Cancer Australia Releases Strategic Plan

Cancer Australia has released its Strategic Plan 2011-2014, to provide leadership and direction at a time of increasing cancer incidence. National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) and Cancer Australia have amalgamated to form a single national agency to provide leadership in cancer control and improve outcomes for Australians affected by cancer.
The new look website provides information for people affected by cancer, health professionals as well as researchers.

Inside Radiology

InsideRadiology is a resource produced especially for health consumers by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. The website includes:

• information about radiology tests and procedures that you or a family member may require;
• additional clinical and technical information for health professionals about radiology tests and image-guided treatments;
• information about the roles and training of the different health professionals you may encounter at a radiology practice, or in a hospital radiology department; and easy-to-follow instructions about how to find the information that you are seeking.

Australian national preventive health agency strategic plan 2011–2015

There is widespread agreement amongst health experts and governments that to build a healthier Australia we need to strengthen our health promotion effort and take more concerted actions to prevent ill health. The establishment of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) provides a new national capacity that will drive change and innovation around health policies and programs that take prevention and health promotion reforms forward in a systematic and evidence-based way, and which accords with the national commitment to improving health outcomes for all.
ANPHA’s first strategic plan shapes a new organisation, while setting in place longer-term directions for an enduring institution that will play a significant role in making Australia a healthier country.

Rural and Remote Health Journal articles

The Rural and Remote Health Journal has a number of new articles published online, including : 'Unmet psychological and practical needs of patients with cancer in rural and remote areas of Western Australia'. This article looks at whether rural and remote patients with cancer have a higher level of unmet care needs. You can read about the large comparative study of rural, remote and metropolitan participants in Australia's largest but most sparsely populated state. Click here.

Or look at all the latest articles from Rural and Remote Health Journal for free here.

Health Ageing at Home

Country people have a great reputation for community support and it's no wonder that older people want to stay at home close to their friends as they age in rural communities. The Productivity Commission report released 8 August 2011, Caring for Older Australians, makes recommendations and suggests approaches that, if implemented, will give a better deal to country people as they grow older.
You can download the Overview Booklet or the whole report here.

Management of hypertension guidelines

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has this month released the updated guidelines, Hypertension: management of hypertension in adults in primary care.

The BMJ has just published a handy summary of these recommendations in an article by Taryn Kraus et al, Management of hypertension: summary of NICE guidance, stating that "Hypertension is one of the most important preventable causes of death worldwide and one of the commonest conditions treated in primary care in the United Kingdom, where it affects more than a quarter of all adults and over half of those over the age of 65 years." 
The guideline changes include:

• The use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring rather than than clinic blood pressure measurement as a diagnosis of hypertension, as it is more accurate and cost effective. 
• A diagnosis of stage 1 hypertension in patients aged under 40 years not automatically excluding them from receiving antihypertensive treatment.
• The provision of antihypertensive treatment to people aged over 80 years.
• There is an absence of evidence for use of bendroflumethiazide at the doses commonly prescribed in current UK practice. 

BMJ 2011; 343:d4891

Arthritis and osteoporosis reports

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has just released two reports on these topics:

Population differences in health-care use for arthritis and osteoporosis in Australia outlines the differences in health-care use for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis between population groups. It is suggested that, among those with osteoarthritis or osteoporosis, females are more likely to take actions to manage their condition and have a lower rate of joint replacement than males. Another interesting finding is that complementary medicines taken to slow the progression of these conditions are used most often in the highest socioeconomic group.

Use of antiresorptive agents for osteoporosis management provides information on both the individual and community use of antiresorptive drugs for managing osteoporosis as well as trends in the supply of and expenditure for these medications.

