ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2116-8545
Current Organisation
Charles Sturt University
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Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 10-02-2022
DOI: 10.1177/09697330211041749
Abstract: Nurses and midwives have a professional obligation to promote health and prevent disease, and therefore they have an essential role to play in vaccination. Despite this, some nurses and midwives have been found to take an anti-vaccination stance and promulgate misinformation about vaccines, often using Facebook as a platform to do so. This article reports on one component and dataset from a larger study – ‘the positives, perils and pitfalls of Facebook for nurses’. It explores the specific issue of nurses and midwives who take an anti-vaccination stance, deemed to be unprofessional by crossing professional boundaries and by providing medical information on Facebook that is not within their scope of practice. Data were collected via an online worldwide survey from nurse and midwife participants, distributed and ‘snowballed’ through relevant nursing and midwifery groups on Facebook. In total, 1644 Registered Nurses and Midwives, and Enrolled Nurses worldwide attempted the online survey. There were 1100 (66.9%) completed surveys and 54 partially (33.1%) completed surveys. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted online using Skype® with 17 participants in Australia. Ethical processes and procedures have been adhered to relating to privacy, confidentiality and anonymity of the participants. A mixed-methods approach was used, including descriptive and content analysis of the quantitative survey data and thematic analysis of the qualitative interview data. The main theme ‘blurred boundaries’ was generated, which comprised three sub-themes: ‘follow the science, ‘abuse of power and erosion of trust’ and ‘the moral and ethical responsibility to safeguard public health’. The results offer an important and unique understanding of how nurses and midwives interpret the conduct of fellow health professionals as unprofessional and crossing the professional boundary if they used Facebook to promulgate anti-vaccination messages and/or give medical advice online. There are many positives and negatives for nurses and midwives associated with using Facebook for personal and professional communication, which is in keeping with the results of the larger study from which this article is taken. Professional behaviour is a key theme in the larger research as is the ethical construct of ‘every act has a consequence’ however, in this article, the theme ‘blurred boundaries’ offers an overall understanding of how nurses and midwives interpret the behaviour of their colleagues who espouse anti-vaccination sentiment and/or give medical advice online that is outside their scope of practice and education.
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 06-05-2020
DOI: 10.5430/IJH.V6N2P14
Abstract: Being transgender (TG) is part of the natural spectrum of human ersity, and its visibility has increased with societal change. The TG population is comprised of in iduals identifying themselves as the opposite gender to that which they were born. Adult TG people are calculated as a part of Australia’s non-heterosexual marginal population therefore, exact numbers are unknown. As a result of not being recognised, TG people have faced multiple challenges, fairing worse in all socioeconomic and health measures, including not being able to afford and access appropriate healthcare. Many of these challenges arise from a lack of understanding resulting in social exclusion, bullying, and physical attacks. The isolation and physical assaults on this community creates anxiety and mental health conditions, including self-harm, suicide, depression, personality disorder, psychosis, post traumatic disorder, and eating disorders. To affirm a gender identity that is different from the gender a person was born to is referred to as “transition”. The lengths to which an in idual will go to transition is varied with some people choosing to change only their dress and mannerisms and others to undertake medical interventions such as hormonal therapy and/or surgery. In Australia, there is limited capacity within the health system to support the needs of the trans and gender erse (TGD) population. Initiatives such as nurse-led post-operative support service need to be created as a way to address this. This service could provide patients with nurse advocates working collaboratively with other health professionals to provide primary health solutions.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 11-10-2023
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1155/2016/9643714
Abstract: Objective . To translate the revised Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test into the Arabic language and examine its psychometric properties. Setting . Of the 139 participants recruited through King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 34 agreed to the second-round s le for retesting purposes. Methods . The translation process followed the World Health Organization’s guidelines for the translation and adaptation of instruments. All translations were examined for their validity and reliability. Results . The translation process revealed excellent results throughout all stages. The Arabic version received 0.75 for internal consistency via Cronbach’s alpha test and excellent outcomes in terms of the test-retest reliability of the instrument with a mean of 0.90 infraclass correlation coefficient. It also received positive content validity index scores. The item-level content validity index for all instrument scales fell between 0.83 and 1 with a mean scale-level index of 0.96. Conclusion . The Arabic version is proven to be a reliable and valid measure of patient’s knowledge that is ready to be used in clinical practices.
