Development of a health technology assessment module for evaluating mobile medical applications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a module which could be used to facilitate the assessment of mobile medical applications (MMA) for regulatory and reimbursement purposes.

Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with policymakers, healthcare practitioners, and application developers to determine possible pathways and impediments to MMA reimbursement. These findings were integrated with our previous research on MMA reimbursement and regulation to create a module that could be used with existing health technology assessment (HTA) methodological frameworks to guide the evaluation of MMAs.

Evaluation of Mobile Health Applications: Is Regulatory Policy Up to the Challenge?

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine whether the approach used in Australia to regulate mobile medical applications (MMA) is consistent with international standards and is suitable to address the unique challenges of these technologies.

Methods: The policies of members of the International Medical Device Regulator's Forum (IMDRF) were analyzed, to determine whether these regulatory bodies address IMDRF recommendations for the clinical evaluation of software as a medical device (SaMD). Case-studies of varying types of regulated MMAs in Australia and the United States were also reviewed to determine how well the guidance in the IMDRF's SaMD: Clinical Evaluation (2017) document was operationalized.

Have musicians' musculoskeletal symptoms been thoroughly addressed? A systematic mapping review.

The authors aimed to characterize the current evidence base regarding musicians' musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS), in order to identify gaps for future research. A systematic search was conducted to identify peer-review studies published in English in 2007-2016 that investigated musicians' MSS. Narrative reviews, case reports, protocols, and questionnaire or program development papers were excluded.

How do we assess musicians' musculoskeletal symptoms?: a review of outcomes and tools used.

Recent reviews of musicians' musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) have reported heterogeneity in the outcomes reported and data collection tools used, making it difficult to compare and synthesise findings. The purpose of this present review was to improve the consistency of future research, by documenting the outcomes reported in recent studies of musicians' MSS and the data collection tools used. All English language, peer-reviewed studies, published 2007-2016 that reported musicians' self-reported MSS outcomes were identified.

SUITABILITY OF CURRENT EVALUATION FRAMEWORKS FOR USE IN THE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT OF MOBILE MEDICAL APPLICATIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Objectives: To identify and appraise existing evaluation frameworks for mobile medical applications (MMA) and determine their suitability for use in health technology assessment (HTA) of these technologies.

Methods: Systematic searches were conducted of seven bibliographic databases to identify literature published between 2008 and 2016 on MMA evaluation frameworks. Frameworks were eligible if they were used to evaluate at least one of the HTA domains of effectiveness, safety, and/or cost and cost-effectiveness of an MMA.

Community perspectives on the use of regulation and law for obesity prevention in children: A citizens' jury.

Introduction: Childhood obesity is a significant challenge for public health internationally. Regulatory and fiscal measures propagated by governments offer a potentially effective response to this issue. Fearing public criticism, governments are often reluctant to use such measures.

Prioritizing government funding of adolescent vaccinations: recommendations from young people on a citizens' jury.

Objective: Adolescents' views, and preferences are often over-looked when public health policies that affect them are designed and implemented. The purpose of this study was to describe young people's views and preferences for determining government funding priorities for adolescent immunization programs.

Methods: In 2015 we conducted a youth jury in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia to deliberate on the question "What criteria should we use to decide which vaccines for young people in Australia should receive public funding?" Fifteen youth aged 15-19 years participated in the jury.

Intersectoral collaboration to implement school-based health programmes: Australian perspectives.

Understanding the processes and the factors influencing intersectoral collaboration is vital for the ongoing success of programmes that rely on effective partnerships between sectors, such as the school-based immunization programme, the school dental health programme and health promotion interventions delivered in school settings. We studied school-based health programmes delivered by partnerships between health, education and the local government sectors. We used purposive sampling to identify 19 people working in school-based health programmes and interviewed them about the barriers and enablers of successful collaboration.

Ethical Challenges in School-Based Immunization Programs for Adolescents: A Qualitative Study.

Objectives: We investigated ethical issues in school-based immunization programs for adolescents and how they are addressed.

Methods: We used qualitative methods and an ethnographic approach to observe 9 secondary schools on immunization days in South Australia in 2011; concurrently, we conducted 9 focus groups with female secondary school students, 6 semistructured interviews with parents, and 10 interviews with nurses and teachers. We explored ethical challenges from the perspective of these groups.

Eliciting youth and adult recommendations through citizens' juries to improve school based adolescent immunisation programs.

Objectives: Completion of adolescent immunisation schedules in Australia is sub-optimal despite a well-established school based delivery program. The aim of this study was to seek adolescent and adult views on how existing adolescent school based immunisation policy and program delivery could be improved to increase adolescent immunisation uptake.

Method: Two citizens' juries held separately, one with adolescent participants and one with adult participants deliberated on recommendations for public policy.

Prophylaxis for venous thromboembolic disease in pregnancy and the early postnatal period.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), although rare, is a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity, and methods of prophylaxis are therefore often used for women considered to be at risk. This may include women who have given birth by caesarean section, those with a personal or family history of VTE and women with inherited or acquired thrombophilias (conditions that predispose people to thrombosis). Many methods of prophylaxis carry risks of adverse effects, and as the risk of VTE is often low, it is possible that the benefits of thromboprophylaxis may be outweighed by harms.

Parental and societal support for adolescent immunization through school based immunization programs.

Objectives: Adolescent immunizations such as human papillomavirus vaccine have been implemented through school based immunization programs (SBIPs) in Australia. We assessed community attitudes toward immunization of adolescents though SBIPs.

