Deirdre Drake

A Western Australian survey on public attitudes toward and knowledge of electroconvulsive therapy

Aims: Healthcare professionals have debated the use and effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for more than 65 years. Yet, knowledge about, and attitudes towards, ECT have not been thoroughly researched within the Australian community. This study focused on a Western Australian perspective on these issues. Method: The objectives were achieved with specifically developed questionnaires. Six hundred surveys were distributed across the metropolitan area of Perth, Australia. Results: A total of 379 completed questionnaires indicated that more than 60% of respondents had some knowledge about the main aspects of ECT. Participants were generally opposed to the use of ECT on individuals with psychosocial issues, on children and on involuntary patients. Public perceptions of ECT were also found to be mainly negative. Conclusion: The findings suggest that clinicians should ensure that individuals recommended for ECT are knowledgeable about basic ECT processes and implications in order to ensure their full informed consent.

A Qualitative Exploration of the Experience of Men With Prostate Cancer Involved in Supervised Exercise Programs

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To provide an in-depth description of the experience of supervised exercise programs among men with prostate cancer and to identify elements critical to optimizing engagement and ongoing exercise participation. DESIGN Descriptive, qualitative. SETTING A tertiary exercise oncology center in Perth, Australia. SAMPLE 12 men with prostate cancer participating in a structured, clinic-based group exercise program supervised by accredited exercise physiologists. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH Participants completed a demographic and health history questionnaire and a semistructured interview. Thematic content analysis was performed. FINDINGS Participants described physiological and psychological health benefits, which reduced treatment-related side effects and positively affected self-efficacy, and identified exercise physiologists as providing information about the importance of exercise, as well as practical, emotional, and social support. Peer support encouraged discussion of shared experiences and a sense of social connection. CONCLUSIONS Results from the current study expand on existing quantitative data to provide evidence of psychosocial benefits among men with prostate cancer involved with supervised exercise programs. The data provide insight into the components of exercise programs that can form a framework for the development of effective supportive care programs. INTERPRETATION Involvement in a structured, clinic-based group exercise program provides men with prostate cancer with considerable benefits. Supervision by qualified exercise physiologists and incorporation of a group approach are critical components of maximizing those benefits.

An Observational Study of Bail Decision-Making

Pre-trial detention of defendants has important legal, human rights and practical implications for defendants, their families, and society and therefore the area justifies research scrutiny. However, there is a dearth of empirical studies of bail decision-making and most of them have been retrospective studies. Prior studies have nevertheless identified a number of purported shortcomings in bail legislation and decision-making. The rarely used observational methodology employed in this study provided data that are not normally available from official records. The first appearances of 648 defendants were observed in the lower courts in metropolitan Perth (Western Australia) to identify factors that play a significant role in bail decision-making and to collect baseline data for a longitudinal study. Legal factors made a significant contribution to the bail decision, while extra-legal factors did not.

Gender Differences in Performance of Script Analysis by Older Adults.

Script analysis as a test of executive functions is presumed sensitive to cognitive changes seen with increasing age. Two studies evaluated if gender differences exist in performance on scripts for familiar and unfamiliar tasks in groups of cognitively intact older adults. In Study 1, 26 older adults completed male and female stereotypical scripts. Results were not significant but a tendency was present, with genders making fewer impossible errors on the gender-typical script. Such an interaction was also noted in Study 2, which contrasted 50 older with 50 younger adults on three scripts, including a script with neutral familiarity. The pattern of significant interactions for errors suggested the need to use scripts that are based upon tasks that are equally familiar to both genders.

Leaving ideological groups behind: A model of disengagement

ABSTRACT The social mechanisms in ideological groups work to promote a cohesive social unit and present significant barriers to disengaging. Nonetheless, involvement in these groups is often not a lifelong commitment and many members do leave. The aim of this study was to explore the personal experience of the exiting process from a diverse range of ideological groups, and to construct a theory of disengagement, through 27 in-depth interviews with former members of 1% motorcycle clubs, military special operations forces, cults, white supremacists and fundamental religious or political groups. Participant interviews were analysed using grounded theory methodology to construct a model of disengagement. After the experience of an initial trigger, the group was perceived as inconsistent with the self-concept and conflicted with personally held goals and values, which threatened the participants’ psychological integrity. Participants employed self-concept management strategies to address this inconsistency, which culminated in the decision to leave and tempering of ideology. These findings have relevance to social policies, which aim to influence membership in ideological groups.

Fly-In/Fly-Out Accommodation: Workers’ Perspectives

This chapter explores fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) workers’ perceptions and experiences of the accommodation and associated services provided at land-based Australian mining and oil and gas FIFO sites. It reports on a survey of 536 Australian land-based FIFO workers which examined the importance of, and satisfaction with, accommodation village services. Results from this study revealed that the most important aspects were the provision and quality of food, and the availability of communication with home. In addition, quietness and security of the village were rated as highly important. However, FIFO worker ratings of satisfaction with these aspects of service provision indicate that the workers perceive their needs are not always being met. The role of accommodation in resource sector’s workers’ job selection and retention, and FIFO workers’ levels of stress and Psychological Sense of Community while they are on site are also considered. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for the providers of FIFO accommodation and related services.

Parental Perceptions of the Nature of the Relationship Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Share with Their Canine Companion

This study examined the role of companion canines in the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Interviews were conducted with 11 mothers of children with ASD (aged 5–12) who owned a canine companion in a multiple case study methodology. Transcript analysis revealed the emergence of five major themes, namely; love and companionship, perception of ownership, comfort and calming influence, canine’s ability to assist the child with understanding their world, and challenging experiences. The social and emotional benefits of companion canine ownership were observed in the majority of cases, particularly when the canine was the preferred companion animal and possessed an appropriate temperament suitable to cohabit with children who possess unique social and sensory needs.