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Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the modified Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument in an English‐speaking population. Background: There is growing evidence that self‐management behaviours can improve outcomes for people with chronic kidney disease. However, there are few suitable instruments available. Design The study was cross sectional, with a test–retest protocol. Method: Adults with chronic kidney disease attending a primary health care between June and December 2015 completed the Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument. Construct validity was determined using exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency and test–retest reliability using Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation. For convergent validity, the relationships between knowledge, self‐efficacy and self‐management were investigated. Results: The Australian version of the Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument has 17 items grouped into four factors: self‐integration, seeking social support, adherence to lifestyle modification and problem solving. The instrument demonstrated good reliability. Self‐efficacy was positively correlated with self‐management scores, although there was no correlation between chronic kidney disease knowledge and self‐management. Conclusions: The Australian version of the Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument was found to be a valid and reliable patient‐reported outcome measure. It can be used in clinical practice to support self‐management, as well as future research. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? The burden of chronic kidney disease is rising mostly due to the increasing prevalence of diabetes and hypertension.Chronic kidney disease progression can be slowed with effective self‐management behaviours.Patient‐reported outcome measures need testing in target populations prior to implementation in clinical settings and research. What this paper adds? The Australian version of the Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument demonstrated good validity and reliability in the target population.The instrument is suitable to use in research testing interventions to improve self‐management of chronic kidney disease. The implications of this paper: Clinicians can use this patient‐reported outcome measure to assess for changes in CKD self‐management behaviours following patient education.The instrument can be used to identify individuals in need of support for self‐management skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Emotional distress, which includes stress, anxiety and depression, is considered a substantial mental health problem among university students because of its effects on academic achievement and well-being. The purpose of this paper is to examine levels of emotional distress, self-esteem, social support and coping methods and predicted emotional distress in undergraduate students across year levels in two semesters. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a regional university with 117 and 118 students, respectively, the majority of whom were from the Faculty of Science. Announcements posted on the university website in two semesters were used to recruit convenience samples of participants who completed a battery of four self-administered questionnaires online. Findings: Findings showed significant differences across year levels for emotional distress total (F(2, 107)=3.90, p=0.02), and social support total (F(2, 107)=3.57, p=0.03), especially in semester 1. Almost all maladaptive coping approaches led to risk of heightened emotional distress in both semester cohorts, ranging from using self-distraction (adjusted OR=4.54) to denial (adjusted OR=32.05). Interestingly, the use of active coping and high self-esteem appeared as risk factors rather than protective factors for mental distress, adjusted ORs=11.27 and 8.46, respectively. Originality/value: Although adaptive coping skills did not alleviate students' mental distress, encouraging students to use adaptive coping and social support may help students face the challenges of university life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eliciting clinicians' views about antipsychotic medication side-effects may assist in understanding strategies that could enhance the identification and management of these side-effects. The present paper details the development and psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire that captures clinicians' perceptions about these issues. An initial item set was derived from a literature review, and then refined by an expert content validity panel that assessed the relevance of the items. The online questionnaire was distributed to Australian mental health nurses and 140 fully completed questionnaires were returned. Principal components analysis yielded two robust scales that conceptually tapped 'system responsibility' and 'personal confidence'. These scales may be used to advance knowledge about how mental health nurses' attitudes towards the assessment and management of antipsychotic medication side-effects influences their clinical behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study aimed to compare the findings of the quality of nursing doctoral education survey across seven countries and discuss the strategic directions for improving quality. Background No comparative evaluation of global quality of nursing doctoral education has been reported to date despite the rapid increase in the number of nursing doctoral programmes. Design A descriptive, cross-country, comparative design was employed. Methods Data were collected from 2007-2010 from nursing schools in seven countries: Australia, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Thailand, UK and USA. An online questionnaire was used to evaluate quality of nursing doctoral education except for Japan, where a paper version was used. Korea and South Africa used e-mails quality of nursing doctoral education was evaluated using four domains: Programme, Faculty (referring to academic staff), Resource and Evaluation. Descriptive statistics, correlational and ordinal logistic regression were employed. Results A total of 105 deans/schools, 414 faculty and 1149 students/graduates participated. The perceptions of faculty and students/graduates about the quality of nursing doctoral education across the seven countries were mostly favourable on all four domains. The faculty domain score had the largest estimated coefficient for relative importance. As the overall quality level of doctoral education rose from fair to good, the resource domain showed an increased effect. Conclusions Both faculty and students/graduates groups rated the overall quality of nursing doctoral education favourably. The faculty domain had the greatest importance for quality, followed by the programme domain. However, the importance of the resource domain gained significance as the overall quality of nursing doctoral education increased, indicating the needs for more attention to resources if the quality of nursing doctoral education is to improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is consensus in the partner abuse prevention education literature that a skills-focus is needed. However, appropriate instruments for evaluating the effectiveness of skills-focused programs do not exist. Against this background, and based on the dyadic slippery slope model of partner abuse, the Tendency to Resist or End Abusive Dynamics (TREAD) scale was developed. TREAD is defined as one's tendency to respond assertively or protectively in situations involving warning-sign (potentially hurtful or controlling) behaviors by a partner. The scale's development drew on the input of three Australian samples: mixed-gender adolescent focus groups, 426 young female respondents to an online survey, and 152 adolescent girls participating in a school-based program trial. When tested with the 152 adolescent girls, the TREAD scale had acceptable internal consistency and high inter-rater reliability. Principal components analysis identified three interrelated TREAD subscales (i.e., Conflict-Retaliation TREAD, Denigration TREAD, and Dominance-Possessiveness TREAD) all of which were negatively associated with frequency of exposure to warning-sign behaviors. This paper charts the preliminary development of the TREAD scale, presenting evidence supporting its validity as a change-target for partner abuse prevention education with adolescent girls and, potentially, boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

