Body image in older, inpatient women and the relationship to BMI, anxiety, depression, and other sociodemographic factors.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of body image dysfunction in a cohort of older, inpatient women, and to examine any associated health or sociodemographic factors.

Methods: In this cross-sectional, observational study, 50 older women admitted to a subacute hospital completed the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34), Geriatric Depression Screen (GDS), and Geriatric Anxiety Index (GAI). Additional sociodemographic and health-related data including body mass index (BMI) were collected on all participants.

Decision-making for older patients by Australian and New Zealand doctors with Advance Care Directives: a vignette-based study.

Background: Little is known about doctors' decision-making patterns when using Advance Care Directives (ACDs), particularly for older patients in Australia and New Zealand.

Aims: To determine the level of agreement among Australian and New Zealand doctors' decisions when using ACDs to guide treatment decisions for older patients. To evaluate factors that may affect decision-making including doctors' demographics, vignette complexity and Advance Care Directive (ACD) content.

Association between religious practice and risk of depression in older people in the subacute setting.

Objective: To identify the association between religious practice and risk of depression in older people admitted to a subacute hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 100 patients aged ≥65 years with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores ≥24 consecutively admitted to a subacute hospital. Religious practice was measured using the Duke University Religion Index and risk of depression using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).

Building allied health workforce capacity: a strategic approach to workforce innovation.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify areas where allied health assistants (AHAs) are not working to their full scope of practice in order to improve the effectiveness of the allied health workforce.

Methods: Qualitative data collected via focus groups identified suitable AHA tasks and a quantitative survey with allied health professionals (AHPs) measured the magnitude of work the current AHP workforce spends undertaking these tasks.

Results: Quantification survey results indicate that Victoria's AHP workforce spends up to 17% of time undertaking tasks that could be delegated to an AHA who has relevant training and adequate supervision.

A randomized controlled trial of the effects of vitamin D on muscle strength and mobility in older women with vitamin D insufficiency.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of vitamin D treatment on muscle strength and mobility in older women with vitamin D insufficiency.

Design: One-year population-based, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Setting: Perth, Australia (latitude 32°S).

Tracheostomy management in acute care facilities--a matter of teamwork.

Aim: Implement and evaluate an inter-disciplinary team approach to tracheostomy management in non-critical care.

Background: Trends towards early tracheostomy in intensive care units (ICU) have led to increased numbers of tracheostomy patients. Together with the push for earlier discharge from ICU, this poses challenges across disciplines and wards.

Randomized controlled trial of the effects of calcium with or without vitamin D on bone structure and bone-related chemistry in elderly women with vitamin D insufficiency.

There are few data on the relative effects of calcium supplementation with or without extra vitamin D on BMD in patients selected for low vitamin D status. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relative importance of vitamin D and calcium treatment on BMD and bone-related chemistry in elderly women with vitamin D insufficiency. Three hundred two elderly women (age, 77.

Effects of ergocalciferol added to calcium on the risk of falls in elderly high-risk women.

Background: Ergocalciferol (vitamin D(2)) supplementation plays a role in fall prevention, but the effect in patients living in the community in sunny climates remains uncertain. We evaluated the effect of ergocalciferol and calcium citrate supplementation compared with calcium alone on the risk of falls in older women at high risk of falling.

Methods: A 1-year population-based, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of 302 community-dwelling ambulant older women aged 70 to 90 years living in Perth, Australia (latitude, 32 degrees S), with a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of less than 24.

Fear of falling in older women: a longitudinal study of incidence, persistence, and predictors.

Objectives: To determine longitudinal predictors of incident and persistent fear of falling (FOF) in older women.

Design: Longitudinal study.

Setting: Clinical research center based at a university hospital.