Emma Lea

Publications (13)16.73 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: Jennifer Nitz

  Article: Beyond the 'tick and flick': facilitating best practice falls prevention through an action research approach.

  Emma Lea, Sharon Andrews, Keith Hill, Terry Haines, Jennifer Nitz, Betty Haralambous, Kirsten Moore, Andrew Robinson
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  ABSTRACT: To examine residential aged care facility staff views on using falls risk assessment tools and the implications for developing falls prevention practices in the context of an action research project. Falls risk assessments play an important role in care planning by identifying and monitoring aged care facility residents most at risk of falls. Yet while such assessments are recommended in falls prevention best practice guidelines, there is little published research that examines staff procedures and views related to conducting falls risk assessments. Falls risk assessments were undertaken in the context of an action research project. Twelve staff members from two residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Tasmania formed a single Falls Action Research Group, which met 22 times over a year, providing the study's qualitative data. During this time, key group members assessed 178 residents using a new falls risk assessment tool (FROP-Resi). According to group members, facilities evolved from a 'tick-and-flick' approach to falls risk assessment to a more individualised, face-to-face assessment process. Group members perceived the process to be more meaningful and enjoyable for staff involved in the assessment process resulting in higher quality of assessments and leading to improved levels of falls awareness among staff, residents and family caregivers. An action research process is useful for facilitating a new approach to falls risk assessments, engaging aged care facility staff with falls prevention and prompting improvements in falls prevention practices. RACFs need to provide opportunities for staff to meet regularly to discuss practice, identify issues and take action. By doing so, staff can engage meaningfully with best practice activities such as optimising falls risk assessment processes.
  Journal of Clinical Nursing 07/2012; 21(13-14):1896-905. · 1.12 Impact Factor
• Article: Outcomes from the implementation of a facility-specific evidence-based falls prevention intervention program in residential aged care.

  Jennifer Nitz, Elizabeth Cyarto, Sharon Andrews, Marcia Fearn, Stephanie Fu, Terrence Haines, Betty Haralambous, Keith Hill, Susan Hunt, Emma Lea, Kirsten Moore, Emma Renehan, Andrew Robinson
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  ABSTRACT: For residents in long-term care facilities, falling is a major concern requiring preventive intervention. A prospective cohort study measured the impact of falls reduction following the implementation of evidence-based fall prevention interventions in 9 Australian residential care facilities. An external project team provided a comprehensive audit of current practice. Facilitated by an action research approach, interventions were individualized to be facility- and patient-specific and included the following: environmental modifications such as low beds and height-adjustable chairs, movement alarms, hazard removal, and hip protectors. Participants included 670 residents and 650 staff from 9 facilities across 3 states. A significant reduction of falls were observed per site in the proportion of fallers (P = .044) and single fallers (P = .04). However, overall the number of falls was confounded by multiple falls in residents. Reduction in fallers was sustained in the 6-month follow-up phase. Positive outcomes from interventions varied between facilities. Further research is necessary to target frequent fallers.
  Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.) 12/2011; 33(1):41-50. · 0.79 Impact Factor
• Article: Consumer concerns about food and health: Examination of general and specific relationships with personal values and demographics

  Anthony Worsley, Emma Lea
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  ABSTRACT: Purpose – Aims to investigate the relationships between consumers' food concerns and their personal values and demographic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was administered in a cross sectional random population survey conducted among a sample of 1,000 adults in South Australia. The questionnaire elicited information about respondents' concerns about 20 food and health issues, the perceived importance of 23 values items derived from the Schwartz values inventory, and their demographic characteristics. Findings – Principal components analyses derived four food concerns factors and six personal values factors. Respondents' safety concerns scores were positively associated with devout-tradition, order-discipline, and moderate-independent values. Their disease concerns score was positively linked to beauty-nature, devout-tradition, and order-discipline. Multiple regression and chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) analyses showed that individual values items were strong predictors of consumers; specific concerns such as food and heart disease, and, genetic modification of foods. Research limitations/implications – The research was based on a cross sectional study. More refined indices of food concerns and personal values should be used in replications of this preliminary study. Practical implications – The findings support the use of psychographic market segmentation approaches in communication programs about food and health issues. Originality/value – The findings suggest that personal values, may be stronger predictors of consumers' concerns about food and health issues than demographics. They also show that measurement level of values and concerns influence the observed strength of their relationships.
  British Food Journal 10/2008; 110(11):1106-1118. · 0.70 Impact Factor
• Article: Information issues for providers of services to people with dementia living in the community in Australia: breaking the cycle of frustration.

