Research within the School


Researchers in the School of Nursing and Midwifery aim to advance research in nursing and midwifery that impacts the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities in Western Sydney and beyond. Our research efforts are focused on high quality, high impact research achieved through productive, engaged research partnerships and the provision of high quality research training for Higher Degree Research students and early career researchers.

SONM researchers work in partnership with State and Federal government, Local Health Districts; private health services; non-government and community organisations and professional bodies, to pursue research activities that accord with local and national health priorities. Our industry-based research centres and groups work closely with service-users, service providers, managers and policy makers at the local, national and international level to transform practice and improve service users’ and staff experiences and outcomes.

There are two main research concentrations in the school: Acute and Complex Care and Women, Families and Children (see diagram). We also link with many other groups of researchers and industry within and outside of Western Sydney University.

Below are several research concentrations that fall under these two main research concentrations and information about finding a Higher Research Degree (HDR) supervisor if you are planning to undertake a Higher Research Degree (Masters, Research, Masters Philosophy, PhD). We also have an Honours program in the school.

Updated research themes

Click on the link below to read the 2022 Research and HDR Directorate report and find out more about  more about Research and Higher Degree Research in the school:

Watch the video below to find out more about  more about HDR in the school:

ACUTE AND COMPLEX CARE


Critical Care


Critical care research within the School aims to improve the process and experience of Critical Care for patients and their families including translation of evidence to the bedside and patient centred care.

Aims and Background

Background:

The CCRiCeT group came together in October 2015 with the primary aim of bringing together the wealth of experience in Critical Care within the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONM) at Western Sydney University. The collaboration of academics with clinicians aims to facilitate the ongoing growth of research and ensure the translation of research to areas of clinical need.

Coordination of Critical Care research within the SONM will be based on a unique collaboration of academics and clinicians which traditionally have operated fairly independent of each other. Involving and collaborating with clinicians is a central strategy aimed at fostering the clinician’s ideas for research and identification of research areas of need and supporting them with the academics experience of research proposals, ethics submissions, data analysis and manuscript writing.

A central theorem of CCRiCeT is to build collaborations between clinicians and academics from many centres of care and Universities. It is hoped this collaboration will increase research activity by sharing the research expertise and knowledge of academics with the clinical expertise and knowledge of the clinicians.

The method for achieving high impact research that achieves best practice will include a number of steps:

Identification of areas of clinical need

  • Clinician’s and community representatives will identify areas that require practice improvement
  • Working parties established
  • Evaluation of current evidence undertaken
  • Establish need for further primary research or in case of adequate primary research development evidence based guideline with clinical pathway
  • Educate and implement evidence based practice guidelines
  • Sharing of ideas and resources between institutions and researchers

The pooling of intellectual resources will generate ingenuity for research Collaboration between institutions will increase research outputs in part by providing a larger sample of research participants Involving key stakeholders in patient care involving clinicians will directly transfer research findings and best-practice guidelines directly to the bedside.

Aims:

CCRiCeT has two main aims:

  1. Improve the process and experience of Critical Care for patients and their families
  2. To build collaborations between researchers (academics) and clinicians and between institutions to facilitate the timely translation of research to the bedside CCRiCeT aims to improve the care to patients in critical care areas by translation of evidence to the bedside. A patient centred approach that encompasses the whole of critical care experience (admission until discharge) for patients and their families will be used.

SDG:

  • SDG3. Good Health and Wellbeing
  • SDG10. Reduced Inequalities

Researchers

  • Gift Mutsonziwa
  • Joan Lynch
  • Associate Professor Kath Peters
  • Dr Leanne Hunt
  • Lisa Wyatt
  • Associate Professor Lucie Ramjan

Studies and or areas of work

  • Intensive Care
  • Emergency Department
  • Vascular Access
  • Pressure injuries amongst adults admitted into Intensive Care - Pressure injuries, represent a common but potentially preventable condition among patients admitted to hospital. Patients at the highest-risk are the elderly, those with physical impairments, and the critically ill. For this reason the prevention of pressure injuries has been identified as an important area of nursing care given to patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
  • The Deli Study: Delirium in ICU - Delirium independently contributes to mortality and morbidity of patients in Intensive care and increases hospital length of stay by 10 days. Management of patients with delirium is resource intensive as they often require one-to-one nursing due to restlessness and agitation. Good evidence exists supporting the prevention and early detection as the best way to manage delirium.

Western Sydney University/NSW Collaborations/Engagements

  • South Western Sydney Local Health District
  • K Brennan, Bankstown ICU
  • V Betihavas, Australian Catholic University
  • D Sanchez, Campbelltown ICUAssociate Professor Deepak Bhonagiri

International Collaborations

  • The Association for Vascular Access (USA)
  • The World Congress on Vascular Access

Western Sydney University Collaborators

  • Associate Professor Deepak Bhonagiri

Higher Degree Research Student Projects

  • Julio Ruiz Davila: Risk factor for PIVC failure
  • Gladis Kabil: Facilitators and barriers of timely initiation of fluid therapy in patients with sepsis presenting to ED

Research Projects

  • Pressure injuries amongst adults admitted into Intensive Care - Pressure injuries, represent a common but potentially preventable condition among patients admitted to hospital. Patients at the highest-risk are the elderly, those with physical impairments, and the critically ill. For this reason the prevention of pressure injuries has been identified as an important area of nursing care given to patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
  • The Deli Study: Delirium in ICU - Delirium independently contributes to mortality and morbidity of patients in Intensive care and increases hospital length of stay by 10 days. Management of patients with delirium is resource intensive as they often require one-to-one nursing due to restlessness and agitation. Good evidence exists supporting the prevention and early detection as the best way to manage delirium.
  • Development of a difficult venous access (DiVa) pathway that has been implemented at Liverpool Hospital and a number of hospitals locally and internationally.
  • Use of electrocardiography to navigate and place central venous catheters to negate the need for chest X ray.
  • Development of a venous access pathway for the correct choice of vascular access device.
  • Development of ultrasound insertion algorithm for the correct device choice for patients with difficult venous access.
  • Use of standard and specialised peripheral catheters as extended dwell devices for patients requiring short to intermediate term intravenous therapy.

Recent Publications

Frost, S.A., Alexandrou, E., Schulz, L., Aneman, A. Interpreting the results of clinical trials, embracing uncertainty: A Bayesian approach. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica;

Anthony Hecimovic., Vesna Matijasevic., Steven A Frost. Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Receiving Hospital in the Home Services in South West of Sydney. BMC Health Services

Justine M Naylor., Steve Frost., Melissa Farrugia., Natalie Pavlovic., Shaniya Ogul., Danella Hackett., Leeanne Gray., Rachael Wright., Maarten van Smeden., Ian A Harris. Patient factors associated with referral to inpatient rehabilitation following knee or hip arthroplasty in a public sector cohort: A prognostic factor study; Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice

David Sanchez., Kathleen Brennan., Masar Al Sayfe., Sharon-Ann Shunker., Tony Bogdanoski., Sonja Hedges., Yu Chin Hou., Joan Lynch., Leanne Hunt., Evan Alexandrou., Manoj Saxena., Simon Abel., Ramanathan Lakshmanan., Deepak Bhonagiri., Michael J Parr., Anders Aneman., Danielle Ni Chroinin., Kenneth M Hillman, Steven A Frost. Frailty, delirium and hospital mortality of older adults admitted to intensive care: the Delirium (Deli) in ICU study; BMC Critical Care

Lynch, J., Rolls, K., Hou Chin Y., Hedges, S., Sayfe Al M., Shunker, S.A., Brennan, K., Sanchez, D., Bogdanovski, T., Hunt, L., Alexandrou, E., Frost, S.A. Delirium in Intensive Care: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial for a Nurse-Led Intervention to Reduce the Incidence and Duration of Delirium Among Adults Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit; Australian Critical Care

Frost, Steven. A; Hou, Yu Chin; Lombardo, L; Metcalfe, L; Lynch, J.M; Hunt, L; Alexandrou, E; Brennan, K; Sanchez, D; Aneman, A; Christensen, M. (2018). Evidence for the effectiveness of chlorhexidine bathing and health care-associated infections among adult intensive care patients: a trial sequential meta-analysis. BMC Infectious Diseases.

Iyer, Dushyant; Hunt, Leanne; Frost, Steven A; Aneman, Anders. (2018) Daily intra‐abdominal pressure, Sequential Organ Failure Score and fluid balance predict duration of mechanical ventilation. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 62 (10): 1421–1427.

Alexandrou, Evan; Ray-Barruel, Gillian; Carr, Peter J; Frost, SA; Inwood, Sheila; Higgins, Niall; Lin, Frances; Alberto, Laura; Mermel, Leonard; Rickard, Claire M. (2018) Use of Short Peripheral Intravenous Catheters: Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes Worldwide. Journal of hospital medicine 13 (5).

Chan, B; Butler, E; Frost, SA; Chuan, A; Aneman, A. (2018) Cerebrovascular autoregulJournal of hospital medicineation monitoring and patient‐centred outcomes after cardiac surgery: a systematic review. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 62 (5): 588-599.

Athari, Fakhri; Hillman, Ken M; Frost, Steven A. (2018) The changing nature of the population of intensive-care patients. Journal of Hospital Administration. 7 (2): 1.

Alexandrou. E., Mifflin, N., McManus, C., Sou, V., & Frost, S.A. (2018).  Extended dwell peripheral catheters in patients with difficult venous access: Comparison of a peripheral intravenous catheter and midline catheter. Vascular Access, 4 (1), 1-5.

Atlantis E; Nic Kormas; Katherine Samaras; Paul Fahey; Priya Sumithran; Sarah Glastras; Gary Wittert; Kellie Fusco3 Ramy Bishay; Tania Markovic; Lucy Ding; Kathryn Williams; Ian Caterson; Viral Chikani; Paul Dugdale; John Dixon. Clinical Obesity Services in Public Hospitals (COSiPH) in Australia: a position statement based on expert consensus (2018). Clinical Obesity, 8 (3), 203-210.

Atlantis E, Nundlall  N, Fahey P, Kormas N. Efficacy of an intensive lifestyle and medical treatment for severe obesity in the public hospital setting: a case series. ANZOS-OSSANZ-AOCO Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2017, Adelaide, Australia, 4th - 6th October 2017.

Cheema BS, Davies TB, Stewart M, Papalia S, Atlantis E. (2015) The feasibility and effectiveness of high-intensity boxing training versus moderate-intensity brisk walking in adults with abdominal obesity: A pilot study. BMC Sport Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 7 (1), 3.

Evan Atlantis Fang Lin, Sulak Anandabaskaran, Paul Fahey, Nic Kormas. Predictors of non-completion of an intensive specialist obesity service in a  public hospital: a case-control study, under review.

Gullick J and Smith SMS (2018) Editorial: A call for a stronger articulation of education and role delineation for nurse researchers, International Journal of Nursing Practice published: 03 June 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12662

James Rufus John, Shima Ghassempour, Federico Girosi, Evan Atlantis. The effectiveness of patient-centred medical home model versus standard primary care for chronic disease management: a systematic review protocol, Systematic Reviews, in press.

