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Objective: The aims of this paper were to report on the global psychosocial functioning of 5-year-old DHH children and examine the risk and protective factors that predict outcomes. Design: A cross-sectional analysis of data collected from a prospective, population-based longitudinal study. Study sample: Parents/caregivers of 356 children completed questionnaires on psychosocial development (CDI, SDQ), functional communication (PEACH) and demographic information. Children completed standardized assessments of non-verbal cognitive ability (WNV) and language (PLS-4). Results: On average, global psychosocial functioning was within the range of typically developing children; however, variability was high and 12% of children had scores that were more than 2 SDs below the norm. Non-verbal cognitive ability, presence of additional disabilities, language and functional communication significantly predicted outcomes. In contrast, type of hearing device, severity of hearing loss and age at intervention did not. Conclusion: The global psychosocial functioning of this cohort of 5-year-old DHH children fell within the range of typically developing children. The findings suggest that spoken language ability and functional communication skills are vital for healthy psychosocial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This paper describes the effects of a maternity consumer representative training program on participants' confidence to fulfil this role and engagement in representative activities. Methods. The present study was a descriptive, pre-post evaluation design with a 3-month follow-up. Fifty-eight people completed the program and 55 agreed to participate in the evaluation. Participants completed questionnaires to assess confidence to undertake consumer representative roles and reported on their engagement with consumer activities. Results. Participants' perceived confidence to function in the role of consumer representative differed significantly before and after the workshop (F(2,18) = 7.057, P < 0.001), as did confidence in decision making (F (2,16) = 7.615, P = 0.005), confidence in negotiating outcomes and liaising with key people (F(2,18) = 7.154, P = 0.005), and confidence in making use of relevant networks (F (2,18) = 4.319, P = 0.029). There was a decline in confidence at 3 months, with confidence at this time no longer significantly different from that at the time of recruitment. Engagement with consumer organisations increased by 45% compared with rates at commencement of the project. Conclusions. The program enhanced participants' confidence to fulfil a maternity consumer representative role but was not sustained. Further research is needed as to how to best support maternity consumer representatives and assess their contribution to promoting woman-centred care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: To meet rising clinical placement demand caused by increasing health student numbers, the use of paired (two students) rather than single (one student) placement models has been proposed. There is, however, limited research available to inform placement providers about the relative effects of both models on healthcare services, including patient‐ and non‐patient‐related activities and patient occasions of service. Aims: To investigate a key clinical question: Does clinical educator (supervisor) and student time use differ during paired placements compared with single placements? Also to examine the satisfaction levels of clinical educators (CEs) and students with paired and single clinical placement models. Methods & Procedures: Queensland Health speech and language therapists (N = 44) and speech and language therapy students (N = 32) involved in paired or single clinical placements were recruited for this study. CEs and students completed time‐use surveys for 3 days after the midpoint of placements; CEs also completed surveys for 3 matched days during a non‐placement period 3 weeks or more following placements for comparative purposes. CEs and students additionally completed a satisfaction survey at the end of placements. Paired and single CE and student groups were compared for differences in their time‐use and satisfaction levels using non‐parametric statistics. Outcomes & Results: The placement model did not impact on occasions of service provided by CEs (p = 0.931) or students (p = 0.776). It also had no effect on the percentage of time CEs or students engaged in patient‐related activities (p = 0.577; 0.291) and non‐patient‐related activities (p = 0.559; 0.177). On clinical placement days, CEs spent a median 10 minutes longer at work regardless of whether or not it was a paired or single placement, compared with non‐placement days (p = 0.107). CEs and students who had been involved in a paired placement reported the same high levels of placement satisfaction (various measures) as those who had been involved in a single placement. Conclusions & Implications: The paired‐placement model has the potential to increase student placement offers without negatively impacting on clinical service provision including occasions of service, patient or non‐patient‐related activities, or overall CE time spent at work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Structural equation modelling tested hypothesized causal relationships between age, gender, pain, depression, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, functional status and quality of life in older Australians postorthopaedics surgery across three stages of their rehabilitation. Background Self-efficacy is important in forming personal beliefs about capabilities to perform functional activities, which is believed to maintain individual's quality of life. Research examining how efficacy beliefs influence functional status in older people following orthopaedic events is limited. Design A descriptive, longitudinal method was used for this study. Methods A convenience sample of 101 older people with orthopaedic surgery to lower extremities was recruited from private rehabilitation units in Brisbane, Australia. Data were collected from September 2008-November 2009. Standardized questionnaires were used to measure efficacy beliefs, functional status, and quality of life. Results Structural equation modelling revealed that depression, efficacy beliefs, age, and