Topics
Social determinants of health
Decentralised COVID‐19 molecular point‐of‐care testing: lessons from implementing a primary care‐based network in remote Australian communities
The First Nations COVID-19 molecular point-of-care (POC) testing program was part of the Australian pandemic response, ensuring equitable testing access and minimising diagnosis delays. To inform future pandemic preparedness, we reviewed the POC framework to provide key recommendations.
Belinda Hengel · Rebecca J Guy · Dawn Casey · Lorraine Anderson · Kirsty Smith · Kelly Andrewartha · Tanya D Applegate · Amit Saha · Philip Cunningham · Lucas DeToca · William D Rawlinson · Marianne Martinello · Annie Tangey · Prital Patel · Mark DS Shephard · Susan Matthews · Louise Causer
National consensus statement on opioid agonist treatment in custodial settings
Introduction: Opioid use and dependence are prevalent among incarcerated people, contributing to elevated rates of overdose and other harms in this population. Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) has been shown to be an effective intervention to mitigate these risks. However, challenges to health care implementation in the custodial sector result in suboptimal and variable access to OAT in prisons nationally. Main recommendations: Among a national multidisciplinary expert panel, we conducted a modified Delphi study that yielded 19 recommendations to government, relevant health authorities and custodial health services. These recommendations cover five core domains: induction or continuation of OAT, OAT options and administration, transition of care to the community, special populations, and organisational support. Key recommendations include prompt recognition and treatment of opioid withdrawal, active linkage to community‐based OAT providers upon release, and ensuring appropriate organisational support through local protocols, adequate funding, and monitoring of key program indicators. Changes in management as a result of this statement: This consensus statement addresses a significant gap in national policy on OAT in Australian prisons. The recommendations, finalised in July 2024, set forth best practice standards grounded in evidence and expert consensus. We expect that implementing these recommendations will enhance the quality, consistency and continuity of OAT both within prison and upon release. Optimising OAT provision is crucial for improving health outcomes and addressing the risk of overdose, which is the leading cause of death among people released from prison.
Jocelyn Chan · Jon Cook · Michael Curtis · Adrian J Dunlop · Ele Morrison · Suzanne Nielsen · Rebecca J Winter · Thileepan Naren
Social inequalities in eligibility rates and use of the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme, 2016–22: an administrative data analysis
We found inequalities in NDIS access for applicants with physical, psychosocial, and unclassified disability types, particularly for women and girls
George Disney · Yi Yang · Peter Summers · Alexandra Devine · Helen Dickinson · Anne M Kavanagh
Use of ChatGPT to obtain health information in Australia, 2024: insights from a nationally representative survey
An estimated that 9.9% of Australian adults asked ChatGPT health-related questions in the first half of 2024
Julie Ayre · Erin Cvejic · Kirsten J McCaffery
Future Healthy Countdown 2030: from passive trickle‐down to active participation for improved health and wellbeing of children, young people and future generations
The Future Healthy Countdown 2030 creates a platform of evidence, data, policy action and accountability that supports allies to advocate for policy change that will improve the health and wellbeing of Australian children and young people
Kevin Kapeke · Anne Hollonds · Susan Maury
The Future Healthy Countdown 2030 consensus statement: core policy actions and measures to achieve improvements in the health and wellbeing of children, young people and future generations
The Countdown aims to drive change and ultimately hold politicians and policy makers accountable for their choices to value, or not to value, children and young people in our society
Kate Lycett · Hannah Lane · Georgie Frykberg · Susan Maury · Carolyn Wallace · Luisa Taafua · Bernie Morris · Anne Hollonds · Pasi Sahlberg · Kevin Kapeke · Ngiare Brown · Jordan Cory · Peter D Sly · Craig A Olsson · Fiona J Stanley · Anna MH Price · Planning Saw · Khalid Muse · Peter S Azzopardi · Susan M Sawyer · Rebecca Glauert · Marketa Reeves · Roslyn Dundas · Sandro Demaio · Rosemary Calder · Sharon R Goldfeld
Safeguarding the health and wellbeing of transgender young people
Trans youth are an increasingly marginalised population; action must be taken to safeguard their health
Carmen Pace · Alessandra Chinsen · Ada S Cheung · S. Rachel Skinner · Ken W Knight · Michelle A Tollit · Michelle M Telfer · Ken C Pang
Participation of Indigenous children and young people to improve health and wellbeing
Society must not only uphold Indigenous children and young people’s rights, but also value their strengths and the expertise they hold about their own lives
