Job satisfaction and regulation in the aged care sector: staff perspectives.

Background: The quality of care provided in residential aged care facilities is largely dependent on the job satisfaction of employees and the organisational framework and systems that they provide care in. This study aimed to explore aged care staff perceptions of job satisfaction, regulation of the sector and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019-early 2020 with staff employed in various roles at residential aged care services in Australia.

Preferred type, timing and format of dementia information: A cross-sectional survey of carers of people living with dementia.

Objectives: To clarify the unmet information needs of carers of people living with dementia, including the stage of their care journey at which topics become relevant, and the preferred format and mode of delivery of information.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of carers of people living with dementia was conducted between April 2022 and October 2022. Carers were recruited through public and private geriatric hospital and community clinics, aged care providers, an online research register and community dementia services.

How Does the Health Literacy of Adults Residing in Social Housing Compare with That of Those Living in Other Housing Tenures in Australia? A Secondary Analysis of the Australian National Health Survey 2017-2018 Dataset.

Background: Social housing tenants have poorer health outcomes than homeowners or those renting privately. Health literacy is associated with access to care and health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the health literacy of Australian adults residing in social housing compared with that of people living in other housing types.

Delivery of tobacco control programs by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in New South Wales, Australia: A cross-sectional survey.

Issue Addressed: To describe the characteristics of tobacco control programs (TCPs) delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Methods: A key informant from each ACCHS in NSW completed a 30-item online survey. For each TCP, ACCHSs were asked to provide: the target population group, program aims and activities, funding source, and whether the program had been monitored or evaluated and reflected principles of community control and engagement.

Lost reproductive value reveals a high burden of juvenile road mortality in a long-lived species.

Adult mortality is often the most sensitive vital rate affecting at-risk wildlife populations. Therefore, road ecology studies often focus on adult mortality despite the possibility for roads to be hazardous to juvenile individuals during natal dispersal. Failure to quantify concurrent variation in mortality risk and population sensitivity across demographic states can mislead the efforts to understand and mitigate the effects of population threats.

Acceptability and feasibility of telehealth outpatient video-link consultations: A national cross-sectional survey of surgeons prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: This study explored use and perceived barriers to the use of post-operative video-link telehealth among a sample of Australian surgeons shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: During 2019-2020, a survey was mailed to RACS or RANZCOG Fellows.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Exposure to other people's gambling and gambling behaviors in Australian secondary school students.

Objective: This study explored associations between exposure to other people's gambling and the prevalence of gambling in the last month, engagement in hard gambling activities (defined as those which occur more frequently, with a quicker determination of outcomes, and/or high payout ratios), and the prevalence of at risk and problem gambling, among a large sample of Australian adolescent school students.

Method: In 2017, 6,377 students from Victoria and Queensland answered gambling questions as part of the cross-sectional triennial Australian Secondary Students' Alcohol and Drug Survey. Students reported on gambling behaviors (gambling in the last month, types of gambling activities), were assessed for problem gambling using the Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV adapted for Juveniles (DSM-IV-[MR]-J), and reported whether people they knew (parents, siblings, other relatives, best friend, or someone else) had gambled in the last month.

Exposure to gambling promotions and gambling behaviours in Australian secondary school students.

Background: Young people's gambling behaviours are associated with a range of individual, interpersonal and community factors. This study explored the association between exposure to types of gambling advertising and promotions and adolescent gambling behaviours.

Methods: Students from two states answered gambling questions as part of the 2017 Australian Secondary Students' Alcohol and Drug (ASSAD) Survey.

The Prevalence and Correlates of Gambling in Australian Secondary School Students.

Youth gambling is associated with a range of harms. This study aimed to examine, among Australian adolescents, the prevalence of gambling (ever, in the last month, at-risk and problem), the most frequent gambling types and modalities, and to explore the student characteristics associated with gambling in the last month and with at-risk or problem gambling. Students aged 12-17 years from Victoria and Queensland answered gambling questions as part of the Australian Secondary School Alcohol and Drug (ASSAD) Survey in 2017.

