Impact of rurality on health care utilization among Australian residents from 2009 to 2021.

Purpose: In Australia, there is limited research regarding the effect of rurality on health care utilization using longitudinal data.

Methods: We analyzed data from four annual waves (2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021) of the longitudinal Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey to examine changes in the health care utilization over time among urban and rural residents. Poisson regression models estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for rural versus urban residents, accounting for a range of health-related and sociodemographic characteristics.

Effect of behavioural activation for individuals with post-stroke depression: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Previous research showed that behavioural activation is as effective as cognitive-behavioural therapy for general depression. However, it remains unclear if it leads to greater improvement in depressive symptoms when compared with standard treatment for post-stroke depression.

Aims: To compare the effectiveness of behavioural activation against control conditions in reducing depression symptoms in individuals with post-stroke depression.

Temporal trends in medical device implant procedures in Australia 2008-22: evidence from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Hospital Morbidity database.

ObjectiveExamine the temporal trends in medical device implant procedures in the Australian population.MethodsWe used data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare from the financial years 2007-08 to 2021-22 and chose the most frequently performed medical device implant procedures. We estimated the annual change in volume of procedures and age-standardised rates by calculating the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), and used regression with the Newey-West robust variance estimator to examine whether there was a linear trend in the age-standardised rates for each procedure.

Locum Tenens and Pediatric Surgery: A Position Statement and Practice Guidelines From the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA).

The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) Practice Committee endorsed by the Board of Governors presents a Position Statement on the role of locum tenens in the practice of pediatric surgery. The Practice Committee also presents a set of guidelines for locum tenens practice. These recommendations highlight safe practice and quality care that protects the patient as well as the pediatric surgeon by offering best practice standards, defining optimal resources and establishing parameters by which hospitals and locum tenens agencies should abide.

Effect of Behavioral Activation for Women with Postnatal Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Evidence shows that behavioral activation (BA), a simple form of psychological therapy, is as effective as the more complex psychological therapy-cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-in treating general depression. However, it remains unclear whether BA when compared with treatment-as-usual (TAU) has greater contributions in reducing postnatal depression. This systematic review compared the effect of BA versus TAU in reducing depression symptoms among postnatal women.

When Is the Optimum Radiological Response to Proton Beam Therapy in Uveal Melanoma?

Introduction: Proton beam therapy (PBT) is an effective treatment option for uveal melanomas. Following treatment, it may take many months for the tumour to respond and it may initially enlarge. We reviewed our PBT patients to determine when they showed a radiological response to treatment.

'Just the Way it Was': Perspectives on Sexual Harassment in Medical School and #MeToo of Women Graduating Prior to 1975.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess gender-based mistreatment during medical education recalled by women who attended medical school between 1948 and 1975 and their perspectives on the #MeToo movement.

Methods: Methods included a qualitative analysis of video-recorded structured interviews.

Results: The 37 participants graduated in classes of 2-20% women.

To test or to not test: A retrospective cross-sectional study on potentially inappropriate use of pathology testing in South Australian hospitals.

Objectives: To measure rates of potentially inappropriate pathology testing in the hospital setting.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study in hospital setting from July 2021 to December 2021. We examined 3 potentially inappropriate uses: overordering, selection errors, and unnecessary repeat testing.

Temporal trends in percutaneous coronary intervention in Australia: A retrospective analysis from 2000-2021.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the trend in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with insertion of a stent in Australia from 2000/01 to 2020/21 and investigate trends in same-day versus non-same-day discharge following PCI. A secondary aim was to compare the rate of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with PCI procedures, while a third aim was to compare marked PCI trend changes with the PCI guidelines during the study period.

Background: PCI with stent deployment is the most common form of interventional treatment for coronary artery disease, and its use has been expanding since 2000.

The distribution of registered occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and podiatrists in Australia.

Background: In Australia, the distribution of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and podiatrists density (per 10,000 population) by measure of location/rurality, usual resident population, and area-level socioeconomic status has not been described.

Objective: To describe the national as well as states-and territories-wide distribution of registered allied health workforce-occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and podiatrists-by measures of rurality and area-level socioeconomic position in Australia.

Methods: A linked data study that brings together (1) the location of health practitioners' principal place of practice from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, (2) a measure of location/rurality-Modified Monash Model (MMM), and (3) an area-level measure of socioeconomic status-Index of Relative Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD).

Is an image-based eyelid management service safe and effective?

