Sharyn Burns

Prof. Sharyn Burns

School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

24Years (2003-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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1 January 2009 in International Breastfeeding Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JTJenny Tohotoa
Jenny Tohotoa
BMBruce Maycock
Bruce Maycock
YHYvonne L Hauck
Yvonne L Hauck
PHPeter Howat
Peter Howat
SBSharyn Burns
Sharyn Burns
Colin BinnsColin Binns
Colin Binns
The ability to breastfeed and continue the practice requires dedication, commitment, persistence and support. Mothers often need to overcome many obstacles to successfully breastfeed their babies and maintain their balance of home, family and work commitments. Evidence suggests that fathers want to be involved and be part of the parenthood process, including infant feeding. The role transition from couple to family poses challenges to both parents. Sharing the experience of childbirth and supporting each other in the subsequent infant feeding practices is one of those challenges.

27 June 2016 in JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
BWBecky K White
Becky K White
AMAnnegret Martin
Annegret Martin
JWJames A White
James A White
SBSharyn Burns
Sharyn Burns
BMBruce R Maycock
Bruce R Maycock
Jane ScottJane Scott
Jane Scott
Mobile and tablet apps, ubiquitous and pervasive computing, wearable computing and domotics for health.

23 March 2017 in BMC Psychiatry
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SBSharyn Burns
Sharyn Burns
GCGemma Crawford
Gemma Crawford
JHJonathan Hallett
Jonathan Hallett
KHKristen Hunt
Kristen Hunt
Hui Jun ChihHui Jun Chih
Hui Jun Chih
PTP.J. Matt Tilley
P.J. Matt Tilley
The prevalence of mental health problems have been found to be higher among university students compared to their non-student peers. Nursing students in particular face a range of additional stressors which may impact their undergraduate performance and their careers. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) aims to increase mental health literacy and to reduce stigma and may positively impact on the student population. This paper describes a MHFA randomised controlled trial targeting nursing students at a large Australian university. This study aimed to measure the impact of the MHFA course on mental health literacy, mental health first aid intentions, confidence in helping someone with a mental health problem and stigmatising attitudes including social distance. Participants were first year nursing students (n = 181) randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 92) or control (n = 89) group. Intervention group participants received the standardised MHFA course for nursing students. Online self-report questionnaires were completed at three time intervals: baseline (one week prior to the intervention: T1) (n = 140), post intervention (T2) (n = 120), and two months post intervention (T3) (n = 109). Measures included demographics, mental health knowledge, recognition of depression, confidence in helping, mental health first aid intentions and stigmatising attitudes including social distance. Repeated measures ANOVA was computed to measure if the impact of time (T1, T2, T3) and group (intervention and control) on the outcome variables. There was a significant improvement among intervention compared to control group participants across the three time periods for knowledge scores (p < 0.001), confidence in helping (p < 0.001), mental health first aid intentions (p < 0.001), total personal stigma (p < 0.05), personal dangerous/unpredictable stigma (p < 0.05) and social distance (p < 0.05) scores. MHFA is useful training to embed in university courses and has the potential to enhance mental health literacy and reduce stigmatising attitudes and social distance. While this course has particular salience for nursing and other health science students, there are broader benefits to the general university population that should be considered and opportunities accordingly explored for all students to complete the course. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000861651 . Retrospectively registered 11 August 2014.

29 July 2020 in Sex Education
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
HOHeidi O’bRien
Heidi O’bRien
Jacqueline HendriksJacqueline Hendriks
Jacqueline Hendriks
SBSharyn Burns
Sharyn Burns
This study explored the extent to which organisations responsible for initial teacher training, prepare pre-service teachers to deliver comprehensive sexuality education in schools. Five electronic databases were searched to identify publications that reported the provision of CSE training for pre-service teachers. Methodological quality was appraised using The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. Descriptive analyses were conducted to summarise the scope of pre-service teacher preparation. Twenty-two documents, primarily from the UK, Australia and the USA were identified for review. Overall, information regarding training in comprehensive sexuality education for pre-service teachers is limited. The review identified wide variability in training content and positioning in primary and/or secondary programmes as either core or elective requirements. Current provision does not appear to align with international and best-practice guidelines in most instances. Further research and greater transparency regarding the preparation of pre-service teachers to deliver comprehensive sexuality education is recommended to identify and prioritise best-practice holistic teaching concepts to improve teacher and student outcomes.

23 December 2014 in BMC Public Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RLRoanna Lobo
Roanna Lobo
MPMark Petrich
Mark Petrich
SBSharyn Burns
Sharyn Burns
The vital role of evaluation as integral to program planning and program development is well supported in the literature, yet we find little evidence of this in health promotion practice. Evaluation is often a requirement for organisations supported by public funds, and is duly undertaken, however the quality, comprehensiveness and use of evaluation findings are lacking. Practitioner peer-reviewed publications presenting evaluation work are also limited. There are few published examples where evaluation is conducted as part of a comprehensive program planning process or where evaluation findings are used for program development in order to improve health promotion practice.

31 July 2012 in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JTJenny Tohotoa
Jenny Tohotoa
BMBruce Maycock
Bruce Maycock
YHYvonne L Hauck
Yvonne L Hauck
SDSatvinder Dhaliwal
Satvinder Dhaliwal
PHPeter Howat
Peter Howat
Colin BinnsColin Binns
Colin Binns
Perinatal research on anxiety and depression has primarily focused on mothers. We have limited knowledge of fathers’ anxiety during the perinatal period yet there is evidence that the parenting capacity of a person can be compromised by anxiety and depression. The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of a father inclusive intervention on perinatal anxiety and depression. The prime focus of the intervention was to provide education and support to fathers of breastfeeding partners with the aim of increasing both initiation and duration of breastfeeding.