Bachelor with Honours Dissertations - open access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10292/14987

The "Bachelor with Honours Dissertations - open access" collection contains digital copies of AUT University B(Hons) dissertations approved for open access. B(Hons) dissertations are required to be open access from April 2022. Past students may contact the Tuwhera team (tuwhera.opentheses@aut.ac.nz) if they wish to make their B(Hons) open access.

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Deaf and Television News: Finding a Better Path to Knowledge
(Auckland University of Technology, 2011) Mulrennan, Danielle
Practitioners’ Knowledge and Understanding of Acquired Brain Injury in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence in New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2021) Durrant, Magdalena
Clinicians working in domestic violence organisations are well placed to play a pivotal role in identifying interpersonal violence (IPV) related brain injury and providing education and referral to medical services. However, little research has been conducted on how clinicians working in this context understand brain injury and see their role in its recognition and management. This qualitative study explored clinicians’ understanding of acquired brain injury (ABI), including identifying service gaps observed within their roles working with IPV survivors. The data collected was from two focus groups and three individual interviews, a total of N= 21 participants. Participants included counsellors, social workers, allied health professionals, and students working across four agencies supporting people affected by IPV. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Thematic Analysis. Four overarching themes were identified. Firstly, practitioners highlighted a wide range of issues that affected how potential ABIs could be identified in their practice. Secondly, the practitioners were not clear on what their role was in the identification and management of ABI in this population. Thirdly, certain gaps in services and referral pathways were identified, resulting in practitioners feeling unclear about how they could assist someone who presented with a possible ABI. Lastly, the practitioners expressed a desire to know more about ABI and how they could support people better in their services.
Experiences of Pasifika Fathers Who Care for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Apulu-Pamatatau, Nicholas Iloa
This research explored the parenting experiences of Pasifika fathers’ caring for a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder living in New Zealand. Although caregiving is a highly examined topic that focuses on the challenges and demands placed upon caregivers and the resources that help caregivers overcome the challenges and demands, Polynesian parents being a specific area of interest is not greatly researched. Objective and subject burdens can sometimes outweigh resources which lead to stress, depression, and financial burdens. Caregivers manage burdens through several emotional, cognitive, and action-based coping mechanisms, which include, daily routine and planning, seeking social support and getting educated and aware of autism spectrum disorder. Despite being valuable and effective, most of the established models were developed from maternal data compared to paternal experiences which are relatively unaccounted for. The national documented strategies and guidelines, specifically the New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guidelines (2008), and the most recent New Zealand Carers Strategy Action Plan 2019-2023, make it appropriate to embark on qualitative research to reach a level of in-depth and thorough understanding of Pasifika fathers’ experiences in New Zealand. Five Pasifika fathers were recruited to participate in this research through advertisements which were shared by two Pasifika focused support groups. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via zoom. An interpretive phenomenological analysis was utilised to distinguish three superordinate theme categories: Support, coping mechanisms, and emotional aspects of parenting experiences. These superordinate themes consisted of seven emergent themes: 1) Experiences of support, 2) Support for Pasifika fathers’, 3) Getting educated and aware, 4) Pasifika cultural norms, 5) Daily routine and planning, 6) Positive emotions, and 7) Negative emotions. Furthermore, a subtheme was also identified which was ‘Reaction to diagnosis,’ and was categorised under coping mechanisms, emergent theme three. Research results support previous literature which highlighted the concerns for caregivers with children with autism, in terms of unmet information requirements and insufficient respite services. Furthermore, results also conveyed the significance and applicability of current government and organisational schemes, and recommendations can be applied to Pasifika fathers caring for a child with autism.
