Bones, groans and sending patients home: Perioperative opioid-related harm reduction strategy utilisation in a regional New South Wales (NSW) hospital.

Objective: Perioperative initiation of opioids continues to be a major contributor to chronic use, misuse and diversion in regional areas. There is considerable effort to mitigate harm through avoiding excessive prescribing and reducing the risk of persistent postoperative opioid use. Improving perioperative documentation practices has been reported to ensure appropriate opioid initiation and de-escalation.

How do general practitioners test and treat gonococcal infections in the Australian Capital Territory? Implications for disease surveillance and control.

The incidence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhoea) and Treponema pallidum (syphilis) infections in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has increased since 2014 in people reporting heterosexual exposure. This population is more likely to present to general practice rather than to specialised sexual health clinics, with potential implications for disease surveillance and control. This study aimed to explore: conformity of self-reported clinical practice with sexually transmitted infection guidelines in general practice; gaps in sexual health knowledge and skills; and areas for improved support from ACT Health Communicable Disease Control.

Characterising health promotion in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages: A content analysis of COVID-19 and maternal health resources.

Issue Addressed: Health promotion resources in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) languages are being widely translated and disseminated at the community, health service and government level. In addition to outlining the relevant Australian policy context and evidence base, this study sought to describe the availability and characteristics of COVID-19 and maternal health promotion resources incorporating Indigenous languages.

Methods: Health promotion resources published online between June 2005 and June 2020 were identified by a desktop scan and screened against quality inclusion criteria.