Deakin University

INTRODUCTION: Diets low in vegetables are a main contributor to the health burden experienced by young adults in rural communities. Digital health interventions provide an accessible delivery model that can be personalised to meet the diverse preferences of young adults. A personalisable digital vegetable intake intervention (Veg4Me) was codesigned to meet the needs of young adults living in rural communities. This study will determine the feasibility of delivering a personalised Veg4Me programme and compare preliminary effects with a non-personalised Veg4Me (control)...

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions with early life origins. Alterations in blood lipids have been linked to ADHD and ASD; however, prospective early life data are limited. This study examined (i) associations between the cord blood lipidome and ADHD/ASD symptoms at 2 years of age, (ii) associations between prenatal and perinatal predictors of ADHD/ASD symptoms and cord blood lipidome, and (iii) mediation by the cord blood lipidome...

INTRODUCTION: In Australia, the Victorian State Government has established a number of priority primary care centres (PPCCs) across the state to address the increasing demand for emergency departments (EDs). PPCCs are general practitioner-led, free-of-charge services that aim to provide care for conditions that require urgent attention but do not require the high-acuity care of an ED. This study aims to evaluate the implementation processes, outcomes and the impact of the PPCC on reducing ED demand within Barwon, Warrnambool and Grampians Health Services in the Western region of Victoria, Australia...

INTRODUCTION: Efficacious programmes require implementation at scale to maximise their public health impact. TransformUs is an efficacious behavioural and environmental intervention for increasing primary (elementary) school children's (5-12 years) physical activity and reducing their sedentary behaviour within school and home settings. This paper describes the study protocol of a 5-year effectiveness-implementation trial to assess the scalability and effectiveness of the TransformUs programme...

INTRODUCTION: Despite evidence showing that timely diagnosis and appropriate pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis reduces subsequent fracture rates, osteoporosis remains significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated. The large and ongoing treatment gap for osteoporosis and associated fragility fractures could be addressed by considering systematic approaches for post-fracture care in the primary care setting. This study will develop the Integrating Post-Fracture Care into Primary Care (interFRACT) care program that aims to enhance diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and improve initiation and adherence to fracture prevention strategies for older adults in the primary care setting...

BACKGROUND: Inherent features in virtual simulation could be utilised to deliver collaborative global education that is inclusive, accessible, and valued by students and facilitators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the International Eyecare Community (IEC) platform's virtual simulated international placements (VSIP) in optometric education. METHODS: An international, multi-center, cross-sectional mixed methods study with Deakin University, Australia, and the Elite School of Optometry, India, was used to evaluate the impact of VSIP in the IEC using pre-existing deidentified data collected from teaching and learning activities within the optometry course curriculum...

INTRODUCTION: Evidence suggests a potentially causal role of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a pleiotropic cytokine that generally promotes inflammation, in the pathogenesis of psychosis. However, no interventional studies in patients with psychosis, stratified using inflammatory markers, have been conducted to assess the therapeutic potential of targeting IL-6 in psychosis and to elucidate potential mechanism of effect. Tocilizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-6 receptor to inhibit IL-6 signalling, licensed in the UK for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis...

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease which has risen to become the main cause of childhood disability, placing a heavy burden on families and society. To date, the treatment of patients with ASD remains a complicated problem, for which neuromodulation techniques are a promising solution. This study analyzed the global research situation of neuromodulation techniques in the treatment of ASD from 1992 to 2022, aiming to explore the global research status and frontier trends in this field...

Poor intervertebral disc (IVD) health is associated with low back pain (LBP). This 12-week parallel randomised controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy of a progressive interval running programme on IVD health and other clinical outcomes in adults with chronic LBP. Participants will be randomised to either a digitally delivered progressive interval running programme or waitlist control. Participants randomised to the running programme will receive three individually tailored 30 min community-based sessions per week over 12 weeks...

INTRODUCTION: Systems science methodologies have been used in attempts to address the complex and dynamic causes of childhood obesity with varied results. This paper presents a protocol for the Reflexive Evidence and Systems interventions to Prevention Obesity and Non-communicable Disease (RESPOND) trial. RESPOND represents a significant advance on previous approaches by identifying and operationalising a clear systems methodology and building skills and knowledge in the design and implementation of this approach among community stakeholders...

