The impact of care practices and health demographics on the prevalence of skin tears and pressure injuries in aged care.

Aims And Objectives: To determine whether differences in care practices and demographics between two long-term aged care facilities affected the incidence of residents' skin wounds.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of care plans and clinical outcomes was conducted for a 6-month period in 2016 at two aged care facilities, N = 39 Home 1 and N = 45 Home 2. Skin tears, pressure injuries and usual care practices and associated health demographics were recorded.

Accessing care summaries at point-of-care: Implementation of mobile devices for personal carers in aged care.

Continued development of mobile technology now allows access to information at the point-of-care. This study was conducted to evaluate the use of one such tool on a mobile device, from the carer perspective. Caregivers across 12 aged-care facilities were supplied mobile devices to access a Picture Care Plan (PCP), a specific tool designed around the role of the personal carer.

The impact of therapeutic massage on adult residents living with complex and high level disabilities: A brief report.

Background: Research into the effects of touch in disabled adults in residential care remains largely unexplored in the current literature. Evidence suggests however, that massage therapy may improve mood state, including anxiety and stress, reduce pain and improve sleep/wake behavior and fatigue. These benefits are of importance as they have substantial impact on quality of life.

Supporting Staff to Identify Residents in Pain: A Controlled Pretest-Posttest Study in Residential Aged Care.

Practical strategies are needed to improve pain awareness among aged care staff and promote a systematic approach to pain identification using evidence-based tools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a pain identification tool for use by nursing and nonprofessional staff in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). A controlled pretest-posttest intervention design was conducted in two RACFs in Brisbane, Australia.

Longitudinal changes in quality of life and related psychosocial variables in australians with multiple sclerosis.

This study explored changes in quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial variables in a large cohort of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). A total of 1287 Australians with MS were administered self-report questionnaires at baseline and 24 months later to examine the impact of disease severity and duration, perceived stress, self-efficacy, depression, and social support on QOL and self-care. Over the 2-year survey period, MS remained stable for 70% of respondents.

Hidden yet visible: methodological challenges researching sexual health in Sudanese refugee communities.

Research addressing sensitive topics with people from small, minority, ethnic communities can present challenges that are difficult to address using conventional methods. This paper reports on the methodological approach used to explore sexual health knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among the Sudanese community in Queensland, Australia. The multiphase, mixed-method study involved young people 16 to 24 years of age participating in a written survey and semi-structured interview and focus-group discussions with the broader Queensland Sudanese community members.

Effects of motivational interviewing intervention on self-management, psychological and glycemic outcomes in type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a serious and growing problem in Taiwan where it is the fifth leading cause of death, and health care costs are 4.3 times higher than for people without diabetes.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in a motivational interview for people with type 2 diabetes would improve their self-management, psychological and glycemic outcomes.

The multiple sclerosis work difficulties questionnaire.

Background: A better understanding of the workplace difficulties experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) may be critical to developing appropriate vocational and rehabilitative programs.

Objective: We aimed to assess the factor structure, internal consistency and validity of the new Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire (MSWDQ).

Methods: Work difficulty items were developed and reviewed by a panel of experts.

Nursing education: a case study of a Bachelor of Science Nursing programme in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to report the process and outcomes of a collaborative venture to offer a Bachelor of Science Nursing programme in Abu Dhabi.

Background: An international educational collaboration between the Abu Dhabi government in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Griffith University (GU) Australia, successfully established a College of Health Sciences offering a Bachelor of Science Nursing (pre- and post-registration).

Methods: The report was written to reflect the chronological order of events as the Bachelor of Science Nursing programme was rolled out in Abu Dhabi commencing in 2007.

Exploration of the family's role and strengths after a young woman is diagnosed with breast cancer: views of women and their families.

Purpose: This exploratory descriptive study examined the role and strengths of the family when supporting the younger woman (<50 years) after a diagnosis of breast cancer. The perspectives of women and family members were sought.

Method: Participants were recruited from oncology outpatient units in Australia.

Nurse-led telephone interventions for people with cardiac disease: a review of the research literature.

