Article Types
Research
Removing the interview for medical school selection is associated with gender bias among enrolled students
There’s been a marked increase in the proportion of male medical students since interviews were ended.
David Wilkinson BSc(Hons), MB ChB, PhD · Mavourneen G Casey BA(Hons), MEd, PhD · Diann S Eley BSc, MSc, PhD
The cost of teaching an intern in New South Wales
Most junior doctors’ informal and formal education doesn’t add up to much — are we investing enough in them?
R Kim Oates MD, DSc, FRACP · Kerry J Goulston MD, FRACP · Craig M Bingham BA, DipEd, MA · Owen F Dent PhD
Impact of the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia on work location of medical graduates
Does completing a year in the bush encourage graduates to join the rural medical workforce?
Denese E Playford PhD · Sharon F Evans PhD, AStat · David N Atkinson MB BS, MPH · Kirsten A Auret MB BS, FRACP · Geoffrey J Riley AM, FRANZCP, FRACGP
headspace — Australia’s innovation in youth mental health: who are the clients and why are they presenting?
Objectives: To provide the first national profile of the characteristics of young people (aged 12–25 years) accessing headspace centre services — the Australian Government’s innovation in youth mental health service delivery — and investigate whether headspace is providing early service access for adolescents and young adults with emerging mental health problems.Design and participants: Census of all young people accessing a headspace centre across the ...
Debra J Rickwood BA(Hons), PhD, FAPS · Nic R Telford BSS, MSS · Alexandra G Parker BA(Hons), MClinPsych, PhD · Chris J Tanti BA, BSW, AMP · Patrick D McGorry MD, PhD, FRANZCP
Impact of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in people aged 65 years or older
A 35% drop in invasive pneumococcal disease has been found in older people after 6-7 years of vaccine use
Robert I Menzies BAppSc, MPH, PhD · Sanjay H Jayasinghe MB BS, MSc · Vicki L Krause MD, DTM · Clayton K Chiu MB BS, MPH · Peter B McIntyre MB BS, PhD, FRACP
Association between tobacco plain packaging and Quitline calls: a population-based, interrupted time-series analysis
Tobacco plain packaging had a more sustained effect on increasing calls to Quitline than graphic health warnings
Jane M Young MPH, PhD, FAFPHM · Ingrid Stacey BSc(Hons) · Timothy A Dobbins BMath, PhD · Sally Dunlop PhD · Anita L Dessaix MPH · David C Currow BMed, MPH, FRACP
Potentially avoidable neonatal retrievals in New South Wales: a retrospective analysis
A firmer hand on elective caesarean section policy could reduce costs and morbidity
Himanshu P Popat MB BS, FRACP, MMed(ClinEpi) · Margaret Wall BA, MSS · Kathryn A Browning Carmo BMED, FRACP, CCPU · Andrew Berry FRACP
Maladministrations in nuclear medicine: revelations from the Australian Radiation Incident Register
Maladministrations occur infrequently, with low patient risk, and most commonly due to incorrect preparation and dispensation of radiopharmaceuticals
George S Larcos FRACP, DDU, MPH · Lee T Collins MSc · Andrew Georgiou PhD · Johanna I Westbrook BAppSc, MHA, PhD
Workplace-based assessment for international medical graduates: at what cost?
Weighing up the worth of a local program recommended for national rollout
Balakrishnan (Kichu) R Nair AM, MD, FRACP, FRCP · Andrew M Searles BEc, MMedStats, PhD · Rod I Ling PhD, MA, BCom · Julie Wein DipBus(Man) · Kathy Ingham DipTraining
Do outlier inpatients experience more emergency calls in hospital? An observational cohort study
Outlier patients may be at risk if their therapeutic and monitoring needs are only met on their home ward
John D Santamaria MD BS, FRACP, FCICM · Antony E Tobin MB BS, FRACP, FCICM · Matthew H Anstey MB BS, FCICM, FACEM · Roger J Smith BN, MPH · David A Reid
Carrying weapons and intent to harm among Victorian secondary school students in 1999 and 2009
Objective: To examine comparable survey data across 10 years to assess whether rates of self-reported weapon carrying and intent to harm others have increased as suggested in reported trends in violent offences.Design, setting and participants: Population-based surveys administered to Victorian secondary school students in 1999 (8984 students) and 2009 (10 273 students) attending government, Catholic and independent schools.Main outcome measures: Student self-reports of carrying a ...
