Side Effects of Psychotropic Medications Experienced by a Community Sample of People Living With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness.

Background: Psychotropic medications are a common treatment modality for people living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). While effective in reducing relapse and hospitalisation, psychotropic medications cause numerous side effects, varying in nature and severity. Identification and management of side effects is crucial in the ongoing management of SPMI.

Characteristics of quality improvement interventions to improve physical healthcare in mental health settings: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Mental health concerns globally impact millions of people, resulting in significant financial impact and adverse health outcomes. People living with mental health concerns are at higher risk of developing physical health issues, which can lead to a shortened life expectancy. Barriers to physical healthcare, such as limited service capacity, low help seeking and stigma, contribute to health disadvantage.

Multifaceted pharmacist-led interventions in secondary care settings between countries of various income levels: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Clinical pharmacy services often involve multifaceted pharmacist-led interventions. However, current pharmacy practice models vary across different countries. Despite the documented benefits of clinical pharmacy services, the characteristics of pharmacist-led interventions in different countries have not yet been adequately explored and described.

Community pharmacists' views and experiences of delivering in-pharmacy medication reviews for people living with severe and persistent mental illness: a qualitative study.

Background: People living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) often take multiple medications and are at risk of experiencing medication related problems. Medication review services have the potential to reduce inappropriate use of psychotropic medications and improve adherence. However, there is limited research regarding pharmacists' perspectives when providing such services.

Lost in translation: a narrative review and synthesis of the published international literature on mental health research and translation priorities (2011-2023).

Background: Priority setting in mental health research is arguably lost in translation. Decades of effort has led to persistent repetition in what the research priorities of people with lived-experience of mental ill-health are.

Aim: This was a narrative review and synthesis of published literature reporting mental health research priorities (2011-2023).

Exploring the implementation of a novel community pharmacist-led support service for people living with severe and persistent mental illness.

Background: Community pharmacists are well-placed to promote and provide mental health medication management services. However, literature evaluating the impact of pharmacy services in supporting people living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) is currently limited. An individualised, goal-oriented pharmacist-led support service that focused on improving the physical and mental health of consumers living with SPMI, namely the PharMIbridge intervention, was provided to consumer participants as part of the PharMIbridge Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT).

Are SMART goals fit-for-purpose? Goal planning with mental health service-users in Australian community pharmacies.

Goal planning is an important element in brief health interventions provided in primary healthcare settings, with specific, measurable, achievable, realistic/relevant, and timed (SMART) goals recommended as best practice. This study examined the use of SMART goals by Australian community pharmacists providing a brief goal-oriented wellbeing intervention with service-users experiencing severe and persistent mental illnesses (SPMIs), in particular, which aspects of SMART goal planning were incorporated into the documented goals. Goal data from the PharMIbridge Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) were used to investigate how community pharmacists operationalized SMART goals, goal quality, and which SMART goal planning format aspects were most utilized.

Lung function changes in children exposed to mine fire smoke in infancy.

Background And Objective: Chronic, low-intensity air pollution exposure has been consistently associated with reduced lung function throughout childhood. However, there is limited research regarding the implications of acute, high-intensity air pollution exposure. We aimed to determine whether there were any associations between early life exposure to such an episode and lung growth trajectories.

Exposure to air pollution concentrations of various intensities in early life and allergic sensitisation later in childhood.

Background: Evidence on the relationship between air pollution and allergic sensitisation in childhood is inconsistent, and this relationship has not been investigated in the context of smoke events that are predicted to increase with climate change. Thus, we aimed to evaluate associations between exposure in two early life periods to severe levels of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM) from a mine fire, background PM, and allergic sensitisation later in childhood.

Exploring associations of greenery, air pollution and walkability with cardiometabolic health in people at midlife and beyond.

Aim: To examine associations of neighborhood greenery, air pollution and walkability with cardiometabolic disease in adults aged ≥45 years in the Frankston-Mornington Peninsula region, Victoria, Australia.

Methods: A cross-sectional, ecological study design was used. We assessed mean annual neighborhood greenery using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index; air pollution (fine particulate matter of diameter ≤2.

An alternative processing approach to increase CD138 intensity in flow cytometric analysis of plasma cells.

Background: Surface median immunofluorescence intensity (MFI) of plasma cells antigens, particularly CD138, by flow cytometry underestimates plasma cell populations when compared with that estimated by morphological assessment on Wright's-stained slides. CD138 MFI using traditional sample preparation methods for flow cytometric analysis is often dim and difficult to interpret due to multiple factors. This becomes critical when diagnosing and accurately classifying plasma cell dyscrasias.

Contrasting Health Outcomes following a Severe Smoke Episode and Ambient Air Pollution in Early Life: Findings from an Australian Data Linkage Cohort Study of Hospital Utilization.

Background: Episodic spikes in air pollution due to landscape fires are increasing, and their potential for longer term health impacts is uncertain.