Males are at higher risk of death by suicide than females in Australia, and among men, blue-collar males are at higher risk compared to other working males. In response, MATES in Construction developed a workplace suicide prevention program for the construction sector in 2007 that has been widely implemented in Australia. In the current project, this program is being adapted and trialled in the manufacturing sector. The common aims of MATES programs are to improve suicide prevention literacy, help-seeking intentions, and helping behaviours...

BACKGROUND: In Australia, optometry students have traditionally undertaken their clinical training in short-block rotations at University-led teaching clinics in metropolitan locations. Demand for clinical placements is growing as the number of optometry students steadily increases. As such, universities and clinical education providers must look for more diverse methods of student placement. Extended clinical placements in community-based settings are one alternative: a model similar to the longitudinal clerkships in medicine...

BACKGROUND: Virtual simulations are used throughout healthcare training programs to enable development of clinical skills, however the potential for virtual simulation to enhance cognitive and affective skills is less well understood. This study explored pre-clinical optometry students' perceptions of the impact of virtual simulation on the development of core competency skills including patient-centred care, communication, scientific literacy, and evidence-based practice. METHODS: A mixed methods study was conducted using pre-existing anonymized data from an electronic survey distributed to pre-clinical optometry students enrolled in the double degree Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry at Deakin University, Australia...

OBJECTIVES: This prospective cohort study tested for associations between baseline cognitive performance in individuals early within their first episode and antipsychotic treatment of psychosis. We hypothesised that poorer cognitive functioning at the initial assessment would be associated with poorer antipsychotic response following the subsequent 6 weeks. DESIGN: Prospective cohort . SETTING: National Health Service users with a first-episode schizophrenia diagnosis, recently starting antipsychotic medication, recruited from two UK sites (King's College London, UK and University of Manchester, UK)...

STUDY QUESTION: Do ovarian hormone changes influence the levels of cell-free or circulating microRNA (cf-miRNA) across the menstrual cycle? SUMMARY ANSWER: This exploratory study suggests that fluctuations in hormonal levels throughout the menstrual cycle may alter cf-miRNAs levels. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: cf-miRNA levels vary with numerous pathological and physiological conditions in both males and females and are regulated by exogenous and endogenous factors, including hormones...

BACKGROUND: The climate is changing more rapidly than anticipated, making it the greatest existential threat of our time. Evidence suggests that climate change can be a source of poor mental health among young people. A variety of mental health issues, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are related to the anticipation and consequences of climate change-related events. Currently, there is a paucity of evidence regarding these effects on young people who are vulnerable to the mental health impacts of climate change...

BACKGROUND: Given the importance of the selection process, many medical schools are reviewing their selection criteria. The traditional pathway for post-graduate medicine has been from science-based undergraduate degrees, however some programs are expanding their criteria. In this study we investigated academic success across all years and themes of the Deakin University medical degree, based on the type of degree undertaken prior to admission. We evaluated whether the traditional pathway of biomedical science into medicine should remain the undergraduate degree of choice, or whether other disciplines should be encouraged...

BACKGROUND: The presence of discrete but fluctuating precipitants, in combination with the dynamic nature of gambling episodes, calls for the development of tailored interventions delivered in real time, such as just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs). JITAIs leverage mobile and wireless technologies to address dynamically changing individual needs by providing the type and amount of support required at the right time and only when needed. They have the added benefit of reaching underserved populations by providing accessible, convenient, and low-burden support...

BACKGROUND: People with gambling problems frequently report repeated unsuccessful attempts to change their behavior. Although many behavior change techniques are available to individuals to reduce gambling harm, they can be challenging to implement or maintain. The provision of implementation support tailored for immediate, real-time, individualized circumstances may improve attempts at behavior change. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop and evaluate a Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) for individuals who require support to adhere to their gambling limits...

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves an abnormal immune response to healthy gut bacteria. When a person develops IBD, their susceptibility to anxiety and/or depression increases. The ACTforIBD programme, specifically designed for people with IBD and comorbid psychological distress, draws on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which promotes acceptance of situations that cannot be solved such as persistent physical symptoms. There are no ACT trials for IBD using an active control group or a telemedicine approach, which is important to improve accessibility, particularly in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic...