Introducing solution-focussed brief therapy to mental health nurses across a local health district in Australia.

Solution-focussed brief therapy (SFBT) can be applied to effectively address a broad range of mental health-, alcohol-, and substance-related challenges. The compatibility that SFBT has with mental health nursing practice has been widely recognized. The aim of the present mixed-methods study was to introduce and evaluate the utility of SFBT principles, strategies, and techniques to the clinical work of mental health nurses from a local health district in Sydney, Australia.

Nurse confidence in gynaecological oncology practice and the evaluation of a professional development module.

Background: A tertiary-based education program on gynaecological oncology was attended by 62 registered nurses (RN).

Aims: The program aimed to update nurses' knowledge, improve skills and ability to manage common situations and to assess program efficacy.

Design: Evaluation framework with specifically designed pre-post questionnaire about program content and nurse confidence.

Advance care planning in motor neuron disease: A qualitative study of caregiver perspectives.

Background: Motor neuron disease is a fatal disease, characterised by progressive loss of motor function, often associated with cognitive deterioration and, in some, the development of frontotemporal dementia. Life-sustaining technologies are available (e.g.

Evaluation of a nurse practitioner-led extended hours mental health liaison nurse service based in the emergency department.

Objective: To evaluate a nurse practitioner (NP)-led extended hours mental health liaison nurse (MHLN) service based in the emergency department (ED) of an inner city teaching hospital in Sydney and to explicate a model of care that is transferable across a broad range of ED settings, both in metropolitan and rural contexts.

Methods: This mixed-methods evaluation encompassed descriptive data on ED mental health presentations, quantifying waiting times for MHLN involvement and interviews with MHLN team members at the commencement of the evaluation and 12 months later. Interviews were also conducted with a snapshot of ED patients, and a sample of ED and psychiatry staff.

Evaluating a new model of nurse-led emergency department mental health care in Australia; perspectives of key informants.

Background: Mental health nurse services have existed in Emergency Departments (ED) for many years. However, there is considerable variation in the way these services operate, and no standardised model of care has been articulated.

Aim: To evaluate an extended hours nurse practitioner-led mental health liaison nurse (MHLN) service based in an ED in Sydney Australia.

Psychological therapies for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents (Review).

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and has high personal and health costs. Although a wide range of psychological therapies have been used in the treatment of PTSD there are no systematic reviews of these therapies in children and adolescents.

Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of psychological therapies in treating children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with PTSD.

Psychological therapies for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and has high personal and health costs. Although a wide range of psychological therapies have been used in the treatment of PTSD there are no systematic reviews of these therapies in children and adolescents.

Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of psychological therapies in treating children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with PTSD.

Strategies for piloting a breast health promotion program in the Chinese-Australian population.

In Australia, women from non-English-speaking backgrounds participate less frequently in breast cancer screening than English-speaking women, and Chinese immigrant women are 50% less likely to participate in breast examinations than Australian-born women. Chinese-born Australians comprise 10% of the overseas-born Australian population, and the immigrant Chinese population in Australia is rapidly increasing. We report on the strategies used in a pilot breast health promotion program, Living with Healthy Breasts, aimed at Cantonese-speaking adult immigrant women in Sydney, Australia.

Unmet psychological and practical needs of patients with cancer in rural and remote areas of Western Australia.

Introduction: The financial and psychological impacts of cancer treatment on patients can be severe. Practical issues, such as childcare, medical supplies and obtaining 'home help' can impose financial strain on patients and their families, and this is often exacerbated by a simultaneous loss of income if a patient is unable to continue employment during treatment, or if family members become full-time carers. These financial difficulties are often more severe for patients from rural regions because cancer services tend to be concentrated in metropolitan areas, requiring rural patients to relocate or undertake lengthy, frequent commutes to access treatment.

East meets West: a brief report of a culturally sensitive breast health education program for Chinese-Australian women.

Chinese-Australian women are less likely to undergo breast health examination compared to women born in Australia, and cultural beliefs have been identified as a barrier to screening participation and breast health practices. We sought to promote awareness using trained lay health advisers (breast health advocates). This paper discusses the impact of the training program on advocate knowledge and beliefs, and women's experience as advocates.

Learn Now; Live Well: an educational programme for caregivers.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Learn Now; Live Well (LNLW) educational programme on enhancing the knowledge and support of caregivers living with a life-threatening illness.

Design: A combined summative and formative evaluation design was used. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a questionnaire with a five-point response scale of strongly agree to strongly disagree and semi-structured interviews.