Objective: Our objective is to evaluate associations between exposure and in infancy to severe pollution from a mine fire, background ambient air pollution, and subsequent hospital care.

Methods: We linked health records of births, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations of children born in the Latrobe Valley, Australia, 2012-2015, which included a severe pollution episode from a mine fire (9 February 2014 to 25 March 2014).

Medication-related problems identified by community pharmacists: a descriptive case study of two Australian populations.

Background: Medication-related problems (MRPs) contribute significantly to preventable patient harm and global healthcare expenditure. Vulnerable populations, including Indigenous Australians (please note that the use of the term 'Indigenous' in this paper includes all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and acknowledges their rich traditions and heterogenous cultures.) and people living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI), may be at increased risk of MRPs.

Improving traffic-related air pollution estimates by modelling minor road traffic volumes.

Accurately estimating annual average daily traffic (AADT) on minor roads is essential for assessing traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure, particularly in areas where most people live. Our study assessed the direct and indirect external validity of three methods used to estimate AADT on minor roads in Melbourne, Australia. We estimated the minor road AADT using a fixed-value approach (assuming 600 vehicles/day) and linear and negative binomial (NB) models.

Diagnostic Accuracy and economic value of a Tiered Assessment for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (DATAforFASD): Protocol.

Introduction: Australian practices for diagnosing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are lengthy and require specialist expertise. Specialist teams are based in urban locations; they are expensive and have prolonged waitlists. Innovative, flexible solutions are needed to ensure First Nations children living in rural/remote communities have culturally appropriate and equitable access to timely diagnosis and support.

Activating pharmacists to reduce the frequency of medication-related problems (ACTMed): a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial.

Background: Medicines are the most frequent health care intervention type; their safe use provides significant benefits, but inappropriate use can cause harm. Systemic primary care approaches can manage serious medication-related problems in a timely manner.

Objectives: ACTMed (ACTivating primary care for MEDicine safety) uses information technology and financial incentives to encourage pharmacists to work more closely with general practitioners to reduce the risk of harm, improve patients' experience of care, streamline workflows, and increase the efficiency of medical care.

Evaluating portable air cleaner effectiveness in residential settings to reduce exposures to biomass smoke resulting from prescribed burns.

Aim: Prescribed burning is the most common method employed to reduce fuel loads in flammable landscapes. This practice is designed to reduce the hazard associated with uncontrolled bushfires. Prescribed burns are frequently conducted close to residential areas, and the associated smoke impacts can adversely affect community health.

Refining a taxonomy of goals planned between mental health consumers and community pharmacists.

Background: People living with severe and persistent mental illnesses are more likely to experience co-morbid health conditions. Health-related behavior change can be promoted by the use of goal planning within community pharmacy settings.

Objectives: To trial and refine a recently developed taxonomy to categorize goals co-designed between community pharmacists and people living with severe and persistent mental illnesses.

Implementing a randomised controlled trial through community pharmacies to support people living with severe and persistent mental illness: Lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public health orders were introduced in many countries, including Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the spread of the virus. However, for many people this led to an exacerbation of mental health symptoms, particularly those living with severe or persistent mental illness (SPMI). Additionally, the conduct of clinical research was severely impacted during the pandemic, with many difficulties encountered in the conduct of clinical trials.

Delirium education for family caregivers of patients in the intensive care unit: A pilot study.

Objectives: Delirium, an acute change in mental state, seen in hospitalized older adults is a growing public health concern with implications for both patients and caregivers; however, there is minimal research on educating caregivers about delirium. Utilizing family caregivers to assist with delirium management in acute care settings demonstrates improved health outcomes supporting the need for patient and family centered care. The primary aims of the study were to determine feasibility of implementing a delirium education video for caregivers of patients in an adult oncology intensive care unit and compare delirium knowledge to caregivers in a control group.

Primary and pharmaceutical care usage concurrent associations with a severe smoke episode and low ambient air pollution in early life.

Background: Due to climate change, landscape fires account for an increasing proportion of air pollution emissions, and their impacts on primary and pharmaceutical care are little understood.

Objectives: To evaluate associations between exposure in two early life periods to severe levels of PM from a mine fire, background PM, and primary and pharmaceutical care.

Methods: We linked records of births, general practitioner (GP) presentations and prescription dispensing for children born in the Latrobe Valley, Australia, 2012-2014, where a severe mine fire occurred in February-March 2014 in an area with otherwise low levels of ambient PM.

No association between in utero exposure to emissions from a coalmine fire and post-natal lung function.

Background And Objective: Studies linking early life exposure to air pollution and subsequent impaired lung health have focused on chronic, low-level exposures in urban settings. We aimed to determine whether in utero exposure to an acute, high-intensity air pollution episode impaired lung function 7-years later.

Method: We conducted a prospective cohort study of children who lived in the vicinity of a coalmine fire.