Health and disability : partnerships in action

Matthew is a 15-year-old adolescent boy who lives with his parents, Boon Hock and Guek, and brother Benjamin in Melaka Malaysia. Matthew loves exercising in the park, going to school and dressing smartly like his brother. Matthew has an intellectual disability and autism, and attends a special school. In this story, Matthew's parents reflect on the time around the diagnoses of his disabilities, and their experiences with health care professionals. They describe the changes in Matthew as he has grown from child to adolescent. The impact of Matthew's developmental disabilities on his likfe and that of his brother and parents are explored, and their hopes and plans for the future are discussed

Genetic research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities : continuing the conversation

Genetics is at the forefront of medical research, but it is rarely used in Indigenous health research projects. This discussion paper is the outcome of the first ever national discussion of the conduct of genetic research in Indigenous communities in Australia convened by the Lowitja Institute in 2010. It reviews the ethical issues relevant to genetic research in an Australian Indigenous context; existing guidelines for genetic research in indigenous communities internationally; and literature on genetic literacy in Indigenous contexts. Finally, the discussion paper presents a summary of the productive and challenging conversations at the round table.

A participatory workplace health and safety training program for ethylene oxide

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has regulated ethylene oxide (EtO) on the basis of its acute toxicity and its potential carcinogenic and reproductive effects since 1971. OSHA's 1984 EtO standard and its 1988 revisions focused new attention on health and safety training and other preventive measures. An EtO health and safety training program for hospital sterilization workers was developed by the staff of an independent occupational and environmental health clinic. Participatory and empowerment training methods were central to the approach. Also included were hands-on, demonstration, interactive presentation, and other methods. An EtO Health and Safety Training Manual was developed based on the training experiences. This paper presents the challenges, benefits, and limitations of incorporating participatory and empowerment approaches in the design, implementation, and evaluation of EtO health and safety training.

Skeletal muscle mitochondria : a major player in exercise, health and disease.

Maintaining skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and function is important for sustained health throughout the lifespan. Exercise stimulates important key stress signals that control skeletal mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Perturbations in mitochondrial content and function can directly or indirectly impact skeletal muscle function and consequently whole-body health and wellbeing.

The act of giving: a pilot and feasibility study of the My Life Story programme designed to foster positive mental health and well-being in adolescents and older adults

Twelve pairs of adolescent students were linked to an older adult in aged care in this pilot study on intergenerational interaction. Triads met weekly for eight weeks with the aim of writing a Life Review Book for the older adult. At the conclusion of the study, participants were interviewed to gain an understanding of their experiences and meaning of the programme. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed four major themes: breaking down the stereotypes, recognition of heterogeneity, satisfaction from ‘making the effort’ and personal gain through making a contribution. Measures of psychological well-being were also administered pre- and post-delivery of the programme. This revealed that both age groups could and would complete all aspects of the programme. It was concluded from the findings that the intergenerational programme is feasible in the context of adolescent and older adult intergenerational relationships, and a potential influence on well-being for those who take part.