Athari, Fakhri; Hillman, Ken M; Frost, Steven A. (2017) The concept of frailty in intensive care.Australian Critical Care, Elsevier.

Sou V, McManus C, Mifflin N, Frost SA, Ale J, et al. (2017) A clinical pathway for the management of difficult venous access. BMC nursing 16: 64, 1472-6955.

Hunt L, Frost SA, Newton PJ, Salamonson Y, Davidson PM (2017) A survey of critical care nurses’ knowledge of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome. Australian Critical Care 30: 21-27 1036-7314.

Etaher A, Saad Y, Nguyen T, Frost S, Shugman I, et al. (2017) Late Mortality Rates of Patients with Type 2 MI Compared to Type 1 MI and Stable Troponin Elevation. Heart, Lung and Circulation 26: S84 1443-9506.

Etaher A, Nguyen T, Saad Y, Frost S, Mussap C, et al. (2017) Late Survival Among Patients≥ 80 Years with Suspected ACS According to High Sensitivity Troponin T Levels. Heart, Lung and Circulation 26: S85 1443-950.

Athari F, Hillman KM, Frost SA (2017) The concept of frailty in intensive care. Australian Critical Care 1036-7314.

Johnson, A, Smith, SM., (2017) A review of general pain measurement scales and instruments to consider for COPD research International Journal of COPD https://www.dovepress.com/article_31926.t67470324

Lih A, Pereira L, Bishay R, Zang J, Omari A, Atlantis E, Kormas N. (2015) A novel multi-disciplinary intervention for long-term weight loss and glycaemic control in obese patients with diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Research, Volume 2015, Article ID 729567, 7 pages.

Mifflin, N., Sou, V., Alexandrou, E., Stewart, A., & Catt, J. (2017). Paradoxical Electrocardiographic Rhythm During Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Insertion from Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava. Journal of the Association for Vascular Access22(1), 15-18.

Ramachandran D, Atlantis E, Hocking S, Markovic T, Gill T. Standardised baseline data collections in obesity management services in Australia: Recommendations from an expert panel, under review.

Rickard, CM., Marsh, NM., Webster, J., Alexandrou, E., et al. (217). Peripherally InSertedCEntral catheter dressing and Securement: the PISCES Trial. Protocol for a 2x2 factorial, superiority randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 7(6),e015291.

Smith, SM., Gullick, J., Ballard, J., Perry, L. (2018) Proposed Clinical Research Support Career Pathway for Non-investigators, International Journal of Nursing Practice published: 08 March 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12641

Smith, S.M., Gullick, J., Ballard, J., Perry L. (2018) Clinician Researcher Career Pathway for Registered Nurses and Midwives, International Journal of Nursing Practice published: 25 March 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12640

Smith, SM., Chaudhary, K., Blackstock F. (2018) Concordant evidence-based interventions in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines, Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention (Nov 16. doi: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000359 Epub ahead of print).

Sou, V., McManus, C., Mifflin, N., Frost, S. A., Ale, J., & Alexandrou, E. (2017). A clinical pathway for the management of difficult venous access. BMC Nursing, 16(1), 64.

Visit the Critical Care and Cardiopulmonary staff profiles for up to date publications.

Theme Leads

Dr Leanne Hunt
Phone:  +61 2 4570 1676
Email:  l.hunt@westernsydney.edu.au


Ageing and Aged Care Research

The Ageing and Aged Care Research Group engages in and and promotes research with older people using inclusive and holistic approaches.

Aims and Background

Aims:

  • To undertake and promote research for and with older people using inclusive and holistic approaches
  • To foster positive learning environment, scholarship and quality ageing and aged care research with students, higher degree researchers and academic staff
  • To strengthen our strategic collaboration with our local, national, and international partnerships

SDG:

  • SDG3.  Good Health and Wellbeing
  • SDG10. Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

Researchers

Studies and or areas of work

  • Gerontology nursing
  • Age-friendly and healthy ageing initiatives
  • Palliative care
  • Dementia care
  • Nutrition in older people
  • Aged care workforce
  • Educational Interventions
  • Older persons of Vascular Access and Cannulation
  • Frailty
  • Loneliness and Social Isolation Interventions

Western Sydney University/NSW Collaborations/Engagements

International Collaborations

  • World Health Organisation- Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing Unit (Geneva, Switzerland)
  • Research Centre for Active Aging- Taipei Medical University (Taiwan)
  • School of Gerontology and Health Management- Taipei Medical University (Taiwan)
  • Centre for Gerontological Nursing- Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong)
  • Nazarbayev University- School of Nursing (Kazakhstan)
  • The Open University of Sri Lanka- School of Nursing (Sri Lanka)
  • AUT Centre for Active Ageing (New Zealand)

Adjuncts

  • Professor Deborah Parker (UTS, Sydney)

Western Sydney University Collaborators

  • Professor Kate Stevens, MARCS Institute
  • Professor Janette Perz, THRI
  • Associate Professor Genevieve Steiner- NICM Health Research Institute
  • Associate Professor Mark Antoniou- MARCS Institute
  • Dr Celia Harris- MARCS Institute
  • Dr Sandra Garrido- MARCS Institute
  • Dr Hong-Jae Park- School of Social Science
  • Dr David Lim- School of Health Science

Higher Degree Research Student Projects

  • Cristy Cabote:  Caregiving and support pathways for culturally and linguistically diverse people living with dementia: The CATALYST Study
  • Donna Wang:  Attitude, Organisational Culture and Intention to Build a Career in Aged Care: the ACACIA Project
  • Maricris Algoso: Exploring the Benefits of Undergraduate Assistant in Nursing (AIN) Employment in Preparing Nursing Students for the Clinical Work Environment
  • Sarah Thompson- Resilience and healthy ageing in older adults after hospital admission
  • Tiffany Northall:  Factors That Influence Health professional in the Residential Aged Care Placement Process from Hospital
  • Joby Alex- A bundle of care intervention to improve self-management and quality-of-life of community dwelling patients living with indwelling urinary catheters: The IQ-IDC Project

Research Projects

  • Ageing Creatively: Creating Writing as a Tool for Healthy Ageing (Pilot 1 - 2015) - to examine how creative writing can promote healthy ageing.
  • Ageing Creatively: Creating Writing as a Tool for Healthy Ageing (Pilot 2 - 2016) - to get a better understanding of the benefits from different types of tools used for creative writing from the participants’ point of view. Use of more tools for gaining participants’ thoughts on the intervention (one-on-one interviews).
  • An Educational Intervention to Improve Health Literacy and Decision making about Supporting Self-advice and Decision making Among Older Australians: A Randomized Controlled Trial’ - to support self-advice and good decision making among older Australians living in retirement village and other aged care facilities.
  • Views and attitudes of older Australians about Self-care complementary medicines - to get a better understanding of the benefits, strengths and limitations of various multi-media used.
  • The use of music in residential aged care facilities - to gain the input of consumers (aged care workers) about how music is being used, situations in which it is most effective or ineffective, and potential barriers to more extensive use of music in their facilities.
  • The implementation and dissemination of the Clinical Frailty Index into routine nursing admission assessment - to allow the early identification of the frail elderly, at the time of admission to hospital, to institute measures to reduce the risk of adverse events during a hospital stay and improve the quality of care.
  • Health professionals' transfer decisions with older people from hospital to residential aged care.
  • FRailty meAsureMEnt in Heart Failure Study (FRAME-HF)

Find out more about the Aged Care Research Projects within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Recent Publications

Lim, A. G., Garriock, J., Moody, I., Frischtak, H., Montayre, J., & Arroll, B. (2021). Potentially inappropriate medicines for older adults with intellectual disability: Clinical implications from a medication audit. Australasian Journal on Ageing. doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12900

Garrido, S., Markwell, H., Andreallo, F., & Hatcher, D. (2021). Benefits, Challenges & Solutions for Implementing Personalised Music Playlist Programs in Residential Aged Care in Australia. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare.

Watson, K., & Hatcher, D. (2021). Factors influencing management of agitation in aged care facilities: a qualitative study of staff perceptions. Journal of Clinical Nursing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15530


Montayre, J., Neville, S., Wright-St Clair, V., Holroyd, E. and Adams, J. (2020), 'Older Filipino immigrants' reconfiguration of traditional filial expectations: a focus ethnographic study', Contemporary Nurse, vol 56, no 1 , pp 1 - 13.

Montayre, J., Thaggard, S. and Carney, M. (2020), 'Views on the use of the term 'elder orphans' : a qualitative study', Health and Social Care in the Community, vol 28, no 2 , pp 341 - 346.

Watson, K., Hatcher, D. and Good, A. (2020), 'Influencing factors that support and build aged care research capacity : staff perspectives', Collegian, vol 27, no 1 , pp 34 - 39.

Garrido, S., Dunne, L., Perz, J., Chang, E. and Stevens, C. (2020), 'The use of music in aged care facilities : a mixed-methods study', Journal of Health Psychology, vol 25, no 10-11 , pp 1425 - 1438.

Hickman, L., Ferguson, C., Davidson, P., Allida, S., Inglis, S., Parker, D. and Agar, M. (2020), 'Key elements of interventions for heart failure patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia : a systematic review', European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, vol 19, no 1 , pp 8 - 19.

Wang, D., Everett, B., Brunero, S., Northall, T., Villarosa, A. and Salamonson, Y. (2020), 'Perspectives of residents and staff regarding food choice in residential aged care : a qualitative study', Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol 29, no 3-4 , pp 626 - 637.

Ferguson, C., Inglis, S., Breen, P., Gargiulo, G., Byiers, V., Macdonald, P. and Hickman, L. (2020), 'Clinician perspectives on the design and application of wearable cardiac technologies for older adults : qualitative study', JMIR Aging, vol 3, no 1.

Ferguson, C., Inglis, S., Breen, P., Gargiulo, G., Macdonald, P., Byiers, V. and Hickman, L. (2020), 'Wearable cardiac technologies for older adults : clinician perspectives on the design and application', Heart, Lung and Circulation, vol 29, no Suppl. 2 , pp 384 - 384.

Ferguson, C., Turkmani, S., Hickman, L., Breen, P., Gargiulo, G., Macdonald, P. and Inglis, S. (2020), 'Perceptions of older adults towards the use of wearable cardiac monitoring technologies', Heart, Lung and Circulation, vol 29, no Suppl. 2 , pp 325 - 325.

Ferguson, C., Inglis, S., Breen, P., Gargiulo, G., Macdonald, P., Byiers, V. and Hickman, L. (2020), 'Acceptance and uptake of wearable cardiac technologies in older adults : a systematic review and meta-synthesis', Heart, Lung and Circulation, vol 29, no Suppl. 2 , pp 381 - 381.