scott k., white k., johnson c. & roydhouse j.k. (2011) Knowledge and skills of cancer clinical trials nurses in Australia. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(5), 1111-1121. Abstract Aims. This paper is a report of the development and testing of a questionnaire measuring knowledge and skills of cancer clinical trials nurse in Australia. Background. The role of cancer clinical trials nurse, widely acknowledged as an integral member of the clinical research team, has evolved in recent years. Elements of the clinical trials nurse role in cancer have previously been described. To evaluate specific cancer clinical trials nurse educational and training needs, the development of a valid and reliable tool is required. Methods. In 2009, a study was conducted in three stages. Stage I: questionnaire development and pilot testing; stage II: focus group; stage III: national survey. Internal consistency reliability testing and multi-trait analysis of item convergent/divergent validity were employed. Regression analysis was used to identify predictors of clinical trials nurse knowledge and skills. Results. The national survey was a 48-item questionnaire, measuring six clinical trial knowledge and seven skills sub-scales. Of 61 respondents, 90% were women, with mean age 43 years, 19 years as a Registered Nurse and 5 years as a cancer clinical trials nurse. Self-reported knowledge and skills were satisfactory to good. Internal consistency reliability was high (Cronbach's alpha: knowledge = 0·98; skills = 0·90). Criteria for item convergent/divergent validity were met. Number of years as cancer clinical trials nurse was positively related to self-reported knowledge and skills. Conclusion. Preliminary data suggest that the national survey is reliable and valid. Data have contributed to better understanding the knowledge and skills of cancer clinical trials nurse in Australia and development of a postgraduate course in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: When handover is conducted at the patient's bedside, active patient participation can be encouraged, which may improve the safety and quality of care. There is a need for valid and reliable tools to measure patient perceptions of participation in bedside handover, to ensure the rising number of implementation and improvement efforts are consistently and effectively evaluated. The aim of this study is to systematically develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a self‐report survey to measure patients' perceptions of participation in bedside handover. Methods: In Phase 1, our team developed a conceptual framework and item pool (n = 130). In Phase 2, content validity was assessed with four health consumers, four nurses and four researchers. Next, 10 current hospital inpatients tested the survey for end‐user satisfaction. In Phase 3, 326 inpatients completed the survey, allowing exploratory factor analysis, reliability analyses and convergent/divergent validity analyses to occur. Results: Phase 1 and 2 resulted in a 42‐item survey. In Phase 3, 321 surveys were available for analysis. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three‐factor solution, with 24 items, which matched our conceptual framework. The three factors were: 'Conditions for patient participation in bedside handover', 'Level of patient participation in bedside handover' and 'Evaluation of patient participation in bedside handover'. There was strong evidence for factor reliability and validity. Additionally, the correlation between factors was strong. Conclusion: This study furthers our conceptual understanding by showing that nurse facilitating behaviours are a strong precursor for patient participation and perceived handover outcomes, justifying the need for nursing training. A robust survey has been developed to measure patient perceptions of participation in bedside handover, which can effectively evaluate this approach to care. Engaging consumers and nurses as research team members was invaluable in ensuring that the survey is acceptable for end‐users. Patient or Public Contribution: A health consumer and nurse partnered as members of the research team from study inception to dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) has been widely used for measuring autistic traits however its factor structure has been primarily determined from nonclinic populations. This study aimed to establish an internally coherent and reliable factor structure for the AQ using a sample of 455 Australian adults of whom 141 had autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses. Principal component analysis revealed a 39-item questionnaire with five-factors: Sociability, Social Cognition, Interest in Patterns, Narrow Focus and Resistance to Change. The revised AQ-39 had sound goodness-of-fit indices, good-to-excellent internal consistency and test–retest reliability, and scores for ASD and non-ASD participants were significantly different. The AQ-39 may be useful in screening and for guiding the focus of therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaching is a key role for nurses in contemporary clinical practice. Consequently, peer-assisted learning continues to gather momentum in nursing education in tertiary and professional education settings. In this study, we investigated the factor structure of the Peer Teaching Experience Questionnaire when completed by a group of nursing undergraduates from a large Australian university. Data from the 14-item Peer Teaching Experience Questionnaire completed by third year undergraduate nursing students were analyzed using factor analysis. A total of 257 final (third)-year undergraduate nursing students participated in the study. Factor analysis of the 14 items revealed three factors with eigenvalues above 1, accounting for 47.3% of the total variance. Items with loadings greater than ± 0.40, with the factor in question, were used to characterize the factor solutions. Findings from the exploratory factor analysis provide preliminary results that the Peer Teaching Experience Questionnaire has adequate dimensionality and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HALKETT G.K.B., COX J., ANDERSON C. & HEARD R. (2012) European Journal of Cancer Care 21, 31-40. Establishing research priorities for Australian radiation therapists: what patient care priorities need to be addressed? Much of the research conducted in radiotherapy focuses on technology advances; however, research may also be warranted in the area of patient care. The aims of this paper are to (1) identify patient care-related research priorities in radiation therapy and (2) describe similarities and differences in radiation therapists' responses to research priorities related to patient care by subgroups revealed through cluster analysis. A Delphi process was used, examining problems in research that radiation therapists face. Three hundred and seventy-four problems were identified. These were translated into 53 research areas which were then prioritised. Participant subgroups were identified using a hierarchical cluster procedure. Agreement and disagreement between subgroups for the subscale of 'Patient Care' were analysed with ANOVA and post hoc Scheffe multiple comparisons. The three subgroups had varying degrees of research interest in patient care. The groups agreed on the importance of research in relation to patient care in reducing and managing side effects, patient education and support, and treatment techniques. However, there was disagreement about the importance of conducting research into the role of radiation therapists, radiation therapists communicating and educating patients, and psychosocial support. Further research is warranted to determine radiotherapy patients' priorities and improve evidence-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate the nutrition knowledge of elite Australian athletes, and to obtain feedback from sports dietitians on the Platform to Evaluate Athlete Knowledge of Sports Nutrition Questionnaires' (PEAKS‐NQ) suitability. Methods: Sports dietitians from the National Institute Network across Australia recruited athletes to complete the online, 50‐item PEAKS‐NQ which contained two sections (General Nutrition and Sports Nutrition). Sports dietitians provided feedback on the PEAKS‐NQ using a 14‐item questionnaire (with two open‐ended items). The main outcome measures were nutrition knowledge score and tool suitability (usefulness, acceptability and feasibility) scores. For knowledge scores, independent t‐tests, ANOVA and Chi‐square tests were used to evaluate differences between groups. Suitability was evaluated using descriptive statistics. Results: Twelve sports dietitians from the National Institute Network in Australia recruited a convenience sample of 240 athletes (21.3 ± 4.3 years, 63.5% female, 63.3% competed internationally). Athletes scored 70.7 ± 10.5%, with better general vs sports nutrition knowledge. Females had higher overall scores (P <.001) with no differences for age or sport played. University‐educated athletes scored higher than non‐tertiary educated athletes (P =.004). Knowledge gaps were identified in fats (role and food sources), recovery nutrition and managing body composition. Sports dietitians rated suitability of PEAKS‐NQ positively with complete agreement on 8 of 12 items. Conclusions: Athletes have greater understanding of general nutrition compared to sports nutrition concepts and may benefit from education on applying nutrition in sports‐specific contexts. Sports dietitians' responses showed PEAKS‐NQ was a highly acceptable, feasible and useful measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study tools examining psychological distress, fear of COVID‐19 and coping amongst migrants and non‐migrants in Australia are very limited. The aim of this research was to assess the psychometric properties and correlation of the English version of Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K‐10), Fear of COVID‐19 Scale (FCSV‐19S), and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) tools