I am an academic and registered psychologist specialising in clinical and health psychology, social psychology, and health services research. I am interested in promoting mental well-being, prevention, and early intervention for mental health problems.
Background: Impacts of early childhood development (ECD) interventions (such as fostering attachm... more Background: Impacts of early childhood development (ECD) interventions (such as fostering attachment and responsiveness through communication, play and stimulation) are well known. Globally, there is increasing recognition of the importance of the ‘golden’ minutes, hours and days after birth for infant health and development. However, only one systematic review has examined ECD interventions implemented in the neonatal period (0–27 days), and this review only assessed interventions implemented by specialised providers. Primary care providers have many potential contacts with mothers and infants throughout the neonatal period. However, it is unclear how many research studies or programmes have examined the effectiveness of ECD interventions commencing in the neonatal period and which methods were used. To date, there has been no systematic review of the effect of ECD interventions delivered by primary care providers commencing in the neonatal period. Methods: Our overall aim is to conduct a systematic review of the effect of ECD interventions implemented by primary care providers in the neonatal period. We will assess effects by timing and number (‘dose’) of contacts with primary care providers. Subgroup assessment will include effects in disadvantaged infants such as those born with low birth weight and to mothers with mental health disorders. We will also assess effects in low- and high-income countries and by type of care provider. The primary outcome is cognitive status in children aged 0–23 months as measured using standardised scales. Secondary outcomes include other child neurodevelopment domains (speech, language, fine motor, gross motor, social, emotional, behaviour, executive functioning, adaptive functioning) in children aged 0–23 months. Effects on maternal mental health will also be assessed between 0–23 months postpartum. Databases such as MEDLINE (OVID), PsycINFO (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), CINAHL, Cochrane Library, WHO databases and reference lists of papers will be searched for relevant articles. Only randomised controlled trials will be included. A narrative synthesis for all outcomes will be reported. Meta-analyses will be performed where exposures and outcomes are sufficiently homogeneous. Guidelines for PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols) will be followed. Discussion: This review appears to be the first to be conducted in this area. The findings will be an important resource for policymakers, primary care providers and researchers who work with young infants in primary care settings.
BACKGROUND: Culturally secure care is considered foundational for good perinatal outcomes for Ind... more BACKGROUND: Culturally secure care is considered foundational for good perinatal outcomes for Indigenous women. It is unknown what literature reports on whether Indigenous women giving birth in urban areas receives appropriate cultural care. The aim of this scoping review was to examine and summarise relevant evidence which reports on culturally secure care for Indigenous women using urban maternity services at any time during the perinatal period. METHODS: Ten journal databases plus grey literature and theses databases were searched for relevant material dated 1986-2018. Articles were included if they were about Indigenous women from Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the USA; care was provided anytime during the perinatal period, in an urban area; and cultural security (or variations of this term) were used. RESULTS: 6856 titles and abstracts were screened, of these: 25 studies, 15 grey literature documents and 9 theses matched the search criteria. Studies were mostly qualitative (13/25) and from Australia (18/25). Studies showed women's access to and experiences of culturally secure maternity care in urban areas as variable. The grey literature originated from Australia (8/15); New Zealand (4/15); and Canada (3/15); while theses were from Canada (7/9) and Australia (2/9). CONCLUSION: The scoping review results showed substantial qualitative evidence on Indigenous women's experience during the perinatal period in urban areas. In-depth analysis of these studies is required to inform future practice and policy on what works and what needs improvement. Culturally secure midwifery care shows promising results.
The purpose of this project is to provide current evidence on the value and effectiveness of supp... more The purpose of this project is to provide current evidence on the value and effectiveness of support groups, and how ConnectGroups, as a leading peak body for self-help and peer support groups, compares to the activities and work of other domestic and international organisations. It is expected that by providing this information to ConnectGroups the organisation with be able to focus their activities on promoting and advocating for its members within the community and among funding bodies, further publicising/marketing its services, making informed decisions, sharing relevant knowledge, providing appropriate support and services, and educating its membership and external stakeholders. Therefore, this project was to conduct a review of literature relating to the: 1. benefits of self-help and peer support groups as a way to ameliorate and control stress‐related health conditions 2. work and scope of activities of ConnectGroups as a peak body supporting and facilitating self help and support groups.
