Merylin Cross

Merylin Cross
University of Tasmania · Centre for Rural Health (CRH)

PhD

About

43
Publications
15,005
Reads
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1,542
Citations
Introduction
Merylin Cross works at the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Tasmania doing research in Public Health, Primary Health Care, Rural and Aboriginal Health, Work-Integrated Learning, Nursing and Inter Professional Education. Research interests: qualitative and mixed methods designs including ethnography, grounded theory and participatory action research. Current projects: Graduate workforce study, Factors influencing use of rural health services for clinical placement; Implications of disasters for rural communities and health; Evaluating students' rural placement experiences; Health, ageing and dementia care training in an Aboriginal community; Readiness of mainstream rural early childhood education care centers to provide early intervention for children with ASD.
Additional affiliations
February 1994 - December 2010
Monash University (Australia)
Position
  • Lecturer
Description
  • Undergraduate teaching, course development/accreditation and coordination Bachelor of Nursing & Bachelor of Nursing & Rural Health Practice. Offshore teaching B.Nursing (Post-Reg) Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.Student selection..
May 2011 - present
University of Tasmania
Position
  • Professor (Associate)
February 1994 - December 2010
Monash University (Australia)
Position
  • Lecturer

Publications

Publications (43)
Article
Full-text available
Background Strong growth in graduate supply from health, welfare and care courses across Australia may bode well for easing rural workforce shortages. However, little is known about the employment opportunities available for recent graduates in non-metropolitan areas. This study aimed to quantify and describe advertised job vacancies for health, we...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction This paper details the journey of eight Aboriginal women from Circular Head, a rural and remote area of North-West Tasmania, as they undertook an innovative 2-year program of tertiary studies in dementia to address a documented community need. The Chief Executive Officer of the Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation (CHAC) had identified...
Article
Full-text available
Objective In light of concerns surrounding neoliberal government approaches to addressing Aboriginal disadvantage, this project examined how Elders consider the Closing the Gap programs for improving community health outcomes.MethodsA participatory action research project was undertaken in collaboration with eight Elders from a remote Aboriginal co...
Article
Objective: To examine Australian Aboriginal Elders' (Elders) views on their contributions to and their potential to contribute to the well-being of their community. Design: Participatory action research methodology was employed. Data collection methods included yarning interviews and group circle discussions. Data were thematically analysed. Se...
Article
Full-text available
Objective To explore the pathways recent nursing and allied health graduates have used to gain initial employment in regional and rural Tasmania. Design A mixed-methods design comprising an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Setting Tasmania, Australia. Participants Eighty-four recent nursing and allied health graduates from 18 discip...
Article
Full-text available
Background: On a per capita basis, rural communities are underserviced by health professionals when compared to metropolitan areas of Australia. However, most studies evaluating health workforce focus on discrete professional groups rather than the collective contribution of the range of health, care and welfare workers within communities. The obj...
Article
Schizophrenia is a complex and severe mental disorder affecting more than 20 million people worldwide. This study used focused ethnography to explore the everyday lives of 18 people living with schizophrenia in Zimbabwe and its impact on their quality of life (QOL). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, observational fieldwork, and...
Article
Introduction and Aims There is international concern about misuse of over‐the‐counter (OTC) codeine, yet few studies have reported the perspectives of misusers themselves. This study explored the experience of OTC codeine misuse and recovery in Tasmania, Australia. Design and Methods Semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted with 15 self...
Technical Report
This report explains the translation methodology as described by World Health Organisation (WHO). It was submitted to WHO following approval to translate the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) survey instrument from English into Shona (most spoken language in Zimbabwe). For a copy of the Shona version of the WHOQOL-BREF please contact WHO dire...
Article
Background: Dependence on over-the-counter (OTC) codeine is recognised internationally as a rising public health issue. The effectiveness of health intervention strategies may be influenced by the beliefs held by those who are dependent. Applying Q methodology, this study aimed to identify shared accounts of OTC codeine dependence. Methods: Twen...
Article
Full-text available
Background Q methodology is an evidenced approach to researching subjectivity, involving a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques. The methodology has been used successfully in healthcare research to explore the opinions of patients and healthcare providers about topics such as the illness experience, healthcare services, clinical p...
Article
Full-text available
This integrative literature review synthesizes the primary research evidence on mentoring female health academics published from 2000 to 2018, to identify the benefits, enablers and barriers to mentoring women. The need for this review is underpinned by the magnitude of change in higher education, the high number of women in health disciplines, lim...
Article
Background: Interprofessional collaboration is key to addressing the complexity of contemporary health care, therefore it is imperative that students from different disciplines have access to interprofessional education to equip them with the requisite skills and attributes. While interprofessional education promotes a person-centred approach and m...
Article
Men's Sheds are entrenched throughout Australian and international communities due to their popularity in attracting mainly older men to come together and undertake various social and workshop activities. A growing body of research has emerged where men associate regular Shed participation with improved social, emotional and physical wellbeing. How...
Article
This ethnographic study explored the experiences of eighteen Shona speakers living with schizophrenia in Zimbabwe. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, observations and field notes. Almost three in four participants reported having a strong religious affiliation and believed mental illnesses are caused by spirits (zvirwere zvemweya)...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction: Interprofessional collaboration and effective teamwork are core to optimising rural health outcomes; however, little is known about the opportunities available for interprofessional education (IPE) in rural clinical learning environments. This integrative literature review addresses this deficit by identifying, analysing and synthesis...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction: Interprofessional collaboration and effective teamwork are core to optimising rural health outcomes; however, little is known about the opportunities available for interprofessional education (IPE) in rural clinical learning environments. This integrative literature review addresses this deficit by identifying, analysing and synthesi...