during the COVID‐19 pandemic situation in Australia. Data from a cross‐sectional survey (n = 516) were utilized to examine reliability; 299 (57.9%) were migrants. High internal consistency, as evidenced by Cronbach's alpha, was found for the K‐10 (0.92), FCV‐19S (0.87) and BRCS (0.66) tools. The corresponding values for migrants and non‐migrants were (0.92, 0.87, 0.67) and (0.92, 0.86, 0.63), respectively. Item‐total correlations ranged 0.57‐0.78 for K‐10, 0.62–0.69 for FCV‐19S, and 0.39–0.50 for BRCS tools. EFA retained a single factor for each tool with adequate factor loadings. The scoring of K‐10 was significantly predicted by the scoring of FCV‐19S (r = 0.284, P < 0.001) and BRCS tool (r = 0.132, P < 0.01). Therefore, these tools can be used reliably amongst both migrant and non‐migrant population in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on the adoption and acceptance of social assistive technologies (ATs) in the aged care context where carers provide care services to older adults. This research develops and validates a conceptual model adapted from existing technology acceptance and adoption models and theories. The moderating effects of perceived risk were also investigated to indicate how carers adopt and accept social ATs in aged care facilities. This research was undertaken using a mixed methods study combining a qualitative approach (Study 1: carer observations, focus groups and interviews) and a quantitative approach (Study 2: structural equation modelling). We observed 13 carers over 2 years using social ATs and carried out three focus groups and 15 interviews with carers. A quantitative survey was then distributed among 302 carers in Australia to collect quantitative data. Less attention was paid to the adoption of social ATs in aged care. This research provides empirical evidence showing how social robots as social ATs can facilitate technological innovation acceptance and adoption within aged care from the perspective of carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the nursing profession recognizes the importance of leadership behaviors, limited evidence exists on essential clinical leadership behaviors that nursing students should exhibit upon graduation. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were common leadership behaviors exhibited by recently graduated baccalaureate clinical staff nurses in the United States and Australia. A quantitative descriptive study with a comparative design was conducted using The Clinical Leadership Survey. Similar clinical leadership behaviors were reported by nurses from the two countries though there was a statistically significant difference in the overall frequency of behaviors between the two groups. Behaviors in the 'challenging the process' domain were less commonly practiced in both countries, identifying a clinical gap and opportunity for student development. This study identifies the central behaviors that should be included in baccalaureate nursing education curriculum in order to prepare students for successful transition into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies report that increased levels of patient activation is associated with increased engagement with the health care system, better adherence to treatment protocols, and improved health outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of a 12-month Patient-Centred Medical Home (PCMH) model called 'WellNet' on the activation levels of patients with one or more chronic diseases in general practices across Northern Sydney, Australia. Methods: A total of 636 patients aged 40 years and above with one or more chronic conditions consented to participate in the WellNet program which was delivered across six general practices in Northern Sydney, Australia. The WellNet intervention includes team-based care with general physicians and trained chronic disease management care coordinators collaborating with patients in designing a patient-tailored care plan with improved self-management support and care navigation according to the level of risk and health care needs. The level of patient activation was measured using the validated PAM 13-item scale at baseline and follow-up. A before and after case-series design was employed to determine the adjusted mean differences between baseline and 12-months using repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Additionally, the backward stepwise multivariable regression models were employed to identify significant predictors of activation at follow-up. Results: Of the 626 patients, 420 reported their PAM scores at follow-up. The mean (SD) baseline PAM score was 57.9 (13.0). The adjusted model showed significant mean difference in PAM scores by increase of 6.5 (95% CI 5.0–8.1; p-value< 0.001) after controlling for baseline covariates. The multivariable regression models showed that older age (B = − 0.14; 95% CI -0.28, − 0.01) and private insurance (uninsured patients) (B = − 3.41; 95% CI -6.50, − 0.32) were significantly associated with lower PAM scores at 12 months whereas higher baseline PAM score (B = 0.48; 95% CI 0.37, 0.59) was significantly associated with higher follow-up PAM score. Conclusion: The WellNet study is the first of its kind in Australia to report on changes in the patient activation levels among patients with one or more chronic diseases. PCMH has the potential to improve patient activation and engagement which can lead to long-term health benefits and sustained self-management behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children's play and leisure participation is often assessed by occupational therapists. As such, it is essential that therapists utilize play and leisure scales that are valid, reliable and responsive. Aim: To examine the convergent validity between the Children's Leisure Assessment Scale (CLASS) and Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities of Children (CAPE/PAC). Methods: Forty healthy Australian children (60% female; mean age 9.2 ± 2.01 years) completed the CLASS and CAPE/PAC. Spearman's rho correlations with bootstrapping were completed. Results: A number of the CLASS and CAPE/PAC subscales were significantly correlated. The CAPE's overall scale scores and CLASS's instrumental indoor activities, outdoor activities and games and sport activities subscales were significantly correlated (p > 0.05). The CAPE's Social domain showed several significant correlations with the CLASS's instrumental indoor activities, outdoor activities and self-enrichment activities domains (p < 0.05). Statistically significant relationships were found between the CLASS's outdoor activity preference and the PAC's recreational, physical, formal, informal and overall performance scores (r = 0.466–0.773, p < 0.05). Conclusions and Significance: Preliminary evidence in support of the convergent validity between the CAPE/PAC and CLASS was obtained. Limitations include a small sample size and convenience sampling. Further investigation of the psychometric properties of the CAPE/PAC and CLASS are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the factor structure of a clinical tool for the assessment of hearing loss self-management, and to identify predictors of the total score on the assessment and the extracted factor scores. Materials and methods: Hearing loss self-management assessments were conducted with 62 older adults. The factor structure of the assessment was determined by exploratory factor analysis. Multiple linear regression analyses identified significant contributors to the total score and to each of the extracted factors. Results: Three factors were identified, each representing a distinct domain of hearing loss self-management: Actions, Psychosocial Behaviours, and Knowledge. The most common significant predictor was hearing health care experience, which predicted self-management overall and in the Actions and Knowledge domains. Health literacy predicted hearing loss self-management overall and in the Psychosocial Behaviours domain. Actions were additionally predicted by hearing aid self-efficacy and gender, Psychosocial Behaviours by health locus of control, and Knowledge by age. Conclusions: The results of the factor analysis suggested that hearing loss self-management is a multidimensional construct. Each domain of hearing loss self-management was influenced by different contextual factors. Subsequent interventions to improve hearing loss self-management should therefore be domain-specific and tailored to relevant contextual factors. Hearing loss is a chronic health condition that requires on-going self-management of its effects on everyday life. Hearing loss self-management is multidimensional and encompasses the domains of Actions, Psychosocial Behaviours, and Knowledge. Different contextual factors influence each hearing loss self-management domain, including previous experience receiving hearing health care services, health literacy, hearing aid self-efficacy, health locus of control, age, and gender. Audiological rehabilitation programs should thus ensure that interventions to improve hearing loss self-management are domain- and context-specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The lack of a valid instrument to measure patient‐centred care (PCC) in dietetic practice makes it challenging to evaluate how patient‐centred dietitians are. The