Medication safety and the administration of intravenous vincristine: international survey of oncology pharmacists.

Purpose: The risk of medication errors with vincristine administration is well documented. Our objective was to ascertain how vincristine is administered worldwide and determine what strategies for preventing the accidental intrathecal administration of vincristine are in place.

Methods: A survey, comprising 28 questions, was distributed to 363 International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners members from 42 countries via email.

Incidence of osteoradionecrosis of the temporal bone.

Background: Osteoradionecrosis of the temporal bone is a serious, late complication of radiotherapy to the temporal bone region. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, risk and protective factors relating to the development of osteoradionecrosis of the temporal bone.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

The value of a rural medicine rotation on encouraging students toward a rural career: clear benefits from the RUSC program.

Background: The Australian government has addressed rural medical workforce shortages through strategies such as the Rural Undergraduate Support and Co-ordination program, based on the premise that increased exposure to rural medicine within the curricula will contribute to more students adopting a rural career.

Purpose: This article reports on how an Australian Rural Clinical School is meeting the aims of this initiative.

Methods: Year 3 students (n = 463) from 10 eight-week rural rotations in 2005-2006 evaluated the content and value of rural lectures/workshops and a 6-week rural clinical placement.

Structure-activity relationships for serotonin transporter and dopamine receptor selectivity.

Antipsychotic medications have a diverse pharmacology with affinity for serotonergic, dopaminergic, adrenergic, histaminergic and cholinergic receptors. Their clinical use now also includes the treatment of mood disorders, thought to be mediated by serotonergic receptor activity. The aim of our study was to characterise the molecular properties of antipsychotic agents, and to develop a model that would indicate molecular specificity for the dopamine (D(2)) receptor and the serotonin (5-HT) transporter.

Exploring the influence of psychological factors on breastfeeding duration, phase 1: perceptions of mothers and clinicians.

Breastfeeding duration rates in Australia are low, prompting a search for modifiable factors capable of increasing the duration of breastfeeding. In this study, participants were asked which psychological factors they believed influence breastfeeding duration. Participants included 3 groups of mothers who had breastfed for varied lengths of time (n = 17), and 1 group of breastfeeding clinicians (n = 4).

Use of 'sham' radiotherapy in randomized clinical trials.

The objective of this systematic review was to identify quality trials that use sham radiotherapy in their design and review them to determine its potential value. The Cochrane Library, Pubmed and a Reference Search served as data sources. Trials were included if they met a minimum quality score of 3 on a validated assessment instrument (which assesses randomization, control and blinding) and if they compared sham radiotherapy to active treatment.

Developing a rural workforce through medical education: lessons from down under.

Background: Rural Clinical Schools in Australia are a government initiative to help address the rural workforce shortage at the medical school level. This article reports on the approaches and outcomes from one Rural Clinical School.

Description: The program is underpinned by an 8-week rural rotation for all 3rd-year students and a yearlong program of core clinical rotations for 25% of the Year 3 cohort.

Rural temperament and character: a new perspective on retention of rural doctors.

Objective: This exploratory study serves as a starting point to establish a psychobiological profile for rural GPs. The overall aim is to describe how individual levels and combinations of temperament (mildly heritable) and character (influenced by sociocultural learning) traits allow GPs to flourish or fail in rural medicine.

Design: In a mixed-method study, 13 rural GPs (rural and remote metropolitan areas 5-7, minimum 7 years of experience) from Central/Southern Queensland, Australia completed the Temperament and Character Inventory-R140 to identify the intensity of the seven basic dimensions of temperament and character.

Will Australian rural clinical schools be an effective workforce strategy? Early indications of their positive effect on intern choice and rural career interest.

Objective: To use short-term indicators (hospital internship choice, and interest in a future rural career) to assess how the University of Queensland rural clinical school is meeting its program objectives.

Design: Cross-sectional quantitative data collected through self-report questionnaires.

Setting: University of Queensland rural clinical school (UQRCS).

Gender and personal breastfeeding experience of rural GP registrars in Australia--a qualitative study of their effect on breastfeeding attitudes and knowledge.

Introduction: While most doctors believe they have a major role to play in breastfeeding promotion, and consider it worthwhile taking time to assist women to continue to breastfeed, it appears that gender and personal breastfeeding experience affect their attitude and confidence concerning breastfeeding issues. As doctors practicing in rural and regional areas may be expected to provide a greater degree of assistance and support for breastfeeding women, their views on these topics are of particular interest. This article reports the results of qualitative interviews with eight GP registrars from rural and regional Australia, and their views about the influence gender and personal experience have on their ability to assist breastfeeding women.

University rural health clubs: nurturing the future Australian rural workforce.

Context: Australian university rural health clubs (RHC) are part of a national strategy to address the rural health workforce shortage. The student members of these clubs throughout Australia comprise the National Rural Health Network (NRHN). The NRHN is a multidisciplinary body representing medical, nursing and allied health students, aiming to increase the health workforce and health outcomes for rural and remote Australians.

