Limited Awareness of Melioidosis in High-risk Populations Despite an Increasing Incidence of the Disease in Far North Queensland, Australia.

The incidence of melioidosis, an opportunistic infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, has recently doubled in Far North Queensland (FNQ), Australia. This contrasts with the local burden of dengue, which is nearing elimination, and the stable incidence of leptospirosis. This questionnaire-based study assessed the awareness of melioidosis among people in FNQ with risk factors for the disease, using awareness of leptospirosis and dengue as comparators.

Investigation of febrile passengers detected by infrared thermal scanning at an international airport.

Objective: To determine the best approach for the evaluation of fever, detected by infrared thermal scanning, at an international airport.

Methods: Arriving passengers with fever were divided into three groups: community evaluation by a GP, with or without cost compensation, or evaluation at the airport by a health practitioner. Uptake of offered evaluations was measured, diagnoses were recorded, and region-specific rates of fever measured.

Barriers to use of information and computer technology by Australia's nurses: a national survey.

Aims And Objectives: To support policy planning for health, the barriers to the use of health information and computer technology (ICT) by nurses in Australia were determined.

Background: Australia, in line with many countries, aims to achieve a better quality of care and health outcomes through effective and innovative use of health information. Nurses form the largest component of the health workforce.

Attitudes of Australian nurses to information technology in the workplace: a national survey.

This article reports on the views of Australian nurses as to their use of computers in the workplace. Data were collected by questionnaires mailed to 10,000 members of the 150,000-member Australian Nursing Federation, which represents 60% of the Australian nursing workforce. The response rate was 43.

Strategies for success: a toolbox of coping strategies used by breastfeeding women.

Aims: The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of two qualitative studies which identified strategies used by breastfeeding women to assist them to continue breastfeeding.

Background: While breastfeeding initiation rates are high in Australia, the majority of women wean before the recommended time. The identification of interventions which may increase breastfeeding duration is therefore a research priority.

Exploring the influence of psychological factors on breastfeeding duration, phase 1: perceptions of mothers and clinicians.

Breastfeeding duration rates in Australia are low, prompting a search for modifiable factors capable of increasing the duration of breastfeeding. In this study, participants were asked which psychological factors they believed influence breastfeeding duration. Participants included 3 groups of mothers who had breastfed for varied lengths of time (n = 17), and 1 group of breastfeeding clinicians (n = 4).

The status of training and education in information and computer technology of Australian nurses: a national survey.

Aims And Objectives: A study was undertaken of the current knowledge and future training requirements of nurses in information and computer technology to inform policy to meet national goals for health.

Background: The role of the modern clinical nurse is intertwined with information and computer technology and adoption of such technology forms an important component of national strategies in health. The majority of nurses are expected to use information and computer technology during their work; however, the full extent of their knowledge and experience is unclear.

The influence of psychological factors on breastfeeding duration.

Aim: This paper reports on a study examining the relationship between women's psychological characteristics and breastfeeding duration, after controlling for socio-demographic factors.

Background: The literature suggests that psychological factors may influence breastfeeding behaviour, but studies are few. Existing evidence and the results of phase 1 of our study were used to construct a list of psychological factors, which were tested for their association with breastfeeding duration in the current design.

Rural men and mental health: their experiences and how they managed.

There is a growing awareness that a primary source of information about mental health lies with the consumers. This paper reports on a study that interviewed rural men with the aim of exploring their mental health experiences within a rural environment. The results of the interviews are a number of stories of resilience and survival that highlight not only the importance of exploring the individuals' perspective of their issues, but also of acknowledging and drawing on their inner strengths.

Informing rural and remote students about careers in health: factors influencing career decisions.

Objective: Since 1994 a state-wide program has been operating in Queensland to provide non-metropolitan secondary school students with information about health careers. Determination of the factors influencing the career decisions of rural and remote students was one objective of the evaluation of that program.

Design: Telephone interviews.

Aged care nursing in Queensland - the nurses' view.