present study aimed to develop and psychometrically test a dietitian‐reported inventory to measure PCC in dietetic practice. Methods: The inventory was compiled based on a literature review of existing validated scales that measured the dimensions of PCC. Next, the inventory was distributed as a cross‐sectional survey to 180 Australian Accredited Practicing Dietitians who worked in primary care. Exploratory factor analysis was performed using principal factor analysis with Promax rotation. Cronbach's alpha (criteria ≥0.80), inter‐item correlations and corrected item‐total correlations (criteria 0.30–0.70) were computed to evaluate the internal consistency of each scale. Results: Five factors were extracted accounting for 56.9% of the variance. Most variables had strong loadings on only one factor. Factors were labelled as: shared decision‐making; holistic and individualised care; patient–dietitian communication; knowing the patient; and caring patient–dietitian relationships. Cronbach's alpha was 0.94 for the total inventory and ranged from 0.73 to 0.91 for the individual factors. Inter‐item correlations and corrected item‐total correlations mostly fell in the desired range. Conclusions: The present study offers a preliminary, conceptually grounded dietitian‐reported inventory, which is the first instrument developed and tested to measure PCC in dietetic practice. These findings illustrate the underlying factor structure of the inventory and support the reliability of the scales. With further testing, this inventory may provide useful to clinicians and researchers working to better understand and improve dietetic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University years are a period of increased morbidity and mortality, associated with negative health behaviours and corresponding poor mental health (MH) status amongst students. With this said, the aim of this research was to determine the level of influence a number of predictive factors have on Australia's university students' MH status. A cross-sectional study design, consisting of an online survey was implemented. Psychometric measurement components were based on adopting Bronfenbrenner's socio-ecological model approach to collecting descriptive statistics. This approach was concerned with investigating patterns of association between three predictive factors [social emotional wellbeing (SEWB), physical activity (PA) levels and sporting club (SC) involvement], against four domains (personal, university, home and community). This study identified that 25% (n =  571) of participants (n =  2326) indicated that they have been diagnosed with a MH disorder. Specifically, gender, age, negative health behaviours, lower levels of PA and SC involvement and poor SEWB, were found to be significantly and positively associated (p <  0.05 *, p <  0.01 **) with a MH diagnosis. Importantly, findings from this study indicate that there are significant (positive/negative) associations between the identified predictive factors and participants' MH status. Findings from this study will go towards informing current and future Student Health Service policies, practices and infrastructure allocation that address MH status amongst university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seclusion and restraint continue to be used across psychiatric inpatient and emergency settings, despite calls for elimination and demonstrated efficacy of reduction initiatives. This study investigated nurses' perceptions regarding reducing and eliminating the use of these containment methods with psychiatric consumers. Nurses (n = 512) across Australia completed an online survey examining their views on the possibility of elimination of seclusion, physical restraint, and mechanical restraint as well as perceptions of these practices and factors influencing their use. Nurses reported working in units where physical restraint, seclusion, and, to a lesser extent, mechanical restraint were used. These were viewed as necessary last resort methods to maintain staff and consumer safety, and nurses tended to disagree that containment methods could be eliminated from practice. Seclusion was considered significantly more favourably than mechanical restraint with the elimination of mechanical restraint seen as more of a possibility than seclusion or physical restraint. Respondents accepted that use of these methods was deleterious to relationships with consumers. They also felt that containment use was a function of a lack of resources. Factors perceived to reduce the likelihood of seclusion/restraint included empathy and rapport between staff and consumers and utilizing trauma‐informed care principles. Nurses were faced with threatening situations and felt only moderately safe at work, but believed they were able to use their clinical skills to maintain safety. The study suggests that initiatives at multiple levels are needed to help nurses to maintain safety and move towards realizing directives to reduce and, where possible, eliminate restraint use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The research explores (a) nurses' views of the change to mandatory bedside handovers, and (b) these nurses' perceptions of their skills in managing this new practice in an Australian hospital. Background: In Australia, nursing bedside handovers are now considered essential in many hospitals, although most nurses received minimal training at the time this policy was instituted. This research establishes a unique quantitative tool to investigate nurses' views of, and self‐reported actions related to, bedside handovers. Method: Prior to the implementation of mandatory bedside handovers in a hospital in Canberra, Australia, nurses in two wards (n = 66) were recruited to complete the new Bedside Handover Attitudes and Behaviours (BHAB) questionnaire. Results: Most nurses strongly value bedside handovers and have confidence in their ability to lead this clinical practice. Conclusions: Researchers identified a high level of alignment between the nurses' acceptance of bedside handovers and nurses' self‐reported actions in conducting this communication process. Implications for Nursing Management: Future research should explore the links between nurses' views of, and skills in, the management of bedside handovers, as well as the effects of professional training for this practice. Furthermore, the BHAB questionnaire may be employed in different nursing contexts in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The Lumbar Spine Instability Questionnaire (LSIQ) is a self-report measure of 15 items. Previous studies have used the LSIQ as a measure of clinical instability; however, a comprehensive evaluation of its clinimetric properties has not been conducted. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinimetric properties of the LSIQ in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP). METHODS: In this clinical measurement study the authors included patients with nonspecific LBP presenting to primary care clinicians in Australia. Rasch analysis was conducted to assess item hierarchy targeting, unidimensionality person fit, internal consistency and differential item functioning. The researchers assessed test-retest reliability of total scores and individual item scores, as well as convergent and divergent validity RESULTS: A total of 107 participants with LBP (60 men and 47 women) were recruited. The results were variable. The LSIQ appeared to constitute a unidimensional measure, targeted the sample well, and showed adequate test-retest reliability However, the scale had poor internal consistency, did not appear to function as an interval-level measure, and had unclear construct validity Although no items appeared to be redundant, several items were biased by factors other than the proposed construct of the measure. CONCLUSION: The LSIQ does not seem to be ready to be implemented in clinical practice and may require theoretical reconsideration. Although the LSIQ provided satisfactory estimates for some clinimetric features, the authors do not consider the instrument to be useful as an interval-level measure but rather as an index. Future studies are needed to investigate whether the LSIQ could measure clinical instability or some other construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate characteristics of job‐related meaningfulness, and to assess its potential to moderate the relationship between over‐commitment and emotional exhaustion in nurses. Background: Increased demands on nurses may induce vulnerability to emotional exhaustion, decrease job satisfaction, and increase their intention to quit the job. The experience of job‐related meaningfulness through meaning‐centred logotherapy and counseling could be a resource to prevent emotional exhaustion. Method: Nurses (n = 466; 73% female) at an Austrian tertiary‐care hospital participated in a cross‐sectional survey for assessment of job‐related meaningfulness by the newly developed CERES (Concern, Enthusiasm, Relevance, Efficacy, Satisfaction) scale. CERES was tested for its moderating interaction with over‐commitment (assessed by the Effort‐Reward Imbalance Questionnaire) to prevent emotional exhaustion (as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory) by structural equation modelling. Results: The CERES scale consisting of five items has satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha:.78). Over‐commitment correlated significantly (p < .001) with emotional exhaustion. A moderating interaction of CERES with over‐commitment on emotional exhaustion was found overall (p < .001), and separately for males (p = .002) and females (p < .001). Conclusions: CERES is suitable for assessing experienced job‐related meaningfulness and it moderates emotionally exhausting effects of over‐commitment in nurses. Implications for Nursing Management: Nursing managers may improve nurses' awareness of job‐related meaningfulness by focusing on meaning‐centred feed‐back and counselling and thereby strengthening perception of concern, enthusiasm, relevance, efficacy, and satisfaction regarding their caring behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Parent proxy reports are well used in occupational therapy, yet historically parent report instruments of motor skill have not required parents to report on the same motor skills that their children are assessed on. The aim was to examine how well a parent report of children's fundamental movement skill (FMS) was associated with children's actual FMS. Method: A sample of 100 children aged 7–9 years from Melbourne, Australia, were recruited. Parents/guardians completed proxy report (parent version of the 'Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence' (PMSC)) and children's actual motor skills were assessed ('Test of Gross Motor Development' 3rd edition (TGMD‐3)). Data were first analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficients and then hierarchical linear stepwise regression was conducted with actual skill as the outcome variable in each model. Results: The PMSC‐Parent (r = 0.36, P < 0.001) was moderately associated with children's actual skill. After age and sex adjustment, the PMSC‐Parent explained 11.4% of variance in total skills. Parent report of their children's object control scores (PMSC object control scale) was significantly associated with children's actual object control (B = 0.36, P < 0.001) and explained 11.3% of the variance. Parent report of children's locomotion scores (PMSC locomotion scale) was associated with children's actual locomotor skills (B = 0.27, P = 0.007) and explained 6.2% of the variance. Conclusion: Parents are able to report to some degree on their children's FMS competency, in particular, their object control competence. Parent proxy report of FMS may help inform occupational therapists to identify children with low FMS competency to develop interventions targeting FMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Occupational therapists offer a unique perspective regarding the contribution of the environment to occupational performance. Therefore, a scale that measures the unique characteristics of the primary school classroom environment where children complete their daily schoolwork occupations is needed. The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a new teacher‐report questionnaire that measures a number of environmental characteristics of primary school classrooms. Methods: Participants (N = 117) completed the Classroom Environment Questionnaire (CEQ), which utilises a 4‐point Likert scale where teachers rate 51 environmental characteristics of their classroom. Teachers also rate the extent to which they believe the physical, social, temporal, institutional and cultural classroom environmental domains contribute to students' schoolwork performance using a 10‐point scale. The structural validity of the CEQ was examined using principal component analysis (PCA). Inter‐item correlations were examined using Pearson r correlations, while the internal consistency of the CEQ was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Results: PCA revealed the CEQ to be multidimensional, with 31 items loading onto nine viable factors, representing the unique nature of classroom environments. Based on the PCA results, 20 items were removed from the CEQ. Cronbach's alpha and correlation analysis indicated that most CEQ subsections had acceptable internal consistency (alpha range 0.70–0.82), with four subsections demonstrating a lower level of internal consistency (alpha range 0.55–0.69). Conclusion: Preliminary structural validity and internal consistency analysis findings confirm that the CEQ has potential to be a useful scale for professionals wishing to examine the unique characteristics of primary school classrooms that influence the occupational performance of students. Ongoing analyses will be undertaken to further explore the CEQ's validity and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Children may have a foundational role in efforts to raise community awareness about dementia. There is some qualitative work with children with a relative with dementia, but little work into the insights of children as general citizens without affected family. One issue is an absence of measurement tools; thus the study aimed to design and pilot a psychometrically sound self-report measure of dementia attitudes for children. Method: Using a multi-staged scale development process, stakeholder and expert input informed a 52-item Kids Insight into Dementia Survey (KIDS). After a pretest of KIDS with 21 Australian schoolchildren aged 10-12 years, exploratory factor analysis and reliability and validity testing were run on a revised KIDS with data from 203 similar-aged schoolchildren. Results: The KIDS was reduced from 52 to 14 items, and a three-factor solution identified: ‘Personhood,’ ‘Stigma,’ and ‘Dementia Understanding.’ A strong positive correlation with an adult measure of dementia attitudes (r =.76) and a moderate positive correlation with a child measure of attitudes towards older adults (r =.47) indicated good concurrent validity. Internal consistency of.83 indicated good reliability. Conclusion: Results support the use of KIDS as a tool to measure children's insight into dementia, and to evaluate dementia education initiatives targeting the youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food service staff are integral to delivery of quality food in aged care homes yet measurement of their satisfaction is unable to be performed due to an absence of a valid and reliable questionnaire. The aim of this study was to develop and perform psychometric testing for a new Food Service Satisfaction Questionnaire developed in Australia specifically for use by food service staff working in residential aged care homes (Flinders FSSQFSAC).Methods: A mixed methods design utilizing both a qualitative (in-depth interviews, focus groups) and a quantitative approach (cross sectional survey) was used. Content validity was determined from focus groups and interviews with food service staff currently working in aged care homes, related questionnaires from the literature and consultation with an expert panel. The questionnaire was tested for construct validity and internal consistency using data from food service staff currently working in aged care homes that responded to an electronic invitation circulated to Australian aged care homes using a national database of email addresses. Construct validity was tested via principle components analysis and internal consistency through Cronbach’s alpha. Temporal stability of the questionnaire was determined from food service staff undertaking the Flinders FSSQFSAC on two occasions, two weeks apart, and analysed using Pearson’s correlations.Results: Content validity for the Flinders FSSQFSAC was established from a panel of experts and stakeholders. Principle components analysis revealed food service staff satisfaction was represented by 61-items divided into eight domains: job satisfaction (α=0.832), food quality (α=0.871), staff training (α=0.922), consultation (α=0.840), eating environment (α=0.777), reliability (α=0.695), family expectations (α=0.781) and resident relationships (α=0.429), establishing construct validity in all domains, and internal consistency in all (α>0.5) except for “resident relationships” (α=0.429). Test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.276 to 0.826 dependent on domain, with test-retest reliability established in seven domains at r>0.4; an exception was “reliability” at r=0.276.Conclusions: The newly developed Flinders FSSQFSAC has acceptable validity and reliability and thereby the potential to measure satisfaction of food service staff working in residential aged care homes, identify areas for strategic change, measure improvements and in turn, improve the satisfaction and quality of life of both food service staff and residents of aged care homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate the factor structure of the newly developed Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (AEBQ) (Hunot et al., Appetite 105:356-63, 2016) in an Australian sample, and examine associations between the four food approach and four food avoidance appetitive traits with body mass index (BMI). Methods: Participants (N = 998) recruited between May and October 2016 via a university research participation scheme and online social network sites completed an online version of the AEBQ and self-reported demographic and anthropometric data. Of the sample, 84.8% were females, 29.6% had completed a university degree and the overall mean age was 24.32 years (SD = 8.32). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test three alternative factor structures (derived from issues raised in the original development study): the original 8 factor model, a 7 factor model with Food Responsiveness and Hunger scales combined, and a 7 factor model with the Hunger scale removed. Results: The CFA revealed that the original 8 factor model was a better fit to the data than the 7 factor model in which Food Responsiveness and Hunger scales were combined. However, while reliability estimates for 7 of the 8 scales were good (Cronbach's a between 0.70-0.86), the reliability of the Hunger scale was modest (0.67) and dropping this factor resulted in a good fitting model. All food avoidance scales (except Food Fussiness) were negatively associated with body mass index (BMI) whereas Emotional Overeating was the only food approach scale positively associated with BMI. Conclusions: The study supports the use of the AEBQ as a reliable and valid measure of food approach and avoidance appetitive traits in adults. Longitudinal studies that examine continuity and stability of appetitive traits across the lifespan will be facilitated by the addition of this measurement tool to the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the validation of the Chinese versions of the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), the short form of Stigma of Suicide Scale (SOSS), and the short form of Literacy of Suicide Scale (LOSS) among 57 Chinese and English bilinguals and 224 Chinese university students. All the translated scales showed high correlations with the original versions. The translated SIDAS and refined SOSS demonstrated robust factor structures, good internal consistency, and convergent validity. Chinese students with self-reported depression symptoms tended to have higher glorification of suicide and lower suicide literacy. These brief scales fill an important gap in evaluating suicide outcomes in Chinese-speaking societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursing students have reported bioscience to be challenging and difficult to understand. This might have a negative impact upon their ability to understand patients' clinical conditions and nursing practice. We sought information about students' experiences with bioscience. A total of 126 final year nursing students completed a questionnaire. The findings showed that the majority of participants considered bioscience subjects to require more work compared to nursing subjects (65.9%), and that they would like a better understanding of bioscience (73.8%), but understood that bioscience forms the foundation of nursing practice (76.2%). Younger participants without secondary school science rated bioscience harder than nursing subjects and spent more time studying bioscience compared to older participants. Participants without any secondary school science lacked an ability to apply bioscience concepts to patient conditions. These results showed that nursing students, especially those without secondary school science, would benefit from improved bioscience integration with nursing practice. Nursing and bioscience educators should consider greater alignment of bioscience with nursing practice subjects, especially earlier in the curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preschool children's knowledge of, and preference for food and physical activity play an important role in the development of lifestyle behaviors throughout childhood. Valid and reliable instruments that are interactive and appealing to preschool children are needed, to obtain quality information in a way that actively engages children and encourages willing participation. The purpose of the current research is to assess the reliability and validity of an adapted computerized (iPad) version of the photo-pair food and exercise questionnaire (PPFEQ). Methods: The adaptation of the PPFEQ involved generating the questionnaire as an iPad-based tool, updating the photo-pairs within the questionnaire and testing for validity and reliability. This involved four phases of investigation to assess test-retest reliability, internal consistency, sensitivity to change and percent agreement of the questionnaire. Results: The adaption of the PPFEQ resulted in an 18-item questionnaire, titled the preschool food and play questionnaire (Pre-FPQ). The Pre-FPQ demonstrated acceptable reliability and sensitivity to change. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency improved with age, however,itwasevidentthatthetoolwasnotsuitablefor children younger than 4 years of age. Conclusions: Children encounter a dynamic world that shapes their knowledge, preferences, choices and behaviors. The Pre-FPQ is an innovative tool to measure preschool children's knowledge of and preference for food and physical activity. The questionnaire offers the advantage of being presented in a well-received modality for preschool children as well as being easy and inexpensive to administer. This new tool is likely to be useful for the assessment of the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle programs implemented in the childcare setting. Future work is needed to refine and improve measures of physical activity preference in preschool children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Interpersonal Psychological Theory of suicide proposes that the interaction between Thwarted Belongingness, Perceived Burdensomeness, and Acquired Capability for Suicide (ACS) predicts proximal risk of death by suicide. Instruments to assess all three constructs are available. However, research on the validity of one of them, the acquired capability for suicide scale (ACSS), has been limited, especially in terms of its clinical relevance. This study aimed to explore the utility of the different versions of the ACSS in clinical assessment. Three versions of the scale were investigated, the full 20-item version, a 7-item version and a single item version representing self-perceived capability for suicide. In a sample of patients recruited from a clinic specialising in the treatment of suicidality and in a community sample, all versions of the ACSS were found to show reasonable levels of reliability and to correlate as expected with reports of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and attempted suicide. The item assessing self-perceived acquired capacity for suicide showed highest correlations with all levels of suicidal behaviour. However, no version of the ACSS on its own showed a capacity to indicate suicide attempts in the combined sample. It is concluded that the versions of the scale have construct validity, but their clinical utility is limited. An assessment using a single item on self-perceived ACS outperforms the full and shortened versions of ACSS in clinical settings and can be recommended with caution for clinicians interested in assessing this characteristic. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of the study was to describe the validity of parent's self-reported responses to questions on home safety practices for children of 2–4 years. A cross-sectional validation study compared parent's self-administered responses to items in the Home Injury Prevention Survey with home observations undertaken by trained researchers. The relationship between the questionnaire and observation results was assessed using percentage agreement, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and intraclass correlation coefficients. Percentage agreements ranged from 44% to 100% with 40 of the total 45 items scoring higher than 70%. Sensitivities ranged from 0% to 100%, with 27 items scoring at least 70%. Specificities also ranged from 0% to 100%, with 33 items scoring at least 70%. As such, the study identified a series of self-administered home safety questions that have sensitivities, specificities and predictive values sufficiently high to allow the information to be useful in research and injury prevention practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: This Phase I trial reports the results of a clinician-free Internet speech restructuring treatment for adults who stutter. The program consists of nine phases with concepts loosely based on the Camperdown Program. Method: Twenty adults who stutter were recruited. They were given unlimited access to the program for 6 months. Primary outcome measures were the percentage of syllables stuttered and self-reported severity ratings. Result: Five participants accessed all phases of the program, while another five accessed more than half the phases. The remaining 10 accessed between one and four phases. Four of five participants who accessed all phases reduced their stuttering frequency by more than 50% and an additional two participants who accessed more than half the phases also achieved similar reductions. These results were confirmed by self-reports of stuttering severity. Stuttering reductions were largely commensurate with the amount of the program accessed. Conclusion: As with other clinician-free programs in related health areas, maintaining adherence to the program's procedures was a significant issue. Nonetheless, this novel approach to treating stuttering has the potential to be a viable alternative for some clients and may help to address the significant access and relapse issues that affect treatment provision for adults who stutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Feeding practices are commonly examined as potentially modifiable determinants of children's eating behaviours and weight status. Although a variety of questionnaires exist to assess different feeding aspects, many lack thorough reliability and validity testing. The Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire (FPSQ) is a tool designed to measure early feeding practices related to non-responsive feeding and structure of the meal environment. Face validity, factorial validity, internal reliability and cross-sectional correlations with children's eating behaviours have been established in mothers with 2-year-old children. The aim of the present study was to further extend the validity of the FPSQ by examining factorial, construct and predictive validity, and stability. Methods: Participants were from the NOURISH randomised controlled trial which evaluated an intervention with first-time mothers designed to promote protective feeding practices. Maternal feeding practices (FP) and child eating behaviours were assessed when children were aged 2 years and 3.7 years (n = 388). Confirmatory Factor analysis, group differences, predictive relationships, and stability were tested. Results: The original 9-factor structure was confirmed when children were aged 3.7 ± 0.3 years. Cronbach's alpha was above the recommended 0.70 cut-off for all factors except Structured Meal Timing, Over Restriction and Distrust in Appetite which were 0.58, 0.67 and 0.66 respectively. Allocated group differences reflected behaviour consistent with intervention content and all feeding practices were stable across both time points (range of r = 0.45-0.70). There was some evidence for the predictive validity of factors with 2 FP showing expected relationships, 2 FP showing expected and unexpected relationships and 5 FP showing no relationship. Conclusions: Reliability and validity was demonstrated for most subscales of the FPSQ. Future validation is warranted with culturally diverse samples and with fathers and other caregivers. The use of additional outcomes to further explore predictive validity is recommended as well as testing test-retest reliability of the questionnaire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undergraduate psychology students have been largely excluded from interprofessional education (IPE) initiatives. In contrast to many health professions, undergraduate psychology students do not engage in work placements as part of their degree, and many enter careers outside the health care context. However, the collaborative skills gained through an IPE experience may well be beneficial to students who work in this wider context. This research examines whether undergraduate psychology students' views of IPE vary according to their planned career directions, and if so, whether the perceived relevance of IPE mediates the relationships. A sample of 188 Australian university undergraduate psychology students completed an online questionnaire following completion of a first-year IPE health sciences program. Path analysis indicated that psychology students' attitudes towards IPE are associated with both professional identification and practitioner orientation, fully mediated through the perceived relevance of IPE to future career and study plans. Stronger professional identification and practitioner orientation were associated with greater perceived relevance and more positive and less negative attitudes towards IPE. Placing a stronger emphasis on the generalizability of IP skills taught may increase students' awareness of the relevance outside of the health context, reducing disengagement of students planning alternative careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Difficulties with emotion regulation is considered an important maintaining factor of disordered eating. One of the most commonly used measures of this construct is the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). The aim of this study was to explore the factor structure of this measure in young females and to examine its reliability and validity with respect to disordered eating. Method Females aged 17-25 years ( M age = 19.6 years, N = 486) were examined in the analyses. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted followed by regression analyses examining the DERS subscales as predictors of eating disorder severity and disordered eating behaviors. Results The original 6-factor 36-item model did not fit well and analyses indicated a 6-factor 30-item solution was a more suitable fit for our population. Validity and reliability of the 30-item solution were found to be acceptable. Regression analyses also indicated the 36- and 30-item models were able to adequately predict eating disorder severity and disordered eating behaviors with the 'Awareness' and 'Goals' subscales being predictors of the former, and the 'Impulsivity' subscale being a significant predictor of the latter. Discussion The overall findings suggest that an abbreviated version of the DERS might be more appropriate than the original version with young females and that this measure exhibits stronger relationships with eating disorder severity and disordered eating behaviors than the longer version. Further examinations of the psychometric properties of the DERS with clinical populations are indicated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:630-639) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying toddlers at dietary risk is crucial for determining who requires intervention to improve dietary patterns and reduce health consequences. The objectives of the present study were to develop a simple tool that assesses toddlers' dietary risk and investigate its reliability and validity. The nineteen-item Toddler Dietary Questionnaire (TDQ) is informed by dietary patterns observed in Australian children aged 14 (n 552) and 24 (n 493) months and the Australian dietary guidelines. It assesses the intake of ‘core’ food groups (e.g. fruit, vegetables and dairy products) and ‘non-core’ food groups (e.g. high-fat, high-sugar and/or high-salt foods and sweetened beverages) over the previous 7 d, which is then scored against a dietary risk criterion (0–100; higher score = higher risk). Parents of toddlers aged 12–36 months (Socio-Economic Index for Areas decile range 5–9) were asked to complete the TDQ for their child (n 111) on two occasions, 3·2 (sd 1·8) weeks apart, to assess test–retest reliability. They were also asked to complete a validated FFQ from which the risk score was calculated and compared with the TDQ-derived risk score (relative validity). Mean scores were highly correlated and not significantly different for reliability (intra-class correlation = 0·90, TDQ1 30·2 (sd 8·6) v. TDQ2 30·9 (sd 8·9); P= 0·14) and validity (r 0·83, average TDQ ((TDQ1+TDQ2)/2) 30·5 (sd 8·4) v. FFQ 31·4 (sd 8·1); P= 0·05). All the participants were classified into the same (reliability 75 %; validity 79 %) or adjacent (reliability 25 %; validity 21 %) risk category (low (0–24), moderate (25–49), high (50–74) and very high (75–100)). Overall, the TDQ is a valid and reliable screening tool for identifying at-risk toddlers in relatively advantaged samples. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims To explore the complex relationships between nurses' personal resources, job satisfaction and 'customer' (patient) orientation. Background Previous research has shown that nursing is highly intensive, emotionally charged work, which affects nurses' job performance and their customer orientation as well as patient or 'customer' satisfaction. This study contributes to the literature by examining how nurses' personal resources relate to their personal satisfaction and customer orientation and the relationships between them. Specifically, this study explores the effects of two facets of emotional labour (deep acting and surface acting), empathic concern, self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion on personal job satisfaction and customer orientation. We also test the moderating effects of inauthenticity and emotional contagion. Design A quantitative survey. Method Data were collected through a self-completion questionnaire administered to a sample of 159 Australian nurses, in a public teaching hospital, in 2010. The data were analysed using Partial Least Square analysis. Results Partial Least Square analysis indicates that the final model is a good fit to the data (Goodness of Fit = 0·51). Deep acting and surface acting have different effects (positive and negative) on job satisfaction and 'customer' orientation, self-efficacy has a positive effect on both and emotional exhaustion has a positive effect on customer orientation and a negative effect on job satisfaction. The moderating effects of emotional contagion and empathic concern, in the final model, are discussed. Conclusions Understanding the complex interactions between personal resources, job satisfaction and customer orientation helps to increase service providers' (nurses in this study) personal satisfaction and 'customer' orientation particularly in difficult contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Clinical teaching in the ED is crucial to the education of medical students. We attempted to identify and describe Australian emergency physicians who are currently clinical