Journal articles on the topic 'Beaches Victoria Health aspects'
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1
SOLBAKK, JAN HELGE. "Bays, Beaches, and Bioethical Barkings." Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 20, no. 2 (March 25, 2011): 185–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0963180110000836.
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From my flat on the eighth floor, I enjoy the panoramic view of the bay and beaches of Montevideo. Except for days of rain and stormy weather—which happen often in these months of winter—the beach is frequented by dogs and their masters and mistresses. I have a passion for dogs, and every morning and afternoon I take short breaks to watch from my window the playfulness of my four-feeted soulmates. They differ in race, color, and size, but from a bird’s-eye view, these differences are negligible, as are the differences in their behavior: they all stop to sniff and deposit their “biological fingerprints” at exactly the same places, they leap and jump around, they move back and forward in different directions, always close to water—a few of them even risk brief visits into the water—and always ahead of their guardians, though not too far away from them. Only occasionally do I observe barking confrontations. Often, however, I see them joined in ceremonial acts aimed at repeatedly outshining each other with regard to “depositional” pace and outreach.
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Despommier, Dickson. "Toxocariasis: Clinical Aspects, Epidemiology, Medical Ecology, and Molecular Aspects." Clinical Microbiology Reviews 16, no. 2 (April 2003): 265–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/cmr.16.2.265-272.2003.
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SUMMARY Toxocariasis is caused by a series of related nematode species (ascarids) that routinely infect dogs and cats throughout the world. The eggs from these ascarids are common environmental contaminants of human habitation, due largely to the fact that many kinds of dogs and cats serve as pets, while countless others run wild throughout the streets of most urban centers. The eggs, present in dog and cat feces, become infectious within weeks after they are deposited in the local environment (e.g., sandboxes, city parks, and public beaches, etc.). Humans, particularly children, frequently ingest these eggs by accident and become infected. Infection in humans, in contrast to their definitive hosts, remains occult, often resulting in disease caused by the migrating larval stages. Visceral larva migrans (VLM) and ocular larva migrans (OLM) are two clinical manifestations that result in definable syndromes and present as serious health problems wherever they occur. Diagnosis and treatment of VLM and OLM are difficult. These issues are summarized in this review, with emphasis on the ecology of transmission and control of spread to both humans and animals through public health initiatives employing treatment of pets and environmental intervention strategies that limit the areas that dogs and cats are allowed within the confines of urban centers.
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Moreno-Casasola, Patricia, M. Luisa Martínez, and Debora Lithgow. "New Beach Landscapes to Promote Social Distancing and Coastal Conservation during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic." Sustainability 13, no. 11 (June 1, 2021): 6268. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13116268.
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The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic that has altered practically all human activities worldwide. Since the pandemic started at the beginning of 2020, infections have fluctuated drastically over time. It is difficult to predict how this situation will evolve in the coming months/years or when a return to some semblance of 'normal' activity might occur. Because of global lock-up and distancing measures, the beaches, otherwise filled with tourists, first emptied and then had a reduced density of visitors owing to a wide variety of social-distancing measures. Therefore, new safety protocols need to include a wide range of aspects, such as epidemiological conditions, socioeconomic realities, and ecological contexts in which the pandemic occurs. Here, we propose new nature-based landscapes for sandy beaches to help maintain the social distancing of beach visitors while beaches and dunes are restored. When sufficient sediment is available, the maintenance and restoration of healthy beaches with incipient dunes and vegetation will help reduce contagion, promote human health, and recover natural ecosystems.
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Parkinson, Debra, Alyssa Duncan, Jaspreet Kaur, Frank Archer, and Caroline Spencer. "Gendered aspects of long-term disaster resilience in Victoria, Australia." January 2022 10.47389/37, no. 37.1 (January 2022): 59–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.47389/37.1.59.
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Research conducted in 2018 documented the disaster experiences of 56 women and men in Australia aged between 18 and 93 years. This paper draws out the gendered factors that affected their resilience, and in so doing, begins to address the dearth of research related to gendered aspects of long-term disaster resilience. It is unique in capturing the voices of survivors who spoke of events 9 years after the 2009 Black Saturday fires and of earlier fires and floods in Victoria more than 50 years ago, including the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires. Over decades, gendered expectations of men and women significantly hindered resilience. Men spoke of the long-term cost to them of demands to ‘be strong’ in the worst of disasters and reasons they were reluctant to seek help afterwards. Women spoke of their contributions holding a lesser value and of discrimination. Discussions of violence against women and children after disaster, and suicide ideation in anticipation of future disasters offered critical insights. Protective factors identified by informants were not wholly intrinsic to their character but were also physical, such as essential resources provided in the immediate aftermath, and psychological and community support offered in the long-term. Factors that helped resilience departed from the ‘masculine’ model of coping post-disaster by moving away from a refusal to admit trauma and suffering, to community-wide resilience bolstered by widespread emotional, social and psychological support. Genuine community planning for disasters before they strike builds trust and offers insights for emergency management planners.
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Radenkovic, Mirjana, Alshikh Masaud, Velibor Andric, and Scepan Miljanic. "Radioactivity of sand from several renowned public beaches and assessment of the corresponding environmental risks." Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society 74, no. 4 (2009): 461–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/jsc0904461r.
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The radiological risk due to the presence of natural and man-made radionuclides in beach sands from several renowned seaside and riverbank public beaches was estimated in this study. The exposure levels to terrestrial radiation of the beaches were determined, as well as hazards due to human use of the analyzed sands in industry and in building constructions. Specific radionuclides concentrations in the sand samples were determined by standard gamma-spectrometry. The corresponding radiation hazards arising due to the use of sand as a building material were estimated by three different radiological hazard indices. The total absorbed gamma dose rate in the air was determined and the corresponding annual effective dose outdoors was estimated. The obtained data are relevant both from human health and environmental monitoring aspects.
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Gardner, Elinor. "The Woman Physician as Antidote to the Ills of Modern Medicine." Linacre Quarterly 84, no. 4 (November 2017): 393–402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00243639.2017.1381826.
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This article, drawing on the work of Edith Stein, reflects on the feminine aspects of the medical profession, specifically attention to the whole person and personal accompaniment. It presents these feminine aspects, in light of the mechanistic, highly specialized, and often impersonal ethos of modern medicine, as a needed corrective to such an ethos. Finally, this thesis is illustrated with an example from physician Victoria Sweet.
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Orina, Paul, Erick Ogello, Elijah Kembenya, Cecilia Muthoni, Safina Musa, Veronica Ombwa, Venny Mwainge, et al. "The state of cage culture in Lake Victoria: A focus on sustainability, rural economic empowerment, and food security." Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 24, no. 1 (January 2, 2021): 56–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.14321/aehm.024.01.09.
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Abstract Capture fisheries and aquaculture have remained important sources of food, nutrition, income and livelihoods to millions globally, with annual per capita consumption of fish in developing countries having increased from 5.2 kg in 1961 to 18.8 kg in 2013. On the contrary, low income food-deficit countries annual fish per capita consumption rose from 3.5 to 7.6 kg against 26.8 kg among industrialized countries. Increased demand for animal protein and declining capture fisheries has seen aquaculture grow rapidly than any other food production sector over the past three decades. Rapid global aquaculture growth is directly related to levels of technological advancement, adoption and adaption prompting aquaculture transition from semi-intensive to intensive and super intensive production systems among developing and developed countries. In light of the aquatic environment economic potential, cage culture in Lake Victoria is fast gaining prominence in aquaculture production contribution. This began with trials by Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and Uganda’s National Fisheries Resource Research Institute and later by private investors at Dunga and Obenge beaches of Kenya, Source of the Nile in Uganda and Bulamba Beach Management Units in Bunda District of Tanzania. However, only Kenya has so far documented cage culture development recording 3,696 cages across the five riparian counties with an estimated production capacity of 3,180 MT valued at Kshs 955.4 Million (9.6 million USD), created over 500 jobs directly and indirectly created income opportunities for over 4,000 people. The sub-sector’s value chain, its supportive value chains and associated enterprises are rapidly expanding thus creating jobs, enhancing incomes and ensuring food security in rural and urban areas. As cage culture commercialization takes root, there is urgent need to address issues such as introduction of alien species, diseases, marine parks and maximum carrying capacity among other aspects. This will require trans-boundary policy to ensure sustainable utilization of the lake as a common resource.