  Andrew Robinson, Carolyn Emden, Emma Lea, Jean Elder, Paul Turner, James Vickers
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  ABSTRACT: The rising prevalence of dementia and concomitant demands upon dementia services are global issues. In Australia, dementia has attained national health priority status and governments at all levels have implemented service strategies to help manage the complex lives of people with dementia. Despite recognition that information is pivotal to effective dementia service delivery, little is known about the information needs of individual providers and the processes used to transfer information between providers. This qualitative study scoped information issues for key service providers for people with dementia living in the community in southern Tasmania, Australia, including information needs, availability, and transfer. Eleven focus groups were held with general practitioners, residential aged care facility staff, home carers, community health nurses, and aged care-assessment team members. Findings revealed that provider groups shared common, albeit unbeknown to them, information needs (e.g. diagnosis, behaviours, and services) and information concerns (e.g. untrustworthy information and poor information transfer) leading to poor service coordination. General practitioners emerged as a stand-out group with markedly fewer needs and concerns than other providers, a finding of special interest given their pivotal role in dementia diagnosis and referral. Participants were adamant in their view that electronic data bases and single points of entry to dementia services would improve service provision and should be developed. The research highlights complexities and associated frustrations of information transferability, accessibility, and trustworthiness for dementia service providers in the community. Increased understanding of providers' diverse yet interdependent roles could, we believe, play an important part in breaking the cycle of frustration experienced by all participants and thus contribute to system reform.
  Health & Social Care in the Community 10/2008; 17(2):141-50. · 0.86 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Elizabeth Cummings

  Article: Transforming clinical practice amongst community nurses: mentoring for COPD patient self-management.

  Andrew Robinson, Helen Courtney-Pratt, Emma Lea, Helen Cameron-Tucker, Paul Turner, Elizabeth Cummings, Richard Wood-Baker, Eugene Haydn Walters
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  ABSTRACT: Aims and objectives. To report on the process of transforming clinical practice amongst community nurses through a mentoring programme implemented to support self-management amongst community-based sufferers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Background. The increasing incidence of and health burden from, chronic diseases has led to the emergence of more proactive, integrated chronic disease management approaches across the acute and primary care sectors. An important part of these approaches is the direct involvement of patients in their own care. Despite some difficulties with comparing the benefits of chronic disease self-management programmes, many evaluations report some benefit and all highlight the importance of health professionals in supporting self-management behaviours. In the primary care sector, community nurses are ideally situated to support these behaviours, but to do this effectively transformation of nursing practice must occur. Design. Qualitative, longitudinal study informed by action research methods and involving monthly group discussions with community nurse mentors. Methods. Community nurses from four community health centres in Tasmania were trained in motivational interviewing techniques to promote self-management amongst chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Nurses' mentoring experiences were monitored during group discussions and subjected to thematic analysis. Results. The paper reports the findings of the first 12 months of the project. In this phase, nurses experienced a transformation in their constructions of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their clinical practice. This involved a shift from a fatalistic, prescriptive, biomedical approach to a primary healthcare approach characterised by empathy, consultation, facilitation and a holistic focus. Conclusions. Community nurses face challenges in supporting chronic disease self-management. These challenges can be overcome and a transformation in clinical practice instilled. Relevance to clinical practice. This study highlights that it is possible to support community nurses to take a lead role in the ongoing management of chronic disease in the community.
  Journal of Clinical Nursing 07/2008; · 1.12 Impact Factor
• Article: Australian adult consumers' beliefs about plant foods: a qualitative study.

