Coaching stroke survivors to persevere with practice: An observational behavioural mapping study.

Objective: To quantitatively describe therapists' use of coaching with stroke survivors, in a hospital-based rehabilitation setting, to promote perseverance with longer-term practice.

Design: Prospective observational behavioural mapping study.

Setting: Rehabilitation unit of a regional public hospital in Queensland, Australia.

Button battery exposure in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is a rising burden of severe and fatal outcomes resulting from button battery exposures (ingestions or insertions). We summarised current evidence following button battery exposures in children and provided pooled prevalence estimates for key clinical characteristics, complications and risk estimates for predictors.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases were searched up to 19 May 2023.

Lithium-ion battery related burns and emerging trends: a retrospective case series and data analysis of emergency presentations.

Introduction: The rising prevalence of battery powered devices is driving a steady increase in lithium-ion battery-related burns. We present a case series of patients with lithium-ion battery-related burns and describe the clinical characteristics of this cohort. To further understand emerging trends, we compare our specialty inpatient case series with emergency department (ED) data collated by the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit (QISU).

Complications of button battery ingestion or insertion in children: a systematic review and pooled analysis of individual patient-level data.

Background: Button battery (BB) exposures are common in children and can have devastating consequences. We reviewed current evidence on the complications associated with BB exposure and identified predictors of outcomes using individual patient-level data.

Data Sources: We carried out a systematic review and pooled analysis by searching MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus up to May 19, 2023.

Longitudinal change in ultrasound-derived rectus femoris cross-sectional area in COPD.

Background: Skeletal muscle dysfunction is common in COPD. Ultrasound-derived rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA) is a radiation free, non-invasive measure of muscle bulk that relates to quadriceps strength in people with COPD. However, there are limited longitudinal data for RFCSA, and it is not known whether longitudinal change in RFCSA reflects change in quadricep strength, exercise capacity, lower limb function or muscle mass.

Feasibility and impact of a physical activity and lifestyle program for Aboriginal families with Machado-Joseph disease in the Top End of Australia.

Introduction: Physical activity and lifestyle programs are scarce for people with hereditary ataxias and neurodegenerative diseases. Aboriginal families in the Top End of Australia who have lived with Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) for generations co-designed a physical activity and lifestyle program called the Staying Strong Toolbox. The aim of the present study was to explore feasibility and impact of the program on walking and moving around.

Motivations for completing pulmonary rehabilitation - A qualitative analysis.

Previous studies have focused on demographic factors that might predict non-completion of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). We aimed to identify key modifiable factors that promote completion of PR. A mixed methods survey was offered to participants completing a discharge assessment following PR.

Culturally responsive occupational therapy practice with First Nations Peoples-A scoping review.

Introduction: First Nations Peoples consistently demonstrate strength and resilience in navigating systemic health care inequities. Acknowledging racism as a health determinant underscores the urgent need for a counterforce-cultural safety. Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) contends that with cultural responsiveness, the health workforce can take action to create a culturally safe environment.

Health systems model for chronic disease secondary prevention in rural and remote areas - .

Objectives Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) provides evidence-based secondary prevention for people with heart disease (HD) (clients). Despite HD being the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, CR is under-utilised in Australia. This research investigated healthcare systems required to improve access to CR in rural and remote areas of North Queensland (NQ).

Developing a framework of concerns from people living with frailty, for the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW) person-centred outcome measure.

Introduction: Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing is a validated person-centred outcome measure, piloted as a core monitoring tool to understand what matters to people living with frailty in Gloucestershire. This paper describes the acceptability of MYCaW used in this setting, and the development of a framework for analysing personalised concerns from people living with frailty.

Methods: MYCaW was implemented in the Complex Care at Home service and South Cotswold Frailty Service from November 2020 onwards.

Evaluating Allied Health Clinical Placement Performance: Protocol for a Modified Delphi Study.

Background: University-affiliated student-led health care services have emerged in response to the challenges faced by universities in securing quality clinical placements for health care students. Evidence of the health care benefits and challenges of student-led health care services is growing, while evidence of clinical placement performance remains variable and not generalizable. Though there have been previous attempts to develop a framework for evaluation of clinical placement performance, concerns have been raised about the applicability of these frameworks across the various placement settings.

Building the capacity of rural allied health generalists through online postgraduate education: a qualitative evaluation.

Introduction: Workforce development is a key strategy for building the capacity and capability of a workforce. Accordingly, rural and remote practising allied health professionals require relevant and accessible continuing professional development to enhance their knowledge and skills and improve consumer health outcomes. This study explored the impact of an online postgraduate allied health rural generalist education program, from the perspective of allied health professionals participating in the program and their supervisors and managers.