Etaher, A., Nguyen, T., Saad, Y., Frost, S., Ferguson, I., Juergens, C., Chew, D. and French, J. (2020), 'Mortality at 5 years among very elderly patients undergoing high sensitivity troponin T testing for suspected acute coronary syndromes', Heart, Lung and Circulation, vol 29, no 11 , pp 1696 - 1703.

Ho, M., Chen, K., Montayre, J., Liu, M., Chang, C., Traynor, V., Hsiao, S., Chang, H. and Chiu, H. (2020), 'Diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis of PRE-DELIRIC (PRediction of DELIRium in ICu patients) : a delirium prediction model in intensive care practice', Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, vol 57 .

Ho, M., Chang, H., Liu, M., Yuan, L. and Montayre, J. (2020), '[In Press] Effectiveness of acupoint pressure on older people with constipation in nursing homes : a double-blind quasi-experimental study', Contemporary Nurse, .

Thaggard, S., Boon-Nanai, J., Tautolo, E. and Montayre, J. (2020), '[In Press] Experiences of elder abuse in Pacific Island communities of Aotearoa New Zealand: a cultural lens', Journal of Population Ageing, .

Spencer, J., Damanik, R., Ho, M., Montayre, J., Traynor, V., Chang, C. and Chang, H. (2020), '[In Press] Review of food intake difficulty assessment tools for people with dementia', Western Journal of Nursing Research, .

2019

Gautam, S., Neville, S. and Montayre, J. (2019), 'What is known about the spirituality in older adults living in residential care facilities? : an integrative review', International Journal of Older People Nursing, vol 14, no 2 .

Montayre, J., Montayre, J. and Thaggard, S. (2019), 'The elder orphan in healthcare settings : an integrative review', Journal of Population Ageing, vol 12, no 4 , pp 515 - 532.

Garrido, S., Stevens, C., Chang, E., Dunne, L. and Perz, J. (2019), 'Musical features and affective responses to personalized playlists in people with probable dementia', American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, vol 34, no 4 , pp 247 - 253.

Smith, C., Chang, E. and Gallago, G. (2019), 'Complementary medicine use and health literacy in older Australians', Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol 42 , pp 53 - 58.

Watson, K., Hatcher, D. and Good, A. (2019), 'A randomised controlled trial of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) and Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) essential oils for the treatment of agitated behaviour in older people with and without dementia', Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol 42 , pp 366 - 373.

Chang, E., Edenborough, M., Nicholls, D., Johnson, A., Brownhill, S. and Simard, J. (2019), 'Generation of a function affect model for residents with advanced dementia', International Journal of Nursing Practice, vol 25, no 2 .

Gallego, G., Gugnani, S., Armour, M., Smith, C. and Chang, E. (2019), 'Attitudes and factors involved in decision-making around complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) by older Australians : a qualitative study', European Journal of Integrative Medicine, vol 29 .

Karacsony, S., Good, A., Chang, E., Johnson, A. and Edenborough, M. (2019), 'An instrument to assess the education needs of nursing assistants within a palliative approach in residential aged care facilities', BMC Palliative Care, vol 18, no 1 .

Smith, C., Chang, E., Gallego, G., Khan, A., Armour, M. and Balneaves, L. (2019), 'An education intervention to improve decision making and health literacy among older Australians: a randomised controlled trial', BMC Geriatrics, vol 19, no 1 .

Hatcher, D., Chang, E., Schmied, V. and Garrido, S. (2019), 'Exploring the perspectives of older people on the concept of home', Journal of Aging Research, vol 2019.

Algoso, M., Ramjan, L., East, L. and Peters, K. (2019), 'An exploration of undergraduate nursing assistant employment in aged care and its value to undergraduate nursing education', Nurse Education Today, vol 82 , pp 32 - 36.

Hatcher, D., Chang, E., Schmied, V. and Garrido, S. (2019), 'Holding momentum: a grounded theory study of strategies for sustaining living at home in older persons', International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, vol 14, no 1 .

Thaggard, S. and Montayre, J. (2019), 'Elder orphans' experiences of advance planning and informal support network', SAGE Open, vol 9, no 3 .

Montayre, J., Neville, S., Wright-St Clair, V., Holroyd, E. and Adams, J. (2019), 'Late-life living and care arrangements of older Filipino New Zealanders', Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol 28, no 3-4 , pp 480 - 488.

Montayre, J., De-Arth, J., Shrestha-Ranjit, J., Neville, S. and Holroyd, E. (2019), 'Challenges and adjustments in maintaining health and well-being of older Asian immigrants in New Zealand : an integrative review', Australasian Journal on Ageing, vol 38, no 3 , pp 154 - 172.

Montayre, J. (2019), 'Health and culture : a critical analysis based on studies conducted on older Asian-New Zealanders', Pacific Health, vol 2 .

Neville, S., Montayre, J. and Jackson, D. (2019), 'What's in a name : how nursing positions older people negatively', Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol 28, no 11-12 , pp 2033 - 2034.

Chenoweth L, Stein-Parbury J, Lapkin S, Wang A, Liu Z, Williams A. (2019) Effects of person-centered care at the organisational-level for people with dementia. A systematic review. PLoS ONE 14(2): e0212686. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212686

2018

Garrido, S., Stevens, C., Chang, E., Dunne, L. and Perz, J. (2018), 'Music and dementia: individual differences in response to personalized playlists', Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol 64, no 3 , pp 933 - 941.

Jefferies, D. and Hatcher, D. (2018), 'Developing person-centered care through the biographies of the older adult', Journal of Nursing Education, vol 57, no 12 , pp 742 - 746.

Algoso, M., Ramjan, L., East, L. and Peters, K. (2018), 'Undergraduate nursing assistant employment in aged care has benefits for new graduates', Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol 74, no 8 , pp 1932 - 1954.

Karacsony, S., Chang, E., Johnson, A., Good, A. and Edenborough, M. (2018), 'Assessing nursing assistants' competency in palliative care : an evaluation tool', Nurse Education in Practice, vol 33 , pp 70 - 76.

Wang, D., Everett, B., Northall, T., Villarosa, A. and Salamonson, Y. (2018), 'Access to food choices by older people in residential aged care : an integrative review', Collegian, vol 25, no 4 , pp 457 - 465.

Neville, S., Wright-St Clair, V., Montayre, J., Adams, J. and Larmer, P. (2018), 'Promoting age-friendly communities: an integrative review of inclusion for older immigrants', Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, vol 33, no 4 , pp 427 - 440.

Jha, S., McDonagh, J., Prichard, R., Newton, P., Hickman, L., Fung, E., Macdonald, P. and Ferguson, C. (2018), '#Frailty : a snapshot Twitter report on frailty knowledge translation', Australasian Journal on Ageing, vol 37, no 4 , pp 309 - 312.

Neville, S., Adams, J., Montayre, J., Larmer, P., Garrett, N., Stephens, C. and Alpass, F. (2018), 'Loneliness in men 60 years and over : the association with purpose in life', American Journal of Men's Health, vol 12, no 4 , pp 730 - 739.

Montayre, J., Montayre, J. and Thaggard, S. (2018), 'Culturally and linguistically diverse older adults and mainstream long-term care facilities', Research in Gerontological Nursing, vol 11, no 5 , pp 265 - 276.

Fung, E., Yang, X., Newton, P., Ferguson, C., Gastelurrutia, P., Lupon, J., Bayes-Genis, A., Jha, S., Macdonald, P., (2018), [Letter] by Fung et al regarding article, 'Frailty and clinical outcomes in heart failure : a systematic review and meta-analysis', Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, vol 19, no 12, pp 1143-1146.

Garrido, S., Dunne, L., Perz, J., Chang, E. and Stevens, C. (2018), '[In Press] The use of music in aged care facilities: a mixed-methods study', Journal of Health Psychology.

Garrido, S., Stevens, C., Chang, E., Dunne, L. and Perz, J. (2018), 'Music and dementia: individual differences in response to personalized playlists', Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol 64, no 3 , pp 933 - 941.

Garrido, S., Stevens, C., Chang, E., Dunne, L. and Perz, J. (2018), '[In Press] Musical features and affective responses to personalized playlists in people with probable dementia', American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias.

Jha, S., Mcdonagh, J., Prichard, R., Newton, P., Hickman, L., Fung, E., Macdonald, P., Ferguson, C. (2018), #Frailty : a snapshot Twitter report on frailty knowledge translation, Australasian Journal on Ageing, vol 37, no 4, pp 309-312.

Johnson, A. and Chang, E. (2018), 'Chronic illness and disability: an overview', Living with Chronic Illness and Disability: Principles for Nursing Practice, Elsevier 9780729542616.

Karacsony, S., Chang, E., Johnson, A., Good, A. and Edenborough, M. (2018), 'Assessing nursing assistants' competency in palliative care: an evaluation tool', Nurse Education in Practice, vol 33 , pp 70 - 76.

Mcdonagh, J., Ferguson, C., Newton, P. (2018), Frailty assessment in heart failure: an overview of the multi-domain approach, Current Heart Failure Reports, vol 15, no 1, pp 17-23.

Rolley, J., Chang, E. and Johnson, A. (2018), 'Spirituality', Living with Chronic Illness and Disability: Principles for Nursing Practice, Elsevier 9780729542616.

2017

Montayre, J., Neville, S. and Holroyd, E. (2017), 'Moving backwards, moving forward : the experiences of older Filipino migrants adjusting to life in New Zealand', International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, vol 12, no 1 .

Ramsay, S., Montayre, J., Egli, V. and Holroyd, E. (2017), 'Migrant caregiving for family members with mild cognitive impairment: an ethnographic study', Contemporary Nurse, vol 53, no 3, pp 322 - 334.

Jansson, M., Dixon, K. and Hatcher, D. (2017), 'The palliative care experiences of adults living in regional and remote areas of Australia : a literature review', Contemporary Nurse, vol 53, no 1 , pp 94 - 104.

Smith, C., Chang, E., Gallego, G. and Balneaves, L. (2017), 'An education intervention to improve health literacy and decision making about supporting self-care among older Australians: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial', Trials, vol 18 .

Garrido, S., Dunne, L., Chang, E., Perz, J., Stevens, C. and Haertsch, M. (2017), 'The use of music playlists for people with dementia: a critical synthesis', Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol 60, no 3, pp 1129 - 1142.

Montayre, J. and Montayre, J. (2017), 'Nursing work in long-term care: an integrative review', Journal of Gerontological Nursing, vol 43, no 11, pp 41 - 49.Chang, E., Johnson, A. and Hancock, K. (2018), 'Principles for nursing practice: advanced dementia', Living with Chronic Illness and Disability: Principles for Nursing Practice, Elsevier 9780729542616.

Ferguson,  C., Inglis, S., Newton, P., Middleton, S., Macdonald, P., Davidson, P. (2017), 'Multi-morbidity, frailty and self-care: important considerations in treatment with anticoagulation drugs. Outcomes of the AFASTER study'.  European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, vol 16, no 2, pp 113-124.

Jha, S., Mcdonagh, J., Ferguson, C., Macdonald, P., Newton, P. (2017), [Commentary response] : frailty, not just about old people : Reply to Smith GD & Kydd A (2017) Getting care of older people right : the need for appropriate frailty assessment?, Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol 26, no 23, pp e4-e5.

