Research Projects
An evaluation of resilience in medical students on rural rotations
Resilience, defined as the ability to adapt and recover from stress, adversity, and challenges, is an essential attribute for medical students and professionals (Fletcher & Sarkar, 2013). It serves as a critical factor in sustaining mental well-being, maintaining academic performance, and preventing burnout in the demanding context of medical training (McKinley et al., 2019; Tempski et al., 2015). The pathway to becoming a doctor is marked by a significant academic workload, emotional challenges, and high expectations, all of which contribute to heightened stress levels (Dyrbye et al., 2014).
Rural clinical rotations are integral to many medical training programs, and offer students unique learning experiences and exposure to a diverse patient population. often present distinct challenges, such as isolation from peer support and limited resources, which can influence students' mental health and overall resilience (McGrail et al., 2017). While these experiences can enhance clinical skills and encourage a commitment to rural practice (Sen Gupta et al., 2013), they may also place additional stress on students that can impact their resilience (Wearne & Baker, 2012).
Previous studies have suggested that rural experiences can contribute positively to resilience by fostering adaptability, independence, and confidence - qualities that contribute to a doctor's ability to manage complex situations effectively (Smith et al., 2018). However, the intensity and unfamiliarity of rural placements can also heighten emotional and psychological stress (Johnson & Wright, 2021). While some students thrive in these environments, others may experience heightened stress that challenges their coping mechanisms (MacLeod et al., 2021). Understanding these varied outcomes is essential for developing strategies to support medical students and ensure their well-being throughout their training.
Measurement of resilience in medical education research has often relied on validated tools such as the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The CD-RISC has been widely used due to its comprehensive assessment of resilience, covering aspects like perseverance, confidence under pressure, and adaptability (Connor & Davidson, 2003; Campbell-Sills & Stein, 2007).
This study aims to investigate the impact of rural clinical rotations on the resilience of medical students at James Cook University across different training stages (2nd, 4th, and 6th years). Such insights are invaluable for shaping medical curricula that promote psychological resilience, enhance academic performance, and support retention in rural healthcare practices. By identifying how resilience changes throughout these rotations, medical schools can tailor interventions that strengthen students' coping mechanisms, ultimately contributing to their long-term professional and personal development.
Objectives
• To measure and compare the levels of resilience in 2nd, 4th, and 6th-year medical students before and after their rural clinical rotations.
• To assess any correlations between changes in resilience and year of study or demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, prior rural experience).
Challenges in monitoring learning progress in medical education
A reflective study of catering for diversity of learning styles in medical training.
Addressing Bedtime Procrastination with Behavioural Technology: Introducing SleepSync
With rising concerns about sleep-related health issues, researchers have di-rected their focus to understanding how bedtime procrastination contributes to sleep-related problems and the ways to tackle it how to tackle it. This is due to evidence linking bedtime procrastination to poor sleep quality and quantity, increased daytime fatigue, and poor sleep cycle. Technological ad-vancements have emerged as promising tools, with numerous sleep-tracking and sleep- behaviour apps developed to address sleep-related issues. How-ever, the existing apps exhibit critical gaps in targeting bedtime procrastina-tion behaviours. The present paper reviews the current landscape of sleep apps by analyzing how the apps monitor and mitigate sleep-related behaviour and highlights existing gaps in this domain. Next, we introduce SleepSync, an innovative app specifically designed to address bedtime procrastination be-haviour. SleepSync's design integrates Carver and Scheier’s self-regulation theory and Zajonc’s social facilitation effect to enhance users’ self-regulation and behavioural activation through behavioural interventions, sleep tracking, and gamification. The validation and future iterations of the SleepSync prototype will shape it into a fully functional, user-friendly mo-bile app suitable for everyday use and broader commercialization.
Addressing Bedtime Procrastination with Behavioural Technology: Introducing SleepSync
With rising concerns about sleep-related health issues, researchers have di-rected their focus to understanding how bedtime procrastination contributes to sleep-related problems and the ways to tackle it how to tackle it. This is due to evidence linking bedtime procrastination to poor sleep quality and quantity, increased daytime fatigue, and poor sleep cycle. Technological ad-vancements have emerged as promising tools, with numerous sleep-tracking and sleep- behaviour apps developed to address sleep-related issues. How-ever, the existing apps exhibit critical gaps in targeting bedtime procrastina-tion behaviours. The present paper reviews the current landscape of sleep apps by analyzing how the apps monitor and mitigate sleep-related behaviour and highlights existing gaps in this domain. Next, we introduce SleepSync, an innovative app specifically designed to address bedtime procrastination be-haviour. SleepSync's design integrates Carver and Scheier’s self-regulation theory and Zajonc’s social facilitation effect to enhance users’ self-regulation and behavioural activation through behavioural interventions, sleep tracking, and gamification. The validation and future iterations of the SleepSync prototype will shape it into a fully functional, user-friendly mo-bile app suitable for everyday use and broader commercialization.
