The what, the when and the how: A qualitative study of allied health decision-maker perspectives on factors influencing the development and implementation of advanced and extended scopes of practice in Australia.

Background: Health workforce supply is critical to ensuring the delivery of essential healthcare and may be enhanced via mechanisms which alter the scopes of practice of health professions. The aim of this paper is to study the collective perspectives of allied health decision-makers on factors which influence their development and implementation of advanced and extended scope of practice initiatives, and how they contribute to scope of practice change. The reasoning for the selection of each factor will also be examined.

Joint ICOH-WOPS & APA-PFAW global roundtable perspectives: exploring national policy approaches for psychological health at work through the 'National Policy Index' lens.

Worker psychological health is a significant global imperative that requires national policy action and stakeholder engagement. While national policy is a critical lever for improving worker psychological health, some countries are more progressive than others in relation to policy development and/or implementation. At the Joint Congress of the International Commission on Occupational Health, Scientific Committee on Work Organization and Psychosocial Factors and the Asia Pacific Academy for Psychosocial Factors at Work in Tokyo (September 2023), a Global Roundtable was held that to initiate international dialogue and knowledge exchange about national policy approaches for work-related psychological health.

Clinical innovation and scope of practice regulation: a case study of the Charlie Teo decision.

The issue of regulation of scope of practice (SOP) has recently been highlighted through the high-profile case of New South Wales-based neurosurgeon, Mr Charles Teo and specifically the finding of 'unsatisfactory professional conduct' by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) in Teo, Charles (2023) NSWMPSC 2 (12 July 2023). The HCCC decision went to two issues in Teo's practice: (1) his decision to perform a surgery not within the SOP of his profession [at 238]; and (2) his failure to gain patient informed consent for that surgery [at 245]. This paper explores the findings against Teo with respect to SOP and recommends a nuanced approach to the regulation of clinical innovation and SOP evolution.

How can scope of practice be described and conceptualised in medical and health professions? A systematic review for scoping and content analysis.

Background: The term scope of practice (SOP) refers to the limits of a health professional's knowledge, skills and experience and reflects all tasks and activities they undertake within the context of their professional role. Inconsistency in definitions of SOP contributes to uncertainty and confusion regarding professional practice boundaries and potentially impacts societal access to safe, effective and efficient healthcare options. The aim of this paper is to understand the conceptual diversity that may exist in terminology used to describe medical, nursing/midwifery and allied health SOP within an Australian practice context exemplar.

Psychosocial safety behavior: A scoping review of behavior-based approaches to workplace psychosocial safety.

Introduction: In an era of workplace safety where psychosocial risks are widely recognized as occupational hazards, emerging research has sought to clarify the impact of these risks and the requisite interventions for improving psychosocial safety climate and reducing psychological injury risk.

Method: The construct of psychosocial safety behavior (PSB) provides a novel framework for emerging research that seeks to apply a behavior-based safety approach to workplace psychosocial risks across several high-risk industries. This scoping review aims to provide a synthesis of existing literature on PSB, including its development as a construct and application in workplace safety interventions to date.

Estimating the impact of work difficulties, work self-efficacy and work psychological safety on MS-related work productivity loss.

Background: A comprehensive understanding of factors associated with multiple sclerosis (MS)-related work productivity loss will inform targeted interventions. We have previously shown the strong impact of symptom severity on MS-related work productivity loss. However, the effect of work difficulties, work self-efficacy and work psychological safety is yet to be well evaluated in this context.

Work productivity trajectories of Australians living with multiple sclerosis: A group-based modelling approach.

Background: Studies have documented reduced work capacity and work productivity loss in multiple sclerosis (MS). Little is known about the longitudinal trajectories of work productivity in MS.

Objectives: To examine trajectories of work productivity in people living with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and the factors associated with the trajectories.

Changes in multiple sclerosis symptoms are associated with changes in work productivity of people living with multiple sclerosis.

Background: While employment rates have increased in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), little is known about the longitudinal trends of work productivity.

Objective: To describe the longitudinal patterns of work productivity and examine the factors associated with annual change of work productivity of PwMS.

Methods: Study participants were employed participants of the Australian MS Longitudinal Study (AMSLS) followed from 2015 to 2019 with at least two repeated measures ( = 2121).

Comorbidities are prevalent and detrimental for employment outcomes in people of working age with multiple sclerosis.

Background: More work is needed to understand the burden of comorbidities in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: To assess prevalence of 30 comorbidities and impacts of comorbidities on employment outcomes in a working-aged MS cohort.

Methods: Participants were from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study ( = 929).

Risk factors for leaving employment due to multiple sclerosis and changes in risk over the past decades: Using competing risk survival analysis.

Background: No studies have assessed changes in employment survival in multiple sclerosis (MS) populations over recent decades, including the introduction of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).

Objectives: To evaluate factors associated with leaving employment due to MS; to assess whether the risk of leaving employment has changed over recent decades in Australia, stratified by MS phenotype.

Methods: We included 1240 participants who were working before MS diagnosis.

Estimating MS-related work productivity loss and factors associated with work productivity loss in a representative Australian sample of people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Little is known about the work productivity loss in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: To quantify the MS-related work productivity loss and to compare factors associated with labour force participation and work productivity loss.

Methods: Participants were from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study.

Closing the gap: Longitudinal changes in employment for Australians with multiple sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: Previous studies have documented far lower employment participation rates for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) compared to the general population. In a large national sample of PwMS, we examined employment status, longitudinal changes in employment and the provision of modifications to work role/environment from 2010 to 2013.

Methods: Employment data were collected through the Australian MS Longitudinal Study from 2010 to 2013, with 1260 people responding to all four surveys.