University of Galway Research Repository
Open access to publications, including peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, working papers, reports, and other scholarly communications by University of Galway researchers.
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Publication Development of a shoreline change modelling system for Brandon Bay, Ireland using tide, wave and morphology models(University Of Galway, 2025-03-19)Numerical models can play an important role in better understanding the coastal erosion process and the relative impacts of its drivers such as winds, waves and tides. The primary aim of this research was to develop a modelling system for simulation of shoreline change in Brandon Bay, located in Co. Kerry on the western coast of Ireland, and use the model to gain a deeper understanding of current circulation and wave climate in the bay and their impact on shoreline change. A secondary aim was to use the modelling system to study the potential impacts of future climate change on shoreline erosion/acretion. Hydrodynamic, spectral wave, and shoreline change models were developed using the well-known software packages Delft3D, SWAN and XBeach, respectively, and were validated against field measurements. The models revealed a strong wind influence in Brandon Bay, especially in its eastern half. This persists all year but is strongest during winter and is present even in the bottom layers. The model results showed that mean current speeds when wind was included in the model were 3-5 times higher than those when wind was omitted. The wave climate was characterised using a 7-year modelled wave dataset. Results showed significant seasonal variability in significant wave heights; winter means in the east of the bay ranged from 2-3 m compared to 0.5-1.0 m for summer. Five different storm wave classification approaches were used to identify storm wave characteristics from the modelled wave data. A fixed threshold approach, was found to be more effective for short-term periods (1-3 years), while a statistical-based classification using exceedance values was more suitable for longer periods (3+ years). The choice of approach had a significant effect on the number of identified storm waves which ranged from 36 to 136 for the most appropriate approaches. Coastline change was examined using cross-sectional profile datasets from surveys carried out between October 2021 and November 2022, paired with numerical model simulations. Erosion occurs mostly in the winter months, followed by natural recovery in the milder spring and summer seasons. The future climate model simulation showed that more intense storms in the future with increased wave height could cause increased coastal erosion and could the occurrence of more frequent storm waves.Publication Topical interventions for the management of pain in chronic wounds: A protocol for a systematic review(Taylor and Francis and F1000Research, 2022-08-19)Background: Venous, arterial, diabetic and pressure ulcers, collectively known as chronic wounds, negatively impact individuals across psychological, social and financial domains. Chronic wounds can be painful and the nature, frequency and impact of pain can differ depending on wound aetiology, wound state and on numerous patient factors. While systemic pharmaceutical agents have some effect in managing pain, there is a need to examine topical agents applied to the wound bed for pain relief. The objective of this study is to examine and synthesise existing literature on the effectiveness of topical agents in managing pain in venous, diabetic, pressure, arterial and mixed venous/arterial ulcers. Methods: We will use Cochrane Systematic Review methodology to identify and synthesise eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of topical agents in reducing pain in chronic wounds. Embase, Medline, PubMed, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science will be searched from inception to end of June 2022 without language limits. We will independently extract data on the pharmaceutical agent, participant demographics, aetiology, condition of the wound, and type, nature and frequency of pain using a pre-designed data extraction form. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis will be performed to address heterogeneity across studies if appropriate. Further stratification and analyses will be based on included study variables and outcomes. Discussion: Wound pain is primarily managed via systemic pharmaceutical agents. However, patients express reluctance regarding systemic analgesic drugs, fearing addiction. Additionally, persons with chronic wounds have co-morbidities including hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease and are already taking multiple medications. Topical analgesia can potentially mitigate some of the perceived disadvantages of systemic agents but the available range of these agents and their effectiveness in managing pain in chronic wounds is not so well understood. This review will focus on such agents across a range of the most common chronic wounds.Publication Enrichment of dementia caregiving relationships through psychosocial interventions: A scoping review(Frontiers Media, 2023-01-05)Objectives: Enrichment, defined as “the process of endowing caregiving with meaning