  Emma Lea, Anthony Worsley, David Crawford
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  ABSTRACT: This exploratory qualitative study examined consumers' perceived barriers and benefits of plant food (fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds) consumption and views on the promotion of these foods. Ten focus groups were conducted in Melbourne, Australia. Groups consisted of employees of various workplaces, community group members, university students, and inner-city residents. Health-related benefits predominated, particularly relating to the properties of plant foods (e.g., vitamins). Taste, variety, versatility, and environmental benefits were also considered important. The main barriers to eating plant foods were lack of knowledge and skills and length of preparation time. The poor quality of plant foods was also an issue for consumers. Awareness of the promotion of plant foods was generally high. Participants noted that promotions require a stronger practical emphasis with a focus on quick, easy-to-prepare foods and meals. These findings provide insight into effective ways to promote a higher consumption of plant foods.
  Health Education &amp Behavior 01/2006; 32(6):795-808. · 1.54 Impact Factor
• Article: Food, health, the environment and consumers' dietary choices

  Emma Lea
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to examine some of the issues that surround food and the environment, particularly conventional and organic agriculture and food distribution, and to look at some of the health implications. It is argued that the links between food, health and the environment are strong. Consumers have the power to have an impact positively or negatively on the environment via their dietary choices. By providing information and advice about the environmental as well as the health impact of food choices, health and nutrition professionals could increase consumers' awareness of such issues.
  Nutrition &amp Dietetics 08/2005; 62(1):21 - 25. · 0.88 Impact Factor
• Article: Food industry awareness of consumers' plant food beliefs

  Emma Lea, Anthony Worsley, David Crawford
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  ABSTRACT: Purpose – The aims of this study were to examine farmers' and food processors' alignment with consumers' views about plant foods and their intentions to produce plant foods. Design/methodology/approach – Data on plant food beliefs were collected from mail surveys of farmers, food processing businesses and random population samples of adults in Victoria, Australia. Findings – There were strong differences between consumers' beliefs and farmers' and food processors' perceptions of consumers' beliefs. For example, a higher proportion of farmers and processors believed that consumers would eat more plant foods if more convenience-oriented plant-based meals were available than consumers themselves agreed. Farmers appeared to be more aware of or aligned with consumers' beliefs than were processors. One- and two-thirds of farmers and processors respectively were planning to grow or process more plant foods, which bodes well for the availability of plant and plant-based foods. Research limitations/implications – Study limitations include the small food industry sample sizes and possible response bias, although analysis suggests the latter was low. Future research could survey a larger sample of food industry representatives, including those from other sectors (e.g. retailers). Practical implications – Education of consumers and industry groups on plant foods and better lines of communication from consumer to processor to farmer, are required. Originality/value – To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine farmers' and food processors' awareness of consumers' beliefs about plant foods. This issue is important for those involved with the production and marketing of plant foods or with food, farming and health policy.
  British Food Journal 07/2005; 107(8):556-571. · 0.70 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Anthony Worsley

  Article: Benefits and barriers to the consumption of a vegetarian diet in Australia.

  Emma Lea, Anthony Worsley
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine consumers' perceived benefits and barriers to the consumption of a vegetarian diet. Survey (written questionnaire) that included questions on perceived benefits and barriers to the consumption of a vegetarian diet. South Australia. Six hundred and one randomly selected South Australians. The main perceived barriers to adopting a vegetarian diet were enjoying eating meat and an unwillingness to alter eating habits. This was the case for men, women and all age groups, although there were sex and age differences present in over half of the barrier items. For example, family food preferences were a greater problem for women than for men, while the oldest group was more likely to agree that humans are 'meant' to eat meat than the younger groups. The main benefits associated with vegetarian diets were health benefits: increased fruit and vegetable intake, decreased saturated fat intake, weight control. Animal welfare-related benefits and disease prevention were also important. Age and sex differences were apparent, although age differences were more important than sex differences. The majority of respondents perceived there to be health benefits associated with the consumption of a vegetarian diet, but also, predictably, enjoyed eating meat. Given this, it is likely that interest in plant-based diets that contain some meat is higher than that in no-meat diets. An understanding of the perceived benefits and barriers of consuming a vegetarian diet will allow the implementation of strategies to influence meat and vegetarianism beliefs, dietary behaviour and, hence, public health.
  Public Health Nutrition 09/2003; 6(5):505-11. · 2.17 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Anthony Worsley

  Article: The factors associated with the belief that vegetarian diets provide health benefits.