How can dementia diagnosis and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people be improved? Perspectives of healthcare providers providing care in Aboriginal community controlled health services.

Background: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people experience dementia at a rate three to five times higher than the general Australian population. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) have a critical role to play in recognising symptoms of cognitive impairment, facilitating timely diagnosis of dementia, and managing the impacts of dementia. Little is known about the barriers and enablers to Aboriginal people receiving a timely dementia diagnosis and appropriate care once diagnosed.

Patient self-report versus medical records for smoking status and alcohol consumption at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Objective: This study assessed the level of agreement, and predictors of agreement, between patient self-report and medical records for smoking status and alcohol consumption among patients attending one of four Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHSs).

Methods: A convenience sample of 110 ACCHS patients self-reported whether they were current smokers or currently consumed alcohol. ACCHS staff completed a medical record audit for corresponding items for each patient.

Cross-sectional survey to inform the development of a telehealth support model: a feasibility study for women undergoing breast cancer surgery.

Background: For patients undergoing breast cancer surgery, the pre- and post-operative periods can be characterised by feelings of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Telehealth offers an opportunity to provide perioperative support to surgical patients and overcome some of the barriers to accessing care.

Aims: In order to inform the development of a telehealth support model for women undergoing breast cancer surgery, this feasibility study explored: (a) access and preferences for telehealth; and (b) the proportion of participants who reported problems with unmet information and preparation needs related to surgery, post-operative pain, anxiety, and quality of life.

Concordance between self-report and medical records of preventive healthcare delivery among a sample of disadvantaged patients from four aboriginal community controlled health services.

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore, among a sample of patients attending one of four Aboriginal Health Services (ACCHSs), the degree of concordance between self-report and medical records for whether screening for key healthcare items had ever been undertaken, or had been undertaken within the recommended timeframe.

Methods: Across the four ACCHSs, a convenience sample of 109 patients was recruited. Patients completed a self-report computer survey assessing when they last had preventive care items undertaken at the service.

Reducing alcohol-related harm in Australia: a simple data-based tool to assist prioritization of research and health care delivery in primary care.

Introduction: The detection of harmful alcohol use and the delivery of brief advice in primary care are less than optimal. Given limited health care resources, deciding where best to allocate funding to optimize health outcomes is imperative. A simple data-based tool could be useful when access to specialist health economic advice is unavailable.

Primary Care Physicians' Perceived Barriers to Optimal Dementia Care: A Systematic Review.

Background And Objectives: Primary care physicians (PCPs) have a key role in providing care for people with dementia and their carers, however, a range of barriers prevent them from delivering optimal care. We reviewed studies on PCPs' perceptions of barriers to providing optimal dementia care, including their methodological quality, whether they focused on barriers related to diagnosis and/or management, and the patient-, provider-, and system-level barriers identified.

Research Design And Methods: Studies were included if they were quantitative studies published since 2006 which reported on PCPs' perceptions of the barriers to providing dementia care.

The timeliness of patients reporting the side effects of chemotherapy.

Purpose: To explore the actions cancer patients reported they would take in response to a range of common side effects of chemotherapy and whether these were considered appropriate based on current guidelines and evidence; and to explore the sociodemographic and cancer-related variables associated with patients selecting the appropriate action (immediate medical attention or reporting) for two potentially life-threatening side effects: fever, and unusual bleeding and bruising.

Methods: Four hundred thirty-six medical oncology and haematology patients receiving chemotherapy completed two surveys to provide demographic, disease and treatment characteristics, and details on how they would respond if they experienced a range of specified side effects of chemotherapy (for example, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and skin rash or nail changes). The proportion of patients reporting the appropriate action for each side effect was calculated.

A simple filter model to guide the allocation of healthcare resources for improving the treatment of depression among cancer patients.

Background: Depression is highly prevalent yet often poorly detected and treated among cancer patients. In light of the move towards evidence-based healthcare policy, we have developed a simple tool that can assist policy makers, organisations and researchers to logically think through the steps involved in improving patient outcomes, and to help guide decisions about where to allocate resources.