Publisher: Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care
Date: 05-2021
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-03-2022
Abstract: Facilitators of research utilisation are important in the implementation of evidence-based practice. Numerous facilitators for nursing practice have been identified, but knowledge of the impact of demographic characteristics on these enablers of research utilisation is limited. The study’s aim was to determine nurses’ perceptions of the facilitators of research utilisation and assess differences in the facilitator of research utilisation score based on nurses’ demographic characteristics. A total of 2650 registered nurses from five hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were recruited for participation. A facilitator scale and self-designed demographic survey were used for data collection. The number of completed questionnaires was 1824 (69%). The results showed that many of the participants were female, aged between 20 to 40 years, and were expatriates mainly from the Philippines. Most respondents were clinical nurses with 6 to 10 years of experience. Many of the nurses had a bachelor’s degree and a qualification from the Asian region. The mean total facilitator score was 26.1, with strong facilitators of research, including advanced education, providing colleague support, more clinically focused research and employing nurses with research skills. Recommendations for the facilitation of research utilisation include a strengthening of the research curriculum in nursing education programs as well as through continuing professional education.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1177/00469580231178528
Abstract: Nursing leadership is critical in facilitating and improving nurse performance, which is essential for providing quality care and ensuring patient safety. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between nursing leadership and nurse performance by understanding the leadership behaviors and factors that motivate nurses to perform well. To study the factors that nurses believe motivate them to perform better, a systematic review was undertaken, correlating these factors to leadership behaviors/styles. The PRISMA guidelines were followed to identify relevant articles. After applying the selection criteria, 11 articles were included in the final analysis. Overall, 51 elements that influence nurses’ motivation to perform better were found and categorized into 6 categories, including autonomy, competencies, relatedness, in idual nursing characteristics, relationships and support, and leadership styles ractices. It has been discovered that both direct and indirect nursing leadership behaviors affect nurses’ performance. A better understanding of the factors that motivate nurses to perform well and facilitating them in the work environment through leadership behaviors/styles can improve nurses’ performance. There is a need to increase research on nurse leadership and nurses’ performance in the current innovative and technologically integrated work environment to identify new factors of influence.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 31-05-2021
Abstract: There is a paucity of recent literature identifying the issues facing the nursing profession in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this integrative review is to highlight the ongoing challenges facing the nursing profession in Saudi Arabia despite attempts to make a difference and suggests recommendations for the future. Literature published from 2000 to 2020, inclusive, relevant for nursing challenges in Saudi Arabia was accessed and reviewed from multiple sources. In Saudi Arabia, inadequate numbers of Saudi nurses have prompted an increase in recruitment of expatriate nurses. This has created its own issues including, retention, lack of competency in English and Arabic, as well as Arabic cultural aspects, insufficient experience, and a high workload. The result is job dissatisfaction and increased attrition as these nurses prefer to move to more developed countries. For national nurses, the issues are the need to recruit more and retain these nurses. There are a range of cultural factors that contribute to these issues with national nurses. There is a need to improve the image of nursing to recruit more Saudi nurses as well as addressing issues in education and work environment. For expatriate nurses there is a need for a better recruitment processes, a thorough program of education to improve knowledge and skills to equip them to work and stay in Saudi. There is also a need for organizational changes to be made to increase the job satisfaction and retention of nurses generally. Healthcare in Saudi Arabia also needs leaders to efficiently manage the various issues associated with the nursing workforce challenges.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 06-10-2020
DOI: 10.1155/2020/4817637