Aims And Objectives: Through comparison of two studies undertaken three years apart the opinions of nurses working in aged care facilities in Queensland were determined. Results will support policy planning for the Queensland Nurses Union.

Background: An ageing population in Australia is placing increased demands on residential aged care facilities.

Psychological services in five South-west Queensland communities--supply and demand.

Introduction: This research gathered information in 2004 about psychological services provided to five rural communities located in South-west Queensland, Australia. Specifically, the aims of the project were to: (i) undertake an audit of existing psychological services; and (ii) determine the need for psychological services as perceived by providers of current services.

Methods: Potential providers of psychological services were contacted to confirm the nature and extent of their provision of psychological support to target communities.

Tenure, mobility and retention of nurses in Queensland, Australia: 2001 and 2004.

Aim: Data were collected on tenure, mobility and retention of the nursing workforce in Queensland to aid strategic planning by the Queensland Nurses Union (QNU).

Background: Shortages of nurses negatively affect the health outcomes of patients. Population rise is increasing the demand for nurses in Queensland.

Informing rural and remote students about careers in health: the effect of Health Careers Workshops on course selection.

Objective: Since 1994, as part of the Health Careers in the Bush program, Queensland Health has run residential workshops to provide secondary school students from rural and remote areas with information about health careers. This study reports on the influence of the program on tertiary course selection.

Design: Self-administered mail survey and telephone interviews.

Workforce issues in nursing in Queensland: 2001 and 2004.

Aim And Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify the factors having an impact upon nursing work and to use the results to inform strategic planning of the Queensland Nurses Union.

Background: In 2001 and 2004, a study was undertaken to gather data on the level of satisfaction of nurses with their working life. This paper reports the 2004 results on workload, skill mix, remuneration and morale.

Australian nurses access and attitudes to information technology--a national survey.

Competencies by nurses in information technology (IT) are essential to health care in Australia yet data suggest deficiencies in access and use. A study commissioned by the Australian Government aimed to determine the extent of access and use and the barriers to the use of IT among nurses across Australia. A survey was distributed to 10,000 members of the Australian Nursing Federation with a 43% overall response rate.

Implementation of oral health recommendations into two residential aged care facilities in a regional Australian city.

Background  Residents of aged care facilities usually have a large number of oral health problems. Residents who suffer from dementia are at particular risk. A systematic review of the best available evidence with regard to maintaining the oral health of older people with dementia in residential aged care facilities provided a number of recommendations.

Nurse discharge planning in the emergency department: a Toowoomba, Australia, study.

Aim: This study aimed to ascertain whether a model of risk screening carried out by an experienced community nurse was effective in decreasing re-presentations and readmissions and the length of stay of older people presenting to an Australian emergency department.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to (i) identify all older people who presented to the emergency department of an Australian regional hospital; (ii) identify the proportion of re-presentations and readmissions within this cohort of patients; and (iii) risk-screen all older patients and provide referrals when necessary to community services.

Design: The study involved the application of a risk screening tool to 2,139 men and women over 70 years of age from October 2002 to June 2003.

Workplace violence in Queensland, Australia: the results of a comparative study.

This paper presents the results on workplace violence from a larger study undertaken in 2004. Comparison is made with the results of a similar study undertaken in 2001. The study involved the random sampling of 3,000 nurses from the Queensland Nurses' Union's membership in the public (acute hospital and community nursing), private (acute hospital and domiciliary nursing) and aged care (both public and private aged care facilities) sectors.

SEAM--improving the quality of palliative care in regional Toowoomba, Australia: lessons learned.

Introduction: The proliferation of professional palliative care services in recent years has increased access for people with palliative care needs; however, gaps in services continue to exist, particularly in rural and remote areas of Australia. In order to address one gap in rural health service delivery, the Support, Education, Assessment, and Monitoring (SEAM) Service for regional and rural people in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, was introduced. This new model of service delivery aimed to provide palliative services to patients and their families who live in the regional city of Toowoomba and its rural catchment area.