Australian Catholic University

About: Australian Catholic University is a education organization based out in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 2721 authors who have published 10013 publications receiving 215248 citations. The organization is also known as: ACU & ACU National.

Repeated high-intensity running and sprinting in elite women's soccer competition.

Abstract: Background: To the authors’ knowledge, no study has investigated the concurrent repeated, high-intensity (RHIA) and repeated-sprint activity (RSA) of intermittent team-sport competition. Purpose: In this study, they report on the RSA of elite women’s football competition. In addition, they describe the nature of RHIA (eg, striding and sprinting activities) that involve a high energy cost and are associated with short (ie, ≤20 s) recovery periods. Methods: Thirteen elite women soccer players underwent video-based time–motion analysis on 34 occasions during national and international standard matches. RSA and RHIA were defined as successive (ie, 2) sprints or striding and sprinting efforts that occurred with ≤20 s between efforts. Results: The number of RSA and RHIA bouts performed was similar between the first and second halves of matches. Sprinting and striding/sprinting durations tended to remain relatively stable irrespective of the number of efforts in an RSA or RHIA bout or the period of play. However...

Moderated online social therapy for depression relapse prevention in young people: pilot study of a 'next generation' online intervention.

Abstract: Aim Implementation of targeted e-mental health interventions offers a promising solution to reducing the burden of disease associated with youth depression. A single-group pilot study was conducted to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, usability and safety of a novel, moderated online social therapy intervention (entitled Rebound) for depression relapse prevention in young people. Methods Participants were 42 young people (15–25 years) (50% men; mean age = 18.5 years) in partial or full remission. Participants had access to the Rebound platform for at least 12 weeks, including the social networking, peer and clinical moderator and therapy components. Results Follow-up data were available for 39 (92.9%) participants. There was high system usage, with 3034 user logins (mean = 72.2 per user) and 2146 posts (mean = 51.1). Almost 70% of users had ≥10 logins over the 12 weeks, with 78.5% logging in over at least 2 months of the pilot. A total of 32 (84%) participants rated the intervention as helpful. There was significant improvement between the number of participants in full remission at baseline (n = 5; none of whom relapsed) relative to n = 19 at 12-week follow-up (P < 0.001). Six (14.3%) participants relapsed to full threshold symptoms at 12 weeks. There was a significant improvement to interviewer-rated depression scores (Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS); P = 0.014, d = 0.45) and a trend for improved strength use (P = 0.088, d = 0.29). The single-group design and 12-week treatment phase preclude a full understanding of the clinical benefits of the Rebound intervention. Conclusions The Rebound intervention was shown to be acceptable, feasible, highly usable and safe in young people with major depression.

Comparison of Mulligan Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides and Maitland Mobilizations for Treatment of Cervicogenic Dizziness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: Background There is short-term evidence for treatment of cervicogenic dizziness with Mulligan sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAGs) but no evidence for treatment with Maitland mobilizations. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of SNAGs and Maitland mobilizations for cervicogenic dizziness. Design A double-blind, parallel-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted. Setting The study was conducted at a university in Newcastle, Australia. Participants Eighty-six people with cervicogenic dizziness were the study participants. Interventions Included participants were randomly allocated to receive 1 of 3 interventions: Mulligan SNAGs (including self-administered SNAGs), Maitland mobilizations plus range-of-motion exercises, or placebo. Measurements The primary outcome measure was intensity of dizziness. Other outcome measures were: frequency of dizziness, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), intensity of pain, and global perceived effect (GPE). Results Both manual therapy groups had reduced dizziness intensity and frequency posttreatment and at 12 weeks compared with baseline. There was no change in the placebo group. Both manual therapy groups had less dizziness intensity posttreatment (SNAGs: mean difference=−20.7, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=−33.6, −7.7; mobilizations: mean difference=−15.2, 95% CI=−27.9, −2.4) and at 12 weeks (SNAGs: mean difference=−18.4, 95% CI=−31.3, −5.4; mobilizations: mean difference=−14.4, 95% CI=−27.4, −1.5) compared with the placebo group. Compared with the placebo group, both the SNAG and Maitland mobilization groups had less frequency of dizziness at 12 weeks. There were no differences between the 2 manual therapy interventions for these dizziness measures. For DHI and pain, all 3 groups improved posttreatment and at 12 weeks. Both manual therapy groups reported a higher GPE compared with the placebo group. There were no treatment-related adverse effects lasting longer than 24 hours. Limitations The therapist performing the interventions was not blind to group allocation. Conclusions Both SNAGs and Maitland mobilizations provide comparable immediate and sustained (12 weeks) reductions in intensity and frequency of chronic cervicogenic dizziness.

Evaluating the Psychometric Quality of Social Skills Measures: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Introduction: Impairments in social functioning are associated with an array of adverse outcomes. Social skills measures are commonly used by health professionals to assess and plan the treatment of social skills difficulties. There is a need to comprehensively evaluate the quality of psychometric properties reported across these measures to guide assessment and treatment planning. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the psychometric properties of social skills and behaviours measures for both children and adults. Methods: A systematic search was performed using four electronic databases: CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase and Pubmed; the Health and Psychosocial Instruments database; and grey literature using PsycExtra and Google Scholar. The psychometric properties of the social skills measures were evaluated against the COSMIN taxonomy of measurement properties using pre-set psychometric criteria. Results: Thirty-Six studies and nine manuals were included to assess the psychometric properties of thirteen social skills measures that met the inclusion criteria. Most measures obtained excellent overall methodological quality scores for internal consistency and reliability. However, eight measures did not report measurement error, nine measures did not report crosscultural validity and eleven measures did not report criterion validity. Conclusions: The overall quality of the psychometric properties of most measures was satisfactory. The SSBS-2, HCSBS and PKBS-2 were the three measures with the most robust evidence of sound psychometric quality in at least seven of the eight psychometric properties that were appraised. A universal working definition of social functioning as an overarching construct is recommended. There is a need for ongoing research in the area of the psychometric properties of social skills and behaviours instruments.