Centre for Community Child Health

The Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH) part of the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, has been at the forefront of Australian research into early childhood development and behaviour for over two decades. CCCH conducts research into the many conditions and common problems faced by children, such as obesity, language and literacy delay, and behavioural concerns, that are either preventable or can be improved if recognised and managed early.
It has now created a new look website to deliver accessible information about to the many conditions and common problems faced by children. Practice professionals, parents and researchers will find a host of information geared specifically to their needs

Prevention Science Network for Children and Young People

The Prevention Science Network for Children and Young People aims to build capacity to implement the science (and art) of prevention across research, policy and practice, in order to improve outcomes for children and young people. The network promotes and supports evidence-based prevention and early intervention to enhance the health, development and wellbeing of Australian children and young people. Its interests include both systemic and programmatic approaches to prevention (ARACY).
You can access the Prevention Science Network here.

Heart Failure articles in The Lancet

The latest issue of the Lancet 378(9792), 20 August 2011-26 August 2011 has a number of review articles relating to heart failure. If you cannot access the articles via the links below, check with your Librarian for access or go to CIAP.

1. In search of new therapeutic targets and strategies for heart failure: recent advances in basic science Review Article Pages 704-712 Ajay M Shah, Douglas L Mann

2. Medical therapy for chronic heart failure Review Article Pages 713-721 Henry Krum, John R Teerlink

3. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation therapy Review Article Pages 722-730 Johannes Holzmeister, Christophe Leclercq

4. Telemedicine and remote management of patients with heart failure Review Article Pages 731-739 Stefan D Anker, Friedrich Koehler, William T Abraham

Health labour force reports

The AIHW has recently released several reports on labour force statistics in  health.

Medical labour force 2009.  The supply of employed medical practitioners increased between 2005 and 2009, from 323 to 350 full-time equivalent practitioners per 100,000 population, based on a 40-hour week. The increase reflected a 20.7% rise in practitioner numbers. The gender balance continued to shift, with women making up 36% of practitioners in 2009 compared to 33% in 2005. The average hours worked by medical practitioners declined from 43.7 to 42.2 hours.

Nursing and midwifery labour force 2009.  The supply of nurses increased by 6.2% between 2005 and 2009, from 1,040 full time equivalent (FTE) nurses per 100,000 population to 1,105 FTE nurses based on a 38-hour week. This was mainly a result of both a 13.3% increase in the number of employed nurses, and a 0.9% increase in the average hours they worked over this period. Nursing continued to be a female dominated profession, with females comprising 90.4% of employed nurses in 2009 (down slightly from 92.1% in 2005).

A series of dental labour force reports has also been published: 

• Dentists, specialists and allied practitioners in Australia, 2006
• Oral health practitioners in Australia, 2006
• Oral health practitioners labour force projection 2006-2025

Venous thromboembolism

NHMRC and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care have launched a new evidence-based resource for hospitals, patients and policy makers on venous thromboembolism - Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Resource Centre.

National Breastfeeding Indicators

The Australian Institute of Health & Welfare has released National Breastfeeding Indicators, a report presenting the outcomes of a consensus workshop held in December last year. The purpose of the workshop was to make decisions on a set of breastfeeding indicators that would support the reporting of national breastfeeding trends, and thereby the evaluation of the Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy 2010–2015 and related policies and programs.  A set of draft  indicators was discussed for suitability, stability, simplicity and measurability and the following set was agreed:

• proportion of children ever breastfed (for children aged 0–24 months)
• proportion of children breastfed at each month of age, 0–24 months
• proportion of children exclusively breastfed to each month of age, 0–6 months
• proportion of children predominantly breastfed to each month of age, 0–6 months
• proportion of children receiving soft/semi-solid/solid food at each month of age, 0–12 months
• proportion of children receiving non-human milk or formula at each month of age, 0–12 months.

Australian Statistical Indicators

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has just released its latest compilation, 1367.0 - State and Territory Statistical Indicators, 2011. This provides an overview of the population, economy and environment for each of the Australian states and territories. Click on the State of your choice on the left hand side and then "People" for health-related statistics. Life expectancy from birth, for instance, has increased 2-3 years in NSW since 1999. For women it has increased from 81.7 to 84.3 years and for men from 76.1 to 79.5.