teachers and to elicit the factors that motivate and constrain them to teach. Methods An online survey was emailed to all Advanced Trainee and Emergency Physician (Fellow) members of the ACEM. Results Our response rate was 28%. The 639 survey respondents were broadly representative of the total ACEM membership in level of training, gender and geographic distribution across all Australian states and territories. Although only 30% of survey respondents had a university teaching position, 74% were actively teaching medical students. Ninety per cent of all respondents agreed they would either commence teaching or increase the amount of time they contributed if they had protected teaching time. Other important facilitators were feelings of personal satisfaction and receiving continuing medical education credits. Written comments were received from 162 respondents. Qualitative analysis identified three main themes: personal, systemic and university-related factors. Systemic and university factors were most frequently cited as barriers to teaching, whereas personal factors were motivators. Conclusions Although most emergency physicians are willing to teach, systemic and university factors associated with teaching medical students acted against success of this outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous Australians have been known to be disadvantaged in many ways although higher art and physical self-concepts have been reported with Indigenous samples. Given recent research demonstrating the reciprocal effects of achievement and self-concept in academic domains, Indigenous students may experience further disadvantages in both academic performance and self-concept. A sample of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students (N = 1,342) from schools in New South Wales (NSW), Australia were asked to respond to a survey measuring: five domains of self-concept (i.e., school, reading, mathematics, art, and physical abilities), two learning-related factors (enjoyment and participation), and a self-assessment of their school work. Their scores in a NSW state-wide assessment of students’ literacy and numeracy were also obtained. Confirmatory factor analysis established the self-concept and learning-related factors. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) using a 2 (identity: Indigenous vs. Non-Indigenous) × 2 (region: urban vs. rural) design found significant effects of identity for all variables except for art self-concept. That is, non-Indigenous students scored higher than Indigenous students in literacy and numeracy tests, self-concepts, learning-related factors, and self-ratings of school work, irrespective of region. The results did not support previous research demonstrating a relatively higher art self-concept for Indigenous children based on stereotypical perspectives. These results imply that school personnel would be well advised to not assume stereotypic differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian students or assume a great difference between Indigenous students from urban and rural school settings. However, there seems to be a need for improving the school environment so as to promote Indigenous students’ performance and enjoyment of school life. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Working with terminally ill patients places palliative care and hospice nurses at risk of chronic stress, mental health problems and burnout. Aim: This study investigated the source and level of workplace stress experienced by palliative care nurses in Australia. Methods: Seventy-one palliative care nurses completed a self-report questionnaire based on the Nurse Stress Index and the Nursing Stress Scale. Information was collected about aspects of work-related stress and level of stress. Results: While the overall level of participants' stress was low, older participants experienced significantly less stress than younger participants. More than 50% of participants experienced 48 of the 53 stressors. The main sources of stress related to 'death and dying', 'workload' and 'dealing with patients and relatives'. The two stressors experienced by all participants were 'watching a patient suffer' and 'dealing with patient and family conflict'. Conclusions: These findings have implications for managers, educators and policymakers in relation to adequate nurse-to-patient ratios, education for staff and an evaluation of how palliative care nurses are supported in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the variation in levels of bonding social capital experienced by individual churchgoers, drawing on data generated by the Australian National Church Life Survey, and employing a five-item measure of church-related bonding social capital. Data provided by 2065 Australian churchgoers are used to test the thesis that individual differences in bonding social capital are related to a psychological model of psychological types (employing the Jungian distinctions). The data demonstrated that higher levels of bonding social capital were found among extraverts (compared with introverts), among intuitive types (compared with sensing types) and among feeling types (compared with thinking types), but no significant differences were found between judging types and perceiving types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment is a significant problem in Australia. Psychologists in a wide range of occupations play an important role in the identification and prevention of child abuse and neglect, the provision of interventions to children and families, and the development and conduct of research in related areas. Psychology graduates must be adequately prepared to work in this field; however, little is known about the extent to which child abuse and neglect related contents are taught in current university curricula. A purpose-developed curriculum-mapping survey was used to examine Australian undergraduate, fourth year, and postgraduate Australian Psychology Accreditation Council-accredited programmes available in 2008. Results showed that students in the majority of programmes were exposed to child protection-related content; however, the extent of exposure was limited. Three postgraduate units specifically addressed the prevention, identification, and response to child abuse and neglect. Course coordinators reported that child maltreatment content was mostly integrated into general units throughout the programme, typically within developmental psychology units in the undergraduate curriculum and in ethics, research, or professional issues units in the fourth year and postgraduate programmes. Results suggest the need for child protection content to be included in minimum national standards and accreditation guidelines for universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The issue of transition from student to practitioner of Chinese medicine (CM) in Australia and other Western countries has received little formal attention. Workforce studies, while not up to date nationally in Australia, suggest that the majority of CM practitioners practice as sole practitioners or in small practices. Data from the state of Victoria suggest that a significant proportion of the CM workforce is relatively new to the profession. It is not known how many graduates successfully enter the workforce and importantly, remain in it. Objectives: An initial survey of final-year bachelor degree CM students in Australian education institutions in 2008 suggested that students felt 'somewhat' prepared for clinical practice in eight dimensions of clinical practice. The authors conducted a follow-up study to this initial one, seeking to investigate perceptions of confidence in CM graduates in various aspects of clinical practice within the first year of completing their degree. Methods: A content-validated survey based on the previous study was distributed to a subset of 30 graduates from the original study cohort who had indicated a willingness to participate in this follow-up survey. Results: There were a small number of responses ( n=12), limiting the usefulness of the quantitative questions. However, some interesting qualitative outcomes from the long-answer part of the survey support findings from the previous study that recent practitioners would like more clinical experience, as well as support in developing their business and interpersonal skills, and the option to participate in a professional mentoring arrangement. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that both education providers and professional associations may be able to play important and complementary roles in assisting CM students to successfully transition into the workforce. If CM is to continue to develop as a profession in Australia, it will be important that more attention be given to how to assist new graduates to successfully transition into and remain in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study related to evaluation of a team-based approach to research capacity building using a matched-pairs study design. A non-randomized matched-pairs trial design was used to evaluate the impact of a multi-strategy research capacity building intervention. Four intervention teams recruited from one health service district were compared with four control teams from outside the district, matched on service role and approximate size.