To assess the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) 12 months post bariatric sur... more To assess the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) 12 months post bariatric surgery in persons with morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes. A retrospective pilot analysis of electronic hospital records between 1998 and 2012. 40 of 148 subjects had pre- and post-surgery DR screening. Of those without DR pre-surgery 1.5% (n = 26) progressed to minimum background DR (BDR) post surgery. Those with minimum BDR (n = 9) pre-surgery revealed no progression, with 55.6% (n = 5) showing evidence of regression. One person with moderately severe BDR and two with pre-proliferative DR (PPDR) prior to surgery experienced progression. Two persons with PPDR prior to surgery remained under the hospital eye services and were therefore not eligible to be re-assessed by the screening service. There was a low incidence of new DR and progression of DR in those either without evidence of retinopathy or with minimal BDR prior to surgery with some subjects showing evidence of regression. There w...
The aim of this qualitative research was to understand why some people with cancer take up art as... more The aim of this qualitative research was to understand why some people with cancer take up art as a leisure activity, and how visual art-making in daily life might support identity maintenance/ reconstruction. The study forms part of a larger project with people who view art-making as a resource for living with chronic illness. In order to provide a detailed, holistic analysis, the paper focuses on the accounts and artwork of three participants, two women (aged 47 and 59) each with breast cancer, and a man (aged 51) with stomach and lung cancer. The participants turned to art after a process of reflection but did not necessarily reject their pre-illness lifestyles or selves. Rather, art-making afforded many opportunities to retain familiar personal and social identities, and to resist being dominated by labels related to their illness. A practical implication is that people coping with cancer may need not only cognitive and emotional support, but opportunities to find meaningful activities. Such activities can be understood to have a powerful role in maintaining a familiar, positive identity in cancer, and providing a resource for coping.
Low levels of adiponectin are associated with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). R... more Low levels of adiponectin are associated with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent evidence also suggests that low levels of adiponectin are associated with increased oxidative stress. Our aim was to examine the association between the rs266729 promoter gene variant (211377C . G) and plasma markers of oxidative stress in diabetes subjects.
Women's experiences of increasing subjective well-being in CFS/ME through leisure-based arts and ... more Women's experiences of increasing subjective well-being in CFS/ME through leisure-based arts and crafts activities: a qualitative study Abstract Purpose: To understand the meanings of art-making among a group of women living with the occupational constraints and stigma of CFS/ME. The study explored their initial motives for art-making, and then examined how art-making had subsequently influenced their subjective well-being.
A lifestyle coat-hanger': a phenomenological study of the meanings of artwork for women coping wi... more A lifestyle coat-hanger': a phenomenological study of the meanings of artwork for women coping with chronic illness and disability. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25, (14), 785-794.
This study explored the meanings, inspirations and subjective significance of personal artwork cr... more This study explored the meanings, inspirations and subjective significance of personal artwork created as a leisure activity by women living with cancer. A convenience sample of twelve women aged between 23-74 years participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants were living in various stages of the cancer trajectory, and engaged in several forms of visual art-making. They submitted examples of their artwork by photograph and then participated in semi-structured interviews. From a phenomenological analysis, the authors inferred a number of themes. Participants perceived a few pieces, made during chemotherapy, as expressing deeper feelings about cancer in symbolic terms. More prevalent in participants' accounts were references to their artwork as a sensuous pleasure, and its confirmation of their ongoing capability, personal continuity and social connectedness. Participants acknowledged ongoing loss and difficulties related to cancer. However, each piece of art offered a measure of resistance against the psychologically and socially disruptive effects of cancer. The pre-interview photography activity was helpful for empowering participants in the interview, and for stimulating detailed memories and associations.
art-making in the context of marital breakdown: older women reflect on a significant midlife expe... more art-making in the context of marital breakdown: older women reflect on a significant midlife experience. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 21(3), 1-12.
Background: To examine adiponectin levels in people with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults usi... more Background: To examine adiponectin levels in people with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults using a matched pair case control study.
This qualitative study explored older women's qualitative accounts regarding their strategies for... more This qualitative study explored older women's qualitative accounts regarding their strategies for maintaining or adapting their participation in visual art-making, in the context of arthritis. Ten participants were interviewed, aged 62-81 years, all having lived with arthritis for at least seven years. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified four convergent themes. Participants described adapting their strategies of art-making in ways which maintained the aesthetic quality of their artwork whilst also accommodating to arthritis. They described devising more accessible creative spaces. Planning, design and anticipating new creative activities enhanced choice and control during flares in symptoms. Positive attitudes towards self-managing illness informed the practical adaptations described.
Abstract: This qualitative study invited women living with cancer who engaged in visual art-makin... more Abstract: This qualitative study invited women living with cancer who engaged in visual art-making to reflect on their experiences of the creative process. The study sought to explore whether the participants described experiences of flow during art-making and, if so, how ...
