Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Research Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review describes studies focussed on co-occurring mental health and substance use (MH/SU) conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including the: characteristics; co-occurring conditions examined; cultural methodological quality; traditional scientific methodological quality of studies; and study outcomes. A systematic review examined the literature on co-occurring MH/SU conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Four databases were searched, with data from relevant studies extracted for narrative synthesis.

Investigating the effect of an online enhanced care program on the emotional and physical wellbeing of patients discharged from hospital with acute decompensated heart failure: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial: Enhanced care program for heart failure.

Objective: Depression is highly prevalent and associated with increased hospitalisations and mortality among patients with heart failure (HF). This study will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an online wellbeing program for patients discharged from hospital with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in (i) improving emotional and physical wellbeing, and (ii) decreasing healthcare utilisation.

Methods: Two-arm randomised controlled trial.

The impact of organisational factors on treatment outcomes for those seeking alcohol or other drug treatment: A systematic review.

Introduction: Organisational factors have been found to be associated with health outcomes in a number of health-care settings. Despite likely being an important influence on the quality of care provided within alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment centres, the impact of organisational factors on AOD treatment outcomes have not been extensively explored. This systematic literature review examines the characteristics, methodological quality and findings of published studies exploring the association between organisational factors and client AOD treatment outcomes.

Exploring the Reported Strengths and Limitations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research: A Narrative Review of Intervention Studies.

High quality intervention research is needed to inform evidence-based practice and policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We searched for studies published from 2008-2020 in the PubMed database. A narrative review of intervention literature was conducted, where we identified researcher reported strengths and limitations of their research practice.

-informing the development of practical recommendations to support ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research: a protocol for a national mixed-methods study.

Introduction: Conducting ethical and high-quality health research is crucial for informing public health policy and service delivery to reduce the high and inequitable burden of disease experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Ethical guidelines and principles specifically for health research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been developed for use since 1987. However, there has been limited examination of how these are being applied to the conduct of research.

Oncology nurse perceptions about life expectancy discussions: a cross-sectional study exploring what patients want to know, and why doctors don't disclose.

: Sensitive and patient-centred discussion about life expectancy has clear benefits for patients with advanced cancer and their families. The perceptions of oncology nurses about disclosure of life expectancy, and the barriers to disclosure, have rarely been explored. : To examine oncology nurses' perceptions of the: (1) proportion of patients with advanced cancer who want, receive and understand estimates of life expectancy; (2) reasons why doctors may not provide estimates of life expectancy.

Preparation for Cancer Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Patient Self-Reported Experiences and Correlates.

Given the significant physical and psychosocial side-effects cancer treatment has on individuals, it is important to ensure patients receive adequate preparation prior to treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore, among Australian oncology patients, (i) the self-reported treatment preparation information they received; and (ii) the patient characteristics associated with the treatment preparation information received. Patients in the early stages of cancer treatment were invited to complete a survey exploring their receipt of information about treatment preparation.

Experiences of Patient-Centered Care Among Older Community-Dwelling Australians.

Background: Older adults represent the largest consumers of health care. It is, therefore, important that they receive adequate patient-centered care to empower them to be proactive in managing their health.

Aims: This study examined the proportion of older community-dwelling individuals who report receiving patient-centered care during healthcare consultations.

A Systematic Review of the Development and Implementation of Needs-Based Palliative Care Tools in Heart Failure and Chronic Respiratory Disease.

Background: The impetus to develop and implement tools for non-malignant patient groups is reflected in the increasing number of instruments being developed for heart failure and chronic respiratory diseases. Evidence syntheses of psychometric quality and clinical utility of these tools is required to inform research and clinical practice.

Aims: This systematic review examined palliative care needs tools for people diagnosed with advanced heart failure or chronic respiratory diseases, to determine their: (1) psychometric quality; and (2) acceptability, feasibility and clinical utility when implemented in clinical practice.

Screening for Cognitive Impairment among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Comparison of 2 Screening Instruments.

Introduction: Community aged care services provide support to older adults living in their own homes. Cognitive impairment may increase the complexity of the support required. There is a need to ensure suitable brief screening tools are available to community aged care providers to assess possible cognitive impairment.

A patient-centred approach to determine optimal supportive care across the cancer trajectory: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Supportive care is recognised as an integral component of cancer care. To comprehensively improve supportive care and to inform policy, it is essential to examine consumer's views of health services. This study aimed to develop and test a patient-centred approach by measuring consumer perspectives on the importance of aspects of supportive care to determine what patients consider highest quality or 'optimal' care.

The validity of the state-trait anxiety inventory and the brief scale for anxiety in an inpatient sample with alcohol use disorder.

