Meg E Morris

• Doctor of Philosophy
• La Trobe University

Background People living with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a high risk for falls. Objective To examine gaps in falls prevention targeting people with PD as part of the Task Force on Global Guidelines for Falls in Older Adults. Methods A Delphi consensus process was used to identify specific recommendations for falls in PD. The current narrative...

Background our aim was to assess the effectiveness of medication review and deprescribing interventions as a single intervention in falls prevention. Methods Design systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Medline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, PsycINFO until 28 March 2022. Eligibility criteria randomised controlled trials of older partici...

Background: falls and fall-related injuries are common in older adults, have negative effects on functional independence and quality of life and are associated with increased morbidity, mortality and health related costs. Current guidelines are inconsistent, with no up-to-date, globally applicable ones present. Objectives: to create a set of evi...

In 2018 the Australian Commission on Quality and Safety in Health Care released a new consumer driven Australian Hospital Patient Experience Question set. The objective was to explore the acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, penetration, resources and sustainability of implementing the AHPEQS, and to review which questio...

Purpose: To explore the opinions of people living with Parkinson's disease about access to and participation in community aquatic therapy. Methods: Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with people living with Parkinson's disease in Ireland (n = 24) and Australia (n = 10). All discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim...

Objective International evidence-based guidelines advise traditional Falls Risk Assessment Tools (FRATs) should not be routinely used to predict the risk of a patient falling in hospital. However, disinvestment from existing services can be challenging. This study applied evidence-based approaches to education design to implement best practice guid...

Purpose This study explored the intervention processes used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to treat children with speech sound disorders (SSDs). Method Semistructured, individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 Australian SLPs. Inductive content analysis was used to classify the data to provide a description of current interven...

Objective: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a marker of autonomic nervous system function associated with both physical and mental health. Many studies have suggested that mindfulness and meditation-based interventions (MBIs) are associated with improvements in HRV, but findings are mixed and to date no comprehensive meta-analysis has synthesized r...

Background Pilates has growing appeal to pregnant women, as a form of exercise and relaxation. It is purported to benefit lumbo-pelvic stability, as well as motor control, strength and endurance. Some suggest that modified Pilates exercises may assist low risk pregnant women to enjoy a healthier pregnancy and prepare for the physical demands of lab...

BACKGROUND The use of mobile applications (apps) to manage and promote health is becoming increasingly popular. Mobile apps are gaining particular popularity in education and intervention settings due to their perceived advantages for supporting and engaging individuals with reading difficulties. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need fo...

Background: The use of mobile applications (apps) to manage and promote health is becoming increasingly popular. Mobile apps are gaining particular popularity in education and intervention settings due to their perceived advantages for supporting and engaging individuals with reading difficulties. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need...

Background: Caregiver strain is recognized globally with Parkinson's disease (PD). Comparatively little is understood about caregiver burden and strain in Asia. Objective: To investigate caregiver strain for families living with PD in Singapore, in light of international data. Methods: Ninety-four caregivers were recruited via people living with id...

Background: Falls in hospitals remain a major challenge to patient safety. All hospitalised adults are at risk of falling during their inpatient stay, though this risk is not always realised by patients and clinicians. This study will evaluate the outcomes of a hospital clinician education program that teaches clinicians how to screen for falls ri...

Background Aquatic therapy offers an alternative physiotherapy approach to managing the motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective This review examined exercise prescription for aquatic therapy in PD and evaluated if aquatic therapy is as effective as land-based physiotherapy for improving movement, disability...

Introduction: The dosage of occupational therapy and physiotherapy positively correlates with rehabilitation patient and health service outcomes. Nevertheless, increasing the dosage during inpatient rehabilitation without additional resources can be challenging. This study aimed to determine feasibility of increasing the dosage of inpatient occupa...

Objective: To describe the stability and reliability of acoustic measures of speech in Parkinson's Disease (PD) at 3 and 12 months. Background: Speech biomarkers hold promise as viable proxies for disease progression and treatment response in PD. Speech changes as a function of disease progression, but little is known about its stability over mediu...

Background: Communication impairment is one of the most common symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), significantly affecting quality of life. Singing shares many of the neural networks and structural mechanisms used during speech and, thus, has potential for therapeutic application to address speech disorders. Objective: To explore the effects o...

Objectives: To understand the attributes of expert physiotherapy continence clinicians and how they compare to novices in relation to experience, knowledge, capability and skills in pelvic floor rehabilitation. Design: Qualitative methods were used for thematic analysis of data collected from clinician focus groups. Participants: Registered ph...

