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This perspective paper presents a discussion around the issues of sexual violence (SV) in rural and remote areas and the associated discourses of shame. The authors propose that shame of SV adds additional trauma to survivors, further impacting survivors' mental health which may be exacerbated in rural areas. Shame is a complex emotion that can result in increased feelings of guilt, humiliation, and embarrassment. Shame has been identified as an underlying risk factor and a mechanism for post‐assault mental health problems. We propose it can be particularly pronounced for women subjected to sexual assault in rural or remote areas. This paper will explore the link between SV and shame, explain how shame attached to SV may be used as an informal social control mechanism for women, particularly in rural and remote areas, and discuss the role of health practitioners, particularly mental health nurses, who play a key role in supporting people impacted by SV. SV is an insidious social phenomenon that can have profound consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Addressing shame and stigma is a crucial component of supporting survivors of SV in rural and remote areas. There is a need for targeted community‐led interventions and responsive support services to address the complex and multifaceted issues contributing to SV in rural and remote communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effective nurse leadership enhances nurse welfare, improves patient care, and increases organisational success. A lack of adequate, supportive leadership significantly contributes to many nurses leaving the profession. Nurse managers need to prioritise engagement and retention as significant focus areas to address the nursing shortage in Saudi Arabia and accomplish the national program's objectives. Aim: To examine the correlation between the leadership styles of clinical nurse managers and staff engagement. Method: This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design. The leadership styles of clinical nurse managers were evaluated using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X). Work engagement was assessed using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). Questionnaires were distributed to 450 nurses in four public hospitals in western Saudi Arabia. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to collect the data. Results: A total of 278 nurses from a range of clinical areas participated in the survey, which revealed that the leadership styles of clinical nurse managers positively or negatively impact nurse work engagement. Most clinical nurse managers exhibit transformational leadership, followed by transactional, then passive-avoidant styles. Respondents displayed a high level of work engagement, emphasising the positive impact of transformational and transactional leadership on work engagement outcomes. The findings showed significant differences in leadership styles and work engagement levels between Saudi and non-Saudi nurses across various dimensions. Conclusion: Understanding the effect of leadership styles employed by nurse managers on work engagement can positively impact staff retention rates and the quality of patient care. Nurse managers should participate in training programs to enhance their practical leadership skills to enhance the work engagement levels of nurses. Implication: Nurse work engagement can be improved by establishing training programs that promote effective leadership and highlight the significance of various leadership styles and their subsequent impact on nurse work engagement. Nursing students should receive education on leadership styles. Nursing leaders should be given access to mentoring programs and opportunities for career advancement to support the introduction of effective leadership styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. This systematic review aimed to identify, evaluate, and synthesise the results of the studies that examine the relationship between nurse managers' leadership practices and staff nurses' work engagement in hospital settings and to provide recommendations for improvement and further research. Background. A lack of supportive leadership is identified as one of the most common reasons nurses leave employment. To meet the global shortage of nurses, nurse managers need to maximise staff retention and work engagement. Evaluation. A systematic review was conducted to identify research published between 2010 and 2021 and registered in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, EMCare, and Eric databases. The methodology guidelines outlined in the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Methodology for Systematic Reviews were followed, and the results were reported using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (ID CRD42021277463). Key Issue. Eleven (11) studies from 12 articles were included in this review. Three main leadership style themes were identified, and these showed statistically significant direct and indirect relationships with nurses' work engagement: relationally focused, task-focused, and lack of leadership. Work engagement was mainly assessed in terms of dedication, absorption, and vigour. The effects of leadership styles on work engagement were found to be mediated by trust in the leader, environmental resources such as structural empowerment, six work-life areas (workload, control, values, community, rewards, and fairness), person-job fit, organisational support, leader-member exchange, and personal resources such as self-efficacy and decision authority. Conclusion. This review found a significant correlation between positive nurse manager leadership style and the work engagement of registered nurses. Implications for Nursing Management. The results of this review suggest that nursing work engagement can be improved by implementing relational leadership behaviours. The findings of this review will be useful for developing appropriate nurse leaders' leadership styles, improving their workplace environments, and planning leadership training. It is essential to acknowledge the indirect effects of nurse leaders' leadership styles and their mediating factors on work engagement while developing interventions