Professor Rhonda Griffiths

Biography

Professor Rhonda Griffiths AM.  RN; RM; B.Ed(Nursing); MSc(Hons); Dr.PH

Professor Rhonda Griffiths  is Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at University of Western Sydney.  The School has 3,000 undergraduate and 350 postgraduate students.

Rhonda is an experienced administrator, researcher and educator and has held senior positions in public health services and Universities.  She was appointed as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) … for service to public health, particularly through contributions to diabetes research and education, and to the nursing profession.  She was also recognised with the award of Honorary Life Member of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association and  the Sir Kempton Maddox Award in recognition of her contributions to Diabetes Australia and to people with diabetes.

Rhonda completed her first research project in 1988 and since then has been awarded research grants of $3.8 (Aus).  She has published 150 peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters and over 140 peer reviewed conference presentations and 50 invited papers.

Rhonda’s research career has focused on diabetes management and education.  She is a Past National President of the Australian Diabetes educators Association and a Past National Vice President of Diabetes Australia.  Her current National Health and Medical Research grant is an RCT comparing the effectiveness of potable tap water to normal saline for wound cleansing.

She is currently Director of the New South Wales Centre for Evidence Based Health Care which is the NSW Collaborating Centre of the Joanna Briggs Institute. 

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Areas of Research/Teaching Expertise

  • Diabetes
  • Systematic reviews
  • Chronic Illness

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Awards/Honours

  •     2011 Quality in Acute Stroke Care Project. Premier’s Awards
        – Excellence in Delivery Finalist
  •     2006    Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

Citation: For service to public health, particularly through contributions to diabetes research and education, and to the nursing profession.

  •     2004    NSW Premier’s Public Sector Awards.  Community
                   Development. The Villawood Icebreaker Project 2001-2003.
  •     1999    Sir Kempton Maddox Award – awarded by the Board of
                    Diabetes Australia NSW for outstanding service to diabetes
  •     1996    Honorary Life Member Australian Diabetes Educator’s
                   Association
  •     1991    NSW Nurses’ Registration Board Scholarship
  •     1990    Ames Award for Achievement in Diabetes Education
  •     1990    Lions Club Nursing Scholarship Foundation Trust
  •     1989    Boehringer Mannheim Award for Excellence in Diabetes
                   Education. 

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Grants/Current Projects

2009

Assisting PHNs to identify and support 'at risk' persons within our communities.

Funding: SWSAHS.

Chief Investigators: Maree Johnson & Rhonda Griffiths.

A model of integrated care for dependant older people living in the community.

Funding: Australian Research Council Linkage Grant in partnership with Carrington Centennial Care Ltd., Tunstall Australasia & Schwartz Family Practice.

Chief Investigators: Dr Elizabeth Halcomb, Professor Rhonda Griffiths and Dr Stewart Sloggett.

2008

RCT comparing the effects of tap water vs normal saline on the infection and healing rates of wounds.

Funding: NHMRC.

Research Team: Griffiths, R., Fernandez, R., McLaws M-L, Sussman, G. & Rowland, J.


Health literacy and self management of gestational diabetes: A study among Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai and Laotian women in Sydney.

Funding: UWS CHS futures grant.

Research Team: Sansnee Jirojwong, Virginia Schmied, Jane Cioffi, Maree Johnson, Rhonda Griffiths & Hannah Dahlen.

2007

Managing diabetes and hyperglycaemia post-stroke: Measuring clinician behaviour change following evidence implementation

Funding: Australian Diabetes Society Servier National Diabetes Strategy Grants.

Research Team: Middleton, S., Cheung, W., Levi, C., Griffiths, R., Grimshaw, J., Ward, J., & D'Este, C.

2006

The development of a multidisciplinary case conferencing model for residential aged care: A feasibility study

Funding: University of Western Sydney Research Partnership Program.

Research Team: Griffiths, R., & Halcomb, E.

Optimising skill-mix in the primary health care workforce for the care of older Australians

Funding: Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute. Stream Six funding.

Research Team: Zwar, N., Dennis, S., Griffiths, R., & Perkins, D. 

2005

A systematic review of approaches to chronic disease management

Funding: Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute. Stream Four funding.

Research Team: Zwar, N., Harris, M., Griffiths, R., & Roland, M.