Background: Nurse-led telephone follow-up offers a relatively inexpensive method of delivering education and support for assisting recovery in the early discharge period; however, its efficacy is yet to be determined.

Aim: To perform a critical integrative review of the research literature addressing the effectiveness of nurse-led telephone interventions for people with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: A literature search of five health care databases; Sciencedirect, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Pubmed, Proquest and Medline to identify journal articles between 1980 and 2009.

Illness and demographic correlates of chronic pain among a community-based sample of people with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence, nature, and correlates of pain among a community-based sample with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design: A cross-sectional survey and structured pain interview.

Setting: Community.

Biopsychosocial correlates of adjustment to pain among people with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which pain-related beliefs and coping strategies predicted measures of adjustment to pain among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), over and above that accomplished by demographic and clinical variables.

Methods: Participants were a community-based sample of people with chronic MS-related pain (N=105) who completed postal surveys and standardized interviews that included measures of demographic and MS-related variables, typical pain intensity, psychologic functioning, pain interference, pain beliefs, and coping strategies.

Results: Pain-specific beliefs and coping strategies were associated with and explained a significant proportion of the variance in adjustment to pain (24% to 34%) among people with MS, over and above that accomplished by demographic and disease-related variables and pain intensity.

Understanding chronic pain complicating disability: finding meaning through focus group methodology.

Although extensive literature exists on the experiences of people living with chronic nonmalignant pain as a primary condition, little is known about the phenomenon of pain as it is experienced by the person with a chronic disabling condition. This focus group study explored the experience of disability-related pain among 32 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) living in the community. Thematic analysis of transcripts revealed 4 broad conceptualizations of the experience of living with chronic MS-related pain.

Finding your voice: key elements to consider when writing for publication.

The dissemination of nursing knowledge rests on optimizing the accessibility of such knowledge among nurses and all other healthcare professionals. Nursing publications of all types, including research, case studies, reports, literature reviews, clinical audits, reflections on practice and letters to the editor, are important mechanisms for sharing knowledge and experience. Nurses need to publish their knowledge and experiences to inform and reflect on nursing practice.

Supportive and palliative care needs identified by multiple sclerosis patients and their families.

Aim: To identify the supportive needs of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families. DESIGN, SAMPLE AND METHOD: In-depth interviews were carried out with people living with MS in the community, their family members and health professionals. The data were transcribed verbatim and recurring themes identified.

Multiple sclerosis and continence issues: an exploratory study.

The study described in this article aimed to identify issues relating to incontinence and assess the impact of referral to a continence adviser on the lives of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study design used an in-depth, two-phase anonymous mail survey within a general community as nominated by the participants. Fifty-six people participated in phase 1 and eleven people completed phase 2.

Teaching people with Parkinson's disease about their medication.

PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting an estimated 78,000 Australians. Predominantly it affects older people, although or younger. Medications to treat PD are aimed at controlling symptoms as there is no known cure.

Hassles and uplifts associated with caring for people with cognitive impairment in community settings.

In this study we explored the hassles and uplifts (i.e. negative and positive emotional events) experienced by registered nurses, nursing assistants and personal carers working with people with cognitive impairment in community and residential healthcare settings in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Mammograms and Pap smears for Australian deaf women.

This study aimed to assess baseline knowledge about mammograms and Pap smears among Australian Deaf women, to investigate their participation in breast and cervical cancer screening services, and to explore, where relevant, their perceptions about their access to breast and cervical screening services. An interview schedule was developed, and a convenience sample of 13 Deaf women was interviewed face-to-face by the first researcher with an accredited Auslan interpreter. The Deaf women's knowledge about mammograms and Pap smears often was incomplete.

The impact of very premature birth on the psychological health of mothers.

Background: The birth of a very premature infant is a critical event in the life of a family and studies have shown that mothers of these infants are at greater risk of psychological distress than mothers of full-term infants.

Study Design: A total population study of mothers of preterm infants born at less than 32-week gestation at a tertiary referral hospital.

Subjects And Methods: Sixty-two mothers of very preterm infants (<32 weeks) participated in the present study which examines correlates of maternal depressive symptomatology at 1 month following very premature birth.