gender significantly influenced quality of life, as self-efficacy and gender have a direct relationship on functional status. Across three stages in the model, outcome expectation at stage 2 was the most significant predictor of functional recovery after discharge. Older men with higher quality of life at admission was positively related to self-efficacy and negatively associated with depression at stage 2: quality of life influenced outcome expectations and pain positively at stage 3. Conclusion Rehabilitation programmes play a significant role in assisting older people in resuming functional activities and quality of life following orthopaedic surgery. Enhancing self-efficacy may facilitate older people's participation and adher-ence to rehabilitation programmes during hospitalization and following discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To test the effect of a nurse-led intervention on weight gain in people with serious mental illness prescribed and taking second generation antipsychotic medication. Background Weight gain and obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the general population with the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome reaching 20-25% of the global population. People with serious mental illness are at even higher risk, particularly those taking second generation antipsychotic medication. Design An experimental randomized controlled trial was undertaken. Method The control group received a 12-week healthy lifestyle booklet. In addition to the booklet, the intervention group received weekly nutrition and exercise education, exercise sessions, and nurse support. Participants ( n = 101) were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Data were collected between March 2008-December 2010. Seven outcome measures were used: body measurements included girth (cm), weight (kg), height (cm), and body mass index (kg/m2); questionnaires included the medication compliance questionnaire, the Drug Attitude Inventory, the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36. Differences in primary outcome measures between baseline and 12 weeks follow-up were compared between intervention and control groups using standard bi-variate statistical tests. The study was conducted between 2008-2010. Results The analysis of outcome measures for the control group ( n = 50) and intervention group ( n = 51) was not statistically significant. There was a mean weight change of −0·74 kg at 12 weeks for the intervention group ( n = 51), while the control group ( n = 50) had a mean weight change of −0·17 kg at 12 weeks. Conclusion The results were not statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The present study examined junior residents' and registrars' preparedness to prescribe in an Australian ED. It measured the medication knowledge of participants and identified antecedent factors relevant to prescribing practice. Methods This is a prospective, exploratory study of the prescribing practices of 40 junior doctors. Data collection consisted of a participant questionnaire with three parts. Part A comprised demographic information; Part B comprised questions regarding prescribing practices; and Part C was an objective assessment of the doctor's knowledge of the most recently and most commonly prescribed medications. Results One hundred percent ( n = 40) of doctors in the study had inadequate knowledge about at least one medication when an accuracy threshold of <80% correct was used. Seventy percent ( n = 28) of the participants had inadequate knowledge of at least one medication when the lower accuracy threshold of <50% correct was used. Comparisons between medication knowledge score and Likert confidence scales showed that even though a doctor reported being completely sure about an individual medication, they most commonly only answered between four and six of the eight questions correctly for that medication. Their use of reference materials was also lacking in relation to their knowledge and level of confidence. The reported reasons for this included instructions by senior staff and time constraints. Conclusions The majority of participants in the study had inadequate knowledge on medications they had most recently prescribed and medications most commonly prescribed in the ED. Junior doctors' perceptions of their medication knowledge were inflated in relation to their actual knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

chaboyer w., ringdal m., aitken l. & kendall e. (2012) Self-care after traumatic injury and the use of the therapeutic self-care scale in trauma populations. Journal of Advanced Nursing 69(2), 286-294 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06005.x. Abstract Aims. To report a correlational study of the relationship between gender, age, severity of injury, length of hospital stay and self-care behaviour in patients with traumatic injuries. Background. This study may provide a foundation for targeted nursing intervention and education programmes to help patients better recover from their injury, which is a fundamental aspect of nursing. Design. A longitudinal cohort study. Method. This study of patients hospitalized for traumatic injury was conducted from May 2006-November 2007. The Therapeutic Self Care Scale along with demographic and clinical data, were completed at 3 and 6 months after hospital discharge. Using data from the 3-month survey, the validity and reliability of the scale was calculated. Multiple regression was used to identify predictors of self-care at 3 and 6 months. Finding. Participants ( n = 125) completed the questionnaire at 3 months and 103 participants completed it at 6 months. Self-care was high on both occasions and high self-care at 3 months was related to high self-care at 6 months. Older participants reported higher self-care at 3 months compared with younger patients. Factor analysis of the scale revealed three clear components; taking medication, recognition and managing symptoms and managing changes in health conditions, which explained a total of 59·8% of the variance. The 10-item revised scale was reliable. Conclusion. The findings indicate that self-care remains fairly high and stable in the first 6 months after trauma. The revised Therapeutic Self Care Scale was valid and reliable in the trauma population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]