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Background: Fathers' mental health, parenting practices and co-parenting relationships have a powerful effect on child development. The paucity of research on the parenting strengths and support needs of fathers of children across childhood and adolescence compels the current study addressing the parenting experiences of a large sample of fathers of birth to 18-year-old children. Objective: The study aims address: (1) differences in the views of mothers and fathers regarding their parenting practices, sense of parenting efficacy, mental health and the co-parenting relationship; (2) investigation of factors affecting fathers' mental health; (3) exploration of fathers' views about the co-parenting relationship; and (4) examination of influences on fathers' parenting. Methods: The study involves secondary analysis of data collected from the first wave of the Australian "Parenting Today in Victoria" study, conducted in 2016 (N = 2600 mothers and fathers) involving 1044 fathers (40% of the sample) recruited through random dialling of landline and mobile numbers to produce a representative sample of parents of children 0-18 years. Results: Results demonstrate a positive picture of fathering at a population level -- most reported (a) high levels of parenting self-efficacy, (b) using positive parenting strategies, (c) talking to their children directly when their children experience problems, and (d) feeling supported by their parenting partner in their role as fathers. Nevertheless, important areas of need are identified. Fathers' reports of mental health challenges were associated with reduced parenting sense of efficacy and reduced opportunities for positive father-child interactions. While most fathers reported good partner support, this was often in contrast to mothers' views. Conclusions: These results from one of the largest surveys of fathers of its kind provide credible insights into the experiences and support needs of fathers, with clear implications for policy makers and service providers responsible for designing and delivering supports for fathers.

Background and Aims: East African countries have high rates of maternal and child mortality and morbidity. Studies have shown that the involvement of male partners in reproductive health can benefit maternal and child health (MCH). This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the evidence across East Africa that describes male partner involvement and its effect on maternal, reproductive, and child well‐being. Methods: Ten databases were searched to identify quantitative data on male's involvement in East Africa. Studies reporting qualitative data, "intention to use" data or only reporting on male partner's education or economic status were excluded. Studies were organized into five a priori categories: antenatal care (ANC), human immunodeficiency virus, breastfeeding, family planning, and intimate partner violence with further categories developed based on studies included. Results: A total of 2787 records were identified; 644 full texts were reviewed, and 96 studies were included in this review. Data were reported on 118,967 mothers/pregnant women and 15,361 male partners. Most of the studies (n = 83) were reported from four countries Ethiopia (n = 49), Kenya (n = 14), Tanzania (n = 12) and Uganda (n = 10). The evidence indicates that male partner involvement and support is associated with improved reproductive, MCH across a wide range of outcomes. However, the studies were heterogeneous, using diverse exposure and outcome measures. Also, male partners' lack of practical and emotional support, and engagement in violent behaviors towards partners, were associated with profound negative impacts on MCH and well‐being. Conclusions: The body of evidence, although heterogeneous, provides compelling support for male involvement in reproductive health programs designed to support MCH. To advance research in this field, an agreement is needed on a measure of male partner "involvement." To optimize benefits of male partners' involvement, developing core outcome sets and regional coordination are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to document the preferences of fathers in accessing and using parenting supports and to investigate the influence of a range of family contextual factors including paternal mental health, child disability, the co-parenting relationship and parenting sense of efficacy on fathers' help-seeking. Participants included a representative sample of 1,044 fathers of zero- to 18-year-olds. Results suggest that most fathers feel supported in their parenting role and rely on their own efforts (e.g. online searches) for information to support their parenting in preference to in-person interactions with professionals or attendance at groups. The co-parenting relationship and paternal mental health were also identified as important factors impacting on paternal help-seeking behaviours. These results from one of the largest surveys of fathers of its kind provide credible insights into the parenting help-seeking experiences and support needs of fathers, with clear implications for policy makers and service providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workshop - Background: Drawing on the governance structure of SALTY, a cross-sectoral research project aimed at improving quality of life in long term care (LTC), this workshop explores how meaningfully engaging first voices (residents, family members, people with dementia, volunteers, or care aides) can influence the focus and outcomes of LTC research. Workshop - Aims and Objectives • To have long term care first voices (residents, family, volunteers, staff and persons with dementia) from the SALTY project reflect on how their voices were meaningfully incorporated and valued in the team structure. • To demonstrate the critical impact of engaging first voices throughout the entire research process - from developing research questions to implementing research outcomes. • To discuss practicalities - including challenges and opportunities - of engaging first voices through small group activities. Workshop - Target audience: • Researchers interested or currently engaged in integrated care research that engages end users/patients/citizen/first voices (such as patients, residents, direct staff, family members) in research governance and processes. • Other integrated care stakeholders (such as first voices, policy makers, managers, clinicians), who may be invited to engage in such research. Workshop - Format: 10m - Facilitator: Overview to SALTY project 10m - Lived experience (FF) Advisory Group; Discussion of involvement; identifying challenges and promising practices 5m - audience reflect on "best practices" 5m -Pre-recorded videos of Care Aide/family, re: engagement 10m-LTC Director (SS) - added value of first voice 10m - Researcher (MJH) ethics and impact of involving first voices in research 30m - Group Work ...15: Experiences of working with first voices? Lessons learned ...15: What do researchers/first voices need to know? promising practices; resources needed; 10 m - Table leads - key messages Facilitator: Synthesis and conclusion. Workshop - Key Learnings/Take away: • To connect with other researchers interested in engaging end users/first voice in integrated care research • Learn and develop practical and conceptual tools, based on the lessons learned from a recent cross sectoral long-term care research project, to better support first voice engagement in future integrated care research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive impairment is recognized as an important determinant of outcome in schizophrenia, but mental health services generally have little capacity to provide detailed neuropsychological assessments. Computerized testing would overcome this difficulty, provided that such testing was equivalent to testing by a clinician. Given that negative symptoms can include impaired motivation and attention, it is also important to know whether computerized testing is valid in people with more severe negative symptoms. Our study was designed to compare clinician-administered and computerized testing of two domains commonly impaired in schizophrenia, verbal memory and verbal fluency. We also evaluated the effect of negative symptoms on performance on computerized cognitive tests. Sixty-two participants with schizophrenia completed clinician-administered and computerized verbal memory and verbal fluency tasks. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale assessed negative symptom severity. The study found no difference in cognitive performance associated with the method of test administration. This finding held regardless of the severity of negative symptoms. We found that computerized cognitive testing was equivalent to clinician-delivered testing in assessing verbal memory and verbal fluency. This finding was not affected by the presence of negative symptoms. Our results support the use of computerized cognitive testing for people with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]