National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection
NHMRC’s Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2010) are now available on the NHMRC website. The Guidelines support the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare’s work in preventing healthcare associated infections.
$1.1 million for University-based mental health program (CRRMH-DMHAP)
CRRMH was awarded $1.5 million over two years(2008-2009) for its Drought Mental Health Assistance Package (DMHAP). Due to the program’s success, NSW Department of Health has granted the Centre further funding to extend the program, now renamed the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP).
RAMHP will continue to address the short and long term mental health needs of the communities affected by drought, and will also provide assistance for other forms of rural crisis and climate-related adversity, including bushfires and floods.
Warning on mental health woes that flow from water cuts
Family violence: Towards a holistic approach to screening and risk
While knowledge about family violence and its effects has grown considerably, services still grapple with the most effective ways of identifying family violence issues with which clients present and, just as importantly, of taking appropriate actions once family violence has been accurately identified. Family violence is not always recognised by practitioners working in this area and even when it is recognised, appropriate actions aimed at creating or preserving safety are not always taken.
This paper reviews the current research and literature specific to family violence screening and risk assessment. It is hoped that the paper will assist service providers and practitioners to develop and evaluate tools for use within family support services.
Heart Health Index: Australians continue to be in denial about meeting heart health guidelines
Many are in denial. One in eight (13%) overweight Australians believe they are healthy and do not need to change.
Lack of time is the most common barrier to changing behaviour, named by 27% of people, mostly women and people under 40. But there were a range of other reasons given as well.
Eight% admitted to being too lazy or not motivated to make the necessary changes.
One in eleven (9%) reported an existing condition or illness that prevents them from changing their behaviour.
Three% reported the weather as a barrier.
People with children, who were most likely to report lack of time as a barrier, were significantly less likely to adhere to recommended health guidelines. They are less active (61% do not meet recommended activity levels versus 51%), are more likely to smoke (19% versus 13%), and less likely to have their blood pressure (81% versus 91%) or cholesterol (52% versus 75%) checked as frequently as people without children.
Australians self-reported heart health risk behaviour continues to reflect denial about meeting health guidelines. Close to half (46%) of overweight Australians and 13% of obese people thought their health met guidelines. Close to three in four rate their health as either good or very good. Only 4% rated their health as poor. Three-quarters of obese people rated their health as good, very good or excellent.
RACGP Standards for General Practice - New Edition
Guide to the proposed Basin Plan: Technical background [Murray-Darling Basin Authority]
The Guide to the proposed Basin Plan consists of an overview of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, separate guides to the 19 Basin regions, and this volume - the technical background.
Links are provided below to the regional summaries which comprise the GWAHS area.
No quick fix: three essays on the future of the Australian public hospital system
Childhood obesity: An economic perspective (Productivity Commission)
Childhood obesity has been linked to a raft of physical and psychosocial health problems, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as social stigmatisation and low self-esteem.
This economic perspective considers how individuals respond to changes in incentives, and how they make decisions involving tradeoffs between different consumption and exercise choices, including how they spend their time.
Breast cancer register aids breast cancer research
Breast cancer is still the most common cancer affecting Australian women, and over the last few decades its incidence has been on the rise. More research is needed and Register4 aims to facilitate the recruitment of research subjects.
Register4 is looking for all kinds of individuals from all different walks of life (breast cancer sufferers, carers, health professionals, women aged 18 or over .... it is not necessary to have had breast cancer). Men can also join.
Members enrol online. They are contacted if there is a research project for which they might be suitable. Participation in individual research projects is voluntary.
Guide for Using Statistics for Evidence Based Policy (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
* What is evidence based decision making?
* How good statistics can enhance the decision making process
* Using statistics for making evidence based decisions
* Data awareness
* Understanding statistical concepts
* Analysing and evaluating statistical information
* Communicating statistical findings
* Evaluating policy outcomes
Down on the farm - NZ style
Psychosocial Support in Disasters Web Portal
The Psychosocial Support in Disasters web portal will act as a central access point to vital information, helping those in disaster-prone areas to prepare psychologically, providing practical support during the emergency, and providing social, emotional and psychological support during the recovery period. There is also a section with information for the general public.
The web portal is a joint initiative of the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Occupational Therapy Australia, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, the Australian Association of Social Workers, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and General Practice Victoria.
