Epigenomic newborn screening for conditions with intellectual disability and autistic features in Australian newborns.

This study describes a protocol to assess a novel workflow called Epi-Genomic Newborn Screening (EpiGNs) on 100,000 infants from the state of Victoria, Australia. The workflow uses a first-tier screening approach called methylation-specific quantitative melt analysis (MS-QMA), followed by second and third tier testing including targeted methylation and copy number variation analyzes with droplet digital PCR, EpiTYPER system and low-coverage whole genome sequencing. EpiGNs utilizes only two 3.

Understanding general practitioners' prescribing choices to patients with chronic low back pain: a discrete choice experiment.

Background: Although NSAIDs are recommended as a first line analgesic treatment, opioids are very commonly prescribed to patients with low back pain (LBP) despite risks of harms.

Aim: This study aimed to determine factors contributing to general practitioners' (GPs') prescribing choices to patients with chronic LBP in a primary care setting.

Method: This discrete choice experiment (DCE) presented 210 GPs with hypothetical scenarios of a patient with chronic LBP.

Towards Optimizing Hospitalized Older adults' MEdications (TO HOME): Multi-centre study of medication use and outcomes in routine care.

Aims: Comprehensively investigate prescribing in usual care of hospitalized older people with respect to polypharmacy; potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) according to Beers criteria; and cumulative anticholinergic and sedative medication exposure calculated with Drug Burden Index (DBI). Specifically, to quantify exposure to these measures on admission, changes between admission and discharge, associations with adverse outcomes and medication costs.

Methods: Established new retrospective inpatient cohort of 2000 adults aged ≥75 years, consecutively admitted to 6 hospitals in Sydney, Australia, with detailed information on medications, clinical characteristics and outcomes.

The costs, health outcomes and cost-effectiveness of interventions for the prevention and treatment of incontinence-associated dermatitis: A systematic review.

Background: Incontinence-associated dermatitis is a common, under-recognized painful skin condition associated with poorer quality of life, increased nurse workloads, and costs.

Objective: To systematically review economic evidence for the prevention and treatment of incontinence-associated dermatitis.

Design: Systematic review of quantitative research.

Patient Preferences for Anxiety and Depression Screening in Cancer Care: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Objectives: Screening for anxiety and depression in cancer care is recommended, as identification is the first step in managing anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, patient preferences for anxiety and depression screening in cancer care are unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate and identify the aspects of an anxiety and depression screening program cancer patients value most, to inform decision-makers about ways to improve patient uptake and ultimately, the provision of patient-centered care.

The Cost of Raising Individuals with Fragile X or Chromosome 15 Imprinting Disorders in Australia.

The study characterised differences in costs associated with raising a child between four rare disorders and examined the associations between these costs with clinical severity. Caregivers of 108 individuals with Prader-Willi, Angelman (AS), Chromosome 15q Duplication and fragile X (FXS) syndromes completed a modified Client Services Receipt Inventory and participants completed intellectual/developmental functioning and autism assessments. AS incurred the highest yearly costs per individual ($AUD96,994), while FXS had the lowest costs ($AUD33,221).

Using Discrete-Choice Experiment Methods to Estimate the Value of Informal Care: The Case of Children with Intellectual Disability.

Objectives: This research produces a preference-based monetary valuation of informal care provided to children with intellectual disability (ID) that can be directly applied in economic evaluations.

Methods: A discrete-choice experiment (DCE) was designed to elicit an individual's willingness to accept compensation for different care tasks. Respondents were presented choice sets that included a care package comprising different amounts and types of care and asked to choose between the care package provided free of charge or providing that care themselves and receiving cash compensation.

Evaluating the Impact of Hospital Based Drug and Alcohol Consultation Liaison Services.

Consultation liaison (CL) services provide direct access to specialist services for support, treatment advice and assistance with the management of a given condition. Alcohol and other drugs (AOD) CL services aim to improve identification and treatment of patients with AOD morbidity. Our objective was to evaluate the costs and consequences of AOD CL services in hospitals in New South Wales, Australia.

The hidden costs of drug and alcohol use in hospital emergency departments.

Introduction And Aims: This study estimates the burden of drug and alcohol morbidity on hospitals in New South Wales (NSW) by observing a multi-site collective sample utilising survey information and data linkage. Specifically we aimed to determine the prevalence of alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems and to estimate patterns of utilisation of hospital services, costs of presentations, and admissions for patients with AOD problems.

Design And Methods: Patients were recruited from eight NSW public hospitals presenting to the hospital emergency department over a 10 day period.

A cross-sectional analysis of over-the-counter codeine use among an Australian sample of people who regularly inject drugs.

Introduction And Aims: The study aims to examine the medical and non-medical use of over-the-counter (OTC) codeine combination drugs in a sample of people who inject drugs; and to examine risk factors associated with exceeding the recommended dose of OTC codeine, including the experience of pain.

Design And Methods: This study analysed annual survey data from a convenience sample of people who inject drugs in Australia who are interviewed for the Illicit Drug Reporting System. People who have injected drugs (n = 902) on at least a monthly basis in the preceding six months across Australia were interviewed.

Adding value to clinical trial registries: insights from Australian Cancer Trials Online, a website for consumers.

Background: Clinical trials registries are now operating in the USA, Europe, Australia, China, and India and more are planned. Trial registries could be an excellent source of information about clinical trials for patients and others affected by cancer as well as health care professionals, but may be difficult for patients to navigate and use.

Purpose: An opportunity arose in Australia to develop a consumer friendly cancer clinical trials website (Australian Cancer Trials Online (ACTO), www.