Synthesis of acoustic data streams from TERN sites
Analysing data to produce a data product for TERN synthesising audio and FLUX data streams
How are stingray communities distributed across tropical intertidal sandflats and which environmental factors influence their habitat use? (Old ID 27358)
Stingrays are important meso-predators in coastal habitats around the world that impact biotic communities and structure physical environments. However, broad spatial assessments of ray habitat use are lacking, resulting in poor understanding of their ecological value and how to implement effective management strategies. The project aims to assess how the composition of stingray communities varies across tropical intertidal sandflats and which environmental variables (including prey availability) influence their distribution patterns. This goal is divided into five research objectives whose outcomes will improve habitat use models for intertidal rays and investigate important aspects of ray foraging and movement behaviours.
Seagrass Mapping in West Cape York
This project will address critical gaps in habitat information by supporting the mapping of intertidal seagrass in priority areas where up-to-date data is lacking, particularly around Prince of Wales Island and the Seven Rivers region of West Cape York. These areas are essential to the management of threatened species such as dugongs and marine turtles, yet they remain under-surveyed.
Seagrass Mapping in West Cape York
This project will address critical gaps in habitat information by supporting the mapping of intertidal seagrass in priority areas where up-to-date data is lacking, particularly around Prince of Wales Island and the Seven Rivers region of West Cape York. These areas are essential to the management of threatened species such as dugongs and marine turtles, yet they remain under-surveyed.
Embedding best practice physical and health assessment and monitoring technology in Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology subjects to enhance learning, teaching and assessment.
The aim of this project is to introduce Application Programming Interface technologies and centralisation of reporting through TeamBuildr software along with increased access to velocity-based training (VBT; i.e. GymAware Flex) devices to increase student exposure to industry technology and related data collection, analysis and reporting processes. Familiarity of this functionality enables easy access to data and the ability for students to generate tangible reports for subject assessments and athlete/client needs, enhancing student employability and industry readiness.
Delivery of the Veterans’ Individualised Physical Education, Rehabilitation, Recovery and Reintegration (VIPER3) program
Study Aims:
• To identify the physical, mental and social benefits of an integrated program of mindfulness, exercise, and wellness in the community;
• To provide ‘proof-of-concept’ for delivery of the VIPER3 program across a larger cohort within the Australian community.
Military and some civil services (i.e. emergency and first responders), often expose personnel to traumatic experiences and injuries, increasing the risk of physical and mental health disorders (Australia Productivity Commission, 2019, Kyron et al., 2022). High levels of psychological distress are a significant issue for first responders in Australia (Beyond Blue, 2020; Kyron et al., 2022), with recent research indicating that first responders experience mental health problems at over twice the rate observed in the general population (Kyron et al., 2022; Muir et al., 2022). While transitioning to civilian life, veterans of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) face difficulties reconnecting with family, relating to people who do not understand military experiences, reintegrating into society and the workforce, and adjusting to a non-military way of life. In 2019, the Australian Government Productivity Commission noted that ‘[W]hile most ADF members successfully transition and re-establish civilian lives, many struggle to address the challenges they experience when they leave the military’ (Australia Productivity Commission, 2019). A key recommendation was to ‘prepare members for other aspects of civilian life, including the social/psychological aspects of transition’. Despite this, evidence-based programs targeting physical/mental health and reintegration are limited or minimally successful, as identified in our consultations with local veterans and military support organisations source?. Complex interactions between social and psychological wellbeing, and physical health has been confirmed in our prior work (Kerr et al., 2008) with veterans with holistic and sustainable programs needed to support veterans’ integration with the community. To address these shortcomings, a novel program of exercise and a peer or “battle-buddy” system (VIPER3 program), based upon a prior program in the US (Burgess et al., 2020), will be piloted. Further, mindfulness-based interventions were reported to significantly reduce depressive and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, reduce perceived stress levels, improve relationships with families and workmates, and enhance emotion regulation and anger management (Burgess et al., 2020). Our VIPER3 project will integrate mindfulness with a “battle-buddy” exercise and wellness initiative to foster peer support among participants, aiding veterans’ physical/mental health and integration into the community.