or pleasure for both the caregiver and care recipient” can support relationships between people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers. This study aims to explore (1) the types of psychosocial interventions that may enrich relationships between dementia caregiving dyads, and (2) the components within these psychosocial interventions that may contribute to enrichment. Methods: A scoping review was conducted based on the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. We operationalized and contextualized core elements from Cartwright and colleagues’ enrichment model, which was also used to guide the review. Five electronic databases were searched. Psychosocial intervention components contributing to enrichment were identified and grouped within each core element. Results: Thirty-four studies were included. Psychosocial interventions generating enrichment among dyads mainly involved supporting dyadic engagement in shared activities, carer education or training, or structural change to the environment around PLWD. Intervention components contributing to the enrichment of dyadic relationships were identified within “acquired symbolic meaning”, “performing activity”, and “fine tuning”. Dyadic communication support and skill-building were common contributors to enrichment. Conclusion: Our findings may inform the planning and development of interventions to enrich dyadic relationships in the context of dementia. In formal caregiving contexts, future interventions may consider dedicating space for relationships to build and grow through positive interactions. In informal caregiving contexts, existing relationships should be considered to better support dyads engage in positive interactions.Publication Understanding frailty and pre-frailty to improve chronic wound management in older people: A study protocol(European Wound Management Association, 2022-05-30)Background Frailty is a geriatric syndrome associated with limited function, reduced quality of life and premature death. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and vascular disease leading to chronic ulceration, may increase the risk of frailty. If chronic wounds are a strong predictor of frailty, researchers and practitioners should proactively and effectively manage both the wound and the potential underlying frailty issues. However, there is a paucity of research evidence in this area. Aim We aim to identify the prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in older adults with chronic leg ulcers and/or diabetes, and investigate the associations between having diabetes and chronic leg ulcers and being pre-frail or frail. Design Descriptive and cross sectional study protocol. Data collection Frailty and pre-frailty status will be identified using two separate tools – the Groningen Frailty Indicator (self-reported) for multidimensional frailty screening, and the five criteria of the Physical Frailty Phenotype for physical frailty assessment. Sample Patients aged ≥65 years with chronic leg ulcers and/or diabetes will be recruited from two hospitals in the west of Ireland. Data analysis Associations between the frailty and pre-frailty prevalence and wound aetiology and duration, age, gender and co-comorbidities will be explored using descriptive and comparative analyses.Publication Frailty and diabetes in older adults: Overview of current controversies and challenges in clinical practice(Frontiers Media, 2022-08-19)This article examines the challenges healthcare professionals face when addressing the modern and often twin epidemics of frailty and diabetes mellitus (DM) in ageing societies. Frailty is a complex, multisystem, age-associated syndrome that increases vulnerability to functional decline and adverse events, including death (1, 2). DM is a metabolic disease of defective insulin secretion in response to glucose and impaired insulin sensitivity defined by hyperglycaemia and, similar to frailty, results from the complex interplay of genetic and acquired factors (3). Both conditions are highly prevalent with age. Global frailty prevalence is estimated at between 12-24% in older (age ≥50 years) community-dwellers (4), though proportions vary widely depending on the sampling frame, participant characteristics and definitions used (5). DM is an epidemic disease with a worldwide prevalence of 20-25% among those ≥70 years (6). Like frailty, DM is associated with increased disability and mortality in older people (7). In developed countries, more than half of the population with DM are aged ≥65 years (8), and it is estimated that the prevalence of frailty is 3-5 fold higher among people with DM than those without (9, 10). Alone and in combination, DM and frailty significantly impact health service provision (11), increasing total healthcare costs (12–14). Frailty and DM together in combination, negatively impact mortality, psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life (15, 16). The objectives of this article are to provide an up-to-date, evidence-based overview of the relationship between DM and frailty in older adults, specifically examining knowledge gaps and the unique challenges when these conditions co-exist and what clinicians and healthcare systems can do better to address them.
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