Research

The high rate of injuries and fatalities among paramedics is a serious public health issue

Brian J Maguire DPH, MSAEMT-P · Peter F O’Meara BHA, MPP, PhD · Richard F Brightwell PhD, BSc(Hons), PGCertEd · Barbara J O’Neill BSNRN-OCN · Gerard J Fitzgerald MD, FACEM, FRACMA

Although good for patient safety, introducing a short-stay unit did not increase overall bed capacity

Patrick T Russell MD, FRACP · Paul Hakendorf BSc, MPH · Campbell H Thompson MD, DPhil, FRACP

Over 40% of GPs would like to reduce their working hours, but only about a quarter of these have managed to do so

Richard Norman PhD · Jane P Hall BA, PhD

Linking data improves monitoring of hospital performance and identification of patients at risk

Mikaela L Jorgensen BAppSc(SpPath)(Hons) · Jane M Young MB BS, PhD, FAFPHM · Timothy A Dobbins BMath, PhD · Michael J Solomon MB BCh, MSc(ClinEpi), FRACS

Relationship between hospital volume and outcomes supports the consolidation of oesophagogastric cancer surgery

Ross C Smith MB BS, MD, FRACS · Nicola Creighton MAppStats · Reginald V Lord MB BS, MD, FRACS · Neil D Merrett MB BS, FRACS · Gregory W Keogh MB BS, FRACS · Winston S Liauw MB BS, MMedSci, FRACP · David C Currow BMed, MPH, FRACP

Fewer women receive information and counselling about emergency contraception from their GP

Danielle Mazza MD, FRACGP · Christopher M Harrison BPsych(Hons), MSocHlth · Angela J Taft BA, MPH, PhD · Helena C Britt BA, PhD · Melissa Hobbs RN, MPH, PhD · Kay Stewart BPharm(Hons), PhD · Safeera Hussainy BPharm(Hons), PhD, GCHE · Bianca R Brijnath BA(Hons), PhD

Text message surveillance of vaccine safety has the capacity to complement passive reporting systems

Alan Leeb MB BCh, DCH, FRACGP · Annette K Regan MPH · Ian J Peters BA · Candice Leeb MB BS, DCH · Gregory Leeb · Paul V Effler MD, MPH, FAFPHM

Older patients are showing improved hospital survival without longer stays and with most returning home

Graeme J Duke MD, FCICM, FANZCA · Anna Barker MPthy(Geriatrics), PhD · Cameron I Knott FRACP, FCICM · John D Santamaria MD, FRACP, FCICM

MDR-TB remains uncommon in WA, but the challenges associated with managing it are being increasingly recognised

Joshua R Francis BAppSc(MedSc), MB BS, FRACP · Christopher C Blyth MB BS, FRACP, FRCPA · Sarah Colby MB BS · Joanna M Fagan MPH · Justin Waring MB BS, FRACP

Good protection is provided within the first 4 years, but wanes thereafter

Sarah L Sheridan BMed, MPH, MAppEpid · Bradley J McCall MB BS, MPH, FAFPHM · Craig A Davis MAppEpi, MAppSc, BA · Jennifer M B Robson FRACP, FRCPA · Brynley P Hull BSc(Hons), MPH · Christine E Selvey MB BS, MSc · Robert S Ware PhD · Keith Grimwood MB ChB, FRACP, MD · Stephen B Lambert MB BS, FAFPHM, PhD

Small drops in the salt content of fast foods are encouraging, but more action is needed

Julianne Garcia MPH · Elizabeth K Dunford PhD · Johan Sundstrom PhD · Bruce C Neal MB ChB, MRCP, PhD

A 2-year national survey confirms a significant rise in rates and finds a quarter of cases were community-acquired

Claudia Slimings BSc, PGDipHlthSci, PhD · Paul Armstrong BE(Min), MB BS, MApplEpi · Wendy D Beckingham BHSc(Nurs), GradCertInfectControl, MClinNurs · Ann L Bull BSc(Hons), MAppEpid, PhD · Lisa Hall BTech(Hons), PhD · Karina J Kennedy MB BS, FRACP, FRCPA · John Marquess BSc, MPH · Rebecca McCann RN, BSc(Nurs) · Andrea Menzies RN, BNursSci, GradCertInfectControlNurs · Brett G Mitchell PhD, MAdvPrac, BN · Michael J Richards MB BS, FRACP · Paul C Smollen MN, MPH, ICC · Lauren Tracey BHlthSc, MPH · Irene J Wilkinson BSc(Hons), MPH · Fiona L Wilson DipAppSci(Nurs), GradDipAdvNsg(ID), SICC · Leon J Worth MB BS, FRACP, PhD · Thomas V Riley PhD, FRCPath, FSc(RCPA)

Continuous surveillance showed a significant reduction in rates during the first 3 years

