Understanding the beliefs, motivations and perceived barriers of physiotherapists toward career development and related post-graduate training opportunities: a qualitative study.

Background: In light of impending physiotherapy workforce shortages in Australia and updates to career progression pathways for physiotherapists internationally, it is important to understand the beliefs and considerations that underpin decisions to pursue career development opportunities from the perspective of physiotherapists.

Purpose: To investigate physiotherapists' beliefs, motivations and perceived barriers toward career development opportunities, and explore influences which impact the decisions regarding whether and how to undertake career development in physiotherapy.

Methods: Qualitative study using one-on-one semi-structured interviews.

Discharge against medical advice in rural and remote emergency departments: views of healthcare providers.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to explore, in one remote hospital, emergency department healthcare providers' experience and perceptions of the factors surrounding a patient's decision to discharge against medical advice (DAMA). The secondary objective was to gain insight into staff experiences of the current protocols for managing DAMA cases and explore their recommendations for reducing DAMA incidence.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving a survey and semi-structured interviews exploring healthcare providers' (n=19) perceptions of factors perceived to be influencing DAMA, current practice for managing DAMA and recommendations for practice improvements.

Writing for the role: A qualitative exploration of new graduate physiotherapists' transition to practice of clinical documentation.

Introduction: Clinical documentation is an integral component of effective physiotherapy practice. Minimal research has explored how new graduate physiotherapists transition to practice of documentation.

Objective: To understand new graduate physiotherapists' experiences and support needs for transitioning into this professional role, from the perspectives of new graduates and clinical supervisors.

Rapid evidence assessment of student-assisted assessment and brief intervention clinics: Addressing the gaps in rural and remote health care.

Objectives: With high disease and disability burden in rural and remote regions, student-assisted clinics can be an effective workforce development tool to meet community health needs and workforce shortages. This research sought to identify the conditions under which student-assisted clinics can be successfully utilised as a workforce development strategy, with specific application to remote Queensland, Australia.

Methods: A rapid review of the international literature in English was conducted.

Exploring the workplace and workforce intentions of early career physiotherapists in Australia.

Background: Previous research has indicated significant concerns regarding attrition of early career physiotherapists in Australia. Despite the importance of retaining skilled and experienced professionals within the profession, the workplace and workforce intentions of early career physiotherapists remain relatively unexplored.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate and explore factors influencing the workplace and workforce intentions of early career physiotherapists in Australia.

Emergency examination authorities in Queensland, Australia.

Objective: In Queensland, where a person experiences a major disturbance in their mental capacity, and is at risk of serious harm to self and others, an emergency examination authority (EEA) authorises Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) to detain and transport the person to an ED. In the ED, further detention for up to 12 h is authorised to allow the examination to be completed. Little published information describes these critical patient encounters.

'I thought I was about to die': Management of non-fatal strangulation in general practice.

Awareness of the significance of non‑fatal strangulation is increasing in health and justice settings. While approximately half of patients strangled will sustain no immediate physical injury, strangulation has potential significant sequelae such as carotid dissection, hypoxic brain injury and laryngeal injury. Non-fatal strangulation by an intimate partner increases homicide risk by 7.

Clinical signs of trachoma and laboratory evidence of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a remote Queensland community: a serial cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To compare the findings of standard clinical assessments and of complementary clinical and laboratory methods for determining whether community-wide treatment for trachoma is warranted in a remote Queensland community.

Design: Three cross-sectional screening surveys, 2019-2021, complemented by laboratory pathology testing.

Setting: Small community in northwest Queensland with geographic and cultural ties to Northern Territory communities where trachoma persists.

Enhancing speech-language pathology head and neck cancer service provision in rural Australia: Using a plan, do, study, act approach.

Purpose: People with head and neck cancer (HNC) require ongoing speech-language pathology (SLP) services into the post-acute recovery phase of care. However, there are recognised service inequities/barriers for people from rural areas who are unable to access SLP services locally, necessitating travel to metropolitan centres. This study implemented strategies to assist rural speech-language pathologists to work to full scope of practice and support post-acute rehabilitation services for people with HNC.

What is the optimal strategy for managing primary care patients with an uncomplicated acute sore throat? Comparing the consequences of nine different strategies using a compilation of previous studies.

Objective: Identifying optimal strategies for managing patients of any age with varying risk of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) attending for an apparently uncomplicated acute sore throat, also clarifying the role of point-of-care testing (POCT) for presence of group A beta-haemolytic (GABHS) in these settings.

