Showing papers by "Australian Catholic University published in 2009"
TL;DR: A review of the literature on managing diversity through human resource management (HRM) is presented in this article, where the authors discuss the major issues and objectives of managing diversity and examine the state of human resource diversity management practices in organizations.
Abstract: This paper critically reviews the literature on managing diversity through human resource management (HRM). We discuss the major issues and objectives of managing diversity and examine the state of human resource diversity management practices in organizations. Our review shows that inequality and discrimination still widely exist and HRM has focused mainly on compliance with equal employment opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action (AA) legislation. Less attention has been paid to valuing, developing and making use of diversity. Our review reveals limited literature examining how diversity is managed in organizations through effective human resource management. We develop a framework that presents strategies for HR diversity management at the strategic, tactical and operational levels. Our review also discusses the implications for practice and further research.
397 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that future interventions should address issues of ‘surplus safety’ at individual, school, system, and policy levels.
Abstract: School playgrounds offer everyday opportunities for physically active and social play that combats obesity, develops skills, and promotes well‐being. However, teachers’ fear of the legal consequences of injury can elicit over‐zealous risk reduction with the result that playgrounds lack challenge, and the potential benefits of play become limited. In this research, we trialled a simple, cost‐effective strategy to encourage children to be more active and social on a school playground. Over 11 weeks, we made available materials with no fixed purpose (e.g. car tires, boxes) to a playground of children aged five to seven. Accelerometers showed children became significantly more active. Interviews with teachers suggested children also became more social, creative, and resilient. However, despite no incidence of injuries, teachers perceived an increased risk and encountered dilemmas regarding duty of care. We conclude that future interventions should address issues of ‘surplus safety’ at individual, school, syst...
159 citations
TL;DR: Gait is symmetrical in healthy children and young adults but may change with pathology, and may not be mature by age 13, while footwear significantly affected gait.
154 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify and discuss the relationship between corporate governance and risk management of high technology firms, with publicly listed Australian biotechnology companies as a case in point, and present a governance structure that better manages the numerous complex risks such companies face.
Abstract: Manuscript Type: Conceptual
Research Question/Issue: In this paper we identify and discuss the relationship between corporate governance and risk management of high technology firms, with publicly listed Australian biotechnology companies as a case in point. We present a governance structure that better manages the numerous complex risks such companies face.
Research Findings/Insights: Audit committees are traditionally responsible for oversight of auditing matters relating to the company's financial systems and risk management relating to financial reporting. While the audit committee needs to have a full understanding of the risk management system in order to be able to assess the overall risk profile of the company we illustrate that the complex risk and regulatory environment high technology firms face may necessitate the creation of a separate risk management committee to interface with and assist the board and audit committee.
Theoretical/Academic Implications: We provide evidence that the traditional governance model is inadequate in today's complex business environment, particularly for high technology companies. By analyzing the legislative, industry, and complex risk environment faced by these firms, we posit that the traditional model may need to change to meet the demands of a wider definition of governance that specifically incorporates risk management.
Practitioner/Policy Implications: Against a backdrop of corporate collapse, increasing corporate regulation and reporting, risk management and oversight has been a recent addition to the role of the board. It is not inconceivable that capital market regulators may require reporting on risk management and the creation of a separate risk management in the future.
121 citations
TL;DR: Although cognitive function was added to the model in predicting both self-care maintenance and management, it was not a significant predictor of CHF self- care compared with other modifiable and nonmodifiable factors.
119 citations
TL;DR: Prospective memory performance is sensitive to prior methamphetamine use even well into abstinence, and methamphetamine users experience generalized difficulties with prospective memory, suggesting that these deficits are likely to have important implications for day-to-day functioning.
Abstract: Considerable research indicates that methamphetamine use is associated with neurocognitive impairment, but no empirical study to date has assessed whether these difficulties extend to memory for future intentions (prospective memory). The present study assessed prospective performance on a laboratory measure of prospective memory that closely represents the types of prospective memory tasks that actually occur in everyday life and provides an opportunity to investigate the different sorts of prospective memory failures that occur (“Virtual Week”). Twenty adults with confirmed history of methamphetamine use and dependence, currently engaged in rehabilitation and confirmed to be abstinent for an average period of 6 months, and 20 methamphetamine-naive participants were tested on Virtual Week. Various other aspects of cognitive function were also assessed, including retrospective memory and executive functioning. Methamphetamine users were significantly impaired on Virtual Week, and these deficits did not vary as a function of specific prospective memory task demands. Of all the cognitive measures, cognitive inhibition shared greatest variance with group effects on the prospective memory measure. Prospective memory performance is sensitive to prior methamphetamine use even well into abstinence. Methamphetamine users experience generalized difficulties with prospective memory, suggesting that these deficits are likely to have important implications for day-to-day functioning.
