19683 research outputs found
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Pre-registration student nurse placement hours, competency, and outcomes: A systematic review
No full textAims: The aims of this systematic review were to a) identify studies on pre-registration student nurse placement hours, b) appraise the quality of studies to date, and c) synthesise the impact of different placement hours on student nurse competency and outcomes for people who use health services. Design: A mixed method systematic review involving five steps: framing questions, study identification, assessing quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, summarising evidence around major focus areas, and interpreting findings, using thematic synthesis. Data sources: Searches were conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies, theses, and reviews in MEDLINE, EmBase, the Education Resources Information Center, the Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, PROSPERO, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, Web of Science (Social Science Citation Index), and the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database. Review methods: The population was pre-registration nurses, and included peer-reviewed studies, theses, and reviews that referred to practice hours, the impact of practice hours on competency, and studies that linked practice hours to health service user outcomes. Searches were imported into Covidence software, with all documents screened independently by two reviewers at the title and abstract and full text stages. All authors independently assessed methodological quality with discussion occurring until consensus was reached. Reporting is consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the protocol is registered in PROSPERO. Results: A total of 4958 documents were screened, with 49 articles forming the final dataset. Overall, the literature is characterised by small scale evaluations in single universities, primarily focused on the replacement of practice hours with simulation. Conclusion: There is a lack of high-quality evidence to underpin practice placement hours. Given calls to significantly accelerate the graduation of nurses to address crisis-level nursing shortages the lack of a strong evidence base on practice hours warrants global attention.</p
Reliability and reactivity of heart rate variability and pupillometry in response to controlled autonomic perturbations in university students
No full textThe aim of this test–retest reliability study was to evaluate the reliability and reactivity of heart rate variability (HRV) and pupillometry metrics under conditions with controlled cognitive stimulation and paced breathing within a virtual reality protocol. After habituation, 30 English-speaking university students completed a four-phase protocol on two occasions separated by 1 week. HRV and pupillometry were continuously measured during the following phases: baseline, cognitive testing, guided breathing with nature immersion, and spontaneous breathing with nature immersion. Strong day-to-day relative reliability was confirmed for both HRV (pooled ICC: 0.75 to 0.83) and pupillometry (pooled ICC: 0.66 to 0.87). HRV metrics of sympathovagal balance in the time, frequency, and non-linear domains showed reactivity with significant differences between all phases. Pupillometry metrics increased progressively from cognitive testing to guided breathing nature immersion to nature immersion, suggesting psychological rather than respiratory influences. Relatively large minimal detectable change values were determined across HRV (22 to 54% deviation from baseline) and pupillometry (33 to 88% deviation from baseline) metrics. Although the relatively large ratio limits of agreement and minimal detectable change values suggest that detecting systematic changes in these metrics over time might be difficult at the individual level, strong relative reliability supports the use of HRV and pupillometry metrics to detect differences in sympathovagal balance between groups. Additionally, the responsiveness of these metrics demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed virtual reality protocol in inducing detectable physiological reactivity across HRV and pupillometry metrics.</p
Adapting Anatomy Education: A Comparative Analysis of Learning and Academic Outcomes Across In-Person, Online, and Blended Instruction in a Third-Year Anatomy Subject (2019–2023)
No full textBackground: This study evaluated student learning outcomes and perceptions in the third-year anatomy subject PAM3HAN at La Trobe University across three instructional models: fully in-person (2019), fully online (2020–2021), and blended (2022–2023). The aim was to determine how these delivery modes influenced academic performance, engagement, and the achievement of learning objectives. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used. Quantitative data, including mean subject scores, pass rates, and assessment component results, were compared across instructional periods. Qualitative data from Student Feedback on Subject (SFS) surveys were analysed thematically to explore perceptions of learning quality, practical engagement, instructional coherence, and assessment alignment. Results: Student performance differed significantly across years (p Conclusion: While online delivery supports accessibility, it cannot replace the depth of learning provided by practical experiences. The blended model offered the most balanced approach, emphasising the importance of coherent curriculum design, integrated resources, and sustained opportunities for hands-on anatomical learning.</p
Shaping the Future of Education: AI-Driven Approaches for Primary Schools
No full textNo description supplied</p
Exploring the intersection between disability and trafficking: Viet Nam Country Brief
No full texthttps://d1yvzyyfgpz62x.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/02095937/Country-Brief-Viet-Nam-13.10.pdf Disability and trafficking intersect in two critical ways:Persons with disabilities may become victims of trafficking. Disability can compound poverty and marginalisation, or lead to social isolation, disempowerment, and dependence on caregivers – factors that heighten vulnerability to exploitation or risky opportunities.People may acquire disabilities as a result of trafficking. Survivors often endure physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, injuries, or illness, which can lead to long-term disabilities – especially when medical and social support is lacking.Although persons with disabilities are recognised as at risk, there is limited knowledge about their specific vulnerabilities, the forms of trafficking they experience, and how well current prevention and support services meet their needs.To deepen understanding of this intersection in Southeast Asia, the ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking program commissioned country briefs for Viet Nam, as well as for Cambodia and Lao PDR. These build on a 2023 study conducted with La Trobe University, which examined disability and trafficking in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand.The briefs draw on national consultation workshops and discussions with government agencies, NGOs, and organisations of persons with disabilities. Each report features recommendations co-developed with stakeholders to strengthen prevention, protection, and prosecution of trafficking involving persons with disabilities.</p