Methods: A cross-sectional population survey of rural and metropolitan households in South Australia in 2011.

Understanding the school community's response to school closures during the H1N1 2009 influenza pandemic.

Background: During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, Australian public health officials closed schools as a strategy to mitigate the spread of the infection. This article examines school communities' understanding of, and participation in, school closures and the beliefs and values which underpinned school responses to the closures.

Methods: We interviewed four school principals, 25 staff, 14 parents and 13 students in five schools in one Australian city which were either fully or partially closed during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

Community knowledge, behaviours and attitudes about the 2009 H1N1 Influenza pandemic: a systematic review.

Background: Effectiveness of pandemic plans and community compliance was extensively researched following the H1N1 pandemic. This systematic review examined community response studies to determine whether behavioural responses to the pandemic were related to level of knowledge about the pandemic, perceived severity of the pandemic and level of concern about the pandemic.

Methods: Literature databases were searched from March 2009 to August 2011 and included cross-sectional or repeated population surveys undertaken during or following the H1N1 pandemic which reported on community response to the pandemic.

Factors associated with HPV vaccine uptake in teenage girls: a systematic review.

Background: Since 2006 Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has become available to adolescent girls and women in an increasing number of countries, to protect against the virus causing cervical cancer. The vaccine series is offered in three doses over 6 months, and this study aimed to identify factors associated with initiation and/or completion of the 3 dose series in (pre-) adolescent girls. Previous studies have considered intention to vaccinate rather than actual vaccination uptake.

Awareness, anxiety, compliance: community perceptions and response to the threat and reality of an influenza pandemic.

This study compared community response prior to and during the H1N1 2009 influenza pandemic using a cross-sectional phone survey of rural and metropolitan South Australia, conducted in 2007 and 2009. Awareness of pandemic influenza was significantly higher and anxiety lower in 2009 than in 2007. Reported seasonal influenza vaccine uptake increased from 51.

FORM: an Australian method for formulating and grading recommendations in evidence-based clinical guidelines.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines are an important element of evidence-based practice. Considering an often complicated body of evidence can be problematic for guideline developers, who in the past may have resorted to using levels of evidence of individual studies as a quasi-indicator for the strength of a recommendation. This paper reports on the production and trial of a methodology and associated processes to assist Australian guideline developers in considering a body of evidence and grading the resulting guideline recommendations.

Prophylaxis for venous thromboembolic disease in pregnancy and the early postnatal period.

Background: Venous thromboembolic disease (TED), although rare, is a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity, hence methods of prophylaxis are often used for women at risk. This may include women delivered by caesarean section, those with a personal or family history of TED and women with inherited or acquired thrombophilias (conditions that predispose people to thrombosis). Many methods of prophylaxis carry a risk of side effects, and as the risk of TED is low, it is possible that the benefits of thromboprophylaxis may be outweighed by harm.

Extending an evidence hierarchy to include topics other than treatment: revising the Australian 'levels of evidence'.

Background: In 1999 a four-level hierarchy of evidence was promoted by the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia. The primary purpose of this hierarchy was to assist with clinical practice guideline development, although it was co-opted for use in systematic literature reviews and health technology assessments. In this hierarchy interventional study designs were ranked according to the likelihood that bias had been eliminated and thus it was not ideal to assess studies that addressed other types of clinical questions.

A thematic analysis of factors influencing recruitment to maternal and perinatal trials.

Background: Recruitment of eligible participants remains one of the biggest challenges to successful completion of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Only one third of trials recruit on time, often requiring a lengthy extension to the recruitment period. We identified factors influencing recruitment success and potentially effective recruitment strategies.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer: a systematic review of comparative studies.

Purpose: We compared the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic and open radical prostatectomy through a systematic assessment of the literature.

Materials And Methods: Literature databases were searched from 1996 to December 2004 inclusive. Studies comparing transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, extraperitoneal endoscopic radical prostatectomy or robot assisted radical prostatectomy with open radical retropubic prostatectomy or radical perineal prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer were included.

Evaluating new surgical techniques in Australia: the Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures-Surgical experience.

The Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventiona lProcedures-Surgical (ASERNIP-S) exists primarily to assess new surgical technologies and techniques. It originally conducted systematic literature reviews, but now uses accelerated reviews, horizon scanning for emerging procedures, research and clinical audits,preparation of patient information, assistance with guideline development,and the production of research protocols of new surgical techniques. Future international cooperation and networking among health technology assessment groups will avoid duplication of effort and maximize outputs.

How little is enough? The evidence for post-vasectomy testing.

Purpose: Post-vasectomy semen analysis (PVSA) is the traditional method of confirming sterility after vasectomy. However, PVSA protocols vary in the end points accepted, and the number and timing of tests. In this systematic review we make evidence based recommendations on the appropriate PVSA protocol.

Vaccinations for waste-handling workers. A review of the literature.

A review of the literature relating to the need for vaccination against infectious disease in the solid waste industry was conducted, focusing on hepatitis A, hepatitis B and tetanus. Databases (Medline, PreMedline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Current Contents, Cochrane Database, HTA Database, DARE, OSHROM) were searched up to and including August 2003. Articles were included in the review if they reported the prevalence of immunity to hepatitis A, hepatitis B or tetanus in solid waste workers or the incidence of clinical infection with any of these diseases.

A systematic review of strategies to improve prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in hospitals.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of different strategies for increasing the uptake of prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients through a systematic review of the literature.

Methods: Literature databases and the Internet were searched from 1996 to May 2003. Studies of strategies to improve VTE prophylaxis practice were included.