Health Status of People Who Are and Are Not Experiencing Homelessness: Opportunities for Improvement.

This study assessed the physical and psychological health parameters of adults experiencing homelessness to inform the development and delivery of health services by comparing with a housed population in the same South Australian city. Adults experiencing homelessness, known to existing support services, were invited to participate in a comprehensive assessment of their physical and mental health using questionnaires and objective assessments. Descriptive analyses using the percentage of participants failing to attain recommended published thresholds and accumulated health deficits for 16 health assessments were compared for the young group of people experiencing homelessness (18-40 years), the middle aged and older people experiencing homelessness (40-75 years), and a housed population of the middle aged and older people (40-75 years).

Effectiveness of interventions to prevent or reverse pre-frailty and frailty in middle-aged community dwelling adults: A systematic review.

Introduction: Frailty, marked by diminished physiological capacity and higher health risks, is less understood in middle-aged individuals (40-65 years) than older adults. This review synthesises intervention studies for pre-frailty and frailty in this demographic, assessing effectiveness, feasibility, and implementation factors including participant experience and cost-effectiveness.

Method: Registered on the Open Science Framework and adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the template for intervention description and replication (TIDieR) guidelines, this review searched six databases for interventions targeting middle-aged adults.

The quality of care delivered to residents in long-term care in Australia: an indicator-based review of resident records (CareTrack Aged study).

Background: This study estimated the prevalence of evidence-based care received by a population-based sample of Australian residents in long-term care (LTC) aged ≥ 65 years in 2021, measured by adherence to clinical practice guideline (CPG) recommendations.

Methods: Sixteen conditions/processes of care amendable to estimating evidence-based care at a population level were identified from prevalence data and CPGs. Candidate recommendations (n = 5609) were extracted from 139 CPGs which were converted to indicators.

Appropriate and acceptable health assessments for people experiencing homelessness.

Background: Appropriate and acceptable recruitment strategies and assessment tools are essential to determine the health needs for people experiencing homelessness. Based on a systematic review and known feasible community-based health assessments for people who are not homeless, a set of health assessments were trialled with people experiencing homelessness.

Methods: Participants were recruited via support agencies.

Designing clinical indicators for common residential aged care conditions and processes of care: the CareTrack Aged development and validation study.

Background: People who live in aged care homes have high rates of illness and frailty. Providing evidence-based care to this population is vital to ensure the highest possible quality of life.

Objective: In this study (CareTrack Aged, CT Aged), we aimed to develop a comprehensive set of clinical indicators for guideline-adherent, appropriate care of commonly managed conditions and processes in aged care.

Inertial Sensor Reliability and Validity for Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review.

Compared to laboratory equipment inertial sensors are inexpensive and portable, permitting the measurement of postural sway and balance to be conducted in any setting. This systematic review investigated the inter-sensor and test-retest reliability, and concurrent and discriminant validity to measure static and dynamic balance in healthy adults. Medline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched to January 2021.

Dermal thickness and echogenicity using DermaScan C high frequency ultrasound: Methodology and reliability testing in people with and without primary lymphoedema.

Background: DermaScan C high frequency ultrasound was investigated for image capture and analysis of dermal measures in people with and without primary lymphoedema.

Method: Three repeated images were taken at six sites in people without lymphoedema (NLO). Intra-rater reliability was assessed by taking three sets of measures on images from 10 people and inter-session reliability by capturing three images, lifting the probe from the skin in between.

Older Adults' Experiences of Goals in Health: A Systematic Review and Metasynthesis.

To synthesize older adults' experiences and perceptions of goal setting and pursuit within health systems. Six databases were searched to May 2019 using a combination of MeSH and free text terms. Included papers were written in English and reported original qualitative research for participants aged 65 years and older.

Pillow preferences of people with neck pain and known spinal degeneration: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: In people without cervical pathologies, changing to a latex or polyester pillow is reported to decrease waking cervical symptoms. Whether this also occurs for people with spinal degeneration in the neck is unknown.

Aim: This pilot study tested recruitment strategies for people with cervical spine degeneration, and the effect of different pillows on cervical waking symptoms, sleep quality, cervical range of motion, neck disability index and quality of life.

: the appropriateness of care delivered to Australians living in residential aged care facilities: a study protocol.

Introduction: The aged population is increasing rapidly across the world and this is expected to continue. People living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) represent amongst the sickest and frailest cohort of the aged population, with a high prevalence of chronic conditions and complex comorbidities. Given the vulnerability of RACF residents and the demands on the system, there is a need to determine the extent that care is delivered in line with best practice ('appropriate care') in RACFs.

LIMPRINT in Australia.

Australia was one of nine participating countries in the epidemiology Phase II Lymphoedema Impact and Prevalence - International (LIMPRINT) project to determine the number of people with chronic edema (CO) in local health services. Data collection occurred through questionnaire-based interviews and clinical assessment with provided LIMPRINT tools. Four different types of services across three states in Australia participated.

Health Literacy Among Canadian Men Experiencing Prostate Cancer.

The objective was to describe the health literacy of a sample of Canadian men with prostate cancer and explore whether sociodemographic and health factors were related to men's health literacy scores. A sample of 213 Canadian men ( age = 68.71 years, = 7.