The Costs of Caring

The costs of caring and the living standards of carers is a report just published by Trish Hill and others from the Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales.  Informal carers are defined as those people who "provide unpaid help, support or assistance to family members or friends with disability, chronic illness, mental illness, other illness, or alcohol or other drug problems." It is estimated that around 16 per cent of Australian adults provide this type of care as demographic and policy changes have increased the demand over recent decades.  Projections suggest that the need for informal carers is likely to increase with an ageing population.

The authors of the study addressed three main areas:  What is known about the direct costs incurred in informal caring as distinct from the indirect costs of care? How do you go about finding out the costs of care? What are the living standards of different subgroups of carers in Australia and what might this imply about the direct costs of care?

Carers Australia links to the State Carer's bodies where you can find lots of information on training and support for carers.

Responsible gambling resources

The Responsible Gambling Fund, from the NSW Government Office of Liquour, Gaming and Racing, provides a range of free resources for professionals who come across problem gamblers in the course of their work.  These include the resource book "A guide to problem gambling", a film, "Gaming machines : myths and facts" and several brochures, booklets and fact sheets. Resources may be downloaded or ordered in hard copy.

Australian Medicines Industry public website

The Australian Medicines Industry has launched a public website in order to inform people about the contribution it makes to research and development, employment and the quality of life in Australia.  There is information about the making of medicines, the using of medicines, the history of medicines in Australia, and a careers section.  A useful blog highlights the latest developments in the industry.

Caring for Older Australians report released

The Productivity Commission has this week released the final report, Caring for Older Australians, where options for further structural reform of the aged care system have been detailed in order to meet future aged-care challenges.  In particular the report:

• examines the social, clinical and institutional aspects of aged care in Australia
• addresses the interests of special needs groups
• develops regulatory and funding options for residential and community aged care
• examines the future workforce requirements of the aged care sector
• recommends a path for transitioning from the current regulatory arrangements to a new system that ensures continuity of care and allows the sector time to adjust
• examines whether the regulation of retirement specific living options should be aligned more closely with the rest of the aged care sector
• assesses the fiscal implications of any change in aged care roles and responsibilities.

You can read some expert response to the report in the latest online issue of The Conversation.

New aboriginal health website

The Department of Health and Ageing has launched a website which celebrates the real stories of real people who are working to deliver better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Do Something Real is a blog site that aims to inform those working in medicine, nursing, dentistry, allied health and public health.  The site facilitates linking to people and organisations and publishing details about the opportunities available in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care.  Dr Ngaire Brown writes in the introduction, "We don’t need to over-think this. By sharing our knowledge, and relating to each other as members of the human race, we all have the opportunity to do something real about those ugly statistics, and perhaps change our own lives for the better at the same time."

Primary health care - online education

The Australian Practice Nurses Association has developed an online learning portal for practice nurses and others working in primary care. The latest addition to the list of available courses is "Diabetes management in the primary care setting". Other topics available include: Influenza prevention, Mental health, Leg ulcers, Bowel screening and Introduction to Eyes. Courses in development include Immunisation, STI and Palliative care. Costs vary across the courses and some are free.
Forwarded from GWAHS Libraries Blog.

Cochrane Changes

Cochrane has launched a new and improved interface and article display for Cochrane Reviews and Cochrane Protocols. Read about the changes here or look at the new site on CIAP under Evidence-Based Practice.

What's new in the Australasian Resuscitation Guidelines 2010

The latest issue of Emergency Medicine Australasia, Vol 23 Issue 4, August 2011 focuses on what's new in the Guidelines from both the Australian Resuscitation Council and the New Zealand Resuscitation Council. You can access the full text of this issue via CIAP or check with your Librarian.

Making shared decision-making a reality: No decision about me, without me

The paper outlines the importance of communication skills and sets out how clinicians might approach consultations to arrive at shared decisions. It also suggests that tools that help patients in making decisions are just as important as guidelines for clinicians. In England the government wants to place patients’ needs, wishes and preferences at the heart of clinical decision-making. The 56 page paper from the Kings Fund, is available to download here.

