Faculty of Health 1

Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award

SOORIYAARACHCHI, Piumika

Thesis Title

Associations Amongst Metabolic Syndrome, Body Composition, Hematological Parameters and a Low-Calorie Meal Replacement in Healthcare Shift Workers

Supervisors

• Dr Ranil Jayawardena  (External Supervisor)
• Professor Neil Anthony King  (Principal Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Toby George Pavey  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis examined Sri Lankan healthcare workers to assess the impact of shift work on their metabolic syndrome risk, associated with their lifestyle and body composition. The study also explored the benefits of replacing traditional dinners with a low-calorie meal replacement for obese shift workers. Results showed shift workers had more than twice the risk of developing metabolic syndrome compared to day workers, with extended shift work increasing body fat and white blood cell counts. Those who consumed meal replacements experienced weight loss, and improved biochemical measures, suggesting its potential as an effective workplace weight loss strategy.

Doctor of Philosophy

AYRE, Susannah Kate

Thesis Title

Understanding Sibling Influences on Food Parenting Practices in Families with Children Aged 1 to 5

Supervisors

• Associate Professor Rebecca Ann Byrne  (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Holly Ann Harris  (External Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Melanie Jade White  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

Using a family systems framework, this program of research investigated how siblings influence the enactment of mealtimes in families with children aged 1 to 5 years. Informed by a scoping review (Manuscript 1), it employed a mixed-methods design, comprising qualitative interviews and mealtime observations (Manuscript 2), and a cross-sectional survey (Manuscripts 3 and 4). The findings demonstrate direct and indirect sibling influences on dyadic feeding interactions in families that may have profound impacts on the development of eating behaviours in early childhood. The conceptual model and psychometric scale developed in this thesis lay foundations for future research in the field.

BONAMINO, Clarita

Thesis Title

Lucid Dreaming Practice as a Sport Performance Enhancement and Self-Developmental Tool in Adolescents

Supervisors

• Adjunct Professor Remco Christiaan Johan Polman  (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Christopher Noel Watling  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

During lucid dreaming, dreamers are aware of being in a dream and may consciously make decisions, execute actions, and manipulate the dream surroundings. This research explored the lucid dreaming experiences and influence on the waking life and sleep health in adolescent athletes and non-athletes. Findings indicate that lucid dreaming is not detrimental to sleep health. Further, it offers adolescents a safe space where they can explore behaviours and train sports skills without the consequences typically experienced when awake. Lucid dreaming can be a powerful tool for adolescents, contributing to their personal growth and mental well-being, increased self-efficacy and motor performance.

BRAMWELL, Leigh Marilyn

Thesis Title

Talking About Food Insecurity: The Social Construction of Urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Food Insecurity in Southern Meanjin/Brisbane Health Services

Supervisors

• Adjunct Associate Professor Leonie Cox  (Associate Supervisor)
• Professor Danielle Gallegos  (Principal Supervisor)

Citation

This research explored how health staff working in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services discuss and respond to food insecurity experienced by health service users. This thesis argues that negative societal views about food insecurity influence health staff to respond in ways that focus on individualism and charity, and can amplify shame and risk for those seeking help. These findings can inform culturally safe organisational responses by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services that address power imbalances and are grounded in dignity and respect.

CHANDIA POBLETE, Damian Enrique

Thesis Title

The Impact of Air Pollution from Residential Wood Burning on the Health Benefits of Active Mobility: Preliminary Investigations Toward a Comprehensive Understanding

Supervisors

• Dr Thomas Anthony Cole‑Hunter  (External Supervisor)
• Professor Melissa Ruth Haswell  (Associate Supervisor)
• Dr Kristiann Corbusier Heesch  (Principal Supervisor)
• Professor Wenbiao Hu  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis contributes to growing efforts to unravel harms of inhaling air pollutants, including residential woodsmoke, on otherwise positive health outcomes of active mobility (walking or cycling for transportation). A systematic review concluded that air pollution, specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5), diminishes some but not all short-term health benefits of active mobility, even in high traffic. A novel proxy measure of PM2.5 derived from woodburning revealed unexpected increases in cardiovascular hospitalisations, notably in low wood-use cities, during winter in Chile. Further research using this new measure may clarify complex relationships between health impacts, active mobility and residential heating sources.

