University Student Support Systems, Help-Seeking Behaviour And The Management Of Student Psychological Distress

The issue of student management and retention remains one of the most pertinent considerations for any university. In a climate of increasing awareness of mental and physical health issues, university policy development needs to adapt to ensure all students engage with and utilise support services effectively. It would appear that there are various influences on a student’s university experience, including learning abilities and styles, impact of life events and situations, for example, housing and finance, availability of support services and the ability of an individual to seek out appropriate help. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, in combination with the Health Belief Model can provide a strong foundation for universities to begin to understand why a student may not achieve their potential, or may depart prematurely. This theoretical interaction postulates how needs are determined and prioritised subsequently influences help-seeking behaviour. The application of this interaction assists with developing a picture of students who have ongoing issues, for example: housing, finance, and lack of family support, and how these issues can lead to problems with learning, achievement, and ultimately academic performance. The purpose of this thesis is concerned with seeking to understand how and why students access support services within the university setting, and whether the support services have an impact on the levels of psychological distress. This thesis was conducted in two phases, both collecting data through the use of surveys. Phase one, intended to collect information directly from support services concerning students who were accessing them, however, phase one did not achieve its aim due to lack of responses from support services. Phase two profiled the experience of students who have interacted with support services; this profile assisted in a review of relevant services including how the provision of university support services potentially affects student’s psychological distress. Results revealed a lack of data for measuring service outcomes, for example measures of psychological distress, which might impact on students’ ability to succeed at university. Recommendations were generated based on the discussion relating to the lack of phase one data and the phase two student profile, these recommendations aiming to enhance the ability of university systems to identify and promote effective help-seeking behaviour, and the efficacy of those systems in reducing psychological distress. The implications of this research include the potential for enhancing operational policies relating to student management and retention within Australian universities

Richard T. Bostwick Reminiscence Papers

Reminiscence (72 typed leaves) written by Richard T. Bostwick later in life (1970s and 1980s?) regarding his years living in Fargo, N.D. from circa 1926 to the 1940s when the family moved to Washington. The two major topics are working on welfare & working at the Cass County Welfare Office and his job driving a taxicab in Fargo in the 1930s. The reminiscence goes into great detail regarding his work, supporting his family and many interesting and sometimes humorous stories related to driving a taxicab. Typed transcription of Bostwick's reminiscence done by granddaughter Nancy Glen in 2001

Staff perceptions on the effectiveness of GRiP-S, a new approach to clinical supervision incorporating safewards: An interpretive phenomenological analysis

This study explored the impact of an innovative approach to clinical supervision for mental health nurses which integrates Safewards, named Group Reflective integrated Practice with Safewards–GRiP-S. Qualitative data was collected through 10 individual semi-structured interviews with nursing staff who had participated within the clinical supervision approach. Interviews provided insights into the nursing staff’s perception and experience of the clinical supervision approach. Through interpretive phenomenological analysis six themes emerged (i) illuminating embodied practice of Safewards, (ii) building confidence through empowering connections, (iii) creating a culture of positive change, (iv) identifying internal motivation for and external barriers to supervision engagement, (v) navigating a global pandemic, and (vi) the transformative role of reflection. Findings demonstrated that the GRiP-S approach assisted mental health nurses’ adoption of Safewards interventions in practice, while supporting the development of a cohesive staff team. The impact of COVID-19 within the study setting was addressed and nurses identified how the Safewards model assisted in navigating challenges during this time. Findings further supported prior research on the role of the supervisor and supervisee relationship. This study supports the integration of Safewards within reflective clinical supervision for mental health nursing staff to assist in Safewards fidelity and nursing staff personal and professional development

Getting a grip on Safewards: The cross impact of clinical supervision and Safewards model on clinical practice

