ORCID Profile
0000-0002-3691-2234
Current Organisation
University of Tasmania
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Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-10-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.VACCINE.2018.12.029
Abstract: Healthcare worker (HCW) vaccination against seasonal influenza is considered a key preventative measure within hospitals and aged-care facilities (ACFs) to reduce the risk of transmission and related disease. Despite this, many facilities experience persistently low vaccination coverage rates and mandatory vaccination has been explored as a potential strategy to improve coverage. This study explored the current climate around staff vaccination in Australia from the perspective of opinion leaders and key stakeholders. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted between April and July 2018 with 22 in iduals involved in vaccination policy and program development and implementation from a range of organisations including state health departments, hospitals and ACFs across Australia. In addition, interviews were undertaken with in iduals from aged care and nursing peak bodies/colleges. Interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was undertaken using NVivo 12 software. Major themes emerging from the interviews included a sense that attitudes around staff vaccination are changing the persistence of administrative and resource barriers the importance of positive workplace culture towards influenza vaccination and the need for in idualised and personal communication strategies. Perspectives were erse on the necessity of introducing stronger policies, with participants ided in their support mandatory influenza vaccinations. Some advocated that key performance indicators should be used as an alternative to vaccine mandates. This study provides policy makers with useful insights into the current Australian context around occupational vaccination policies, to inform acceptable and effective strategies to improve influenza vaccination uptake among Australian hospital and aged care staff.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-01-2202
DOI: 10.1136/ANNRHEUMDIS-2013-203954
Abstract: To determine if the dietary supplements, glucosamine and/or chondroitin, result in reduced joint space narrowing (JSN) and pain among people with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. A double-blind randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial with 2-year follow-up. 605 participants, aged 45-75 years, reporting chronic knee pain and with evidence of medial tibio-femoral compartment narrowing (but retaining >2 mm medial joint space width) were randomised to once daily: glucosamine sulfate 1500 mg (n=152), chondroitin sulfate 800 mg (n=151), both dietary supplements (n=151) or matching placebo capsules (n=151). JSN (mm) over 2 years was measured from digitised knee radiographs. Maximum knee pain (0-10) was self-reported in a participant diary for 7 days every 2 months over 1 year. After adjusting for factors associated with structural disease progression (gender, body mass index (BMI), baseline structural disease severity and Heberden's nodes), allocation to the dietary supplement combination (glucosamine-chondroitin) resulted in a statistically significant (p=0.046) reduction of 2-year JSN compared to placebo: mean difference 0.10 mm (95% CI 0.002 mm to 0.20 mm) no significant structural effect for the single treatment allocations was detected. All four allocation groups demonstrated reduced knee pain over the first year, but no significant between-group differences (p=0.93) were detected. 34 (6%) participants reported possibly-related adverse medical events over the 2-year follow-up period. Allocation to the glucosamine-chondroitin combination resulted in a statistically significant reduction in JSN at 2 years. While all allocation groups demonstrated reduced knee pain over the study period, none of the treatment allocation groups demonstrated significant symptomatic benefit above placebo. NCT00513422 www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2014
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 28-05-2014
DOI: 10.1136/OEMED-2013-101997
Abstract: The aims of this systematic review were to determine the prevalence of reduced work productivity among people with chronic knee pain as well as specifically categorise determinants of work productivity losses into in idual, disease and work-related factors, conduct an evaluation of study methodological quality and present a best-evidence synthesis. We searched the literature using combinations of key words such as knee pain, knee osteoarthritis, absenteeism (days taken off work) and presenteeism (reduced productivity while at work) for observational studies published in English. Methodological quality appraisal and a best-evidence synthesis were used to pool the study findings. The studies were conducted exclusively in high income countries of North America, Western Europe and Hong Kong. 17 studies were included in the review, 10 measuring absenteeism and six measuring presenteeism. Of the 10 studies reporting absenteeism, seven found a 12-month absenteeism prevalence ranging from 5% to 22%. Only two studies evaluated presenteeism prevalence and reported a range from 66% to 71%. Using best-evidence synthesis: three high quality cohort studies and three cross-sectional studies provided strong evidence that knee pain or knee osteoarthritis was associated with absenteeism two high quality cross-sectional studies and one cohort study provided limited evidence for an association with presenteeism one cross-sectional study provided limited evidence for an association among age, high job demands and low coworker support and absenteeism among nurses with knee pain. No studies examined in idual or work-related factors associated with presenteeism. A number of high quality studies consistently demonstrated that chronic knee pain or knee osteoarthritis is associated with absenteeism. However, data are lacking regarding presenteeism and in idual or work-related risk factors for reduced work productivity among older workers with chronic knee pain. PROSPERO registry number: CRD42013004137.