Visit the Ageing and Aged Care Researchers’ staff profile for up to date publications.

Theme Leads


Disability Research


Advancing our knowledge, theory and practice to enhance the health, social inclusion and economic participation of people living with a disability.

Aims and Background

Aims:

To advance our knowledge, theory and practice to enhance the health, social inclusion, and economic participation of people living with a disability. This research group is committed to creating and sustaining ethical and meaningful partnerships between researchers, nurses, industry, individuals and communities to make a positive difference to the lives of people living with a disability.

Vision:

  • Promote an active, collegial research culture in the area of disability
  • Create a scholarly research culture within the School
  • Enable the development of ideas and partnerships
  • Facilitate collaborations between researchers, industry, individuals and communities
  • Develop and expand the evidence base
  • Foster a focussed and sustained research community based on common interests
  • Secure and build on research strengths

SDG:

  • SDG3.  Good Health and Wellbeing
  • SDG.10 Reduced Inequalities

Researchers

Studies and or areas of work

  • Intellectual and developmental disability:  Social inclusion and participation, nursing and disability workforce, oral health.

WSU/NSW Collaborations/Engagements

  • PANDDA
  • Achieve Australia
  • Curtin University
  • Deakin University
  • Notre Dame University
  • Southern Cross University
  • Charles Sturt Univerity

Adjuncts/International collaborations

  • Nothingham (UK)
  • Northumbria (UK)
  • South Wales (UK)
  • Otago (NZ)
  • Darthmouth (Massachusetts, USA)
  • Waikato (NZ)

Higher Degree Research Projects

  • Ms Jennifer Bur: An exploration of the perioperative care pathway experiences for people with intellectual disability
  • Ms Elisha Deegan: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic life support for people with atypical chest shapes and wheelchair users

Research Projects

  • 2021 – 2022        Wilson, N.J. & Donley, M. Feasibility of SPECTROM training program to reduce psychotropic drug use in adults with intellectual disability. Life Without Barriers. ($39,000)
  • 2021 – 2022 Anderson, K., Watson, J., Prain, M., Wilson, N.J., Dew, A., Frawley, P., O’Shea, A., Bloomer, M. & Bennett, C. MRFF – Rapid Response Communication Strategies and Approaches During Outbreaks. Inclusive Communication in Specialist Disability Accommodation. ($109,000).
  • 2020 – 2021        Wilson, N.J. & Lewis, P. Redevelopment of the PANDDA standards: 2020 and beyond, Professional Association of Nurses in Developmental Disability, Australia (PANDDA); ($26,000)
  • 2020 – 2023        Cashin, A. & Wilson, N.J. NDIS Mainstream Capacity Building Grant. Building the capacity of nurses to deliver mainstream hospital and community-based health services to people with Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder (GA73959: $1.189 Million)
  • 2019 – 2020        Wilson, N.J., Lewis, P. Reeve, R. & Lin, Z.Toward an NDIS-ready practice and economic framework for the role of nurses who care for people with intellectual disability. School of Nursing Partnership Grant. ($20,000: $10,000 from School; $5000 from PANDDA; $5000 from Achieve Australia)
  • Assessing the feasibility of a mentoring program for young adults with intellectual disability at a community Men’s Shed (2015-2018) - to see whether a work-skills intergenerational mentoring project at Men’s Sheds for young adults with intellectual disability is feasible and appropriate.
  • Underpinning the development of future disability nursing standards (2017-2018) - to conduct a literature review and exploratory research to underpin the future redevelopment of the PANDDA Standards.
  • Analysis of NSW Family and Community Services client death notification (CDN) database (2017-2018) - to identify where people with intellectual disability die and the relationships between health and service variables at the time of death assists us to determine whether this trend is also common for one of society’s most vulnerable and socially marginalised groups.

Find out more about the Disability Research Projects within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Recent Publications

Wilson, N.J., Stevens, A., Srasuebkul, P., Kersten, M., Lin, Z., Trollor, J.N. & Arnold, S.R.C. (2021). Exploring the relationship between community mobility and quality of life, employment and completing further education for autistic adults. Journal of Transport and Health, 22, 101117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2021.101117 (2020 I/F: 2.796)

Vindin, P., Wilson, N.J., Lee, H. & Cordier, R. (2021). The experience of learning to drive for people with autism spectrum disorder. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 36(4), 225-236. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576211023312 (2020 I/F: 3.042)

Vindin, P., Cordier, R., Wilson, N.J. & Lee, H. (2021). A driver-training program intervention for student drivers with autism spectrum disorder: A multi-site randomised controlled trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51, 3707-3721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04825-5 (2020 I/F: 4.291).

Minty-Walker, C., Wilson, N.J., Rylands, L., Hunt, L. & Pettigrew, J. (2021). Undergraduate nursing curricula: Numeracy and accreditation. Collegian, 28(5), 559-564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2020.10.006 (2020 I/F: 2.573).

Wilson, N.J., Reeve, R., Lin, Z. & Lewis, P. (2021). The financial costs of registered nurse led relationship centred care: A single-case Australian feasibility study. Disabilities, 1, 331–346. https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities1040023

Denman, D., Wilson, N.J., Munro, N., Kim, J-H., Speyer, R. & Cordier, R. (2020). Factors influencing speech-language pathologists’ application of terminology for describing paediatric language assessments. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 42(4), 195-206. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525740120915176 (2020 I/F: 0.980)

Marks, A. Wilson, N.J., Blythe, S. & Johnson, C. (2021). Diabetes care in the early primary school setting: Narratives of Australian Mothers. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 38(2), 52-64. https://doi.org/10.37464/2020.382.299 (2019 I/F: 0.674).

Wilson, N.J. & Charnock, D. (2021). Sexuality, masculinity and intellectual disability: Beyond a focus on regulation and vicarious illusions. Journal of Bodies, Sexualities, and Masculinities, 2(1), 82-101. doi: 10.3167/jbsm.2021.020107

Alomari, A., Collison, J., Hunt, L. & Wilson, N.J. (2021). Stressors for emergency department nurses in New South Wales, Australia. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(7-8), 975-985. http://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15641 (2019 I/F: 1.972)

Foo, B.M.Y., Wiese, M., Curryer, B., Stancliffe, R.J., Wilson, N.J. & Clayton, J.M. (2021). Australian specialist palliative care staff’s experiences of talking to people with intellectual disability about their dying and death: A thematic analysis of in-depth interviews. Palliative Medicine 35(4) 738–749. DOI: 10.1177/0269216321998207. (2019 I/F: 3.739).

O’Reilly, K., Peters. K., Wilson, N.J. & Kwok, C. (2021). Women’s tenacity following Traumatic Brain Injury: Qualitative insights. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(4), 1934-1944. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jan.14749 (2019 I/F: 2.561).

Kersten, M., Wilson, N.J., Coxon, K. & Lee, H. (2021). Developing community mobility and driving with autistic youth: A psychosocial perspective. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 28(2), 91-96. DOI: 10.1080/11038128.2020.1798506 (2019 I/F: 1.347)

How, B., Smidt, A., Wilson, N.J., Barton, R. & Valentin, C. (2018). We would have missed out so much had we terminated: What fathers of a child with Down syndrome think about current non-invasive prenatal testing for Down syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities. DOI: 10.1177/1744629518787606.

Jaques, H., Lewis, P., Wiese, M., O’Reilly, K. & Wilson, N.J. (2018). Understanding the contemporary role of the intellectual disability nurse: A review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(21-22), 3858-3871. Doi: 10.1111/jocn.14555.

Lewis, P., Gaffney, R. J. & Wilson, N. J. (2017). A narrative review of acute care nurses’ experiences nursing patients with intellectual disability: Underprepared, communication barriers and ambiguity about the role of caregivers. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(11-12), 1473-1484. doi: 10.1111/jocn.13512.

Wilson, N. J., Jaques, H., Johnson, A. & Brotherton, M. L. (2017). From social exclusion to supported inclusion: Adults with intellectual disability discuss their lived experiences of a structured social group. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 30(5), 847-858. doi: 10.1111/jar.12275.

O’Reilly, K., Lewis, P., Wiese, M., Goddard, L., Trip, H., Conder, J., Charnock, D., Lin, Z., Jaques, H. & Wilson, N.J. (2018). An exploration of the practice, policy and legislative issues of the specialist area of nursing people with intellectual disability: A scoping review. Nursing Inquiry, 25(4). e12258. doi: 10.1111/nin.12258.

Wilson, N.J., Lewis, P., O’Reilly, K., Wiese, M., Lin, Z., Devine, L., Booley, R., Jaques, H. & Goddard, L. (2018).  Reframing the role, identity and standards for practice for registered nurses working in the specialty area of intellectual and developmental disability in Australia: The NDIS and beyond. Collegian. Doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2018.06.002.

Wilson, N. J., Lin, Z., Villarosa, A. & George, A. (2018).  The oral health status and reported oral health problems in people with intellectual disability: A literature review. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. doi:  10.3109/13668250.2017.1409596.

Wilson, N. J., Macdonald, J., Hayman, B., Bright, A. M., Frawley, P. & Gallego, G. (2018). A narrative review of the literature about people with intellectual disability who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or questioning. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 22(2), 171-196. doi: 10.1177/1744629516682681.

Wilson, N. J., Smidt, A., & Tehan, M. (2018). Health and social policies for Australian men and boys with intellectual and developmental disability: A health and wellbeing double jeopardy? International Journal of Social and Community Men’s Health, 1(Special Issue 1), e6-e13.

Wilson, N.J., Wiese, M., Lewis, P., Jaques, H, & O’Reilly, K. (Accepted 10th October 2018). Nurses working in intellectual disability-specific settings talk about the uniqueness of their role: A qualitative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing. DOI:10.1111/jan.13898.

Theme Leads

Professor Nathan J Wilson
Phone: +61 2 4570 1926
Email: n.wilson@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Peter Lewis
Phone:  +61 2 4570 1352
Email:  p.lewis@westernsydney.edu.au

WOMEN, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN


Mother, Infant & Family Network (MIFam) Research

MIFam works with women, families and health and community groups to research and facilitate positive health outcomes for women in pregnancy, birth, the postnatal and early parenting.

Aims and Background

Aims:

The Mother Infant and Family Health Research Network (The MIFam Network) works collaboratively with women, families and health and community groups to research and facilitate positive health outcomes for women in pregnancy, birth, the postnatal and early parenting.

MIFam is led by Professor Virginia Schmied and Professor Hannah Dahlen and has a strong presence in Sydney's west, working with women, families, health and community groups as well as with national and international researchers. Our research embraces the diversity of cultures and their experiences.

