Trajectories of hospital service use in the last 12months of life by people with chronic kidney disease: a retrospective cohort study.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine group-based trajectories of hospital service use by people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the last 12months of life.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using hospital admission and mortality data in New South Wales, Australia. Individuals aged ≥18years who were hospitalised during 2014-2021 and who died during 2015-2021 were included.

Quality of life and quality of care experience in Australian residential aged care: a retrospective cohort study of 1,772 residents.

Background: In April 2023, quality of life (QOL) and quality of care experience (QCE) indicators were introduced as mandatory indicators in Australian residential aged care (RAC) to measure and monitor wellbeing and consumer experience respectively. In this study, we used data for the initial four months after their introduction to describe QOL and QCE scores, explore related factors and assess variations by completion mode and facility.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study using electronic data (Mar-Jun 2023) from 1,772 residents in 22 RAC facilities in metropolitan Sydney, Australia.

How often do parents administer medications to their children in hospital? A prospective direct observational study.

Parents and carers play a critical role in supporting their children while in hospital. Multiple qualitative studies have explored parental involvement in the care of hospitalised children. Administration of medication to young children can be difficult and cause anxiety and stress for children.

Over- and Underuse of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Nursing Homes: A Multisite Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Objectives: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are used to manage excess stomach acid production and provide gastroprotection from bleeding risk-increasing drugs (BRIDs). We aimed to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate PPI use in nursing homes and associated factors.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study using 8 years of electronic data.

Using co-design to understand consumer's health information-seeking behaviours and design preferences for a new digital clinical dashboard in aged care.

Background: Little is known about the information needs of older people and their family caregivers, particularly around medication management. This is largely because this population are infrequently consulted in research. Health technologies such as digital dashboards can present comprehensive and timely data summaries to improve knowledge and guide decision-making.

Use of potentially inappropriate psychotropic medicines among older adults in 23 residential aged care facilities in Australia: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Psychotropic medications are frequently utilised in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Longitudinal medication administration data can offer crucial insights into the potential inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines (PIPMs), guiding future quality improvement initiatives. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of PIPMs use and assess variation in PIPMs use by facility for residents of RACFs.

Understanding prescribing errors for system optimisation: the technology-related error mechanism classification.

Objectives: Technology-related prescribing errors curtail the positive impacts of computerised provider order entry (CPOE) on medication safety. Understanding how technology-related errors (TREs) occur can inform CPOE optimisation. Previously, we developed a classification of the underlying mechanisms of TREs using prescribing error data from two adult hospitals.

Community Preferences for Allied Health Services in Residential Aged Care.

Introduction: Exploring health consumer preferences in care is an essential foundational, and ongoing activity, when designing and delivering models of care. We undertook a study to explore: (i) what allied health (AH) services are most important to health consumers and (ii) how health consumers expect to access these services in residential aged care (RAC) to determine consumer priorities in future AH models of care in RAC.

Methods: A mixed method study was conducted with aged care residents and community members (friends or family of residents/people who believe they may use RAC services).

The use and usefulness of the Peninsula Health Falls Risk Assessment Tool (PHFRAT) process in residential aged care: a mixed methods study across 25 aged care facilities.

Background: Falls remain a persistent problem in residential aged care (RAC) facilities. Fall screening and assessment tools such as the Peninsula Health Falls Risk Assessment Tool (PHFRAT) are widely used to inform falls risk and guide fall prevention interventions. However, it is unclear how it is used in practice and whether clinicians believe it supports resident care.

Neuromuscular Performance and the Intensity of External Training Load During the Preseason in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Collegiate Basketball Players.

Curtis, M, Kupperman, N, Westbrook, J, Weltman, AL, Hart, J, and Hertel, J. Neuromuscular performance and the intensity of external training load during the preseason in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's collegiate basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 39(1): 54-61, 2025-The aim of the study was to determine whether acute changes in neuromuscular performance can be detected through countermovement jumps (CMJs) conducted pre- and postpractice sessions in conditions of high or low intensity measured by microsensors technology.

Exploring the Association Between Surgical Out-of-Pocket Costs and Healthcare Quality Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: Rising out-of-pocket (OOP) costs paid by healthcare consumers can inhibit access to necessary healthcare. Yet, it is unclear if higher OOP payments are associated with better care quality. This study aimed to identify the individual and socio-contextual predictors of OOP costs and to explore the association between OOP costs and quality of care outcomes for 4 surgical procedures.