The Safewards model is used across various mental health settings to reduce incidents of conflict and containment and its efficacy in reducing the use of seclusion and restraint, improving patients\u27 experiences of care, and enhancing safety within clinical settings is well documented (Bowers, Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 21, 2014, 499). However, there are barriers to successful implementation, including level of staff buy-in (Baumgardt et al., Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 2019, 340; Price et al., Mental Health Practice, 19, 2016, 14). This mixed-method study assessed the impact of adopting a Safewards model within a clinical supervision framework in an approach, named Group Reflective integrated Practice with Safewards (GRiP-S), which integrates Safewards theory within the clinical supervision framework. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using the questions derived from the Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale −26© (Winstanley & White, The Wiley International Handbook of Clinical Supervision. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2014). A total of 67 surveys and eight interviews were completed by nursing staff. Overall, the results showed that the GRiP-S approach improves the implementation of Safewards and nurses\u27 clinical practice. Nursing staff satisfaction with clinical supervision and Safewards improved post GRiP-S pre-GRIP-S- 69.54 (SD 16.059); post-GRIP-S 71.47 (SD 13.978). The survey also identified nursing staff\u27s perception of GRiP-S in the restorative and formative domains of clinical supervision improved. The restorative mean score pre-GRiP-S was 28.43 (SD 5.988) and post-GRiP-S 29.29 (SD 3.951). The formative mean score pre-GRiP-S was 20.10 (SD 5.617) and post-GRiP-S 20.63 (SD 13.978). The qualitative results further explained the satisfaction levels and the changes seen in perception domains. The GRiP-S approach reported (i) improved therapeutic relationships and patient centred care, (ii) improved staff communication and teamwork, (iii) barriers to GRiP-S engagement, and (iv) assistance with the change process. The results indicate that the GRiP-S approach had a positive impact on Safewards delivery and supports ongoing change of practice

Long-Term Outcomes for Patients with Prostate Cancer Having Intermediate and High-Risk Disease, Treated with Combination External Beam Irradiation and Brachytherapy

Background. Perception remains that brachytherapy-based regimens are inappropriate for patients having increased risk of extracapsular extension (ECE). Methods. 321 consecutive intermediate and high-risk disease patients were treated between 1/92 and 2/97 by one author (M. Dattoli) and stratified by NCCN guidelines. 157 had intermediate-risk; 164 had high-risk disease. All were treated using the combination EBRT/brachytherapy ± hormones. Biochemical failure was defined using PSA >0.2 and nadir +2 at last followup. Nonfailing patients followup was median 10.5 years. Both biochemical data and original biopsy slides were independently rereviewed at an outside institution. Results. Overall actuarial freedom from biochemical progression at 16 years was 82% (89% intermediate, 74% high-risk) with failure predictors: Gleason score (P = .01) and PSA (P = .03). Hormonal therapy did not affect failure rates (P = .14). Conclusion. This study helps to strengthen the rationale for brachytherapy-based regimens as being both durable and desirable treatment options for such patients. Prospective studies are justified to confirm these positive results

Sex Differences in Clinical Outcomes and Biological Profiles in Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: A Post-Hoc Analysis of Two Randomised Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have shown that men with systemic sclerosis have an increased risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and mortality compared with women. However, previous studies have not controlled for treatment effect or evaluated the biological mechanism or mechanisms underlying this sex difference. We aimed to compare ILD progression and long-term morbidity and mortality outcomes in male and female participants of two randomised controlled trials for systemic sclerosis-associated ILD. METHODS: For this post-hoc analysis, data from all participants in the Scleroderma Lung Study (SLS) I and SLS II were analysed. The primary objective was to explore the effect of sex on the course of the percentage predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) during and after active treatment over the 24-month study periods. In SLS I, 158 participants (111 women, 47 men) were randomly assigned to receive oral cyclophosphamide (cyclophosphamide; ≤2 mg/kg daily) or placebo; in SLS II, 142 participants (105 women, 37 men) were randomly assigned to receive oral mycophenolate mofetil (1500 mg twice daily) or oral cyclophosphamide (≤2 mg/kg daily). Sex (ie, male or female) was self-reported in both studies by the participants. Changes in radiographic fibrosis and time to death and respiratory failure were secondary outcomes of the present analysis. Baseline levels of biomarkers implicated in the pathobiology of systemic sclerosis-associated ILD were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in SLS I. FINDINGS: In the SLS I placebo group, the rate of decline in percentage predicted FVC from 3 months to 12 months was greater in men than in women, but the difference was not significant (estimated effect -0·29 [95% CI -0·67 to 0·10]; p=0·14). In SLS II, the rate of decline in percentage predicted FVC from 3 months to 12 months was significantly worse in men treated with either cyclophosphamide (estimated effect -0·72; [95% CI -1·14 to -0·31]; p=0·00060) or mycophenolate mofetil (estimated effect -0·34 [-0·58 to -0·10]; p=0·0051) than in women. A greater proportion of men had a decline in percentage predicted FVC of 10% or greater compared with women for the pooled active treatment groups from SLS I and SLS II and the placebo group of SLS I. Men had worse radiographic outcomes at 2 years than women in SLS II, even after adjusting for baseline disease severity and treatment arm assignment. Long-term survival was worse in men in SLS I (log-rank test p=0·080) and SLS II (log-rank test p=0·030). In SLS II, male sex was independently associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio 2·42 [95% CI 1·16 to 5·04]; p=0·018). In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, men had increased concentrations of pro-fibrotic mediators (eg, matrix metalloproteinase-13 and tissue inhibitor of metallopeptidase 1), whereas women had increased pro-inflammatory mediators (eg, interleukin [IL]-12, IL-7, and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor). INTERPRETATION: In two randomised controlled trials, men with systemic sclerosis-associated ILD had a less favourable course of ILD both with and without active treatment, as well as worse long-term survival. Sex differences in pro-fibrotic or inflammatory mediators of disease might account for these differences and warrant future study. FUNDING: US National Institutes of Health; US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; Bristol Myers Squibb; and Hoffmann-LaRoche

