Publications by authors named "Kate E McBride"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the motivations and experiences of Australian surgeons and surgical trainees regarding higher degrees by research (HDRs), revealing limited existing research on this topic.
- A survey conducted among 270 participants from three public hospitals found that 27% responded, with similar HDR completion rates among trainees and consultants, and notable differences in motivations for pursuing HDRs.
- The findings highlight that while HDRs contribute to academic positions and publications, barriers such as time constraints during surgical training affect completion, emphasizing the need for support for those interested in research careers.
Background: Whilst both mental illness comorbidity and the delivery of emergency surgery are commonplace in Australia, there is little evidence investigating any link between them. As such, this study examines the emergency surgical outcomes for patients with mental illness compared to other surgical patients within the Australian public surgical system.
Methods: Retrospective cohort study involving adult emergency and elective surgical patients treated at three public hospitals in Sydney, Australia between 2018 and 2019.
Background: Day-only emergency surgery for abscess drainage is poorly implemented in Australia. This study assessed the feasibility, outcomes, cost, and impact of an acute day-only surgery (ADOS) program.
Method: A retrospective pre-post implementation study of patients requiring abscess drainage in theatre was performed.
Article Synopsis
- Pelvic exenteration (PE) is a complex surgical procedure aimed at treating advanced pelvic tumors by removing multiple pelvic organs, and it requires unique health management strategies for successful implementation.
- * In Australia and New Zealand, a centralized approach for PE services was developed, directing patients to a few specialized centers, which differs from the decentralized systems in the UK and France.
- * The authors share their experience in building the highest volume PE center in the ANZ region, highlighting the importance of collaboration with hospital administration and the application of a state-wide referral model for other surgical services.
Objectives: To explore the association between preoperative mental health status and surgical outcomes following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).
Methods: This cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing RARP surgery for prostate cancer between October 2016 and May 2022 at a major public hospital in Sydney, Australia. The primary outcome was preoperative self-reported mental health status measured using the mental component score from the Short Form 36 survey.
Article Synopsis
- This study compares surgical outcomes and costs for robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) versus laparoscopic and open surgery in patients with benign gynecological, colorectal, and urological conditions.
- It analyzed data from 1,271 patients at a Sydney hospital, noting that minimally invasive surgeries led to shorter hospital stays and lower postoperative complications, particularly in robotic procedures.
- However, RAS incurred higher total in-hospital costs compared to laparoscopic and open surgeries, regardless of the complexity of the procedures.
Introduction: Despite recent evidence on the surgical outcomes of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), other patient centre outcomes, including quality of life (QOL), are lacking. This study aims to examine changes in QoL trajectories following RAS across different surgical specialities.
Patients And Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted for patients undergoing urologic, cardiothoracic, colorectal or benign gynaecological RAS, between June 2016 and January 2020 at a tertiary referral hospital in Australia.
Background: Preoperative assessment of mental health rarely occurs within routine surgery. Any screening tool selected to form part of this process must be deemed practical, acceptable and valid by clinicians and consumers alike. This study aims to assess the acceptability and face validity of two existing mental health screening tools to select one for further development and use in the routine surgical setting.
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- The study analyzes the effects of COVID-19 on surgical services and patient outcomes at a major hospital in New South Wales, comparing data from early 2020 to the same periods in 2019.
- Results showed a significant reduction in surgical activity (32% in the first wave and 19% in the perseverance phase), particularly in elective surgeries, while the number of emergency surgeries remained constant.
- Despite initial challenges, the overall standard of surgical care remained safe, highlighting the need for ongoing adjustments in managing elective surgeries during the pandemic.
Objective: To assess the association between having a serious mental illness and surgical outcomes for adults, including in-hospital and 30-day mortality, post-operative complications, and hospital length of stay.
Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of publications in English to 30 July 2018 of studies that examined associations between having a serious mental illness and surgical outcomes for adults who underwent elective surgery. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and 30-day mortality, post-operative complications, and length of hospital stay.
Background: Laboratory simulation is increasingly important for teaching microsurgical skills. Training microsurgeons of different specialties within the same simulation laboratory increases efficiency of resource use. For maximal benefit, simulations should be available for trainees to practice specialty-specific, higher-order skills.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: People with serious mental illness (SMI) have significantly worse surgical outcomes compared to the general population. There are many contributing factors to this complex issue, however consideration of the surgical experience from the patient's own perspective has never been undertaken. This lack of understanding prevents the provision of truly patient centred care and may limit the impact of potential improvement initiatives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cost-effective cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for treatment of patients with peritoneal malignancy remains an ongoing financial challenge for healthcare systems, hospitals and patients. This study aims to describe the detailed in-hospital costs of CRS and HIPEC compared with an Australian Activity Based Funding (ABF) system, and to evaluate how the learning curve, disease entities and surgical outcomes influence in-hospital costs.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive costing review of all CRS and HIPEC cases undertaken at a large public tertiary referral hospital in Sydney, Australia from April 2017 to June 2019.
Objectives The use of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) remains predominantly in the private sector. In the public sector, the effect of the implementation of RAS on theatre staff is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge and attitudes of theatre staff before and after implementation of RAS in the public sector.
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- Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is expanding from mainly urology in private sectors to various surgical specialties in public hospitals in Australia, leading to the need for safe and appropriate implementation due to high costs and limited long-term evidence.
- The paper outlines a governance framework created for a new RAS program in a public tertiary hospital, focusing on research, training, and operational aspects, with research as a key access gatekeeper for the technology.
- Implementing this governance framework has shown benefits like improved patient safety, broader specialty involvement, consistent data collection, and potential for generating long-term evidence, which could inform other public hospitals adopting RAS or new surgical technologies.
Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an accepted therapeutic approach in selected patients with peritoneal malignancy. The aim of this study was to describe early outcomes in the first 50 patients managed with CRS and HIPEC in a newly established peritoneal malignancy centre in Sydney, Australia, under the guidance of an experienced peritoneal malignancy mentor.
Methods: This is a retrospective review of a prospective maintained database of early outcomes in the first 50 patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC between April 2017 and April 2018 at a newly established peritoneal malignancy centre.
Background: The use of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is becoming increasingly prevalent across a range of surgical specialties within public hospitals around Australia. As a result, it is critical that organisations consider workplace factors such as staff knowledge, attitudes and behaviours prior to the implementation of such new technology. This study aimed to describe the knowledge and attitudes of operating theatre staff from a large public tertiary referral hospital prior to the commencement of an RAS program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: People with comorbid mental illness have poorer health status and disparate access to healthcare. Several studies internationally have reported mixed findings regarding the association between mental illness and surgical patient outcomes. This study examines the surgical outcomes in people with decompensated serious mental illness (SMI) within the setting of the Australian universal healthcare system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To undertake a comprehensive needs assessment to determine the baseline of surgical research activity at a tertiary referral hospital in Sydney, Australia.
Method: The comprehensive needs assessment comprised three components: a retrospective audit of the hospital ethics committee records to identify surgical research activity; a survey of all 17 surgical departments about the availability of 10 potential research resources and a survey of surgical staff to ascertain perceptions of research culture at the organizational, team and individual levels.
Results: Of all research studies submitted to the hospital ethics committee in a 2-year period, only 9% were identified as surgical studies.