117 citations
TL;DR: Interventions aimed at improving self-care are greatly needed in both the developed and the developing countries studied, and determinants differed for the three types of self- care.
117 citations
TL;DR: Performance on the measures of facial affect recognition and ToM were related to general cognitive functioning, and in particular, measures sensitive to executive dysfunction and information processing speed.
Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a white matter disease associated with neurocognitive difficulties. More recently the potential for white matter pathology to also disrupt important aspects of emotion understanding has been recognized. However, no study to date has assessed whether capacity for facial affect recognition and theory of mind (ToM) is disrupted in MS, or whether any observed deficits are related to more general cognitive impairment. In the present study MS participants (n = 27) and nonclinical controls (n = 30) were administered measures of facial affect recognition, ToM, and cognitive functioning. MS participants were significantly impaired on the ToM task, and also presented with specific deficits decoding facial emotions of anger and fear. Performance on the measures of facial affect recognition and ToM were related to general cognitive functioning, and in particular, measures sensitive to executive dysfunction and information processing speed. These data highlight the need for future research to more fully delineate the extent and implications of emotion understanding difficulties in this population.
115 citations
TL;DR: The involvement of European intensive care nurses in EOL care discussions and decisions is reasonably consistent with many engaged in initiating dialogue with coworkers.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Available literature suggests that critical care nurses have varied experiences in relation to end-of-life (EOL) care. Few studies have examined the involvement of European intensive care nurses' involvement in EOL care decisions and the extent to which their nursing practice is based on shared beliefs, experiences and attitudes. AIM: To investigate experiences and attitudes of European intensive care nurses regarding EOL care. METHODS: Using a survey method, delegates (n = 419) attending an international critical care nursing conference were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire about their involvement with EOL care practices. The questionnaire composed of 45 items and was available in three European languages. RESULTS: A total of 164 questionnaires were completed, yielding a response rate of 39%. The majority of respondents (91.8%) indicated direct involvement in EOL patient care, while 73.4% reported active involvement in decision-making process. 78.6% of respondents expressed commitment to family involvement in EOL decisions, however only 59.3% of the participants said that this was routinely undertaken (p < 0.0005, Z = -4.778). In decisions to withdraw or withhold therapy, 65% would decrease the flow of inspired oxygen, 98.8% provide continuous pain relief and 91.3% endorse open visiting. The majority (78%) disagreed that dying patients should be transferred to a single room. A division of views was observed in relation to 44% agreeing that patients should be kept deeply sedated and equal numbers contesting the continuation of nutritional support (41.6% versus 42.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The involvement of European intensive care nurses in EOL care discussions and decisions is reasonably consistent with many engaged in initiating dialogue with coworkers. In general, views and experiences of EOL care were similar, with the exception of the provision of nutrition and use of sedation. RELEVANCE TO PRACTICE: Use of formal guidelines and education may increase nurses' involvement and confidence with EOL decisions.
114 citations
TL;DR: This paper found that students who demonstrated the greatest success were likely to use benchmark (transitive) and residual thinking, and hypothesised that the methods of these successful students could form the basis of instructional approaches which may yield the kind of connected understanding required for the development of proportional reasoning in later years.
Abstract: As part of individual interviews incorporating whole number and rational number tasks, 323 grade 6 children in Victoria, Australia were asked to nominate the larger of two fractions for eight pairs, giving reasons for their choice. All tasks were expected to be undertaken mentally. The relative difficulty of the pairs was found to be close to that predicted, with the exception of fractions with the same numerators and different denominators, which proved surprisingly difficult. Students who demonstrated the greatest success were likely to use benchmark (transitive) and residual thinking. It is hypothesised that the methods of these successful students could form the basis of instructional approaches which may yield the kind of connected understanding promoted in various curriculum documents and required for the development of proportional reasoning in later years.
109 citations
TL;DR: The authors investigated classroom environment antecedent variables and student affective outcomes in Australian high schools and found that improving classroom environment has the potential to improve student outcomes, antecedents did not have any significant direct effect on outcomes, and academic efficacy mediated the effect of several classroom environment dimensions on attitude to subject and attitude to computer use.