Free supplement on the health of indigenous people
Click here to read the entire supplement on Wiley Online Library!
Sample Table of Contents [More in complete issue]
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C-reactive protein: an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal Australians
Reducing racism in Aboriginal health care in Australia: where does cultural education fit?
A snapshot of arthritis in Australia 2010 (AIHW)
Arthritis occurs less frequently among those living in high socioeconomic areas, compared to Australians living in relatively low socioeconomic areas. A regional difference was also found, with the lowest rates of arthritis in major cities, and inner regional areas recording the highest prevalence. Indigenous Australians were also found to have a higher prevalence of arthritis than other Australians. There are over 100 types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis the most common, affecting 1.6 million and 428,000 Australians respectively.
Arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions accounted for around $4 billion in health expenditure in 2004-05. Arthritis is also the eighth most frequently managed problem by general practitioners in Australia.
Equity-Oriented Toolkit for Health Technology Assessment
It provides tools that explicitly consider health equity at each of the four steps of health technology assessment: 1) Burden of Illness, 2) Community Effectiveness, 3) Economic Evaluation, 4) Knowledge Translation and Implementation. It also incorporates concepts of health impact assessment within the HTA process.
Developers seek to further define this Toolkit, they request suggestions on validated and widely disseminated HTA tools that explicitly consider health equity and that are relevant to the toolkit. These tools may be specific analytical methods such as the Disability-Adjusted Life Years, checklists such as the Health Impact Screening Checklist, software programs such as the Harvard Policy Maker, databases such as The Cochrane Library, etc. Check out the Toolkit!
Changing attitudes to mental illness (Craig Hart: CRRMH)
The program, an initiative of NSW Health and the University of Newcastle, was originally set up in 2006/2007 in response to the drought and the distress many rural communities were experiencing due to lack of water, loss of crops and stock and the flow-on effects this had on regional economies.
Nursing and midwifery labour force 2008 and Medical labour force 2008 (AIHW)
In 2008 the total number of registered and enrolled nurses estimated by the Nursing and Midwifery Labour Force Survey was 312,736, an increase of 10.6% since 2004. The nursing workforce continued to age between 1997 and 2008; the proportion of nurses aged 50 years or over increased from 18.9% to 34.4%. The number of full time equivalent nurses per 100,000 population increased by 15.2% between 2004 and 2008, and the profession continued to be predominantly female, with females comprising 91% of employed nurses in 2008.
Medical labour force 2008
The supply of employed medical practitioners increased between 2004 and 2008, from 283 to 304 full-time equivalent practitioners per 100,000 population. The increase reflected a 20.5% rise in practitioner numbers. The gender balance continued to shift, with women making up 35% of practitioners in 2008 compared to 33% in 2004. The average hours worked by male practitioners declined from 47.1 to 45.4 hours, while hours worked by female practitioners changed marginally from 37.6 to 37.7 hours.
NSW suicide prevention strategy 2010-2015: a whole of government strategy promoting a whole of community approach
6 priority areas are identified in the strategy :
1. Improving the evidence base and understanding of suicide prevention
2. Building individual resilience and the capacity for self help
3. Improving community strength, resilience and capacity in suicide prevention
4. Taking a coordinated approach to suicide prevention
5. Providing targeted suicide prevention activities
6. Implementing standards and quality in suicide prevention
However, recent consultation with the community has indicated that more needs to be done in terms of:
* further availability of and access to services, especially for people living in rural/remote communities;
* greater focus on at risk population groups;
* better coordination of non health sectors;
* meaningful reporting;
* greater emphasis on evaluation; and
* embracing new approaches, learnings and service models.
Report confirms that rural graduates are retained in the rural workforce
The report found 74 per cent of students from inner regional areas and 75 per cent from outer regional areas worked in a regional area after graduating. Eighty-nine per cent of students from remote areas and 71 per cent from very remote areas accepted employment in a rural area. The portion of metropolitan students who stayed on and practised in a regional area was 43 per cent.
The fields that retained the highest proportion of regional students were psychology, nutrition and dietetics, podiatry, nuclear medicine technology, pharmacy and social work.
The report gives added backing to recent moves by CSU to open its own Medical School.
