ORCID Profile
0000-0001-5424-4738
Current Organisations
Flinders University
,
University of Adelaide
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.EJON.2019.06.006
Abstract: This study aims to investigate the attitudes and preferences men on active surveillance for prostate cancer have regarding exercise and exercise-based support. Exercise outcomes align with traditionally masculine values, can improve mental and physical health, and may even slow early stage prostate cancer progression. However, attitudes and preferences towards exercise and exercise support are unexplored in men on active surveillance. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with participants (13 males with a history of active surveillance for prostate cancer 5 female partners). Interviews were conducted either by telephone or in person and audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed. Several key themes were identified relating to the two research aims: 'Attitudes and Preferences towards Exercise, and 'Attitudes and Preferences towards Exercise Support'. Despite all men engaging in exercise, the majority did not meet the recommended guidelines for cancer survivors. The majority of men either were interested in receiving exercise support or had previously received it, often recommending this for all men on active surveillance. There were varied preferences regarding delivery modality (i.e., online or face to face), the inclusion of partners, and group versus in idual formats. This study provides a novel insight into the attitudes and preferences of men on active surveillance regarding exercise and support. This research will help the development of acceptable and accessible person-centred support for men on active surveillance. However, further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of different delivery modalities in this population.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-07-2015
DOI: 10.1111/COB.12104
Abstract: It is important that clinicians and researchers understand the possible eating-related difficulties experienced by pre-bariatric surgery candidates, as well as their expectations of how their eating and hunger will change after surgery. This review examines English-language publications related to the eating-related behaviours, disorders and expectations of bariatric candidates. Seventy-five articles related to binge eating disorder, grazing, night eating syndrome, emotional eating, food cravings and addiction, and pre-surgical expectations of post-surgical eating in this population were critically reviewed. A variety of often problematic eating behaviours appear more common in bariatric candidates than in non-obese populations. The literature suggests that 4-45% of candidates may have binge eating disorder, 20-60% may graze, 2-42% may have night eating syndrome, 38-59% may engage in emotional eating and 17-54% may fit criteria for food addiction. Binge eating may also be more prevalent in bariatric candidates than in similarly obese non-surgical in iduals. Expectations of surgery are high, with pre-surgical candidates believing their bariatric procedure will virtually guarantee significantly improved eating behaviours. Study replications are needed, and further investigation into prevalence, impacts and candidate characteristics related to disordered eating behaviours, as well as candidates' expectations of eating after surgery, will be important. Further comparisons of bariatric candidates to similarly obese non-bariatric populations will be important to understand eating-related characteristics of candidates beyond those related to their weight. Future research may be improved by the use of validated measures, replicable methodologies, minimization of data collected in circumstances where respondents may been motivated to 'fake good', use of prospective data and consistent definitions of key terminology.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-09-2021
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 18-07-2022
Abstract: ackground: Only a minority of adult males who experience depression or anxiety receive any formal help from a healthcare professional for these issues. While psychotherapeutic e-mental health interventions may circumvent or reduce many of the barriers males experience when accessing mental health care, the effects of these interventions in male populations have not been evaluated. bjectives: (1) Synthesise the characteristics of psychotherapeutic e-mental health interventions for depression or anxiety that have been trialled and evaluated in male populations (2) synthesise and meta-analyse the effects of these interventions on depression and anxiety outcomes in males, including examining the influence of participant, intervention, and study characteristics. ethods: Systematic searches (January 2000-October 2020) of six online research databases, manual reference list searching, and citation searches of included articles. Study quality was assessed using the Qualsyst tool, with a minimum total score of 0.55 prespecified for inclusion. Data were narratively synthesised and, where possible, meta-analysed. esults: Seven papers comprising 552 male participants were included. A total of 177 studies were excluded because although they met all other inclusion criteria, they did not present analysable data on male participants. With a lowest