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.

An encounter with children: seeking meaning and understanding about childhood

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to continue research conversations with young children about their lived experiences. A central philosophy underpinning this work seeks an acknowledgment of the presence of children and their accounts of life, as an essential element to understanding their social worlds. The research methodology draws upon an adaptation of the mosaic approach for data collection tools, whereby conversations, drawings, text, and photographs are used to consider understandings of childhood and adulthood from the child standpoint. Approximately 15 children aged three to six years were invited to put forward their views and opinions through conversations, drawings and/or written texts on their understandings childhood and adulthood. The children were invited to theorize differences in perspectives and propose reasons why this may be so. In this way, the article supports the notion that a community can provide the structure and procedures that enable children's participation, should it view the chi...

What is mental fatigue in elite sport? Perceptions from athletes and staff

Abstract: Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity shown to negatively influence physical performance. Variation exists across the literature regarding the manifestations and impact of mental fatigue; with little knowledge of the domain-specific manifestations in elite sport. The difficulties in defining mental fatigue may explain why it is not consistently assessed by coaching or support staff. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate athlete and staff understandings of mental fatigue in elite sport. Nine focus group discussions were conducted involving a total of 32 athletes (n = 17) and staff (n = 15) from elite sporting organisations. Athletes and staff believe mental fatigue negatively impacts sporting performance. Analysis revealed perceived associations between mental fatigue and changes in behaviour including, disengagement, decreased motivation and enthusiasm, increased displays of emotion and withdrawal. Changes in concentration, decreased discipline and attention to detail also emerged as descriptors of mental fatigue. Media engagements, study and work commitments were reported to induce mental fatigue. Repetitive tasks, over-analysis, thinking about the sport in question and environmental instability were further reported perceived causes. Experience and personality emerged as factors contributing to individual susceptibility. Mental fatigue is perceived to not only develop acutely but also build in a cumulative manner in the elite sporting environment. The present findings inform the design of future studies examining MF in elite athletes; they also hold the potential to improve how best to monitor and manage the condition in applied practice.

Pedagogy 2.0: Critical challenges and responses to Web 2.0 and social software in tertiary teaching

Abstract: Worldwide, tertiary educators and institutions are discovering that new models of teaching and learning are required to meet the needs of today’s students, and their demands for autonomy, connectivity, and socio-experiential learning. The educational applications of the new wave of Web 2.0-based social software tools compel us to consider how the affordances and potential for generativity and connectivity offered by these tools, as well as the broader societal changes that the Web 2.0 movement forms part of, impact on pedagogy and teaching, and open up the debate on how we conceptualize the dynamics of student learning. This chapter explores the ways in which scholarship and pedagogy are being challenged and redefined in the Web 2.0 era, and the accompanying need for students to develop new skills and competencies to prepare them for work and lifelong learning in a dynamic, networked society and knowledge economy. In response to these challenges the authors propose a pedagogical framework, “Pedagogy 2.0,” which addresses the themes of participation in networked communities of learning, personalization of the learning experience, and learner productivity in the form of active knowledge creation and innovation, and discuss how emerging social practices, ethos, and modes of communication influence the roles of teachers and learners.

Psychological Interventions for Patients with Coronary Heart Disease and Their Partners: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Objectives Despite evidence that patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and their partners report significant psychological distress, and suggestions that involving partners in interventions alleviates such distress, no systematic reviews have examined this The objective of this study was to systematically review evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for patients with CHD and their partners Methods CENTRAL, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases were searched through October 2012 Randomized controlled trials evaluating psychological interventions for patients with CHD and their partners were included Selection of studies, study appraisal, data extraction and analysis were undertaken using standard methods Results Seven studies comprising 673 dyads (patient and partner) were included Psychological interventions result in modest improvements in patients' health-related quality of life, blood pressure, knowledge of disease and treatment, and satisfaction with care, and in partners' anxiety, knowledge and satisfaction There was a non-significant trend for improvements in anxiety for patients, and depressive symptoms for both patients and partners There was no evidence of a significant effect on mortality, morbidity or other cardiovascular risk factors for patients, or social support for patients and partners Conclusions Psychological interventions for patients with CHD and their partners were found to improve health-related quality of life, blood pressure, knowledge, and satisfaction with care for patients, and anxiety, knowledge, and satisfaction with care for partners However, as the overall quality of the evidence was low, these results should be interpreted with caution

Validity of Walk Score® as a measure of neighborhood walkability in Japan.

Abstract: Objective measures of environmental attributes have been used to understand how neighborhood environments relate to physical activity. However, this method relies on detailed spatial data, which are often not easily available. Walk Score® is a free, publicly available web-based tool that shows how walkable a given location is based on objectively-derived proximity to several types of local destinations and street connectivity. To date, several studies have tested the concurrent validity of Walk Score as a measure of neighborhood walkability in the USA and Canada. However, it is unknown whether Walk Score is a valid measure in other regions. The current study examined how Walk Score is correlated with objectively-derived attributes of neighborhood walkability, for residential addresses in Japan. Walk Scores were obtained for 1072 residential addresses in urban and rural areas in Japan. Five environmental attributes (residential density, intersection density, number of local destinations, sidewalk availability, and access to public transportation) were calculated using geographic information systems for each address. Pearson's correlation coefficients between Walk Score and these environmental attributes were calculated (conducted in May 2017). Significant positive correlations were observed between Walk Score and environmental attributes relevant to walking. Walk Score was most closely associated with intersection density (r = 0.82) and with the number of local destinations (r = 0.77). Walk Score appears to be a valid measure of neighborhood walkability in Japan. Walk Score will allow urban designers and public health practitioners to identify walkability of local areas without relying on detailed geographic data.