Lynette Cusack | The University of Adelaide (original) (raw)

Papers by Lynette Cusack

Research Square (Research Square), Oct 18, 2022

Background This study highlights the contribution of nurses is secondary to physicians to overall... more Background This study highlights the contribution of nurses is secondary to physicians to overall population health (indexed with life expectancy at birth, e (0)). Methods All data were extracted from the World Bank. The potential competing effects of a uence, urbanization and obesity were fully considered when scatter plots, bivariate correlation and partial correlation models were performed to analyse the correlations between e (0) and physician healthcare and nursing healthcare respectively. The Fisher Z-Transformation was conducted for comparing the correlations between e (0) and physician healthcare and nursing healthcare. Multiple linear regression analyses were implemented for modelling that physicians' contributions to e (0) explain nurses'. Results Physician healthcare correlates to e (0) signi cantly more strongly than nursing healthcare (z= 2.83, 2.95 and 2.01 in scatterplots, Pearson's r and nonparametric respectively, p< 0.05). Physician healthcare remains signi cantly correlational to e (0) when nursing healthcare alone was controlled or when the 3 confounders (economic a uence, obesity and urbanization) were controlled (r=0.380, p <0.001 and r=0.444, p < 0.001 respectively). Nursing healthcare was in weak or negligible correlation to e (0) when physician healthcare was controlled individually or together with the 3 control variables. Linear regression reveals that nursing healthcare was a signi cant predictor for e (0) when physician healthcare was "not added" for modelling, but this signi cance became negligible when physician healthcare was "added". Conclusions Physician healthcare correlated to e (0) extension signi cantly more than nurses. Statistically, physicians may explain the role of nurses in extending e (0) .

Scientific Reports

This study highlights that the contribution of nursing is secondary to physicians in overall popu... more This study highlights that the contribution of nursing is secondary to physicians in overall population health (indexed with life expectancy at birth, e(0)). Scatter plots, bivariate correlation and partial correlation models were performed to analyse the correlations between e(0) and physician healthcare and nursing healthcare respectively. Affluence, urbanization and obesity were incorporated as the potential confounders. The Fisher’s r-to-z transformation was conducted for comparing the correlations. Multiple linear regression analyses were implemented for modelling that physicians’ contributions to e(0) explain nurses’. Nursing healthcare correlated to e(0) significantly less strongly than physician healthcare in simple regressions. Nursing healthcare was in weak or negligible correlation to e(0) when physician healthcare was controlled individually or together with the three confounders. Physician healthcare remains significantly correlational to e(0) when nursing healthcare al...

Journal of Nursing Regulation, 2020

OBJECTIVES: Extended release and enteric coated formulations make up 7.8% of all drugs, and the m... more OBJECTIVES: Extended release and enteric coated formulations make up 7.8% of all drugs, and the most frequently used drug is an agent affecting circulatory, digestive system. The objective of this study is to analyze of extended release and enteric coated drugs on pharmaceutical reimbursement item list in Korea and evaluate the dispensing of extended release and enteric coated drugs, which is enforced by the National Health Insurance. METHODS: The analysis used a questionnaires survey for 169 pharmacists in the hospital pharmacy and community pharmacy(Response rate: 73.8%). The questions include; prescribing change after enforcement by National Health Insurance, prescription correction, change of pharmacy works, expansion of the range of enforcement, provision of information and prescribing error prevention. The statistics methods use Chi-square, AVOVA, t-test, McNemar test by STATA/SE10.(pϽ0.05). RESULTS: Of extended release and enteric coated formulations, 33.9% were not available in other dosage forms. After enforcement by National Health Insurance, the rate of splitting and crushing of extended release and enteric coated drugs decreased, but pharmacies in tertiary care hospitals had increased workload because of prescription corrections. Prescription was not changed, because patients take medicines for a long time. Most of pharmacists agreed on the expansion of drug range, but 65.7% of pharmacists wanted the enforcement only for hospitals. When pharmacists corrected their prescribing error, the biggest problem was a lack of other dosage forms. To prevent extended release and enteric coated from splitting and crushing, pharmacists want in the following ways; prescribing code prohibits into order computer system, warnings and alerts on prescribing, developing many other dosage forms. CONCLUSIONS: What is needed are medication-use system improvements and the creation of lists with suggestions for alternative products on the formulary. Also, pharmaceutical companies should make an effort to develop other dosage forms.

Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, Jul 1, 2019

Objective Burnout is a significant problem affecting the nursing workforce and is associated with... more Objective Burnout is a significant problem affecting the nursing workforce and is associated with significant personal suffering and high rates of nurse turnover. Efforts to further understand the variables that explain burnout are needed. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine both environmental and individual factors that may explain burnout among nurses. Method We recruited 1848 Australian nurses to complete several online questionnaires measuring the practice environment (Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index), burnout (Professional Quality of Life Scale), trait negative affect ( Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y2) and resilience (Connor Davidson Resilience Scale). Correlational analysis as well as hierarchical regression was used to determine the relative importance of variables in explaining burnout scores. Results All of the practice environment scales were significantly related to burnout in the negative direction, and these relationships were above .3 for all except the relationship scale ( r = –.256) and the participation in hospital affairs scale ( r = –.285). Overall, the regression model accounted for 62% of the variance in nurse burnout scores. Trait negative affect, resilience and two aspects of practice environment (Manager sub-scale and Staffing sub-scale) all explained significant variance in burnout scores. The largest contribution came from the two individual variables (resilience and trait negative affect) that together explained 55% of the variance in burnout scores. Conclusions Findings suggest that health service administrators should provide nursing staff with education and support to build individual resilience. Workplaces that attend to staffing and resource issues and have managers who provide high levels of support to their staff appear to be essential strategies to help prevent nurse burnout.

Journal of Human Lactation, Mar 28, 2019

Background: Nursing is a high risk profession in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS) as... more Background: Nursing is a high risk profession in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS) as is evident in the extent of illness and injury sustained by nursing practitioners worldwide. Learning from nursing students about any OHS issues and concerns is an integral part of stakeholder consultation for teaching staff. Further, both clinical and non-clinical OHS subject matters are important for deliberation by staff in supervisory positions as part of their duty of care for their students. This paper describes some of the non-clinical OHS issues expressed by Australian nursing students. Aim: The broad purpose of the study was to more fully understand nursing students' perspectives about OHS. The intent was to subsequently consider this information when planning future OHS teaching and management initiatives. Method: In 2014 a qualitative study was undertaken at an Australian university to establish nursing students' impressions and experiences about OHS. The study was descriptive exploratory in nature. Two focus groups were conducted, one with first year students and one with third year students. With student permission discussions were audio-taped and subsequently transcribed. Data were thematically analysed by the investigators following grouping of commonly occurring findings. Findings: The principal theme for non-clinical OHS issues was 'Pedestrian Concerns'. Spanning life both on and off campus, this theme encompassed issues of self-care including stressors related to work-life balance and the transition from school (or pre-university) to university student. Other OHS concerns varied according to location and activity. On campus concerns related to safety, computer use, textbooks and storage. Placement concerns related to commuting (in terms of cost and safety) and apprehension about fatigue. Conclusions: Students were able to identify hazards when sharing their concerns and provide suggestions for their management. This information can be used by staff to enhance the students' university experience.

Collegian

ABSTRACT Background Disasters disrupt the fabric of communities. This includes disruption to the ... more ABSTRACT Background Disasters disrupt the fabric of communities. This includes disruption to the healthcare system that supports a disaster-affected community. Nurses are important members of disaster response teams. However, there is limited literature that describes nurses’ roles or experience in responding to disasters. Aim This paper employs a phenomenological approach to uncover moments of being an Australian civilian hospital nurse in the out-of-hospital environment following a disaster. Method This study uncovers moments of what it is like being an Australian civilian hospital nurse deployed to the out-of-hospital environment following a disaster. Individual interviews were undertaken at two points in time with each participant. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed to textual narratives, which was then analysed. Several activities were undertaken to uncover moments and provide exemplars of moments, from the narrative. Findings Eight hospital nurses participated in this study. Five moments were uncovered: ‘on the way to a disaster’, ‘prior to starting work’, ‘working a shift in a disaster’, ‘end of a shift’, and ‘returning home’. Each moment has its uniqueness and singularity exemplifying an experience of nurses in the out-of-hospital disaster environment. Discussion When compared to a hospital context, assisting during and/or following a disaster in the out-of-hospital environment is challenging. For example, nurses may need to do more with less resources, provide more frequent psychosocial support for more extenuating circumstances, and experience an unsettling return home at the end of the deployment. Conclusions This paper has provided new insights into what it may be like being an Australian civilian hospital nurse in the out-of-hospital disaster environment as part of a disaster medical assistance teams. Strategies to support nurses who assist during and/or following a disaster are important, so nurses can in turn provide care to people in disaster-affected communities.