Abstract: Research investigated classroom environment antecedent variables and student affective outcomes in Australian high schools. The Technology-Rich Outcomes-Focused Learning Environment Inventory (TROFLEI) was used to assess 10 classroom environment dimensions: student cohesiveness, teacher support, involvement, investigation, task orientation, cooperation, equity, differentiation, computer usage and young adult ethos. A sample of 4,146 high school students from Western Australia and Tasmania responded to the TROFLEI and three student outcome measures: attitude to the subject, attitude to computer use and academic efficacy. Confirmatory factor analysis using LISREL supported the 10 scale a priori structure of the instrument. Structural equation modeling using LISREL was used to test a postulated model involving antecedent variables, classroom environment and outcomes. The modeling indicated that: improving classroom environment has the potential to improve student outcomes, antecedents did not have any significant direct effect on outcomes, and academic efficacy mediated the effect of several classroom environment dimensions on attitude to subject and attitude to computer use.
TL;DR: The authors' results demonstrate less than satisfactory uptake of the nurse practitioner role despite authorisation, and barriers constraining nurse practitioner practice reduced but remained unacceptably high.
Abstract: A five-section questionnaire was mailed to all 234 authorised Australian nurse practitioners in late 2007. An 85% response rate was achieved (202 responses). Respondents had a mean age of 47.0 years and 84.2% were women. Only 145 nurse practitioners (72% of respondents) reported being employed in Australia at the time of the census. Emergency nurse practitioners were the most commonly employed nationally (26.9%). Nearly one third of employed nurse practitioners reported that they were still awaiting approval to prescribe medications despite this being a core legislated skill. Over 70% stated that lack of Medicare provider numbers and lack of authority to prescribe through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme was extremely limiting to their practice. These findings are consistent with the international literature describing establishment of reformative health care roles.
TL;DR: An overview of Virtual Week's characteristics is presented, and the literature relating to use of this measure in various populations reviewed in this article, and the potential implications of the development of a new computerised version of virtual week for clinical practice are discussed.
Abstract: It is now recognised that prospective memory (PM) failures are commonly observed in clinical groups, and have important implications for functional independence. However, well-validated measures of PM have traditionally been lacking, making this construct difficult to assess in clinical practice. Rendell and Craik's (2000) Virtual Week measure was developed as an indicator of PM, and has been shown to have good psychometric properties and be sensitive to the effects of normal and abnormal adult ageing, as well as various forms of pathology. In this article, an overview of Virtual Week's characteristics is presented, and the literature relating to use of this measure in various populations reviewed. The potential implications of the development of a new computerised version of Virtual Week for clinical practice are discussed.
TL;DR: Overweight children had stronger bones than did their normal-weight peers, largely because of greater muscle size, however, the overweight children had a high proportion of fat relative to muscle in the forearm, which is associated with reduced bone strength.
TL;DR: This paper examined the predictors of social distance from Muslims in a large sample of Australian secondary school children (N = 980) and found that having contact with outgroup members leads to reduced social distance to the outgroup, however perceived norms and outgroup perceptions play a pivotal role in explaining this relationship.
TL;DR: Only 2 reliable and valid tools have been developed to specifically measure chronic heart failure self-care, and further use of these instruments in the research arena may reduce gaps in the understanding of CHF self- care and further shape clinical practice directed at improving it.
Abstract: Background : Improved self-care skills and behaviors are an important outcome of patient education and counseling. Both researchers and health professionals need to utilize instruments that are reliable and valid at measuring this outcome to advance our understanding as to the efficacy of clinical practice directed toward improving self-care. Objective : The aim of this study was to identify instruments that measure chronic heart failure (CHF) self-care and demonstrate their psychometric properties. Methods : A search of Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, PsycArticles, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and PsycINFO databases elucidated studies published between January 1980 and February 2009 that measure CHF self-care. The clinical instruments selected were disease-specific measures of CHF self-care behaviors that are promoted in best practice guidelines. Only instruments that reported estimates of reliability and validity were included in this review. Psychometric properties of the instruments were evaluated according to practice guidelines. Results : The literature search identified 14 instruments published in peer-reviewed journals that measured constructs that predict or correlate to self-care rather than self-care itself. Only 2 disease-specific measures of self-care were identified (Self-care Heart Failure Index [SCHFI] and European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale [EHFScBS]) that have undergone rigorous psychometric testing in CHF populations. Five aspects of validity had been demonstrated with EHFScBS, and 6 aspects of validity had been demonstrated with SCHFI. Two of 3 aspects of reliability have been demonstrated in both instruments. Conclusion : Only 2 reliable and valid tools have been developed to specifically measure CHF self-care. Further use of these instruments in the research arena may reduce gaps in our understanding of CHF self-care and further shape clinical practice directed at improving it.