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Robinson, Sanske. "Video-conferencing: under-used by rural general practitioners." Australian Health Review 25, no. 6 (2002): 131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah020131a.
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The objective was to investigate the use of and value General Practitioners place on video-conferencing as a tool in providing rural health care. The participants were 8 rural general practitioners in rural Victoria towns. I found that six out of the eight GPs did not value video-conferencing as a tool to assist with patient care, and the other two GPs were interested in the technology only for certain aspects of support with patient consultations and continuing education. I conclude that there needs to be a review of whether video-conferencing equipment should continue to be implemented in the same way that it has been so far in Victoria, and of the cost-effectiveness of providing video-conferencing facilities in rural health services. In particular, there needs to be a review of whether more training and support for rural general practitioners is needed to increase the uptake of video-conferencing. Alternatively, analysis can be undertaken of the intrinsic value of using video-conferencing as an interactive tool for obtaining specialist support for patient care or undertaking continuing education via video-conferencing, and the program discontinued if it is found to be unwarranted.
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Costa, Jaline Cabral da, Marilda Mendonça Siqueira, David Brown, Jonathan Oliveira Lopes, Braulia Caetano da Costa, Eric Lopes Gama, and Maria de Lourdes Aguiar-Oliveira. "Vaccine Mismatches, Viral Circulation, and Clinical Severity Patterns of Influenza B Victoria and Yamagata Infections in Brazil over the Decade 2010–2020: A Statistical and Phylogeny–Trait Analyses." Viruses 14, no. 7 (July 5, 2022): 1477. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v14071477.
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Worldwide, infections by influenza viruses are considered a major public health challenge. In this study, influenza B vaccine mismatches and clinical aspects of Victoria and Yamagata infections in Brazil were assessed. Clinical samples were collected from patients suspected of influenza infection. In addition, sociodemographic, clinical, and epidemiological information were collected by the epidemiological surveillance teams. Influenza B lineages were determined by real-time RT-PCR and/or Sanger sequencing. In addition, putative phylogeny–trait associations were assessed by using the BaTS program after phylogenetic reconstruction by a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo method (BEAST software package). Over 2010–2020, B/Victoria and B/Yamagata-like lineages co-circulated in almost all seasonal epidemics, with B/Victoria predominance in most years. Vaccine mismatches between circulating viruses and the trivalent vaccine strains occurred in five of the eleven seasons (45.5%). No significant differences were identified in clinical presentation or disease severity caused by both strains, but subjects infected by B/Victoria-like viruses were significantly younger than their B/Yamagata-like counterparts (16.7 vs. 31.4 years, p < 0.001). This study contributes to a better understanding of the circulation patterns and clinical outcomes of B/Victoria- and B/Yamagata-like lineages in Brazil and advocate for the inclusion of a quadrivalent vaccine in the scope of the Brazilian National Immunization Program.
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Charlier, Roger H., and Constance C. Charlier. "Environmental, Economic, and Social Aspects of Marine Aggregates' Exploitation." Environmental Conservation 19, no. 1 (1992): 29–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0376892900030228.
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The progressive depletion of land sources of construction materials poses increasingly acute supply problems to the building industry. Stricter rules than currently exist in relation to environmental concerns and their effective enforcement, while undoubtedly laudable, would exacerbate the situation and preclude opening, in many instances, new land-quarries. The search for alternative sources led naturally to exploitation of marine deposits. Beaches and near-shore areas have long been tapped for relatively small amounts of sand and gravel, but the new, greatly-increased demands for these materials poses a serious threat to many shores. Tourism and mining, unavoidably, have come into conflict. Beach protection, and, with increasing frequency, ‘renourishment’, is antipodal to granulates' mining. Offshore dredging has in some cases triggered accelerated beach erosion. The general rise of sea-level, and the consequences of exceptional-strength storms, have worsened erosion and greatly disturbed — occasionally irreversibly — the local sedimentary budget and transit. Technological progress, and more and more sophisticated equipment, permit greater efficiency in, and greater depth of, dredging operations.Besides their use for construction materials, the search for minerals in the marine domain also affects sands and gravels: placers and ores are available here, and mining in the coastal zone is no longer a marginal undertaking. Exploitation of ‘granulates’ ranks today as the second most important marine mining activity after oil extraction. Hence it is a top-priority topic for Quaternary economic geologists and environment specialists alike, while public awareness has henceforth to be reckoned with. Communication and information techniques must consequently be designed and vigorously propagated.
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Anderson, John F., Basia Pakula, Victoria Smye, Virginia Peters (Siyamex), and Leslie Schroeder. "Strengthening Aboriginal Health through a Place-Based Learning Community." International Journal of Indigenous Health 7, no. 1 (June 7, 2013): 42. http://dx.doi.org/10.18357/ijih71201112352.
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The Sts’ailes Primary Health Care Project is a partnership in Sts’ailes, British Columbia, between Sts’ailes, Fraser Health Authority (FHA), and academic researchers at the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia. The creation of knowledge by and for Aboriginal Peoples and a commitment to strength-based research are key aspects of the project. These key elements guide the partners as they work together to explore and identify ways to enhance health services for the Sts’ailes people and other FHA clients in the region. This paper describes how the principles of place-based learning communities (PbLCs) are being implemented within the collaboration in order to facilitate the co-production of culturally appropriate strengthbased knowledge that supports the health and wellness of the Sts’ailes community. PbLCs are a welcome innovative mechanism for generating a cross-cultural understanding of local health and wellness issues. This paper makes a contribution to the documentation of successful participatory community-academic research partnerships.
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Michel, Jude L., Diana Cheng, and Terri J. Jackson. "Comparing the coding of complications in Queensland and Victorian admitted patient data." Australian Health Review 35, no. 3 (2011): 245. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah09783.
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Objective. To examine differences between Queensland and Victorian coding of hospital-acquired conditions and suggest ways to improve the usefulness of these data in the monitoring of patient safety events. Design. Secondary analysis of admitted patient episode data collected in Queensland and Victoria. Methods. Comparison of depth of coding, and patterns in the coding of ten commonly coded complications of five elective procedures. Results. Comparison of the mean complication codes assigned per episode revealed Victoria assigns more valid codes than Queensland for all procedures, with the difference between the states being significantly different in all cases. The proportion of the codes flagged as complications was consistently lower for Queensland when comparing 10 common complications for each of the five selected elective procedures. The estimated complication rates for the five procedures showed Victoria to have an apparently higher complication rate than Queensland for 35 of the 50 complications examined. Conclusion. Our findings demonstrate that the coding of complications is more comprehensive in Victoria than in Queensland. It is known that inconsistencies exist between states in routine hospital data quality. Comparative use of patient safety indicators should be viewed with caution until standards are improved across Australia. More exploration of data quality issues is needed to identify areas for improvement. What is known about the topic? Routine data are low cost, accessible and timely but the quality is often questioned. This deters researchers and clinicians from using the data to monitor aspects of quality improvement. Previous studies have reported on the quality of diagnosis coding in Australia but not specifically on the quality of use of the condition-onset flag denoting hospital-acquired conditions. What does this paper add? Few studies have tested the consistency of the data between Australian states. No previous studies have evaluated the comprehensiveness of the coding of hospital-acquired conditions using routine data. This paper compares two states to highlight the differences in the coding of complications, with the aim of improving routine data to support patient safety. What are the implications for practitioners? The results imply more work needs to be done to improve the coding and flagging of complications so the data are valid and comprehensive. Further research should identify problem areas responsible for differences in the data so that training and audit strategies can be developed to improve the collection of this information. Practitioners may then be more confident in using routine coded inpatient data as part of the process of monitoring patient safety.
