Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency prior to cardiothoracic surgery.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common chronic medical conditions in the world and also prevalent in Australia. A growing body of evidence suggests that low vitamin D also has adverse effects on cardiovascular health, including coronary risk factors and adverse cardiovascular outcomes such as myocardial infarction, cardiac failure and stroke. There is some evidence suggesting that a greater proportion of people with cardiovascular disease have low vitamin D compared to the general population.

Massage therapy for cardiac surgery patients--a randomized trial.

Objectives: To determine whether massage significantly reduces anxiety, pain, and muscular tension and enhances relaxation compared with an equivalent period of rest time after cardiac surgery. The feasibility of delivering the treatment, effects on heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate, and patient satisfaction were also assessed.

Methods: Elective cardiac surgery patients were randomized to receive massage or rest time at 2 points after surgery.

Insulin in general practice - barriers and enablers for timely initiation.

Background: Insulin is effective at lowering blood glucose, and most people with type 2 diabetes need insulin within 10 years of diagnosis. However, initiating insulin is often delayed in general practice. This study explores barriers and enablers to insulin initiation in general practice.

The prevalence and experience of Australian naturopaths and Western herbalists working within community pharmacies.

Background: Naturopaths and Western herbal medicine (WHM) practitioners were surveyed to identify their extent, experience and roles within the community pharmacy setting and to explore their attitudes to integration of complementary medicine (CM) practitioners within the pharmacy setting.

Method: Practising naturopaths and WHM practitioners were invited to participate in an anonymous, self-administered, on-line survey. Participants were recruited using the mailing lists and websites of CM manufacturers and professional associations.

Physical conditioning and mental stress reduction--a randomised trial in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Background: Preoperative anxiety and physical unfitness have been shown to have adverse effects on recovery from cardiac surgery. This study involving cardiac surgery patients was primarily aimed at assessing the feasibility of delivering physical conditioning and stress reduction programs within the public hospital setting. Secondary aims were to evaluate the effect of these programs on quality of life (QOL), rates of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) and length of stay (LOS) in hospital.

Perceptions, use and attitudes of pharmacy customers on complementary medicines and pharmacy practice.

Background: Complementary medicines (CMs) are popular amongst Australians and community pharmacy is a major supplier of these products. This study explores pharmacy customer use, attitudes and perceptions of complementary medicines, and their expectations of pharmacists as they relate to these products.

Methods: Pharmacy customers randomly selected from sixty large and small, metropolitan and rural pharmacies in three Australian states completed an anonymous, self administered questionnaire that had been pre-tested and validated.

Adverse reactions to complementary medicines: the Australian pharmacy experience.

Objectives: The primary aim was to determine the prevalence of adverse reactions to over-the-counter complementary medicines and their severity, as described by consumers. Secondary aims were to identify consumers' reporting behaviours and understanding of the AUST L designation on product labels.

Methods: An anonymous, self-administered survey was completed by randomly selected pharmacy customers at 60 community pharmacy locations between August 2008 and February 2009.