Applying a we al-li educaring framework to address histories of violence with Aboriginal women

An Aboriginal woman living in a remote area is 45 times more likely to experience domestic violence than their white peers. (Gordon et al, 2002) The nature of that violence is multi-layered, complex and incorporates a history of intergenerational loss, grief, trauma and the impact of colonisation, as discussed by Atkinson, C (2008). It involves women, children, families, communities. It is a story about people, many of whom find themselves in trouble with the legal system. Of the 25 male parents who killed their children in a domestic violence context five identified as Aboriginal (20%) (NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team Annual Report, 2015, p.17). The percentage of women in Victorian prisons who have been victims of sexual, physical or emotional abuse has been reported to be 87% (Johnson, 2004). This figure is supported by the latest Ombudsman’s report on Victorian Prisons (2015).None of the 17 females who killed their children identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team Annual Report 2015, p.18). The most common charge/offence for both Aboriginal men and women is an act intended to cause injury (see Figure 2).The stories of women in this program and anecdotal evidence from people working in the field reveals that most of this violence is lateral, ie within families and communities which is not an uncommon occurrence where there is a history of colonisation.

Use of focus groups to identify health promotion strategies for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy

BACKGROUND: People with diabetes do not regularly utilise eye services for the early prevention of vision loss due to diabetic eye disease. A community-based screening program has been initiated in Victoria to address this issue. To encourage people to take preventive eye health care measures, the most effective health promotion strategies were identified. METHODS: Thirty-three health professionals were invited to attend focus groups. A sample of 35 people with diabetes was approached by their GPs or diabetes educators because of their motivation to participate in diabetes activities. Each group consisted of 10 members. Discussion points included the type of education messages available to people with diabetes; use of eye services among the participants with diabetes; and strategies required promoting the screening service. RESULTS: Five focus groups were conducted. The discussions highlighted that a great deal could be achieved by using local community networks to promote the benefits of early detection of diabetic retinopathy and local screening program. The group members recommended that particular attention be directed to general practitioners and their distribution of materials to patients. Key issues for planning and implementing the program were highlighted. The groups urged development of strategies to encourage people with diabetes in rural Victoria to participate in a program for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy.

'Imagine if I gave up smoking ...': a qualitative exploration of Aboriginal participants' perspectives of a self-management pilot training intervention

This paper reports on a pilot qualitative study investigating Aboriginal participants' perspectives of the Flinders Living Well Smoke Free (LWSF) 'training intervention'. Health workers nationally have been trained in this program, which offers a self-management approach to reducing smoking among Aboriginal clients. A component of the training involves Aboriginal clients volunteering their time in a mock care-planning session providing the health workers with an opportunity to practise their newly acquired skills. During this simulation, the volunteer clients receive one condensed session of the LWSF intervention imitating how the training will be implemented when the health workers have completed the training. For the purpose of this study, 10 Aboriginal clients who had been volunteers in the mock care-planning process, underwent a semi-structured interview at seven sites in Australia, including mainstream health services, Aboriginal community controlled health services and remote Aboriginal communities. The study aimed to gauge their perspectives of the training intervention they experienced. Early indications suggest that Aboriginal volunteer clients responded positively to the process, with many reporting substantial health behaviour change or plans to make changes since taking part in this mock care-planning exercise. Enablers of the intervention are discussed along with factors to be considered in the training program.

Descriptive evaluation of smoking cessation

Introduction: The Northern Alliance HARP smoking cessation program provides support to chronic disease participants who desired to quit smoking. This is an individualised program with pharmacotherapy and behavioural support, delivered by specialist clinicians.

Aims: The aims of this descriptive evaluation were to explore factors that affect abstinence rates, record those rates, and describe the impact of anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, quality of life and motivation on quit rates at three months.

Methods: Data was collected prospectively from clients enrolled in the service. Participants were assessed for abstinence at three months, six months and one year by carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring and self-reporting. Factors predictive of quitting were analysed using logistic regression; factors with a p value < 0.05 and 95% CI not containing one were considered statistically significant.

Results: 103 clients were assessed and 86 were enrolled in the program. The odds of successful quitting at three months CO verified was higher amongst completers of the program compared to non-completers (OR = 6.6, 95% CI = 2.03–21.57, p = 0.002). The probability of sustained quitting at one year was over 18 times higher in the group who completed the program (n = 16/21 completers and n = 1/4 non-completers) (OR 18.5, 95% CI, 2.32–147.34, p = 0.006). No other factors predicted quitting.