Experiences of Belonging for Malay Immigrant Youth in Aotearoa New Zealand: An Interpretive Description Study
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Harmi Izzuan, Husna Humaira Binti
Although Malay youth have been immigrating to New Zealand since the 1950s, little is known about their experiences of belonging in this country. Experiencing a sense of belonging in one’s community context is important to health and wellbeing. Without a sense of belonging, immigrant youth may struggle to form positive relationships with their peers, family members, and the wider community. A lack of belonging is associated with feeling excluded or marginalised. For these reasons, this interpretive description study will focus on a growing immigrant group within New Zealand's multicultural society known as Malay youth. Consistent with Wilcock’s assertion that people’s sense of being, belonging and becoming is grounded in what they do, the position taken in this dissertation is that a sense of belonging is developed through engaging in meaningful occupations. Accordingly, this study addressed the question, "How does participation in home- and community-based occupations influence the experiences of belonging in New Zealand for Malay immigrant youth?". Following ethics approval, this research was advertised on various channels that Malay youth accessed, such as community pages, university noticeboards, and school newsletters. Once potential participants expressed their interest, a purposive sampling method was used to select five Malay participants aged 14 to 21. An online focus group discussion was conducted to collect data. Then, thematic analysis techniques were used to analyse the transcribed data. All participants resided in Auckland, New Zealand, when this study was conducted. The findings of this study uncovered new knowledge concerning the experiences of belonging in New Zealand for Malay immigrant youth. The analysis revealed that participating in shared occupations that enabled Malay immigrant youth to retain their cultural beliefs and values created a positive sense of belonging in their community. This knowledge is reflected in the first theme: Preserving the Home Culture. At times, participants anticipated that joining in with community occupations would conflict with preserving their cultural beliefs and values, so they felt like A Social Outsider in New Zealand’s Youth Culture. To overcome this conflict, the Malay immigrant youth developed alternative ways of joining in with the community, which are reflected in the last theme: Strategies for Belonging. The knowledge obtained from this study is beneficial for improving healthcare practice as it provides health practitioners with new understandings of belongingness from a cultural perspective. Additionally, this research paves the foundation for future research with the Malay population that can be built upon to enhance information on New Zealand’s multicultural society.
Perceptions of Consent in Male-Initiated Versus Female-initiated Ambiguous Sexual Interactions
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Richardson, Rebecca
Sexual script theory explains that there are socially learnt gendered roles in sex which play an important part in the research of sexual consent. According to these scripts, it can be assumed that men prefer implicit consent, women prefer explicit consent, men’s consent can generally be assumed, and males will downplay theirs and other’s victimisation of unwanted sex. These assumptions are often supported by consent research which use methods relating to traditional scripts, such as vignettes depicting males initiating sex. It is unknown if the same expectations of sexual consent are present in a situation in which a female initiates sexual advances instead. The current study examines if there is a difference in how male sexual consent is perceived compared to female sexual consent by utilising two vignettes, one which depicted a male initiating sex with a female and one which depicted a female initiating sex with a male. Perceptions of consent by 127 participants were measured using a vignette and scale based on a those used in a previous study on sexual consent by Humphreys (2007). The vignette was adapted to create a variation where a female initiates sex with a male. When introducing a vignette depicting a female initiator, some findings still align with sexual scripts such as gendered implicit and explicit consensual preferences. However, the assumption that men generally always consent to sex due to an innate desire was not supported and the feminine role of ‘victim’ is also put into question. The findings highlight a need for modern revision of traditional sexual script theory as the basis of understanding consent.