Abstract: Aim. To analyse the prevalence of self-care practices in T2D patients in KSA. Methods. The study was conducted in King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in Saudi Arabia, and 385 patients were selected as s les. Data were collected using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities-Arabic (SDSCA) and consisted of 14 items related to self-care activities of T2D patients related to management and control of disease and four other aspects related to education and advice from healthcare members regarding management of T2D. Results. The self-care attributes including adherence to medication commitment activities ( M = 6.13 , SD = 1.25 ) were the most practised of all the domains. Glucose monitoring ( M = 4.15 , SD = 2.42 ) and foot care ( M = 3.28 , SD = 1.69 ) were at an average level, and adherence to the diet plan and exercise was found to be at a poor level ( M = 2.57 , SD = 1.73 and M = 2.13 , SD = 2.00 ) respectively. About 179 patients (74.3%) were found to be advised to follow a low-fat eating plan, and only 89 patients (36.9%) had received information concerning fruits and vegetables in their diet. More than 90% patients were found to be advised to strictly carry out exercise and blood sugar monitoring. Conclusion. It was found that adherence to self-care activities including diet, exercise, and foot care was relatively poor while intake of medication was strictly followed. The education provided by healthcare providers related to self-management attributes was found to be significant and had positive effects on the overall health and well-being of T2D patients.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-01-2011
Publisher: Mark Allen Group
Date: 02-04-2021
DOI: 10.12968/BJOM.2021.29.4.224
Abstract: The emergence of viral diseases, such as COVID-19, represents a global public health threat, particularly the high-impact animal viruses that have switched hosts and are able to be transmitted within human populations. Pandemics threaten the general population however, there are special groups, such as pregnant women and their babies, which may be at a higher risk of, or more severely affected by infection. Pregnancy is considered a unique immunological condition therefore, current challenges include decisions on preventing and treating infections during pregnancy and the possible implications for the fetus and newborn infant. This integrative review, the first of a two-part series, analyses selected literature on COVID-19 within maternal and newborn care, drawing on key themes relating to the impact on the pregnant woman. The themes discussed are: the nature of the immune system in pregnant and newly birthed mothers, maternal risk, mode and timing of birth, care during pregnancy and childbirth, and the transition to parenthood including the implications for practice for maternal mental wellbeing.
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 27-04-2019
DOI: 10.5430/IJH.V5N2P1
Abstract: Objective: Before the beginning of medicalisation in Australia during the 1950s, childbirth was the sole domain of women. Contemporary birthing practices have posed a more medicalised technological environment on women resulting in both good and bad outcomes. In recent surveys, 45.5% of Australian women reported experiencing birth as traumatic with nearly 20% experiencing postnatal depression. While there have been some studies on women’s trauma experiencing a caesarean section, minimal research has been completed into perceived traumatic experiences related to normal vaginal births.Methods: This study utilized a qualitative methodology to explore psychological and emotional impact of women’s experiences with perceived traumatic normal births. The research used an in-depth semi-structured interview and analysed the data within the phenomenological paradigm. The data analysis revealed nine themes: I was determined to birth naturally Not telling me what they were doing I just had to force her to be born it was really horrific I know that is just what the system is like. . . they’re hospital midwives. . . they’re medical I didn’t feel connected to them She stood up for me After the birth, just horrible I deserve a better birth.Results: Although the rates are unclear, these findings highlight that some women suffer trauma from their experience of a normal vaginal birth. The perceived causes include: midwives not always being with women and supporting physiological childbirth women not being fully informed power asymmetries and hegemony inside the birthing room and a fetocentric model of care that left women feeling disrespected, disempowered and objectified.Conclusions: The findings indicate a need for midwives to truly be with women and provide continuity of care, as well as supporting the physiological process of childbirth, medical and midwifery professional education on trauma awareness following birth, a rethinking of antenatal education programs to include coping strategies and greater midwifery support in the hospital post-natal stay.
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 20-04-2021
DOI: 10.5430/IJH.V7N1P44
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many challenges and alterations to long-standing procedures within rehabilitation facilities. These updates of the processes undertaken by staff in such settings have been radical and ongoing. COVID-19 impact on the healthcare system should never be underestimated nor under appreciated. The impact that this pandemic has had on rehabilitation care is unique. This has been the catalyst to identifying significant challenges and subsequent changes within rehabilitation and mental health practices. Social measures that have been implemented in the community have had exaggerated and magnified effects both on the physical and mental wellbeing of rehabilitation and mental health patients. Over the course of these adaptations and implementations, impacts on communication, mental health, workload and care efficiencies were identified and explored. This paper is unique because different disciplines have shared their experiences of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and how they provide rehabilitation. The paper will focus on the communication challenges using masks, not being able to engage families and carers, restriction of group therapies, social isolation of patients and healthcare workers while adhering to guidelines set by NSW Health (Sydney, Australia).
