Lindsay Gething

The Interaction with Disabled Persons Scale : a new australian instrument to measure attitudes towards people with disabilities

Abstract This article reports results of the construct validation of a new Australian measure of attitudes towards people with disabilities. Following a statement of the theoretical background for the instrument and a critique of existing instruments, an outline is given of procedures used in the development and psychometric evaluation of the Interaction with Disabled Persons (IDP) Scale. Results indicate that test-retest and internal reliability coefficients compare favourably with existing overseas instruments and that a stable factor structure has emerged over time across a variety of samples. Support was provided for all hypotheses based on the predicted nomological network of the IDP Scale. The article closes with a discussion of current and potential applications of the instrument.

Health status and coping strategies among older parent-carers of adults with intellectual disabilities in an Australian sample.

BACKGROUND Older parent-carers in Australia are the subject of increasing policy and practice attention due to concerns about their ongoing ability to care in the light of their own ageing and the ageing of their adult son or daughter. This paper examines health status and the coping strategies of a group of older Australian parents caring for an adult son or daughter with intellectual disabilities. METHOD Health status using the SF-12 (Ware, Snow, Kosinski, & Gandek, 1993), caring stress using the CADI (Nolan, Grant, & Keady, 1998), and coping strategies using the CAMI (Nolan et al., 1998) were assessed in 64 older parent-carers of adults with intellectual disabilities. RESULTS The self-reported health status of this sample of older parent-carers did not differ significantly from Australian population norms, with one exception. That is, the younger parent-carers in the sample (55-64 years) reported significantly poorer mental health. Better health was associated with having a partner, a larger and close support network of family, friends and neighbours, and a lower care-load. Overall, the study participants identified both satisfaction as well as stress associated with caring, a finding that runs counter to the common perception that being a carer is overwhelmingly burdensome. Common sources of stress were feeling helpless or not in control, and poor professional support. Analysis of older parent-carers coping strategies suggests that self-reliance, whether by choice or necessity, was the norm. CONCLUSIONS The health status of older parent-carers may present less cause for concern than anecdotal reports suggest. That said, the strong self-reliance particularly of the older carers presents a challenge to service providers seeking to engage those whose situation appears to warrant support from the service system.

The role of Psychologists in fostering the wellbeing of older Australians

The United Nations International Year of Older Persons (IYOP) in 1999 prompted the Australian Psychological Society (APS) to review its responsibilities and to consider the contribution of psychological research and practice to the wellbeing of older Australians. This article reports a series of recommendations for public policy, research, training and psychological practice, drawn from a larger Position Paper that addressed a spectrum of issues. The aim is to encourage psychologists to turn a critical gaze on themselves and to examine ways in which psychology can be used to promote successful ageing. The article begins with a definition of “successful ageing”. This is followed by an examination of ageism and how this affects community expectations of older people and the quality of aged care services. Attention also is given to the low visibility of psychologists in service planning and delivery and to the overemphasis of much psychological research and practice on deficits and decline in later years. The International Year of Older Persons has come and gone, but the true test of its effectiveness will lie in evidence of longer-term changes in attitudes, policies and practices. Psychologists have much to contribute to these changes and to enhancing the wellbeing of older Australians.

Validation of the Reactions to Ageing Questionnaire: assessing similarities across several countries.

With the increasing numbers of older adults, factors impacting the effectiveness of provision of health care must be addressed. The literature suggests attitudes, particularly those of nurses, impact health service provision. This article reports the outcome of a multicountry validation study of the Reactions to Ageing Questionnaire (RAQ). The RAQ measures attitudes toward personal aging and has been used in Australia for 5 years. This study was designed to determine whether the psychometric characteristics and norms of the RAQ identified for Australian nurses also apply to nursing samples in Sweden and the United Kingdom. Findings indicate the internal structure of the RAQ extends outside Australia, with similar factors appearing across the three countries. Ranges and standard deviations indicate the instrument is able to discriminate between respondents within each country. Cronbachs alpha coefficients were consistent across countries and fell in the moderately high range. The findings indicate the RAQ has many potential applications in attitude assessment and in providing direction for training designed to address attitudinal factors that may impact the effectiveness of nursing practice for older adults.

Fostering Nursing Research Among Nurse Clinicians in an Australian Area Health Service

BACKGROUND The Nursing Research Centre for Adaptation in Health and Illness (NRCAHI) is a collaborative effort of the University of Sydney and Central Sydney Area Health Service (CSAHS) in Sydney, Australia. This article reports findings of a research needs-analysis of clinical nursing staff in CSAHS that was conducted to provide research training. METHOD A questionnaire was administered to a random sample of nurses working in CSAHS. The questionnaire gathered information about employment and demographic information, interest in research participation, current and future levels of research skills, and areas where skill and knowledge enhancement is desired. RESULTS Overall, nurses expressed low levels of perceived confidence, knowledge, and research skills. Results were used as the basis for developing a range of strategies designed to enhance research confidence and participation. These strategies were sufficiently flexible to cater for the needs of nurses with varying levels of research experience. CONCLUSION Strategies implemented by the NRCAHI in its first 4 years of operation have produced positive outcomes in terms of increased research participation.

Providing services in remote and rural Australian communities

A needs analysis was conducted of people with disabilities living in remote and rural areas of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The nature of service provision generated the widest range of comments during data collections which were conducted through consultations, interviews, and field trips. This paper integrates issues raised in the literature about the nature of work in rural and remote areas with information gathered from service providers and consumers working in country areas of NSW. Clients or consumers (people with disabilities, their families, and care-providers) reported many negative encounters with services. Many service providers said that they were working under difficult conditions and felt that they did not obtain adequate support or recognition from their organizations. Many city-based agencies had given little attention to the appropriateness of their services within remote and rural areas. Other agencies were aware of deficits but were unclear as to how to address them. The article closes with a discussion of action-oriented strategies designed to address issues associated with the nature of work in Australian rural and remote areas.

The Importance of Adopting a Client Focus in Assessing Outcomes Following Inpatient Rehabilitation Treatment of Older People

Objectives: To explore quality of life for older people at hospital discharge and in the three months following discharge and to assess the impact of independence measured in terms of function, ability and perceived confidence in carrying out daily tasks.

Commentary on the Australian Psychological Society's Discussion Paper “Psychological Perspectives on Euthanasia and the Terminally Ill”

Abstract This commentary reflects my experience conducting research and working with people with disabilities, older people, and their carers. I also am a member of a faculty that educates health professionals who work with people who are dying or who have long-term illnesses or disabling conditions. Over the last 15 years my research has focused on psychosocial issues associated with disability and also with ageing. In this research I have been concerned about what it is like to live with a disability or to age. My current research is investigating quality of life and service provision issues for people with recently acquired brain injury and spinal cord injury, and for people with these disabilities as they move across the adult lifespan. This work also considers issues for carers and close family members. My previous project explored quality of life and service provision issues for older people and their carers following discharge from inpatient hospital treatment. Much of the literature on euthanasia ...