for staff nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate coping styles, posttraumatic stress, and mental health symptoms among a sample of community members affected by 2019–20 Australian bushfires. Using a convenience sampling approach, an online survey was used to assess a range of coping strategies, posttraumatic stress and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among the affected community members of Black Summer bushfires. The results revealed that study participants reported moderate symptoms of depression and stress, and severe levels of anxiety. Additionally, participants reported use of both approach and avoidance coping strategies following the bushfire event as well as experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress, such as having intrusive thoughts and symptoms of avoidance and hyperarousal. Despite the durability of many individuals, others remain affected by the event and there is evidence there may be longer term mental health consequences of the bushfires for some people. Given these findings, it is imperative that mental health services be readily available for people in the bushfire‐affected areas. Mental health nurses have an important role to play in supporting individuals affected by disasters. Awareness of the short‐ and long‐term impacts of disasters on the mental health of people is paramount for mental health nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore how compassion is received by patients in a hospital setting and how compassion is expressed by health professionals in a hospital setting. Background: Compassion is important to health professionals and patients. Perceived deficits in compassion in healthcare have led increasing concerns about the quality of care for patients. To better understand compassionate practice in a hospital setting we used narrative inquiry to explore the expression of compassion by health professionals and the experience of receiving compassion by patients. Design: Narrative Inquiry. Reported in line with Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 24 patients and health professionals in Australia. Data were collected between August 2018 and August 2019. Narrative analysis processes were used to develop a thematic framework. Results: Compassionate practice is presented as an overarching theme and comprises of three themes: (1) Amalgamation of various knowledges and skills (2) Delivery of meaningful actions which alleviate suffering and (3) Meeting individual needs and prevention of further preventable suffering. The expression of compassion by health professionals involved the fusion of many skills and knowledges. Patients received compassion through the actions of the health professional which alleviated their suffering. Conclusion: Compassionate practice is both important, and complex. Presence, skilled and purposeful action and the alleviation of suffering are essential to the expression and receipt of compassion in the hospital setting. Impact: Findings from this study contribute to the growing body of literature on compassionate practice in health settings, specifically in how it is expressed and received in a hospital setting. The complexity of compassion is explained for health professionals. Compassion was shown to be embedded in the caring moments between health professionals and patients. This paper explains the different elements that comprise compassion which can guide health professional practice. The importance of seemingly small acts has a big impact on patients, families and health professionals. There is a need for greater stakeholder value and recognition of this aspect of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine what was known about disaster preparedness in residential care and to consider this in the light of the current COVID‐19 pandemic.Care homes provide long‐term care to vulnerable, frail older people, as well as to young people with profound disabilities. The COVID‐19 pandemic has shown that the residential care sector has been seriously affected in many parts of the world and has exposed major flaws and vulnerabilities in infection control and other processes that have resulted in considerable loss of life of residents of these facilities.Discursive paper informed by a systematic literature. Review was carried out in line with PRISMA reporting guidelines. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO on 2020 [CRD42020211847].The review identified six papers meeting inclusion criteria across care residential facilities in different countries. Several prevention and mitigation strategies were identified to manage and reduce the spread and severity of viral respiratory infection pandemics. These strategies include isolation, restriction of movement, personal protective and hygienic measures, health education and information sharing, monitoring and coordination, and screening and treatment. Preparedness strategies identified were contingency planning such as reporting/communication, leadership, human resource, insurance, occupational health and resource availability. The prevention/mitigation and preparedness strategies helped to achieve decline in disease severity, reduced prevalence, reduced spread of the disease, improved readiness criteria, resource usefulness and increased intervention acceptability. This paper presents a conceptual framework exploring the interconnectedness of preparedness and prevention/ mitigation strategies and associated outcomes. We discuss areas of concern in the context of workforce employment patterns in the sector. Concerns related to the unintended consequences of strategies placed on aged care facilities, which may worsen mental health outcomes for residents, are discussed.Persons in residential care settings are at greater risk of infection during a pandemic, and therefore, strict measures to protect their safety are warranted. However, they are also a group who already experience social isolation and so any measures involving restrictions to visiting and social interaction, particularly over the longer term, must be accompanied by strategies to mitigate potential loneliness and mental health sequelae arising from long‐term pandemic restrictions. Though there was evidence of activity in preparedness for disasters within