Leon J Worth MB BS, FRACP, PhD · Tim Spelman MB BS, BSc, GradCert(Stats) · Ann L Bull PhD · Michael J Richards MB BS, FRACP, MD

There are signs that the prevalence of whipworm infection in the NT is declining but more can be done

Amy L Crowe MB BS · Pam Smith · Linda Ward BAppSci, MMedSci · Bart J Currie FRACP, FAFPHM, DTM+H · Rob Baird MB BS, FRACP, FRCPA

Out of over half a million arrivals at Sydney Airport, only three were confirmed to have influenza A

Praveena J Gunaratnam BA, MPH · Sean Tobin BM BS, MPH, FAFPHM · Holly Seale BSc, MPH, PhD · Andrew Marich MB BS, MPH, DCH · Jeremy McAnulty MB BS, MPH, FAFPHM

Timely study with pressure on funders to provide evidence of wider impacts of research

Claire Donovan MA, BA(Hons), DPhil · Linda Butler BEcon · Alison J Butt BSc(Hons), PhD · Teresa H Jones BSc, MSc · Stephen R Hanney PhD, MA, BSc(SocSci)

Clenbuterol use for body building and slimming has increased dramatically, often with dangerous consequences

Jonathan Brett MB BS(Hons), BMedSci(Hons) · Andrew H Dawson MB BS, FRCP, FRACP · Jared A Brown BPharm, MPH, GradDipClinEpi(ClinTox)

StEPS program is close to achieving its aim of offering vision screening to at least 90% of 4-year-olds in NSW

Stephanie J Blows MB BS, MPH(Hons), PhD · Elisabeth P Murphy MB BS(Hons), MPaed, FAFPHM · Frank J Martin MB BS, FRANZCO, FRACS · Robyn M Davies DipAppSci(Orth), GCertPubSecMgmt

Clinicians should exercise discretion and check renal function regularly when prescribing lithium

Milton Roxanas MB BS, FRANZCP · Blair S Grace PhD, BSc · Charles R P George MB BS, PhD, FRACP

Has access to expert risk stratification and early invasive management closed the gap for rural patients?

Philip A Tideman MB BS, FRACP · Rosy Tirimacco BSc · David P Senior MB BS, MSc, FACRRM · John J Setchell PhD, BM BS · Luan T Huynh MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Rosanna Tavella BSc, PhD · Philip E G Aylward MA, BM BCh, PhD · Derek P B Chew MB BS, MPH, FRACP

Good diagnostic accuracy could have a major impact on health service delivery

William A Parsonage DM, MRCP, FRACP · Jaimi H Greenslade BPsych(Hons), PhD · Christopher J Hammett MB ChB, FRACP · Arvin Lamanna MB BS, FRACP · Jillian R Tate BSc(Hons), MSc · Jacobus P Ungerer MB ChB, MMed, FRCPA · Kevin Chu MB BS, MSc · Martin Than MB BS · Anthony F T Brown MB ChB · Louise Cullen MB BS

Victorian data show a concerning increase in chlamydia positivity over time, particularly in young women

Megan S C Lim PhD, BBiomedSci(Hons) · Carol El-Hayek BSc, MEpi · Jane L Goller RN, MPH, MHlthSci · Christopher K Fairley PhD · Phuong L T Nguyen BBiomedSci(Hons) · Rochelle A Hamilton MHlthSci · Dorothy J Henning GD-ADOLHW, MNurs · Kathleen M McNamee MB BS, FRACGP, MEpi · Margaret E Hellard FRACP, FAFPHM, PhD · Mark A Stoove BAAppSci(Hons), PhD

If GPs offered chlamydia testing to all young adults, rates of diagnosis and treatment would be much higher

Anna H Yeung BSc(Hons), MPH · Meredith Temple-Smith BSc, MPH, DHSc · Christopher K Fairley MB BS, PhD · Alaina M Vaisey BSc, MPH · Rebecca Guy PhD · Matthew G Law MA, MSc, PhD · Nicola Low MD, FFPH, MSc · Amie L Bingham BA(Hons), BSc, MPH · Jane Gunn MB BS, PhD · John Kaldor PhD · Basil Donovan MD, FAFPHM, FAChSHM · Jane S Hocking MPH, MHSc(PHP), PhD

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevalence has remained high despite an apparent drop in injecting drug use

Joanne M Reekie PhD, MPhil, BSc · Michael H Levy MB BS, MPH, FAFPHM · Alun H Richards MB BCh, FAFPHM, FAChAM · Christopher J Wake MB BCh, MRCP, MForensMed · Deborah A Siddall AdDipCommServ, DipCommEduc, DipAppSc · Holly M Beasley BSc, PostGradDip(IntHealth) · Shalin Kumar MHlthSc, MAppMan · Tony G Butler MSc, MSc, PhD