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-03-2023
DOI: 10.3390/HEALTHCARE11050737
Abstract: Background: Historically, once the baby was born, the mother and baby were separated shortly after birth into a postnatal ward and a baby nursery. Overtime, with advances in neonatology led to an increasing number of neonates being separated from their mothers at birth for specialised neonatal care if they required additional needs. As more research has been undertaken there is an increasing focus that mothers and babies should be kept together from birth, termed couplet care. Couplet care refers to keeping the mother and baby together. Despite this evidence, in practice, this is not happening. Aim: to examine the barriers to nurses and midwives providing couplet care of the infant requiring additional needs in postnatal and nursery. Methods: A thorough literature review relies on a well-developed search strategy. This resulted in a total of 20 papers that were included in this review. Results: This review revealed five main themes or barriers to nurses and midwives providing couplet care: models of care, systems and other barriers, safety, resistance, and education. Discussion: Resistance to couplet care was discussed as being caused by feelings of lack of confidence and competence, concerns around maternal and infant safety and an under-recognition of the benefits of couplet care. Conclusion: The conclusion is that there is still a paucity of research in relation to nursing and midwifery barriers to couplet care. Although this review discusses barriers to couplet care, more specific original research on what nurses and midwives themselves perceive to be the barriers to couplet care in Australia is needed. The recommendation is therefore to undertake research into this area and interview nurses and midwives to ascertain their perspectives.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-09-2020
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 29-11-2015
DOI: 10.5430/JHA.V5N1P81
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.MIDW.2019.102555
Abstract: To describe the barriers to women's access to maternity services in three districts of Timor-Leste. Research design/setting: Focused ethnography with data collection methods commensurate with a qualitative research design. Data was collected in three districts in Timor-Leste. Participants included seventeen stakeholders, health professionals and managers providing skilled birth attendance (SBA) in Timor-Leste and thirty women who have given birth and are competent to give consent. Access to SBA services is seriously impeded by poor roads and lack of transportation, the poor condition and amenity of services, restricted hours of opening, the lack of availability of skilled SBA professionals and medical resources. Participants also commented upon the lack of privacy and multiple caregivers. Timorese patriarchal family structures, intergenerational decision-making and cultural attitudes towards reproductive health information and services potentially reduce women's access to reproductive health services. This data provides a comprehensive record of the multiple structural barriers to women's access to SBA services. The modified AAAQA framework provides categories and an organisational structure to these barriers to SBA services. Maternity care in Timor-Leste is extremely poorly resourced. Midwives and other SBA will need to provide innovative low cost solutions if they are to consistently provide respectful culturally safe midwifery care. This includes the provision of privacy and a one to one midwifery relationship `with woman'. In addition, many women are unable to access SBA, where possible the MoH can consider strategies to improve the provision of SBA services to women birthing in community.
Publisher: Mark Allen Group
Date: 02-05-2021
DOI: 10.12968/BJOM.2021.29.5.286
Abstract: It is well-known that newborn infants are more susceptible to infection due to their immature host defence mechanisms. However, in relation to the COVID-19 virus, it appears that the naivete of the neonatal immune system has afforded some protection against the inflammatory response experienced by adolescents and adults. That said, COVID-19 and the associated changes in practice and policies implemented in response to the pandemic, has had an impact on the care of the baby during the perinatal and neonatal period. This article is the second in a two-part series focusing on important care issues relating to the newborn baby specifically, taken from an integrative review of current literature within the maternal and neonatal field. This paper analyses the emerging themes from selected literature to add to a developing body of knowledge namely, physiological differences between the newborn baby and adult, neonatal management including, preterm labour and delivery, newborn resuscitation, investigations, care of the newborn, the importance of human milk and breastfeeding, and the implications of COVID-19 restrictions. Finally, an overview of the World Health Organization guidance will be outlined for a global view and summary.