total score of 0.85, study quality was high and no exclusions were made due to poor quality. Four studies used a single-arm pre-post design and three were randomised controlled trials (all with inactive/care as usual control conditions) five studies were focused on treating existing symptoms, while two focused on prevention. The seven studied interventions varied in content, length, and format. Only one intervention was classified as gender sensitive, having been designed specifically for male needs. All of the studies used non-gendered, self-report symptom measures to measure the effects of their intervention. All three randomised controlled trials detected no post-trial difference in depression symptoms between male intervention and male control participants. All four treatment studies presenting pre-post data reported post-intervention improvements in depression or social anxiety symptoms this was supported by our meta-analysis of the two pre-post design depression treatment studies, which found a medium-sized, positive effect of treatment interventions on depression symptoms in pre-post data (g=0.64, p .005). Further meta-analyses could not be conducted due to data limitations. onclusions: Limited data indicate that psychotherapeutic e-mental health treatment interventions resulted in pre- to post-intervention improvements in male depression symptoms superior outcomes were not seen when compared to inactive/care as usual control conditions. There is urgent need for consideration of gender and sex throughout the development, evaluation, and dissemination of these interventions for males, and for additional information on their effects. >
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-08-2018
DOI: 10.1111/COB.12273
Abstract: Patients' pre-surgical expectations and post-surgical experiences of eating-related behaviour change after bariatric surgery may vary by procedure and time since surgery. To investigate this, data were coded from 206 Australian adults ≥2 months post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB 17%), adjustable gastric band (AGB 23%) or vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG 60%) who completed an online questionnaire including open-ended questions about pre-surgical eating-related expectations and post-surgical experiences. Participants were 94% female, and mean age was 45.9 (SD = 10.0). Average time since surgery varied (AGB: 69.6 months RYGB: 22.8 and VSG: 17.8). The proportions reporting any one or more 'positive' (healthy, helpful or desired RYGB 82% AGB 76% and VSG 84%) or any one or more 'negative' (unhealthy, unhelpful or unwanted RYGB 46% AGB 46% and VSG 42%) post-surgical eating-related experience did not differ by procedure. Negative experiences were more often reported at ≥18 months than 2 to <18 months (P = 0.035). After both VSG and AGB, but not RYGB, reporting any one or more positive eating-related experience was related to better outcomes (VSG: in mental health AGB: in weight loss, physical health, satisfaction) and negative experiences were linked to poorer outcomes (VSG: in mental health, satisfaction AGB: in mental and physical health, satisfaction). Reporting any one or more positive experience was related to better mental health improvement at 2 to <18 months and greater satisfaction at 18+ months post-surgery. The findings highlight the necessity of long-term, multidisciplinary patient care and further investigation into impacts of eating-related experiences on outcomes, with attention to procedure-based and temporal effects.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-11-2019
DOI: 10.1002/PON.5262
Abstract: Understanding the unmet supportive care needs of men on active surveillance for prostate cancer may enable researchers and health professionals to better support men and prevent discontinuation when there is no evidence of disease progression. This review aimed to identify the specific unmet supportive care needs of men on active surveillance. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Databases (Pubmed, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) were searched to identify qualitative and/or quantitative studies that reported unmet needs specific to men on active surveillance. Quality appraisals were conducted before results were narratively synthesised. Of the 3613 unique records identified, only eight articles were eligible (five qualitative and three cross-sectional studies). Unmet Informational, Emotional/Psychological, Social, and "Other" needs were identified. Only three studies had a primary aim of investigating unmet supportive care needs. Small active surveillance s les, use of nonvalidated measures, and minimal reporting of author reflexivity in qualitative studies were the main quality issues identified. The unmet needs of men on active surveillance is an underresearched area. Preliminary evidence suggests the information available and provided to men during active surveillance is perceived as inadequate and inconsistent. Men may also be experiencing unmet psychological/emotional, social, and other needs however, further representative, high-quality research is required to understand the magnitude of this issue. Reporting results specific to treatment type and utilising relevant theories/models (such as the social ecological model [SEM]) is recommended to ensure factors that may facilitate unmet needs are appropriately considered and reported.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOARD.2017.07.013
