Evaluation of RuralkidsGPS; A Novel Integrated Paediatric Care Coordination Model of Care in Rural Australia - a Mixed-Methods Study Protocol.

Introduction: The Kids Guided Personalised Service (KidsGPS) is an integrated model of care coordination for children and young people (CYP) living with medical complexity. After successful implementation in an urban setting, the model of care will be rolled-out at scale to four rural regions in New South Wales, Australia to establish RuralKidsGPS. This paper describes the approach and methods for the outcome and implementation evaluation of RuralKidsGPS.

Cost-effectiveness of single-inhaler triple therapy for patients with severe COPD: a systematic literature review.

Introduction: Evidence from non-randomized studies shows benefits for single-inhaler users compared with multiple-inhaler users who receive the same medication. As a result, comparative cost-effectiveness studies are required to inform treatment decisions with an increasing choice of medications and devices for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study conducted a systematic literature review to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using a single combination inhaler regimen for patients with severe COPD.

Associated factors, assessment, management, and outcomes of patients who present to the emergency department for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A scoping review.

Objective: The purpose of the scoping review was to examine the extant literature for factors contributing to presentations of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) to Emergency Departments (ED).

Methods: The review followed Arksey and O'Malley, and Levac's frameworks supplemented with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. We searched Cochrane Library, CINAHL, JBI, and PubMed from January 1, 2008 to March 23, 2020 for inclusions.

Determinants of life expectancy in most polluted countries: Exploring the effect of environmental degradation.

Background: Better understanding of the determinants of national life expectancy is crucial for economic development, as a healthy nation is a prerequisite for a wealthy nation. Many socioeconomic, nutritional, lifestyle, genetic and environmental factors can influence a nation's health and longevity. Environmental degradation is one of the critical determinants of life expectancy, which is still under-researched, as the literature suggests.

Obesity and the risk of developing chronic diseases in middle-aged and older adults: Findings from an Australian longitudinal population survey, 2009-2017.

Background: Overweight and obesity impose a significant health burden in Australia, predominantly the middle-aged and older adults. Studies of the association between obesity and chronic diseases are primarily based on cross-sectional data, which is insufficient to deduce a temporal relationship. Using nationally representative panel data, this study aims to investigate whether obesity is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, asthma, arthritis, and depression in Australian middle-aged and older adults.

Age and gender differences in the relationship between obesity and disability with self-perceived employment discrimination: Results from a retrospective study of an Australian national sample.

Background: Health status is a crucial determinant of an individuals' labour market outcomes. The present study investigates the association between obesity and disability with perceived employment discrimination within Australia.

Methods: A total of 17,174 person-year observations from the 11,079 respondents were analysed using four waves of data from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey.

Importance of attachment to place in growing a sustainable Australian Rural Health Workforce: A rapid review.

Introduction: Personal, community, and environmental factors can influence the attraction and retention of regional, rural, and remote health workers. However, the concept of place attachment needs further attention as a factor affecting the sustainability of the rural health workforce.

Objective: The purpose of this rapid review was to explore the influence of a sense of place in attracting and retaining health professionals in rural and remote areas.

Measuring the intensive care experience: A cross-sectional survey of patient and family experiences of critical care.

Aims And Objectives: To report patient and family intensive care experiences using the Measuring the Intensive Care Experience (MICE) tool across two intensive care units (ICU).

Background: The patient and family experience of care is an important indicator for quality improvement of ICUs, yet few studies evaluate both patient and family experiences in relation to overall care quality as well as specifically measuring quality of medical care, nursing care and organisational care as well as overall experience of the quality of intensive care.

Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Hospitalisation costs associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF): a systematic review.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is problematic to treat, with guidelines for HFpEF management concentrated on treating prevalent comorbidities. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the economic burden of hospitalisation for HFpEF. We conducted a systematic literature search from 2001, when HFpEF was first identified as an isolated diagnosis, up to July 1, 2020.

Estimating the frequency and cost of emergency department presentations and hospitalisation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A retrospective analysis from regional Queensland.

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients commonly have frequent visits to the ED. Consequently, COPD has a significant effect on total healthcare expenditure. The objective was to measure the frequency of ED presentation and hospitalisation among COPD patients and to estimate the costs resulting from such care utilisation.

Does distance to hospital affect emergency department presentations and hospital length of stay among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients?

Background: The primary goal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management is to optimise a patient's functional status and quality of life. By encouraging effective patient self-management within primary healthcare, unplanned and potentially avoidable COPD admissions to the emergency department (ED) can be avoided.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine whether distance to hospital influences the rate of ED presentation, hospital admission and hospital length of stay for COPD patients.

Selection of private or public hospital care: examining the care-seeking behaviour of patients with private health insurance.

Background: This study aimed to examine the healthcare-seeking (hospital, primary and preventive care) and healthcare utilisation behaviour of patients with private health insurance (PHI) in Australia. It also aimed to examine the socioeconomic, demographic and lifestyle factors that influence the choice of hospital care in Australia.

Method: A logistic regression model with repeated measure t-test and Pearson's Chi-square test were used to identify the factors that affect the choice of care.

Gender-specific differences in care-seeking behaviour among lung cancer patients: a systematic review.

Background: In the literature, men are often described as unwilling to use healthcare services, whereas women as frequent users. We conducted a systematic literature review to examine the gender differences in healthcare utilisation of lung cancer patients. Our aim was to synthesise evidence to assess whether men and women utilise cancer diagnosis and treatments differently.

Predictors of health care use in Australian cancer patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to measure health care utilization in Australian cancer patients based on their demographic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Method: A total of 13,609 participants (aged 15 and over) from 7,230 households were interviewed as part of Wave 13 of the national Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. Five hundred and seventeen participants indicated a current cancer diagnosis with 90% of those receiving active treatment at the time of interview.

Health expenditure and gross domestic product: causality analysis by income level.

The empirical findings on the relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) and health expenditure are diverse. The influence of income levels on this causal relationship is unclear. This study examines if the direction of causality and income elasticity of health expenditure varies with income level.

Development of a richer measure of health outcomes incorporating the impacts of income inequality, ethnic diversity, and ICT development on health.

Background: In the literature, measuring health outcomes usually entails examining one dependent variable using cross-sectional data. Using a combination of mortality and morbidity variables, this study developed a new, richer measure of health outcome. Using the health outcome index, this study investigated the impacts of income inequality, levels of ethnic diversity and information and communication technology (ICT) development on health using panel data.

Health expenditure, child and maternal mortality nexus: a comparative global analysis.

Background: This paper provides empirical evidence on how the relationship between health expenditure and health outcomes varies across countries at different income levels.

Method: Heterogeneity and cross-section dependence were controlled for in the panel data which consist of 161 countries over the period 1995-2014. Infant, under-five and maternal mortality along with life expectancy at birth were selected as health outcome measures.