2004

CRCT of a multidisciplinary, team building intervention to manage Fever, Sugar and Swallowing (FeSS) in Acute Stroke

Funding: National Health & Medical Research Council.

Research Team: Middleton, S., Levi, C., Griffiths, R., Grimshaw, J., & Ward, J. 

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Selected Publications

2011

Hardaker, L., Halcomb, E., Griffiths, R., Bolzan, N., & Arblaster, K. (2011). A survey of 63 Australian occupational therapists working in youth mental health. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 27(2), 140-154.

Chau, J. P. C., Lo, S. H. S., Thompson, D. R., Fernandez, R., & Griffiths, R. (2011). Use of end-tidal carbon dioxide detection to determine correct placement of nasogastric tube: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48(4), 513-521.

Connell, T., Griffiths, R., Fernandez, R. S., Tran, D., Agar, M., & Harlum, J. (2011). Quality-of-life trajectory of clients and carers referred to a community palliative care service. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 17(2), 80-85.

Fernandez, R. S., Davidson, P., Griffiths, R., & Salamonson, Y. (2011). Improving cardiac rehabilitation services - Challenges for cardiac rehabilitation coordinators. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 10(1), 37-43.

2010

Jefferies, D., Johnson, M., Griffiths, R., Arthurs, K., Beard, D., Chen, T., Edgertton-Winn, M., Hecimovic, T., Hughes, M., Linten, K., Maddox, J., McCaul, D., Robson, K., Scott, S., & Zarkos, T. (2010). Engaging clinicians in evidence based policy development: The case of nursing documentation. Contemporary Nurse, 35(2), 254-264.

Connell, T., Fernandez, R., Griffiths, R., Tran, D., Agar, M., Harlun, J., & Langdon, R. (2010). Perceptions of the impact of health-care services provided to palliative care clients and their carers. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 16(6), 274-284.

Fernandez, R., Salamonson, Y., & Griffiths, R. (2010). Emotional intelligence in nursing students: What is the evidence. International Journal of Evidence-Based Health Care, 8(3), 212.

Drury, P., Levi, C., Griffiths, R., Ward, J., Grimshaw, J., D’Este, C., Cheung, W., McElduff, P., Hardy, J., McInnes, E., & Middleton, S. (2010). Routine practices for fever, hyperglycaemia and dysphagia management in NSW acute stroke units. International Journal of Stroke, 5(S1), 26.

Mansah. M., Fernandez, R., Griffiths, R., Chang, E., & Tran, D. Development of an Interactive Patient Transition Checklist for Older Patients. Quality and Safety in Health Care July 27, 2010. Manuscript Number: QSHC/2010/042440 (Submitted)

Fernandez, R. S., Chau, J. P. C., Thompson, D. R., Griffiths, R., & Lo, H. S. (2010). Accuracy of biochemical markers for predicting nasogastric tube placement in adults—A systematic review of diagnostic studies. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 47, 1037–1046.

Fernandez, R., & Griffiths, R. (2010).  Water for wound cleansing. Systematic Review Update No:040. Cochrane Library, (Issue 5)12 May. John Wiley and Sons Ltd  Impact Factor of 5.653  

2009

Mansah, M., Fernandez, R., Griffiths, R., & Chang, E. (2009). Effectiveness of strategies to promote safe transition of elderly people across care settings. JBI Library of Systematic Reviews, 7(24), 1034-1088.

Mansah, M., Griffiths, R., Fernandez, R., & Chang, E. (2009). Safe handover = safe patients. Nursing Review, December(6), 6.

Colagiuri, R., Girgis, S., Eigenmann, E., & Griffiths, R. Evidence Based Guideline for Patient Education in Type 2 Diabetes (2009). National Health and Medical Research Council.

Halcomb, E., Sheppard, B., & Griffiths, R. (2009). Perceptions of multidisciplinary case conferencing in residential aged care facilities. Australian Health Review, 33(4), 566-571.

Griffiths, R., Horsfall, J., Moore, M., Lane, D., Kroon, V., & Landgon, R. (2009). Building social capital with women in a socially disadvantaged community. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 15(3), 172-184. (1)  Impact factor 1.44

Tran, D. T., Stone, A. M., Fernandez, R. S., Griffiths, R. D., & Johnson, M. (2009). Does implementation of clinical practice guidelines change nurses’ screening for alcohol and other substance use? Contemporary Nurse, 33(1), 13-19.