The rate of quitting was 28.7% at three months, 19.5% at six months and 10.3% at one year, CO verified. Measures of anxiety and depression, self-efficacy, quality of life and motivation did not influence either the quit rate or the likelihood of completing the course of treatment at three months.

A multimedia mobile phone-based youth smoking cessation intervention: findings from content development and piloting studies

BACKGROUND: While most young people who smoke want to quit, few access cessation support services. Mobile phone-based cessation programs are ideal for young people: mobile phones are the most common means of peer communication, and messages can be delivered in an anonymous manner, anywhere, anytime. Following the success of our text messaging smoking cessation program, we developed an innovative multimedia mobile phone smoking cessation intervention.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to develop and pilot test a youth-oriented multimedia smoking cessation intervention delivered solely by mobile phone.

METHODS: Development included creating content and building the technology platform. Content development was overseen by an expert group who advised on youth development principles, observational learning (from social cognitive theory), effective smoking cessation interventions, and social marketing. Young people participated in three content development phases (consultation via focus groups and an online survey, content pre-testing, and selection of role models). Video and text messages were then developed, incorporating the findings from this research. Information technology systems were established to support the delivery of the multimedia messages by mobile phone. A pilot study using an abbreviated 4-week program of video and text content tested the reliability of the systems and the acceptability of the intervention.

RESULTS: Approximately 180 young people participated in the consultation phase. There was a high priority placed on music for relaxation (75%) and an interest in interacting with others in the program (40% would read messages, 36% would read a blog). Findings from the pre-testing phase (n = 41) included the importance of selecting "real" and "honest" role models with believable stories, and an interest in animations (37%). Of the 15 participants who took part in the pilot study, 13 (87%) were available for follow-up interviews at 4 weeks: 12 participants liked the program or liked it most of the time and found the role model to be believable; 7 liked the role model video messages (5 were unsure); 8 used the extra assistance for cravings; and 9 were happy with two messages per day. Nine participants (60%) stopped smoking during the program. Some technical challenges were encountered during the pilot study.

CONCLUSIONS: A multimedia mobile phone smoking cessation program is technically feasible, and the content developed is appropriate for this medium and is acceptable to our target population. These results have informed the design of a 6-month intervention currently being evaluated for its effectiveness in increasing smoking cessation rates in young people.

Variable integrity testing of software

This paper provides a method of variable integrity testing to detect the faults of software. By checking the definition domain of the variable itself and the restriction condition of consistency between variables, we only need to determine the bound of each output data, rather than the exact value. Although the output of testing case cannot be easily caught, this method can improve the efficiency of detecting faults. Furthermore, the checking point is not limited to the final output place, but spreads over the reference places in the program code to key variables just like those at the checkpoints under debugging. As a consequence, the testing becomes more precise.

Technics & touch: body / matter / machine

This exhibition project tested the limits of human and robot proficiencies through a series of experimental scenarios. The project explored methods of producing feedback systems through perception and action cycles. The exhibition consisted of two parallel events: a laboratory space where the artists were 'in-residence', producing drawings in conjunction with the robot; and a procedural drawing exhibition in an adjoining space, where the outcomes of this human/non-human team were exhibited alongside the work of practitioners who have been exploring rule-based drawing for some time. The aim was to make and to discuss approaches to embodied, expanded and autonomous intelligent systems.

Are self-administered or minimal therapist contact psychotherapies an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Irritable bowel syndrome is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal condition that is known to be associated with maladaptive psychological coping and is extremely costly to the health-care system. Psychotherapy has been found to improve both physical and psychological symptoms in IBS. However, it is unknown whether 'no therapist' or 'minimal therapist' contact self-help psychotherapy programs are effective treatments for IBS. Thus, this paper aims to determine whether 'no therapist' or 'minimal therapist' contact self-help psychotherapy programs are effective treatments for IBS. METHODS: A search of PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, and Ebscohost research databases was conducted without language or date restriction in July 2012. RESULTS: Nine relevant publications were included in the final review, all of which were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and included an intervention that was primarily self-administered. It was found that 'no therapist' contact self-help programs are likely to have poor results due to lack of engagement in the program, whilst 'minimal therapist' contact programs appear to produce positive results in terms of symptom relief. Trends towards 'minimal therapist' contact self-help programs having a positive impact on quality of life (QOL) and psychological outcomes were evident. CONCLUSION: 'Minimal therapist' contact psychotherapy programs have the potential to reduce healthcare seeking behaviour and potentially reduce healthcare costs. However, further studies need to be conducted to confirm this effect as there is poor standardisation in the measurements of the available studies.