Background: Impacts of early childhood development (ECD) interventions (such as fostering attachm... more Background: Impacts of early childhood development (ECD) interventions (such as fostering attachment and responsiveness through communication, play and stimulation) are well known. Globally, there is increasing recognition of the importance of the ‘golden’ minutes, hours and days after birth for infant health and development. However, only one systematic review has examined ECD interventions implemented in the neonatal period (0–27 days), and this review only assessed interventions implemented by specialised providers. Primary care providers have many potential contacts with mothers and infants throughout the neonatal period. However, it is unclear how many research studies or programmes have examined the effectiveness of ECD interventions commencing in the neonatal period and which methods were used. To date, there has been no systematic review of the effect of ECD interventions delivered by primary care providers commencing in the neonatal period. Methods: Our overall aim is to conduct a systematic review of the effect of ECD interventions implemented by primary care providers in the neonatal period. We will assess effects by timing and number (‘dose’) of contacts with primary care providers. Subgroup assessment will include effects in disadvantaged infants such as those born with low birth weight and to mothers with mental health disorders. We will also assess effects in low- and high-income countries and by type of care provider. The primary outcome is cognitive status in children aged 0–23 months as measured using standardised scales. Secondary outcomes include other child neurodevelopment domains (speech, language, fine motor, gross motor, social, emotional, behaviour, executive functioning, adaptive functioning) in children aged 0–23 months. Effects on maternal mental health will also be assessed between 0–23 months postpartum. Databases such as MEDLINE (OVID), PsycINFO (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), CINAHL, Cochrane Library, WHO databases and reference lists of papers will be searched for relevant articles. Only randomised controlled trials will be included. A narrative synthesis for all outcomes will be reported. Meta-analyses will be performed where exposures and outcomes are sufficiently homogeneous. Guidelines for PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols) will be followed. Discussion: This review appears to be the first to be conducted in this area. The findings will be an important resource for policymakers, primary care providers and researchers who work with young infants in primary care settings.
BACKGROUND: Culturally secure care is considered foundational for good perinatal outcomes for Ind... more BACKGROUND: Culturally secure care is considered foundational for good perinatal outcomes for Indigenous women. It is unknown what literature reports on whether Indigenous women giving birth in urban areas receives appropriate cultural care. The aim of this scoping review was to examine and summarise relevant evidence which reports on culturally secure care for Indigenous women using urban maternity services at any time during the perinatal period. METHODS: Ten journal databases plus grey literature and theses databases were searched for relevant material dated 1986-2018. Articles were included if they were about Indigenous women from Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the USA; care was provided anytime during the perinatal period, in an urban area; and cultural security (or variations of this term) were used. RESULTS: 6856 titles and abstracts were screened, of these: 25 studies, 15 grey literature documents and 9 theses matched the search criteria. Studies were mostly qualitative (13/25) and from Australia (18/25). Studies showed women's access to and experiences of culturally secure maternity care in urban areas as variable. The grey literature originated from Australia (8/15); New Zealand (4/15); and Canada (3/15); while theses were from Canada (7/9) and Australia (2/9). CONCLUSION: The scoping review results showed substantial qualitative evidence on Indigenous women's experience during the perinatal period in urban areas. In-depth analysis of these studies is required to inform future practice and policy on what works and what needs improvement. Culturally secure midwifery care shows promising results.
The purpose of this project is to provide current evidence on the value and effectiveness of supp... more The purpose of this project is to provide current evidence on the value and effectiveness of support groups, and how ConnectGroups, as a leading peak body for self-help and peer support groups, compares to the activities and work of other domestic and international organisations. It is expected that by providing this information to ConnectGroups the organisation with be able to focus their activities on promoting and advocating for its members within the community and among funding bodies, further publicising/marketing its services, making informed decisions, sharing relevant knowledge, providing appropriate support and services, and educating its membership and external stakeholders. Therefore, this project was to conduct a review of literature relating to the: 1. benefits of self-help and peer support groups as a way to ameliorate and control stress‐related health conditions 2. work and scope of activities of ConnectGroups as a peak body supporting and facilitating self help and support groups.