TL;DR: Results of effect sizes analyses showed repeated performances at high speeds were improved in this sample of well-trained netball players, and performance enhancing effects of compression garments were minimal.
TL;DR: Golfers with high GSCWC strength and perhaps greater bench press strength and longer arms may therefore be at a competitive advantage, as these characteristics allow the production of greater clubhead velocity and resulting ball displacement.
Abstract: The present study assessed the anthropometric profile (International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry protocol), flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance of 20 male golfers. These data were collected in order to determine: a) the relationship between these kinanthropometric measures and clubhead velocity; and b) if these measures could distinguish low-handicap (LHG) and high-handicap (HHG) golfers. Ten LHG (handicap of 0.3 ± 0.5) and 10 HHG (handicap of 20.3 ± 2.4) performed 10 swings for maximum velocity and accuracy with their own 5-iron golf club at a wall-mounted target. LHG hit the target significantly more (115%) and had a 12% faster clubhead velocity than HHG (p < 0.01). The LHG also had significantly (28%) greater golf swing-specific cable woodchop (GSCWC) strength (p < 0.01) and tendencies for greater (30%) bench press strength and longer (5%) upper am and total arm (4%) length and less (24%) right hip internal rotation than HHG (0.01 < p < 0.05). GSCWC strength was significantly correlated to clubhead velocity (p < 0.01), with bench press and hack squat strength as well as upper arm and total arm length also approaching significance (0.01 < p < 0.05). Golfers with high GSCWC strength and perhaps greater bench press strength and longer arms may therefore be at a competitive advantage, as these characteristics allow the production of greater clubhead velocity and resulting ball displacement. Such results have implications for golf talent identification programs and for the prescription and monitoring of golf conditioning programs. While golf conditioning programs may have many aims, specific trunk rotation exercises need to be included if increased clubhead velocity is the goal. Muscular hypertrophy development may not need to be emphasized as it could reduce golf performance by limiting range of motion and/or increasing moment of inertia.
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: The authors explored the phenomenon of resilience in the lives of adult patients of mental health services who have experienced mental illness and identified the following themes: Universality, acceptance, naming and knowing, faith, hope, being the fool and striking a balance, having meaning and meaningful relationships, and just doing it.
Abstract: Aim: This paper is a report of a study to explore the phenomenon of resilience in the lives of adult patients of mental health services who have experienced mental illness. ----------
Background: Mental illness is a major health concern worldwide, and the majority experiencing it will continue to battle with relapses throughout their lives. However, in many instances people go on to overcome their illness to lead productive and socially engaged lives. Contemporary mental health nursing practice primarily focuses on symptom reduction, and working with resilience has not generally been a consideration. ----------
Method: A descriptive phenomenological study was carried out in 2006. One participant was recruited through advertisements in community newspapers and newsletters and the others using the snowballing method. Information was gathered through in-depth individual interviews which were tape-recorded and subsequently transcribed. Colaizzi's original seven-step approach was used for data analysis, with the inclusion of two additional steps. ----------
Findings: The following themes were identified: Universality, Acceptance, Naming and knowing, Faith, Hope, Being the fool and Striking a balance, Having meaning and meaningful relationships, and 'Just doing it'. The conceptualization identified as encapsulating the themes was 'Viewing life from the ridge with eyes wide open', which involved knowing the risks and dangers ahead and making a decision for life amid ever-present hardships. ----------
Conclusion: Knowledge about resilience should be included in the theoretical and practical education of nursing students and experienced nurses. Early intervention, based on resilience factors identified through screening processes, is needed for people with mental illness.