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Wales, W. J., J. W. Heard, C. K. M. Ho, C. M. Leddin, C. R. Stockdale, G. P. Walker, and P. T. Doyle. "Profitable feeding of dairy cows on irrigated dairy farms in northern Victoria." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, no. 7 (2006): 743. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea05357.
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Milk production per cow and per farm in the irrigated region in northern Victoria have increased dramatically over the past 2 decades. However, these increases have involved large increases in inputs, and average productivity gains on farms have been modest. Before the early 1980s, cows were fed predominantly pasture and conserved fodder. There is now large diversity in feeding systems and feed costs comprise 40–65% of total costs on irrigated dairy farms. This diversity in feeding systems has increased the need to understand the nutrient requirements of dairy cows and the unique aspects of nutrient intake and digestion in cows at grazing. Principles of nutrient intake and supply to the grazing dairy cow from the past 15 years’ research in northern Victoria are summarised and gaps in knowledge for making future productivity gains are identified. Moreover, since the majority of the milk produced in south-eastern Australia is used in the manufacture of products for export, dairy companies have increased their interest in value-added dairy products that better meet nutritional requirements or provide health benefits for humans. Finally, some examples of the impacts of farm system changes on operating profit for some case study farms in northern Victoria are presented to illustrate the need for thorough analysis of such management decisions.
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Xu, B. "Delivery of ambulance service by volunteers in Victoria, Australia: an ethical dilemma?" Journal of Medical Ethics 34, no. 10 (October 1, 2008): 704–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jme.2007.022376.
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Forchuk, Cheryl, Jan Richardson, and Heather Atyeo. "A Housing First evaluation project for homeless Veterans in Canada: Quantitative findings." Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health 8, no. 1 (February 1, 2022): 79–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2020-0053.
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LAY SUMMARY This study sought to evaluate a Housing First program for Veterans experiencing homelessness. Housing First is an approach made up of many different aspects of care including peer support and greater access to care resources within the home. These aspects of care are offered in order to address underlying issues and maintain housing stability. The program was implemented across four cities in Canada including London, Toronto, Calgary, and Victoria. To assess the program, interviews with Veterans were conducted at time of enrollment, 3, 9, and 15 months. The Veterans in this study demonstrated a significant reduction in homelessness. As well, a significant reduction in emergency room visits was reported. Other health care interactions and quality-of-life scores remained stable. These findings could, therefore, lead to potential future cost savings in the health care sector. This study demonstrates why this approach to housing for Veterans can be a highly effective and useful way to ensure housing stability.
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Cheng, I.-Hao, Jacquie McBride, Miriam Decker, Therese Watson, Hannah Jakubenko, and Alana Russo. "The Asylum Seeker Integrated Healthcare Pathway: a collaborative approach to improving access to primary health care in South Eastern Melbourne, Victoria, Australia." Australian Journal of Primary Health 25, no. 1 (2019): 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py18028.
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It is important to address the health needs of asylum seekers within the early stages of their arrival in Australia, as this impacts all aspects of their resettlement. However, asylum seekers face a range of barriers to accessing timely and appropriate health care in the community. In 2012, the increasing number of asylum seekers in Australia placed additional demand on health and social services in high-settlement regions. Health providers experienced a substantial increase in Medicare ineligible clients and avoidable presentations to Emergency Departments, and the health needs of new asylum seeker arrivals were not being fully addressed. In response, South Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local, Monash Health, the Australian Red Cross and local settlement support agencies collaborated to develop an integrated healthcare pathway in South Eastern Melbourne to facilitate healthcare access for asylum seekers released from detention. From September 2012 to December 2014, a total of 951 asylum seekers transitioned through the pathway. Seventy-eight percent required primary healthcare assistance, and were provided with a service appointment within 3 weeks of their arrival in Melbourne. This initiative has demonstrated the value of partnership and collaboration when responding to emergent asylum seeker health needs.
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Neil, D. A., C. A. J. Coady, J. Thompson, and H. Kuhse. "End-of-life decisions in medical practice: a survey of doctors in Victoria (Australia)." Journal of Medical Ethics 33, no. 12 (December 1, 2007): 721–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jme.2006.017137.
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Cummins, Robert, and Paraskevi Theofilou. "Quality of life research: interview with Professor Robert Cummins." Health Psychology Research 1, no. 3 (September 23, 2013): 31. http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/hpr.2013.1555.
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Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a fundamental concept in the field of clinical medicine and has been studied during the last years by psychologists, sociologists, economists and managers. The concept of HRQOL includes those aspects of overall QOL that can be indicated to have an impact on patients’ health, either physical or psychological. Concerning the individuals, this incorporates physical and mental health cognitions, including sociodemographic factors, sexual functioning, fatigue, sleep disorders and functional status. One of the most eminent experts in the world in the field of QOL is Prof. Robert Cummins [Professor of Psychology at Deakin University in Australia (School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Victoria 3125 Melbourne, Australia. E-mail: robert.cummins@deakin.edu.au)] who kindly accepted to answer our questions in the con- text of this special edition.
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Rodríguez, María Angeles Prieto, Astrid Suess, Joan Carles March Cerdá, María Escudero Carretero, and Alina Danet. "Opinions and Expectations of Women in the Treatment of Cervical and Uterine Cancer in Spain." Women's Health 7, no. 6 (November 2011): 709–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.2217/whe.11.50.
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Aim: To know the experiences, needs and expectations of women in the treatment of cervical and uterine cancer in the Andalusian Health Service. Methods: Focus groups and in-depth interviews with women being treated for cervical–uterine cancer within the Andalusian Health Service. Analysis with Nudist Vivo 1.0 (QSR International Pty Ltd, Doncaster, Victoria, Australia). Results: The needs and expectations detected were: coherence in the promotion strategies and the presence of a proactive approach by health professionals, availability of comprehensive information and understanding, possibility of expressing to health professionals one's doubts and fears, and of participation in decision-making, technical quality, humane treatment and continuity of care and attention to psychosocial aspects. Conclusion: The knowledge of women in the treatment of cancer of the cervix and uterus plays a crucial part in improving the delivery of these services.
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O'Toole, Kevin, Adrian Schoo, and Andrea Hernan. "Why did they leave and what can they tell us? Allied health professionals leaving rural settings." Australian Health Review 34, no. 1 (2010): 66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah09711.
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The aim of this paper is to explore the lack of retention of allied health professionals in rural areas in Victoria, Australia. A structured telephone interview was used to elicit responses from 32 allied health professionals from south-west, central-west and north-east Victoria about their working experiences and reasons for resignation. The data revealed that work experiences in rural areas can be summarised within three domains: organisational, professional and personal/community. Under the organisational domain the participants were mainly focussed on the way in which their work arrangements require them to be both more generalist in their approach to day-to-day work, and more expansive in shouldering management style functions in the workplace. Under the professional domain there were three major issues; clinical, career and education/training. The personal/community domain focussed on issues to do with their affinity for their workplace as well as their location in a rural place. The attempts by government to address some of the leading factors for retention of allied health professionals are perhaps too narrowly focussed on the public sector and could encompass a wider approach. What is known about the topic?Although recruitment and retention of allied health professionals in rural areas is widely discussed, the professionals have not been interviewed about their experiences once they have left rural employment. What does this paper add?This paper provides detailed insights into the reasons why allied health professionals leave their positions in rural areas and the positive and negative aspects of living and working in a rural area. The results of this study contribute to the development of better policy models for recruitment and retention of allied health professionals in rural areas. What are the implications for practitioners?The factors that influence whether allied health professionals stay or leave rural areas is of concern for health policy makers at state and federal levels. This paper provides information for the extension and development of programs to attenuate rural leakage of professionals.