DOOHAN, Meg Alexandria

Thesis Title

The Influence of Exercise-Induced Dehydration on Cognitive Performance in Women

Supervisors

• Professor Neil Anthony King  (Associate Supervisor)
• Professor Ian Braidwood Stewart  (Principal Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Melanie Jade White  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis investigated the influence of sex hormones and exercise-induced dehydration on cognitive performance in women. The research program examined previous research into cognitive function during exercise-induced heat strain, explored hormonal contraceptive use and menstrual symptoms in a general population of adult women, assessed the influence of female sex hormones on the reliability of a cognitive battery, and investigated the combined effects of thermal strain, progressive dehydration, and exercise on cognitive performance in naturally menstruating women. The findings of the thesis seek to provide greater insight into conducting female-specific research, particularly within occupational and sporting settings.

DOUGALL, Shay

Thesis Title

Host Farmers: Silence at the Centre of the Unconventional Gas People-Place-Law Nexus

Supervisors

• Dr Javier Cortes Ramirez  (Associate Supervisor)
• Josephine Gillespie  (External Supervisor)
• Professor Melissa Ruth Haswell  (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Adem Sav  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis describes and frames the unconventional gas(UG)-host farmer-work health and safety nexus and analyses co-location governance using the host farmer's perspective and their right to a safe workplace. It presents the Psychosocial Safety Climate Policy Scorecard as a normative and upstream approach that may be used to engage in this new nexus. It may be used by host farmers and advocates to amplify their voice. It may also be incorporated into future research as a policy analysis tool to stimulate systemic change to governance arrangements for this nexus.

ENTEZAM, Amir Hassan

Thesis Title

Dosimetric Characterization of a Novel Collimator for Preclinical Radiotherapy Applications

Supervisors

• Associate Professor Andrew Lamont Fielding  (Associate Supervisor)
• Professor Davide Fontanarosa  (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Gishan Ratnayake  (External Supervisor)

Citation

This research addresses the critical gap in comprehensive dosimetric characterization for non-imaging small animal radiotherapy systems. The study presents a robust approach to fully characterise and validate a novel small animal irradiation system, consisting of a custom lead collimator mounted onto a Cs-137 gamma irradiator. Through Monte Carlo simulations and dosimetric measurements, the accuracy and reliability of the system for treating mice with xenographic tumours were confirmed. This adaptable method can be applied to various irradiators, empowering research centres without advanced preclinical irradiators to effectively characterise their systems and perform precise radiotherapy treatments on small animals.

GINGELL, Tina Kay

Thesis Title

Exploring Food and Settlement for People with Lived Refugee Experiences

Supervisors

• Dr Alvaro Ignacio Correa Velez  (Associate Supervisor)
• Professor Danielle Gallegos  (Principal Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Kate Elizabeth Murray  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This research used strengths-based principles and co-design methods to explore how people with lived refugee experiences overcome challenges in the Greater Brisbane food environment to maintain food security. The research revealed significant structural barriers to food security and that cultural food security is essential for belonging. Refugee-background communities utilise collective agency to develop cultural foodways to feed communities. These findings suggest cultural food security and food sovereignty are fundamental to community wellbeing. The thesis proposes that optimising identity, mental health, and settlement can empower communities to flourish and achieve food security, cultural food security, and food sovereignty.

KUGELMAN, Jason Michael

Thesis Title

Enhancing OCT Retinal and Choroidal Segmentation with Deep Generative AI Models

Supervisors

• Dr David Alonso Caneiro  (Principal Supervisor)
• Professor Michael John Collins  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis investigated the application of generative AI models to improve the accuracy and robustness of tools applied to optical coherence tomography (OCT) image analysis tasks such as retinal layer segmentation. New, high quality and diverse images are generated using the AI models leading to improvements as well as new tools and techniques to enhance these medical image analysis tasks. The findings of this research will aid both clinicians and researchers who work with medical data to improve the accuracy, speed and automation of relevant analysis tasks, particularly where data is scarce.