Guide to the proposed Basin Plan (Murray-Darling Basin Authority)
While the Basin Plan itself will be a legislative instrument, the Guide to the proposed Basin Plan provides information on the background and process of developing all the different parts of the plan. This information includes:
* a summary of the history and current state of Basin water resources
* the factors driving change in use and management of water resources
* the new arrangements under the Basin Plan and their impacts
* implementation of the Basin Plan.
This "Overview" volume is the first of 21 volumes of the Guide. Volume 2 will be a volume on technical specifications of the plan, and will be followed by 19 volumes of regional guides to specific areas.
Visit the MDBA website at http://www.thebasinplan.mdba.gov.au for a copy of the Guide and to find out where the community information sessions on the Guide will be held.
You can also subscribe to the MDBA's monthly e-Letter, which contains reports of happenings across the Basin, by filling out the form at www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/subscribe
Workers with mental illness: a practical guide for managers
"Workers with mental illness: a practical guide for managers aims to help managers better understand mental illness, develop strategies that assist workers with a mental illness and ensure that their workplaces are healthy and productive," President Branson said. "We developed this guide because research conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission showed that managers want to provide support to staff members who live with a mental illness, but often lack the confidence or skills to do so," said President Branson.
The guide has been released after extensive consultation with the business community, trades unions, disability organisations, workplace safety bodies and employers.
"During any year, approximately one in five Australian adults will experience a mental illness. It is our hope that this guide will assist managers to understanding their legal obligations while developing strategies that support their staff and reduce the incidence of illness in the workplace," said President Branson.
The guide has been endorsed by the Fair Work Ombudsman, beyondblue: the national depression initiative, SANE Australia, the Mental Health Council of Australia, and supported by Safe Work Australia.
Preventable job stress costs $730m a year
Expenditure on health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2006-07: an analysis by remoteness and disease (AIHW)
Collaborative Arrangements - What you need to know
practitioners and midwives to provide Medicare-funded services to patients and to prescribe medications listed on the PBS. These changes are scheduled to commence on 1 November 2010.
The AMA has worked very hard to ensure that these reforms do not fragment patient care or deny patients access to a medical practitioner.
Importantly, the Government has enshrined in law the requirement for nurse practitioners and midwives to work in collaborative arrangements with medical practitioners in order to get MBS and PBS access.
The AMA has prepared a guide "Collaborative Arrangements - What you need to know" to help answer many of the questions doctors will have about collaborative arrangements and how they should be structured, as well as identify key issues that doctors should take into account when considering being part of a collaborative arrangement.
Evaluating Programs- Resource Sheet
e-stroke Australia (Stroke education for health professionals)
Further development will include specialist modules for allied health.
Revised National Mental Health Standards 2010
The focus of the revised standards has changed significantly with a large proportion of services now provided in the community, an expansion of non-government and private services and an increased focus on primary mental health care. To support the broader focus directed towards the non-government sector, public and private services and private office based services, guidelines are being developed to support implementation of the National Standards into practice.
There are 10 standards available :
Standard 1. Rights and responsibilities
Standard 2. Safety
Standard 3. Consumer and carer participation
Standard 4. Diversity responsiveness
Standard 5. Promotion and prevention
Standard 6. Consumers
Standard 7. Carers
Standard 8. Governance, leadership and management
Standard 9. Integration
Standard 10. Delivery of care
Dementia risk reduction: What do Australians know?
This paper examines surveys of the general public that included questions related to dementia risk reduction. The findings suggest there is poor knowledge of the current evidence for dementia risk reduction. This paper not only highlights the need to raise awareness that it is possible to reduce the risk of dementia and also the need to educate Australians about the link between cardiovascular risk factors and an increased risk of dementia.
IPhones fight breast cancer
The app provides women with an easy and comfortable method to check their breasts and additionally serves as an automatic reminder for regular monthly check-ups.
The Dr K's Breast Checker app is available for download from iTunes priced $2.49 and 55c of each sale is given to the Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia and the McGrath Foundation.
How can telehealth help in the provision of integrated care? Policy Brief 13 - Health Systems and Policy Analysis, World Health Organization.
HealthLandscape Australia
SHOWWorld : A map with a difference
SHOWWorld is a fascinating global map adjustable by various indices (population, health, energy etc). Select a subject from the top menu and watch the countries on the map change their size. Instead of land mass, the size of each country will represent the data for that subject. Mapping Worlds, the company behind this application is a data visualisation and interface design company who work with organisations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.