the residential care sector, various contextual factors affecting the sector were clearly not adequately considered or addressed in pre‐pandemic disaster planning, particularly in the areas of staff movements between care homes and the length of time that social isolation and restriction measures would need to be in place. Future pandemic planning should consider the nature of the workforce model in the care home sector, and factor in strategies to better support the mobile and highly casualised workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate and understand how compassion is expressed by nurses and received by patients in a hospital setting. Background: Concerns regarding the absence of compassion in a healthcare setting has necessitated further research in the field. To define and measure compassion is difficult and problematic. Compassion is subjective and in the contemporary literature the views of patients are under‐represented. Touch is an important component of nursing practice and can also be considered problematic. Design: Secondary analysis of narrative interviews. Methods: Secondary analysis of 12 participant interviews with nurses (n‐4) and patients (n‐8). Data were collected between August 2018 and August 2019. Findings: Compassion was expressed and received through touch for nurses and patients. Patients receive compassion through the touch of the nurse and this touch conveyed comfort and safety. Touch allowed for the establishment of an authentic connection between nurse and patient. Nurses used touch to express compassion and patients received compassion when they were comforted with touch. Compassion was present in incidental touch and deliberate comforting touch. Nurses were respectful of the meanings of touch. Patients describe nurses knowing when to touch and using touch appropriately. Conclusions: Nurses in our study were respectful of the meaning of touch for their patients and described using touch to convey compassion. Patients in our study perceived compassion through the touch by the nurse. Through these narratives, touch is revealed as an essential part of compassionate practice conveying safety, authenticity and connection. Impact: Patients in this study describe receiving compassion through the use of touch which made them feel safe. Nurses in this study used touch to create an authentic connection with patients and were aware of the different meanings of touch. Avoiding touch, being wary of touch, or considering touch taboo robs patients of compassion moments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that nurse researchers are under increasing scrutiny related to measures regarding performance, productivity, quality and excellence. Topics include considered that in addition to internationally recognized citation metrics such as the Hirsh Index©, within many countries various metrics and measures are in place and these are used to judge and rank the performance of researchers through research assessment activities.

Background: Novice researchers can face many challenges throughout their journey as researchers in training, particularly when interviewing for qualitative research. Aim: To present an authentic account of the challenges a novice researcher faced when collecting data using narrative interviews. Discussion: The researcher reconsidered how previous interviews had involved power relations and the urge to seek a 'correct' answer from participants. The article explores what are considered 'data', as well as the use of laughter and silence to re-establish power dynamics. Conclusions: Reflection, feedback from supervisors and peers, and ongoing research experience can help novice researchers understand the strengths and weaknesses of their previous interviews. Implications for practice: Novice researchers may find this article useful when planning for challenges they may encounter when undertaking qualitative research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19 spread rapidly causing widescale loss of life and economic devastation. Efforts to contain it have resulted in measures such as closing of borders and restrictions around travel, social activities and attending places of worship. We conducted this rapid review to systematically examine, synthesize, and critically appraise the available evidence on the relationship between pandemic‐related behaviours and psychological outcomes. The methods were compliant with the PRISMA guidelines. The review was preregistered with PROSPERO (Registration #: CRD42020181576). A literature search was conducted from January 2010 to April 2020 using ProQuest, Web of Science, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Scopus, SAGE Journals, and CINAHL. Of 3844 articles identified, we included 11 quantitative articles in the final synthesis, representing data from 32, 049 individual respondents from eight countries. We identified three pandemics (COVID‐19, MERS‐CoV, Influenza A(H1N1) pdm09) as well as several psychological outcomes including anxiety, mental distress, post‐traumatic stress disorder, and anger. We also identified several behaviours during pandemics and categorized them into protective, preparedness, and perverse behaviours. The review showed that even though there is limited evidence regarding pandemic‐related behaviours and psychological outcomes, the current findings showed that the psychological outcomes significantly impacted on the adoption of the pandemic‐related behaviours. Given the negative effects of psychological outcomes on behaviours, we recommend that mental health professionals should promote mental health support to people exhibiting psychological distress resulting from similar events in the future. Also, we recommend that future research should test the hypothesized effects of pandemics and psychological outcomes on behaviour change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss several factors associated with family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics mentioned include an increase in demand for domestic violence services in Australia, the efforts of Italy to commission hotels to offer shelter to the growing number of people fleeing abusive situations, and an increase in alcohol good sales in Australia as social distancing measures came into place.