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Moslehuddin, Badal, and Philip Mendes. "Young people’s journey to independence: Towards a better future for young people leaving state care in Victoria." Children Australia 31, no. 3 (2006): 47–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1035077200011238.
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Young people leaving state care have been found to experience deficits in all aspects of their life cycle. These include homelessness, poor educational and employment outcomes, involvement in juvenile crime and prostitution, mental and physical health problems, early parenthood and inadequate social support systems. These poor outcomes experienced by care leavers result from a range of factors relating to their pre-care abuse and neglect, poor quality and unstable care history and inadequate support for their successful transition to independence. Young people leaving state care in Victoria are currently lacking the ongoing and guaranteed support that would be expected of a good parent. Using relevant local and international literature and findings from a qualitative study involving 10 care leavers, this paper examines the factors that contribute to negative as well as positive outcomes for young people leaving state care. Some conclusions are drawn regarding policy and practice reforms that could lead to improved outcomes for care leavers.
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Outa, James Omondi, Chrispin O. Kowenje, Christof Plessl, and Franz Jirsa. "Distribution of arsenic, silver, cadmium, lead and other trace elements in water, sediment and macrophytes in the Kenyan part of Lake Victoria: spatial, temporal and bioindicative aspects." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27, no. 2 (November 20, 2019): 1485–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06525-9.
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AbstractThis is the first detailed report on the distribution of Ni, As, Sr and Ag in water, sediments and macrophytes from Lake Victoria, complemented with recent data on the heavy metals Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb. The study was conducted over an 11-month period at five sites in the Kenyan part of Lake Victoria: four sites in the Winam Gulf influenced by various anthropogenic pressures including a site near Kisumu City, and one in the main lake, perceived to have lesser direct anthropogenic influence. Compared with the main lake site, the water in Winam Gulf had significantly higher values for electrical conductivity and concentrations of dissolved components: organic carbon and bound nitrogen, as well as major and most trace elements. This contamination is also evident in surface sediments, which contained significantly higher levels of Cr, Zn, As, Ag, Cd and Pb compared with the main lake site. The mean levels of Cr, Cu, Zn, Ag and Pb exceeded probable effect levels at least at one of the gulf sites. The sediments at the Kisumu City site were classified as severely polluted with Cu (up to 259 mg/kg dw) and Pb (up to 1188 mg/kg dw). The sediment cores showed significantly higher levels of Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd and Pb in the surface (0–3 cm) versus subsurface (22–25 cm) layer at the Kisumu City site, indicating increasing pollution by these elements within the last 15 years. This is also the first report on trace elements in the emergent water plant Vossia cuspidata and submerged plant Ceratophyllum demersum from this lake. Even though the accumulation of most elements is comparable between C. demersum (whole plant) and V. cuspidata roots, the latter shows a better bioindicative potential. Contamination of the gulf with Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd and Pb is well mirrored in V. cuspidata roots. V. cuspidata strongly restricts the acropetal transport of trace elements, and hence using the shoots as fodder does not pose a risk to livestock.
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Green, Rachael, David Hopkins, and Garry Roach. "Exploring the lived experiences of people on Community Correction Orders in Victoria, Australia: Is the opportunity for rehabilitation being realised?" Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology 53, no. 4 (September 20, 2020): 585–605. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0004865820957059.
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The Community Correction Order, introduced in Victoria, Australia in 2012, provides a sentencing option that enables eligible offenders to serve their sanction in the community, with access to treatment or other rehabilitative activities. This paper contributes to a scant body of research investigating the specific needs of this group, their barriers to inclusion and the extent to which they experience the rehabilitative aspects of Community Correction Orders. It draws on survey data collected from 200 adults (137 men and 63 women) on Community Correction Orders in outer west metropolitan Melbourne and qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with a sub-set of 20 participants. Long-term unemployment, severe economic hardship, physical and mental health issues, social isolation and troubled personal relationships were common. While participants experienced the punitive aspects of Community Correction Orders, there was limited evidence that they were supported to address key issues that may be predictive of future offending. Support to re/engage in education, training and employment was a key area of unmet need and engagement in other therapeutic programs was low. Opportunities to enhance the rehabilitative potential of Community Correction Orders are discussed, with the paper highlighting that there is a need for rigorous evaluation of community work program activities.
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Western, Sally. "Preventing Childhood Injury: Developing a Home Safety Display in a Community Health Centre." Australian Journal of Primary Health 5, no. 1 (1999): 76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py99009.
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Childhood injury is a major health issue, with approximately 20,000 children under five hospitalised each year in Australia. The home is a common site for childhood injuries, with some of the more frequent episodes including falls, poisoning, burns, cuts and crush injuries. A regional initiative to develop a coordinated approach towards minimising injuries sustained by children between 0-4 years, resulted in the development of 'Childsafe Now', a health promotion program which involved training of child care providers, and the establishment of several home safety displays in the Eastern metropolitan region of Victoria. One of the home safety displays was developed in a Community Health Centre, utilising a pre-existing child care facility and the multidisciplinary skills of the staff. Community Health Centres were established with a focus on health promotion - encouraging illness and injury prevention through a holistic combination of education, community involvement, behavioural and social modification and multi-disciplinary primary health care services - yet the opportunity to establish a permanent, functional display which combines all of these aspects of health promotion is becoming increasingly rare. However, the skills and knowledge which have traditionally been nurtured within the Community Health Program make Community Health Centres a particularly appropriate location for establishing a Home Safety Display.
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Swerissen, Hal, and Linda Tilgner. "Development and Validation of the Primary Care Consumer Opinion Survey." Australian Journal of Primary Health 7, no. 1 (2001): 34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py01005.
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Using past measures of consumer feedback, the aim of the present study was to construct a consumer opinion survey for use in community health centre settings; to pilot the survey instrument across a number of community health centres; and to validate the instrument. A total of 950 consumers attending one of six targeted services (physiotherapy, dental, podiatry, counselling/social work, dietetics, and speech pathology) across four northern metropolitan community health centres in Victoria were invited to participate. Returned surveys were analysed using principal component analysis and the extracted scales were tested for internal consistency and validity. Out of the 950 surveys distributed 471 were returned (response rate of 50%). The survey instrument was found to measure consumer opinion regarding satisfaction with centre environment and satisfaction with service provision. The centre environment scale consisted of one factor, with a Cronbach alpha of .80. The service provision scale consisted of two factors: 'aspects of the service provider' and 'benefits of the visit'. Reliability for the total scale was .93. The two scales correlated moderately with a validity item measuring overall satisfaction. The Primary Health Care Consumer Opinion Survey is a reliable and valid measure, which provides the potential for the establishment of norms to assess consumer opinion.
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Hing, Nerilee, and Sharen Nisbet. "A Qualitative Perspective on Physical, Social and Cognitive Accessibility to Gambling." Journal of Gambling Issues, no. 24 (July 1, 2010): 101. http://dx.doi.org/10.4309/jgi.2010.24.7.