Factors Predicting Stress in Parents Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Arunthavam, Nirmatha
Background: Previous studies have suggested that parents caring for children with ASD experience increased psychological distress in comparison to caring for children with other developmental and physical disabilities. Studies have also indicated that comorbidity symptoms in children with ASD cause higher levels of parenting stress. However, there is a lack of research focusing on factors such as comorbid conditions, problem behaviours and core symptoms of ASD displayed by children and the impact it has on parenting stress. Aim: Overall this study aims to examine the three factors listed: core ASD symptoms, problem behaviour, and comorbidities in an attempt to identify whether these contribute to the care-related stress of parents caring for a child with ASD. The study also analysed demographic variables of the child and parent along with mental and physical aspects of the parent’s stress. Method: A total of 133 participants were recruited through the support of a New Zealand autism organisation. All participants were above 18 and identified themselves as parents caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Data was gathered through an online questionnaire regarding their child with autism and parental experience in raising them. Results: Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted based on the data gathered. Regression analysis aided in identifying factors predicting stress in parents caring for children with autism. Variables such as language impairment, comorbid conditions, social behaviours, emotional and social reciprocity showcased by the child along with parental relationship-status and lack of rewards for parents were all analysed in this present study. Conclusion: The present study identified that parents caring for children with ASD experienced increased stress due to factors such as comorbid conditions, presence of behavioural problems and core ASD symptoms,
Nurse Burnout Group Versus Individual Mindfulness Interventions: A Systematic Review
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Cascante Diaz, Gabriella
Background: Nurses are prone to burnout due to the physically and emotionally taxing characteristics of the job and the high workloads required. This has been particularly apparent in the context of COVID-19. In New Zealand, almost 50% of nurses have reported experiencing work-related burnout, although this is a worldwide phenomenon. Mindfulness-based interventions have been proven to mitigate burnout and foster resilience in healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to determine whether mindfulness interventions for burnt out nurses are better implemented in a group or individual format. Methods: A systematic review was chosen to investigate this question and the PRISMA systematic review guidelines were followed. The databases used to search for articles on this topic were CINAHL, Medline, EMCare, PsycINFO, Scopus and Science Direct databases. The searches occurred in September 2022 and included studies from 2012 to 2022. Studies were included if they treated burnout symptoms in nurses with mindfulness-based interventions. Studies had to be quasi-experimental, randomised control trials, non-randomised control trials and pilot studies that included pre- and post-burnout measurements. The study quality was assessed using the RoB2 and ROBINS-I tools. Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria and were included. Two were randomised control trials, one was a non-randomised control study, three were a quasi-experimental study, and one was a mixed method study some of which were pilot studies. The seven studies used the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, and the ProQOL scale. They used a mix of mindfulness-based interventions such as, mindfulness-based yoga, abbreviated mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention, and Mindful Living with Stress intervention and the Community Resilience Model mindfulness-based intervention. Five interventions used a group format and two an individual one. Both formats showed statistically significant improvements in burnout. Discussion: Findings showed that group and individual-format mindfulness interventions were both effective in improving burnout in nurses. Only one study specified the reasoning of using a group format, the other studies did not. It did not appear to be an important consideration although it is possible that aspects of both could have affected the outcome of the interventions. In the group format, coordination of groups appeared to be a barrier to engagement, but peer support may have been a beneficial aspect. In the individual format, participants reported liking the flexibility and brevity of practice. In conclusion, all studies showed an improvement in burnout scores, although not all were statistically significant. Overall, there was not enough evidence and the evidence included was varying in quality. Thus, it was impossible to conclude which format better supported an improvement in burnout for nurses. Therefore, further research is needed to further our understanding of the treatment of burnout for nurses.
Videoconferencing Technology for Clinical Purposes: Opinions and Experiences of New Zealand Clinical Psychologists and Neuropsychologists
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Olson, Amanda
Objective: Telehealth is a distanced method for delivery of traditionally in-person clinical psychological and neuropsychological services. Much of the current research has focused on feasibility of the method and there is a lack of data on clinicians' perspectives of telehealth. This research will explore current experiences and opinions of clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists on telehealth practising in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Method: An anonymous sample of registered and practicing neuropsychologists and clinical psychologists were recruited to complete an online survey between August and October 2021. Closed-ended questions were analysed using SPSS and open-ended questions were analysed using a descriptive inductive Thematic Analysis method and Nvivo software. The survey queried non-identifiable demographic and practice details, prior knowledge of telehealth, clinical experience and explored telehealth in the context of three common practise aspects including: history taking interviews, assessments, and therapy/interventions. Results: A total of 88 participants responded to the survey and results showed that 90% had used videoconference for clinical purposes. The mean clinical experience of the sample was 14.5 years, age ranged between 20 and 79 years and 78% were female. Assessments were the least common service used via telehealth (n = 19), more so history taking interviews (n = 62) and most for therapy and intervention (n = 71). Respondents spoke positively of Telehealth for use in specific circumstances. Thematic analysis identified four themes which illustrated professional opinions on the use of telehealth for clinical purposes: Accessibility of clinical services, client and clinician specific considerations, practical considerations, and shifts in the therapeutic relationship. Conclusions: Results of this study generated deeper insight into the current real-world practice of TH in NZ, by exploring the use and acceptability of TH from the perspective of clinically practicing psychologists in the context of rapid uptake during COVID-19. The study reinforced the importance of monitoring relative outcomes and effectiveness of TH for different areas of psychological practise, as requirements differed across different services and treatments.