Association between volume and cost in low-resection volume regions: a population-level study on pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer patients.

Background: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is a highly complex, invasive, and costly surgical procedure. Limited evidence on the PD volume-cost relationship in countries with a low population density exists. This study aimed to investigate this issue in Australia.

Hospital readmission after surviving sepsis: A systematic review of readmission reasons and meta-analysis of readmission rates.

Purpose: To review the evidence regarding hospital readmission diagnoses and analyse related readmission rates following a sepsis admission.

Methods: Five databases, grey literature, and selected article reference lists were searched in May and June 2024. Included studies investigated sepsis survivor readmissions and reported readmission diagnoses and rates.

Building a culture of safety in Australian residential aged care facilities: protocol for a longitudinal mixed methods research programme.

Introduction: The quality and safety of care within residential aged care facilities (RACFs) have been linked to their organisational culture. However, evidence for understanding and improving culture in this setting is limited. This research programme aims to validate a survey to measure organisational culture and determine the relationship of culture with safety and quality of care, then to evaluate an organisational culture change programme in Australian RACFs.

Longitudinal study of the manifestations and mechanisms of technology-related prescribing errors in pediatrics.

Objectives: To examine changes in technology-related errors (TREs), their manifestations and underlying mechanisms at 3 time points after the implementation of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) in an electronic health record; and evaluate the clinical decision support (CDS) available to mitigate the TREs at 5-years post-CPOE.

Materials And Methods: Prescribing errors (n = 1315) of moderate, major, or serious potential harm identified through review of 35 322 orders at 3 time points (immediately, 1-year, and 4-years post-CPOE) were assessed to identify TREs at a tertiary pediatric hospital. TREs were coded using the Technology-Related Error Mechanism classification.

Why do acute healthcare staff behave unprofessionally towards each other and how can these behaviours be reduced? A realist review.

Background: Unprofessional behaviour in healthcare systems can negatively impact staff well-being, patient safety and organisational costs. Unprofessional behaviour encompasses a range of behaviours, including incivility, microaggressions, harassment and bullying. Despite efforts to combat unprofessional behaviour in healthcare settings, it remains prevalent.

Falls in focus: an analysis of the rate of falls in 25 Australian residential aged care facilities from 2019 to 2021, pre- and during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Introduction: During 2020-2021 Australia maintained comparatively low rates of COVID-19 in the community and residential aged care facilities (RAC) due to stringent public health measures such as lockdowns. However, the public health measures implemented may have had unintended impacts on critical RAC resident health outcomes, such as falls, due to routine care disruptions and aged care resident isolation. We utilised a longitudinal data to assess the association between COVID-19 lockdowns and the rate of falls in RAC settings.

Analysis of longitudinal patterns and predictors of medicine use in residential aged care using group-based trajectory modelling: The MEDTRAC-Polypharmacy longitudinal cohort study.

Aims: Polypharmacy serves as a quality indicator in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) due to concerns about inappropriate medication use. However, aggregated polypharmacy rates at a single time offer limited value. Longitudinal analysis of polypharmacy patterns provides valuable insights into identifying potential overuse of medicines.

A Work-Sampling Approach for Assessing Adequate Availability of Computers on Hospital Wards.

A key barrier to the use of health information technology on hospital wards is an insufficient number of computers to support clinical information system access. This paper reports on the development and pilot testing of a novel approach, based on work-sampling principles, for assessing adequate availability of computers.

Vitamin D supplementation and falls in residential aged care: A longitudinal multisite cohort study.

Background: Vitamin D is vital for musculoskeletal health, and supplementation may lower risk of falls. Past research in residential aged care (RAC) settings on the effects of vitamin D on falls have reported inconclusive findings, partly due to study design limitations. We utilised a longitudinal study design to assess the association between the use of vitamin D and falls over 36 months in RAC.

Analysis of Longitudinal Patterns and Predictors of Medicine Use in Residential Aged Care Using Group-Based Trajectory Modeling: The "MEDTRAC-Cardiovascular" Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Aim: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. Ensuring ongoing use of medicines-medication persistence-is crucial, yet no prior studies have examined this in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). We aimed to identify long-term trajectories of persistence with cardiovascular medicines and determine predictors of persistence trajectories.

Consumer perspectives on antibiotic use in residential aged care: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Background: Aged care staff and doctors frequently highlight consumers' role in antibiotic treatment decisions. However, few studies include consumers. This study aimed to investigate consumer perspectives on antibiotic use in residential aged care.