Cathrine Fowler

Prof. Cathrine Fowler


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

20Years (2007-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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7 May 2014 in Italian Journal of Pediatrics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CWCynthia Sau Ting Wu
Cynthia Sau Ting Wu
CFCathrine Fowler
Cathrine Fowler
WLWinsome Lam
Winsome Lam
HWHo Ting Wong
Ho Ting Wong
CWCharmaine Hei Man Wong
Charmaine Hei Man Wong
Alice Yuen LokeAlice Yuen Loke
Alice Yuen Loke
Young children are using digital technology (DT) devices anytime and anywhere, especially with the invention of smart phones and the replacement of desktop computers with digital tablets. Although research has shown that parents play an important role in fostering and supporting preschoolers’ developing maturity and decisions about DT use, and in protecting them from potential risk due to excessive DT exposure, there have been limited studies conducted in Hong Kong focusing on parent-child DT use. This study had three objectives: 1) to explore parental use of DTs with their preschool children; 2) to identify the DT content that associated with child behavioral problems; and 3) to investigate the relationships between approaches adopted by parents to control children’s DT use and related preschooler behavioral problems.

20 February 2019 in Journal of Clinical Nursing
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CFCathrine Fowler
Cathrine Fowler
JGJanet Green
Janet Green
DEDoug Elliott
Doug Elliott
JPJulia Petty
Julia Petty
LWLisa Whiting
Lisa Whiting
Aims and objectives: To explore the experiences of mothers of extremely premature babies during their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stay and transition home.Background: Mothers of extremely preterm infants (28 weeks’ gestation or less) experience a continuum of regular and repeated stressful and traumatic events, during the perinatal period, during the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stay, and during transition home.Method: An interpretive description method guided this study. Ten mothers of extremely premature infants who had been at home for less than six months were recruited via a Facebook invitation to participate in semi‐structured telephone interviews exploring their experiences in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the transition home. The data were examined using a six‐phase thematic analysis approach. The COREQ checklist has been used.Results: Two main themes emerged: (a) things got a bit dire; and (b) feeling a failure as a mother. Participants had a heightened risk of developing a mental disorder from exposure to multiple risk factors prior to and during birth, as well as during the postnatal period in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and their infant's transition to home. Mothers highlighted the minimal support for their mental health from healthcare professionals, despite their regular and repeated experience of traumatic events.Conclusion: The mothers were at high risk of developing post‐traumatic stress symptoms and/or other mental health issues. Of note, study participants relived the trauma of witnessing their infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, demonstrated hypervigilance behaviour and identified lack of relevant support needed when their infant was at home.Relevance to Clinical Practice: This study highlights the need for nurses to include a focus on the mothers’ psychosocial needs. Supporting maternal mental health both improves maternal well‐being and enables mothers to be emotionally available and responsive to their extremely preterm infant.

4 March 2014 in Australian Health Review
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
VSVirginia Schmied
Virginia Schmied
CFCathrine Fowler
Cathrine Fowler
CRChris Rossiter
Chris Rossiter
CHCaroline Homer
Caroline Homer
SKSue Kruske
Sue Kruske
Objective: Australia has a system of universal child and family health (CFH) nursing services providing primary health services from birth to school entry. Herein, we report on the findings of the first national survey of CFH nurses, including the ages and circumstances of children and families seen by CFH nurses and the nature and frequency of the services provided by these nurses across Australia. Methods: A national survey of CFH nurses was conducted. Results: In all, 1098 CFH nurses responded to the survey. Over 60% were engaged in delivering primary prevention services from a universal platform. Overall, 82.8% reported that their service made first contact with families within 2 weeks of birth, usually in the home (80.7%). The proportion of respondents providing regular support to families decreased as the child aged. Services were primarily health centre based, although 25% reported providing services in other locations (parks, preschools).The timing and location of first contact, the frequency of ongoing services and the composition of families seen by nurses varied across Australian jurisdictions. Nurses identified time constraints as the key barrier to the delivery of comprehensive services. Conclusions: CFH nurses play an important role in supporting families across Australia. The impact of differences in the CFH nursing provision across Australia requires further investigation. What is known about the topic?: Countries that offer universal well child health services demonstrate better child health and developmental outcomes than countries that do not. Australian jurisdictions offer free, universal child and family health (CFH) nursing services from birth to school entry. What does this paper add?: This paper provides nation-wide data on the nature of work undertaken by CFH nurses offering universal care. Across Australia, there are differences in the timing and location of first contact, the frequency of ongoing services and the range of families seen by nurses. What are the implications for practitioners?: The impact for families of the variation in CFH nursing services offered across Australia is not known. Further research is required to investigate the outcomes of the service provision variations identified in the present study.