Attachment Insecurity and Psychological Intimate Partner Abuse: A Scoping Review
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Woodd, Anna
The Synthesis of Phenol Glycosides as Markers for Smoke Taint in Wine
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) D'souza, Shaun
Wildfires can cause a number of different issues for the winemaker such as damages to crops and property, with the biggest issue being economic losses due to smoke-tainted wine. This project looked into finding a lasting solution to the problem of smoke-tainted wine. The main aim of this project was to synthesise the novel phenolic glycoside, para-cresol gentiobioside, which is one on many compounds that are responsible for smoke taint in wine. The compound, when synthesised will then be used by the industrial collaborators involved in this project to develop molecularly imprinted polymers to selectively remove the same or other closely-related compounds. All reactions in the proposed synthetic scheme for para-cresol gentiobioside were performed and were also optimised where necessary to obtain a better yield at that step. 0.0750 grams of the novel compound, para-cresol gentiobioside was successfully synthesised in this project. In the final stages of the project an alternative synthetic route which was more efficient and which could potentially provide faster access to other phenolic glycosides responsible for smoke taint was explored.
Overconsumption Consumer Behaviour Paradoxes: A Systematic Literature Review
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Powell, Sarah Irene
This research explores the factors related to consumer behaviour paradoxes of overconsumption, through a systematic literature review format. The main focus of this review was the notion of paradox, or tensions between opposing forces which create discrepancies in consumer behaviour where either option can be chosen, depending on the influencing factors present. Following the systematic literature review method (Paul et al., 2021), 33 articles were identified as appropriate to review. From the article sample collected, it was identified that there are 8 factors which interact with each other as both enabling and disabling factors to overconsumption from a paradoxical lens. The disabling factors to overconsumption are social factors, cultural and religious factors, economic factors, and consumer intentions. These were in balance with the enabling factors to overconsumption which include: the dominant social paradigm, materialism factors, marketing/business intentions, and external environmental factors. These values in tension were explored based on the insights gleaned from the article sample. Further to this, future research recommendations were made based on the identified gaps between the articles and were summarised in the future research recommendations section of this article. Limitations include the theoretical nature of this review, in how qualitative/qualitative/mixed method studies could help bolster the review by testing some of the factors in real-life situations. Further, the use of books or other varying types of literature could have been used, yet due to an inaccurate ability to gauge the quality of the other types of publishing were excluded. Further, more researchers from Eastern parts of the world could offer their unique cultural perspectives on this topic and conduct more studies to increase diversity and insights into paradoxes and overconsumption.
Prepared to Crash? A Preliminary Study on Traffic Accidents Caused by Risky Driver Behaviors Captured on Livestream Social Media
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Lalli, Jaspreet Kaur
Road traffic incidents result in 1.3 million deaths a year (World Health Organization, 2022). Typically, an understanding of factors contributing to accidents is derived from external evidential factors such as witnesses, skid marks, and closed closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. However, new technologies are now capturing driving behaviours inside a vehicle as they occur. The present study attempts to shed light on traffic accidents, utilising livestream video footage to conduct Ecological Momentary Assessments of these real-time driver behaviours. In an Archival study, data was collected from the online domain (i.e., electronic news sources, web-based video networking sites, social networking sites), carefully screening potential videos for inclusion and then coded into relevant categories. Fisher’s Exact Tests were then used to explore relationships between different variables (i.e., phone manipulation, driver injury, driving maneuverers and behaviours). Although statistical power was low, trends were observed indicating potential relationships between phone use and poor driving manoeuvres, namely interference from talking was impairing lane overtaking or lane turning. Specific cases were then examined, revealing that these traffic incidents involved intoxication, speeding for personal thrills, driver distraction, and mobile phone use. This study offers insight into the capabilities of the proposed roadside cameras that are currently being implemented to capture driver distraction.