“Do You Know What Birth Control Actually Does to Your Body?”: Assessing Contraceptive Information on TikTok
No full textIntroduction: Social media platforms have rapidly become key sources of contraceptive health information, shaping the beliefs and behaviors of individuals of reproductive age. Yet, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish accurate content from misleading information, potentially leading to higher unintended pregnancy rates. Given the limited insights into the quality and reliability of contraceptive information on TikTok, this cross-sectional study aimed to systematically evaluate popular TikTok content on contraception created by various users to identify and analyze misinformation. Method: Between August and September 2023, we analyzed 100 videos from the top five hashtags related to contraception methods (#birthcontrol, #contraception, #thepill, #naturalbirthcontrol, and #cycletracking) to assess the characteristics of the health information presented and their quality, using the DISCERN tool. Results: The TikTok videos collectively received 4.85 billion views. Only 10% were created by medical professionals. Overall, the content showed poor reliability and quality, indicating a prominent presence of contraceptive health misinformation. Furthermore, there was a concerning trend favoring natural contraceptive methods over hormonal options, often without appropriate risk disclosures, accompanied by a growing distrust in health professionals. Discussion: The rise of contraceptive misinformation on social media is re-shaping patient-provider relationships and impacting contraceptive beliefs. TikTok offers an excellent public health opportunity to disseminate accurate contraceptive information accessible to all individuals, regardless of their background or resources. To address the observed distrust in health professionals, it is essential to improve contraceptive care quality and promote shared decision-making, which would likely increase satisfaction with contraceptive choices and mitigate negative narratives online.</p
Biochar alleviates ammonium-induced suppression of methane uptake in a subtropical forest soil
No full textNo description supplied.</p
Microbial mediation of soil organic carbon fractions and its feedback to long-term climate change
No full textAims: Understanding the long-term effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) and warming on soil organic carbon (SOC), along with the microbial mechanisms involved, is important for predicting SOC stability in the context of future climate change. Methods: Open-top chambers were used to simulate an increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration to 700 ppm (eCO2) and an air temperature of 2 °C above the ambient temperature (warming) in a six-year experiment to examine the effects of eCO2 and warming on the SOC fractions and bacterial community diversity. Maize plants were grown in four major farming soils, namely, Phaeozem, Kastanozem, Fluvisol and Acrisol. Results: Six years of eCO2 did not increase the SOC concentration in any soil but altered the distribution of the SOC fractions. In comparison, eCO2 and warming decreased fine particulate organic C (fPOC) but increased the mineral-associated organic C (MOC) concentrations in Phaeozem and Kastanozem. In comparison, eCO2 and warming significantly decreased the MOC in Fluvisol and tended to increase it in Acrisol. For Phaeozem, Kastanozem and Acrisol, fPOC was negatively correlated with MOC (p Conclusions: Long-term eCO2 and warming might not alter the SOC stock but affect the bacterial community, accelerating C turnover among different SOC pools. The decrease in the MOC fraction of Fluvisol raises concerns about the SOC sustainability of this soil under climate change.</p
Community health in Victoria: a history of challenges, adaptations and potential
No full textBackground: The Whitlam Labor government established the Community Health Program (CHP) in Australia in 1973 to improve access to health and related welfare services nationally. States reacted differently to the program. Designated Australian Government funding for the program ended in 1981. In spite of fluctuating state government support and changing legislative frameworks over time, Victoria is the only state that continues to operate a generic community health centre (CHC) program reflecting the original CHP. Methods: Data were collected from policy documents and archival material, as well as interviews with 29 key stake holders from Victoria. Transcripts from the interviews were reviewed by the interviewees and permission given to include identifiable quotes. The research is part of a larger Australian Research Council project looking at the history of community health in Australia. Results: In Victoria the CHP broke new ground in several respects including creating a public primary health care (PHC) sector, promoting equitable access to PHC, introducing salaried GPs, creating multidisciplinary PHC teams, valuing community involvement (in planning, accountability, health promotion) and taking action on the social determinants of health. Key stakeholders described the challenges that the sector has faced in the decades from 1973 to the current day. The basis for the sector's survival ultimately rests with how it was initially established and the cultural environment in which it developed and continues to operate. In addition to the (albeit irregular) geographically wide distribution of CHCs, their high level of public recognition and sense of community ownership were seen as critical factors that aided their survival and worked against their closure or absorption into hospital networks. Conclusions: Based on a synthesis of our findings and personal experiences, we propose five new directions for policy, management and practice that could support this model to have a greater contribution to the health system in Australia.</p
Making history, making archipelagos: a parallel South China Sea dispute
No full textIn this article, I critically describe the relationship between the LOS Convention and the construction of historical narratives to support maritime claims. The argument is that historical narratives have played a significant role in how states assert their rights and entitlements in the law of the sea before and after the adoption of the Convention. Such narratives belong to a repertoire of assertive and argumentative practices that purport to ground a maritime claim in international law, whether by treaty (LOS Convention) or by customary international law. Specifically, I develop the argument by examining how states have deployed historical narratives in asserting the legal status of archipelagos as defined in Article 46(b) of the LOS Convention.</p