Abstract: The most common bariatric procedures, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG), generally induce significant weight loss and health improvements. However, little is known about how patients decide which procedure to undergo. Investigate patients' reasons for and against undergoing RYGB, LAGB, and SG. Online questionnaire. Data were analyzed from 236 Australian adults with current RYGB (15.7%), LAGB (22.0%), or SG (62.3%) who completed a questionnaire including an open-ended question about why they underwent their procedure. Data were coded for content and analyzed. Patients most often underwent RYGB because of its evidence base and success rate and the patient's characteristics, whereas the most common reason for SG was a medical practitioner's recommendation, preference, or choice, followed by the patients' evaluation of information gathered from their own research and observations of others' success. The most common reasons for undergoing LAGB related to characteristics of the procedure, including its reversibility and a perception of LAGB as less invasive. The most common reason against undergoing both RYGB and SG was a desire to avoid postsurgical complications and risks such as leaks or malabsorption, whereas the most common reason against LAGB was information and evidence from other people's unsuccessful experiences and failure rates. Patients' reasons for and against procedures differed by procedure. In addition to the surgeon's influence, patients demonstrated clear procedure preferences based on their own research, knowledge, and experiences. Preferences should be understood to assist patients to select the most appropriate procedure for their circumstances.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-08-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S12144-023-04968-5
Abstract: While psychotherapeutic e-mental health interventions may circumvent barriers that many men face in accessing mental health care, the effects of men using these interventions have not been evaluated. We aimed to synthesise the characteristics of psychotherapeutic e-mental health interventions for depression or anxiety that have been trialled and evaluated in men, and synthesise and meta-analyse the effects of these interventions on men’s depression and anxiety, including examining influences of participant, intervention, and study characteristics on outcomes. Seven papers ( N = 552 participant men) identified from systematic literature searches met inclusion criteria. A total 177 studies were excluded because although they met all other inclusion criteria, they did not present analysable data on participant men. The seven included interventions varied in content, length, and format only one intervention was gender sensitive, having been designed specifically for men. All three randomised controlled trials detected no post-trial difference in men’s depression symptoms between intervention and control participants. All four treatment studies presenting pre-post data reported post-intervention improvements in depression or social anxiety symptoms this was supported by our meta-analysis of two studies, which found a medium-sized, positive effect of depression treatment interventions on depression symptoms in pre-post data ( g = 0.64, p 0.005). Further meta-analyses could not be conducted due to data limitations. Psychotherapeutic e-mental health treatment interventions result in pre- to post-intervention improvements in men’s depression symptoms. There is urgent need for consideration of gender and sex in the development, evaluation, and dissemination of e-mental health interventions for men, and for further information on their effects.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-06-2016
DOI: 10.1111/OBR.12425
Abstract: Despite differences in their mechanisms and outcomes, little is known about whether postsurgical changes in eating behaviours also differ by bariatric procedure. Following a systematic search, 23 studies on changes in binge eating disorder (BED) and related behaviours, bulimia nervosa and related behaviours, night eating syndrome, grazing and emotional eating after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), adjustable gastric banding (AGB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) were reviewed. Significant methodological problems and a dearth of literature regarding many behaviours and VSG were seen. Regarding BED and related behaviours, although later re-increases were noted, short to medium-term reductions after RYGB were common, and reported changes after AGB were inconsistent. Short to medium-term reductions in emotional eating, and from a few studies, short to long-term reductions in bulimic symptoms, were reported after RYGB. Reoccurrences and new occurrences of problem and disordered eating, especially BED and binge episodes, were apparent after RYGB and AGB. Further conclusions and comparisons could not be made because of limited or low-quality evidence. Long-term comparison studies of changes to problematic and disordered eating in RYGB, AGB and VSG patients are needed. It is currently unclear whether any bariatric procedure leads to long-term improvement of any problematic or disordered eating behaviours.
Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Date: 2005
Publisher: Open Medical Publishing
Date: 16-09-2014
Abstract: Though advocated as useful for patients, there is little in the literature regarding the use and effectiveness of bariatric support groups. This study investigated characteristics and experiences of bariatric patients who did and did not attend offered groups. Seventy-eight postoperative laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding patients from a private bariatric clinic completed mailed self-report questionnaires. Almost 60% reported having attended the clinic groups, with most wanting to meet other patients and obtain information rather than access psychological assistance. Participants reported generally positive experiences of attending. Nonattendance was often attributed to practical barriers. Satisfaction with support from others was not related to past or predicted future attendance, but higher psychological distress was related to and predictive of greater intention to attend future groups. Likely future attenders also held more positive beliefs about the groups than those who were unlikely to attend. Further research is required into potential positive and negative consequences of attendance, and characteristics of those who are likely to benefit or be harmed by attending. Interventions addressing stereotypes about support groups may help patients make informed decisions about whether to attend a bariatric support group.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-05-2022
DOI: 10.1002/PON.5947
Abstract: To explore the personal and/or medical reasons patients on active surveillance (AS) have, or consider having, further definitive treatment for their prostate cancer. Research suggests up to 50% of patients on AS will discontinue within 5 years, though reasons for discontinuation from the patient's perspective is under-explored. Prostate cancer patients who were or had been on AS for at least 6 months were recruited. A questionnaire assessed reasons for receiving/considering definitive treatment and the extent to which reasons were personal or medical. Clinical information was extracted from a state-level population registry. A subset of participants were interviewed to further explore questionnaire responses. One-hundred and-three in iduals completed the survey 33 were also interviewed. Fifty-four survey participants (52%) had discontinued AS for definitive treatment. Common reasons for discontinuation were evidence of disease progression, doctor recommendation, desire to act, and fear of progression. Many participants who considered or had treatment reported weighing medical and personal factors equally in their decision. Interview participants described strongly considering any amount of disease progression and personal factors such as fear of progression, family concerns, and adverse vicarious experiences when deciding whether to pursue treatment. Both medical and personal factors are considered when deciding whether to discontinue AS. Identifying predictors of discontinuation is essential for informing supportive care services to improve AS management.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 11-2021
DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.17797
Abstract: Research links high blood pressure variability (BPV) with stroke and cerebrovascular disease, however, its association with cognition remains unclear. Moreover, it remains uncertain which BP-derived parameter (ie, variability or mean) holds more significance in understanding vascular contributions to cognitive impairment. We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus and performed a meta-analysis of studies that quantified the association between resting BPV with dementia or cognitive impairment in adults. Two authors independently reviewed all titles, abstracts, and full-texts and extracted data, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Study quality was assessed using the (modified) Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A multilevel meta-analysis was used, which included effect sizes for both BPV and mean BP, with a combined end point of dementia or cognitive impairment as primary outcome. In the primary analysis, 54 effect sizes were extracted from 20 studies, with a total analytical s le of n=7 899 697. Higher systolic BPV (odds ratio [OR], 1.25 [95% CI, 1.16–1.35]), mean systolic pressure (OR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.02–1.29]), diastolic BPV (OR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.12–1.29]), and mean diastolic pressure (OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.04–1.29]) were associated with dementia and cognitive impairment. A direct comparison showed that mean BP effect sizes were less strong than BPV effect sizes (OR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.87–0.97], P .01), indicating that the relative contribution of BPV exceeded that of mean BP. Methodological and statistical heterogeneity was high. Secondary analyses were less consistent as to whether BPV and mean BP were differentially associated with dementia subtypes and cognitive domains. Future studies are required to investigate BPV as a target for dementia prevention.
No related grants have been discovered for Melissa Opozda.