Jordan Cory (Kamilaroi) · Hope Kuchel (Barkindji) · Bonnie Dukakis (Gunditjmara) · Rhian Dicker (Palawa) · Sandra Eades (Noongar)
Guidelines for the design and implementation of youth participation initiatives to safeguard mental health and wellbeing
The youth participation guidelines aim to improve youth participation initiatives while safeguarding the mental health of participating young people
Kailin Guo · Danica Meas · Dominik Mautner · Fulin Yan · Imeelya Al‐Hadaya · Amarina Donohoe‐Bales · Lily Teesson · Stephanie R Partridge · Magenta B Simmons · Mariam Mandoh · Emma L Barrett · Maree R Teesson · Scarlett Smout · Marlee Bower
Co‐designing integrated child and family hubs for families experiencing adversity
Participatory approaches to health service design, involving genuine partnerships with children, young people and families, are feasible with sufficient investment in resource and workforce skills
Alicia Montgomery · Suzy Honniset · Teresa Hall · Santuri Rungan · Ally Drinkwater · Rebecca Bosward · Tammy Meyers Morris · Huei Ming Liu · Valsamma Eapen · John Eastwood · Raghu Lingam · Harriet Hiscock · Susan Woolfenden · Sharon R Goldfeld
Medicare‐subsidised mental health service use during the first 15 years of life in New South Wales: a population cohort study
Additional work is needed to ensure equitable access to mental health services for all young people in Australia
Oliver J Watkeys · Kimberlie Dean · Kristin R Laurens · Vaughan J Carr · Melissa J Green
Custodial dermatology for First Nations peoples: a niche service caring for incarcerated communities
To address skin health of First Nations children and adults in prison, a First Nations-led dermatology clinic is addressing the right to equitable health care.
Dana RML Slape (Larrakia) · Penelope A Abbott · Kelvin M Kong (Worimi)
Persistent symptoms after COVID‐19: an Australian stratified random health survey on long COVID
Improved community understanding of long COVID is required, and health systems need to develop clear pathways for treating patients, especially for those with persistent impairment
Alex Holmes · Lance Emerson · Louis B Irving · Emma Tippett · Jeffrey M Pullin · Julie Young · David A Watters · Adina Hamilton
Gender affirmation testosterone therapy, Australia, 2021–22: a review of PBS dispensing data
Knowing how many people use testosterone for gender affirmation is important for service provision and quality of care
Brendan J Nolan · Sav Zwickl · Jeffrey D Zajac · Ada S Cheung
Changes in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Australia, 2005–2019, overall and by socio‐demographic characteristics: a population‐based study
The incidence of type 2 diabetes in Australian adults declined during 2010–2019 across all age, sex, socio-economic disadvantage, and remoteness groups
Dianna J Magliano · Lei Chen · Jedidiah I Morton · Oyunchimeg Buyadaa · Agus Salim · Jonathan E Shaw
Intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion: cross‐sectional study of women attending a Perth sexual health clinic, 2019–20
Effective screening programs are needed to recognise, respond to, and refer for support people at risk of intimate partner violence
Mariana Galrao · Catherine B Brooker · Alison Creagh · Richelle Douglas · Sarah Smith
Leave no‐one behind: reducing health disparities for women experiencing homelessness in Australia
Poor health outcomes and barriers to health care access are underscored by the struggles of homelessness itself, along with many social determinants of health, including trauma, poverty and social exclusion
Lisa J Wood · Rhiannon C Villiers
The health and economic burden of breathlessness, Australia, 2019: a national survey
Breathlessness imposes major burdens on individuals, the health care system, and the economy
Anthony P Sunjaya · Leanne M Poulos · Gian Luca Di Tanna · Thomas Lung · Guy B Marks · Helen K Reddel · Christine R Jenkins
“Social prescribing” another stolen Indigenous concept?
Uday N Yadav · Rosemary Wyber · Fiona Cornforth (Wuthathi/Maluilgal) · Raymond W Lovett (Wongaibon/Ngiyampaa)
The loneliness epidemic: a holistic view of its health and economic implications in older age
The loneliness epidemic affecting older people is a costly public health concern
Lidia Engel · Cathrine Mihalopoulos
Priorities for planetary health equity in Australia
Preventive action is needed to address the underlying drivers of climate change and health inequities
Sharon Friel · Katherine Trebeck · Nicholas Frank · Sandro Demaio · Megan Arthur · Chelsea Hunnisett · Francis Nona
The resurgence of congenital syphilis in Australia: novel approaches and sustained, effective public health efforts are required
Coordinated antenatal and sexual health care policies, clear guidelines, and broad education programs could reduce the rate
Stephanie Bond · Marcus Y Chen
Health care service use by people diagnosed with invasive melanoma in Queensland: a benefit incidence analysis
Ross S Bailie · Megan Passey · Edward Jegasothy
Health care service use by people diagnosed with invasive melanoma in Queensland: a benefit incidence analysis
Daniel Lindsay · David C Whiteman · Louisa G Collins