Publisher: Brighthall
Date: 20-02-2019
DOI: 10.7899/JCE-18-13
Abstract: To explore final-year students and new graduates from 2 North American chiropractic colleges regarding perceptions of the clinical educational experience in a hospital vs the institutional clinical setting. A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was used for this research. Students and new graduates were invited to participate from a United States and Canadian chiropractic college. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 49 students and 14 new graduates lasting 60 minutes. Content analysis of the transcribed interviews was undertaken. The data identified that there were advantages and disadvantages to having clinical education in both settings. For instance, the hospital setting had a more varied patient case mix (making it more complex and challenging for their clinical skills development), the pace was faster, and there was more evidence-based practice. This compared to the college clinics, which tended to be slower paced and had less variation, students were required to build a patient base, and patient demographics resembled that expected in private practice. Each environment was considered a unique clinical learning experience. Access and opportunity in both clinical environments is considered optimal in regards to providing a broad and varied student clinical experience. Exclusivity to one may not provide the best preparation for the professional context. As most graduate opportunities are private practice, the institutional clinical environment will provide a sufficient clinical teaching and learning environment to support the professional needs. A combination of these environments is considered ideal for the graduate.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.WOMBI.2011.10.006
Abstract: This study explores and describes the values, beliefs, and practices of rural Swazi women regarding childbearing in the postpartum period. A retrospective ethnographic research design was used. A snowballing s ling method was used to recruit fifteen participants. Face-to-face unstructured audio-taped interviews and field notes were utilised to gather data. Results showed that rural Swazi women held a dual health belief system of modern and traditional medicinal use practiced lengthy periods of postpartum confinement customarily gave regular enemas and traditional medicines to their babies undertook the specific cultural practice of taking the baby to enyonini [a tree struck by lightening] to perform specific rituals used self-prescribed pharmacy medicines used both traditional and modern contraception as well as practiced breastfeeding. Rural Swazi women observe modern health practices alongside traditional customary practices that are inherent to their health belief and value systems in the postnatal period. These customary beliefs and values underpin their birth practices postpartum. Recommendations include the need to consider including formal knowledge on cultural aspects of childbirth and postpartum care into midwifery education a review of maternal care practices and policies to incorporate widely practised traditional elements including redressing the use of self-prescribed pharmacy medicines to ensure a higher level of safety.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 29-03-2023
DOI: 10.5430/JHA.V12N1P9
Abstract: Background: Understanding nurses’ perceptions about their nurse managers is a crucial element to consider as it helps in the performance of the nurse managers and retention of nurses and reflects the nature of a competent workforce in achieving the organisational goals.Objective: To explore if there is a difference in perceptions of leadership style between nurse managers and their staff and discuss why this occurs.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive comparative research design was used.Results: Nurse managers rated themselves as using transformational and transactional factors more than the nurses perceived them utilising these various leadership styles. Nurse managers, however, rated themselves lower than nurses in both laissez-faire and management-by-exception-passive.Discussion: The leadership style preferred by the followers is consistently rated higher than the leadership style that their leaders are utilising. Formation of accurate self-perception is a delicate process, especially for people in management positions. Bias in higher self-ratings may occur for several reasons, including gender, which forms the basis of this discussion.Conclusions: The results highlight the need for nurse managers to reflect on their practices and find new ways to enhance their leadership styles.
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 02-08-2017
DOI: 10.5430/JHA.V6N5P1
Abstract: Objective: Self-injury can be described as the deliberate destruction of the body without the intent to die, and is a distinct clinical presentation needing to be assessed separately from suicide and para-suicide. Nurses attitude to self-injury is a largely unexplored area particularly within Australia. The aim of this paper is to explore Australian general and mental health nurses’ attitudes towards self-injury taking into account their preparation as registered nurses (RNs) or enrolled nurses (ENs) and length of experience.Methods: This was a mixed methods exploratory design study. Phase one used a combination of two established surveys, the Self-Harm Antipathy Scale (SHAS) and the Attitudes Towards Deliberate Self-Harm Questionnaire (ATDSHQ). Nurses who were either RNs or ENs, mental health educated (MHE) or not, working in the area of mental health or emergency departments (ED) were recruited through a number of professional nursing organisations. A total of 172 nurses completed the phase one online questionnaire. The results of this survey are reported in this paper.Results: The key findings indicated a significant relationship between years of mental health nursing experience and mental health nursing qualification. A significant difference was noted in the knowledge level of self-injury between the mental health nurses who had a greater knowledge compared to those who were not mental health educated. Lastly, the attitudes of nurses to self-injury were generally found to be positive.Conclusions: These results extend much of what is in the literature on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of nurses to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and place these results in an Australian context. Further research to assess the effectiveness of increased education and community engagement should be undertaken.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-07-2019