The article discusses that people from Wuhan were targeted and blamed for the COVID-19 outbreak by other Chinese people and Chinese people have since been stigmatized internationally. It mentions the current state of the COVID-19 illness already paints a picture of inevitable and large-scale quarantine; and also mentions that most healthcare professionals have received relatively little training in the delivery of mental health care in the face of such pandemics.

Aims: To seek consensus on the key characteristics that comprise compassion in a health care setting from pre-defined experts currently researching in the field. Background: Compassion is a vital component in healthcare. There is currently little consensus on how compassion is defined or operationalized in healthcare or research. Design: Modified Delphi Study. Methods: A four phase Delphi process was conducted: (1) Literature review of contemporary research (2) open ended questionnaire (n = 9); (3) content analysis results and synthesis with literature; (4) two round Delphi approach (Round 1 n = 8; Round 2 n = 6). Results: A total of 31 out of 36 statements reached consensus. Conclusions: Experts came to a consensus that compassion was a virtuous response involving awareness of and participation in the suffering of another conveyed through action intended to reduce the suffering observed. Experts placed less emphasis on compassion as sympathetic concern or pity. Compassion does not involve witnessing of the plight of another nor suffering with the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Consensus methods such as Delphi studies or the group nominal method have long been used in healthcare research to develop services, processes or policies and inform further research. However, concept analysis and meta-synthesis tools are used more frequently to seek a collective understanding of subjective terms. Aim To examine the use of consensus methods to develop linguistic clarity in healthcare research. Discussion The authors argue that consensus methods are appropriate for determining linguistic clarity when researching subjective terms. The paper includes a sample research design that incorporates this approach. Consensus methods, supported by interpretive synthesis of the concept and research, can enrich our understanding of subjective terms used in healthcare research. Conclusion Understanding the importance of linguistic clarity is an important step for healthcare researchers. Consensus methods, if managed effectively and conducted in line with the appropriate research guidelines, can bring a richer understanding to concepts. Implications for practice This paper presents a research example that incorporates the use of a consensus method and which healthcare researchers can use to reduce the potential ambiguity of subjective terms in their research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To provide a review of empirical research investigating how compassion is expressed by nurses and received by patients in hospital settings. Background: Compassion is viewed as an important and fundamental part of a health professional practice. Universally, reports from both media and government agencies have addressed perceived deficits of compassion in healthcare with nurses accused of a lack of compassion. Research into compassion to date has largely focused on the problematic nature of compassion such as burnout, fatigue and other negative personal and work‐related outcomes. Design: A systematic literature review of empirical research guided by a meta‐ethnographic approach supported the systematic comparison and translation of the included studies. Six online databases were searched from January 2006–December 2016. Methods: This review was carried out according to the PRISMA‐P reporting guidelines. How compassion in healthcare was defined was extracted alongside findings on how compassion was expressed by nurses and received by patients. Synthesis of the research was completed resulting in new interpretations. Results: Eleven papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Multiple differing definitions of compassion in healthcare were applied. Nurses embody and enact compassion through behaviours such as spending time with patients and communicating effectively with patients. Patients experience compassion through a sense of togetherness with nurses. Conclusion: Existing research demonstrated dissonance between the expression of compassion by nurses and how compassion is experienced by patients. The themes identified in this review should be considered by health professionals providing patient care. Relevance to clinical practice: Health providers should acknowledge and account for the time that nurses need with patients to demonstrate compassion in practice. Nursing education relating to the expression of compassion should articulate both the subjectivity and ambiguity of the term and examine the relationship between compassion and suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented to the article has well established that bushfires and other natural disasters have long-term effects on the mental health of affected individuals and communities. Topics include rural communities have vulnerable to bushfires, and the 2019–2020 bushfire events impacted Australian rural communities; and the bushfires has a devastating impact on rural agricultural-based communities.