Design: We compared outcomes of adhering to nine different strategies for managing these patients in primary healthcare.

Setting And Participants: The nine strategies, similar to guidelines from several countries, were tested against two validation data sets being constructs from seven prior studies.

Clinician and consumer perceptions of head and neck cancer services in rural areas: Implications for speech pathology service delivery.

Objective: Individuals with head and neck cancer residing in rural areas face numerous challenges accessing post-acute rehabilitation services, including speech pathology services. In order to inform future service enhancements, the key issues impacting access to, and the provision of, speech pathology head and neck cancer services in rural areas was explored through the perspectives of patients, carers, speech pathology clinicians and service managers.

Setting: A rural health referral network in Queensland consisting of tertiary, regional and remote hospitals.

Competencies for entry-level rural and remote physiotherapy practice: a Delphi approach.

Introduction: Rural physiotherapy is a challenging area of practice that requires clinicians to respond to the unique factors that contribute to rurality. This study aimed to outline an introductory set of competencies that contribute to effective physiotherapy practice in rural Australia.

Methods: A three-round Delphi study was undertaken using a panel of expert physiotherapists.

An infrequent cause of neonatal upper airway obstruction: Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis presenting to a remote facility.

Introduction: Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) is a rare congenital condition of structural nasal obstruction. Respiratory distress, stertor, and poor feeding are often presenting features.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a newborn diagnosed with CNPAS at 3 weeks of life.

Speech pathology service enhancement for people with head and neck cancer living in rural areas: Using a concept mapping approach to inform service change.

Background: Speech pathology (SP) services provide swallowing and communication intervention to people with head and neck cancer (HNC) across the continuum of care. However, difficulties exist with access and delivery of services in rural areas. The study aim was to identify actionable goals for SP change, utilizing a concept mapping approach.

Improving antibiotics targeting using PCR point-of-care testing for group A streptococci in patients with uncomplicated acute sore throat.

Background And Objectives: Evidence supports some beneficial effects of antibiotics prescribed to patients with a sore throat and proven presence of group A streptococci (GAS).

Method: A total of 283 patients were included from North and North-West Queensland, Australia, at their first presentation for uncomplicated acute sore throat. Patterns of antibiotic prescribing were explored before and after testing for GAS using a rapid point-of-care polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

Protocol for the Yapatjarrathati project: a mixed-method implementation trial of a tiered assessment process for identifying fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in a remote Australian community.

Background: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Early identification can improve functioning for individuals and reduce costs to society. Gold standard methods of diagnosing FASD rely on specialists to deliver intensive, multidisciplinary assessments.

Registered nurses' provision of end-of-life care to hospitalised adults: A mixed studies review.

Objectives: To describe, critically appraise and synthesise research regarding nurses' perceptions of their knowledge, skills or experiences in providing end-of-life care to hospitalised adults to help inform both future educational and practice initiatives.

Design: Mixed studies review.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases were searched for the years 2004-June 2018, along with journal hand-searching and reference list searching.

Hospital discharge processes involving older adults living with dementia: An integrated literature review.

Aims And Objectives: To identify barriers and facilitators to engagement of people with dementia and family carers in planning for discharge from hospital.

Background: Hospital discharge can be particularly challenging for older people with dementia. To assist in the development of bespoke discharge processes that address the unique needs of older people with dementia, an integrated review of the literature was undertaken.

Building a sustainable workforce in a rural and remote health service: A comprehensive and innovative Rural Generalist training approach.

Background: Historically it has been challenging to recruit and retain an appropriately trained medical workforce to care for rural and remote Australians. This paper describes the Queensland North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS) workforce redesign, developing education strategies and pathways to practice, thereby improving service provision, recruitment and retention of staff.

Concept: The Mount Isa-based Medical Education Unit sought accreditation for a Rural Generalist (RG) training pathway from Internship to Fellowship with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Regional Training Provider (RTP).

Etiologic predictive value of a rapid immunoassay for the detection of group A Streptococcus antigen from throat swabs in patients presenting with a sore throat.

Background: Clinical reasoning utilizing certain symptoms and scores has not proven to be a reliable decision-making tool to determine whether or not to suspect a group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection in the patient presenting with a sore throat. Culture as the so-called 'gold standard' is impracticable because it takes 1 to 2 days (and even longer in remote locations) for a result, and thus treatment decisions will be made without the result available. Rapid diagnostic antigen tests have demonstrated sufficient sensitivities and specificities in detecting GAS antigens to identify GAS throat infections.