24 January 2018 in BMC Pediatrics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JAJessica Ivy Appleton
Jessica Ivy Appleton
RLRachel Laws
Rachel Laws
CRCatherine Georgina Russell
Catherine Georgina Russell
CFCathrine Fowler
Cathrine Fowler
KCKaren J. Campbell
Karen J. Campbell
EDElizabeth Denney-Wilson
Elizabeth Denney-Wilson
Infant formula feeding practices are an important consideration for obesity prevention. An infant’s diet is influential on their later risk of developing overweight or obesity, yet very little is known about infant formula feeding practices. It is plausible that certain modifiable practices may put children at higher risk of developing overweight or obesity, for example how much and how often a baby is fed. Understanding how parents use infant formula and what factors may influence this practice is therefore important. Moreover, parents who feed their infants formula have identified a lack of support and access to resources to guide them. Therefore this study aimed to explore parents’ infant formula feeding practices to understand how parents use infant formula and what factors may influence this practice. Using an explorative qualitative design, data were collected using semi-structured telephone interviews and analysed using a pragmatic inductive approach to thematic analysis. A total of 24 mothers from across Australia were interviewed. Mothers are influenced by a number of factors in relation to their infant formula feeding practice. These factors include information on the formula tin and marketing from formula manufacturers, particularly in relation to choosing the type of formula. Their formula feeding practices are also influenced by their interpretation of infant cues, and the amount of formula in the bottle. Many mothers would like more information to aid their practices but barriers exist to accessing health professional advice and support, so mothers may rely on informal sources. Some women reported that the social environment surrounding infant feeding wherein breastfeeding is promoted as the best option leads a feeling of stigma when formula feeding. Additional support for parents’ feeding their infants with formula is necessary. Health professionals and policy around infant formula use should include how formula information may be provided to parents who use formula in ways that do not undermine breastfeeding promotion. Further observational research should seek to understand the interaction between advice, interpretation of cues and the amount formula fed to infants.

6 January 2014 in BMC Health Services Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KPKim Psaila
Kim Psaila
VSVirginia Schmied
Virginia Schmied
CFCathrine Fowler
Cathrine Fowler
SKSue Kruske
Sue Kruske
Continuity in the context of healthcare refers to the perception of the client that care has been connected and coherent over time. For over a decade professionals providing maternity and child and family health (CFH) services in Australia and internationally have emphasised the importance of continuity of care for women, families and children. However, continuity across maternity and CFH services remains elusive. Continuity is defined and implemented in different ways, resulting in fragmentation of care particularly at points of transition from one service or professional to another.

6 January 2020 in Maternal & Child Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JKJudith Kotowski
Judith Kotowski
CFCathrine Fowler
Cathrine Fowler
CHChristina Hourigan
Christina Hourigan
FOFiona Orr
Fiona Orr
Bottle‐feeding is an infant feeding modality that has been in existence since ancient times, and currently, a significant number of infants are being fed via a bottle with either breastmilk or formula. Although research on bottle‐feeding has continued, it exists in fragmented, often small studies that focus on singular aspects of feeding an infant using a bottle, with limited information on the bottle‐feeding act. Systems theory was the approach used to define the act of bottle‐feeding and identify the parts within this act. Health databases were searched using MeSH terms. A summary of the studies are included. The findings of this review revealed that healthy term bottle‐feeding infants use similar tongue and jaw movements, can create suction and sequentially use teat compression to obtain milk, with minimal differences in oxygen saturation and SSB patterns, when compared with breastfeeding infants. Bottle and teat characteristics were revealed to affect infant feeding and milk intake. An infant's milk intake during feeding was shown to have a strong association with the interaction between the infant and parent/caregiver. With the issue of who controls the feed, mother or infant, likely to affect an infant's ability to self‐regulate their milk intake. Redefining bottle‐feeding as a holistic system identifies the interrelationship of the various parts which will improve the understanding of the reciprocal nature of infant feeding. To optimize bottle‐feeding outcomes, further research is required on parents' and health professionals' knowledge and understanding of the parts within the act of bottle‐feeding.