TL;DR: It was concluded that progressively overloaded frequency was effective in improving quantifiable measures of neuromuscular performance in the sample and that practitioners may confidently prescribe 3 whole body vibration sessions per week with more precise knowledge of the effects of wholeBody vibration on neuromUScular performance and health-related quality-of-life effects.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to progressively overload vibration platform frequency to describe sea-saw whole body vibration influence on neuromuscular performance of community-dwelling older adults. Seventy-three community-dwelling older adults (aged 72 ± 8 years) were randomly assigned to 4 groups (zero, one, 2, and 3 whole body vibration sessions per week). Quantifiers of neuromuscular performance such as the 5-Chair Stands test, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Tinetti test were recorded. Furthermore, Health-related quality of life was qualified with the SF-36 Health Survey. A 6-week whole body vibration intervention significantly improved the quantifiers of neuromuscular performance in a community-dwelling older adult sample. Whole body vibration was shown to significantly reduce time taken to complete the 5-Chair Stands test (p < 0.05) and the TUG test (p < 0.05). Tinetti test scores significantly improved (p < 0.05). as did all components of health-related quality of life (p < 0.05). Overall, progressively overloaded frequency elicited more beneficial improvement for the 3 whole body vibration sessions per week group. It was concluded that progressively overloaded frequency was effective in improving quantifiable measures of neuromuscular performance in the sample and that practitioners may confidently prescribe 3 whole body vibration sessions per week with more precise knowledge of the effects of whole body vibration on neuromuscular performance and health-related quality-of-life effects.
TL;DR: Differences in HF self-care are attributable to factors other than gender; however, there are several gender-specific determinants of HFSelf-care that help identify patients at risk for practicing poor self- care.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report three studies on the nature and impact of chance events on career development, including the impact of high influence, low control, and negative outcome chance events.
TL;DR: Intentional use of suppression was intact even for those with AD, consistent with models of aging that regard some emotion control processes as being relatively more automatic in older adulthood.
Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with intact experience but abnormal expression of emotion. Because emotion regulation is important in determining levels of experienced and expressed emotion, individuals with AD and control participants were asked to watch film clips under conditions of spontaneous expression, suppression, or amplification of emotion. Both groups had difficulties with behavioral amplification that were related to performance on a measure of theory of mind. However, intentional use of suppression was intact even for those with AD, consistent with models of aging that regard some emotion control processes as being relatively more automatic in older adulthood.
TL;DR: Knowledge about resilience should be included in the theoretical and practical education of nursing students and experienced nurses, based on resilience factors identified through screening processes, for people with mental illness.
Abstract: Aim. This paper is a report of a study to explore the phenomenon of resilience in the lives of adult patients of mental health services who have experienced mental illness. Background. Mental illness is a major health concern worldwide, and the majority experiencing it will continue to battle with relapses throughout their lives. However, in many instances people go on to overcome their illness to lead productive and socially engaged lives. Contemporary mental health nursing practice primarily focuses on symptom reduction, and working with resilience has not generally been a consideration. Method. A descriptive phenomenological study was carried out in 2006. One participant was recruited through advertisements in community newspapers and newsletters and the others using the snowballing method. Information was gathered through in-depth individual interviews which were tape-recorded and subsequently transcribed. Colaizzi’s original seven-step approach was used for data analysis, with the inclusion of two additional steps. Findings. The following themes were identified: Universality, Acceptance, Naming and knowing, Faith, Hope, Being the fool and Striking a balance, Having meaning and meaningful relationships, and ‘Just doing it’. The conceptualization identified as encapsulating the themes was ‘Viewing life from the ridge with eyes wide open’, which involved knowing the risks and dangers ahead and making a decision for life amid ever-present hardships. Conclusion. Knowledge about resilience should be included in the theoretical and practical education of nursing students and experienced nurses. Early intervention, based on resilience factors identified through screening processes, is needed for people with mental illness.
TL;DR: Findings on an objective measure of PM suggest that 4–5 units of alcohol will compromise PM abilities in everyday life.
Abstract: Whilst the deleterious effects of alcohol on retrospective remembering have been widely documented, no study has yet objectively determined alcohol’s effects on prospective memory (PM)—remembering to do something in the future. With this aim, the present study determined the acute effects of alcohol upon PM using a laboratory measure that simulates the PM tasks in everyday life—‘Virtual Week’—both (a) in its standard form with regular, irregular, event-based and time-based PM tasks; and (b) an adapted version which enabled exploration of how future event simulation at encoding impacted upon subsequent PM. Forty healthy volunteers were administered 0.6 g/kg ethanol or a matched placebo in a double-blind fashion and completed the two versions of Virtual Week along with prose recall (to tap retrospective memory) and an executive function task. Alcohol acutely produced global impairments across all (regular, irregular, event-based and time-based) PM tasks. It also produced impairments of episodic memory which positively correlated with PM performance of irregular tasks. Future-event simulation tended to enhance PM in the placebo but not in the alcohol group. These findings on an objective measure of PM suggest that 4–5 units of alcohol will compromise PM abilities in everyday life.
