Good quality end-of life care for people with an intellectual disability: A critical interpretive synthesis protocol.

People with an intellectual disability face inequality accessing healthcare that extends to end-of-life care. Furthermore, end-of-life care for people with an intellectual disability is more complex than that for the general population. This protocol sets out how our review will explore the available evidence and identify the key characteristics of care that are required for people with an intellectual disability to have a good end-of-life experience.

Moral distress in carers for people with an intellectual disability who died during the COVID-19 pandemic, a template analysis extending the Barlem and Ramos model of moral distress.

Background: This article aims to understand moral distress in carers of people with an intellectual disability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: Nine staff carers of seven people with an intellectual disability, who had been participants of the IDS-TILDA study in Ireland, who died during the COVID-19 pandemic participated in in-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews. Template analysis was used to analyze the interviews.

Recruitment and retention in longitudinal studies of people with intellectual disability: A case study of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA).

Background: Longitudinal study of people with intellectual disability and other difficult to reach populations requires specific recruitment and retention strategies to be successful.

Aims: This paper provides a case study of participant recruitment and retention for a longitudinal study of ageing among older adults with intellectual disability in Ireland.

Methods And Procedures: Development and implementation of strategies to recruit and retain participants with intellectual disability aged 40+ years, for a longitudinal study comprising four data collection waves over more than a decade, are reported.

The impact of COVID-19 on people ageing with an intellectual disability in Ireland: Protocol for a follow-up survey.

:  The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have had a dramatic impact on many people, but individuals with an intellectual disability, given the prevalence of congregate living and high levels of co-morbid conditions, may be particularly vulnerable at this time. A prior initial survey of participants of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) found that, despite a majority of participants being tested, only a small proportion had tested positive for COVID-19. Furthermore, despite some reporting positive aspects to the lockdown, a similar proportion were experiencing stress or anxiety during the pandemic.

Australian cancer services: a survey of providers' efforts to meet the needs of Indigenous patients.

Objective: To examine where Indigenous Australians undergo cancer treatment and learn about specific service initiatives that have been implemented to meet their needs.

Methods: Public cancer treatment centres across Australia were invited to participate in an online survey about various characteristics of their centre, including the type of service provided, Indigenous patient numbers and policy, and implementation of Indigenous-specific initiatives.

Results: Surveys were completed for 58 of 125 public cancer treatment centres.

Cancer support services: Are they meeting the needs of rural radiotherapy patients?

This paper examines the supportive care in place to meet the needs of patients receiving radiotherapy at a regional oncology service in Bunbury, Western Australia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 21 service providers and 17 adults diagnosed with cancer who underwent radiotherapy at the Service were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Key themes relevant were co-operation and collaboration of interdisciplinary team members; support from organisations to assist with accommodation, transport, emotional support and provision of practical assistance, as well as barriers to accessing support.

Factors Affecting the Retention of Indigenous Australians in the Health Workforce: A Systematic Review.

Indigenous Australians are under-represented in the health workforce. The shortfall in the Indigenous health workforce compounds the health disparities experienced by Indigenous Australians and places pressure on Indigenous health professionals. This systematic review aims to identify enablers and barriers to the retention of Indigenous Australians within the health workforce and to describe strategies to assist with development and retention of Indigenous health professionals after qualification.

Cancer Services and Their Initiatives to Improve the Care of Indigenous Australians.

Indigenous Australians continue to experience significantly poorer outcomes from cancer than non-Indigenous Australians. Despite the importance of culturally appropriate cancer services in improving outcomes, there is a lack of awareness of current programs and initiatives that are aimed at meeting the needs of Indigenous patients. Telephone interviews were used to identify and describe the Indigenous-specific programs and initiatives that are implemented in a subset of the services that participated in a larger national online survey of cancer treatment services.

Exploring treatment decision-making in cancer management for rural residents: Patient and provider perspectives on a recently established regional radiotherapy service.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine stakeholders' views of how the establishment of the South West Radiation Oncology Service in Bunbury, Western Australia, has affected treatment decision-making, and the extent to which patients are involved in the decision-making process.

Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were undertaken with 21 service providers involved in the treatment and care of people with cancer, and 17 adults diagnosed with cancer who opted to undergo radiotherapy (RT) treatment at the Service. Data were subject to thematic analysis using the qualitative data analysis software NVivo 10.

An Exploration of Underrepresentation of Aboriginal Cancer Patients Attending a Regional Radiotherapy Service in Western Australia.

Travel logistics impede Aboriginal patients' uptake of cancer treatments and is one reason for the poorer outcomes of Aboriginal people with cancer. This research examined benefits of a newly established rurally based radiotherapy unit in southwest Western Australia (WA), and included exploring the experience of Aboriginal patients and possible reasons for Aboriginal people's underrepresentation in treatment. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 21 service providers involved in the treatment and care of people with cancer, and 3 Aboriginal patients with cancer who undertook radiotherapy at the Service were undertaken.

Perspectives of Aboriginal women on participation in mammographic screening: a step towards improving services.

Background: Early detection of breast cancer using screening mammography provides an opportunity for treatment which can lead to significantly improved outcomes. Despite considerable efforts having been made, the rate at which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter respectfully referred to as Aboriginal) women in Western Australia participate in BreastScreen WA's screening mammogram program remains below that for the overall female population of Western Australia. This study aimed to examine perspectives on breast screening amongst Aboriginal women in Western Australia.

Talking about the not talked about: use of, and reactions to, a DVD promoting bowel cancer screening to Aboriginal people.

Objective: To examine a) the implementation and use of a DVD developed to educate Aboriginal people about bowel cancer and bowel cancer screening; and b) broader aspects of Aboriginal participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

Methods: Qualitative methods and descriptive approaches were used. Data were collected using face-to-face and telephone interviews and focus group discussions.

The male of the species: a profile of men in nursing.

Aim: To establish a profile of men in nursing in Western Australia and explore the perception of men in nursing from the perspective of male and female nurses.

Background: A project team, including some of the current authors, produced a YouTube video and DVD about men in nursing which led to further enquiry on this topic.

Design: The study employed a non-experimental, comparative, descriptive research design focused on a quantitative methodology, using an online survey in early 2014.

What role can the rural pipeline play in the recruitment and retention of rural allied health professionals?

Context: People living in rural areas have poorer health than their urban counterparts with higher morbidity and mortality rates and lower life expectancy. Challenges attracting health professionals to work in rural locations in Australia and elsewhere have been well- documented. In response, the idea of a rural pipeline emerged in the medical literature as a career pathway for doctors, conceptualised as a career continuum starting at school and ending in a committed, appropriately trained and supported rural doctor.