Jill Downie

Maternal psychosocial well-being in pregnancy and breastfeeding duration

Aim: An increased duration of breastfeeding has many advantages for the child and mother. However, little research to date has investigated the influence of maternal psychosocial well‐being during pregnancy on the duration of breastfeeding. This study aimed to examine whether experience of life stress events, social contact/support in pregnancy and postpartum emotional disturbance had an effect on breastfeeding duration.

The impact of gender on parent-child sexuality communication: Has anything changed?

Abstract The sexual health of adolescents remains a concern for health professionals as the new millennium, draws near, despite some improvements as a result of sexuality education. One strategy to improve sexual health outcomes for adolescents is parent-child sexuality education in the home, which has been shown in several studies to promote a positive approach to sexuality. As part of a larger study, this paper discusses Australian research on the significance of gender in the teaching practices of parents engaged in sexuality communication in the home. The descriptive cross-sectional design involved a survey of 371 parents of pre-school and pre-adolescent children. Consistent with previous studies, results showed that mothers communicated more than fathers did with their children. Although both mothers and fathers communicated equally with pre-school sons and daughters, by pre-adolescence both discussed sexuality more with their sons than with their daughters. The findings also suggest that parents con...

A Practice-Research Model for Collaborative Partnership

The ability to integrate education, practice and research initiatives is well documented and the nursing literature presents several collaborative models that have emerged between educational institutions and service agencies to achieve this aim. However, a collaborative partnership agreement does more than integrate these initiatives; it is a vehicle by which the theory-clinical practice gap is bridged and best practice outcomes are achieved. This paper outlines an innovative collaborative partnership agreement between Fremantle Hospital and Health Service and Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia. The partnership engages academics in the clinical setting in two formalised collaborative appointments. This partnership not only enhances communication between educational and health services, but fosters the development of nursing research and knowledge. The process of the collaborative partnership agreement involved the development of a Practice-Research Model (PRM) of collaboration. This model encourages a close working relationship between registered nurses and academics, and has also facilitated strong links at the health service with the Nursing Research and Evaluation Unit, medical staff and other allied health professionals. Links have also been established with other health services and agencies in the metropolitan area. The key concepts exemplified in the application of the model include practice-driven research development, collegial partnership, collaborative ownership and best practice. Many specific outcomes have been achieved through implementation of the model, but overall the partnership between registered nurses and academics in the pursuit of research to support clinical practice has been the highlight. This has resulted in changes and innovations in current nursing practice and, importantly, dissemination of best practice outcomes.

Volunteerism: 'community mothers' in action

Abstract Volunteers represent a growing, but often undervalued, section of service delivery in many areas in the community, particularly in health care. This paper is centred on volunteers’ perceptions and experiences of home visiting gained through the implementation of the Community Mothers (CM) program in Western Australia (WA). Further, the paper aims to inform debate about the issue of professional versus non-professional home visitors and offers a perspective on the issue that may provide direction for policy makers and practitioners. This qualitative study involved individual telephone interviews with a volunteer sample of 12 participants, purposefully selected.Transcription data from each interview were examined and coded utilising an adapted method of content analysis described by Burnard (1991). Three main themes emerged in the findings as to why volunteers became involved in the Community Mothers Program: (1) Empathetic concern; (2) Contribution to community life; and (3) Lifecourse issues and personal development.With experiences of volunteers in home visiting, four main themes reflected the participants’ views: (1) Facilitating client empowerment; (2) Facilitating personal empowerment; (3) Promoting social connectedness; and (4) Enabling goal setting. Although programs such as the Community Mothers Program aim to benefit and support mothers in the parenting role it is clear that there are benefits that emerge also for the individual volunteer, such as increased self-esteem, self-efficacy and satisfaction. Hence, measuring the overall outcomes that result from such a program remains a major challenge.

A collaborative model of community health nursing practice

Abstract This paper discusses a strategic collaborative partnership between aWestern Australian university and a community health service based on a Practice– Research Model. The partnership has involved a senior academic (0.2 FTE) working in the community health setting as a Nurse Research Consultant since 1998. The first section of the paper draws on the nursing literature on collaborative models and describes the broad background to the partnership and development of the Model. The second section presents in detail the results of a recent evaluation that involved a brief survey and follow-up interviews to determine community health nurses’ understanding and perceptions of the partnership Model. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: (1) Advancement of learning captured the extent to which the Nurse Research Consultant position helped to educate nurses and promote and develop research and best-practice; (2) Job satisfaction and self-confidence encompassed the extent to which participants felt nursing management were supportive of their professional education and pursuit of best-practice solutions, and (3) Situational opportunity, which reflected the more negative comments expressed by participants and related mostly to the restricted availability of Nurse Research Consultant and a focus on mainstream research priorities. The results suggest that the partnership Model provided the nurses with the opportunity to develop an increased understanding of the role of research in clinical practice and confidence in their own ability to reflect on current nursing practice. This allowed them to identify clinical problems in order to deliver and evaluate best-practice solutions, as evidenced by a change in attitude from the previous evaluation. However, it was also noted that the operCational performance of the Model needs continual monitoring to ensure that all nurses have equitable access opportunities.

Changing focus of practice for community health nurses: Advancing the practice role

Many parents lack support in their parenting role that was once provided through extended families and community structures. Thus, some new parents experience high levels of stress and low self-esteem associated with the challenges of parenting. The lack of support also results in family discord and breakdown with the family environment having the potential to adversely impact children’s mental and physical wellbeing and development. The Community Mothers Program (CMP) was initially developed in England and offers support to families during the first year of parenting. The program aims to provide parents with the support once experienced from within the extended family. It also aims to enrich community development by building the capacity of community members living in local communities to support parents. This paper describes the impact of the CMP when implemented into Western Australian as well as the changes to the professional practice role of community child health nurses involved in the program. The Community Mothers Program has proved to be very successful. The success is attributed to the partnership model established between community members, parents, and child health nurses.