Diabetic Medicine key papers

A number of free open access articles are available from the journal Diabetic Medicine. These include:

• Type 2 diabetes prevention / Hitman
• Diabetes prevention / Khunti & Davies
• Translating prevention programmes / Johnson et al.
• Identifying risk and preventing progression to Type 2 diabetes in vulnerable and disadvantaged adults / Taylor et al.
• Management of Raised Glucose / Herring                

Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric Surgery is now recognized as a very successful way for reducing body weight and many of the metabolic comorbidities associated with obesity. This selection of articles from the last 2 years reviews the outcomes of surgery on weight reduction, type 2 diabetes and other comorbidities as well as contrasting the effectiveness of differing surgical approaches.

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2010-11

A new report on alcohol and drug treatment services in Australia has been published. There are about 700 agencies providing treatment for alcohol and other drug issues in Australia. Alcohol was the most common principal drug of concern in most states and territories and counselling was the most common main treatment type in most states. Read or download the full AIHW report "Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2010-11".

Reachout.com

ReachOut.com is an Australian, online youth mental health and wellbeing service.It helps young Australians with information, support, tools and stories on everything from finding your motivation, through to getting through really tough times. The site has  tools and tips to make everyday life a little easier, and if you can’t get the help you need on ReachOut.com, it has links to a number of other services that exist for young people in Australia.

Diagnostic Imaging Pathways

The Diagnostic Imaging Pathways Group produces, updates and maintains the content of the Diagnostic Imaging Pathways (DIP) web-site. DIP is an evidence-based and consensus-based educational and decision support resource for clinicians, to guide them in their choice of the most appropriate diagnostic examinations in the correct sequence for a range of clinical cases.

3303.0 Causes of Death, Australia, 2011

This publication from the Australian Bureau of Statistics presents statistics on the number of deaths, for reference year by state or territory of Australia, sex, selected age groups, and cause of death classified to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD).  Causes of death statistics are key to understanding Australian society and health. The use of these statistics for demographic and health purposes provides significant information for the formulation and monitoring of health and other social policies. For example, causes of death information provides insight into the diseases and factors contributing to reduced life expectancy.

In Australia, causes of death statistics are recorded as both underlying cause, i.e. the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death; and multiple cause, i.e. all causes and conditions reported on the death certificate that contributed, were associated with or were the underlying cause of the death.
3303.0 Causes of Death, Australia, 2011

Dementia Care Resource and Training Network

The Dementia Care Resource and Training Network is a NSW Health online interactive site hosted by the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD). 
There are currently two online courses:  

• Acute Care of the Older Person aimed at Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses and Allied Health staff  (twelve weeks)
• Person Centred Care in the Community aimed at Assistants in Nursing and Personal Care attendants (four weeks). 

The courses are suitable for staff working in acute, community or residential aged care settings and are free to NSW Health staff.  Participants can access the program online 24 hours a day in their own time within the period set and it involves lessons, quizzes, forum posts and real time online chats. 

Borderline Personality Disorder - Practice Guideline

The Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Borderline Personality Disorder was developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and supports the government's commitment to improved mental health services.  The guide has been designed not only to improve the diagnosis, treatment and management of BPD, which affects 1% of the population, but to improve understanding and recognition of the condition in the wider community.  It includes 63 recommendations on diagnosis, management, and treatment and information for carers and families. 

Rheumatic heart disease in Australia report

Rheumatic heart disease and acute rheumatic fever in Australia: 1996-2012, published by the AIHW, examines and presents a range of data on acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Australia. It shows that ARF now occurs almost exclusively in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and that the prevalence of RHD is much higher among Indigenous people than other Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are also considerably more likely to be hospitalised with ARF or RHD, and to die from RHD. 

Cancer screening in Australia

The Cancer screening programs in Australia web update from the AIHW contains a fast-tracked release of the latest national participation data for Australia’s breast cancer and cervical screening programs for 2010 and 2011.  Almost 60% of Australian women aged 20-69 had a Pap test in 2010 or 2011, and 50% of women aged 50-69 had a mammogram.

Making Health Care Safer II - major US report

Making Health Care Safer II: AnUpdated Critical Analysis of the Evidence for Patient Safety Practices by PG Shekelle and others, has been published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in the US.   In 2001 the AHRQ published its first report, and this 955p follow-up has been co-authored by many of the original researchers, and has some important additions. 

A special supplement to the Annals of Internal Medicine features 10 articles on selected patient safety strategies featured in Making Health Care Safer II, so this makes a good summary source.  It includes articles on healthcare associated infection, falls prevention, medication safety and end on life care.  See your health library for access to the full text.

