Publications by authors named "Shelley Roberts"

Article Synopsis
  • Food allergies are becoming more common, so it's crucial for hospitals to effectively identify and manage them to ensure patient safety.
  • A study involved interviews and surveys with hospital patients who have food allergies to assess their understanding and expectations regarding hospital food services.
  • Key findings revealed that while patients felt comfortable declaring their allergies and were satisfied with hospital food, further research is needed to pinpoint what factors are most important to them in their meals.
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Care transitions from hospital to home for older adults with malnutrition present a period of elevated risk; however, minimal data exist describing the existing practice. This study aimed to describe the transition of nutrition care processes provided to older adults in a public tertiary hospital in Australia. A retrospective chart audit conducted between July and October 2022 included older (≥65 years), malnourished adults discharged to independent living.

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ObjectiveConsumer involvement is when patients (their families, friends, and caregivers) work with researchers on research projects. While health services are expected to support consumer-researcher collaborations, conducive environments still need to be developed, with limited research into how Australian health services support this practice. This study explores current consumer involvement in research activity and staff perceptions at an Australian tertiary hospital and health service.

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Background: The aim of this study was to pilot a protocol for prospective validation of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in hospital patients and evaluate its feasibility and patient acceptability.

Methods: The validation protocol follows the GLIM consortium's rigorous methodological guidance. Protocol feasibility was assessed against criteria on recruitment (≥50%) and data collection completion (≥80%); protocol acceptability was assessed via patient satisfaction surveys and interviews.

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Malnutrition risk screening is crucial to identify at-risk patients in hospitals; however, screening rates can be suboptimal. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential cost-effectiveness of patient-led, technology-assisted malnutrition risk screening. A prospective multi-methods study was conducted in a 750-bed public hospital in Australia.

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Purpose: Understanding the experiences and needs of healthcare workers is crucial in strengthening healthcare system resilience during times of change. We aimed to explore allied health (AH) professionals' perceptions of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic response on their work experiences.

Participants And Methods: Qualitative descriptive study using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with AH professionals employed in a large Australian health service.

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Objective: To determine whether differences exist for older persons presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) with lower back pain (LBP) in terms of management, health service resource use and cost when compared to younger patients with LBP.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of routinely collected electronic medical record data from January 2015 to July 2021. Data from 11,098 adults presenting with LBP to two large regional Australian EDs were analysed over a 5-year period.

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Malnutrition and frailty affect up to one-third of community-dwelling older adults in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), burdening individuals, health systems and the economy. As these conditions are often under-recognised and untreated in the community, there is an urgent need for healthcare professionals (HCPs) from all disciplines to be able to identify and manage malnutrition and frailty in this setting. This paper describes the systematic and iterative process by which a practical guide for identifying and managing malnutrition and frailty in the community, tailored to the ANZ context, was developed.

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Objective: It is estimated that one in four postoperative wound complications occur within 14 days of hospital discharge. Some estimate that up to 50% of readmissions are preventable with effective postoperative education and closer follow-up. Providing patients with information enables them to detect when medical intervention may be required.

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Standardised bomb calorimetry methods are essential to accurately quantify the gross energy within food and beverages, yet no accepted protocols exist. The objective of this review was to synthesise literature on food and beverage sample preparation methods used for conducting bomb calorimetry. This synthesis enhances our understanding of the extent to which methodological variances may currently affect estimates of the caloric values of dietary items.

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Aims And Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of supporting family members to partner with health professionals on nutrition intakes and decision-making and to evaluate intervention and study feasibility.

Background: Family partnerships can improve outcomes for critically ill patients and family members. Interventions that support families to engage with health professionals require evaluation.

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Background: Allied health professionals (AHPs) engaged in research are expected to comply with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles to protect participant safety and wellbeing and enhance data integrity. Currently, few studies have explored health professionals' perceptions of implementing and adhering to GCP principles in research with none of these including AHPs. Such knowledge is vital to guide future interventions to increase adherence to GCP principles.

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Aim: This study aimed to explore dietitians' perceptions of their current practice for identifying and managing malnutrition/frailty in the community, to fill an evidence gap.

Methods: This mixed-methods study involved an online survey distributed to dietitians practising in Australia and New Zealand, and semi-structured interviews with a subset of survey participants. The 34-item survey and interviews explored dietitians' practices for identifying/managing malnutrition and frailty, focusing on the community setting.