Publisher: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
Date: 31-08-2023
DOI: 10.24171/J.PHRP.2023.0095
Abstract: Public health agencies (PHAs) have increasingly incorporated social media into their communication mix during successive pandemics in the 21st century. However, the quality, timing, and accuracy of their health messages have varied significantly, resulting in mixed outcomes for communication, audience engagement, and pandemic management. This study aimed to identify factors influencing the effectiveness of pandemic-related health messages shared by PHAs on social media and to report their impact on public engagement as documented in the literature. A scoping literature review was conducted following a predefined protocol. An electronic search of 7 relevant databases and 5 grey literature repositories yielded 9,714 papers published between January 2003 and November 2022. Seventy-three papers were deemed eligible and selected for review. The results underscored the insufficiency of social media guidance policies for PHAs. Six themes were identified: message source, message topic, message style, message timing, content credibility and reliability, and message recipient profile. These themes encompassed 20 variables that could inform PHAs’ social media public health communication during pandemics. Additionally, the findings revealed potential interconnectedness among the variables, and this study concluded by proposing a conceptual model that expands upon existing theoretical foundations for developing and evaluating pandemic-related health messaging.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.JOCA.2013.07.005
Abstract: To determine the burden and risk factors associated with reduced work productivity among people with chronic knee pain. A longitudinal study, nested within a randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the long-term effects of dietary supplements, was conducted among people with chronic knee pain in paid employment (n = 360). Participants recorded days off work (absenteeism) and reduced productivity while at work (presenteeism) for seven days every two months over a 12-month period in a study specific diary. Examined risk factors included knee pain severity, occupational group, radiographic disease severity, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), health-related quality of life (SF-12) and co-morbidity. Over the 12-month follow up period, 50 (14%) participants reported one or more days off work due to knee problems, while 283 (79%) reported reduced productivity while at work (presenteeism <100%). In multivariate analysis, the only significant risk factor for absenteeism was having an SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS) score <40 (OR: 2.49 [95% CI: 1.03-5.98]). Significant risk factors for presenteeism included reporting an SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) score <50 (OR: 1.99 [95% CI: 1.05-3.76]), semi-manual labour (OR: 2.23 [1.09-4.59]) or manual labour (OR: 6.40 [1.44-28.35]) or a high maximum knee pain (4-6 out of 10) (OR: 2.29 [1.17-4.46]). This longitudinal study found that among this cohort of people with chronic knee pain, the burden of reduced work productivity is mainly attributable to presenteeism rather absenteeism. This study demonstrated that effective strategies to increase work productivity should focus on reducing knee pain or physical disability especially among workers in manual or semi-manual labour.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.BERH.2011.01.012
Abstract: Many people rely economically on occupations involving high loading of the hip or knee joints for lengthy periods, possibly placing them at increased risk of developing chronic pain in these joints. There is a growing body of evidence from large longitudinal cohort studies, case-control studies and population-based surveys that certain occupations, or having work involving considerable heavy lifting, kneeling or squatting, may be associated with increased risk of symptomatic hip or knee osteoarthritis and joint replacement surgery. Only a few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of specific workplace strategies to reduce this risk. Identifying modifiable workplace risk factors and implementing feasible and accessible preventative strategies will be of great public health significance in the next decade.
Publisher: The Journal of Rheumatology
Date: 04-2019
Abstract: The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Worker Productivity Group continues efforts to assess psychometric properties of measures of presenteeism. Psychometric properties of single-item and dual answer multiitem scales were assessed, as well as methods to evaluate thresholds of meaning. Test-retest reliability and construct validity of single item global measures was moderate to good. The value of measuring both degree of difficulty and amount of time with difficulty in multiitems questionnaires was confirmed. Thresholds of meaning vary depending on methods and external anchors applied. We have advanced our understanding of the performance of presenteeism measures and have developed approaches to describing thresholds of meaning.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 10-08-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.09.23293921
Abstract: Over the last two decades, authors have argued the rate of abuse among older adults in institutional settings has been underestimated due to challenges in defining and responding to the issue. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide an in-depth analysis of empirical studies examining methodologies measuring abuse of older people residing in a long-term institutional care facility (nursing homes, independent living and assisted living facilities), specifically staff-to-resident abuse. Guided by PRISMA guidelines, 10 databases were searched from 2005 till July 2023. This review inclusion criteria were any type of abuse, as defined by the World Health Organization reported by staff and residents, family and relatives, and public anonymous registries. This article also includes a methodological critical assessment of studies which has not been conducted before. To direct the review, we use four guiding questions: a) what are the study characteristics? b) what are the methods and measurement tools that have been used? c) what has been the impact of methodology on the results? and d) what is the quality of these studies? In the last 18 years, 22 studies from eight counties undertook cross-sectional examinations of staff-to-resident abuse. The review identified a heterogeneity of definitions of abuse and variations with who reported abuse, measurement tools and recall periods. We found the quality of studies varied significantly, with no consistency. These variations in study methodologies impacted the ability to synthesise the findings making it difficult to estimate a global prevalence rate of aged care abuse. From the analysis, we develop an Aged Care Abuse Research Checklist (ACARC) as a first step towards achieving a global standardized, evidence-based methodology for this field. Doing so will normalize processes within organizations and the community, allowing early interventions to change practices, reduce the risk of recurrence and improve resident quality of care and workplace cultures. PROSPERO registry number: CRD42018055484, www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO .
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOQ-2022-001896
Abstract: Health system improvement (HSI) is focused on systematic changes to organisational processes and practices to improve the efficient delivery of safe care and quality outcomes. Guidelines that specify how interprofessional teams conduct HSI and knowledge translation are needed. We address this urgent requirement providing health professional teams with resources and strategies to investigate, analyse and implement system-level improvements. HSI encompasses similar, yet different, inter-related activities across a continuum. The continuum spans three categories of activities, such as quality improvement, health management research and translational health management research. A HSI decision making guide and checklist, comprising six-steps, is presented that can be used to select and plan projects. This resource comprises six interconnected steps including, defining the activity, project outcome, aim, use of evidence, appropriate methodology and implementation plan. Each step has been developed focusing on an objective, actions and resources. HSI activities provide a foundation for interprofessional collaboration, allowing multiple professions to create, share and disseminate knowledge for improved healthcare. When planned and executed well, HSI projects assist clinical and corporate staff to make evidence-informed decisions and directions for the benefit of the service, organisation and sector.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 09-2020
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOQ-2020-000983
Abstract: Ineffective knowledge dissemination contributes to clinical practice and service improvements not being realised. Meaningful knowledge translation can occur through the understanding and matching of appropriate communication mediums that are relevant for different stakeholders or audiences. To this end, we present a dissemination instrument, the ‘REAch and Diffusion of health iMprovement Evidence’ (README) checklist, for the communication of research findings, integrating both traditional and newer communication mediums. Additionally, we propose a ‘Strategic Translation and Engagement Planning’ (STEP) tool, for use when deciding which mediums to select. The STEP tool challenges the need for communicating complex and simple information against the desire for passive or active stakeholder interaction. Used collaboratively by academics and health professionals, README and STEP can promote co-production of research, subsequent diffusion of knowledge, and develop the capacity and skills of all stakeholders.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-02-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-11-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S12875-020-01311-W
Abstract: Shared care is the preferred model for long-term survivorship care by cancer survivors, general practitioners and specialists. However, survivorship care remains specialist-led. A risk-stratified approach has been proposed to select suitable patients for long-term shared care after survivors have completed adjuvant cancer treatment. This study aims to use patient scenarios to explore views on patient suitability for long-term colorectal cancer shared care across the risk spectrum from survivors, general practitioners and specialists. Participants completed a brief questionnaire assessing demographics and clinical issues before a semi-structured in-depth interview. The interviews focused on the participant’s view on suitability for long term cancer shared care, challenges and facilitators in delivering it and resources that would be helpful. We conducted thematic analysis using an inductive approach to discover new concepts and themes. Interviews were conducted with 10 cancer survivors, 6 general practitioners and 9 cancer specialists. The main themes that emerged were patient-centredness, team resilience underlined by mutual trust and stronger system supports by way of cancer-specific training, survivorship care protocols, shared information systems, care coordination and navigational supports. Decisions on the appropriateness of this model for patients need to be made collaboratively with cancer survivors, considering their trust and relationship with their general practitioners and the support they need. Further research on improving mutual trust and operationalising support systems would assist in the integration of shared survivorship care.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2010
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-06-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S13075-021-02540-9
Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify modifiable clinical factors associated with radiographic osteoarthritis progression over 1 to 2 years in people with painful medial knee osteoarthritis. A longitudinal study was conducted within a randomised controlled trial, the “Long-term Evaluation of Glucosamine Sulfate” (LEGS study). Recruitment occurred in 2007–2009, with 1- and 2-year follow-up assessments by blinded assessors. Community-dwelling people with chronic knee pain (≥4/10) and medial tibiofemoral narrowing (but retaining mm medial joint space width) on radiographs were recruited. From 605 participants, follow-up data were available for 498 (82%, mean [sd] age 60 [8] years). Risk factors evaluated at baseline were pain, physical function, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), statin use, not meeting physical activity guidelines, presence of Heberden’s nodes, history of knee surgery/trauma, and manual occupation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted adjusting for age, sex, obesity, high blood pressure, allocation to glucosamine and chondroitin treatment, and baseline structural disease severity (Kellgren and Lawrence grade, joint space width, and varus alignment). Radiographic osteoarthritis progression was defined as joint space narrowing ≥0.5mm over 1 to 2 years (latest follow-up used where available). Radiographic osteoarthritis progression occurred in 58 participants (12%). Clinical factors independently associated with radiographic progression were the use of NSAIDs, adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.05 (95% CI 1.1 to 3.8), and not meeting physical activity guidelines, OR 2.07 (95% CI 0.9 to 4.7). Among people with mild radiographic knee osteoarthritis, people who use NSAIDs and/or do not meet physical activity guidelines have a greater risk of radiographic osteoarthritis progression. ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT00513422 . This original study trial was registered a priori, on August 8, 2007. The current study hypothesis arose before inspection of the data.
Publisher: The Sax Institute
Date: 2020
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 26-04-2020
DOI: 10.1111/HSC.12999
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 18-10-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2010
No related grants have been discovered for Maria Agaliotis.