Sheryl A Hemphill BBSc(Hons), PhD · Michelle A Tollit BPsych(Hons), MEdPsych · Helena Romaniuk BSc, MSc, PhD · Joanne Williams BSc(Hons), MAppEpid, PhD · John W Toumbourou MA, PhD · Lyndal Bond PhD · George C Patton MD, MB BS, FRANZCP
Coping support factors among Australians affected by terrorism: 2002 Bali bombing survivors speak
Survivors of terrorism need counselling and easily accessible government support
Garry J Stevens BSc(Hons), MClinPsych · Julie C Dunsmore BSc(Psych)(Hons), MPH, MAPS · Kingsley E Agho BSc(Hons), PhD, MPH · Melanie R Taylor BSc(Hons), PhD, CPsychol · Alison L Jones MD, FRCP, FRCPE · Beverley Raphael MB BS, MD, FRANZCP
Use of Royal Darwin Hospital emergency department by immigration detainees in 2011
Half of asylum seekers needed ED care in 2011, suggesting primary health care in closed detention is lacking
Adrienne K Deans MB BS, FRACGP, FACEM · Clare J Boerma MB BS · James Fordyce MB BS, MPH, FACEM · Mark De Souza MB BS, FACEM · Didier J Palmer FRCP, FRCS, FACEM · Joshua S Davis MB BS, FRACP, PhD
Medical graduates becoming rural doctors: rural background versus extended rural placement
What stops students losing interest in a rural career?
Tyler R Clark BA, MA · Saul B Freedman FCSANZ, FACC, FESC · Amanda J Croft BBus(AgrCom) · Hazel E Dalton BSc(Hons), PhD · Georgina M Luscombe BSc(Hons), PhD · Anthony M Brown MPH, FAFPHM, FAFOEM · David J Tiller MB BS, FRACP · Michael S Frommer MB BS, FAFPHM, FAFOEM
Four centuries of suicide in opera
Western opera is, perhaps not surprisingly, rife with suicidal deeds and thoughts
Saxby A Pridmore MB BS, MD, FRANZCP · Stephane Auchincloss MB BS, MRCP, FRANZCP · Nerissa L Soh BMedSc, MNutrDiet, PhD · Garry J Walter MB BS, PhD, FRANZCP
Lung cancer in Victoria: are we making progress?
There is room for improvement in the management of patients with lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of death from cancer in this country. Tissue diagnosis, active treatment for all patients, postsurgical adjuvant chemotherapy and case discussion at multidisciplinary meetings would all help, as would screening those at high risk to detect cancers earlier.
Paul L R Mitchell MB ChB, FRACP, MD · Vicky J Thursfield BSc, GradDipAppStat · David L Ball MD, FRANZCR · Gary E Richardson MB BS, FRACP · Louis B Irving MB BS, FRACP, FRACGP · Yvonne Torn-Broers BA(Hons) · Graham G Giles BSc, Msc, PhD · Gavin M Wright MB BS, FRACS
Preventing breast and ovarian cancers in high-risk BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers
The use of risk-reducing surgery and medications by women who carry mutations known to predispose them to cancers of the breast, ovary, fallopian tubes and peritoneum is not as common as might be expected; this means that the full potential of genetic testing is not being realised.
Ian M Collins MB, MSc, FRACP · Roger L Milne BSW, MSc, PhD · Prue C Weideman GradDipHealthPromEd · Sue-Anne McLachlan MB BS, MSc, FRACP · Michael L Friedlander PhD, FRACP · Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer · John L Hopper PhD · Kelly-Anne Phillips MB BS(Hons), MD, FRACP
Low awareness of adverse drug reaction reporting systems: a consumer survey
Although consumers have been able to directly report possible adverse drug reactions to the Therapeutic Goods Administration since 1964, most such reports still come from health professionals and pharmaceutical companies. It seems that lack of awareness of the reporting mechanisms is a major limiting factor for consumers, and promotion and education of reporting systems are required.
Jane Robertson BPharm, MMedSc, PhD · David A Newby BPharm, GradDipEpi, PhD
Chiropractic Observation and Analysis Study (COAST): providing an understanding of current chiropractic practice
A cross-sectional study using the BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health) methods for general practice assessed the clinical practices of chiropractors in Victoria and found that they manage a range of conditions, mostly musculoskeletal-related. This study’s results can be used by stakeholders of the chiropractic profession in workforce development, education and health care policy.
