Development of a Digital Health Intervention to Support Patients on a Waitlist for Orthopedic Specialist Care: Co-Design Study.

Background: The demand for orthopedic specialist consultations for patients with osteoarthritis in public hospitals is high and continues to grow. Lengthy waiting times are increasingly affecting patients from low socioeconomic and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who are more likely to rely on public health care.

Objective: This study aimed to co-design a digital health intervention for patients with OA who are waiting for an orthopedic specialist consultation at a public health service, which is located in local government areas (LGAs) of identified social and economic disadvantage.

Factors Impacting Retention of Aged Care Workers: A Systematic Review.

Retention of care support workers in residential aged care facilities and home-based, domiciliary aged care is a global challenge, with rapid turnover, low job satisfaction, and poorly defined career pathways. A mixed-methods systematic review of the workforce literature was conducted to understand the factors that attract and retain care staff across the aged care workforce. The search yielded 49 studies.

Anticholinergic medication burden and cognitive function in participants of the ASPREE study.

Study Objective: What is the association between anticholinergic burden and specific domains of cognitive function in older adults who are initially without major cognitive impairment?

Design: Post-hoc analysis of longitudinal observational data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study.

Patients: 19,114 participants from Australia and the United States aged 70 years and older (65 years and older for US minorities) were recruited and followed for a median of 4.7 years.

Evaluation of the Pain Impact Index for Community-Dwelling Older Adults Through the Application of Rasch Modelling.

Objective: Evaluate the Pain Impact Index, a simple, brief, easy-to-use, and novel tool to assess the impact of chronic pain in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A Rasch modelling analysis was undertaken in Stata using a partial credit model suited to the Likert-type items that comprised the Index. The Index was evaluated for ordering of category thresholds, unidimensionality, overall fit to the Rasch model, measurement bias (Differential Item Functioning, DIF), targeting, and construct validity.

Musculoskeletal Pain Experienced on Most Days is a Common Accompaniment of Ageing amongst Community-Dwelling Older Australians: A Questionnaire-Based Study.

To describe the prevalence, location and impact of moderate to severe pain experienced on most days in community-dwelling older (≥70 years) adults who were ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) clinical trial participants. Cross-sectional ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) data were collected from self-reported questionnaires administered to 16,439 ASPREE participants. Of 14,155 respondents, 41% of males ( = 2651/6475) and 50% of females ( = 3803/7680) reported experiencing pain on most days.

Moderate or severe low back pain is associated with body mass index amongst community-dwelling older Australians.

Objective: Low back pain is prevalent in older populations and modifiable risk factors may include being overweight or obese. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and impact of moderate or severe low back pain in community-dwelling older adults and its association with body mass index (BMI).

Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 16,439 Australians aged ≥70 years.

Statin use and fall-related hospitalizations among residents of long-term care facilities: A case-control study.

Background: Statins are associated with muscle-related adverse events, but few studies have investigated the association with fall-related hospitalizations among residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate whether statin use is associated with fall-related hospitalizations from LTCFs.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted among residents aged ≥65 years admitted to hospital from 2013 to 2015.

Longitudinal study of medication use in caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease - Kuopio ALSOVA study.

Background: The longitudinal pattern of medication use among family caregivers of people with dementia is not well understood, despite the potential for medication over- or under-use.

Objectives: To investigate caregiver medication use over a five-year follow-up using data obtained via self-report and from a national prescription register, and compare agreement between medication data obtained from the two sources.

Methods: Medication data for 222 family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease were obtained via self-report and from the Finnish Social Insurance Institution.

Impact of a Virtual Dementia Experience on Medical and Pharmacy Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward People with Dementia: A Controlled Study.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines for dementia highlight the importance of providing patient-centered care. This can be achieved by improving health professionals' attitudes and knowledge toward people with dementia.

Objective: Quantitatively evaluate the impact of a virtual dementia experience on medical and pharmacy students' knowledge and attitudes toward people with dementia.