Blythe, S., Chang, E., Johnson, A., & Griffiths, R. (2009). The efficacy of nurse implemented non-pharmacological strategies for the symptom management of agitation in persons with advanced dementia living in residential aged care facilities. JBI Library of Systematic Reviews JBL000185 2009; 7(22), 974-1002.

Middleton, S., Levi, C., Ward, J., Grimshaw, J., Griffiths, R., & D’Este, C. (2009). Fever, hyperglycaemia and swallowing dysfunction management in acute stroke.  A cluster randomised controlled trial of knowledge transfer. Implementation Science. http://www.implementationscience.com/content/4/1/16   (Impact factor 4.43)

Fernandez, R., Davidson, P., Griffiths, R., Juergens, C., Stafford, B., & Salamonson, Y. (2009). A pilot randomised controlled trial comparing a health-related lifestyle self-management intervention with standard cardiac rehabilitation following an acute cardiac event: Implications for a larger clinical trial. Australian Critical Care, 22, 17-27.

Tran, D., Stone, A., Fernandez, R., Griffiths, R., & Johnson, M. (2009). Changes in general nurses' knowledge of alcohol and substance use and misuse after education. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 45(2), 128-139.

Fernandez, R. S., Griffiths, R., Everett, B., Davidson, P., Salamonson, Y., & Andrew, S. (12 August 2009). Effectiveness of brief structured interventions on risk factor modification for patients with coronary heart disease: A systematic review. Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE). Retrieved from: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/CRDWeb/ShowRecord.asp?ID=12008008021

2008

Fernandez, R., & Griffiths, R. (2008). Water for wound cleansing. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003861. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003861.pub2. Ranked in top 25 accesses systematic reviews from Cochrane Library.

Halcomb, E., Fernandez, R., Griffiths, R., Newton, R., & Hickman, L. (2008). The infection control management of MRSA in acute care.  International Journal Evidence Based Healthcare, 6, 440-467.

Fernandez, R. S., & Griffiths, R. D. (2008). Duration of short-term indwelling catheters: a systematic review of the evidence. Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) (1)                                                                                                            http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/CRDWeb/ShowRecord.asp?ID=12006005228

Fernandez, R. S., Davidson, P., & Griffiths, R. (2008). Cardiac rehabilitation coordinators’ perceptions of patient-elated barriers to implementing cardiac evidence-based guidelines. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 23(5), 449-457.

Middleton, S., Griffiths, R., Fernandez, R., & Smith, B. (2008). Nursing practice environment: How does one Australian hospital compare with magnet hospitals? International Journal of Nursing Practice, 14, 366-372.

Griffiths, R., & Daly, J. (2008). Towards culturally competent nurse workforce. Editorial Contemporary Nurse, 28, 98-100. 

Griffiths, R. (2008). Evidence based practice: We have just begun…  Australian Diabetes Educator, 11(2), 16-22. 

Griffiths, R. (2008). University/Health collaborations to promote research and evidence based practice in clinical environments. Perspectives in Nursing Science.  The Research Institute of Nursing Science Seoul National University.  pp 19-26.

Halcomb, E., Griffiths, R., & Fernandez, R. (2008). The role of patient isolation and compliance with isolation practices in the control of nosocomial MRSA in acute care. International Journal of Evidence Based Health, 6(2), 206-224.

Fernandez, R., Salamonson, Y., Griffiths, R., Juergens, C., & Davidson, T. (2008). Socio demographic predictors and reasons for participation in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program following percutaneous coronary intervention. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 14, 237-242.

Fernandez, R., & Griffiths, R. (2008). Water for wound cleansing. Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003861. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003861.pub2 Impact Factor of 5.653

Halcomb, E., Griffiths, R., & Fernandez, R. (2008). Identification of MRSA reservoirs in the acute care setting: A systematic review. International Journal of Evidence Based Health, 6(1), 50-77.

Halcomb, E., Davidson, P., Salamonson, Y., Ollerton, R., & Griffiths, R. (2008). Nurses in Australian general practice: implications for chronic disease management. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 17(777), 6-15. 

2007

Fernandez, R., Griffiths, R., Everett, R., Davidson, P., Salamonson, Y., & Andrew S. (2007). Effectiveness of brief structured interventions on risk factor modification for patients with coronary heart disease: A systematic review. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 5(4), 370-405.