The author reflects on mental health impact of COVID-19 on pre-registration nursing students in Australia. Topics discussed include nursing students, social distancing and isolation requirements have resulted in the cancellation of classes, examinations and clinical placement activities; student learning, their normal support systems, and social activities, with little sign of return to normal in the immediate future and curriculum while ensuring adherence to requirements of social distancing.

The devastating impacts of 2019-20 bushfires on mental health is no different and based on previous studies of bushfire impact on individuals, responses are likely to be diverse, ranging from optimism to absolute despair. Dear Sir, The Report of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry into the 2019-20 bushfires[1] failed to recognise the mental health impacts on the people in affected communities. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Measuring public response during COVID-19 is an important way of ensuring the suitability and effectiveness of epidemic response efforts. An analysis of social media provides an approximation of public sentiment during an emergency like the current pandemic. The measures introduced across the globe to help curtail the spread of the coronavirus have led to the development of a situation labeled as a "perfect storm," triggering a wave of domestic violence. As people use social media to communicate their experiences, analyzing public discourse and sentiment on social platforms offers a way to understand concerns and issues related to domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study was based on an analysis of public discourse and sentiment related to domestic violence during the stay-at-home periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia in 2020. It aimed to understand the more personal self-reported experiences, emotions, and reactions toward domestic violence that were not always classified or collected by official public bodies during the pandemic. Methods: We searched social media and news posts in Australia using key terms related to domestic violence and COVID-19 during 2020 via digital analytics tools to determine sentiments related to domestic violence during this period. Results: The study showed that the use of sentiment and discourse analysis to assess social media data is useful in measuring the public expression of feelings and sharing of resources in relation to the otherwise personal experience of domestic violence. There were a total of 63,800 posts across social media and news media. Within these posts, our analysis found that domestic violence was mentioned an average of 179 times a day. There were 30,100 tweets, 31,700 news reports, 1500 blog posts, 548 forum posts, and 7 comments (posted on news and blog websites). Negative or neutral sentiment centered on the sharp rise in domestic violence during different lockdown periods of the 2020 pandemic, and neutral and positive sentiments centered on praise for efforts that raised awareness of domestic violence as well as the positive actions of domestic violence charities and support groups in their campaigns. There were calls for a positive and proactive handling (rather than a mishandling) of the pandemic, and results indicated a high level of public discontent related to the rising rates of domestic violence and the lack of services during the pandemic. Conclusions: This study provided a timely understanding of public sentiment related to domestic violence during the COVID-19 lockdown periods in Australia using social media analysis. Social media represents an important avenue for the dissemination of information; posts can be widely dispersed and easily accessed by a range of different communities who are often difficult to reach. An improved understanding of these issues is important for future policy direction. Heightened awareness of this could help agencies tailor and target messaging to maximize impact. J Med Internet Res 2021;23(10):e29025 doi:10.2196/29025 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the worldwide social movement and protests relating to climate change. It discusses the declaration of climate change as a health emergency by the Australian Medical Association. It mentions the environmental impact and physical health concerns related to the climate change.

Introduction: Chronic conditions impact indigenous peoples of Australia at a much higher rate than non-indigenous Australians. Attendance at the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) supported indigenous health checks are crucial to improve prevention and management of chronic health conditions. However, in conjunction with lifestyle and environmental factors, attendance rates at primary healthcare services for screening and treatment have fallen in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on preventive health behaviours of indigenous Australians and the associated barriers to, and enablers of, engagement with health services to formulate a targeted intervention strategy., Methods and Analysis: A concurrent mixed-methods study (comprising quantitative and qualitative data collection methods) will be employed. Descriptive analysis of MBS data about the characteristics of indigenous peoples of Australia claiming health assessment services will be performed. Generalised estimating equation regression models will be used to examine the use of health assessment services over time. Qualitative interviews informed by indigenous research methods will be conducted. Interviews will investigate barriers to, and enablers of, engagement with health services. Thematic approach guided by the principles of indigenist praxis, storytelling and collaborative research will be used to analyse the interview data. The project commenced in July 2020 and will be completed by July 2022., Ethics and Dissemination: The project received ethics approval from the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales and the University of New England Human Research Ethics Committee. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journal articles, conferences, government and relevant stakeholder reports, and infographics., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)