Annals of Internal Medicine 5 March 2013 158(5 pt 2), "Making health care safer :  a critical review of evidence supporting strategies to improve patient safety".

National core maternity indicators

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has issued the first report of ten national core maternity indicators for monitoring the quality of maternity care in Australia. Since 2004 and 2007 measurements, national rates have decreased for smoking in pregnancy, episiotomy among women having their first baby and giving birth vaginally and the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,750 grams at or after 40 weeks. However for some indicators, including induction of labour, caesarean section and instrumental vaginal birth, rates have increased and point to areas for possible further attention.
Download the full report here.

Dementia care in hospitals: Costs and strategies

This report by AIHW estimates the cost of caring for people with dementia in New South Wales hospitals, and presents strategies and practices being implemented in Australia and internationally that might improve outcomes for people with dementia and reduce care costs.The findings of the review of strategies suggest that a multifaceted and integrated approach between hospital, mental health, residential aged care and community services is most likely to ensure that dementia care is delivered in the most appropriate and beneficial setting for the patient.

Download the report for free.

Will It Work Here? A Decisionmaker's Guide to Adopting Innovations

The Guide helps users determine if an innovation would be a good fit—or an appropriate stretch—for their health care organization by asking a series of questions. It links users to actionable Web-based tools and presents case studies that illustrate how other organizations have addressed these questions. Users will be able to answer the four overarching questions the Guide poses:

• Does this innovation fit?

• Should we do it here?

• Can we do it here?

• How can we do it here?

Presented  by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality you can download the full guide here. On the AHRC Innovations Exchange they have also made available "How To Think About Evidence When Deciding Whether To Adopt an Innovation".

Gram-negative resistance, antimicrobial resistance and superbugs.

A number of articles in a recent issue of the Medical Journal of Australia discuss a worrying and now worldwide concern, the gram-negative resistance as a looming public health crisis. A major positive step has been taken by the Australian Government with the recent formation of the Antimicrobial Resistance Standing Committee, which reports to the Australian Health Protection Committee.

Gram-negative resistance: can we combat the coming of a new “Red Plague”? David F M Looke, Thomas Gottlieb, Cheryl A Jones and David L Paterson;  Med J Aust 2013; 198 (5): 243-244.

Other timely articles in the same MJA issue include, Antimicrobial resistance: global problems need global solutions by Susan Maddocks; and Call for global action to halt the superbug by Abdul Ghafur which discusses initiatives such as ReAct — Action on Antibiotic Resistance, World Alliance against Antibiotic Resistance, (WAAR), Antibiotic Action and the Chennai Declaration.
 

Preventing falls and fall-related injuries in older people

Cochrane has created a New Special Collection of four Cochrane Reviews on falls. Falling is a common problem in older people. Amongst people over the age of 65, around one in three living in the community, and around d half of those in care homes, fall each year. Falls used to be considered an inevitable consequence of aging, but this is not the case.
Click here to view all the Special Collections on Cochrane.

Prevalence of and interventions for mental health and alcohol and other drug problems amongst the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community: a review of the literature

This report summarises a vast literature in relation to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people and both mental health and alcohol and other drug problems. The report focuses on two aspects:

The prevalence of mental health (MH) disorders, and alcohol and other drug problems (AOD) among GLBT populations; and
Evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions to redress MH and AOD problems amongst GLBT groups.
Written and published by Alison Ritter, Francis Matthew-Simmons & Natacha Carragher, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
Drug Policy Modelling Program; MONOGRAPH 23

Stroke and Occupational Therapy

The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal has published a free virtual issue on Stroke and Occupational Therapy.

Gastroenterology, Malnutrition and Nutritional Support

From 2013, the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics publishes Virtual Issues, which are collections of related articles, offered as free access. The first of these virtual issues is on Gastroenterology, Malnutrition and Nutritional Support and features articles on cancers of the GI tract, inflammatory bowel disease and enteral feeding. You can also find the British Dietetic Association evidence-based guidelines for the dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults at this site.

Improving communication between acute and primary care

J. Oliver-Baxter and P. Bywood have written a paper titled Communication Between Health Professionals Across Sectors, published in the latest issue of Research Roundup, journal of the Primary Health Care Research & Information Service. The article explores the challenges and strategies for peak bodies in Australia to promote interactive communication involving timely, two-way exchange of pertinent clinical information directly between primary, acute and specialist care providers.

Vitamin D and food allergies - new research

Media attention last week was on a newly published study from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute which showed that a lack of vitamin D increases the likelihood threefold of food allergy in infants. Those infants with vitamin D insufficiency were also more likely to have multiple than single food allergies, with the odds increasing to ten times more likely among those with two or more food allergies.    

