Improving consumer trust in digital health: A mixed methods study involving people living with chronic kidney disease.

Aim: To explore preferences, experience and trust in digital health in people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and tailor these findings towards solutions that may enhance uptake of digital health services.

Methods: Mixed methods study, with cross-sectional survey and individual interviews with adults living with CKD attending specialist appointments at an Australian metropolitan hospital. Descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon matched-pairs test were used for survey responses and thematic analysis of interview transcripts, both reported on a theme-by-theme basis provided an overall understanding of trust in digital healthcare.

Nationwide, Couple-Based Genetic Carrier Screening.

Background: Genomic sequencing technology allows for identification of reproductive couples with an increased chance, as compared with that in the general population, of having a child with an autosomal recessive or X-linked genetic condition.

Methods: We investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of a nationwide, couple-based genetic carrier screening program in Australia as part of the Mackenzie's Mission project. Health care providers offered screening to persons before pregnancy or early in pregnancy.

DCE attribute development investigating public policy for the provision of medicinal cannabis.

Background: Defining attributes and attribute levels for a discrete choice experiment (DCE) poses a significant challenge for practitioners exploring preferences for new or unfamiliar products due to the dearth of available information and limits in stakeholder knowledge. This study outlines a comprehensive process for identifying attributes and levels in a DCE aimed at gauging public preferences for health policies related to medicinal cannabis (MC).

Methods: A rigorous four-stage attribute development process was utilized and included i) the formulation of a preliminary attribute list from a scoping review and document analysis, ii) reduction of attributes focus groups, iii) removal of inappropriate attributes using Delphi studies and research team knowledge, and iv) refinement of attribute language based on the feedback from think-aloud interviews.

Prioritising patients for publicly funded bariatric surgery in Queensland, Australia.

Objectives: This study reports the development and pilot application of the Bariatric Surgery Assessment and Prioritisation Tool (BAPT) for use in a public health system. The BAPT was designed as a patient prioritisation instrument to assess patients with excessive weight and type 2 diabetes suitable for bariatric surgery. We assessed whether the instrument successfully identified those who gained the greatest benefits including weight loss, diabetes remission, reduction in comorbidities, and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL).