Evaluating the "possums" health professional training in parent-infant sleep.

Infant sleep problems are among the most common issues reported by parents in the postnatal period. Yet, infant sleep and infant sleep interventions remain controversial. This study evaluated health professional training in a novel approach to parent-infant sleep: the Possums Sleep Intervention. Health professionals (n = 144) completed a short survey before and after the training, which focused on the sleep component. The Possums Sleep Intervention training included the following topics: sleep science, cued care, sleep hygiene, relaxation for parents and babies, problem solving, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Health professionals reported: improvements in knowledge on infant sleep regulation, the mother-infant relationship and ACT; improvements in health professionals' own sleep quality; improvements in psychological flexibility; and a reduction in professional burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Moreover, the health professional training was received positively. Overall, this study is supportive of the Possums Sleep Intervention health professional training.

Los problemas infantiles para dormir están entre los asuntos más comúnmente reportados por los padres en el período postnatal. Aun así, el dormir del infante y las intervenciones en el caso del dormir del infante se mantienen controversiales. Este estudio evaluó el entrenamiento de profesionales de la salud a través de un acercamiento novedoso al dormir de progenitor-infante: la Intervención 'Possums' (Zarigüeyas) del Dormir. Los profesionales de la salud (n = 144) completaron una encuesta corta antes y después del entrenamiento, el cual se enfocó en el componente de dormir. El entrenamiento de la Intervención 'Possums' del Dormir incluyó los siguientes temas: la ciencia del dormir; el cuidado señalado; la higiene de dormir; la relajación para padres y bebés; el resolver problemas; y la terapia de aceptación y compromiso (ACT). Los profesionales de la salud reportaron: mejoras en el conocimiento acerca de la regulación del dormir del infante, la relación madre-infante y ACT; mejoras en la calidad del propio dormir de los profesionales de la salud; mejoras en la flexibilidad sicológica; y una reducción en el agotamiento profesional y el estrés traumático secundario (STS). Es más, se recibió positivamente el entrenamiento a los profesionales de la salud. En general, este estudio apoya el entrenamiento de profesionales de la salud en la Intervención 'Possums' del Dormir. Palabras claves: dormir, infancia, postnatal, terapia de aceptación y compromiso, profesionales de la salud.

Les problèmes de sommeil du nourrisson se trouvent parmi les problèmes les plus fréquents dont font état les parents durant la période postnatale. Cependant le sommeil du nourrisson et les interventions en sommeil du nourrisson demeurent à controverse. Cette étude a évalué la formation de professionnels de la santé dans une nouvelle approche du sommeil parent-nourrisson: l'Intervention Sommeil Possums. Des professionnels de la santé (n = 144) ont rempli un questionnaire court avant et après la formation, portant sur l'aspect du sommeil. La formation de l'Intervention Sommeil Possums a inclus les sujets suivants: science du sommeil; soin déclenché; hygiène du sommeil; relaxation pour les parents et les bébés; résolution de problèmes; et la Thérapie d'Acceptation et d'Engagement (ACT). Les professionnels de la santé ont fait état d'améliorations des connaissances sur la régulation du sommeil du bébé, la relation mère-bébé et l'ACT; améliorations dans leur propre qualité de sommeil; amélioration dans la flexibilité psychologique; et une réduction du burnout professionnel et du stress traumatique secondaire (STS). De plus la formation des professionnels de la santé a été reçu de manière positive. Dans l'ensemble cette étude soutient la formation des professionnels de la santé de l'Intervention Sommeil Possums. Mots clés: sommeil, nourrisson, postnatal, thérapie d'acceptation et d'engagement, professionnels de la santé.

Food safety labelling of chicken to prevent campylobacteriosis: consumer expectations and current practices.

BACKGROUND: Campylobacter is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, and contaminated chicken is a significant vehicle for spread of the disease. This study aimed to assess consumers' knowledge of safe chicken handling practices and whether their expectations for food safety labelling of chicken are met, as a strategy to prevent campylobacteriosis. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 401 shoppers at supermarkets and butcheries in Wellington, New Zealand, and a systematic assessment of content and display features of chicken labels. RESULTS: While 89% of participants bought, prepared or cooked chicken, only 15% knew that most (60-90%) fresh chicken in New Zealand is contaminated by Campylobacter. Safety and correct preparation information on chicken labels, was rated 'very necessary' or 'essential' by the majority of respondents. Supermarket chicken labels scored poorly for the quality of their food safety information with an average of 1.7/5 (95% CI, 1.4-2.1) for content and 1.8/5 (95% CI, 1.6-2.0) for display. CONCLUSIONS: Most consumers are unaware of the level of Campylobacter contamination on fresh chicken and there is a significant but unmet consumer demand for information on safe chicken preparation on labels. Labels on fresh chicken products are a potentially valuable but underused tool for campylobacteriosis prevention in New Zealand.

Dazzle camouflage affects speed perception.

Movement is the enemy of camouflage: most attempts at concealment are disrupted by motion of the target. Faced with this problem, navies in both World Wars in the twentieth century painted their warships with high contrast geometric patterns: so-called "dazzle camouflage". Rather than attempting to hide individual units, it was claimed that this patterning would disrupt the perception of their range, heading, size, shape and speed, and hence reduce losses from, in particular, torpedo attacks by submarines. Similar arguments had been advanced earlier for biological camouflage. Whilst there are good reasons to believe that most of these perceptual distortions may have occurred, there is no evidence for the last claim: changing perceived speed. Here we show that dazzle patterns can distort speed perception, and that this effect is greatest at high speeds. The effect should obtain in predators launching ballistic attacks against rapidly moving prey, or modern, low-tech battlefields where handheld weapons are fired from short ranges against moving vehicles. In the latter case, we demonstrate that in a typical situation involving an RPG7 attack on a Land Rover the reduction in perceived speed is sufficient to make the grenade miss where it was aimed by about a metre, which could be the difference between survival or not for the occupants of the vehicle.