DOI: 10.1002/NOP2.334
Publisher: No publisher found
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1007/S10484-016-9340-2
Abstract: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia are directly associated with autonomic flexibility, self-regulation and well-being, and inversely associated with physiological stress, psychological stress and pathology. Yoga enhances autonomic activity, mitigates stress and benefits stress-related clinical conditions, yet the relationship between autonomic activity and psychophysiological responses during yoga practices and stressful stimuli has not been widely explored. This experimental study explored the relationship between HRV, mood states and flow experiences in regular yoga practitioners (YP), non-yoga practitioners (NY) and people with metabolic syndrome (MetS), during Mental Arithmetic Stress Test (MAST) and various yoga practices. The study found that the MAST placed a cardio-autonomic burden in all participants with the YP group showing the greatest reactivity and the most rapid recovery, while the MetS group had significantly blunted recovery. The YP group also reported a heightened experience of flow and positive mood states compared to NY and MetS groups as well as having a higher vagal tone during all resting conditions. These results suggest yoga practitioners have a greater homeostatic capacity and autonomic, metabolic and physiological resilience. Further studies are now needed to determine if regular yoga practice may improve autonomic flexibility in non-yoga practitioners and metabolic syndrome patients. Clinical Trial No 'ACTRN 2614001075673'.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1071/AH11020
Abstract: To address workforce shortages, the Australian Government funded additional nursing and midwifery places in 2009 pre-registration courses. An existing deficit in midwifery clinical placements, combined with the need to secure additional clinical placements, contributed to a serious shortfall. In response, a unique collaboration between Midwifery Academics of Victoria (MIDAC), rural and metropolitan maternity managers (RMM and MMM) groups and Department of Health (DOH) Victoria was generated, in order to overcome difficulties experienced by maternity services in meeting the increased need. This group identified the large number of different clinical assessment tools required to be being completed by midwives supervising students as problematic. It was agreed that the development of a Common Assessment Tool (CAT) for use in clinical assessment across all pre-registration midwifery courses in Victoria had the potential to reduce workload associated with student assessments and, in doing so, release additional placements within each service. The CAT was developed in 2009 and implemented in 2010. The unique collaboration involved in the development of the CAT is a blueprint for future projects. The collaboration on this project provided a range of benefits and challenges, as well as unique opportunities for further collaborations involving industry, government, regulators and the tertiary sector. What is known about this topic? In response to current and predicted workforce shortages, the Australian Government funded additional midwifery places in pre-registration midwifery courses in 2009, creating the need for additional midwifery student clinical placements. Victorian midwifery service providers experienced difficulty in the supply of the additional placements requested, due to complex influences constraining clinical placement opportunities one of these was the array of assessment tools being used by students on clinical placements. What does this paper add? A collaborative partnership between MIDAC, RMM and MMM groups, and the DOH identified a range of problems affecting the ability of midwifery services to increase clinical placements. The workload burden attached to the wide range of clinical assessment tools required to be completed by the supervising midwife for each placement was identified as the most urgent problem requiring resolution. The collaborative partnership approach facilitated the development of a CAT capable of meeting the needs of all key stakeholders. What are the implications for managers and policy makers? Using a collaborative partnership workshop approach, the development of a clear project focus where all participants understood the outcome required was achieved. This collaboration occurred at multiple levels with support from the DOH and was key to the success of the project. The approach strengthens problem solving in situations complicated by competing influences, a common occurrence in health service delivery, and where unilateral approaches have not or are unlikely to succeed.
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 25-02-2018
DOI: 10.5430/IJH.V4N1P16
Abstract: Taiwan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world and is predicted to lead to zero population growth. This study aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the personal, social and cultural factors influencing Taiwanese women’s motherhood decision making.Semi structured interviews from first time mothers and theoretical s ling were applied to recruit participants from an antenatal clinic in a large metropolitan hospital from Taipei, Taiwan until data saturation was achieved with 34 women. A number of categories were identified from the data with this paper presenting only the category of “childbearing and the quality of life”. Under this category a number of factors were identified that contributed to the decision on whether to have children. This included the couple’s financial circumstances, existing pressure from living expenses, childbearing is costly and having children in a responsibility.Childbearing and quality of life was identified from the data as a crucial factor influencing participant’s decision making choices to have children. This was because women wanted to maintain a certain quality of life and needed to then ascertain how much this would be influenced by having children. It is becoming clear that economic development specifically related to materialistic values, has negatively influenced the value people place on having children. Encouraging a return to traditional Taiwanese values as well as orienting people away from materialistic values maybe a way to turn the fertility rate around.
