Understanding the perspectives and needs of multiple stakeholders: Identifying key elements of a digital health intervention to protect against environmental hazards.

AirRater is a free environmental health smartphone app developed and available in Australia that collects individual health data and disseminates environmental hazard information to populations. Following previous evaluations with app users, the aim of this study was to better understand how clinicians, government agency and non-government advocacy group representatives perceive an app designed to reduce the impacts of environmental hazards on individual and public health. Nine government agency and non-government advocacy group representatives, along with 11 clinicians based in Australia participated in a semi-structured interview or focus group to explore perspectives on AirRater.

Evaluating User Preferences, Comprehension, and Trust in Apps for Environmental Health Hazards: Qualitative Case Study.

Background: Climate change is projected to increase environmental health hazard risks through fire-related air pollution and increased airborne pollen levels. To protect vulnerable populations, it is imperative that evidence-based and accessible interventions are available. The environmental health app, AirRater, was developed in 2015 in Australia to provide information on multiple atmospheric health hazards in near real time.

Plasmonic enhancement of aqueous processed organic photovoltaics.

Sodium tungsten bronze (Na WO) is a promising alternative plasmonic material to nanoparticulate gold due to its strong plasmonic resonances in both the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions. Additional benefits include its simple production either as a bulk or a nanoparticle material at a relatively low cost. In this work, plasmonic Na WO nanoparticles were introduced and mixed into the nanoparticulate zinc oxide electron transport layer of a water processed poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) nanoparticle (NP) based organic photovoltaic device (NP-OPV).

Surfactant Engineering and Its Role in Determining the Performance of Nanoparticulate Organic Photovoltaic Devices.

The fabrication of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) from non-hazardous nanoparticulate (NP) inks offers considerable promise for the development of eco-friendly large-scale printed solar modules. However, the typical NP core-shell morphology (driven by the different donor/acceptor affinities for the surfactant used in NP synthesis) currently hinders the photovoltaic performance. As such, surfactant engineering offers an elegant approach to synthesizing a more optimal intermixed NP morphology and hence an improved photovoltaic performance.

Characterising non-linear associations between airborne pollen counts and respiratory symptoms from the AirRater smartphone app in Tasmania, Australia: A case time series approach.

Pollen is a well-established trigger of asthma and allergic rhinitis, yet concentration-response relationships, lagged effects, and interactions with other environmental factors remain poorly understood. Smartphone technology offers an opportunity to address these challenges using large, multi-year datasets that capture individual symptoms and exposures in real time. We aimed to characterise associations between six pollen types and respiratory symptoms logged by users of the AirRater smartphone app in Tasmania, Australia.

Controlling Nanostructure in Inkjet Printed Organic Transistors for Pressure Sensing Applications.

This work reports the development of a highly sensitive pressure detector prepared by inkjet printing of electroactive organic semiconducting materials. The pressure sensing is achieved by incorporating a quantum tunnelling composite material composed of graphite nanoparticles in a rubber matrix into the multilayer nanostructure of a printed organic thin film transistor. This printed device was able to convert shock wave inputs rapidly and reproducibly into an inherently amplified electronic output signal.

Environmental Hazards and Behavior Change: User Perspectives on the Usability and Effectiveness of the AirRater Smartphone App.

AirRater is a free smartphone app developed in 2015, supporting individuals to protect their health from environmental hazards. It does this by providing (i) location-specific and near real-time air quality, pollen and temperature information and (ii) personal symptom tracking functionality. This research sought to evaluate user perceptions of AirRater's usability and effectiveness.

What are the health and socioeconomic impacts of allergic respiratory disease in Tasmania?

Objective The aim of this study was to quantify the direct and indirect costs of asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) for 2018 in Tasmania. Methods We used publicly available data, and Tasmanian-specific values where available, to estimate direct and indirect costs of both diseases. Direct costs included outcomes such as emergency department (ED) presentations, hospitalisations, general practice visits and medication use.

Updating and validating quality prescribing indicators for use in Australian general practice.

This study aims to update and validate quality prescribing indicators (QPIs) for Australian general practice. The study comprised two phases: (1) developing preliminary potential QPIs based on the 2006 National Prescribing Service (NPS) MedicineWise indicators, published literature, international indicators and guidelines, and through qualitative focus group discussions; and (2) validating the proposed QPIs through a two-round online survey using the Delphi technique. The Delphi panel included four GPs, four pharmacists and two clinical pharmacologists.

Healthy, safe and effective international medical student electives: a systematic review and recommendations for program coordinators.

Background: Thousands of medical students undertake international medical electives each year. These students face potentially substantial health and safety risks as well as educational and ethical challenges and therefore should undertake their electives within well-structured and coordinated programs.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative systematic review based on a pre-determined protocol.

Gambling Behaviour, Problem Gambling and Reasons for Gambling Among International Students in Tasmania, Australia.

Individuals who undertake tertiary study outside their home countries ("international students") may be at increased risk of problem gambling behaviour. To inform this issue, we examined gambling behaviour, problem gambling behaviour and reasons for gambling among international students, primarily from Asian countries, attending university in Tasmania, Australia. Online surveys that included established measures of each outcome were completed by these students (n = 382) along with a comparison group of domestic students (n = 1013).

Health and Well-Being of International University Students, and Comparison with Domestic Students, in Tasmania, Australia.

