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.

Sustenance and sustainability: maximizing the impact of school gardens on health outcomes.

Abstract: Objective School garden programmes have become popular action-oriented learning environments in many countries, often driven by converging priorities of environmental sustainability and healthful diets. Many of these programmes have assessed the impact on dietary intake, specifically fruit and vegetable intake, and related dietary behaviours, such as knowledge, preference, motivation, intention and self-efficacy to eat and prepare fruit and vegetables. The objective of the present study was twofold: (i) to review published garden-based programmes conducted in schools targeting dietary intake and/or determinants of dietary behaviour in children; and (ii) to identify similar strategies and components employed by these garden-based programmes. Design The review included thirteen studies that have examined the impact of garden-based programmes conducted in school, either during school hours or in after-school settings, on dietary behaviours in children (kindergarten through 8th grade students). Results Three of the reviewed studies did not have a comparison or control group and simply evaluated within-group changes after a garden intervention. None of the reviewed studies were randomized, but were assigned based on school’s interest and timing of new school gardens being built. Out of the eleven programmes that examined dietary intake, six found that the programme resulted in increased vegetable intake, whereas four showed no effect. Seven of the eight studies that measured preference found that the programmes resulted in increased preference for vegetables. Gardening programmes also resulted in improved attitudes towards, willingness to taste, identification of and self-efficacy to prepare/cook fruit and vegetables. Similar strategies/components employed by the majority of the programmes included: ‘hands on’ curriculum, incorporation of a cooking component, providing the instructors, parental and stakeholder support, food provision and using the garden as the focal point for media promotion. Conclusions Some of the garden programmes resulted in increased vegetable intake, which has positive implications for both environment sustainability and health-related outcomes. Further, the majority resulted in some improvement in behaviour determinants more generally. However, more research is warranted to understand how to achieve long-term improvements in dietary behaviours and how to sustain the garden-based programmes in schools.

Sustainable HRM : The synthesis effect of high performance work systems on organisational performance and employee harm

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine sustainable human resource management (HRM) based on the synthesis and simultaneous effects of high-performance work systems (HPWS) on organisational performance and employee harm in five Asia Pacific countries. Design/methodology/approach – Data collected using the CRANET survey instrument was analysed using two canonical correlation analyses. Findings – This study found flexible high-performance work arrangements (FHPWA), such as tele-working and compressed working week could have a negative effect on organisational performance. However, it also found that employee benefits and trade union influence have a moderating effect on the impact of FHPWA resulting in improved organisational profitability and reduction of employee harm. Research limitations/implications – Limitations include the aggregation of the data from the five countries and consequently the neglect of national institutional factors on the impact of HPWS on outcomes. A limited number of factors were used as indicators of HPWS, organisational performance and employee wellbeing/employee harm. Practical implications – This study indicates particular HRM policies considered as part of a HPWS have different impacts on organisational profitability and employee wellbeing. There is a need for further research to determine the impact of particular policies and to also examine the interaction and moderating effects of high-performance work practices and trade unions. Originality/value – This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable HRM by examining the impact of HPWS on organisational performance and employee wellbeing. It is the first time this has been examined in Asian pacific countries.

Callous–unemotional traits

Abstract: This chapter provides a summary of research on the use of callous–unemotional (CU) traits for designating a distinct and important subgroup of youth with serious conduct problems. The chapter starts by tying the construct of CU traits to research on the affective components of psychopathy, research on the normal development of conscience, and past attempts to find meaningful subtypes within children and adolescents with serious conduct problems. We then provide a review of research suggesting that CU traits designate a clinically important subgroup of antisocial youth who show more severe aggression and more severe and stable patterns of conduct problems. We also review research showing distinct genetic, biological, emotional, cognitive, family, and peer correlates to conduct problems in children with elevated CU traits and then provide a theoretical model for how these correlates may help to explain different causal pathways to serious conduct problems in youth with and without elevated CU traits. Finally, we conclude with the implications of this research on CU traits for diagnosis and treatment, focusing specifically on the new specifier the diagnosis of Conduct Disorder in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders called “with Limited Prosocial Emotions” that is defined by the presence of CU traits.

Self-Care Behaviours and Heart Failure: Does Experience with Symptoms Really Make a Difference?

Abstract: Background: There are many reasons to explain why achievement of optimal self-care can be difficult for many patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).Aim: To investigate differences in self-care s...