LOKEESAN, Laavanya

Thesis Title

Breastfeeding Supportive Practices Reported by Women Who Birth in Sri Lankan Hospitals

Supervisors

• Associate Professor Rebecca Ann Byrne  (Associate Supervisor)
• Dr Elizabeth Kate Martin  (External Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Yvette Miller  (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Sankarapillai Sujendran  (External Supervisor)

Citation

This research developed new methods for assessing health services’ compliance with Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) clinical practices to support and enhance breastfeeding initiation, based on postpartum women’s self-reported experiences of care. When implementing those novel methods in Sri Lankan hospitals, two clinical practices of BFHI were identified as most important for breastfeeding initiation - facilitating mother-baby skin-to-skin contact (Step 4) and not recommending breastmilk supplements unless medically indicated (Step 6). Those practices should be prioritised to maximise benefits from further BFHI implementation efforts to support breastfeeding initiation in Sri Lankan women.

PHILIP, Aaron Akpu

Thesis Title

“Double Wahala for Dead Body”: Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Persons with Disabilities Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Nigeria

Supervisors

• Dr Margaret Joanne Durham  (Associate Supervisor)
• Adjunct Associate Professor Julie Anne King  (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Amy Mullens  (External Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis explored the overlapping enablers and barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) access and adherence for persons with disabilities living with HIV (PWDLWHIV)in Nigeria. The study adopted an interpretive phenomenological approach and intersectionality as its theoretical framework to understand the lived experiences of PWDLWHIV. The findings showed that ART access and adherence are still challenging for PWDLWHIV due to intersectional identities such as HIV, disability, gender, parenthood identity, and factors including sociocultural beliefs, stigma, and poverty. This study contributes to and expands research regarding intersectional stigma from sociocultural beliefs, the multidimensionality of poverty, social support, and the diversity of PWDLWHIV.

PUVANASUNTHARARAJAH, Sathyathas

Thesis Title

Ultrasound Transducer Induced CT Artifacts Correction in Ultrasound-Guided Proton Therapy for Cardiac Arrhythmia

Supervisors

• Dr Saskia Maria Camps  (External Supervisor)
• Professor Davide Fontanarosa  (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Marie‑Luise Wille  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This collaborative project between QUT and a Swiss CERN spin-off company, EBAMed, solved one of the most challenging problems in an innovative advanced treatment modality for cardiac arrhythmia, ultrasound-guided proton-based cardiac radioablation. The development of novel artificial intelligence-based strategies for image artifacts correction has made this treatment modality more accurate and reliable, thus potentially improving treatment outcome for patients.

ROOTS, Jacqueline Lacey

Thesis Title

Shear Wave Elastography to Assess the Change in Stiffness of Muscles in the Acute Stage Post-Stroke

Supervisors

• Professor Davide Fontanarosa  (Principal Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Gabriel Siqueira Trajano  (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis focused on the application of shear wave elastography in the musculoskeletal system. Patient and machine factors were controlled to determine their effect on muscle stiffness in order to optimise the reliability of shear wave elastography and increase understanding of muscle biomechanics. Shear wave elastography was then utilised to assess the stiffness of muscles in people who had experienced stroke within the past four weeks. The knowledge gained in this thesis paves the way to developing a new diagnostic test for musculoskeletal pathology and providing information to improve musculoskeletal rehabilitation after stroke.

SCANLON, Brighid Therese

Thesis Title

Equity Across the Cancer Care Continuum for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Migrants Living in Australia

Supervisors

• Dr Margaret Joanne Durham  (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Natasha Anne Roberts  (Associate Supervisor)
• Dr Abolghasem Toloo Sheikhzadeh Yazd  (Associate Supervisor)
• Adjunct Professor David Wyld  (External Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis explores equity for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse migrant populations across the continuum of cancer care in Queensland, Australia. The three-phase study summarises the current level of evidence for equity, identifies previously unknown inequities across the cancer continuum, and explores the structural and institutional factors that influence the provision of equitable care. This critical examination of equity challenges assumptions, language and practices and provides actionable recommendations for Australian health services to enable the operationalisation of health equity.