John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2011

Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2022

Table S1. Disposition for 4900 randomly selected numbers used in sampling. Table S2 Rotation matr... more Table S1. Disposition for 4900 randomly selected numbers used in sampling. Table S2 Rotation matrix for the first two components of the self-monitoring/info-seeking PCA analysis. Magnitudes greater than 0.3 are highlighted. Table S3 Demographics. Table S4 Multivariable associations with the info-seeking and self-monitoring principal components. Table S5 Multivariable associations with the total delay/avoidance score. Table S6 Linear regressions of likelihood of attending a DMHS in men reporting delays/avoidance in seeking health advice. (PDF 284 kb)

Women and Birth, 2018

Background: The recently built Birth Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital has a focus on salutogeni... more Background: The recently built Birth Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital has a focus on salutogenic design to create a low stress environment and to provide resources to assist women who choose to labour and birth using non-pharmacological methods of pain relief. Aim: Did the move to the new unit alter the mode of birth and use of non-pharmacological methods of pain relief? Method: Data was extracted via online Maternity Data for a 13 month period prior to and after the move to the new unit. Included Women with singleton pregnancy, cephalic presentation, greater or equal to 37 weeks gestation or more. Excluded were planned elective caesarean sections. Results/outcomes: The total number of women was 7369 and there were similarities between maternal age and BMI. There was a significant change over time, with a decline in the proportion of CS after the new Birth Unit was opened and corresponding increase in the vaginal birth rate. The number of women accessing water immersion increased.

Nurse Education Today, 2020

, et al., Are nurses recognised, prepared and supported to teach nursing students: Mixed methods ... more , et al., Are nurses recognised, prepared and supported to teach nursing students: Mixed methods study, Nurse Education Today (2020),

International Journal of Integrated Care, 2019

We developed a new model of care for home infusions of natalizumab for people with multiple scler... more We developed a new model of care for home infusions of natalizumab for people with multiple sclerosis. The new model of care was then tested in a pilot study comparing home infusions of natalizumab with usual care (attendance in an ambulatory care day units) using an AB/BA randomised crossover trial. In addition to testing feasibility and safety of home infusions for people with natalizumab compared to usual care, we investigated if: (i) home infusions of natalizumab are acceptable to patients and healthcare staff, (ii) home infusions of natalizumab are as effective in treating symptoms, and (iii) home infusions of natalizumab are cost effective? There were 37 stable adult patients (at least 6 prior natalizumab infusions and assessed as safe by their neurologist) randomised to an AB or BA trial arm. After 3 infusions, patients crossed over to the alternate treatment for another 3 infusions.

Journal of Human Lactation, 2019

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 2017

support, referral to the hospital, dressings, health surveillance, consultations, and participati... more support, referral to the hospital, dressings, health surveillance, consultations, and participation in social support activities. Conclusion: Although no facility preparedness plan was available, most of health problems identified were solved by PHC teams, since just one patient was referred to the hospital. There was an involvement of PHC teams to assist affected populations, although specific job descriptions and the difficult access to the rural population consisted of a barrier to qualified and sufficient care.

PsycEXTRA Dataset, 2007

Rationale for using the term Indigenous Australians Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples... more Rationale for using the term Indigenous Australians Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have diverse languages, cultures and communities, and live in urban, rural and remote settings. Many of these groups seek to maintain their particular cultural identity and preferred names as distinct from others. For the purposes of this resource, and in recognition of this diversity we have chosen the term Indigenous Australians as a way of acknowledging all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. We are however aware that this terminology has limitations and ask readers to respectfully use locally preferred terms in their practice. The literature review was limited to research and other relevant documents (grey material) published in 2004 and 2005. It was conducted using a keyword search for the terms 'Aboriginal', 'Australia', 'Indigenous' and 'alcohol'. Databases searched included PubMed, Blackwell Science by Synergy, Journals @ Ovid, ProQuest 5000 and Expanded Academic ASAP. Grey material included relevant reports, monographs and clinical guidelines. The grey material databases searched were the Drug and

BMC Health Services Research

Background There is sufficient and consistent international evidence of issues reported by nurses... more Background There is sufficient and consistent international evidence of issues reported by nurses working in single-bed room environments, requiring a design that is not only comfortable for patients but meets nurses working needs. This paper presents a comparison of nursing staff and patients experience prior to a move to 100% single-bed room hospital in 2016 (Stage 1) and actual experiences after the move in 2021 (Stage 2) in South Australia. Method Mixed method case study design. Survey sample of forty-two nursing staff; twelve patient interviews of their experiences of current environment and; thirteen nursing staff interviews of their experiences delivering nursing care in 100% single bed-room environment. Results Nurses and patients highlighted single-bed rooms contributed to patients’ privacy, confidentiality, dignity and comfort. As anticipated in Stage 1, nurses in Stage 2 reported lack of patient and staff visibility. This impacted workload, workflow and concern for patien...