| 1. |
- Abraham, Louisa J., et al.
(author)
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Morale, stress and coping strategies of staff working in the emergency department: A comparison of two different-sized departments
- 2018
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In: EMA - Emergency Medicine Australasia. - : Wiley. - 1742-6731 .- 1742-6723. ; 30:3, s. 375-381
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective : Clinical staff in EDs are subject to a range of stressors. The objective of this study was to describe and compare clinical staff perceptions of their ED's working environment across two different Australian EDs. Methods : This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, research design that included distribution of three survey tools to clinical staff in two Australian EDs in 2016. Descriptive statistics were reported to characterise workplace stressors, coping styles and the ED environment. These data were compared by hospital and the employee's clinical role (nurse or physician). Results : In total, 146 ED nurses and doctors completed the survey (response rate: 67%). Despite geographical variation, the staff at the two locations had similar demographic profiles in terms of age, sex and years of experience. Staff reported moderate levels of workload and self-realisation but low levels of conflict or nervousness in the workplace. Nurses and physicians reported similar perceptions of the work environment, although nurses reported slightly higher median levels of workload. Staff rated the death or sexual abuse of a child as most stressful, followed by workplace violence and heavy workload. Staff used a large range of coping strategies, and these were similar across both sites. Conclusion : These findings are the first multi-site and multidisciplinary examinations of Australian ED staff perceptions, improving our understanding of staff stressors and coping strategies and highlighting similarities across different EDs. These data support the development and implementation of strategies to improve ED working environments to help ensure professional longevity of ED staff.
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| 2. |
- Amundin, Mats, et al.
(author)
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Estimating the abundance of the critically endangered Baltic Proper harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) population using passive acoustic monitoring
- 2022
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In: Ecology and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 2045-7758. ; 12:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Knowing the abundance of a population is a crucial component to assess its conservationstatus and develop effective conservation plans. For most cetaceans, abundanceestimation is difficult given their cryptic and mobile nature, especially when thepopulation is small and has a transnational distribution. In the Baltic Sea, the numberof harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) has collapsed since the mid-20thcenturyand the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCNand HELCOM; however, its abundance remains unknown. Here, one of the largestever passive acoustic monitoring studies was carried out by eight Baltic Sea nationsto estimate the abundance of the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise for the first time. Bylogging porpoise echolocation signals at 298 stations during May 2011–April2013,calibrating the loggers’ spatial detection performance at sea, and measuring the clickrate of tagged individuals, we estimated an abundance of 71–1105individuals (95% CI,point estimate 491) during May–Octoberwithin the population's proposed managementborder. The small abundance estimate strongly supports that the Baltic Properharbour porpoise is facing an extremely high risk of extinction, and highlights theneed for immediate and efficient conservation actions through international cooperation.It also provides a starting point in monitoring the trend of the populationabundance to evaluate the effectiveness of management measures and determine itsinteractions with the larger neighboring Belt Sea population. Further, we offer evidencethat design-basedpassive acoustic monitoring can generate reliable estimatesof the abundance of rare and cryptic animal populations across large spatial scales.
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| 5. |
- Carlén, Ida, et al.
(author)
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Basin-scale distribution of harbour porpoises in the Baltic Sea provides basis for effective conservation actions
- 2018
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In: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 226, s. 42-53
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Knowledge on spatial and seasonal distribution of species is crucial when designing protected areas and implementing management actions. The Baltic Proper harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) population is critically endangered, and its distribution is virtually unknown. Here, we used passive acoustic monitoring and species distribution models to describe the spatial and seasonal distribution of harbour porpoises in the Baltic Proper. Porpoise click detectors were deployed over a systematic grid of 297 stations in eight countries from April 2011 through July 2013. Generalized additive models were used to describe the monthly probability of detecting porpoise clicks as a function of spatially-referenced covariates and time. During the reproductive season, two main areas of high probability of porpoise detection were identified. One of those areas, situated on and around the offshore banks in the Baltic Proper, is clearly separated from the known distribution range of the Belt Sea population during breeding season, suggesting this is an important breeding ground for the Baltic Proper population. We commend the designation of this area as a marine protected area and recommend Baltic Sea countries to also protect areas in the southern Baltic Sea and the Hand Bight where additional important harbour porpoise habitats were identified. Further conservation measures should be carried out based on analyses of overlap between harbour porpoise distribution and potentially harmful anthropogenic activities. Our study shows that large-scale systematic monitoring using novel techniques can give important insights on the distribution of low-density populations, and that international cooperation is pivotal when studying transnationally migratory species.