Stroke survivors' perspectives on decision-making about rehabilitation and the prospect of taking recovery-promoting drugs: A qualitative study.

Objectives: To investigate factors which influence stroke survivors' decision-making about their rehabilitation and the prospect of taking recovery-promoting drugs, to enhance their recovery.

Methods: Seventeen stroke survivors who had undertaken stroke rehabilitation, and three spouses, participated in focus groups and individual interviews in northern Queensland, Australia. Inductive thematic analysis of the interview data was conducted in accordance with Braun and Clarke's six-phase process.

Mood disorder in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: response to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation improves mood disorder in COPD, but there are limited data in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The aims of this cohort study were to investigate whether pulmonary rehabilitation reduces mood disorder in IPF, and estimate the minimal important difference (MID) of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Methods: HADS and core pulmonary rehabilitation outcomes were measured in 166 participants before and after an 8-week, in-person, outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

Democratising data to address health system inequities in Australia.

Understanding the health status of a population or community is crucial to equitable service planning. Among other uses, data on health status can help local and national planners and policy makers understand patterns and trends in current or emerging health and well-being, especially how disparities relating to geography, ethnicity, language and living with disability influence access to services. In this practice paper we draw attention to the nature of Australia's health data challenges and call for greater 'democratisation' of health data to address health system inequities.

A good life for people living with disability: the story from Far North Queensland.

Purpose: People with disability in regional, rural and remote Australia have poorer service access compared to people from metropolitan areas. There is urgent need for reform. This study's aim was to explore the needs and aspirations of people with lived experience of disability in Far North Queensland (FNQ) to inform a new service framework.

Perseverance with home-based upper limb practice after stroke: perspectives of stroke survivors and their significant others.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore factors that influence stroke survivors' ability to persevere with home-based upper limb practice.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study embedded within a theoretical framework was conducted. Data were collected through semi-structured focus group, dyadic, and individual interviews.

Change in gait speed and adverse outcomes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A prospective cohort study.

Background And Objective: Gait speed is associated with survival in individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The extent to which four-metre gait speed (4MGS) decline predicts adverse outcome in IPF remains unclear. We aimed to examine longitudinal 4MGS change and identify a cut-point associated with adverse outcome.

A Public Health Review into Two Decades of Domestic Trampoline Injuries in Children within Queensland, Australia.

Trampolining as an activity brings enjoyment and many health benefits, but at the same time it carries an injury risk. Most domestic trampoline users are children who are developing in skill, cognition, risk perception, physical strength and resilience to injury. Several common patterns of child trampoline injuries have been identified and countermeasures outlined in standards have been taken to reduce higher risk injury mechanisms, such as entrapment and falls from the trampoline through design, product and point of sale labelling.

Frailty and Mortality Risk in COPD: A Cohort Study Comparing the Fried Frailty Phenotype and Short Physical Performance Battery.

Background: Identifying frailty in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is deemed important, yet comparative characteristics of the most commonly used frailty measures in COPD are unknown. This study aimed to compare how the Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) characterise frailty in people with stable COPD, including prevalence of and overlap in identification of frailty, disease and health characteristics of those identified as living with frailty, and predictive value in relation to survival time.

Methods: Cohort study of people with stable COPD attending outpatient clinics.

Augmentative and alternative communication for Aboriginal Australians: Developing core vocabulary for Yolŋu speakers.

Yolŋu, Aboriginal people from Arnhem Land, Australia are at risk of Machado-Joseph disease, with progressive loss of speech. Yolŋu are interested in developing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems in their own languages. This research aimed to develop a culturally responsive process to explore and create a core vocabulary word list for Yolŋu adults living with the disease for inclusion in AAC system prototypes.

The feasibility of a flexible exercise participation programme (FEPP) for individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) want health advice regarding participation in their choice of exercise. To address this need, a flexible exercise participation programme (FEPP) was developed, underpinned by the MS aerobic exercise guidelines and supported by a physiotherapist using behaviour change techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the FEPP for individuals with minimal disability from MS.

Co-creation of a student-implemented allied health service in a First Nations remote community of East Arnhem Land, Australia.

Objectives: To co-create a culturally responsive student-implemented allied health service in a First Nations remote community and to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the service.

Design: Co-creation involved a pragmatic iterative process, based on participatory action research approaches. Feasibility and acceptability were determined using a mixed-method pre/postdesign.