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A possible relationship exists between heightened accessibility to gambling and the development and maintenance of gambling problems amongst employees at gambling venues. This paper takes an interpretive approach to exploring how working in a gambling venue influences accessibility to gambling. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 40 hotel and club employees in Victoria, Australia. Data were analysed along three key dimensions of accessibility to gambling. In terms of physical accessibility, respondents generally felt shiftwork and split shifts heavily influence the times staff are likely to access gambling facilities. Aspects of social accessibility, including familiarity and comfort of gambling in the workplace, encouragement by other staff, and workplace cultures that do not deter staff gambling, were considered encouraging influences. Cognitive accessibility (or knowledge and understanding about gambling) was heightened by enhanced knowledge of gambling products and processes, greater knowledge of jackpot levels, a desire to know what competing venues are offering, and cognitive distortions around winning.
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Montague, Meg, Ron Borland, and Craig Sinclair. "Slip! Slop! Slap! and SunSmart, 1980-2000: Skin Cancer Control and 20 Years of Population-Based Campaigning." Health Education & Behavior 28, no. 3 (June 2001): 290–305. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/109019810102800304.
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The Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria has been running sun protection programs for more than 20 years: Slip! Slop! Slap! from 1980 to 1988 and SunSmart from 1988 to the present. The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation has provided funding for the SunSmart program for the past 13 years. These programs have played an important role in changing the whole society’s approach to the sun and have resulted in marked reductions in sun exposure. This article describes the social, political, economic, and organizational context within which these programs developed. Then 10 areas are discussed that illustrate a critical aspect of the development and implementation of this successful systemwide health promotion program. These areas focus on key aspects of the context within which the program operates and on issues that derive from the experience of implementing program strategies. In summary, the success of the two programs is described as having been built on two key foundations: the vital integration of research and evaluation, on one hand, and a strong basis of consistency and continuity, on the other.
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Bjorklund, Pamela. "Invisibility, Moral Knowledge and Nursing Work in the Writings of Joan Liaschenko and Patricia Rodney." Nursing Ethics 11, no. 2 (March 2004): 110–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0969733004ne677oa.
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The ethical ‘eye’ of nursing, that is, the particular moral vision and values inherent in nursing work, is constrained by the preoccupations and practices of the superordinate biomedical structure in which nursing as a practice discipline is embedded. The intimate, situated knowledge of particular persons who construct and attach meaning to their health experience in the presence of and with the active participation of the nurse, is the knowledge that provides the evidence for nurses’ ethical decision making. It is largely invisible to all but other nurses. Two nurse researchers, Joan Liaschenko of the University of Minnesota and Patricia Rodney of the University of Victoria, have investigated the ethical concerns of practising nurses and noted in their separate enquiries the invisible nature of critical aspects of nursing work. Noting the similarities in their respective observations, and with the feminist ethics of Margaret Urban Walker as a theoretical framework, this article examines the concept of ‘invisibility’ as it relates to nursing work and nursing ethics.
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Schlairet, Maura C. "Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation, by Patricia Benner, Molly Sutphen, Victoria Leonard, and Lisa Day. Stanford, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2010." Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 20, no. 4 (August 16, 2011): 617–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0963180111000375.
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Readers are invited to contact Greg S. Loeben in writing at Midwestern University, Glendale Campus, Bioethics Program, 19555 N. 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308 (gloebe@midwestern.edu) regarding books they would like to see reviewed or books they are interested in reviewing.
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Levesque, Jean-Frederic, John J. M. O'Dowd, Éidín M. Ní Shé, Jan-Willem Weenink, and Jane Gunn. "Scoping of models to support population-based regional health planning and management: comparison with the regional operating model in Victoria, Australia." Australian Health Review 41, no. 2 (2017): 162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah15198.
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Objective The aim of the present study was to try to understand the breadth and comprehensiveness of a regional operating model (ROM) developed within the Victorian Department of Health’s North West Metropolitan Region office in Melbourne, Australia. Methods A published literature search was conducted, with additional website scanning, snowballing technique and expert consultation, to identify existing operating models. An analytical grid was developed covering 16 components to evaluate the models and assess the exhaustiveness of the ROM. Results From the 34 documents scoped, 10 models were identified to act as a direct comparator to the ROM. These concerned models from Australia (n = 5) and other comparable countries (Canada, UK). The ROM was among the most exhaustive models, covering 13 of 16 components. It was one of the few models that included intersectoral actions and levers of influence. However, some models identified more precisely the planning tools, prioritisation criteria and steps, and the allocation mechanisms. Conclusions The review finds that the ROM appears to provide a wide coverage of aspects of planning and integrates into a single model some of the distinctive elements of the other models scoped. What is known about the topic? Various jurisdictions are moving towards a population-based approach to manage public services with regard to the provision of individual medical and social care. Various models have been proposed to guide the planning of services from a population health perspective. What does this paper add? This paper assesses the coverage of attributes of operating models supporting a population health planning approach to the management of services at the regional or local level. It provides a scoping of current models proposed to organise activities to ensure an integrated approach to the provision of services and compares the scoped models to a model recently implemented in Victoria, Australia. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper highlights the relative paucity of operating models describing in concrete terms how to manage medical and social services from a population perspective and encourages organisations that are accountable for securing population health to clearly articulate their own operating model. It outlines strengths and potential gaps in current models.
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Cullinane, Meabh, Stefanie A. Zugna, Helen L. McLachlan, Michelle S. Newton, and Della A. Forster. "Evaluating the impact of a maternity and neonatal emergencies education programme in Australian regional and rural health services on clinician knowledge and confidence: a pre-test post-test study." BMJ Open 12, no. 5 (May 2022): e059921. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059921.
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IntroductionAlmost 78 000 women gave birth in the state of Victoria, Australia, in 2019. While most births occurred in metropolitan Melbourne and large regional centres, a significant proportion of women birthed in rural services. In late 2016, to support clinicians to recognise and respond to clinical deterioration, the Victorian government mandated provision of an emergency training programme, called Maternity and Newborn Emergencies (MANE), to rural and regional maternity services across the state. This paper describes the evaluation of MANE.Design and settingA quasi-experimental study design was used; the Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model provided the framework.ParticipantsParticipants came from the 17 rural and regional Victorian maternity services who received MANE in 2018 and/or 2019.Outcome measuresBaseline data were collected from MANE attendees before MANE delivery, and at four time points up to 12 months post-delivery. Clinicians’ knowledge of the MANE learning objectives, and confidence ratings regarding the emergencies covered in MANE were evaluated. The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) assessed safety climate pre-MANE and 6 months post-MANE among all maternity providers at the sites.ResultsImmediately post-MANE, most attendees reported increased confidence to escalate clinical concerns (n=251/259). Knowledge in the non-technical and practical aspects of the programme increased. Management of perinatal emergencies was viewed as equally stressful pre-MANE and post-MANE, but confidence to manage these emergencies increased post-delivery. Pre-MANE SAQ scores showed consistently strong and poor performing services. Six months post-MANE, some services showed improvements in SAQ scores indicative of improved safety climate.ConclusionMANE delivery resulted in both short-term and sustained improvements in knowledge of, and confidence in, maternity emergencies. Further investigation of the SAQ across Victoria may facilitate identification of services with a poor safety climate who could benefit from frequent targeted interventions (such as the MANE programme) at these sites.
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Cotton, Sue M., Annemarie Wright, Meredith G. Harris, Anthony F. Jorm, and Patrick D. Mcgorry. "Influence of Gender on Mental Health Literacy in Young Australians." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 40, no. 9 (September 2006): 790–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01885.x.