To assess the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) 12 months post bariatric sur... more To assess the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) 12 months post bariatric surgery in persons with morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes. A retrospective pilot analysis of electronic hospital records between 1998 and 2012. 40 of 148 subjects had pre- and post-surgery DR screening. Of those without DR pre-surgery 1.5% (n = 26) progressed to minimum background DR (BDR) post surgery. Those with minimum BDR (n = 9) pre-surgery revealed no progression, with 55.6% (n = 5) showing evidence of regression. One person with moderately severe BDR and two with pre-proliferative DR (PPDR) prior to surgery experienced progression. Two persons with PPDR prior to surgery remained under the hospital eye services and were therefore not eligible to be re-assessed by the screening service. There was a low incidence of new DR and progression of DR in those either without evidence of retinopathy or with minimal BDR prior to surgery with some subjects showing evidence of regression. There w...
The aim of this qualitative research was to understand why some people with cancer take up art as... more The aim of this qualitative research was to understand why some people with cancer take up art as a leisure activity, and how visual art-making in daily life might support identity maintenance/ reconstruction. The study forms part of a larger project with people who view art-making as a resource for living with chronic illness. In order to provide a detailed, holistic analysis, the paper focuses on the accounts and artwork of three participants, two women (aged 47 and 59) each with breast cancer, and a man (aged 51) with stomach and lung cancer. The participants turned to art after a process of reflection but did not necessarily reject their pre-illness lifestyles or selves. Rather, art-making afforded many opportunities to retain familiar personal and social identities, and to resist being dominated by labels related to their illness. A practical implication is that people coping with cancer may need not only cognitive and emotional support, but opportunities to find meaningful activities. Such activities can be understood to have a powerful role in maintaining a familiar, positive identity in cancer, and providing a resource for coping.
Low levels of adiponectin are associated with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). R... more Low levels of adiponectin are associated with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent evidence also suggests that low levels of adiponectin are associated with increased oxidative stress. Our aim was to examine the association between the rs266729 promoter gene variant (211377C . G) and plasma markers of oxidative stress in diabetes subjects.
Women's experiences of increasing subjective well-being in CFS/ME through leisure-based arts and ... more Women's experiences of increasing subjective well-being in CFS/ME through leisure-based arts and crafts activities: a qualitative study Abstract Purpose: To understand the meanings of art-making among a group of women living with the occupational constraints and stigma of CFS/ME. The study explored their initial motives for art-making, and then examined how art-making had subsequently influenced their subjective well-being.
A lifestyle coat-hanger': a phenomenological study of the meanings of artwork for women coping wi... more A lifestyle coat-hanger': a phenomenological study of the meanings of artwork for women coping with chronic illness and disability. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25, (14), 785-794.
This study explored the meanings, inspirations and subjective significance of personal artwork cr... more This study explored the meanings, inspirations and subjective significance of personal artwork created as a leisure activity by women living with cancer. A convenience sample of twelve women aged between 23-74 years participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants were living in various stages of the cancer trajectory, and engaged in several forms of visual art-making. They submitted examples of their artwork by photograph and then participated in semi-structured interviews. From a phenomenological analysis, the authors inferred a number of themes. Participants perceived a few pieces, made during chemotherapy, as expressing deeper feelings about cancer in symbolic terms. More prevalent in participants' accounts were references to their artwork as a sensuous pleasure, and its confirmation of their ongoing capability, personal continuity and social connectedness. Participants acknowledged ongoing loss and difficulties related to cancer. However, each piece of art offered a measure of resistance against the psychologically and socially disruptive effects of cancer. The pre-interview photography activity was helpful for empowering participants in the interview, and for stimulating detailed memories and associations.
art-making in the context of marital breakdown: older women reflect on a significant midlife expe... more art-making in the context of marital breakdown: older women reflect on a significant midlife experience. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 21(3), 1-12.
Background: To examine adiponectin levels in people with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults usi... more Background: To examine adiponectin levels in people with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults using a matched pair case control study.
This qualitative study explored older women's qualitative accounts regarding their strategies for... more This qualitative study explored older women's qualitative accounts regarding their strategies for maintaining or adapting their participation in visual art-making, in the context of arthritis. Ten participants were interviewed, aged 62-81 years, all having lived with arthritis for at least seven years. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified four convergent themes. Participants described adapting their strategies of art-making in ways which maintained the aesthetic quality of their artwork whilst also accommodating to arthritis. They described devising more accessible creative spaces. Planning, design and anticipating new creative activities enhanced choice and control during flares in symptoms. Positive attitudes towards self-managing illness informed the practical adaptations described.
Abstract: This qualitative study invited women living with cancer who engaged in visual art-makin... more Abstract: This qualitative study invited women living with cancer who engaged in visual art-making to reflect on their experiences of the creative process. The study sought to explore whether the participants described experiences of flow during art-making and, if so, how ...
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Papers by Sarah Prior