Article
Full-text available
For people living with schizophrenia, their experience is personal and culturally bound. Focused ethnography enables researchers to understand people’s experiences in-context, a prerequisite to providing person-centered care. Data are gathered through observational fieldwork and in-depth interviews with cultural informants. Regardless of the cultur...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction Health workforce shortages have driven the Australian and other Western governments to invest in engaging more health professional students in rural and remote placements. The aim of this qualitative study was to provide an understanding of the lived experiences of students undertaking placements in various nonmetropolitan locations ac...
Poster
The study on which this poster is based examined the Inter-Professional Practice and networking that was occurring in a mental health service in Tasmania, Australia using a mixed-method design incorporating social network analysis. The poster presents the aims, methods and results, showcases the organisation’s inter-professional strengths and ident...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: The aim of this study was to profile students undertaking placements at University Departments of Rural Health (UDRHs) and investigate factors affecting students' satisfaction and intention to enter rural practice. Design: Cross-sectional survey comprising 21 core questions used by all UDRHs. Setting: Eleven UDRHs across Australia t...
Article
Aim: To identify the treatments and interventions available and their impact on people living with schizophrenia in Sub-Saharan Africa. Background: Help-seeking behaviour and the choice of treatment are largely influenced by socio-cultural factors and beliefs about the causes of mental illness. This review addresses the gap in knowledge regardin...
Article
This article presents findings from research that explored how a community garden might function as a place of end-of-life and bereavement support. Adopting Participatory Action Research (PAR) methods, and informed by Third Place theory and notions of therapeutic landscape, creative consultations were held in the Garden and people's homes. The find...
Presentation
Full-text available
The University Departments of Rural Health (UDRHs) support medicine, nursing and allied health students to undertake placements to aid understanding of remote and rural practice and living. Each of the 11 UDRHs collects evaluation data from students regarding placement experiences. Through the Australian Rural Health Education Network (ARHEN), data...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Introduction The University Departments of Rural Health (UDRHs) support medicine, nursing and allied health students to undertake placements to aid understanding of remote and rural practice and living. Each of the 11 UDRHs collects evaluation data from students regarding placement experiences. Through the Australian Rural Health Education Network...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: To co-construct a virtual web-based platform to enhance the preparation of health care students for placement in Aboriginal health settings.
Article
The immediate drivers to increase publication outputs in higher education are government and research funding, organisational status, performance expectations and personal career aspirations. Writing retreats are one of a range of strategies used by universities to boost publication output. The aims of this integrative review were to synthesise the...
Article
Full-text available
Few studies have examined interprofessional practice (IPP) from a mental health service perspective. This study applied a mixed-method approach to examine the IPP and learning occurring in a youth mental health service in Tasmania, Australia. The aims of the study were to investigate the extent to which staff were networked, how collaboratively the...
Article
Full-text available
Abstract Little is known about interprofessional practice (IPP) and interprofessional learning (IPL) in rural health services, despite national funding and continuing emphasis on increasing students' clinical placements in rural areas. This short paper outlines a study in Tasmania, Australia, which investigated how and under what contexts and condi...
Article
The current shortage of health professionals necessitates new approaches to clinical education that can expand the number of undergraduate students undertaking clinical placements without increasing the burden on clinical staff or placing patients at risk. Interprofessional education has the potential to help increase clinical capacity whilst enric...
Article
Background: Collaboration between education providers and clinical agencies to develop models that facilitate cross-disciplinary clinical education for students is essential to produce work-ready graduates. Methods and Findings: This exploratory study investigated the perceptions of and opportunities for interprofessional education (IPE) from the p...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Collaboration between education providers and clinical agencies to develop models that facilitate cross-disciplinary clinical education for students is essential to produce work-ready graduates. Methods and Findings: This exploratory study investigated the perceptions of and opportunities for interprofessional education (IPE) from the p...
Article
Full-text available
Aim: To determine how clinical agencies and universities can best prepare student nurses to develop the capability to contribute to healthcare reform. Method: A list of desirable reform capabilities (graduate attributes) was developed and validated. A case study approach was used and interviews conducted with personnel at six clinical agencies in V...
Article
In order to identify opportunities to build capacity for clinical placements, we mapped and described the organisation of student placements at three hospitals, each with multiple education providers, in rural Victoria, Australia. Using a cross-sectional, mixed method design, data were collected by survey, interviews and discussion with student pla...
Article
Worldwide, universities have been encouraged to increase the number of students enrolled in nursing courses as a way to bolster the domestic supply of graduates and address workforce shortages. This places pressure on clinical agencies to accommodate greater numbers of students for clinical experience who, in Australia, may often come from differen...
Article
Full-text available
The current workforce crisis mandates that education providers increase the number of graduates from nursing courses. In a practice-based profession however, any growth in student numbers is constrained by the ability of clinical venues to accept students for clinical experience. Factors within the operating environment such as bed capacity, staffi...

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