SDG:

  • SDG3. Good Health and Wellbeing
  • SDG5.  Gender Equality

Researchers

  • Professor Hannah Dahlen
  • Distinguished Professor Lyn Kemp
  • Professor Virginia Schmied
  • Associate Professor Olayide Ogunsiji
  • Associate Professor Athena Sheenan
  • Associate Professor Elaine Burns
  • Dr Diana Jefferies
  • Dr Hazel Keedle
  • Dr Sheeja Pathrose
  • Dr Jann Foster
  • Dr Rakime Elmir
  • Dr Suza Trajkovski
  • Leanne Luck
  • Rachel Gregory

Studies and or areas of work

  • Keeping birth normal
  • Parental social and emotional health
  • Promoting healthy parenting and infant feeding practices
  • Improving care and outcomes for premature or sick infants and their families
  • Translational research to strengthen service design and delivery

Western Sydney University/NSW Collaborations/Engagements

  • TeEACH
  • THRI
  • NICM
  • MARCS
  • SPHERE MNW
  • SPHERE ELDoH
  • SPHERE DOMS
  • WHITU

Industry

  • Karitane
  • NSW Ministry of Health
  • Liverpool Hospital Women's and Children's Health
  • South West Sydney LHD
  • South West Sydney LHD
  • Community Health
  • Western Sydney LHD Community Health
  • Western Sydney Local Health District
  • WSLHD Community Health
  • Westmead Hospital
  • Blacktown Hospital
  • Nepean Hospital NBLHD
  • Life's Little Treasures Foundation, Melbourne
  • Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS)
  • Community Migrant Resource Centre
  • NSW Refugee Health
  • Parramatta City Council
  • St John of God Raphael Centre
  • Cumberland Hospital
  • NSW Pregnancy & Newborn Services Network
  • The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne
  • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
  • Wollongong Hospital
  • Blacktown Migrant Resource Centre
  • John Hunter Hospital
  • Westmead Children's Hospital
  • Australian College of Midwives
  • Ingham Institute
  • Holroyd Council

International Collaborations

  • Professor Fiona Dykes (UClan)
  • Professor Rikke Maimburg (Denmark)
  • Professor Christine Rubertsson (Sweden)
  • Professor Charlotte Overgaard (Sweden)
  • Dr Mail Edqvist (Sweden)

Adjuncts

  • Dr Holly Priddis

Higher Degree Research Students

  • Elizabeth Rigg
  • Suha Hussein
  • Sharon Coulton
  • Leonie Hewitt
  • Renae Coleman
  • Sarah Tapp
  • Makhosini Moyo
  • Phillipa Mann
  • Bridgit Philip
  • Jenny Doust
  • Louise Duursma
  • Louise Everitt
  • Hannah Skelton

Research Projects

Program Area 1: Improving pregnancy birth experiences and outcomes

'Keeping birth normal’ is a key policy platform within NSW Ministry of Health. Our research focuses on the facilitators and inhibitors of normal birth and on reducing unnecessary interventions and health complications in birth. This work also includes women who have poor health or medical complications in pregnancy such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, or health problems after birth such as severe perineal trauma.

Current and recent completed studies includes:

  • Analysis of linked data to determine the rate of maternal and neonatal morbidity associated with commonly performed pregnancy and birth interventions
  • Characteristics, trends, co-admissions and service needs of women admitted to residential parenting services in the year following giving birth in NSW
  • Epigenetic Influence and impact on childbirth (EPIIC) – a new international collaboration (Australia, UK and USA) dedicated to studying how common interventions and environmental factors around the time of birth may have an epigenetic impact on the mother and child
  • Does using a peanut ball during labour with an epidural affect birth outcomes? A pilot study
  • Sterile water injections for relief of back pain in labour – a qualitative study
  • Midwives’ perspectives and experiences of obstetric emergencies
  • Midwifery Initiated Oral Health NHMRC funded - TRESI

Higher Degree Research Student Projects (Current and Recently completed)

  • Interactions between midwives and women during antenatal consultations in different midwifery models of care (NSW Health and WSU RGS grant) (Ali Teate doctoral student)
  • Women’s reasons for and experiences of choosing a homebirth following a caesarean section  (Hazel Keedle doctoral student)
  • The role of Unregulated Birthworker in Australia from the perspective of workers and women (Elizabeth Rigg doctoral student)
  • Jordanian women’s experiences of episiotomy and related birth interventions – an intergenerational and inter-country study (Suha Hussein doctoral student)
  • The effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise on female sexual function in pregnancy and postpartum (PhD) Sahar Sobhgol
  • Understanding the development of postnatal posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth and its impact on women who access residential parenting services in NSW (Maddie Simpson)
  • Managing midwifery group practices (Leonie Hewitt)

Collaborative research:

  • The Place of Birth led by University of Technology, Sydney (NHMRC funded)

Maridulu Budyari Gumal - The Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) New South Wales. MIFam members are part of teams on several projects related to Program 5 that MIFam including:

  • SPERE CAG stream:  Maternal, Newborn and Women’s Health
  • Timing of birth: Right time, right place, right choice
  • SPHERE CAG stream: DOMS: Stemming the Tide: Better Health Outcomes in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Disease
  • Pre-pregnancy planning and contraception in women aged ≤25 years with pre-existing diabetes

Find out more about the research projects within the improving pregnancy birth experiences and outcomes program area.

Program Area 2: Social and emotional health in the perinatal period

Early identification and assessment of women and families with complex needs including mental health problems, domestic violence and drug and alcohol issues is becoming increasingly important. Our work in this area is examining how midwives and child and family health nurses identify and respond to women and families with complex social and emotional needs, examining effective service pathways and outcomes for women, infants and families. We have a specific interest in understanding how culture influences understandings of mental health issues in the perinatal period.

Current and recently completed studies include:

  • Characteristics, trends, co-admissions and service needs of women admitted to residential parenting services in the year following giving birth in NSW
  • The Perinatal Journey: The process and impact of psychosocial assessment
  • Opportunistic screening for domestic violence by community health care providers for peri-natal women
  • Tackling maternal anxiety: reconceptualising the mothering narrative
  • Fathers’ experiences of traumatic birth
  • Women's experience of pregnancy, birth and the perinatal period following an eating disorder

Student Projects (recent completed and current):

  • Understanding perinatal mental health in Indian-born immigrant women and men: A mixed methods study - Bridgit Philip
  • Understanding the development of postnatal posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth and its impact on women who access residential parenting services in NSW - Maddie Simpson
  • Refugee women’s experiences of  becoming a parent in a new country: a meta-ethnographic study - Jackie Pangas

Collaborative research:

  • A comparative effectiveness trial of integrated psychosocial assessment in the perinatal period led by the UNSW and St John of God Health Care

Find out more about the research projects within the social and emotional health in the perinatal period.

Program Area 3: Promoting healthy infant feeding and parenting practices

For over a decade our team and collaborators have studied the the transition to parenthood and the social and cultural context of infant feeding decisions in Australia and the impact of professional practice (including midwives, child and family health nurses, and lactation consultants), organisational culture and policies on breastfeeding decisions. Studies have included: interactions between midwives and lactation consultants around breastfeeding with women in postnatal units; implementation of the Baby Friendly Health Initiative, and breastfeeding support.

Current and recently completed studies include:

  • Mother-Infant Caring Communities: designing strategies to improve community support for breastfeeding.
  • A ‘known’ midwife or another mother: a study of professional and peer support provided to breastfeeding women during the first month after birth
  • Best Beginnings Mother to mother breastfeeding support: designing a professional and peer partnership model
  • Breastfeeding Friendly Communities at WSU
  • Infant feeding in foster care
  • Volunteering in infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E) in the European Refugee Crisis Audit of Australian Federal, State/Territory and Local Government Area plans and guidance for content related to infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E) es
  • Parenting experiences of refugee mothers and fathers in New South Wales, Australia.
  • Belonging in two families: exploring permanence options for children in   out-of-home care
  • Content analysis of foster carer recruitment materials in NSW
  • WECDI project: A collaborative approach to optimise child development in western Sydney: a study of community perspectives and needs

Student Projects (recently completed and current)

  • Facilitators and barriers to skin to skin contact following elective caesarean section (Jeni Stevens – doctoral student - completed)
  • Health promoting practices of Burmese migrant women living in Thailand (Titaree Phanwichatkul - doctoral student - completed)
  • Breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of baccalaureate nursing students in Taiwan: The BONUS Project (Shu Fei Yang - doctoral student.
  • The role and practice of lactation consultants in Australia  (Jen Hocking – doctoral student)

Collaborative projects

Maridulu Budyari Gumal - The Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) - is an integrated health science network of global significance in New South Wales. MIFam members are part of teams on several projects related to Program 5 that MIFam including:

SPERE Early Life Determinants of Health (CAG stream)

  • Supporting Children with Complex fEEding Difficulties (SuCCEED) Study
  • Understanding the Determinants of Refugee Emotional Health; a Comprehensive School and Preschool-Based Study

Find out about the promoting healthy infant feeding and parenting practices projects

Program Area 4: Improving care and outcomes for premature or sick infants and their families

Projects within the program area include:

  • Continuity of care(CoC) for parents whose infants required admission to neonatal intensive care (NICU) for a congenital anomaly: perceptions of families and health professionals.
  • Feeding transition in preterm infantS: unravelling the mystery (The travel study)
    • Tube feeding and feed transition practice in special care nurseries
    • Experiences of parents of infants in the NICU, SCN and following hospital discharge: An online survey
    • A qualitative exploration of the experiences of parents of infants in the NICU, SCN and following hospital discharge
  • An exploration of caregivers' feeding experiences of children with Cerebral Palsy (The CareFed-CP Study)
  • The experiences of migrant/refugee families experiencing NICU services

Student projects

  • Neonatal nurses perceptions of facilitating closeness between parents and infants with a congenital abnormality  Hannah Olley
  • Co-bedding of twins in the neonatal period – Philippa Mann

Collaborative research:

  • Feeding, growth, and developmental outcomes in Infants with congenital heart disease
  • Care of the late preterm infant in the postnatal setting

Find out more about the improving care and outcomes for premature or sick infants and their families program area.

Program Area 5: Investigating service system design, models of care and professional education

A key aim of the work conducted with in MIFam is to improve service design, delivery and professional practice. In particular, our research addresses how service design and organisational culture impact on evidence-based practice, service quality and on professional-client interactions and relationships and in turn, how these shape the experiences and decisions of women and their families. This program of work also focuses on improving teaching and learning experiences of midwifery and nursing students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Current and recently completed studies:

  • Mothers and Postnatal Care @ Blacktown (MAPcare)
  • Child Health: Researching Universal Services (CHoRUS): A study to investigate the feasibility of implementing a national approach to child and family health services (ARC linkage)
  • Improving postnatal processes, & pathways (POPPY) (WSU partnership grant)
  • WECDI project: A collaborative approach to optimise child development in western Sydney: a study of community perspectives and needs
  • Implementation of sustained nurse home visiting

Improving education for undergraduate and postgraduate midwifery and nursing students

Find out about the investigating service system design, models of care and professional education research projects

Publications

Edited Text book

  • Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H.G., Dixon, L. (2018). Midwifery Preparation for Practice (4e) Elsevier

Refereed articles 2017-2018

2019

  • Smith, C., Sabe, Z., Galbally, M., Schmied, V. and Dahlen, H. (2019), 'The effect of complementary medicines and therapies on maternal anxiety and depression in pregnancy : a systematic review and meta-analysis', Journal of Affective Disorders, vol 245 , pp 428 - 439.

2018

  • Rigg, E.C., Schmied, S., Peters, K., Dahlen, H.G. (2018). A survey of women in Australia who choose the care of unregulated birthworkers for a birth at home. Women and Birth. In press.
  • Pangas, J., Ogunsiji, O., Elmir, R., Raman, S., Liamputtong, P., Burns, E., Dahlen., H.G., Schmied, V. (2018). Refugee women’s experiences negotiating motherhood and maternity care in a new country: A meta-ethnographic review. International Journal Nursing Studies. In press.
  • Ajwani, S., Sousa, M.S., Villarosa, A.C., Bhole, S., Johnson, M., Dahlen, H.G., Hoolsema, J., Blinkhorn, A., Srinivas, R., Yaacoub, A., Milat, A., Skinner, J., George., A. (2018). Process Evaluation of the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health‐Dental Service Program: Perceptions of dental professionals. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. In press.
  • Keedle, H., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'The journey from pain to power : a meta-ethnography on women's experiences of vaginal birth after caesarean', Women and Birth, vol 31, no 1 , pp 69 - 79.
  • Keedle, H., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'The design, development, and evaluation of a qualitative data collection application for pregnant women', Journal of Nursing Scholarship, vol 50, no 1 , pp 47 - 55.
  • Ormsby, S., Dahlen, H., Ee, C., Keedle, H. and Smith, C. (2018), ''Acupuncture for antenatal depression : it's worth giving it a go' : a qualitative study', Women and Birth, vol 31, no 3 , pp 166 - 176.
  • Rossiter, C., Fowler, C., Hesson, A., Kruske, S., Homer, C. S. E., Kemp, L., & Schmied, V. (2018). Australian parents’ experiences with universal child and family health services. Collegian. doi:10.1016/j.Collegian.2018.09.002
  • Rossiter, C., Fowler, C., Hesson, A., Kruske, S., Homer, C. S. E., & Schmied, V. Australian parents’ use of universal child and family health services: A consumer survey. Health & Social Care in the Community, 0(0). doi:doi:10.1111/hsc.1266
  • Bridges, N., Howell, G., & Schmied, V. (2018a). Breastfeeding peer support on social Networking sites. Breastfeeding Review, 26(2), 17-27.
  • Bridges, N., Howell, G., & Schmied, V. (2018b). Exploring breastfeeding support on social media. International Breastfeeding Journal, 13(1). doi:10.1186/s13006-018-0166-9
  • Fogarty, S., Elmir, R., Hay, P., & Schmied, V. (2018). The experience of women with an eating disorder in the perinatal period: A meta-ethnographic study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18(1). doi:10.1186/s12884-018-1762-9
  • Priddis, H., Keedle, H. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'The perfect storm of trauma : the experiences of women who have experienced birth trauma and subsequently accessed residential parenting services in Australia', Women and Birth, vol 31, no 1 , pp 17 - 24.
  • Hussein, S., Dahlen, H., Ogunsiji, O. and Schmied, V. (2018), 'Women's experiences of childbirth in Middle Eastern countries : a narrative review', Midwifery, vol 59 , pp 100 - 111.
  • Ormsby, S., Dahlen, H. and Smith, C. (2018), 'Women's experiences of having depression during pregnancy and receiving acupuncture treatment: a qualitative study', Women and Birth, vol 31, no 6 , pp 469 - 478.
  • Levett, K., Dahlen, H., Smith, C., Finlayson, K., Downe, S. and Girosi, F. (2018), 'Cost analysis of the CTLB Study, a multitherapy antenatal education programme to reduce routine interventions in labour', BMJ Open, vol 8, no 2 .
  • Simpson, M., Schmied, V., Dickson, C. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'Postnatal post-traumatic stress : an integrative review', Women and Birth, vol 31, no 5 , pp 367 - 379.
  • Thornton, C., Dahlen, H. and Hennessy, A. (2018), 'Does induction of labour in nulliparous hypertensive women result in vaginal birth? : a descriptive study utilising birth registry data', Pregnancy Hypertension, vol 12 , pp 16 - 22.
  • George, A., Dahlen, H., Blinkhorn, A., Ajwani, S., Bhole, S., Ellis, S., Yeo, A., Elcombe, E. and Johnson, M. (2018), 'Evaluation of a midwifery initiated oral health-dental service program to improve oral health and birth outcomes for pregnant women : a multi centre randomised controlled trial', International Journal of Nursing Studies, vol 82 , pp 49 - 57.
  • Smith, C., Levett, K., Collins, C., Armour, M., Dahlen, H. and Suganuma, M. (2018), 'Relaxation techniques for pain management in labour [Intervention review]', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, vol 3 .
  • Smith, C., Levett, K., Collins, C., Dahlen, H., Ee, C. and Suganuma, M. (2018), 'Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour [Intervention Review]', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, vol 2018, no 3 .
  • Scarf, V., Rossiter, C., Vedam, S., Dahlen, H., Ellwood, D., Forster, D., Foureur, M., McLachlan, H., Oats, J., Sibbritt, D., Thornton, C. and Homer, C. (2018), 'Maternal and perinatal outcomes by planned place of birth among women with low-risk pregnancies in high-income countries : a systematic review and meta-analysis', Midwifery, vol 62 , pp 240 - 255.
  • Peters, L., Thornton, C., De Jonge, A., Khashan, A., Tracy, M., Downe, S., Feijen-de Jong, E. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'The effect of medical and operative birth interventions on child health outcomes in the first 28 days and up to 5 years of age : a linked data population-based cohort study', Birth, vol 45, no 4 , pp 347 - 357.
  • Dahlen, H., Munoz, A., Schmied, V. and Thornton, C. (2018), 'The relationship between intimate partner violence reported at the first antenatal booking visit and obstetric and perinatal outcomes in an ethnically diverse group of Australian pregnant women : a population-based study over 10 years', BMJ Open, vol 8, no 4 .
  • Myors, K. A., Cleary, M., Johnson, M., & Schmied, V. (2018). ‘Modelling a Secure-Base’ for Women with Complex Needs: Attachment-Based Interventions Used by Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Clinicians. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 39(3), 226-232. doi:10.1080/01612840.2017.1378784
  • Phanwichatkul, T., Burns, E., Liamputtong, P., & Schmied, V. (2018). The experiences of Burmese healthcare interpreters (Iam) in maternity services in Thailand. Women and Birth, 31(3), e152-e161. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2017.09.011
  • Yang, S. F., Salamonson, Y., Burns, E., & Schmied, V. (2018). Breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of health professional students: A systematic review. International Breastfeeding Journal, 13(1). doi:10.1186/s13006-018-0153-1
  • Yang, S. F., Schmied, V., Burns, E., Brodribb, W., & Salamonson, Y. (2018). Validation of the Chinese Version of the Australian Breastfeeding Attitude Questionnaire. Journal of Human Lactation. doi:10.1177/0890334418761567
  • Yang, S. F., Schmied, V., Burns, E., & Salamonson, Y. (2018). Breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of baccalaureate nursing students in Taiwan: A cohort study. Women and Birth. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2018.08.167
  • Priddis, H., Thornton, C., Fowler, C., Schmied, V., Tooher, J., Dickinson, M. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'Characteristics and service needs of women and babies admitted to residential parenting units in New South Wales : a mixed methods study', Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol 27, no 15-16 , pp 2963 - 2973.
  • Thornton, C. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'Born before arrival in NSW, Australia (2000-2011) : a linked population data study of incidence, location, associated factors and maternal and neonatal outcomes', BMJ Open, vol 8, no 3 .
  • Dahlen, H., Foster, J., Psaila, K., Spence, K., Badawi, N., Fowler, C., Schmied, V. and Thornton, C. (2018), 'Gastro-oesophageal reflux : a mixed methods study of infants admitted to hospital in the first 12 months following birth in NSW (2000-2011)', BMC Pediatrics, vol 18 .
  • Dahlen, H., Johnson, M., Hoolsema, J., Patterson Norrie, T., Ajwani, S., Blinkhorn, A., Bhole, S., Ellis, S., Srinivas, R., Yaacoub, A., Milat, A., Skinner, J. and George, A. (2018), '[In Press] Process evaluation of the midwifery initiated oral health-dental service program : perceptions of midwives in Greater Western Sydney, Australia', Women and Birth.
  • Hewitt, L., Priddis, H. and Dahlen, H. (2018), '[In Press] What attributes do Australian midwifery leaders identify as essential to effectively manage a Midwifery Group Practice?', Women and Birth.
  • Cole, L., LeCouteur, A., Feo, R. and Dahlen, H. (2018), '[In Press] "Trying to give birth naturally was out of the question" : accounting for intervention in childbirth', Women and Birth, In Press. .
  • Rigg, E., Schmied, V., Peters, K. and Dahlen, H. (2018), '[In Press] The role, practice and training of unregulated birth workers in Australia : a mixed methods study', Women and Birth. In Press.
  • Fox D, Sheehan A, Homer C, 2018, Birthplace in Australia : processes and interactions during the intrapartum transfer of women from planned homebirth to hospital, Midwifery, vol 57, pp 18-25, [REDI ID: 250740]
  • Arundell F, Mannix J, Sheehan A, Peters K, 2018, Workplace culture and the practice experience of midwifery students : a meta-synthesis, Journal of Nursing Management, vol 26, no 3, pp 302-313, [REDI ID: 250141]

Conversation articles 2018

  • Contributor to: We asked five experts: should all women do pelvic floor exercises? https://theconversation.com/we-asked-five-experts-should-all-women-do-pelvic-floor-exercises-95444
  • Dahlen, H., Schmied, V. (April 26th 2018) Pregnant women are at increased risk of domestic violence in all cultural groups https://theconversation.com/pregnant-women-are-at-increased-risk-of-domestic-violence-in-all-cultural-groups-95048
  • Dahlen, H. (April 12th 2018). So your birth didn’t go to plan? Don’t blame yourself. https://theconversation.com/so-your-birth-didnt-go-according-to-plan-dont-blame-yourself-89155
  • Dahlen, H. Peters, L. (March 26th 2018). How birth interventions affect babies’ health in the short and long term. https://theconversation.com/how-birth-interventions-affect-babies-health-in-the-short-and-long-term-93426
  • Dahlen, H. Thornton, C. (March 15th 2018). What to do when the baby is born before you get to hospital. https://theconversation.com/what-to-do-when-the-baby-is-born-before-you-get-to-hospital-84281
  • Barclay, L., Dahlen, H., Lee, N. (August 15th 2018). Australian is breaking records for intervention in childbirth, and the costs are many. https://croakey.org/australia-is-breaking-records-for-intervention-in-childbirth-and-the-costs-are-many/

Theme Leads


Women's Health Research


Women's Health Researchers within the School of Nursing and Midwifery are committed to improving the health and well-being of women.