Methods: The model assumes that a series of filters operate to determine outcomes and cost-effectiveness associated with depression care for cancer patients, including: detection of depression, provider response to detection, patient acceptance of treatment, and effectiveness of treatment provided.

Comparison of Two Sources of Clinical Audit Data to Assess the Delivery of Diabetes Care in Aboriginal Communities.

The objective of this study was to determine the concordance between data extracted from two Clinical Decision Support Systems regarding diabetes testing and monitoring at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in Australia. De-identified PenCAT and Communicare Systems data were extracted from the services allocated to the intervention arm of a diabetes care trial, and intra-class correlations for each extracted item were derived at a service level. Strong to very strong correlations between the two data sources were found regarding the total number of patients with diabetes per service (Intra-class correlation [ICC] = 0.

Just how high-risk are ongoing smokers? Exploring clusters of health risk behaviours among current and ex-smokers.

There is limited research about the patterns of multiple health risks among smokers, despite the associated increased risk of poor health. This study aimed to identify which risk behaviours were evident in a sample of smokers and ex-smokers who had previously been offered cessation support. A cross-sectional telephone interview in 2013 involved participants from New South Wales, Australia, from the control condition (self-help materials only) of a randomised smoking cessation trial conducted approximately five years earlier.

Ready, set, go: a cross-sectional survey to understand priorities and preferences for multiple health behaviour change in a highly disadvantaged group.

Background: Socially disadvantaged groups, such as Aboriginal Australians, tend to have a high prevalence of multiple lifestyle risk factors, increasing the risk of disease and underscoring the need for services to address multiple health behaviours. The aims of this study were to explore, among a socially disadvantaged group of people attending an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS): a) readiness to change health behaviours; b) acceptability of addressing multiple risk factors sequentially or simultaneously; and c) preferred types of support services.

Methods: People attending an ACCHS in regional New South Wales (NSW) completed a touchscreen survey while waiting for their appointment.

Validation of the PHQ-2 against the PHQ-9 for detecting depression in a large sample of Australian general practice patients.

There is increasing interest in the use of brief screening tools to improve detection of depression in the primary care setting. The aim of the present study was to compare the accuracy of the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) against the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for detecting depression among general practice patients. A cross-sectional sample of 3626 adults attending 12 Australian general practices was recruited.

A randomised trial assessing the acceptability and effectiveness of providing generic versus tailored feedback about health risks for a high need primary care sample.

Background: Tailored feedback has been shown to be effective for modifying health risk behaviours and may aid the provision of preventive care by general practitioners (GPs). However, provision of tailored patient feedback for vulnerable or socially disadvantaged groups is not well explored. The aims of this study were to examine the acceptability and effectiveness of providing generic compared to tailored feedback on self-reported health risk behaviours among a high need sample of people attending an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS).

Which modifiable health risk behaviours are related? A systematic review of the clustering of Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical activity ('SNAP') health risk factors.

Objective: There is a growing body of literature examining the clustering of health risk behaviours, but little consensus about which risk factors can be expected to cluster for which sub groups of people. This systematic review aimed to examine the international literature on the clustering of smoking, poor nutrition, excess alcohol and physical inactivity (SNAP) health behaviours among adults, including associated socio-demographic variables.

Method: A literature search was conducted in May 2014.

A cross-sectional survey and latent class analysis of the prevalence and clustering of health risk factors among people attending an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.

Background: Indigenous Australians are a socially disadvantaged group who experience significantly poorer health and a higher prevalence of modifiable health behaviours than other Australians. Little is known about the clustering of health risks among Indigenous Australians. The aims of this study were to describe the clustering of key health risk factors, such as smoking, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption, and socio-demographics associated with clusters, among a predominantly Aboriginal sample.

The Role of eHealth in Optimizing Preventive Care in the Primary Care Setting.

Modifiable health risk behaviors such as smoking, overweight and obesity, risky alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition contribute to a substantial proportion of the world's morbidity and mortality burden. General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in identifying and managing modifiable health risk behaviors. However, these are often underdetected and undermanaged in the primary care setting.