The Experience of Caregivers Supporting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities During Hospitalisation: A Qualitative Study
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Fuller, Emma
This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of caregivers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) during hospitalisation within Aotearoa. Whilst there has been research that has examined the hospitalisation experiences of caregivers supporting adults with ID internationally, there has been little research undertaken in Aotearoa within this context. Identifying caregivers’ experiences of whether caregivers have been adequately supported during hospital stays supporting their adult with ID, and establishing what worked well and what did not work well, is a crucial element to understanding whether the caregivers were overwhelmed or had insufficient support at any point of the hospital stay with their adult with ID in Aotearoa. This study utilises a qualitative methodology as it enabled lived experiences to be shared, which will help to determine what services within the Aotearoa hospital system are necessary to better support this population in the future. Caregivers of six adults with intellectual disabilities were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Transcripts from these interviews and thematic analysis have been used to identify key themes. The findings discovered the increasing reliance placed on caregivers of adults with ID whilst in hospital. These were highlighted through the interdependence within the themes developed in this research; advocacy, environment, lack of support, lack of awareness, interpersonal care, informed consent, communication, health experience and sense of abandonment. This study broadens the body of knowledge through understanding the challenges caregivers face. Caregivers involved in this study were predominately family caregivers, therefore non-qualified, supporting findings that they are involved in processes beyond their personal competencies. The findings highlight that caregivers experienced insufficient support whilst supporting their adult with ID when in hospital in Aotearoa. This study can be used to show awareness of the challenges that caregivers face in Aotearoa, with further research looking into how these challenges can be addressed. Future research needs to consider the use of artificial intelligence and technology advances that provide assistance with advocating, communication, and supporting ID adults, thus relieving their caregivers of some of these burdens. This is expected to provide positive outcomes.
Test-retest Reliability of the Brain Injury Screening Tool (BIST)
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Tokhi, Yelda
The Brain Injury Screening Tool was developed to provide clinicians with a brief tool to assess mild traumatic brain injuries and guide clinical care pathway decisions in both primary and secondary care. However, there is a need to ensure that the BIST is stable, and that any changes in responses over time are due to recovery, and not due to changes in how people respond to questions in the BIST (test-retest reliability). The aim of this study was to test the responses of a sample of healthy people on two separate occasions to determine the stability of responses, whilst controlling for the potential influence of mood. A sample of sixty-eight (68) adults aged between 18 and 58 years completed the 15-item BIST symptom scale on two different occasions (baseline and two weeks later) in addition to the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). At the initial assessment, data was also collected regarding the participants’ age, gender, income, ethnicity, and health comorbidities in order to assess whether such sociodemographic factors influence symptom reporting or not. The results of the study indicated that both the BIST symptom score and the BIST subscale scores exhibited moderate to good test re-test reliability with Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) ranging between 0.51 and 0.83. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Tests found no significant differences in symptom reporting on the BIST total scale or the BIST subscales between the two time points at the p<0.05 level. The evidence of moderate to good test-retest reliability in a healthy sample demonstrated here increases confidence that any changes in symptom reporting in mild traumatic brain injury patients using the BIST tool are more likely to reflect real symptom change, rather than measurement error. This study supports the use of the BIST as a symptom scale to monitor recovery in patients in both primary and secondary care, however, further research needs to be conducted to explore symptom reporting and reliability of the BIST in those under the age of 16 years.