Aims and Background

  • Our research is committed to improving the health of women and is aligned with the United Nations sustainable development goals of good health and well-being and gender equality. We believe that nurses and midwives are well positioned to advocate for women and drive cultural change that seeks to improve sustainable health outcomes for women across the lifespan.

SDG's

  • SDG3 Good Health and Wellbeing
  • SDG5 Gender Equality

Researchers

Studies and/or areas of work

  • Women’s health screening and Assessment
  • Health Promotion
  • Domestic and family violence
  • Underserved and marginalised groups
  • Gender equality and empowerment

Western Sydney University/NSW Collaborations/Engagements

WSU

  • Translational Health Research Institute (THRI)
  • Sigma Xi Omicron Chapter at-Large

Industry

  • Blacktown Women’s and Girls Health Centre
  • Community Migrant Resource Centre, Parramatta
  • Liverpool Women’s Health Centre
  • Multicultural Health, NSW

NSW

  • University of Wollongong, Australia
  • University of New England, Australia

International Collaborations

  • Afe Babalola University, Nigeria
  • Asia University, Taiwan
  • Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
  • King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
  • National University of Singapore
  • Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
  • University of Hong Kong
  • University of Ibadan, Nigeria
  • University of Johannesburg, South Africa
  • University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • VinUni, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • University of Ottawa, Canada

Adjuncts

  • Professor Eleanor Holroyd
  • Professor Abimbola Oluwatosin
  • Associate Professor Rochelle Einboden
  • Associate Professor Rebecca O’Reilly

HDR Student Projects

  • Sexual Health after Mastectomy: Experiences of Arabic Women
  • Promoting Oral Healthcare Among Women in Perimenopause/menopause: A Mixed Methods Study to Inform Intervention Strategies
  • Experiences of Workplace Gender Discrimination for Women in Nursing in Australia and New Zealand
  • Prevalence and Associated Factors of Gender-Based Violence against Women in Sub-Saharan Africa and the effect on Women’s Health Outcomes
  • Effect of Educational Interventions on the Knowledge and Attitude of Cervical Cancer Screening in Ethiopia
  • A Qualitative Exploration of the Perceived Causes, Impacts and Solutions to Domestic Violence with Aboriginal Women in Australia

Research Projects

  • Australian women’s knowledge and experiences of perimenopause and menopause
  • Muslim female students' experiences of tertiary education at Western: A student perspective
  • The sexual and reproductive health needs for women who live with disability and/or chronic conditions
  • Female genital mutilation/cutting: Understanding, meaning and health perceptions among staff and students in the University
  • Migrants and Refugee Women’s Response to COVID-19: A scoping review.
  • Women escaping intimate partner violence to achieve safe housing
  • Clinical Evaluation of the Wandi Nerida Residential Care Facility
  • Female genital mutilation (FGM): Constructions and effects on health of women living with its long-term consequences
  • Understanding factors associated with breast cancer screening behaviours among Vietnamese women in Australia.
  • Breast cancer screening behaviours among women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
  • Barriers and facilitators to breast and cervical cancer screening for women with physical disabilities.
  • Routine health screening: Attitudes and practices of women in South West Sydney.

Find out more about the Women's Health Screening Research Projects within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Theme Leads

CROSS ARCHING RESEARCH STRENGTHS


Health, Education and Workforce Research


The Education and Workforce Research (EWER) Group conduct collaborative educational and workplace research projects, including those focussing on academic literacy, student retention, preparedness for the workforce, optimising clinical placement and student engagement.

Aims and Background

Aims:

The EWER network, led by Dr Diana Jefferies and Annette Stunden, focuses on health workforce and educational research. Members of this group include academics, students and industry partners with ongoing research collaborations over the years among School academics and students, industry partners, as well as national and international collaborations. In the School of Nursing and Midwifery alone, over 50 academics and research students are undertaking EWER-related research.

It is becoming increasingly crucial for health workforce planning, given the complexity, diversity and impact of maintaining sustainable health workforce for optimal health outcomes. Several collaborative educational research projects are being undertaken, including those focussing on academic literacy, student retention and progression, preparedness for the health workforce, optimising clinical placement and blending learning and students’ academic engagement. Over 50 peer-reviewed publications have been generated by academics and students in the School of Nursing & Midwifery in the area of workforce and educational research in health, in the last 5 years.

The EWER research program area are:

  • Innovation and assessments
  • Clinical experience of nursing students
  • Health workforce
  • Retention and academic success

Researchers

Research Projects

  • Examining Resilience and Grit among Students in Midwifery and Nursing Programs: The ERGATE Project
  • Evaluating the impact of academic support: The Drop-In Support Centre
  • Student Engagement Using Multiple Attempt ‘Weekly Participation Task’ Quizzes (SMAQ)

Find out more about the Education and Workplace Research Projects within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Recent Publications

Papers:

Martin, M., Ramjan, L. M. Everett, B., Glew, P., Lynch, J., & Salamonson, Y. (2018). Exploring nursing students' experiences of a drop-in support centre: A mixed-methods study. Nurse Education Today, 69: 1-7 DOI:10.1016/j.nedt.2018.06.026.

Salamonson, Y., Priddis, H., Woodmass, J. M., Everett, B., Lynch, J., Curtis, E., & Ramjan, L. M. (Accepted 16 June 2018). The price of journeying towards the prize - Commencing nursing students’ experiences of working and studying: A qualitative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, DOI: 10.1111/jocn.14583.

Conferences:

Hughes, M., Salamonson, Y. & Metcalfe, L. (Under review, Submitted 03 November 2018, Manuscript ID: 2018_734). Student engagement using multiple-attempt ‘Weekly Participation Task’ quizzes with undergraduate nursing students. Nurse Education in Practice.

Martin, M., Salamonson, Y., Ramjan, L., Glew, P., Lynch, J., & Everett, B.. “The Drop-in-Support-Centre: Connecting with academic support, study buddies, and more...” Poster presentation at 2017 ‘Make Change Happen’: The Australian College of Nursing 2017 National Nursing Forum Conference, 21-23 August 2017 | The Star, Sydney, Australia.

Martin, M., Salamonson, Y., Ramjan, L., Glew, P., Lynch, J., & Everett, B.. “The Drop-in-Support-Centre: Connecting with academic support, study buddies, and more...” Poster presentation at 2017 (Reference No: 17566) Students Transitions Achievement Retention & Success (STARS) Conference, 2-5 July 2017 | Stamford Grand Adelaide, Australia.

Metcalfe, L., Salamonson, Y., & Hughes, M. | Using multiple-attempt ‘weekly participation task’quizzes with undergraduate nursing students.| Poster presentation, NNEC 2018: 17th National Nurse Education Conference held 1-4 May 2018 at Melbourne, Victoria, Crown Promenade, Melbourne, Australia.

Metcalfe, L., Salamonson, Y., & Hughes, M. | Student engagement using multiple-attempt ‘weekly participation task’quizzes.| Oral presentation, NNEC 2018: 17th National Nurse Education Conference held 1-4 May 2018 at Melbourne, Victoria, Crown Promenade, Melbourne, Australia.

Priddis, H., Sheehan, A., Koch, J., Lynch, J., Curtis, E., Gregory-Wilson, R., & Salamonson, Y. “Examining Resilience and Grit among Students in Midwifery & Nursing Programs: The ERGATE Project?” Poster-Oral presentation at 2016 Students Transitions Achievement Retention & Success (STARS) Conference, 29 June - 2 July 2016 | Pan Pacific Perth, Australia.

Contact

Dr Diana Jefferies
Phone:  +61  2 9685 9304
Email:  d.jefferies@westernsydney.edu.au 

Annette Stunden
Phone:  +61 9685 9812 
Email:  a.stunden@westernsydney.edu.au


Mental Health Research


Research into mental health is a priority in the School and is evidenced through projects that  address mental health across the lifespan and within the community and mental health facilities.

Aims and Background

Aims:

  • To address mental health across the lifespan within the community and mental health facilities.

Researchers

Higher Degree Research Students

  • Leone Pike:  Suicide risk assessment and follow up care: experiences of Mental Health Nurses.
  • Bridgit Philip: Understanding perinatal mental health in Indian-born immigrant women and men: A mixed methods study.
  • Jaskaran Singh: What impact does inpatient aggression/violence have on physical and psychological wellbeing of mental health clients who experience this aggression while staying in-patient mental health settings?
  • Mark Wilburn:  Intention to Pursue a Career in Mental Health Nursing Among Undergraduate Students (Intent) Project.

Research Projects

  • Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill (CAMI) among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community attitudes towards people with mental illness.
  • Validating the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale to measure Arabic community attitudes towards people with mental illness.
  • Validating the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale to measure Arabic community attitudes towards people with mental illness.
  • Narratives of Family Members of People Who Die as a Result of Suicide.
  • Mentoring - A Novel Approach to Support Hope for Recovery in People with Eating Disorders.
  • Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Bibliotherapy among Young PeoplE with CanceR: The EMBER Project
  • Perinatal mental health projects

Find out more about the Mental Health Research Projects within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Theme Leads

Dr Gillian Murphy
Telephone:  (02) 4570 1280
Email:  g.murphy@westernsydney.edu.au


Oral Health (ACIOH)


The Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH) is the first research centre of its kind in Australia and focuses on interdisciplinary oral health and capacity building and training non-oral health professionals and undergraduate students in providing oral health education, screening and referrals to their patients.

Aims and Background

Poor oral health can have a negative impact on various systematic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Unfortunately the majority of the population are unaware of the impact of poor oral health on systemic health and seldom seek dental care. Oral health is also often neglected in general clinical practice and patient care in Australia.

To address this it is now recommended that non-oral health professionals such as nurses, midwives and doctors play a more active role in promoting oral health among their patients. To facilitate this, South Western Sydney Local Health District Oral Health Service and the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University formed the Centre for Oral Health Outcomes & Research Translation (ACIOH); an innovative research centre affiliated with, and located within, the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (www.cohortaustralia.com).

ACIOH is now transitioning to the Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH – www.acioh.com), the leading national research centre in integrated oral health care and translational research - a key focus of Australia's National Oral Health plan (2015-2024). ACIOH has numerous partners including universities, health services, government departments and professional organisations.

  • To build capacity within the broader health and dental workforce
  • To develop new integrated models of oral health care across the lifespan.