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 24-03-2022
DOI: 10.5430/IJH.V8N1P28
Abstract: Exposure to environmental factors before conception or in the very early stage of the embryonic period, can cause permanent changes in an in idual life that can result in the development of chronic illness later in life or be transferred to progeny and hence future generations. Diverse effects of poor diet, alcohol, tobacco consumption, infectious diseases, obesity, anxiety, and depression in pregnancy and fetal origin of adult diseases all are well documented and known. Many of these are preventable or can be modified or treated. The general provision of prepregnancy interventions, however, are neglected by current health system policy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 50% of pregnancies worldwide are unintentional. The consequences of this is that embryo exposure to the teratogens can occur weeks before the pregnancy has been detected. Most women modify their risky behavior, such as smoking cessation, reducing alcohol consumption and even alter their lifestyle to a healthier one, such as consuming folic acid and multivitamins, when they learn about their pregnancy, typically around 8-10 weeks of gestational age. By this time, however, women have missed the opportunity of providing a healthy uterine environment for their fetus through the critical stage of the embryonic period. Preconception care is a relatively new concept and provides a unique opportunity to improve maternal health and pregnancy outcomes before pregnancy, through pregnancy, and after birth. Despite the general acknowledgment of the potential valuable impact of preconception care, there are various impediments to implementation of preconception care as part of routine practice in the health system.
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 16-06-2020
DOI: 10.5430/CNS.V8N2P40
Abstract: Objective: Explore the healthcare needs of Sudanese refugee women settling in Australia.Background: Refugees from Sudan are the fastest growing community in Australia. Nurses who care for people from the Sudan will be required to be familiar with the needs of this emerging community and offer culturally competent and safe care.Methods: Integrative review of the literature.Results: Sudan is one of the countries in Africa where the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), cutting or circumcision is considered a social norm. This is a deeply rooted traditional cultural practice that is still prevalent in many developing countries. Healthcare professionals in Australia are ill equipped to care for women and children who have undergone this procedure. This paper explores the Sudanese refugee community in Shepparton, Victoria to explore the nursing considerations caring for women affected by FGM within the Australian health care context.Conclusions: There is a need for more education in undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional education on the healthcare needs of women who have undergone female genital mutilation in order to provide appropriate care and support for these women.
Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Date: 2005
DOI: 10.1160/TH05-05-1112
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.EJON.2014.07.013
Abstract: Pain is an unpleasant human experience, often associated with underlying medical conditions, and a key reason for in iduals experiencing pain to seek medical advice. However, the pain experience is unique and subjective, and affects people's quality of life, as well as impacting on their concerned family members. Optimal pain management requires adequate knowledge, a positive attitude, and competent pain assessment measures. It has been reported that oncology nurses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have inadequate knowledge, assessment skills and management of pain. This paper aims to examine nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management in Saudi Arabian hospitals (SA). A cross-sectional survey was administered to 320 nurses exhibiting considerable racial, cultural, religious and professional ersity, working in oncology units at five hospitals in the KSA. Self-completed survey questionnaires were distributed using the 'Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain' (KASRP) tool. The nurses exhibited a relatively poor overall knowledge of pain management (mean score = 45.1% 95% CI = 43.9%, 46.2%). The mean KASRP scores varied significantly at α = 0.05 with respect to the nurses' nationality, whether they had attended pain-related courses, and whether they had participated in research. The results indicate the urgency needed to reform pain management education for oncology nurses in the KSA.
Publisher: Sciedu Press
Date: 25-08-2020
DOI: 10.5430/IJH.V7N1P10
Abstract: Background: Despite the rise in numbers of incarceration women, disparities between health care services and access exist. The health needs of incarcerated women is complex and influenced by multiple social determinants of health.Purpose: Explore the healthcare issues of incarcerated women within Australian Prisons.Methods: Integrative review of the literature.Results: Incarcerated women represent a small proportion of the prison population within Australia, however, health outcomes are significantly impacted. Socioeconomic status, abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), previous incarceration, generational factors are some of the factors impeding the health of incarcerated women. Mental health, chronic disease conditions, maternal and child factors are significant health concerns of this vulnerable population. There is a disparity in health access and programs to improve their health outcomes. This paper explores the challenges impacting the health of incarcerated women.Conclusions: Significant disparities exist in the access of health services available to incarcerated women. There needs to be more focus upon improving access to health services and health support programs to meet the complex health needs of incarcerated in Australia. Furthermore, there is a need for more primary health nurses to prevent and address the healthcare issues of this population.
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