  Emma Lea, Anthony Worsley
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to examine the factors associated with the belief that vegetarian diets provide health benefits. A random population mail survey about food choice was conducted among a sample of 1000 South Australians. An additional (non-random) survey of 106 vegetarians and semi-vegetarians was also conducted, giving a total of 707 participants from both samples. The main predictors of the belief that vegetarian diets provide health benefits for all respondents were found to be the belief that meat is neither healthy nor necessary and frequent searching for information on healthy eating. However, there were differences between vegetarians, non-vegetarians and semi-vegetarians. In particular, health issues were relatively more important for semi-vegetarians and vegetarians, while knowledge and convenience issues were most important for non-vegetarians. The results have important implications for public health. Many South Australians perceive that health benefits are associated with eating a vegetarian diet, which may also apply to plant-based diets in general. However, if non-vegetarians are to obtain some of the health benefits associated with the consumption of a plant-based diet, they require information on the preparation of quick and easy plant- based meals.
  Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 02/2003; 12(3):296-303. · 1.13 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Anthony Worsley

  Article: The cognitive contexts of beliefs about the healthiness of meat.

  Emma Lea, Anthony Worsley
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  ABSTRACT: The overall aim of this study was to examine a variety of belief and demographic factors that are associated with the perception that meat is intrinsically unhealthy. State-wide survey (written questionnaire) that included questions on meat and nutrition beliefs, perceived barriers and benefits of vegetarian diets, personal values, number of vegetarian friends and family members, and use and trust of health/nutrition/food information sources. South Australia. Six hundred and one randomly selected South Australians and 106 non-randomly selected vegetarians and semi-vegetarians. For all respondents considered as a group, the most important predictors of the belief that meat is intrinsically unhealthy were the perceived benefits of vegetarian diets (all positive predictors). These included: (1) the perceived links between vegetarianism, peace and increased contentment; (2) animal welfare and environmental benefits; and (3) health benefits. There were differences between different dietary groups however. For non-vegetarians, social concerns about vegetarianism (positive) were most important, followed by health and non-health benefits (positive) of vegetarianism. Red meat appreciation was the strongest (positive) predictor for vegetarians, with health benefits of vegetarianism (positive) and education (negative predictor) also important. The implications of the findings for health and other issues are discussed. Judgements about the healthiness of meat are likely to be related to moral and environmental beliefs and, for non-vegetarians, to social concerns about vegetarianism, in addition to health beliefs. These need to be considered if any attempts are made to influence meat consumption.
  Public Health Nutrition 03/2002; 5(1):37-45. · 2.17 Impact Factor
• Article: Australian consumers' food-related environmental beliefs and behaviours.

  Emma Lea, Anthony Worsley
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine Australians' food-related environmental beliefs and behaviours. Questionnaires were posted to 500 randomly selected adults, with 223 questionnaires completed (58% response rate). Decreased use of packaging by food manufacturers was viewed as being the most important item to help the environment, while lower meat consumption was seen as least likely to help. Composting food scraps and purchase or consumption of locally produced foods were the most commonly performed food-related environmental behaviours, while use of organic products was the least commonly performed. Moderate consistency (rs=0.54) was found between reported beliefs and behaviours. Older people were more likely to perform certain food-related environmental behaviours, such as composting. Awareness of the impact on the environment of meat production, organic compared to conventional farming, and food packaging was low even among those who were found to already believe that food-related actions are important to help the environment, suggesting widespread consciousness raising is needed.
  Appetite 50(2-3):207-14. · 2.59 Impact Factor
• Article: Reducing staff isolation and developing evidence-informed practice in the aged care environment through an action research approach to falls prevention.

  Sharon Andrews, Emma Lea, Terry Haines, Jennifer Nitz, Betty Haralambous, Kirsten Moore, Keith Hill, Andrew Robinson
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  ABSTRACT: This study aimed to examine whether an action research approach was effective in reducing the isolation of staff in 2 residential aged care facilities, within the context of an evidence-informed falls prevention program. A Falls Action Research Group comprising 12 nursing/nonnursing staff across 2 residential aged care facilities was established and engaged in critical dialogue and action over 12 months to improve their fall prevention activities. Through the group members' engagement, a research community was established that diminished staff isolation by engaging members in a sustained process of collaboration around falls prevention, which worked to disrupt occupational silos and challenge traditional staff hierarchies.
  ANS. Advances in nursing science 35(1):3-13. · 0.97 Impact Factor