Comparing the Perceived Orgasm Satisfaction and Responses to Orgasmic Difficulty of Heterosexual, Bisexual and Homosexual Women in New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Gavelle, Java Cristina Taina
Introduction: This research will aim to compare the orgasmic satisfaction, orgasm difficulty and perceived partner response to orgasm difficulty women in New Zealand with different sexual orientations. The study uses a non-probability based convenience sampling in the form of an online self-report survey to gather information. Methods: The sample consisted of 667 women aged from 18 to 76 years old who identified as heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. A Kruskal-Wallis was conducted to compare all three sexual orientation groups and orgasm satisfaction, orgasm difficulty and partner response to orgasm difficulty. More specific Mann-Whitney U tests followed these to see exactly where the differences lie between the groups. Results: There were no significant differences in orgasm satisfaction between the different sexual orientations. Significant differences in partner response to difficulty and orgasmic difficulties were observed across the different sexual orientation groups. Bisexual women reported the highest level of personal distress to orgasm difficulty, and both heterosexual and bisexual women reported higher levels of perceived partner distress to orgasm difficulty compared to homosexual women. Conclusion: This study contains several limitations; however, this study provides novel research into women of different sexual orientations and orgasm satisfaction, orgasm difficulty and perceived partner distress to orgasm difficulty.
An Exploration of Food Quality Across Dietary Patterns: Towards an Understanding of Ketogenic, Low-Carbohydrate, Vegetarian, and Vegan Diet Quality
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Kayla-Anne, Lenferna De La Motte
Background: Understanding and measuring diet quality is a topic that has received increasing attention in recent years with the NOVA system being a catalyst for this change in 2009. Recent advances in this area suggest that, at a population level, diets are shifting toward a reliance on hyper-palatable ultra-processed foods (UPFs) across the globe. While the development of UPFs was once strictly about creating convenient, mass-producible foods; with the increasing interest in alternative dietary patterns (ADPs) there is now a milieu of specialty UPFs marketed towards individuals consuming lower-carbohydrate and plant-based diets. Common lower-carbohydrate diets include the ketogenic diet (KD) and low-carbohydrate, healthy fat (LCHF) diet, while the vegan (VEGAN) and vegetarian (VEGE) are common plant-based diets. Despite the growing interest and number of UPFs available for these once-niche groups, little is known about the translation of dietary guidelines into practice and how the availability of UPFs impacts overall diet quality (DQ) in these individuals. This research aimed to explore the DQ of adults adhering to ADPs for at least 6-months using a modified questionnaire and two novel food classification systems. Methods: In this pilot study, a modified online dietary habits questionnaire was developed and disseminated; results were interpreted using the NOVA (not an acronym) and HISS (Human Interference Scoring System) food classification tools. Participants were recruited via social media platforms between Friday 26th August and Sunday 18th September 2022 and responded to the questionnaire, anonymously, via Qualtrics. Data were quantitatively analysed using descriptive and parametric statistics (oneway repeated measures ANOVA, two-way repeated measures ANOVA and linear regression) in the software programme, JASP (version 0.16.3.0). Results: There was a total of 168 responses comprising 56 KD (m=16, f=39), 66 LCHF (m=13, f=53), 14 VEGAN (m=4, f=10), and 32 VEGE (m=5, f=27). Respondents were predominantly of European descent, female, and classified as moderate-income professionals. Analysis of DQ revealed that individuals adhering to a lower-carbohydrate diet (either KD or LCHF) tended to consume a smaller proportion (% of total serves) of their diet from UPFs and a larger proportion from unprocessed and minimally processed foods (KD 53 ±12; LCHF 51 ±13). There was a statistically significant difference in NOVA% among the four ADPs F(6.150, 336.184) = 8.285, p < 0.001, with a medium effect size (η²= 0.063). Food groups contributing to intake in NOVA 1 (minimally processed food category) and NOVA 4 (ultra-processed food category) were similar among lower-carbohydrate individuals and plant-based individuals respectively. There was an inverse relationship between perceived and actual DQ, and NOVA and HISS were only similar across the fourth level of processing (UPFs). These data show that diet quality assessment tools can be applied to a range of dietary patterns. Conclusion: These data indicate that in free-living individuals, DQ (as assessed by the proportion of dietary intake as a number of serves, across different levels of food processing) is higher among those adhering to lower-carbohydrate diets compared to those adhering to plant-based diets. However, these individuals are not exempt from the consumption of UPFs or the belief that their diet quality is superior to what it is. Future research should explore the difference in DQ in larger samples, validate existing tools for the quantification of DQ and assess whether there are safe thresholds for the consumption of UPFs in the context of different dietary patterns.