Molecular aspects of phytoestrogen selective binding at estrogen receptors.

Phytoestrogens are a diverse group of plant-derived compounds that structurally or functionally mimic mammalian estrogens and show potential benefits for human health. An increase in phytoestrogen research over the past few decades has demonstrated the biological complexity of phytoestrogens, which belong to several different chemical classes and act through diverse mechanisms. Identification of the estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) and research into various ligand classes has enabled elucidation of molecular aspects important in selective ER binding.

Perceptions of mental health service delivery among staff and Indigenous consumers: it's still about communication.

Objective: A needs analysis was undertaken to determine the quality and effectiveness of mental health services to Indigenous consumers within a health district of Southern Queensland. The study focussed on identifying gaps in the service provision for Indigenous consumers. Tools and methodologies were developed to achieve this.

Medical students and rural general practitioners: congruent views on the reality of recruitment into rural medicine.

Objective: In-depth exploration of the perceptions, experiences and expectations of current long-term rural GPs and medical students intent on a rural career, regarding the current and future state of rural medicine.

Design: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

Setting: Rural and remote towns in Central and Southern Queensland and the School of Medicine, University of Queensland.

Rural mental health units--is there a role for a GP?

Introduction: Mental illness is a common medical condition which is increasing in frequency. In Australia, almost one in five persons have experienced an anxiety, depressive or substance abuse disorder in the last 12 months, but less than half have sought professional assistance. In rural and remote areas, there is limited access to psychiatrists, and the majority of mental health care resides with the GP.

An audit of influenza vaccination rates.

Background: Influenza immunisation confers benefits for the elderly. We attempted to increase the uptake of influenza vaccination in those aged 65 years and over in one general practice in Queensland.

Method: We used four strategies: a computer search for the target population; telephone recruitment and booking by our receptionist; removal of cost by bulk billing; and using nurse led immunisation.

Awareness of risks of overweight among rural Australians.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in rural areas and pose significant risks to health. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the rural public in central Queensland are aware of the health risks of overweight and to determine whether their perceptions of weight status and methods used to assess weight status correspond with those of health professionals.

Methods: Adults were randomly selected from shoppers in shopping centres in Central Queensland, Australia, to self-complete a questionnaire that assessed participants' understanding of the health risks of overweight, perception of current weight, methods used to assess current weight and understanding of the concepts of body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).

Clinical simulators: applications and implications for rural medical education.

Medical education has undergone significant changes globally. Calls for the revitalisation of centuries old pathways of learning have resulted in innovative medical curricula. Didactic modes of teaching which involved the learning of copious amounts of facts have given way to curricula that focus on the horizontal and vertical integration of basic and clinical sciences.

Delivering culturally sensitive care: the perceptions of older Arabian gulf Arabs concerning religion, health, and disease.

Health professionals need to be cognizant of the varying perceptions of health shared by people from different religious, sociocultural, and linguistic backgrounds to deliver culturally sensitive health care. In this qualitative study, the authors used semistructured interviews to provide insight into how 10 older Arabian Gulf Muslim persons understand and perceive health and illness with emphasis on the role of Islam in formulating health behaviors. Participants' views were strongly influenced by their religious convictions.

Tools and methodologies for investigating the mental health needs of Indigenous patients: it's about communication.

Objective: To undertake a needs analysis to determine the quality and effectiveness of current mental health services to Indigenous patients within a health district of Southern Queensland. The present study focused on identifying gaps in the service provision for Indigenous patients. Tools and methodologies were developed to achieve this.

Building service capacity within a regional district mental health service: recommendations from an Indigenous mental health symposium.

Context: In response to recent developments within the mental health services of south-east Queensland, the Toowoomba District Mental Health Service (TDMHS) has developed a Model of Service Delivery, which outlines the range of services provided for consumers across their lifespan. Indigenous consumers of the TDMHS come from a wide area of communities in the surrounding shires (Rural, remote and metropolitan areas (RRMA) 4-7). It was recognised by the service that Indigenous mental health consumers have unique needs and, because of these needs, this area of service delivery required greater attention and further development.

Does recruitment lead to retention? Rural Clinical School training experiences and subsequent intern choices.

Introduction: The Australian Rural Clinical Schools, established nationally in 2000-2001, have provided an opportunity for medical students to undertake their clinical training across a network of hospitals, general practice surgeries and community medical centres in locations throughout Australia. The Rural Clinical School at the University of Queensland was established in 2002, as the Rural Clinical Division (RCD) of the School of Medicine, which provides a four-year graduate MB BS program. Students may elect to train in their 3rd and/or 4th year in one of three clinical divisions, namely Central, Southern (both based in Brisbane) or Rural which comprises teaching sites in south west Queensland and central Queensland region.