Identifying best-practice features of diabetic retinopathy treatment models for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Objective: Indigenous Australians are nearly three times more likely to have diabetes than non-Indigenous Australians. The prevalence of diabetes-related vision impairment for Indigenous Australians is 5.5% compared to 1.

Your Quest Begins Now! EBMQuest, a Digital Interactive Fiction Module for Medical Student Engagement in Evidence-Based Practice.

Although evidence-based medicine (EBM) has gained increasing focus in medical education, there remains considerable need for innovative approaches to engage learners. We developed a novel online interactive fiction module "EBMQuest", where students navigate three clinical scenarios requiring use of EBM resources for successful progression. Student feedback was strongly positive, with an overall program rating of 4.

Telehealth quality check: Is it time for national standards?

Background: Telehealth has seen rapid but unregulated growth in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitated by the interim establishment of a universal Medicare Benefits Schedule item for telehealth consultations. Consumers and healthcare providers, including many general practitioners, have turned to telehealth with enthusiasm.

Objective: The aim of this article is to present evidence and analysis supporting the adoption of national telehealth standards in Australia.

A narrative review and synthesis to inform health workforce preparation for the Health Care Homes model in primary healthcare in Australia.

The Australian Government Health Care Homes (HCH) model recently implemented in general practice targets people with chronic complex conditions. Identifying how general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs) can work within this model is important given existing health workforce challenges. A narrative review and synthesis has been undertaken to develop a preliminary understanding of this, incorporating literature describing health workforce challenges, GP and PN functions, and team-based care; supplemented by interviews with key informants from within the primary healthcare system.

Emerging Needs of People Living With HIV Receiving Community-Based Nursing in an Australian Setting.

While the lifespan of people living with HIV (PLWH) in Australia has increased, a minority still experience poor health outcomes and have complex needs. Few studies address this group's emerging needs. Our study, a component of a larger evaluation, aimed to identify current and projected needs of PLWH receiving HIV community nursing.

Consumer awareness, satisfaction, motivation and perceived benefits from using an after-hours GP helpline - A mixed methods study.

Background: The 'after hours GP helpline' (AGPH) was added to the nurse triage and advice services in Australia in July 2011 with the intention of improving access to general practitioner (GP) advice in the after-hours period.

Objective: The objectives of the article are to examine consumer awareness, satisfaction, motivation for use and perceived benefits of using the AGPH.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach used secondary data on population awareness and caller satisfaction, and an in-depth qualitative study of consumers.

Patient intention and self-reported compliance in relation to emergency department attendance after using an after hours GP helpline.

Objective: To determine ED attendance and compliance with GP advice following a call to an after hours telephone triage and advice service.

Methods: A descriptive study of users' of an after hours helpline self-reported ED attendance and compliance with GP recommendation, based on routinely collected service data and telephone survey results for 2783 callers in 2011-2012. The outcome measure was self-reported health service utilisation following advice from a GP on an after hours helpline.

Who uses the 'after hours GP helpline'? A profile of users of an after-hours primary care helpline.

Background: The 'after hours GP helpline' was added to the existing 24-hour nurse triage and advice lines in Australia in July 2011. Its objective is to improve access to GP advice in the after-hours period.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the user profile of an after-hours primary care helpline during its first two years of operation, including age, gender, location and relative socioeconomic advantage of users.

The league of extraordinary generalists: a qualitative study of professional identity and perceptions of role of GPs working on a national after hours helpline in Australia.

Background: Telephone triage and advice services (TTAS) have become commonplace in western health care systems particularly as an aid to patient access and demand management in the after hours period. In 2011 an after hours general practitioner (GP) helpline was established as a supplementary service to existing 24-h nurse-TTAS in Australia. Callers to the service in the after hours period who are triaged by a nurse as needing to see a GP immediately or within 24 h may speak with a GP on the line to obtain further assessment and advice.

Cancer care coordination: building a platform for the development of care coordinator roles and ongoing evaluation.

Continuity of care is integral to the quality and safety of care provided to people with cancer and their carers. Further evidence is required to examine the contribution Nurse Cancer Care Coordinator (NCCC) roles make in improving the continuity. The aim of the present study was to clarify the assumptions underpinning the NCCC roles and provide a basis for ongoing evaluation.

Trachoma elimination in remote Indigenous Northern Territory communities: baseline health-promotion study.

Identify trachoma knowledge, attitudes and practice of staff in clinics, schools and community workplace settings to optimise trachoma-elimination health-promotion programs in the Katherine West Health Board region of the Northern Territory. Prior to the introduction of a suite of health promotion resources the Indigenous Eye Health Unit and Katherine West Health Board conducted a baseline survey of open, multi-choice and closed questions regarding knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to trachoma with 72 staff members over a 6-month period in 2010-11. Data were analysed for differences between settings.

Well for life: a way of life.

Well for Life is an innovative public program in Victoria, Australia that focuses on improving nutrition and increasing physical activity to promote healthy aging. For more than 4 years Aged Care has funded projects for frail older people who live in Public Sector Residential Aged Care (PSRAC) facilities or attend Home and Community Care (HACC) Planned Activity Groups (PAGs). Many stereotypes exist around what frail older people can or cannot do.