivors, and survivors with a minoritised cultural background may face additional barriers to disclosing their experiences of abuse. Conclusions: The literature suggests that a greater understanding of the barriers to disclosures exists. Further research that supports a deeper understanding of the complex interplay of enablers and the barriers to disclosure across diverse populations is needed. In particular, future research should privilege the voices of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, mobilising their lived experiences to co-create improved practice and policy.</p
Working Metaphors: Cross‐Sector Collaboration between Domestic Violence and Substance Use Services
No full textCollaboration between services addressing domestic violence and substance use presents scope for enhancement. This study presents the first stage of an Australian action research project that aimed to investigate cross-sector collaboration between domestic violence and substance use services. The study employed purposive sampling for data collection, with the primary author conducting semistructured interviews with 26 senior policy workers, practitioners, and managers about their previous experiences in promoting collaboration between these two sectors. Employing metaphor analysis as a heuristic tool, the authors identified the metaphorical concepts that interviewees used to frame their understanding of cross-sector collaboration. These metaphorical concepts reveal the diverse approaches to conceptualizing and implementing cross-sector collaboration. Collaboration was understood by participants as engaging with geopolitics, fixing infrastructure, running a business, and playing a game. Each metaphorical concept has implications for how professionals understand and perform cross-sector collaboration. The predominant language of cross-sectoral collaboration illuminates the discursive field in which policymakers and senior managers are situated. Certain metaphorical concepts hindered participants' capacity to engage and sustain collaborative practice, while others held potential to promote collaboration. Researchers identified potential opportunities to promote collaborative practices between substance use and domestic violence sectors. By gaining insight into how professionals conceptualized cross-sector collaboration, leverage points were identified that supported the development of a policy stakeholder group working to address systemic issues of cross-sectoral practice
Agenda setting, framing and wage theft in Australia
No full textABSTRACT: Over the past decade the problem of wage theft has burst onto the Australian policymaking scene, seemingly out of nowhere. Its meteoric rise, from a largely unrecognised issue to the broad public agenda, then onto the narrower governmental and decision agendas of state and federal governments, was a major feat in policy advocacy. It stands as a particularly outstanding example of the power of framing to change the salience and esteem of an issue. By tracing the journey of the wage theft issue through the different spheres of public and governmental attention, this research illuminates under-studied aspects of the re-framing and agenda-setting artforms and advances the study of advocacy group interventions in policy conflicts.</p
T cell factor 1 (TCF-1) Defines T cell Differentiation in Colorectal Cancer
No full textSUMMARY: The presence of precursor to exhausted (Tpex) CD8+ T cells is important to maintain robust immunity following treatment with immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). Impressive responses to ICI are emerging in patients with stage II-III mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC). We found 64% of dMMR and 15% of mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) stage III CRCs had a high frequency of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL-hi). Furthermore, expression of TCF-1 (Tcf7) by CD8+ T cells predicted improved patient prognosis and Tpex cells (CD3+CD8+ TCF-1+PD-1+) were abundant within lymphoid aggregates of stage III CRCs. In contrast, CD3+CD8+TCF-1?PD-1+ cells were more abundant at the invasive front and tumor core, while gd T cells were equally abundant in all tumor areas. Interestingly, no differences in the frequency of Tpex cells were observed between TIL-hi dMMR and TIL-hi pMMR CRCs. Therefore, Tpex cell function and ICI response rates in TIL-hi CRC warrants further investigation. </p
JRC: Deepfake detection via joint reconstruction and classification
No full textDeep learning has enabled realistic face manipulation for malicious purposes (e.g., deepfakes), which poses significant concerns over the integrity of the media in circulation. Most existing deep learning techniques for deepfake detection can achieve promising performance in the intra-dataset evaluation setting, but are unable to perform satisfactorily in the inter-dataset evaluation setting. Most previous methods use a backbone network to extract global features for making predictions and only employ binary supervision to train the network. Classification merely based on the learning of global features often leads to weak generalizability to deepfakes of unseen manipulation methods. In this paper, we design a two-branch Convolutional AutoEncoder (CAE), which considers the reconstruction and classification tasks simultaneously for deepfake detection. This Joint Reconstruction and Classification (JRC) method shares the information learned by one task with the other, each focusing on different aspects, and hence boosts the overall performance. JRC is end-to-end, and experiments demonstrate that it achieves state-of-the-art performance on three commonly-used datasets, particularly in the cross-dataset evaluation setting