The introduction of a sound reduction bundle in the intensive care unit and its impact on sound levels and patients.

Background: ICU outcomes are continuing to improve. However, this has not been matched by similar improvements of the ICU bedspace environment, which can detrimentally impact on patient outcomes. Excessive sound and noise, especially, has been linked with adverse and potentially preventable patient outcomes and staff errors.

Evaluation of the implementation and clinical effects of an intervention to improve medical follow-up and health outcomes for Aboriginal children hospitalised with chest infections.

Background: Aboriginal children hospitalised with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) are at-risk of developing bronchiectasis, which can progress from untreated protracted bacterial bronchitis, often evidenced by a chronic (>4 weeks) wet cough following discharge. We aimed to facilitate follow-up for Aboriginal children hospitalised with ALRIs to provide optimal management and improve their respiratory health outcomes.

Methods: We implemented an intervention to facilitate medical follow-up four weeks after hospital discharge from a paediatric hospital in Western Australia.

Change in health outcomes for First Nations children with chronic wet cough: rationale and study protocol for a multi-centre implementation science study.

Background: In children, chronic wet cough may be a sign of underlying lung disease, including protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) and bronchiectasis. Chronic (> 4 weeks in duration) wet cough (without indicators pointing to alternative causes) that responds to antibiotic treatment is diagnostic of PBB. Timely recognition and management of PBB can prevent disease progression to irreversible bronchiectasis with lifelong consequences.

Prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in Aboriginal children: A whole population study.

Background: The burden of bronchiectasis is disproportionately high in Aboriginal adults, with early mortality. Bronchiectasis precursors, that is, protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) and chronic suppurative lung disease (CSLD), often commence in early childhood. We previously reported a 10% prevalence of PBB in Aboriginal children aged 0 to 7 years, however there are no data on prevalence of chronic lung diseases in older children.

Implementation of a strategy to facilitate effective medical follow-up for Australian First Nations children hospitalised with lower respiratory tract infections: study protocol.

Background: First Nations children hospitalised with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) are at increased risk of future bronchiectasis (up to 15-19%) within 24-months post-hospitalisation. An identified predictive factor is persistent wet cough a month after hospitalisation and this is likely related to protracted bacterial bronchitis which can progress to bronchiectasis, if untreated. Thus, screening for, and optimally managing, persistent wet cough one-month post-hospitalisation potentially prevents bronchiectasis in First Nations' children.

Conducting decolonizing research and practice with Australian First Nations to close the health gap.

The purpose of this paper is to highlight a perspective for decolonizing research with Australian First Nations and provide a framework for successful and sustained knowledge translation by drawing on the recent work conducted by a research group, in five remote communities in North-Western Australia. The perspective is discussed in light of national and international calls for meaningful and dedicated engagement with First Nations people in research, policy and practice, to help close the health gap between First Nations and other Australians.

Respiratory follow-up to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children: twelve key steps.

Background: Among Aboriginal children, the burden of acute respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) with consequent bronchiectasis post-hospitalisation is high. Clinical practice guidelines recommend medical follow-up one-month following discharge, which provides an opportunity to screen and manage persistent symptoms and may prevent bronchiectasis. Medical follow-up is not routinely undertaken in most centres.

Recognition and Management of Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis in Australian Aboriginal Children: A Knowledge Translation Approach.

Background: Chronic wet cough in children is the hallmark symptom of protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) and if left untreated can lead to bronchiectasis, which is prevalent in Indigenous populations. Underrecognition of chronic wet cough by parents and clinicians and underdiagnosis of PBB by clinicians are known.

Research Question: We aimed to improve recognition and management of chronic wet cough in Aboriginal children using knowledge translation (KT), a methodologic approach that can be adapted for use in Indigenous contexts to facilitate effective and sustained translation of research into practice.

Parental Discussion of Child Sexual Abuse: Is It Associated with the Parenting Practices of Involvement, Monitoring, and General Communication?

We investigated whether parents who reported more positive parenting practices (i.e., monitoring, involvement, and communication) reported more discussion of child sexual abuse (CSA) with their children.

Vibrational spectroscopic characterization of mudstones in a hydrocarbon-bearing depression, South China Sea: Implications for thermal maturity evaluation.

A better understanding of mineral transformations in sedimentary rocks and the controls on thermal maturity have become essential in the petroleum exploration industry in recent years. The Fushan Depression is an important hydrocarbon-bearing depression in South China Sea, which can be subdivided into three structural zones: the western, central and eastern zones. In this study, a series of mudstone samples selected from 13 drilling cores with depths ranging from 2100 to 3800 m were studied using infrared reflectance spectroscopy and X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) methods.

Evaluation of chemical components and properties of the jujube fruit using near infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibrations were developed for the discrimination of spectra of the jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.) fruit samples from four geographical regions. Prediction models were developed for the quantitative prediction of the contents of jujube fruit, i.

A comparison of Australian and Canadian informatics competencies for undergraduate nurses.

Health information technologies (HIT) have changed healthcare delivery. Yet, there are few opportunities for student nurses in their undergraduate studies to develop nursing informatics competencies. More importantly, many countries around the world have not fully specified nursing informatics competencies that will be expected of student nurses prior to their graduation from undergraduate nursing programs.

Guaiac versus immunochemical tests: faecal occult blood test screening for colorectal cancer in a rural community.

Objective: To describe patient participation and clinical performance in a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program utilising faecal occult blood test (FOBT).

Methods: A community-based intervention was conducted in a small, rural community in north Queensland, 2000/01. One of two FOBT kits--guaiac (Hemoccult-II) or immunochemical (!nform)--was assigned by general practice and mailed to participants (3,358 patients aged 50-74 years listed with the local practices).

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in an Australian high school student population.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections among an Australian high school adolescent population.

Methods: Over a 4 year period, 14 high schools were selected in which an infertility prevention programme targeting C. trachomatis was delivered to senior student populations.