Background And Aims: The Brief Scale for Anxiety (BSA) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y-2 (STAI-Y-2) are self-report scales used to gauge anxiety symptoms in clinical settings. Co-occuring anxiety is common in alcohol use disorder (AUD); however, no studies have assessed the validity of the BSA and STAI-Y-2 compared with a clinical diagnostic tool of anxiety in alcohol treatment programs. We aimed to examine the validity of the BSA and STAI-Y-2 to predict a clinical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder (via the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM [SCID]) in AUD patients.

Participation in future planning by community-dwelling older Australians receiving aged care services: Findings from a cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: To determine in a sample of older community-dwelling adults: (1) the proportion who have engaged in medical and financial planning; (2) the factors associated with advance care directive (ACD) completion and substitute decision maker (SDM) appointment; and (3) for those without an ACD, what might prompt completion.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken with individuals receiving community aged care services in metropolitan and regional communities. Data collection was conducted by case managers during a home visit.

Oncology nurses' perceptions of advance directives for patients with cancer.

This study examined oncology nurses' perceptions of the impact of advance directives on oncology patients' end-of-life care. Nurses (n = 104), who were members of an oncology nursing society or worked in a large metropolitan cancer center, completed a cross-sectional survey assessing perceptions of advance directives. There was high agreement that advance directives (i) make decisions easier for family (87%) and providers (82%); (ii) are doctors' responsibility to implement (80%); (iii) reduce unwanted aggressive treatment in the last weeks of life (80%); (iv) protect patient autonomy (77%); and (v) increase the likelihood of dying in a preferred location (76%).

Resource allocation for depression management in general practice: A simple data-based filter model.

Background: This study aimed to illustrate the potential utility of a simple filter model in understanding the patient outcome and cost-effectiveness implications for depression interventions in primary care.

Methods: Modelling of hypothetical intervention scenarios during different stages of the treatment pathway was conducted.

Results: Three scenarios were developed for depression related to increasing detection, treatment response and treatment uptake.

Gaps in patient-centered follow-up cancer care: a cross sectional study.

There are published guidelines on the care that should be provided to cancer patients upon finishing treatment (i.e. follow-up care).

Prevalence and Predictors of Symptoms of Depression Among Individuals Seeking Treatment from Australian Drug and Alcohol Outpatient Clinics.

This study examined the prevalence of and sociodemographic characteristics associated with elevated symptoms of depression among clients seeking alcohol or other drug (AOD) treatment. Consenting clients attending two AOD outpatient clinics answered demographics, treatment questions and the Patient Health Questionnaire to assess depressive symptoms. Counts and percentages were calculated to determine the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms.

Correction to: Interactional skills training in undergraduate medical education: ten principles for guiding future research.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported a referencing error under the heading 2. Use methodologically rigorous research to demonstrate that interactional skills can be acquired in the Background section of the published article.

The System for Patient Assessment of Cancer Experiences (SPACE): a cross-sectional study examining feasibility and acceptability.

Background: Continuous quality improvement in cancer care relies on the collection of accurate data on the quality of care provided. It is suggested that such an approach should: (i) measure the patient's care experience throughout the cancer trajectory; (ii) use items and response scales that measure concrete and specific aspects of care; (iii) minimise recall bias; (iv) minimise the burden placed on patients for providing data; (v) minimise administrative burden; and (vi) collect actionable data. The System for Patient Assessment of Cancer Experiences (SPACE) was developed to meet these objectives.

Interactional skills training in undergraduate medical education: ten principles for guiding future research.

Background: High-quality healthcare requires practitioners who have technical competence and communication skills. Medical practitioners need interpersonal skills for gathering and transferring information to their patients, in addition to general consultation skills. Appropriate information gathering increases the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis.

Oncology patient preferences for depression care: A discrete choice experiment.

Objective: Using a vignette-style DCE in a sample of oncology patients, this study explored: (1) the relative influence of the patient's level of concern about their depression on preferences for care, (2) the relative influence of depression severity according to a mental health checklist on preferred treatment-seeking options, and (3) whether patient age and gender were associated with depression care preference.

Methods: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) survey of cancer patients was conducted. Hypothetical vignettes to elicit care preferences were created using two attributes: the cancer patient's level of concern about depression (a little or a great deal) and results of a mental health checklist (not depressed or very depressed).

Prevalence and characteristics associated with concurrent smoking and alcohol misuse within Australian general practice patients.

Objectives This study sought to determine, among a large sample of Australian general practice patients: (1) the prevalence of smoking among different levels of alcohol misuse; and (2) whether the associations between demographic characteristics and alcohol use differ according to smoking status. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered from 2010 to 2011 to 3559 patients from 12 Australian urban general practices. Patients reported their demographic details, smoking status and their alcohol intake.