Background: Children with speech-sound disorders (SSD) constitute a significant proportion of speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) caseloads. Previous research has investigated the clinical practice of SLPs intervening with children with SSD; however, little is known about the clinical decision-making underpinning their practice. Aims: The clini...

Background Evidence from a growing number of preclinical studies indicate that recently discovered stem cell lines may be translated into viable cellular therapies for people with Parkinson’s disease. Objectives In a brief but critical review, we examine the use of primary and secondary outcome measures currently used to evaluate the efficacy of c...

Background Recently there has been exponential growth in mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) for children with speech disorders. A challenge for health professionals and families is knowing how to find high quality apps that are therapeutically beneficial. We systematically search and critique the quality of mobile apps for childhood speech...

PRISMA 2009 checklist. (DOC)

Complete MARS appraisal. (DOCX)

Individual app characteristics by rank order. (DOCX)

Therapeutic features of top 19 apps for behaviour change. (DOCX)

Purpose: To evaluate common modelling strategies in training load and injury risk research when modelling continuous variables and interpreting continuous risk estimates; and present improved modelling strategies. Method: Workload data were pooled from Australian football (n=2,550) and soccer (n=23,742) populations to create a representative sam...

Aims The experiences and information needs of clinicians who use pelvic floor muscle training to manage urinary incontinence were explored. Methods Qualitative methods were used to conduct thematic analysis of data collected from clinician focus groups and interviews. Participants were registered physiotherapists and continence nurses in Melbourne...

Introduction Older adults recently discharged from hospital have greater incidence of adverse events, functional decline, falls and subsequent readmission. Providing education to hospitalised patients on how to prevent falls at home could reduce postdischarge falls. There has been limited research investigating how older adults respond to tailored...

Background: older adults are known to have increased falls rates and functional decline following hospital discharge, with substantial economic healthcare costs. This systematic review aimed to synthesise the evidence for effective falls prevention interventions in older adults recently discharged from hospital. Methods: literature searches of s...

Background: Although allied health clinicians play a key role in the provision of healthcare, embedding a culture of research within public and private health systems remains a challenge. In this rapid review we critically evaluate frameworks for embedding research into routine allied health practice, as the basis for high quality, safe, efficient...

Background/Aims: To examine the feasibility of two dance programmes for people with Parkinson's disease directed towards improving mobility, balance, gait, and quality of life. Methods: A pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted in Australia. People with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who scored I–IV on the modified Hoehn and Yahr scale w...

Introduction Falls are a major global public health problem and leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury and hospitalisation. Falls in hospital are associated with longer length of stay, readmissions and poor outcomes. Falls prevention is informed by knowledge of reversible falls risk factors and accurate risk identification. The extent...

Joanne Shanahan,1 Meg E Morris,2 Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain,3 Daniele Volpe,4 Amanda M Clifford1 1Department of Clinical Therapies, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland; 2Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia; 3Irish World Academy of Music and Danc...

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a key concern for people living with cancer and can impair physical functioning and activities of daily living. Evidence-based guidelines for CRF are available, yet inconsistently implemented globally. This study aimed to identify barriers and enablers to applying a cancer fatigue guideline and to derive...

Older people with a variety of health conditions are often admitted for inpatient rehabilitation to improve mobility, but it is not known how to maximize their recovery. The purpose of this single blinded, multisite randomized controlled trial was to determine whether providing increased physical activity to older people receiving inpatient rehabil...

Objectives To understand the benefits and limitations of therapeutic dancing classes for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and how best to design and implement classes. Design A stakeholder forum explored the opinions of 18 allied health clinicians, dance instructors, people with PD and caregivers. Data were thematically analysed and interprete...

To investigate whether training load monitoring data could be used to predict injuries in elite Australian football players, data were collected from elite athletes over 3 seasons at an Australian football club. Loads were quantified using GPS devices, accelerometers and player perceived exertion ratings. Absolute and relative training load metrics...

To investigate whether training load monitoring data could be used to predict injuries in elite Australian football players, data were collected from elite athletes over 3 seasons at an Australian football club. Loads were quantified using GPS devices, accelerometers and player perceived exertion ratings. Absolute and relative training load metrics...

Background: With the current worldwide workforce shortage of Speech-Language Pathologists, new and innovative ways of delivering therapy to children with speech sound disorders are needed. Computer-based speech therapy may be an effective and viable means of addressing service access issues for children with speech sound disorders. Aim: To evalu...

Purpose: To investigate whether pre-season training plans for Australian football can be computer generated using current training load guidelines to optimise injury risk reduction and performance improvement. Methods: A constrained optimisation problem was defined for daily total and sprint distance, using the pre-season schedule of an elite Au...

