Chemotherapy in patients with unresected pancreatic cancer in Australia: A population-based study of uptake and survival.

Aim: Palliative chemotherapy improves symptom control and prolongs survival in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, but there is a paucity of data describing its use and effectiveness in everyday practice. We explored patterns of chemotherapy use in patients with unresected pancreatic cancer in Australia and the impact of use on survival.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of residents of New South Wales or Queensland, Australia, diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma between July 2009 and June 2011.

Biliary Stenting in Patients With Pancreatic Cancer: Results From a Population-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: We aimed to describe management of biliary obstruction (BO) in the context of pancreatic cancer within a population-based cohort.

Methods: We examined management of BO in 1863 patients diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer in 2010/2011. We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression to describe patterns of biliary stent usage, complications and duration of patency, associations between preoperative stenting and surgical outcomes, and between patient factors and management of jaundice.

The virtual maze: A behavioural tool for measuring trust.

Trusting another person may depend on our level of generalised trust in others, as well as perceptions of that specific person's trustworthiness. However, many studies measuring trust outcomes have not discussed generalised versus specific trust. To measure specific trust in others, we developed a novel behavioural task.

Reducing Antibiotic Exposure in Suspected Neonatal Sepsis.

Prolonged antibiotic therapy is associated with antimicrobial resistance and increased mortality in preterm infants. We evaluated the impact of an automatic stop order (ASO) and C-reactive protein (CRP) on the duration of antibiotics and level of intervention in infants screened for early-onset sepsis who had negative cultures. We introduced an ASO for low-risk infants, then, consequently, for all infants treated for suspected sepsis.

Determinants of Outcomes Following Resection for Pancreatic Cancer-a Population-Based Study.

Background: Patient and health system determinants of outcomes following pancreatic cancer resection, particularly the relative importance of hospital and surgeon volume, are unclear. Our objective was to identify patient, tumour and health service factors related to mortality and survival amongst a cohort of patients who underwent completed resection for pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Eligible patients were diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma between July 2009 and June 2011 and had a completed resection performed in Queensland or New South Wales, Australia, with either tumour-free (R0) or microscopically involved margins (R1) (n = 270).

Describing Patterns of Care in Pancreatic Cancer: A Population-Based Study.

Objectives: Despite pancreatic cancer being the fifth highest cause of cancer death in developed regions, there is a paucity of population-based management details for patients with pancreatic cancer. The objective of this study was to reflect on current practice and outcomes to facilitate future improvement.

Methods: A comprehensive population-based patterns-of-care study in 2 Australian states was conducted.