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of magnesium on the chemistry of calcium carbonate formation has been studied and it was found that the type of carbonate formed by subjecting compacts of Ca(OH)2 and Mg(OH 2 ) to carbon dioxide (up to 20 atm CO2 pressure) for variable periods of time is largely controlled by the molar proportion of calcium to magnesium in the initial mixture.
TL;DR: Absolute invariance in the key technical positions of the golf swing appears to be a more favorable technique for skilled performance in high- and low-handicap players.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of neuromotor noise on golf swing performance in high- and low-handicap players. Selected two-dimensional kinematic measures of 20 male golfers (n = 10 per high- or low-handicap group) performing 10 golf swings with a 5-iron club was obtained through video analysis. Neuromotor noise was calculated by deducting the standard error of the measurement from the coefficient of variation obtained from intra-individual analysis. Statistical methods included linear regression analysis and one-way analysis of variance using SPSS. Absolute invariance in the key technical positions (e.g., at the top of the backswing) of the golf swing appears to be a more favorable technique for skilled performance.
TL;DR: It was showed that players with the highest training and physical activity volumes during the season demonstrated more favourable recovery–stress states than moderate- and low-volume groups, and this support the efficacy of serially monitoring young athletes.
Abstract: Despite increased professionalization of adolescent sport and improved articulation to elite adult participation, the impact of sports such as rugby union among adolescents is under-explored. This study describes psychological stress-recovery responses relative to training loads in 106 male adolescent rugby union players. The results showed that players with the highest training and physical activity volumes during the season demonstrated more favourable recovery-stress states than moderate- and low-volume groups. Stress and under-recovery did not increase with increases in weekly volume when assessed across a season. When assessed more acutely during intensive competition phases, stress and under-recovery increased with increases in participation demands. Despite better psychological stress and recovery profiles of more elite, higher-load players, not all participants demonstrated favourable capacities to deal with stress and recovery processes. Seven participants were in at least two of three categories of highest volume, highest stress, and poorest recovery. Even in the absence of a full understanding of the impact of high-volume, high-stress, poor-recovery participation among adolescent athletes, these markers may be precursors for more deleterious outcomes such as injury, performance decrements, and overtraining. Findings support the efficacy of serially monitoring young athletes.
TL;DR: Social-cognitive difficulties are associated with MA use and have potentially important implications for rehabilitative practice, particularly on the measures of facial affect recognition and theory of mind.
Abstract: Objectives. Methamphetamine (MA) abuse is associated with neurocognitive impairment.We investigated whether important aspects of social-cognitive function are similarly disrupted. Methods. A total of 12 adults with a history of MA dependence (average duration of use, 3.9 years), currently engaged in rehabilitation and abstinent for an average period of 6 months, and 12 MA naive participants completed measures of facial affect recognition, theory of mind, executive function and memory. Results. MA users were impaired on the measures of facial affect recognition and theory of mind (ds = 1.75 and 2.32, respectively), with the magnitude of these deficits comparable or larger to those observed on the cognitive measures. Conclusions. Social-cognitive difficulties are associated with MA use and have potentially important implications for rehabilitative practice.
TL;DR: Nursing workforce development needs to focus on strategies that provide role support for nurses as they work with this clinically challenging patient group, showing that workplace education has no independent association with therapeutic attitude and that an effect from education only occurs when nurses have at least a moderate level of role support.
Abstract: This study examines the impact of workplace drug and alcohol education on nurses' therapeutic attitude to patients who use illicit drugs. It builds on a study of the generalist nursing workforce in the Australian Capital Territory in 2003, which showed that the interaction of role support with workplace drug and alcohol education facilitated nurses' therapeutic attitude. This paper explores this interaction in detail, showing that workplace education has no independent association with therapeutic attitude and that an effect from education only occurs when nurses have at least a moderate level of role support. Nursing workforce development needs to focus on strategies that provide role support for nurses as they work with this clinically challenging patient group. Without the ready availability of someone in the nurse's clinical field to advise and assist them, efforts to increase nurses' knowledge and skills are wasted.