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Objectives: To determine the effects of gender on mental health literacy in young people between 12 and 25 years of age. Design: Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing was employed to conduct a crosssectional structured interview focusing on young people's awareness of depression and psychosis. Participants: The sample comprised 1207 young Australians (539 males and 668 females) between the ages of 12-25 recruited from two metropolitan and two regional areas within Victoria. Six hundred and six respondents were presented a depression vignette and 601 were presented a psychosis vignette. Results: Female respondents (60.7%) were significantly more likely to correctly identify depression in the vignette as compared to male respondents (34.5%). No significant gender differences were noted for the psychosis vignette. Males were less significantly likely to endorse seeing a doctor or psychologist/counsellor for the treatment of psychosis. Males were also significantly more likely than females to endorse alcohol as a way of dealing with depression and antibiotics as useful for dealing with psychosis. Conclusion: Gender differences in mental health literacy are striking. Males showed significantly lower recognition of symptoms associated with mental illness and were more likely endorse the use alcohol to deal with mental health problems. Such factors may contribute to the delays in help seeking seen in young males. Further research is needed to delineate how these gender differences in young people may obstruct help seeking, early intervention and other aspects of mental health service delivery.
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Mohialdin, Soad Najmaldin. "Review on the Positive and Negative Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Environment and Society." European Journal of Natural Sciences and Medicine 4, no. 2 (September 29, 2021): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.26417/573vge34v.
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This review search aims to show the positive and negative impact of COVID-19 on the all aspects of life such as environment, education, economy, politics, social life, and social media, and most importantly global human health and health services. particularly in the most affected countries such as China, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, Brazil, Mexico, India, and Iraq. In terms of the environment our search shows that there is a positive impact associated between measures and improvement in air quality, reduction of fossil fuel traffic pollutes, reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) generation, clean beaches, and environmental noise reduction due to air traffic suspension. The negative impact was associated with aspects such as the reduction in recycling and the increase in waste, which was endangering the contamination of natural resources (water and land), in addition to air. Other negative impacts on reduction global economic activity. In terms of education, COVID-19 had a big effect in changing the education system from classroom to electronic learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching economic consequences beyond the spread of the disease itself and efforts to quarantine it. As this virus has spread around the globe, concerns have shifted from supply-side manufacturing issues to decreased business in the services sector. The pandemic caused the largest global recession in history, with more than a third of the global population at the time being placed on lockdown. ((Anon., April-2020) Health-wise it was the reason for the reduction of the world population due to the high mortality and death rate. This is expected to be carried on for unpredicted months perhaps a year until the right vaccine is in reach of every person in the world.
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Duffield, Christine, Susan Chapman, Samantha Rowbotham, and Nicole Blay. "Nurse-Performed Endoscopy." Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice 18, no. 1 (February 2017): 36–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1527154417700740.
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Increasing demands for health care globally often lead to discussions about expanding the involvement of nurses in a range of nontraditional roles. Several countries have introduced nurse endoscopists as a means of easing the burden of demand for a range of endoscopic procedures. A shortage of medical staff in Australia combined with increasing demand for endoscopy led to the implementation of nurse endoscopists as a pilot program in the state of Queensland, where a nurse practitioner model was implemented, and Victoria, where an advanced practice model was used. This article will discuss the implementation of and responses from the nursing, medical, and policy community to nurse-performed endoscopy in this country. Regarding health policy, access to cancer screening may be improved by providing nurses with advanced training to safely perform endoscopy procedures. Moreover, issues of nurse credentialing and payment need to be considered appropriate to each country’s health system model.
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McConachy, Diana, and Karalyn McDonald. "Issues for Primary, Informal, Home-based Carers of People Living with AIDS." Australian Journal of Primary Health 5, no. 1 (1999): 30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py99004.
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Central to the Australian national strategic response to HIV/AIDS is the need for training and support for volunteer carers of people with HIV/AIDS. However, the role of primary, informal, home-based carers of people with AIDS (PWA) is not clearly defined and the research about carers undertaken in Australia has not specifically looked at this group. The aim of the study described was to examine the experiences of primary, home-based carers of people with AIDS in order to inform policy and program development. Data were collected from 47 carers in New South Wales and Victoria between August and November, 1996. A short self-administered questionnaire collecting demographic information was followed by a longer questionnaire with mostly closed questions on preparation for caregiving, caregiving tasks, symptom management, service use, coping strategies, and impact of caregiving. Open-ended questions were about the provision of emotional support by the carer to the PWA, the carer's health and positive aspects of caregiving. Two key findings emerge from the content and thematic analyses. The first relates to the study respondents, who differ from the national profile of informal carers in two areas, gender and age. The second relates to the diverse nature of the caregiving experience, including the vast array of symptoms and diseases that an AIDS diagnosis can entail, the complexity of the relationship between the carer and care recipient and the experience of multiple caregiving. These findings highlight the difficulty in identifying simple, singular strategies for carer support and information.
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Siegloff, Shari, and Rosalie Aroni. "Mental illness and "self"-management in rural Australia: caregivers' perspectives." Australian Journal of Primary Health 9, no. 3 (2003): 90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py03029.
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Current models of chronic disease self-management incorporate an understanding that people with chronic illnesses, their carers and clinicians need to work together in addressing illness management issues (Von Korff, Gruman, Schaefer, Curry, & Wagner, 1997) and that this process enhances personal control of health (Lorig, Ritter et al., 2000). The question we ask is whether the understandings in these models, both implicit and explicit, apply to those people living with mental illness in rural areas in Australia. In-depth interviews were used to explore and examine the way in which carers of people living with mental illness in rural Victoria experienced and perceived the nature of chronic disease self-management. Our findings indicate that illness management in rural areas occurs predominantly as a partnership between the person with mental illness and the family members who act as caregivers, rather than a partnership with health professionals. This confirms that the lack of resources in the rural mental health care system results in a crisis-oriented service rather than a service that is able to respond to preventative and ongoing mental health care. This is recognised as a considerable burden for many families and requires further examination. In addition, a finding of considerable clinical and policy importance in this arena is the experience of family caregivers as partners in not only the support of the ?management? aspects of self-management of mental illness, but also in supporting the person living with mental illness in the maintenance of the ?self? aspect of self-management.
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Huse, Oliver, Claire Palermo, Monica Evans, and Anna Peeters. "Factors influencing healthy eating and physical activity amongst school staff." Health Promotion International 35, no. 1 (January 21, 2019): 123–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapro/day100.
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Summary Limited research has explored teachers’ perceptions of the role that schools can play in supporting staff members’ healthy eating and physical activity. We aimed to identify barriers to healthy eating and physical activity within the school context, and to conclude on potential strategies for supporting staff to pursue these healthier behaviours. A convenience sampling strategy was used to recruit eleven schools from across Victoria to participate in this study, through contacts known to the researchers. The researchers facilitated focus groups involving staff from schools. Focus groups ranged in size from 3 to 12 participants (total 82) and lasted between 40 and 75 min. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes and sub-themes which were identified by staff as being important for healthy eating and physical activity. Schools that were perceived by staff to support healthy eating and physical activity offered opportunities, through initiatives and the physical environment, to support staff in accessing environments and facilities that supported them in being healthy. Further supportive elements were identified as a culture of health behaviours amongst staff members and leadership which supported health behaviours. Workplace stressors were reported to impact many aspects of staff health and wellbeing. Potential actions by schools to better support staff to pursue healthy eating and physical activity were identified from the themes emerging from this study. Alignment between these themes and elements of the World Health Organisation’s healthy workplace framework suggest it will be important for health promotion models to account for these themes.
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Canaway, Rachel, Marie Bismark, David Dunt, and Margaret Kelaher. "Public reporting of hospital performance data: views of senior medical directors in Victoria, Australia." Australian Health Review 42, no. 5 (2018): 591. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah17120.