Researchers and Support Staff

  • Professor Ajesh George, Co-Founder and Director of ACIOH
  • Dr Bradley Christian, Adjunct Fellow and Deputy Director of ACIOH
  • Shwetha Kezhekkekara , Research Officer and PhD student
  • Tiffany Patterson Norrie, Research Officer
  • Akriti Biswas, Research Assistant
  • Alisha Ouch, Research Administrative Assistant
  • Vipin Jain, PhD Student
  • Namitha Thomas, PhD Student
  • Jacqueline Rojo, PhD Student
  • Alisha Johnson, PhD Student
  • Tanya Mahony, MRes Student
  • Dr Paula Sanchez, School of Nursing & Midwifery
  • Prof Nathan Wilson, School of Nursing & Midwifery
  • Prof Lucie Ramjan, School of Nursing & Midwifery
  • Dr Kazem Razhagi, School of Nursing & Midwifery
  • Dr Masoud Golakani, School of Nursing & Midwifery
  • Joan Lynch, School of Nursing & Midwifery
  • Dr Tebbin (Fung Kuen) Koo,  School of Nursing & Midwifery
  • Dr Mariana Sousa- Adjunct Fellow, School of Nursing & Midwifery
  • Adjunct A/Prof Jed Montayre, School of Nursing & Midwifery

Collaborators, Affiliates and Partners

  • Australian Dental Association NSW
  • Australian Diabetes Educators Association
  • Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW, Ministry of Health
  • Diabetes Australia NSW
  • George Institute for Global Health
  • Greater Western Aboriginal Health Services
  • Karitane
  • Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District
  • Northern Sydney Local Health District
  • NSW Health
  • Poche Centre for Indigenous Health
  • South Western Sydney Local Health District
  • Sydney Dental Hospital
  • Sydney Local Health District
  • Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE)
  • Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation
  • University of New South Wales
  • University of Sydney
  • University of Technology Sydney
  • Western Sydney Local Health District

Research Projects

The ACIOH research streams current projects are:

Oral health in pregnancy

  • The Midwifery-Initiated Oral Health (MIOH) Program
  • Implementing and evaluating an oral health module for the WSU Bachelor of Midwifery program (BMIOH)
  • Developing perinatal oral health guidelines for Dentists and prenatal care providers (PERIOH)

Paediatric oral health

  • Reducing dental decay in young children through an antenatal intervention: A longitudinal cohort study of MIOH kids (MIOH kids)
  • Designing, implementing and evaluating an online early childhood oral health module (ECOH-M) for the Masters of Family Health at Western Sydney University
  • Developing a Dietitian Initiated program for oral health and eating disorders

Oral health of Aboriginal people

  • The Gudaga and Bulundidi Gudaga Projects
  • Capacity building Aboriginal health workers in oral health promotion: A new model of care for Indigenous pregnant women

Oral health and cardiovascular health and stroke

  • Developing a cardiovascular oral health program: a mixed methods study (CARDIOH)
  • Integrated dental care after stroke (IDeaS)

Oral health and cancer

  • Assessing the oral cancer risk behaviours of Indian immigrants in Australia

Oral health and diabetes

  • Developing a diabetes oral health program: A mixed methods study (DIOH)

Oral health, ageing and palliative care

  • Developing, implementing and evaluating a palliative oral health program for patients in South Western Sydney (PALLIOH)
  • Improving oral health outcomes for people living with disability and in residential care facilities (ACOH)

Oral health and disability

  • Improving oral health outcomes of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Find out more about the Oral Health Research Projects within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Recent Publications

Link to publications https://acioh.com/publications/

Contact


Translational Research and Social Innovation (TReSI)


TReSI conducts translational research that develops and supports implementation of social and system innovations.

Aims and Background

Aims:

TReSI’s mission is to conduct translational research that develops and supports implementation of social and system innovations that ensure that evidence-based interventions reach the people who need them, and are implemented with quality.

TReSI is based at the Ingham Institute, and conducts research on understanding the processes for community-based delivery to whole populations at scale.

TReSI’s work has a particular focus on developing research methods and frameworks for translational research. These methods have wide application and are being explored for issues ranging from cancer treatments to health policy implementation.

At the core of TReSI’s work is the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home Visiting (MECSH) program. Pronounced like the word ‘mesh’, MECSH is a high-quality, evidence-based, nurse-led intervention for families needing extra support. MECSH has proven effective in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families as well as culturally and linguistically diverse families in Australia. MECSH programs are currently operating globally, including the UK, the Channel Islands, South Korea and the USA.

TReSI also works with the Volunteer Family Connect (VFC) program. This community-based strategy, linking vulnerable and isolated families with volunteers in their local community, runs across seven sites in four Australian states.

Currently in development are strategies to support children and young people living in the out-of-home care system, and their families (both biological and foster).

Each of these programs are designed to work with families to create a more developmentally nurturing environment for the children. MECSH and VFC have proven effective in linking clients to appropriate services, increasing parenting confidence, encouraging positive parent-child relationships and fostering a sense of belonging and resilience.

Researchers and Collaborations

  • Distinguished Professor Lynn Kemp - Director
  • Tracey Bruce - MECSH Implementation Nurse Consultant
  • Fiona Byrne - Research Officer
  • Emma Elcombe - Senior Research Officer, Statistical Analyst
HDR Students
  • Bridgit Phillip - Constructions of perinatal mental health amongst recent Indian immigrants to Australia: a mixed method study - PhD
  • Jaylene Shannon - Addressing support needs of carers, children, and young people to improve permanency outcomes in out-of-home care - PhD

Collaborations

  • Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH)
  • Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY)
  • Department of Communities and Justice
  • The Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research
  • Karitane
  • South Western Sydney Local Health District
  • Sydney Local Health District
  • Uniting
  • WentWest

Research Projects

  • Sustained nurse home visiting for culturally and linguistically diverse families with limited English language proficiency.
  • Reconceptualising the Service System from the Perspectives of Experienced Children and Teens (ReSPECT)
  • Volunteer Family Connect (VFC) Program
  • Bulundidi Gadaga
  • Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting (MESCH) Program.

Find out more about the Translational Research and Social Innovation Projects within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Recent Publications

Blythe, S., Elcombe, E., Peters, K., Burns, E., & Gribble, K. (2022). Australian foster carers' views of supporting maternal breastfeeding and attachment in out-of-home care. Child Abuse & Neglect130, 105360.

Bonakdar Tehrani, M., Kemp, L., & Baird, K. (2022). Sustained nurse home‐visiting with culturally and linguistically diverse families: Australian nurses’ perspectives. Public Health Nursing39(1), 40-47.

Goldfeld, S., Bryson, H., Mensah, F., Price, A., Gold, L., Orsini, F., ... & Kemp, L. (2022). Nurse home visiting to improve child and maternal outcomes: 5-year follow-up of an Australian randomised controlled trial. Plos one17(11), e0277773.

Kanda, K., Blythe, S., Grace, R., Elcombe, E., & Kemp, L. (2022). Does customised care improve satisfaction and positively enable parents in sustained home visiting for mothers and children experiencing adversity?. BMC health services research22(1), 1-12.

Kemp, L., Bruce, T., Elcombe, E. L., Byrne, F., Scharkie, S. A., Perlen, S. M., & Goldfeld, S. R. (2022). Identification of families in need of support: Correlates of adverse childhood experiences in the right@ home sustained nurse home visiting program. Plos one17(10), e0275423.

Kemp, L., Elcombe, E., Sumpton, W., Hook, B., Cowley, S., & Byrne, F. (2022). Evaluation of the impact of the MECSH programme in England: A mixed methods study. Journal of Health Visiting10(5), 200-214.

Oei, J. L., Blythe, S., Dicair, L., Didden, D., Preisz, A., & Lantos, J. (2022). What’s in a name? The ethical implications and opportunities in diagnosing an infant with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Addiction.

Visit the TReSI’s Researchers’ staff profile for up to date publications.

Contact

Phone: +61 2 8738 9387
Email: tresi@westernsydney.edu.au

Our School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Collaborations are:

Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research (CNMR)


The Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research (CNMR) collaborates with the health sector (NBMLHD; NSW Health; ATSI Health organisations), relevant industry, and the University’s Research Institutes (e.g. THRI), Centres and Groups; and seeks opportunities for Research Fellowships.

The Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research (CNMR) collaborates with the health sector (NBMLHD; NSW Health; ATSI Health organisations), relevant industry, and the University’s Research Institutes (e.g. THRI), Centres and Groups; and seeks opportunities for Research Fellowships.

The Centre aims to:

  • Build research capacity in the NBMLHD and at Western Sydney University through nursing and midwifery research in NBMLHD
  • Affect practice change in nursing and midwifery through translational research strategies
  • Diversify research income through collaborative partnerships
  • Improve ERA performance and quality
  • Develop engagement and impact strategies
  • Develop theme areas in research

In addition, the Centre aims to develop a strong narrative that promotes CNMR's capabilities and articulates their niche in the regional, national and international research landscape.

Find out more about the Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research (CNMR).

Australian Centre for Integration or Oral Health (ACIOH)


ACIOH is the first research centre of its kind in Australia and focuses on interdisciplinary oral health and capacity building and training non-oral health professionals and undergraduate students in providing oral health education, screening and referrals to their patients.

It is recommended that non-oral health professionals such as nurses, midwives and doctors play a more active role in promoting oral health among their patients. To facilitate this, South Western Sydney Local Health District Oral Health Service and the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University have formed the Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH); a new and innovative research centre affiliated with, and located within, the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.

The ACIOH research programs include oral health in pregnancy; paediatric oral health; oral health of Aboriginal people; oral health and cardiovascular health and stroke; oral health and cancer; oral health and diabetes; oral health, ageing and palliative care; oral health and disability.

Find out about the ACIOH Research Projects within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

The New South Wales Centre for Evidence Health Care (NSWCEBHC)


Generating systematic review evidence and training to improve healthcare outcomes globally.

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The New South Wales Centre for Evidence Based Health Care: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, located at Western Sydney University  is a collaborating centre of  JBI (opens in a new window). The NSWCEBHC was established in 2001 within the School of Nursing and Midwifery - Western Sydney University. The NSWCEBHC is a multidisciplinary centre that promotes and generates high quality systematic reviews to inform practice-decision making to improve health outcomes in specific populations, cultures and settings.

Our objectives are to:

  • Generate systematic review evidence
  • Provide systematic review mentoring
  • Promote systematic review evidence to community and industry partners
  • To mentor health student and professionals skills in systematic reviews

The NSWCEBHC provides leadership and collaborative opportunities in systematic review evidence generation and mentor ship for health students and professionals.

For more information about The New South Wales Centre for Evidence Based Health Care please contact Dr Sheeja Perumbil Pathrose or Dr Hazel Keedle.

Western Sydney Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre (WSNMRC)


To lead, empower and support nurses and midwives to conduct high-quality research to improve the health outcomes for individuals and the Greater Western Sydney region.

Established in 2017, the WSNMRC is a collaboration between Western Sydney Local Health District and Western Sydney University to lead, empower and support nurses and midwives to conduct high-quality research to improve the health outcomes for individuals and the Greater Western Sydney region.

The centre provides unique opportunities for clinical staff from Western Sydney Local Health District and Bachelor of Nursing or Midwifery (Honours), Masters and PhD students, as well as more established researchers to collaborate with our experienced academic clinical researchers to design, conduct, implement and disseminate research. This is achieved by developing a culture that promotes innovation and collaboration, both within the professions but also encouraging the development of transdisciplinary research with key stakeholders and industry.

Find out more about the Western Sydney Nursing & Midwifery Research Centre (WSNMRC).