Emergency department self-harm presentations

This new clinical tool has been developed in New Zealand to allow clinicians to self-audit the care of people presenting with self-harm. It has come out of the Prevention of Self-Harm and Suicide Project, which in turn came out of the development of the assessment and management of people at risk of suicide. The tool focuses on four areas identified as important in evidence-based guidance: access, assessment, discharge and follow-up.
The tool can be accessed as an eBook or pdf here.

Precarious housing and health inequalities: what are the links?

This report presents summary research findings from the quantitative and qualitative components of the VicHealth funded study that explored the relationship between precarious housing and health.

Dental decay among Australian children

The Child Dental Health Survey 2005-06 provides information on the oral health of children attending school dental services in Australia, and shows that decay is relatively common in Australian children. This report "Dental decay Among Australian Children" was written by Diep Ha from the Dental Statistics and Research Unit, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It found nearly half children aged 5-6 years (48.7%) had a history of dental decay in the deciduous teeth (also known as baby teeth). Likewise, nearly half of children aged 12 years (45.1%) had a history of decay in the permanent teeth. Young children from the lowest socioeconomic areas had about 70% more dental decay than children from the highest socioeconomic areas.

The impact of telehealth and telecare on clients of the Transition Care Program (TCP)

This report outlines the findings of a randomised controlled trial of Telehealth and Telecare in the management of frail older people who are receiving post-acute care in their own homes under the Transition Care Program (TCP). Results of this study demonstrate numerous benefits to clients receiving post-acute care augmented by Telehealth and Telecare solutions. In particular, clients experienced improvements in personal wellbeing, particularly in perceptions of health, safety and future security. The Project Research Team was from Southern Cross University and was funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.

Australian adults use complementary and alternative medicine

A study has been done analysising the Australian National Health Survey database in relation to Australian adults use complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of chronic illness. The objectives of this study were to identify the prevalence of the use of vitamin/mineral supplements or natural/herbal remedies, concurrent use of pharmaceutical medication, and to profile those most likely to use these complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in the treatment of five chronic conditions identified as national health priorities (asthma, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, heart or circulatory condition) within the Australian adult population.
An article discussing the survey results has been published in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health: August 2011, 34(5) p. 384-90.
The journal is available full text on CIAP or check with your health Library.

Children's health and wellbeing report

Headline indicators for children's health, development and wellbeing, 2011 provides the latest available information on how Australia's children aged 0-12 years are faring according to the 19 Children's Headline Indicators  which were designed to help guide and evaluate policy development by measuring progress on agreed priority areas for children, and have been endorsed by Ministerial Councils for health, community and disability services, and education.

The report indicates that Australian children are faring well, but results vary between states and territories, and across particular population groups, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and those in remote or socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.  For example, indigenous children were 2-3 times as likely to be of low birthweight, to die as infants, to die from injury, and to be developmentally vulnerable at school entry.  Children living in remote areas were 40-50% less likely to meet minimum literacy and numeracy standards, and 30% more likely to be born with low birthweight or to be overweight or obese in childhood. 

Developmental disabilities and mental health podcast

The NHMRC publishes podcasts on its website from time to time.  The most recent one is Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health - an interview with Professor Stewart Einfeld, from the University of Sydney.

Professor Einfeld discusses the role of parents in coping with their developmentally disabled children.  They need assistance in dealing with both physical and behavioural challenges and Einfeld's research involves a parent training method which will hopefully reduce the public health burden of mental health problems in young people with developmental disabilities.

Autism in Australia 2009

4428.0 - Autism in Australia 2009, has just been released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It aims to present an overview of the prevalence of autism in Australia and the impact it has on the everyday lives of those with the condition. 

The report includes diagnoses changes, state and territory data for the epidemiology of autism, education and labour force participation and the need and receipt of assistance.  The data indicated that people with autism were "struggling with economic participation, with lower levels of post-school qualifications and labour force participation compared to other people with disabilities."  It concludes, "Autism is a very restrictive condition requiring a high level of support on a daily basis. While schools in Australia are providing some support to help children with the condition, 2009 data indicates more needs to be done to help them into further education and to the labour force."