Measurement of transversus abdominis activation in chronic low back pain patients using a novel standardized real-time ultrasound imaging method.

Real-time ultrasound imaging (US) to measure abdominal muscle dimensions has aided low back pain rehabilitation and research. Notwithstanding, ultrasound imaging measurement of transversus abdominis muscle activation in chronic low back pain populations has been characterized by variable and generally suboptimal intra-observer reliability. Methodological deficiencies of 'freehand' ultrasound imaging are uncontrolled probe-skin pressure, inclination and roll of the probe.

Feasibility of population screening tests to establish a healthy ageing trajectory.

Objectives: There are no agreed comprehensive tests for age-related changes to physical, emotional, mental and social functioning. Research into declining function focuses on those 75 years and older and little is known about age-related changes in younger people. The aims of this project were (1) to ascertain a comprehensive test battery that could underpin community-based health screening programmes for people aged 40-75 years and pilot both (2) community-based recruitment and (3) the utility, acceptability, response burden and logistics.

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Dosage for Adults and Children with Lymphedema: A Systematic Review.

Background: Pneumatic compression has been used for more than 40 years in the management of lymphedema (LE). Modes of application have evolved with little consensus regarding optimal treatment parameters or dosage. The aim of this systematic review was to report the evidence for dosage of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) for people with LE and, particularly, that for upper versus lower limbs or child versus adult dosage.

Conservative management of lymphoedema in children: a systematic review.

Purpose: A systematic literature review was conducted to determine best practice conservative management of pediatric lymphoedema.

Method: The PRISMA protocol was followed; a search of Ovid Medline, Cinahl and Scopus was conducted using the search terms children OR pediatric OR adolescent AND lymphoedema OR lymphedema. Studies about management or treatment of lymphoedema in children were included while studies about filariasis, imaging, pathology, secondary lymphoedema, surgical techniques, central lymphoedema and those with participants with a median age greater than 18 years were excluded.

Mechanisms for triceps surae injury in high performance front row rugby union players: a kinematic analysis of scrummaging drills.

The front row of a rugby union scrum consists of three players. The loose head prop, hooker and tight head prop. The objective of this study was to determine if known biomechanical risk factors for triceps surae muscle injury are exhibited in the lower limb of front row players during contested scrummaging.

Bedside coaching to improve nurses' recognition of delirium.

Delirium is a widespread complication of hospitalization and is frequently unrecognized by nurses and other healthcare professionals. Patients with neuroscience diagnoses are at increased risk for delirium as compared with other patients. The aims of this quality improvement project were to (1) increase neuroscience nurses' knowledge of delirium, (2) integrate coaching into evidence-based practice, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of this combined approach to improve nurses' recognition of delirium on a neuroscience unit.

Time to stabilisation of the cervical spine when supported by a pillow in side lying.

Unlabelled: Currently, there is little information to guide consumers, retailers and health professionals about the length of time it takes for the cervical spine to stabilise when resting on a pillow. The aim of this study was to determine the time required to achieve stabilisation of the cervical spine when supported by a polyester pillow and innerspring mattress in side lying. Twenty-four asymptomatic females rested in a standardised side lying position during the capture of 3D data from markers placed over cervical landmarks.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) as a treatment for recurrent Neurogenic Heterotopic Ossification (NHO).

Primary Objective: To describe the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on neurogenic heterotopic ossification (NHO).

Research Design: A single case study was considered the most appropriate methodology in this situation.

Methods And Procedures: The subject was a 43 year old female 10 years post-traumatic brain injury with recurring NHO around the hip joint.

Your Pillow May Not Guarantee a Good Night's Sleep or Symptom-Free Waking.

Purpose: To describe the performance of the pillow that participants usually slept on with respect to retiring and waking cervico-thoracic symptoms, pillow comfort, and sleep quality.

Methods: Participants (n=106) were systematically recruited for a field trial comparing their own pillow and five trial pillows. Participants provided daily retiring and waking symptom reports and sleep-quality and pillow-comfort ratings prospectively for 1 week on each pillow.

A randomized, comparative trial: does pillow type alter cervico-thoracic spinal posture when side lying?

Background: Many patients ask for advice about choosing a pillow. This research was undertaken to determine if pillow type alters cervico-thoracic spine position when resting in the side-lying position.

Aim: To investigate the effect of different pillow shape and content on the slope of cervico-thoracic spine segments when side lying.

Pillow use: the behavior of cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain.

Background: Pillows are intended to support the head and neck in a neutral position to minimize biomechanical stresses on cervical structures whilst sleeping. Biomechanical stresses are associated with waking cervical symptoms. This paper adds to the scant body of research investigating whether different pillow types produce different types and frequencies of waking symptoms in asymptomatic subjects.

Riding position and lumbar spine angle in recreational cyclists: A pilot study.

This pilot study investigated the reliability of an inclinometer to assess lumbar spine angle in three different cycling positions, and explored the relationship between lumbar spine angle and riding position, anthropometry, bike measures and low back pain (LBP). Cyclists were recruited from two cycle clubs. Anthropometric variables and bike setup were measured before participants' bikes were secured in a wind trainer.