Griffiths, R., Horsfall, J., Moore, M., Lane, D., Kroon, V., & Langdon, R. (2007). Assessment of health, well-being and social connections: A survey of women living in Western Sydney. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 13, 3-13.

Griffiths, R., & Walker, C. (2007). Perspectives on quality in nursing. In E. Chang, & J. Daly (Eds.), Transitions in Nursing (2nd ed., pp. 194-212). Sydney: Elsevier Australia.

Griffiths, R., Stone, A., Tran, D., Fernandez, R., & Ford, K. (2007). Drink a little; take a few drugs; do nurses have knowledge to identify and manage inpatients at risk of drugs and alcohol? Drug and Alcohol Review, 26, 545-552.

Griffiths, R., & Fernandez, R. (2007). Policies for the removal of short-term indwelling urethral catheters. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD004011. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004011.pub3

2006

Fernandez, R., Evans, V., Griffiths, R., & Mostacchi, M. (2006). Educational interventions for mental health consumers receiving psychotropic medication: A review of the evidence. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 15, 70-80. Ranked 15 in most frequently accessed article from IJMHN 2006

Fernandez, R., & Griffiths, R. (2006). Duration of short-term indwelling catheters - A systematic review of the evidence. Journal of Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 33(2), 145-153.

2004

Griffiths, R., & Wiese, J. (2004). Leading and enhancing quality in nursing care. In J. Daly, S. Speedy, &  D. Jackson (Eds.), Nursing Leadership (pp. 233-246). Sydney: Elsevier Australia. 

Griffiths, R., Fernandez, R., & Mostacchi, M. (2004). A comparison of educational interventions for mental health consumers receiving psychotropic medication. A systematic review. JBI Reports 2(1). Joanna Briggs Institute

Griffiths, R., Johnson, M., Piper, M., & Langdon, R. (2004). A nursing intervention for the quality use of medicines by elderly community clients. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 10, 166-176.

Griffiths, R., Fernandez, R., & Murie, P. (2004). Removal of short-term indwelling urethral catheters. The evidence. Continence Care, September/October, 299-308.

Griffiths, R., Fernandez, R., & Murie, P. (2003). Peripheral venous catheters. A review of current practices. Journal of Infusion Nursing, 26(6), 388-392.

Griffiths, R., & Wiese J. (2003). Establishing and enhancing quality in nursing care. In J. Daly, S. Speedy, & D. Jackson (Eds.) Nursing Leadership (pp. 233-246). Sydney: Churchill Livingston. 

Griffiths, R., Emrys, E., Finney Lamb, C., & Eagar, S. (2003). Operation Safe Haven: The needs of nurses caring for refugees. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 9(3), 183-190.

Griffiths, R., Halcomb, E., & Fernandez, R. (2002). Identification of staphylococcal aures reservoirs in the acute hospital setting. A Systematic Review. Joanna Briggs Institute for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery. Adelaide. ISBN 0 9578276 6 0

Griffiths, R., Craze, L., Langdon, R., & Fernandez, R. (2002). Anxiety and depression in general practice: Addressing the problem of social disadvantage. A literature review. University of Western Sydney. ISBN 1 740 7901 89

Fernandez, R., Griffiths, R., & Ussia, C. (2002). The effectiveness of solutions, techniques and pressure in wound cleansing. A systematic review. Joanna Briggs Institute for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery. Adelaide. ISBN 0 9578276 7 9

Griffiths, R., & Fernandez, R. (2001). Is tap water a safe alternative to normal saline for wound irrigation in the community setting? Journal of Wound Care, 10(10), 407-411.

Griffiths, R., & Biro, P. (2001). Perspectives in quality in nursing. In E. Chang & J. Daly (Eds.), Transitions in Nursing. Preparing for professional nursing practice (pp. 184-199). MacLennan & Petty.

Johnson, M., & Griffiths, R. (2001). Developing evidence-based clinicians. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 7(2), 109-118.

Griffiths, R., & Jayasuriya, R. (2000). Development of a client generated health outcome measure for community nursing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 24(5), 529-535.

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Committees

  • Engagement:  Board Member. Carrington Centennial Care 
  • Chair, Care Review Committee, Carrington Centennial Care
  • Board Member Diabetes Australia 1992-1999
  • Board Australian Diabetes Council 1999-2011

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