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Objective: To explore patients' priorities and preferences for optimal care of their acute or hard-to-heal surgical wound(s).

Method: This qualitative study involved semi-structured individual interviews with patients receiving wound care in Queensland, Australia. Convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit patients from inpatient and outpatient settings between November 2019 and January 2020.

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Aims: To describe the characteristics of hospital-based, patient-mediated interventions and their impact on patient, clinician and organization outcomes.

Design: Systematic review.

Data Sources: Health literature databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE) were searched in August 2021.

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Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an objective hydration and body composition assessment method recommended for use in haemodialysis patients. Limited research exists on the acceptability and utility of BIA in clinical practice. This qualitative study explored patient and staff acceptability and perceived value of BIA in an outpatient haemodialysis setting at a tertiary public hospital in Queensland, Australia.

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Malnutrition and frailty are common conditions that impact overall health and function. There is limited research exploring the barriers and enablers to providing coordinated nutrition care to malnourished or frail clients in the community (including transitions from hospital). This study aimed to explore dietitians' experiences and perspectives on providing coordinated nutrition care for frail and malnourished clients identified in the community or being discharged from hospital.

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Malnutrition, frailty and sarcopenia are becoming increasingly prevalent among community-dwelling older adults; yet are often unidentified and untreated in community settings. There is an urgent need for community-based healthcare professionals (HCPs) from all disciplines, including medicine, nursing and allied health, to be aware of, and to be able to recognise and appropriately manage these conditions. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of malnutrition, frailty and sarcopenia in the community, including their definitions, prevalence, impacts and causes/risk factors; and guidance on how these conditions may be identified and managed by HCPs in the community.

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Background: A large evidence-practice gap exists regarding provision of nutrition to patients following surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the processes supporting the implementation of an intervention designed to improve the timing and adequacy of nutrition following bowel surgery.

Methods: A mixed-method pilot study, using an integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach, was undertaken at a tertiary teaching hospital in Australia.

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Ensuring inpatients with dysphagia receive and consume the correct texture-modified diet and thickened fluid prescriptions is challenging, and errors can result in significant complications for patients and increased costs to hospitals. The aim of this study was to investigate underlying factors that help or hinder receipt and consumption of correct dietary prescriptions for people with dysphagia in the hospital setting then implement and evaluate a range of strategies to address identified issues. A mixed-methods study design, using an integrated knowledge translation approach, was conducted in three phases.

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Urinary incontinence (UI) affects many women and impacts quality of life. Group-based interventions may be an effective and efficient method for providing UI care; however, interventions must be acceptable to patients to have an impact. This study aimed to explore patients' perceptions of an exercise training and healthy eating group program (ATHENA) for overweight and obese women with UI.

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Objective: To evaluate population-level implementation of Confident Body, Confident Child (CBCC); an evidence-based program providing parenting strategies to promote healthy eating, physical activity and body satisfaction in children aged 2-6 years; with community child health nurses (CHNs).

Methods: This study utilised an implementation-effectiveness hybrid design, with dual focus on assessing: (a) CBCC implementation into Child Health Centres at a regional health service in Queensland, Australia (process evaluation); and (b) CBCC's effect on CHNs' knowledge and attitudes (outcomes evaluation). Process (CBCC reach, dose, fidelity) and outcome data (CHN knowledge of child body image; and attitudes towards higher body weights) were collected during implementation, and pre- and post-intervention delivery to CHNs, respectively.

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Introduction And Hypothesis: Supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), weight loss and exercise are recommended for overweight/obese women with urinary incontinence (UI). This study aimed to implement and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of a 12-week group exercise and healthy eating program (ATHENA) for overweight/obese women with UI.

Methods: This study, using an implementation-effectiveness hybrid type 3 design, was conducted within a Women's Health Physiotherapy outpatient service at an Australian tertiary public hospital.

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Empowering patients to participate in nutrition care during hospitalisation may improve their dietary intakes and associated outcomes. This study tested the acceptability and feasibility of a technology-based intervention to engage hospital patients in nutrition care at a tertiary teaching hospital in Australia. The hospital used an electronic foodservice system (EFS), by which patients ordered meals via bedside computers.

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