International students comprise an increasingly larger proportion of higher education students globally. Empirical evidence about the health and well-being of these students is, however, limited. We sought to examine the health and well-being of international students, primarily from Asian countries, attending the University of Tasmania, Australia, using domestic students as a comparison group.

Early predictors of summative assessment performance in general practice post-graduate training: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Success in summative general practice (GP) training assessments is one indicator of competence for practice. Early-training factors predictive of outcomes would facilitate targeted interventions aimed at preventing candidate failures.

Methods: We undertook a retrospective cohort study of Australian GP trainees in two training organizations over five years.

Optimisation of purification techniques for the preparation of large-volume aqueous solar nanoparticle inks for organic photovoltaics.

In this study we have optimised the preparation conditions for large-volume nanoparticle inks, based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):indene-C multiadducts (ICxA), through two purification processes: centrifugal and crossflow ultrafiltration. The impact of purification is twofold: firstly, removal of excess sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant from the ink and, secondly, concentration of the photoactive components in the ink. The removal of SDS was studied in detail both by a UV-vis spectroscopy-based method and by surface tension measurements of the nanoparticle ink filtrate; revealing that centrifugal ultrafiltration removed SDS at a higher rate than crossflow ultrafiltration even though a similar filter was applied in both cases (10,000 Da cut-off).

Prescribing of psychotropic medication for nursing home residents with dementia: a general practitioner survey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing the prescribing of psychotropic medication by general practitioners (GPs) to nursing home residents with dementia.

Subjects And Methods: GPs with experience in nursing homes were recruited through professional body newsletter advertising, while 1,000 randomly selected GPs from southeastern Australia were invited to participate, along with a targeted group of GPs in Tasmania. An anonymous survey was used to collect GPs' opinions.

Learning global health: a pilot study of an online collaborative intercultural peer group activity involving medical students in Australia and Indonesia.

Background: There is limited research to inform effective pedagogies for teaching global health to undergraduate medical students. Theoretically, using a combination of teaching pedagogies typically used in 'international classrooms' may prove to be an effective way of learning global health. This pilot study aimed to explore the experiences of medical students in Australia and Indonesia who participated in a reciprocal intercultural participatory peer e-learning activity (RIPPLE) in global health.

Early predictors of need for remediation in the Australian general practice training program: a retrospective cohort study.

Underperforming trainees requiring remediation may threaten patient safety and are challenging for vocational training programs. Decisions to institute remediation are high-stakes-remediation being resource-intensive and emotionally demanding on trainees. Detection of underperformance requiring remediation is particularly problematic in general (family) practice.

The effectiveness of student-run organizations within global health promotion initiatives.

Introduction: This commentary describes a student-led project that distributed long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in Masaka, Uganda. The role of student-led initiatives in global health promotion projects is also discussed.

Methods: A survey of 213 net recipients was conducted after a 12-month period to evaluate malaria prevention knowledge, and net use and maintenance.

Retention of knowledge and perceived relevance of basic sciences in an integrated case-based learning (CBL) curriculum.

Background: Knowledge and understanding of basic biomedical sciences remain essential to medical practice, particularly when faced with the continual advancement of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Evidence suggests, however, that retention tends to atrophy across the span of an average medical course and into the early postgraduate years, as preoccupation with clinical medicine predominates. We postulated that perceived relevance demonstrated through applicability to clinical situations may assist in retention of basic science knowledge.

Simulation based education - models for teaching surgical skills in general practice.

Background: Simulation based education is an accepted method of teaching procedural skills in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. There is an increasing need for developing authentic simulation models for use in general practice training.

Objective: This article describes the preparation of three simulation models to teach general practice registrars basic surgical skills, including excision of a sebaceous cyst and debridement and escharectomy of chronic wounds.

Promoting clinical reasoning in general practice trainees: role of the clinical teacher.

Background: Clinical reasoning requires knowledge, cognition and metacognition, and is contextually bound. Clinical teachers can and should play a key role in explicitly promoting clinical reasoning.

Context: The aim of this article is to relate the clinical reasoning literature to the general practice or family medicine context, and to provide clinical teachers with strategies to promote clinical reasoning.

What are the perceived learning needs of Australian general practice registrars for quality prescribing?

Background: Little is known about the perceived learning needs of Australian general practice (GP) registrars in relation to the quality use of medicines (QUM) or the difficulties experienced when learning to prescribe. This study aimed to address this gap.

Methods: GP registrars' perceived learning needs were investigated through an online national survey, interviews and focus groups.

Development of the special skills post in expedition medicine for general practice registrars in Australia.

Wilderness, mountain, and expedition medicine training for physicians is now well developed in North America and Europe. This paper describes the development and content of the first such program in Australia. The Special Skills Post in Expedition Medicine is a 6-month post, developed by General Practice Training Tasmania, that is integrated into general practice training and combines clinical placements in travel medicine, general practice, emergency medicine, a self-guided workbook covering core and elective topics, and an 8-day field trip.

General practice research and research skill needs--attitudes of GP supervisors.

Background: General practice research is an important learning area in general practice registrar training. General practitioner supervisors have a central role in registrar training. Registrar training in Tasmania has the added component of a research project.

Comprehensive health assessments during de-institutionalization: an observational study.

Background: People with intellectual disability (ID) leaving institutions pass through a transition stage that makes them vulnerable to inadequate health care. They enter into community care under general practitioners (GPs) who are often untrained and inexperienced in their needs. Specifically designed health reviews may be of assistance to both them and their new GPs as they go through that phase.