Simon D French PhD, MPH, BAppSc(Chiro) · Melanie J Charity MSc, BSc · Kirsty Forsdike BA(Hons), PgDipLaw, PgDipLegalPractice · Jane M Gunn PhD, FRACGP, MB BS · Barbara I Polus BAppSc(Chiro), MSc, PhD · Bruce F Walker DC, MPH, DrPH · Patty Chondros BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD · Helena C Britt BA, PhD
Antimicrobial stewardship in Victorian hospitals: a statewide survey to identify current gaps
Public regional and private hospitals need more antimicrobial stewardship support, particularly in the areas of policy development, antimicrobial approval systems, prescription review and auditing.
Rodney S James BMedSci, BMed, FRCPA · Kylie A McIntosh BPharm(Hons), PhD · Susan B Luu BPharm, MPH · Menino O Cotta BPharm · Caroline Marshall MB BS, FRACP, PhD · Karin A Thursky MB BS, FRACP, MD · Kirsty L Buising MB BS, FRACP, MD
The sources of pharmaceuticals for problematic users of benzodiazepines and prescription opioids
This study shows that different approaches may be required to reduce unsanctioned use of different pharmaceuticals due to differences in how drugs are sourced. The data also highlight that plans to monitor only Schedule 8 benzodiazepines and prescription opioids may have limited effects on prescription opioid users who use non-prescribed sources and may represent a lost opportunity for reducing unsanctioned benzodiazepine use.
Suzanne Nielsen BPharm, BPharmSc(Hons), PhD · Raimondo Bruno PhD · Louisa Degenhardt BA(Hons), MClinPsych, PhD · Mark A Stoove PhD, BAAppSci(Hons) · Jane A Fischer BA, MSPD · Susan J Carruthers MPH, PhD · Nicholas Lintzeris MB BS, FAChAM, PhD
Psychological distress and streamlined BreastScreen follow-up assessment versus standard assessment
Women attending streamlined StepDown clinics did not experience significantly different levels of psychological burden than women attending the standard assessment clinic. However, those who felt uneasy about returning to screening were less likely to do so, irrespective of their baseline likelihood of attending screening or assessment clinic type.
Kerry A Sherman PhD · Caleb J Winch BPsych(Hons) · Natacha Borecky MB BS, Doctor of Radiology (Belgium) · John Boyages MB BS(Hons), FRANZCR, PhD
Australia is continuing to make progress against cancer, but the regional and remote disadvantage remains
A comparison of mortality rates in regional and remote areas with those in metropolitan areas from 2001 to 2010 found 8878 excess cancer deaths; no improvement in age-standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) in men, and an increase in SMRs in women; and a slower decrease in the age-standardised cancer death rate in regional and remote areas, compared with metropolitan areas.
Michael D Coory MB BS, PhD, FAFPHM · Tsun Ho BE(Hons), PhD · Susan J Jordan MB BS, PhD
Nature and outcomes of the increased incidence of colorectal malignancy after liver transplantation in Australasia
Objectives: To examine whether incidence of colorectal malignancy is increased in Australasian liver transplant recipients compared with the general population of Australia, and to assess the characteristics and outcomes of colorectal malignancy in this patient group.Design, setting and patients: Data on patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) and had a diagnosis of de-novo colorectal malignancy after transplantation during the period ...
Deborah J Verran MB ChB, FRACS · Marie H Mulhearn BAppSc (Nursing), GradDipHPEd · Pamela J Dilworth RN · Glenda A Balderson BSc · Stephen Munn MB ChB, FRACs · John W Chen MB BS, FRACS, PhD · Michael A Fink MB BS, FRACS · Michael D Crawford MB BS, FRACS, MMed · Geoffrey W McCaughan MB BS, PhD, FRACP
Human papillomavirus vaccine coverage among female Australian adolescents: success of the school-based approach
Objective: To describe quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage achieved in the HPV vaccination catch-up program for girls aged 12–17 years.Design: Analysis of data from the Australian National HPV Vaccination Program Register.Participants: Girls aged 12–17 years as at 30 June 2007.Main outcome measures: HPV vaccine coverage by dose (1, 2 and 3), age and state of residence, using Australian Bureau of ...
Julia M L Brotherton BMed(Hons), MPH(Hons), FAFPHM · Sharron L Murray RN, RM, GradDipChildHealth · Madeline A Hall MPH · Lynne K Andrewartha BHSc(Nur) · Carolyn A Banks · Dennis Meijer BA, MHL · Helen C Pitcher · Megan M Scully BSc(Nsg), DPH, MHA · Luda Molchanoff BN