Interaction of Flexural Phonons with Electrons in Graphene: A Generalized Dirac Equation in Corrugated Surfaces

A generalized Dirac equation is derived in order to describe charge carriers moving in corrugated graphene, which is the case for temperatures above 10{\deg}K due to the presence of flexural phonons. Such interaction is taken into account by considering an induced metric, in the same spirit as the general relativity approach for the description of fermionic particle moving in a curved space-time. The resulting equation allows to include in a natural way the presence of other phonon branches as well as an external electromagnetic field. It also predicts non-linear effects which are not present in the usual vector potential approximation used in most of publications on the subject, as well as the possibility of controlling electronic conductivity using pure sinusoidal strain fields. The non-linear terms are important at high temperatures, and can also lead to interesting effects, like e.g. resonances between flexural phonons and external electromagnetic fields

Standardized Measures of Coastal Wetland Condition: Implementation at a Laurentian Great Lakes Basin-Wide Scale

Since European settlement, over 50 % of coastal wetlands have been lost in the Laurentian Great Lakes basin, causing growing concern and increased monitoring by government agencies. For over a decade, monitoring efforts have focused on the development of regional and organism-specific measures. To facilitate collaboration and information sharing between public, private, and government agencies throughout the Great Lakes basin, we developed standardized methods and indicators used for assessing wetland condition. Using an ecosystem approach and a stratified random site selection process, birds, anurans, fish, macroinvertebrates, vegetation, and physico-chemical conditions were sampled in coastal wetlands of all five Great Lakes including sites from the United States and Canada. Our primary objective was to implement a standardized basin-wide coastal wetland monitoring program that would be a powerful tool to inform decision-makers on coastal wetland conservation and restoration priorities throughout the Great Lakes basin

Standardized Measures of Coastal Wetland Condition: Implementation at a Laurentian Great Lakes Basin-Wide Scale

Since European settlement, over 50 % of coastal wetlands have been lost in the Laurentian Great Lakes basin, causing growing concern and increased monitoring by government agencies. For over a decade, monitoring efforts have focused on the development of regional and organism-specific measures. To facilitate collaboration and information sharing between public, private, and government agencies throughout the Great Lakes basin, we developed standardized methods and indicators used for assessing wetland condition. Using an ecosystem approach and a stratified random site selection process, birds, anurans, fish, macroinvertebrates, vegetation, and physico-chemical conditions were sampled in coastal wetlands of all five Great Lakes including sites from the United States and Canada. Our primary objective was to implement a standardized basin-wide coastal wetland monitoring program that would be a powerful tool to inform decision-makers on coastal wetland conservation and restoration priorities throughout the Great Lakes basin