Background Little is known about recommendations for safe and appropriate instruction of Pilates exercises to women during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine Pilates practitioners’ perspectives regarding Pilates program design for pregnant women. We also sought to elucidate their views on the potential benefits, restrictions and contra...

Background: The role of the prosthetist has changed substantially over the past century. In the transition from 'limb-maker' to 'clinician', the expectations of prosthetics professionals have also changed. Objectives: To develop and test a new scale capable of assessing and comparing current expectations of the roles of the prosthetist. Study d...

BACKGROUND: The period after discharge from hospital is recognized as a hazardous time for older people. Recent international reviews have appraised and guided falls prevention interventions for older populations based in hospital and community; however there is an absence of systematic reviews investigating falls prevention interventions for older...

Objective: This pilot trial examined the feasibility of a randomised controlled study design and explored the benefits of the set dancing intervention compared to usual care. Design: Randomised controlled design, with participants randomised to Irish set dance classes or a usual care control group. Setting: Community based PARTICIPANTS: Indivi...

Although tap dancing is a popular dance genre, little is known about the biomechanics 5 and motor control of this complex motor skill. We conducted a detailed 3D kinematic 6 analysis of movement timing, amplitude and symmetry in a selection of experienced tap 7 dancers. Kinematic analyses of three basic tap dance steps (nerve beats, brush brush...

Introduction Older adults frequently fall after discharge from hospital. Older people may have low self-perceived risk of falls and poor knowledge about falls prevention. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of providing tailored falls prevention education in addition to usual care on falls rates in older people after discharge fr...

Objective: To evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise therapy on gait variability and disability compared to usual care for people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Design: Single-blind randomized control trial (RCT). Setting: A community based hydrotherapy pool in Ireland. Participants: Twenty one individuals with PD (Hoehn-Yahr Stages I-III)...

In Australia and internationally, universities are preparing students for the twenty-first century through building the competencies fundamental for both social sustainability and wellbeing. However, there is little evidence on how these competencies can be fostered in curricula. This article presents the findings of a mixed-methods pilot of an Abo...

The ability of machine learning techniques to predict athlete ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) was investigated in professional Australian football players. RPE is commonly used to quantifying internal training loads and manage injury risk in team sports. Data from global positioning systems, heart-rate monitors, accelerometers and wellness ques...

Background Although mobile apps are readily available for speech sound disorders (SSD), their validity has not been systematically evaluated. This evidence-based appraisal will critically review and synthesize current evidence on available therapy apps for use by children with SSD. Objective The main aims are to (1) identify the types of apps curr...

Although hydrotherapy is one of the physical therapies adopted to optimize gait rehabilitation in people with Parkinson disease, the quantitative measurement of gait-related outcomes has not been provided yet. This work aims to document the gait improvements in a group of parkinsonians after a hydrotherapy program through 2D and 3D underwater and o...

Aims (1) To investigate whether a daily acute:chronic workload ratio informs injury risk in Australian football players; (2) to identify which combination of workload variable, acute and chronic time window best explains injury likelihood. Methods Workload and injury data were collected from 53 athletes over 2 seasons in a professional Australian...

Purpose: There is inconsistent management of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) by health professionals worldwide. This research aims to identify the most appropriate guidelines for the management of cancer-related fatigue. Methods: A systematic search of international literature identified evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for CRF. Four rev...

Objectives This study aimed to establish and enhance the applicability of CAPO fatigue guidelines for Australians with cancer. Methods The Delphi technique [4] was used. Australian allied health, nursing and medical practitioners, and cancer survivors with experience of CRF participated. Two survey rounds were conducted, with the second round used...

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is common and can be distressing for some survivors. There is increasing interest in measuring levels of CRF, highlighting its impact on quality of life. This review describes the nature and scope of evidence relating to interventions for CRF. Scoping review methodology was used to identify studies, extract data, collat...

Therapeutic dancing has been advocated as an effective adjunct to conventional physical therapies for people living with Parkinson's disease (PD). This systematic review evaluates studies on the outcomes of different dance genres on mobility and quality of life in PD. We searched databases including CINHAL (1982–2015), Medline (1922–2015), Scopus (...

Objective: As the number of people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease increases, there is a need to develop initiatives that promote health and wellbeing and support self-management. Additionally, as exercise may slow physical decline, there is a need to develop methods that facilitate greater engagement with community-based exercise. The aim of t...