The Importance of Nutrition and Fitness Professionals in Weight Loss Weight Loss Maintenance and Body Recomposition
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Walsham, James Marshall
Rates of obesity have risen globally over the last 30 years, obesity is a risk factor for many diseases such as metabolic disease (which includes diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and heart disease), leading to a globally increasing burden of disease. Obesity not only impacts the individuals who suffer from it, but society as a whole; it is estimated that 7-20% of all healthcare costs are directed towards preventing or managing the effects of obesity. Effective long-term nutritional care may be an important factor in mitigating the effects of the obesity epidemic, as regaining weight after dieting is typical when attempting weight loss autonomously or with usual care (from non-nutrition specialists without focus on the weight maintenance period). Indeed, comprehensive, multidisciplinary care during the weight maintenance phase leads to higher rates of bodyweight maintenance post dieting. Many different nutrition and fitness professionals work with weight loss management clients by providing exercise, behavioural, or nutrition guidance. However, there are no reviews assessing the scope of the literature on the effectiveness of different nutrition and fitness professional's weight loss management guidance. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to conduct a scoping review to evaluate the current literature on the role and effectiveness of various health and fitness professionals in providing weight loss and weight loss maintenance guidance. Following PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews, databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline and SPORTDiscus) were searched for relevant articles using terms related to weight loss and various health and fitness profession titles, with no date restrictions. The search yielded 7815 unique articles, with 25 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. In sum, 37 total practitioner types were identified across the 25 studies, these practitioners were separated into groups: Registered Dietitians (RD) (n = 19), Nutritionists (n = 1), Exercise physiologists and physical therapists (n = 4), personal trainers (PT) (n = 3), health coaches (n = 4) and other health professionals (n = 5) and the literature was qualitatively assessed. It was found that most people who seek weight loss and weight loss maintenance don’t engage with RDs, who are often considered the most appropriate practitioner for this purpose. Rather, people may be more likely to engage with PTs, other fitness professionals, and the emerging profession of health coaches. There are no studies comparing the effectiveness of weight loss and weight maintenance guidance from different professionals. Therefore, more studies which evaluate health and fitness professionals’ capabilities in these roles which make comparisons between professions are needed to best inform practice, scope of practice, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
The Therapeutic Application of MDMA: Knowledge and Attitudes of Psychologists in Aotearoa
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Cullen, David Lloyd
This exploratory cross-sectional, survey-based pilot study investigated the knowledge and attitudes of psychologists in Aotearoa towards the therapeutic application of MDMA (‘3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine’, colloquially known as ‘Ecstasy’). MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (‘MDMA-PT’, which involves the adjunctive use of MDMA with psychotherapy) has been designated as a ‘breakthrough therapy’ by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (‘PTSD’), and is on track to become an approved prescription therapy in the U.S. by 2023. Psychologists play a pivotal role in MDMA-PT and PTSD treatment, and as a core pillar of the mental health workforce in Aotearoa, their knowledge and attitudes will significantly impact the support and potential implementation of this treatment locally. Sixty-five psychologists completed an anonymous, online survey which explored their self-reported knowledge and attitudes of MDMA-PT, as well as their personal attitudes towards recreational MDMA and substance use. The results demonstrated that participants had varying levels of knowledge about MDMA-PT research, but were unlikely to be well informed about the treatment. Psychologists had generally favourable attitudes towards MDMA-PT, which was underpinned by a sense of caution and an awareness of the limits of their knowledge of the treatment. The study provides additional evidence to suggest that personal attitudes and stigma are likely to play a role in shaping healthcare workers’ attitudes towards MDMA-PT and its acceptance as a legitimate treatment. Increased levels of psychoeducation are needed to ensure psychologists are properly informed of MDMA-PT’s evidence base and to reduce stigma. Future research is needed to better understand the attitudes and knowledge of other relevant healthcare professionals towards MDMA-PT, the phenomenon of self-medication, and the implications of these results specifically for psychological practice in Aotearoa.