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic created a requirement for reduced patient contact and reduced capacity in clinics. We previously published results of an Image-Based Eyelid Lesion Management Service (IBELMS) which was found non-inferior to traditional face-to-face clinic at diagnosing lesions and identifying eyelid malignancies. We now present first-year safety and efficacy data from this service.

Do undertaking rural placements and place of origin inform where allied health graduates work in South Australia?

Objective: To examine the principal place of practice after graduation of students who participated in the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program and allied health students' place of origin.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants: Graduates who completed their degree in podiatry, occupational therapy and physiotherapy in 2019.

Aeromedical retrieval services characteristics globally: a scoping review.

Background: Aeromedical emergency retrieval services play an important role in supporting patients with critical and often life-threatening clinical conditions. Aeromedical retrieval services help to provide fast access to definitive care for critically ill patients in under-served regions. Typically, fixed-wing aeromedical retrieval becomes the most viable transport option compared with rotary-wing aircraft when distances away from centres of definitive care extend beyond 200 kms.

Interviewing for Family Medicine Residency: In-Person, Virtual, or Hybrid?

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of interviewing format changes on the family medicine (FM) residency interviewing process. Specifically, we compare applicant cost and time expenditures in traditional in-person, virtual-only, and hybrid interview years. We also report student perceptions of the virtual-only and hybrid interview processes.

Impact of suboptimal or inappropriate treatment on healthcare resource use and cost among patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infection: an analysis of integrated delivery network electronic health records.

Background: Although uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs; occurring in female patients without urological abnormalities or history of urological procedures or complicating comorbidities) are one of the most common community infections in the United States (US), limited data are available concerning associations between antibiotic resistance, suboptimal prescribing, and the economic burden of uUTI. We examined the prevalence of suboptimal antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic resistance and its effects on healthcare resource use and costs.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized electronic health record data from a large Mid-Atlantic US integrated delivery network database, collected July 2016-March 2020.

Novel Techniques to Assess Predictive Systems and Reduce Their Alarm Burden.

Machine prediction algorithms (e.g., binary classifiers) often are adopted on the basis of claimed performance using classic metrics such as precision and recall.

Economic burden of antibiotic-not-susceptible isolates in uncomplicated urinary tract infection: Analysis of a US integrated delivery network database.

Background: Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections in the United States (US). Contemporary data are important for understanding the health economic impact of antimicrobial-resistant uUTIs. We compared the economic burden among patients with uUTI isolates susceptible or not-susceptible to the initial antibiotic prescription.

Use of behavioural activation to manage pain: a systematic scoping review.

Background: Behavioural activation (BA) is an effective treatment for depression; however, it is unclear if it can be used to manage pain.

Objectives: To conduct a scoping review of primary research that reported using BA to support people living with chronic pain to understand how BA had been used in relation to pain. In addition, we wanted to understand whether there were any reported changes in that pain, and how and who delivered BA.

The association between exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and timing of paracetamol use: a cohort study in elderly Australians.

Background: In elderly populations, paracetamol may be used regularly for conditions such as osteoarthritis. Paracetamol has been associated with respiratory disease through a proposed mechanism of glutathione depletion and oxidative stress. Given that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frequently co-morbid with osteoarthritis, this study investigated whether the dose and timing of paracetamol exposure may induce COPD exacerbations.

Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: Reoperations and the Competing Risk of Death.

Background: The use of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), which includes pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), cardiac resynchronisation therapy pacemakers (CRT-P) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillators (CRT-D) has increased over the past 20 years, but there is a lack of real world evidence on the longevity of these devices in the older population which is essential to inform health care delivery and support clinical decisions.

Methods And Results: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs database. The cohort consisted of people who had a CIED procedure between 2005 and 2015.

Geographical distribution of 3 allied health professions in South Australia: A summary of access and disadvantage.

Objective: To describe the distribution of 3 allied health professionals-occupational therapists, physiotherapists and podiatrists-in South Australia stratified by the Modified Monash Model and the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage.

Design: A descriptive data linkage cross-sectional study.

Setting: The state of South Australia, Australia.

Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on pathology service utilisation.

Background: Isolation and social distancing restrictions due to COVID-19 have the potential to impact access to healthcare services.

Aims: To assess the use of pathology services during the COVID-19 pandemic initial restrictions.

Methods: Repeated cross-sectional study of pathology tests utilisation during a baseline time period early in 2020 compared with pre-lockdown and lockdown due to COVID-19 in South Australia.