The remarkable scientific and technological advances in the field of cell research have not been translated into viable restorative therapies for brain disorders. In this article, we examine the best available evidence for the clinical efficacy of reconstructive intracerebral transplantation in people with Parkinson's disease (PD), with the aim of...

We analyzed features associated with a reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). As a new approach, features were embedded in the WHO framework for measuring health and disability, the ICF model. From 609 articles screened, 114 articles were included. Features aligned with the ICF's body...

Fatigue is one of the most troublesome symptoms of cancer. It can occur at all stages of cancer and severe fatigue has been associated with functional impairment. A recent study indicated inconsistent use of guidelines for management of cancer-related fatigue by Australian oncology health professionals. Aims This research aimed to identify the mos...

In this paper, a systematic review of relevant published studies on computer-based speech therapy systems or virtual speech therapists (VSTs) for people with speech disorders is presented. We structured this work based on the PRISMA framework. The advancements in speech technology and the increased number of successful real-world projects in this a...

Australia is known as a ‘sporting nation’ and sport is central to its cultural identity. Children’s participation in leisure activities, including sport, is considered to be of such importance that it is enshrined as an international human right. There is a growing awareness, however, that children’s experience of sport is not always positive and t...

Underwater gait training protocol improves gait characteristic in Parkinson disease: evaluation trough underwater and on land gait analysis.

The growth and popularity of complementary physical therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) attempt to fill the gap left by conventional exercises, which does not always directly target wellbeing, enjoyment and social participation. To evaluate the effects of complementary physical therapies on motor performance, quality of life and falls in people...

Background Individuals living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) can experience a range of movement disorders that affect mobility and balance and increase the risk of falls. Low health-related quality of life, depression, and anxiety are more common in people with PD than age-matched comparisons. Therapeutic dance is a form of physical activity believe...

To critically analyse the benefits of Pilates on health outcomes in women SEARCH TERMS: 'Pilates' and 'Pilates Method' DATA SOURCES: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Science Direct, SPORTDiscus, PEDro, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were searched up to July 2014 STUDY SELECTION: Published RCTs were included if they compr...

This study aims to identify the current practices of health professionals in the assessment and treatment of cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Health professionals working with oncology clients participated in an electronic survey distributed via professional associations and oncology societies. One hundred twenty-nine professionals from nursing, medic...

Music has the potential to motivate, support and improve exercise performance while reducing the perceptions of fatigue. The music used in exercise groups is rarely examined in detail. This article is an investigation into finding existing methods for analysing recorded music as used in exercise groups. No single method or tool was identified. Exi...

To explore the validity and reliability of eye healthcare professionals with different levels of training in diagnosing and/or identifying glaucomatous progression. Substantial pressure is being placed on our current eye healthcare workforce by chronic diseases such as glaucoma. Shared care schemes and role expansion of professionals other than oph...

Objectives (1) To appraise and synthesis the literature on dance interventions for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), (2) to provide information regarding the frequency, intensity, duration and type of dance used in these programmes, (3) to inform the development of future studies evaluating dance interventions in this population. Data Sou...

To investigate if community-based Irish set dancing is feasible in Irish adults with Parkinson's disease. Over an eight week period, ten participants attended one set dancing class per week and completed a home programme in parallel. Feasibility was assessed by monitoring adverse effects, participants' verbal feedback, compliance rates and feedback...

Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine if motivational interviewing leads to increased physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness or functional exercise capacity in people with chronic health conditions. Data sources Seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsychINFO, EMBASE, AMED, CINHAL, SPORTD...

Aim To examine the effectiveness of smart technologies in improving or maintaining the social connectedness of older people living at home. Methods We conducted a systematic review and critical evaluation of research articles published between 2000 and 2013. Article screening, data extraction and quality assessment (using the Downs and Black checkl...

The purpose of this systematic review was to examine whether online or computer-based technologies were effective in assisting the development of speech and language skills in children with hearing loss. Relevant studies of children with hearing loss were analysed with reference to (1) therapy outcomes, (2) factors affecting outcomes, and (3) publi...

use of virtual reality and commercial gaming systems (VR/gaming) at home by older adults is receiving attention as a means of enabling physical activity. to summarise evidence for the effectiveness and feasibility of VR/gaming system utilisation by older adults at home for enabling physical activity to improve impairments, activity limitations or p...

Randomized controlled trials [RCTs] are recognized as the most rigorous method for evaluating the safety and efficacy of novel interventions. The fact that a series of RCTs evaluating cellular therapies for Parkinson’s disease [PD] resulted in negative outcomes has delayed the translation of stem cell research into viable treatments for people with...