Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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    Factors affecting pandemic biosecurity behaviors of international travelers: Moderating roles of gender, age, and travel frequency
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-11-08) Kim MJ; Hall CM; Bonn M; Witlox F
    Research undertaken during the COVID‐19 pandemic has identified a number of significant factors that affect international travelers’ biosecurity behavior. Tourists’ age and gender as well as travel frequency have been found to have significant impacts on consumers’ non‐pharmaceutical intervention practices. However, despite the importance of age, gender, and travel frequency, such studies have overlooked international tourists’ values, attitudes, interventions, and behaviors relevant to biosecurity during a pandemic. In order to bridge this gap, the purposes of this study are to build and test a conceptually comprehensive framework on the relationships between values, attitudes, interventions, and behaviors, along with the moderating effects of age, gender, and travel frequency. To meet the study objectives, a digital survey was administered during 1–5 September 2020, which generated n = 386 total useable responses. Data were analyzed using the partial least squares approach. The results revealed that tourists’ values have the greatest effect on their attitudes toward COVID‐19 biosecurity for travel, which in turn positively influences interventions and behaviors. Interventions also have a significant impact on travelers’ COVID‐19 biosecurity behavior. This study expands the theoretical understanding of biosecurity and pandemic behavior. The findings of this research also provide significant insights to the literature as well as stakeholders, such as governments, health organizations, international health and tourism agencies, and destinations, with respect to managing international travel biosecurity measures.
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    Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards vitamin D and sun exposure of parents of infants and young children and health professionals in New Zealand.
    (SAGE Publications, 2023-07-02) Von Hurst P; Mazahery H; Reynolds E; Thomson A; Franklin M; Conlon C
    BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency may result in adverse long-term health consequences in adulthood if it occurs during fetal development, infancy and childhood. To effectively improve vitamin D status of infants/toddlers, there needs to be knowledge and awareness of vitamin D among parents and health professionals. AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate parents' and health professionals' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards vitamin D and sun exposure over two timepoints. METHODS: The study was an ecological study over two timepoints (Parents 2009 and 2021; Health professionals 2010 and 2019) and used an online questionnaire. RESULTS: The analysis included 9834 parents (2009 n = 8032; 2021 n = 1802) and 283 health professionals (2010 n = 193; 2019 n = 90). Parents and health professionals had good knowledge of vitamin D sources, roles and risk factors for deficiency over two timepoints. There were however some confusions regarding the vitamin D content of breast milk, exclusive breastfeeding as a risk factor for deficiency, and ineffectiveness of sun exposure through glass windows in relation to vitamin D synthesis. In 2019, only 37% of health professionals indicated giving advice on supplements for infants/toddlers. Most parents and health professionals believed there was not enough information available to parents regarding vitamin D (>90%) and that skin cancer prevention messages make it difficult to get information about vitamin D across (>70%). CONCLUSION: Although parents and health professionals had good knowledge in most areas, knowledge of some specific sources and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency was poor.
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    Pet Owners' Attitudes and Opinions towards Cat and Dog Care Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-10-04) Forrest R; Pearson M; Awawdeh L; Cordoni G
    This research aimed to explore cat and dog owners' attitudes and opinions towards various pet care practices in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), and determine what factors were associated with them. An online survey composed of both closed and open-ended questions was administered from January to March 2019. A total of 2358 respondents answered the questions on pet care practices. Of these, 37.5 percent (n = 885) were both dog and cat owners, 28.0 percent (n = 652) were cat owners, and 26.0 percent (n = 609) were dog owners, while 9% (n = 212) of respondents did not own a cat or dog at the time of taking the survey. The study revealed that most respondents (>90%) acknowledge the importance of providing adequate housing, regular worming and flea treatments, microchipping, and vaccinations for their pets. Notably, demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, age range, having children, having a rural upbringing, and place of residence influenced owners' attitudes, with those towards cat care practices varying more than those for dogs. The study highlights the need for responsible pet ownership interventions considering these demographic factors. The study identifies a knowledge gap among pet owners concerning the importance of regular veterinary visits and the impact of breeding for certain looks on animal welfare. The use of shock collar devices provoked varying opinions on their usage for training and behavior modification. The study suggests that enhancing pet owners' knowledge is pivotal for responsible pet ownership. Overall, the findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions that account for demographic variations for promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. The findings underscore the importance of improving access to veterinary health care teams, especially in rural areas, and of providing culturally appropriate education resources for both pet owners and veterinary health care teams.
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    Evaluation of the Dangerous Decibels Brazil Program in Workers Exposed to Noise
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2022-07-14) Bramati L; Marques JM; Gonçalves CGO; Welch D; Reddy R; Lacerda ABDM; Ye B
    INTRODUCTION: Noise-induced hearing loss can be avoided by taking preventive measures. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of the Brazilian version of the Dangerous Decibels® program for noise-exposed workers, using the ecological model as an educational intervention plan. METHOD: Non-randomized interventional study with a quantitative, experimental trial design, conducted at a meatpacking company. The participants were divided into two groups-the first one (n = 132, divided into 6 subgroups) received the Dangerous Decibels® Brazil educational intervention (DDBEI) adapted to workers while the second group (n = 138, divided into 5 subgroups) received a conventional educational intervention (CEI). The interventions lasted 50 min. The Hearing Protection Assessment Questionnaire (HPA-5) was administered before and after the interventions. The five dimensions (attitude, behavior, knowledge, supports, and barriers) were compared using the Student's t-test for paired data (<0.05). RESULTS: After both the DDBEI and CEI training, workers improved significantly in barriers, supports, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior around noise. By chance, the CEI group scored lower in all measures than the DDBEI group before training, and though both groups improved, the difference was maintained after training. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the Dangerous Decibels® program for noise-exposed workers was effective, influencing positively the factors at different levels of the ecological model. Though the DDBEI was no more effective than the CEI, the CEI participants began at much lower levels, so the effectiveness of the DDBEI may have been underestimated.
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    Diagnostic processes and disclosure: A survey of practitioners diagnosing cognitive impairment
    (New Zealand Psychological Society, 2014-07) McKinlay A; Leathem J; Merrick P
    The literature reports widespread variation in practitioners’ disclosure of a dementia diagnosis, though it is currently unclear what factors influence this difference in practice. 57 New Zealand based practitioners completed an online questionnaire relating to how they reach a diagnosis of cognitive impairment and under what circumstances (if any) a diagnosis might be withheld from a client. The findings indicate that a diagnosis of cognitive impairment is never completely withheld by practitioners. All qualitative responses were analysed using conventional content analysis. Practitioners noted more positive consequences associated with disclosing a diagnosis to their clients, suggesting that providing a diagnosis is perceived by practitioners as helpful for people experiencing cognitive impairment. This study adds to the field of ethics and diagnostic disclosure in that it highlights what specific factors are considered when a practitioner chooses how to relay a cognitive impairment diagnosis to their client. Such considerations include when disclosure conflicts with the clients wishes, lack of insight, and the presence of other illnesses. Ongoing research on the subject of disclosure is needed as the number of adults who will experience cognitive impairment is predicted to rise.