Determinants for concomitant anxiety and depression in people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: Anxiety and depression are common comorbidities in people diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite concomitant psychological symptomatology being reported in 22-48% of people with COPD, most literature focuses on identifying the risk factors for anxiety or depression separately. Therefore, our objective was to determine whether there is an association between people living with concomitant anxiety and depression and sociodemographic risk factors in people and living with COPD.

Working with children with autism: an interprofessional simulation-based tutorial for speech pathology and occupational therapy students.

There is an increasing need to include interprofessional experiences in undergraduate health education. Simulation is one methodology revered as being able to facilitate interprofessional learning opportunities in a safe, structured environment. This project aimed to develop, trial and evaluate an interprofessional simulation role-play tutorial utilising DVD resources.

An experimental investigation into the extent social evaluation anxiety impairs performance in simulation-based learning environments amongst final-year undergraduate nursing students.

Background: While numerous theoretical and conceptual models suggest social evaluation anxiety would likely influence performance in simulation-based learning environments, there has been surprisingly little research to investigate the extent to which this is true.

Methods: Final-year Bachelor of Science (Nursing) students (N=70) were randomly assigned to complete one of three clinically identical simulation-based scenarios designed to elicit varying levels of social evaluation anxiety by manipulating the number of other people present with the student during the simulation (1, 2 or 3 others). Rises in acute stress were measured via continuous heart-rate and salivary cortisol.

Engaging Australian Aboriginal narratives to challenge attitudes and create empathy in health care: a methodological perspective.

Background: Unconscious bias and negative attitudes towards minority groups have detrimental effects on the way health care is, or is not, provided to these groups. Recognition of racist attitudes and behaviours as well as understanding clients' experiences of health and health care are pivotal to developing better health care strategies to positively impact on the quality and safety of care provided to Indigenous people. Indigenous research demands inclusive research processes and the use of culturally appropriate methodologies.

Discriminant validity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory to confirmed clinical diagnosis of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The objective of this study was to investigate the discriminant validity of commonly used depression and anxiety screening tools in order to determine the most suitable tool for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD patients (n = 56) completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). These scores were compared to confirmed clinical diagnoses of depression and anxiety using the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview.

A national training program for simulation educators and technicians: evaluation strategy and outcomes.

Background: Simulation-based education (SBE) has seen a dramatic uptake in health professions education over the last decade. SBE offers learning opportunities that are difficult to access by other methods. Competent faculty is seen as key to high quality SBE.

Effects of Low- Versus High-Fidelity Simulations on the Cognitive Burden and Performance of Entry-Level Paramedicine Students: A Mixed-Methods Comparison Trial Using Eye-Tracking, Continuous Heart Rate, Difficulty Rating Scales, Video Observation and Interviews.

Introduction: High-fidelity simulation-based training is often avoided for early-stage students because of the assumption that while practicing newly learned skills, they are ill suited to processing multiple demands, which can lead to "cognitive overload" and poorer learning outcomes. We tested this assumption using a mixed-methods experimental design manipulating psychological immersion.

Methods: Thirty-nine randomly assigned first-year paramedicine students completed low- or high-environmental fidelity simulations [low-environmental fidelity simulations (LF(en)S) vs.

Clinical Placement Before or After Simulated Learning Environments?: A Naturalistic Study of Clinical Skills Acquisition Among Early-Stage Paramedicine Students.

Background: There is conflicting evidence surrounding the merit of clinical placements (CPs) for early-stage health-profession students. Some contend that early-stage CPs facilitate contextualization of a subsequently learned theory. Others argue that training in simulated-learning experiences (SLEs) should occur before CP to ensure that students possess at least basic competency.

Quantification of opportunities for early-stage paramedicine students to practice clinical skills during clinical placements compared with an equal dose of simulation-based workshops.

Introduction: A reported advantage of simulation-based learning environments (SLE) over clinical placements (CPs) is that the former can provide a greater number and breadth of opportunities to practice level-appropriate clinical skills compared with the random patient presentations provided during the latter. Although logical and widely accepted as fact, we find no published evidence to demonstrate the magnitude, nor indeed veracity, of this assumption. We therefore sought to quantify the clinical skills practiced by entry-level paramedicine students attending a well-selected CP compared with an equal dosage of SLE.

Identification of modifiable personal factors that predict new-onset low back pain: a prospective study of female nursing students.

Objectives: Prevention of occupational low back pain (LBP) in nurses is a research priority. Recent research suggests intervening before commencing nursing employment is ideal; however, identification of modifiable risk factors is required. The objective of this study was to investigate modifiable personal characteristics that predicted new-onset LBP in nursing students.

Biopsychosocial factors are associated with low back pain in female nursing students: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Occupational low back pain is a significant problem among nurses. Recent literature suggests current occupational preventative strategies for nurses have not been effective. Given low back pain is already prevalent before commencing employment, nursing students should be the target of preventative interventions.

The experience of faculty practice: developing and evaluating a newly established program.

While the notion of faculty practice, that is clinical practice by an academic in a health service environment, is not new, Australian Universities have been slow in providing practice environments where academics' theoretical understanding is informed through the service environment. Although there is a plethora of published academic opinion on the benefits, there is a dearth of meaningful data describing the subjective experience of academics that participate in faculty practice. Developing an understanding of the issues academics experience, while on faculty practice, provides a vital opportunity for those seeking to adopt a faculty practice model in their institution.

Low back pain characteristics from undergraduate student to working nurse in Australia: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Nurses are known to be a high risk group for occupational low back pain (LBP). The periods of greatest risk for developing low back pain in this population are not well defined. Recent literature suggests current preventative strategies are not consistently effective in improving low back injury statistics among health care populations.