Synthesis and Properties of Cobalamin Derivatives Incorporating Halogenated Alkenyl Ligands
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Maretic, Ema
Synthesis of organocobalamins has been shown to be a complex process due to the conditions required to coordinate the organic molecules to the cobalt metal centre. It has been found that due to the light and air sensitive nature of typical organocobalamins, a strict air-free and dark environment is required to successfully synthesise the desired compounds. There is an abundance of literature reported on alkyl and alkynylcobalamins compared with alkenylcobalamins. The attempted synthesis of halogenated vinylcobalamins was conducted using two different methods to coordinate a halogenated alkenyl ligand to the cobalt metal centre of vitamin B12. The reduction method used sodium borohydride and a reverse addition of the reduced Co(I) species to the ligand resulted in several different complexes being produced. The final attempt of this method resulted in the formation of a new compound, shown by the new aromatic peaks observed in the 1H NMR spectrum. Unfortunately, this new compound was unable to be fully characterised due to decomposition, and the LC-MS results proved inconclusive. The reduction-free method used copper(I) acetate to remove the cyanide ligand from the beta axial site and a base, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), to deprotonate the trichloroethene ligand. In the final attempt of this method, it was found that a room temperature reaction for 4 hours resulted in the observation of several new compounds. The 1H NMR spectrum from this synthesis indicated a new major complex was present in the product mixture, with five new aromatic proton peaks (7.24 ppm, 6.85 ppm, 6.82 ppm, 6.25 ppm, and 6.05 ppm). However, once again LC-MS analysis of the product mixture was inconclusive.
Exploring the Types, Functions and Impacts of Formal and Informal Supports Used by Ambulance Personnel at St John
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Pilbrow, Olivia
Background: Ambulance personnel experience significant stress in their day-to-day work as they respond to medical emergencies that are often traumatic and challenging. Cumulative events and ongoing stressors have been linked to increased mental health issues among emergency responders, especially ambulance personnel. Social support has been identified as a coping strategy that positively affects the prevention and treatment of mental health conditions. However, there is limited research within the New Zealand emergency medical response area regarding what formal and informal social support ambulance personnel use to cope. Aim: This study aims to document the use of formal and informal social support of ambulance personnel at St John in New Zealand. There are ten different types of formal support within the St John organisation. Informal support includes nine types of support that ambulance personnel may access external to St John. This study also aims to examine the characteristics of ambulance personnel related to the social supports they utilise, and their perceptions regarding the effectiveness of the available functions of support. These functions look at, but are not limited to, ease of job, emotional and financial support, inclusion, and guidance. Method: Ambulance personnel were recruited through emails from the St John employee weekly bulletin. The participants answered an online questionnaire gathering personal demographic information, level of perceived stress, and individual perception of formal and informal supports available and utilised. A total of 89 participants were included in the study. Results: The perceived stress scale (PSS) was found to have high reliability for the study. The average PSS score showed high levels of stress. Informal support of spouse/partner, family, and friends showed more emotional support. Spouse/partner and family provided more financial support; overall, spouse/partner showed more social support. Colleagues showed more support than most other formal supports, followed by peer support in certain support functions. Conclusion: New Zealand ambulance personnel experience high perceived stress as part of their work. They utilise mostly informal social supports from spouses/partners, and family, while colleagues are often the go-to support in the workplace. Implications of this study were discussed, along with recommendations for future research.

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