The study, Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with challenge-proven food allergy in infants by Katie Allen and others, involved 5276 12 month old infants.  The researchers also showed that the further people lived from the equator, the more likely they were to have food allergy, with children residing in Victoria and Tasmania having twice the odds of peanut allergy at age four or five and three times the odds of egg allergy than those in the northern states.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.  Published online 1 March 2013.  Please contact your library for the full text of the article.

Aged Care Workforce : final report 2012

This report provides detailed information about the workforce that delivers aged care to older Australians in both residential and community care. The data contained in the report was gathered as part of the third aged care workforce census and survey, funded by the Department of Health and Ageing and conducted by the National Institute of Labour Studies.

More than 240,000 workers are employed in direct care roles in the aged care sector. Of these, 147,000 work in residential facilities, and 93,350 in community outlets. The majority are women, and the average age of these workers is generally older than the national workforce. Job satisfaction is high across all areas except for pay.  The report details a significant skill shortage across the sector, especially in Registered Nurses. 

Aged Care Workforce : final report 2012 

People with a spinal cord injury - lifestyle research

Commissioned by Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA), "Research into maximising life choices of people with a spinal cord injury" involved a literature review, one-to-one interviews, roundtables and an on-line survey with 111 participants. The research participants said that physical and emotional wellbeing were fundamental to their ability to access opportunities and experience social inclusion. Furthermore, two-thirds of participants said the role of the family in terms of emotional, physical and financial support was the most important resource in being able to achieve goals.

Key implications that arise from the research are the need for support in maintaining their health and to enable their participation in family and social life.  There is also a need to improve their financial security and workforce participation. 

Dermatology on UpToDate

If you have access to the  UpToDate Database, you  may be interested to know that Dermatology has been added as a new specialty area.  The content covers all the major areas of dermatology: medical, paediatric and procedural.

Many staff at NSW Health can access UpToDate via an icon on their desktop, or check with your health library. 

Eat for health website

The Australian Department of Health and Ageing and the National Health and Medical Research Council have launched the Eat for Health website.  Here you can find advice about the amount and kinds of foods that we need to eat for health and wellbeing. There are links to some useful resources such as the Australian Dietary Guidelines, companion resources, food essentials, eating well advice and eat for health calculators.

Utilisation of services for diabetes care in the rural setting

This Australian quantitative study, Utilisation of multidisciplinary services for diabetes care in the rural setting, explored allied health care services by diabetics in rural NSW and investigated reasons for underutilisation.  25-40% of participants had never visited a diabetes educator, dietician or podiatrist for reasons mainly related to non-referral and lack of perceived need.  The authors describe how patients who do not access multidisciplinary services may expect their GP to fulfil multiple roles and may not understand the importance of the role of other practitioners. Recommendations for future practice include increasing the implementation of formal management plans and fostering awareness of the role and importance of allied health practitioners in diabetes management. 

Madden J, Barnard A, Owen C. (2013). Australian Journal of Rural Health, 21(1), 28-34

Women and genital cosmetic surgery

This Issues Paper by Jessica Malone from Women's Health Victoria, critically explores female genital cosmetic surgery to better understand what it is, who is undertaking it, and their reasons for doing so.

Women and genital cosmetic surgery notes that the incidence of female genital cosmetic surgery is increasing. This trend has been the subject of substantial analysis and opinion, but there is a lack of rigorous evidence on risks, efficacy, complications, and patient satisfaction. The author considers how both individual and sociocultural factors are likely to contribute to the trend, and how professional bodies, health professionals, and advocates might respond. It is intended as a starting point for further conversation, evidence-gathering, and action.

Impact of dementia on marriage

The journal Dementia has recently published an article by two researchers from the University of South Australia.  The impact of dementia on marriage : a qualitative systematic review appraised the literature on this subject and concluded that two major themes emerged.  The transition theme included relationship, roles and intimacy, and reflected the changes in the marriage relationship accompanying dementia.  The loss theme included losing a partner and losing a marriage.  The two themes were found to be interrelated.

The abstract of the article is freely available, but please contact your library for the full text.
Evans, D. Lee, E.  Dementia January 25, 2013, doi:10.1177/1471301212473882

Evidence on ageing and the loss of sight

The International Federation on Ageing has released a new report describing the health, social and economic burdens of vision loss on a global society that is rapidly ageing. The report, The high cost of low vision: the evidence on ageing and the loss of sight,  calls for increased public education and awareness programs, improved public policies and greater integration of preventive eye health interventions into public health systems. Vision loss is no longer an inevitable part of the ageing process, as people can now age with strong, healthy vision, given 21st-century innovations in diagnosis, biomedicine, nutrition, technology and preventive care.