Hypophosphataemia in Critical Illness: A Narrative Review.

Phosphate is a predominately intracellular anion that has several key roles in normal cellular functions. Derangements in serum phosphate concentration occur frequently during critical illness, particularly hypophosphataemia, which has been reported in up to 75% of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. The association between hypophosphataemia and ICU outcomes reported in the literature are conflicting and and subject to substantial confounding.

The Impact of Prescription Time Limits on Phosphate Administration in the Intensive Care Unit: A Before-After Quality Improvement Study.

(1) Background: We aim to examine and improve phosphate prescribing as part of a quality assurance program by examining the change in the proportion of patients receiving phosphate with normal or high preceding serum phosphate concentrations before and after the introduction of the 24 h time limit to default phosphate prescription. (2) Methods: This was a quality assurance study conducted across three Australian adult intensive care units (ICUs). All adult patients with ICU lengths of stay greater than or equal to 48 h who had their serum phosphate concentrations measured were included.

Predicting aggressive patient behaviour in a hospital emergency department: An empirical study of security officers using the Brøset Violence Checklist.

Introduction: The Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) is a six item checklist that rates patients according to their risk of violence in the subsequent 24h - a score of ?3 indicates a "high risk" of violence. This study is the first to evaluate the statistical utility of the BVC when administered by a security officer in a hospital emergency department (ED).

Method: A healthcare security officer conducted BVC assessments on patients who presented to the ED of a public hospital in metropolitan South East Queensland, Australia, over a two month period.

The intergenerational transmission of at-risk/problem gambling: The moderating role of parenting practices.

Background And Objectives: Although parenting practices are articulated as underlying mechanisms or protective factors in several theoretical models, their role in the intergenerational transmission of gambling problems has received limited research attention. This study therefore examined the degree to which parenting practices (positive parenting, parental involvement, and inconsistent discipline) moderated the intergenerational transmission of paternal and maternal problem gambling.

Methods: Students aged 12-18 years (N = 612) recruited from 17 Australian secondary schools completed a survey measuring parental problem gambling, problem gambling severity, and parenting practices.

Verbal abuse and physical assault in the emergency department: Rates of violence, perceptions of safety, and attitudes towards security.

Introduction: Emergency Department (ED) workers are prone to occupational violence, however the extent and impact of this may not be evenly felt across all roles in the ED.

Aims: Explore: 1) the rate of verbal abuse and physical assaults experienced by ED staff, 2) perceptions of safety, 3) attitudes towards security officers, and 4) formal reporting of incidents.

Methods: 330 ED workers were surveyed at four public hospitals in one metropolitan health service district in Queensland, Australia, including 179 nurses, 83 medical staff, 44 administration staff, 14 allied health, and 9 operational.