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| 6. |
- Carlén, Ida, 1976-
(author)
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Ecology and Conservation of the Baltic Proper Harbour Porpoise
- 2022
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The Baltic Proper harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) population is listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered, but conservation action has been lacking for decades, partly due to very limited knowledge on important ecological parameters such as distribution range and abundance. This thesis provides some of the information needed for implementing effective conservation. The seasonal distribution of harbour porpoises in the study area in the Baltic Sea is modelled based on two years of passive acoustic monitoring data. Results reveal an area of high probability of detection on and around the offshore banks in the Baltic Proper south of the island of Gotland in summer (May – October). This area is likely to be the most important breeding area for the Baltic Proper population given the concentration of animals during the summer reproductive season. A summer management border is identified for the population, going from Jarosławiec on the Polish coast to the inner Hanö Bay on the Swedish coast. The abundance of the population is estimated to 491 individuals (95% CI 71-1105), which confirms the redlist status of the population and underlines the need for immediate conservation measures. The conservation policy of the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise and other harbour porpoise populations in Europe is discussed, detailing the latest developments including the 2020 ICES scientific advice on bycatch mitigation for the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise and noting that the legal framework for protection is mostly present, but that there is still a lack of concrete conservation action. It is suggested that this failure to protect porpoises may be a result of low motivation for decision-makers to take action which in turn is likely due to some politically difficult prioritisations having to be made, in combination with the low public recognition of the harbour porpoise as a species throughout Europe. Suggestions are made for next steps.One technical solution to mitigating harbour porpoise bycatch is acoustic deterrent devices, pingers, which are placed on fishing nets to alert harbour porpoises to the presence of nets. However, in the Baltic there has been discussions that pingers work as dinner bells for seals, and fishermen have been hesitating to use them. Here, it is shown that high-frequency pingers do not cause an increase in seal depredation on static nets and hence that they are a viable solution for much needed bycatch mitigation within the distribution range of the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise population.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Carlström, Julia, et al.
(author)
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Spatial and temporal impact of pingers on porpoises
- 2009
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In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. - 0706-652X .- 1205-7533. ; 66:1, s. 72-82
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Bycatches are considered the most serious threat to harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and other small cetaceans worldwide. Pingers are used to reduce bycatch levels, but may also deter porpoises from critical habitats. We investigated the spatial and temporal responses of porpoises to simulated bottom-set nets equipped with periodically operating Dukane NetMark 1000 pingers. Echolocation rates were monitored by porpoise click train detectors (PODs) placed at and around the nets, and a shore-based observation team recorded surfacing positions and movements. Pinger sound significantly reduced the median echolocation encounter rate by 50%–100% at PODs placed up to 500 m and reduced the sighting rate up to 375 m from the simulated net. The average distance of approach increased by 300 m. When pingers were silent after being active for 24 h 50 min, the return time of porpoises was 6 h, in comparison with 2.5 h after pingers had been silent. During the study period of approximately 50 days, habituation was detectable at two of nine PODs. The results indicate that pingers affect porpoises at greater distances than previously observed. This confirms that pingers are an effective bycatch mitigation measure, but alternative solutions should be applied in ecologically important habitats and migration routes. An example is given from the Baltic region. Bycatches are considered the most serious threat to harbour porpoises and other small cetaceans worldwide. Pingers are used to reduce bycatch levels, but may also deter porpoises from critical habitats. We investigated the spatial and temporal responses of porpoises to simulated bottom set nets equipped with periodically operating Dukane NetMark 1000 pingers. Echolocation rates were monitored by porpoise click train detectors (PODs) placed at and around the nets, and a shore-based observation team recorded surfacing positions and movements. Pinger sound significantly reduced the median echolocation encounter rate by 50-100% at PODs placed up to 500m, and the sighting rate up to 375m from the simulated net. The average distance of approach increased by 300m. When pingers were silent after being active for 24h 50min, the return time of porpoises was 6h, in comparison to 2.5h after pingers had been silent. During the study period of approximately 50 days, habituation was detectable at two of nine PODs. The results indicate that pingers affect porpoises at greater distances than previously observed. This confirms that pingers are an effective bycatch mitigation measure, but alternative solutions should be applied in ecologically important habitats and migration routes. An example is given from the Baltic region.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Greenslade, Jaimi H., et al.
(author)
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Development of a revised Jalowiec Coping Scale for use by emergency clinicians: a cross-sectional scale development study
- 2019
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2044-6055. ; 9:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives The aim of this study was to develop and validate a scale to measure the coping strategies used by emergency staff in response to workplace stress. To achieve this aim, we developed a refined Jalowiec Coping Scale (JCS), termed the Jalowiec Coping Scale-Emergency Department (JCS-ED) and validated this scale on a sample of emergency clinicians. Design A cross-sectional survey incorporating the JCS, the working environment scale-10 and a measure of workplace stressors was administered between July 2016 and June 2017. The JCS-ED was developed in three stages: 1) item reduction through content matter experts, 2) exploratory factor analysis for further item reduction and to identify the factor structure of the revised scale and 3) confirmatory factor analyses to confirm the factors identified within the exploratory factor analysis. Setting Six Emergency Departments (EDs) in Australia and four in Sweden. There were three tertiary hospitals, five large urban hospitals and two small urban hospitals. Participants Participants were eligible for inclusion if they worked full-time or part-time as medical or nursing staff in the study EDs. The median age of participants was 35 years (IQR: 28-45 years) and they had been working in the ED for a median of 5 years (IQR: 2-10 years). 79% were females and 76% were nurses. Results A total of 875 ED staff completed the survey (response rate 51%). The content matter experts reduced the 60-item scale to 32 items. Exploratory factor analyses then further reduced the scale to 18 items assessing three categories of coping: problem-focussed coping, positive emotion-focussed coping and negative emotion-focussed coping. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this three-factor structure. Negative coping strategies were associated with poor perceptions of the work environment and higher ratings of stress. Conclusions The JCS-ED assesses maladaptive coping strategies along with problem-focussed and emotion-focussed coping styles. It is a short instrument that is likely to be useful in measuring the types of coping strategies employed by staff.
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