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Methods: Our overall aim is to conduct a systematic review of the effect of ECD interventions implemented by primary care providers in the neonatal period. We will assess effects by timing and number (‘dose’) of contacts with primary care providers. Subgroup assessment will include effects in disadvantaged infants such as those born with low birth weight and to mothers with mental health disorders. We will also assess effects in low- and high-income countries and by type of care provider. The primary outcome is cognitive status in children aged 0–23 months as measured using standardised scales. Secondary outcomes include other child neurodevelopment domains (speech, language, fine motor, gross motor, social, emotional, behaviour, executive functioning, adaptive functioning) in children aged 0–23 months. Effects on maternal mental health will also be assessed between 0–23 months postpartum. Databases such as MEDLINE (OVID), PsycINFO (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), CINAHL, Cochrane Library, WHO databases and reference lists of papers will be searched for relevant articles. Only randomised controlled trials will be included. A narrative synthesis for all outcomes will be reported. Meta-analyses will be performed where exposures and outcomes are sufficiently homogeneous. Guidelines for PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols) will be followed.
Discussion: This review appears to be the first to be conducted in this area. The findings will be an important resource for policymakers, primary care providers and researchers who work with young infants in primary care settings.
Ten journal databases plus grey literature and theses databases were searched for relevant material dated 1986-2018. Articles were included if they were about Indigenous women from Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the USA; care was provided anytime during the perinatal period, in an urban area; and cultural security (or variations of this term) were used. RESULTS: 6856 titles and abstracts were screened, of these: 25 studies, 15 grey literature documents and 9 theses matched the search criteria. Studies were mostly qualitative (13/25) and from Australia (18/25). Studies showed women's access to and experiences of culturally secure maternity care in urban areas as variable. The grey literature originated from Australia (8/15); New Zealand (4/15); and Canada (3/15); while theses were from Canada (7/9) and Australia (2/9).
CONCLUSION: The scoping review results showed substantial qualitative evidence on Indigenous women's experience during the perinatal period in urban areas. In-depth analysis of these studies is required to inform future practice and policy on what works and what needs improvement. Culturally secure midwifery care shows promising results.
1. benefits of self-help and peer support groups as a way to ameliorate and control stress‐related health conditions
2. work and scope of activities of ConnectGroups as a peak body supporting and facilitating self help and support groups.
Methods: Our overall aim is to conduct a systematic review of the effect of ECD interventions implemented by primary care providers in the neonatal period. We will assess effects by timing and number (‘dose’) of contacts with primary care providers. Subgroup assessment will include effects in disadvantaged infants such as those born with low birth weight and to mothers with mental health disorders. We will also assess effects in low- and high-income countries and by type of care provider. The primary outcome is cognitive status in children aged 0–23 months as measured using standardised scales. Secondary outcomes include other child neurodevelopment domains (speech, language, fine motor, gross motor, social, emotional, behaviour, executive functioning, adaptive functioning) in children aged 0–23 months. Effects on maternal mental health will also be assessed between 0–23 months postpartum. Databases such as MEDLINE (OVID), PsycINFO (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), CINAHL, Cochrane Library, WHO databases and reference lists of papers will be searched for relevant articles. Only randomised controlled trials will be included. A narrative synthesis for all outcomes will be reported. Meta-analyses will be performed where exposures and outcomes are sufficiently homogeneous. Guidelines for PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols) will be followed.
Discussion: This review appears to be the first to be conducted in this area. The findings will be an important resource for policymakers, primary care providers and researchers who work with young infants in primary care settings.
Ten journal databases plus grey literature and theses databases were searched for relevant material dated 1986-2018. Articles were included if they were about Indigenous women from Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the USA; care was provided anytime during the perinatal period, in an urban area; and cultural security (or variations of this term) were used. RESULTS: 6856 titles and abstracts were screened, of these: 25 studies, 15 grey literature documents and 9 theses matched the search criteria. Studies were mostly qualitative (13/25) and from Australia (18/25). Studies showed women's access to and experiences of culturally secure maternity care in urban areas as variable. The grey literature originated from Australia (8/15); New Zealand (4/15); and Canada (3/15); while theses were from Canada (7/9) and Australia (2/9).
CONCLUSION: The scoping review results showed substantial qualitative evidence on Indigenous women's experience during the perinatal period in urban areas. In-depth analysis of these studies is required to inform future practice and policy on what works and what needs improvement. Culturally secure midwifery care shows promising results.
1. benefits of self-help and peer support groups as a way to ameliorate and control stress‐related health conditions
2. work and scope of activities of ConnectGroups as a peak body supporting and facilitating self help and support groups.