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Objective The aim of the present study was to better understand senior medical directors’ perceptions of public reporting of hospital performance data, how public reporting affects institutional behavioural change towards quality improvement and how it could be improved. Methods Interviews were undertaken with 17 medical directors representing 26 metropolitan and regional public hospitals in Victoria, Australia, between June and August 2016. Data were analysed thematically. Results Medical directors are well placed to comment on clinical and administrative aspects of quality, safety and performance monitoring in public hospitals. Their responses largely suggested that public reporting of hospital performance data in Australia is immature and not fulfilling its potential. There was little consensus among informants around what public reporting is, who it is for or its purpose. Although public reporting was considered to have important functions for hospitals and consumers, it was generally considered to lack robustness and have underutilised potential to inform consumers, build trust and drive quality and performance improvements within hospitals. Conclusions The next steps needed to advance public reporting of hospital performance data in Australia include engaging clinicians and patients in selection and development of metrics, improving timeliness of reporting, and improving communication of information so that it is accessible and meaningful for different audiences. What is known about the topic? Public reporting of hospital performance data is a mechanism increasingly used in the Australian health system, but it has attracted little research. What does this paper add? This paper reveals a lack of shared understanding among medical directors in Victoria, Australia, on what public reporting of hospital performance data is, who it is for and its purpose. The paper highlights the potential importance of public reporting of hospital performance data for rural and regional healthcare consumers and how it may be strengthened. What are the implications for practitioners? Stronger systems of public reporting of hospital performance data have the potential to increase consumer engagement and improve hospital performance, quality and safety. Awareness of the discourse around public reporting of hospital performance data can increase practitioners’ engagement in debate and development of reporting systems.
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Cheng, Choon, Anthony Scott, Vijaya Sundararajan, and Jongsay Yong. "On measuring the quality of hospitals." Journal of Health Organization and Management 32, no. 7 (October 8, 2018): 842–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jhom-03-2018-0088.
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Purpose Researchers, policymakers and hospital managers often encounter numerous quality measures when assessing hospital quality. The purpose of this paper is to address the challenge of summarising, interpreting and comparing multiple quality measures across different quality dimensions by proposing a simple method of constructing a composite quality index. The method is applied to hospital administrative data to demonstrate its use in analysing hospital performance. Design/methodology/approach Logistic and fixed effects regression analyses are applied to secondary admitted patient data from all hospitals in the state of Victoria, Australia for the period 2000/2001–2011/2012. Findings The derived composite quality index was used to rank hospital performance and to assess changes in state-wide average hospital quality over time. Further regression analyses found private hospitals, day hospitals and non-acute hospitals were associated with higher composite quality, while small hospitals were associated with lower quality. Practical implications The method will enable policymakers and hospital managers to better monitor the performance of hospitals. It allows quality to be related to other attributes of hospitals such as size and volume, and enables policymakers and managers to focus on hospitals with relevant characteristics such that quantity and quality changes can be better understood, monitored and acted upon. Originality/value A simple method of constructing a composite quality is an indispensable practical tool in tracking the quality of hospitals when numerous measures are used to capture different aspects of quality. The derived composite quality can be used to summarise hospital performance and to identify factors associated with quality via regression analyses.
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Bradley, Donna Maree, Lisa Bourke, and Catherine Cosgrove. "Experiences of Nursing and Allied Health Students Undertaking a Rural Placement: Barriers and Enablers to Satisfaction and Wellbeing." Australian and International Journal of Rural Education 30, no. 1 (April 7, 2020): 51–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v30i1.239.
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Australia's rural health services commonly face serious and protracted workforce shortages. To help address such shortages in rural and remote areas, a range of programs exist to support university students to undertake placements in a rural setting. In particular, University Departments of Rural Health (UDRHs) are funded to support nursing and allied health students to undertake a rural placement. As UDRHs encourage students to 'go rural' and as they coordinate and facilitate placements in rural settings, a range of enablers and barriers emerge. This study investigates the lived experiences of nursing and allied health students on placement in public health services in rural and regional Victoria. Its purpose was to identify the enablers and barriers most strongly affecting placement satisfaction and personal wellbeing. The intended outcome was to identify modifiable factors that could potentially improve the rural placement experience. Eighteen students were interviewed by a student undertaking her placement. Interviews were 45-60 minutes in length and all face-to-face. The 18 participants were from five universities and were undertaking their placement at one of seven public hospitals operating in northeast Victoria. The researcher recruited participants by attending scheduled debrief meetings at their placement organisation, briefly discussing the research and inviting students to participate. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. The study found that most participants were positive and enthusiastic about their rural placement, both professionally and personally. Three key enablers were identified: 1) enjoyment of the rural environment and community; 2) working in a positive, friendly and supportive workplace; and 3) exposure to broad practice and enhanced learning opportunities. Simultaneously many had also experienced significant barriers before, during or as a consequence of undertaking their placement, and these negatively affected placement satisfaction and personal wellbeing. Identified barriers were: 1) increased financial stress; 2) travel and accommodation challenges and concerns; 3) study-work-life balance and isolation issues; 4) encountering stressful work situations and/or personal events while on placement; and 5) communication issues with universities. The findings are strongly consistent with those identified in the extant literature. The findings add to previous research by deepening understanding about the financial burden and barriers experienced by nursing and allied health students as a result of undertaking rural placements. Disruption to students' lives socially, psychologically, financially and in terms of employment were significant. The study identified some important aspects of the placement experience, suggesting that nursing and allied health students can be dissatisfied with increased financial stress, isolation and inflexibility from universities.
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Mahmood, Javarria, Akashah Ambar, Farhat Ul Ain Tayaba, Uzma Naseer, Gul E. Rana, and Saliha Zafer. "Perception of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery among healthcare professionals in South Punjab, Pakistan." Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences 16, no. 5 (May 26, 2022): 195–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs22165195.
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Aim: To understand the level of perception & attitude of health care professionals towards Plastic Surgery & its influence on referral rate. Material: A questionnaire based survey was performed in Bahawal Victoria Hospital (tertiary care hospital) of South Punjab region of Pakistan in 2021. This survey was conducted among interns and residents of all specialties excluding dermatology, orthopaedic surgery and plastic surgery. Questionnaire was based on two parts, one for evaluation of general perception regarding the specialty and second was to evaluate their knowledge regarding different medical conditions dealt by the respective fields. Data was analyzed for each question. Results: Total of 150 junior doctors participated in this analysis. Only 44% had appropriate understanding of this specialty. 36% had unrealistic expectations of the outcomes.75% of them had good understanding of cosmetic and reconstructive aspects of this specialty. Regarding specific ailments, there was a confusion among the participants as to whom will be a preferred treating specialist. Conclusion: This confusion existed where Plastic Surgery overlaps with other modalities such as limb surgeries, head and neck tumors and trauma, nerve injuries, congenital defects and urogenital conditions. Keywords: Health care professional, reconstructive surgery, attitude
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Fogarty, PhD, Sarah, Rebecca Barnett, BA, and Phillipa Hay, PhD. "Safety and Pregnancy Massage: a qualitative thematic analysis." International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork: Research, Education, & Practice 13, no. 1 (February 4, 2020): 4–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.3822/ijtmb.v13i1.497.
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Background: Traditionally, safety and improving safety in the treatment of pregnant women has involved identifying risks that lead to errors or adverse events, and implementing strategies to mitigate potential harm. There is research that suggests that other factors such as a lack of service, lack of care or a lack of quality also contribute to participants feeling unsafe. Currently there is no evidence-based research on the psychological aspects of the safety of massage during pregnancy.
Purpose: The present study aim was to investigate women’s perceptions and experiences of the safety of massage during pregnancy. This included exploring what attributes of the clinician or practice and events that occur during the massage helped pregnant women feel safe.
Setting: Phone interview with participants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
Participants: 20 women who received massage whilst pregnant.
Research Design: Qualitative design using thematic analysis.
Results: There were five main themes related to safety and massage: 1) Autonomy— able to voice my needs and be heard; 2) Pregnancy massage is more than just a massage; 3) When my therapist is experiencedand qualified, I feel safer; 4) The continuity of the massage industry’s message about the safety of massage; and 5) Decision-making around massage safety.
Conclusions: Safety is made up of not only the treatment that massage therapists provide, but also the environment they provide it in and how they administer both the treatment and the consultation. The lack of cohesion in messaging about the safety of massage during pregnancy makes women doubt the safety of massage.
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Gibbs, L., K. Block, C. MacDougall, L. Harms, E. Baker, J. Richardson, G. Ireton, et al. "Ethical Use and Impact of Participatory Approaches to Research in Post-Disaster Environments: An Australian Bushfire Case Study." BioMed Research International 2018 (June 11, 2018): 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5621609.
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This paper presents a case study of Beyond Bushfires, a large, multisite, mixed method study of the psychosocial impacts of major bushfires in Victoria, Australia. A participatory approach was employed throughout the study which was led by a team of academic investigators in partnership with service providers and government representatives and used on-site visits and multiple methods of communication with communities across the state to inform decision-making throughout the study. The ethics and impacts of conducting and adapting the approach within a post-disaster context will be discussed in reference to theories and models of participatory health research. The challenges of balancing local interests with state-wide implications will also be explored in the description of the methods of engagement and the study processes and outcomes. Beyond Bushfires demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating participatory methods in large, post-disaster research studies and achieving rigorous findings and multilevel impacts, while recognising the potential for some of the empowering aspects of the participatory experience to be reduced by the scaled-up approach.
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Roche, Ann M., Michael D. Parle, Jane Campbell, and John B. Saunders. "Substance Abuse Disorders: Psychiatric Trainees' Knowledge, Diagnostic Skills and Attitudes." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 29, no. 4 (December 1995): 645–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00048679509064980.
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Objective: The drug and alcohol related knowledge and attitudes of trainee psychiatrists were examined to obtain a baseline measure of these factors in order to determine whether current training is appropriate and adequate. Method: A questionnaire was distributed to trainees enrolled in the training program of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia (N=425). Questions were asked relating to theoretical knowledge, diagnostic and problem solving skills for a number of drug groups; further questions concerned the respondents' attitudes and opinions on aspects of management. Results: Sixty per cent of recipients returned the questionnaire. Theoretical and applied knowledge levels were of an adequate standard overall, but highly variable. Notable areas of weakness included knowledge of opiates, barbiturates and stimulants. Trainees' views regarding treatment options were also variable. Alcoholics Anonymous was considered the best supported form of treatment from evidence from controlled trials. Low levels of self efficacy and little support were recognised for early intervention strategies. Conclusions: While positive views were generally expressed towards involvement with patients with alcohol and drug problems, specific strategies to enhance training and performance are needed. Findings are discussed in terms of continuing education. It is recommended that if sufficient training in this area is not provided then psychiatrists will have little confidence in appropriate therapeutic approaches in treating substance misusers.
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D’Cruz, Heather, and Philip Gillingham. "Participatory research ideals and practice experience: Reflections and analysis." Journal of Social Work 17, no. 4 (April 22, 2016): 434–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1468017316644704.
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Summary Consumer participation in decision making and evaluation of services has been a significant theme in social work and other caring professions for over 20 years. This article reflects on a qualitative research study that was conceptualised within participatory principles. It critically examines key features that emerged as challenges to the ideals of participatory research with parents and grandparents about their experiences with child protection services in Victoria, Australia. Findings The features examined are differentiated between the visible and familiar and the invisible, often emergent, aspects of social work research. We critically examine the ways in which the visible and invisible features as situated dimensions of social work research may shape how and whether the ideals of participatory research can be achieved. We discuss tensions in the process that have no clear ‘solutions’. Instead, we identify the importance of mindfulness and reflexive practice by researchers to find their way through these potential ethical and legal minefields. Applications We conclude that while social workers must continue to strive for participation by a range of service users in knowledge generation, we must also critically examine and theorise the meaning of participatory research and the idealised images of consumers and service users to improve such practice. An awareness of situated ethics as a location of the self in interaction with others is essential to promote ongoing reflexive practice throughout all stages of research.
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SCHOFIELD, HILARY, BARBARA MURPHY, HELEN E. HERRMAN, SIDNEY BLOCH, and BRUCE S. SINGH. "Carers of people aged over 50 with physical impairment, memory loss and dementia: a comparative study." Ageing and Society 18, no. 3 (May 1998): 355–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0144686x98006965.
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While studies investigating factors associated with carer burden suggest that intellectual impairment and behavioural disturbance in the care recipient are more demanding for the carer than physical impairment, comparative research findings are equivocal. Family carers of people with a long-term illness or disability were identified through a survey of 26,000 households in Victoria, Australia. Focusing on carers of those aged over 50 years, three subsamples were selected: 186 carers of relatives with physical impairment only, 182 carers of those with diagnosed memory loss and 117 carers of those with intellectual impairment diagnosed as dementia. Carers of physically impaired relatives reported better health, greater life satisfaction, and less overload, negative affect, family conflict, anger and resentment than carers of those with intellectual impairment, whether labelled as dementia or not. Despite lower impairment levels in the care recipient, carers of those with undiagnosed memory loss reported more resentment about their caring role than carers of those with a diagnosed dementia. The effects on the carer of significantly greater impairment in the dementia care recipient group may be ameliorated by having a diagnosis, bringing with it the potential for increased understanding and tolerance. Fortunately, negative feelings predictive of a sense of burden are subject to a range of interventions: providing information to promote understanding; counselling to tackle negative feelings and family conflict; guidelines to deal with behaviour problems and physical aspects of caring; and community services to reduce overload.
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Lin, Vivian, and Debra Gillick. "Does workforce regulation have the intended effect? The case of Chinese medicine practitioner registration." Australian Health Review 35, no. 4 (2011): 455. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah10869.
Full textAbstract:
The Chinese Medicine Registration Act was passed through Victorian parliament in 2000, based on policy research that suggested the need for statutory registration as a means for protecting public health and safety. This paper reports on the implementation and the effect of this policy. By examining registration, complaints and prosecution data from the Chinese Medicine Registration Board as well as comparing the complaints data between 2003 and 2007 across all Victorian registration boards, this paper considers the extent to which the policy research and the policy intent were justified. Based on the experience of the Chinese Medicine Registration Board, the paper points to issues that should be further considered as Chinese medicine moves into the national registration scheme in July 2012. What is known about the topic? Australian Federal, State and Territory governments’ criteria for regulation of health professions are aimed at protecting public health and safety. As such, the extent to which the profession poses a risk to the public is a key consideration for statutory registration. Chinese medicine practitioners have been registered in Victoria since 2002 based on theoretical analysis of the Governments’ criteria, which suggested Chinese medicine to be more risky than some of the currently registered professions. What is not known, however, is whether the research undertaken before policy adoption was predictive of the outcomes following registration. What does this paper add? Reviewing the number and sources of complaints made to the Chinese Medicine Registration Board as well as registration and prosecution data, the paper demonstrates that the policy objective of protecting public health and safety was warranted, and that there is a need for similar policy beyond Victoria. Using complaints handled by boards as a proxy measure for risk, comparative analysis of data from Victorian health professions registration boards between 2003 and 2007 shows that Chinese medicine is a high risk profession. What are the implications for practitioners? With Chinese medicine practitioners coming under the national registration scheme in July 2012, some of the difficulties associated with federalism will be overcome. Other aspects of the Victorian experience will be useful in informing implementation and likely effect of the national scheme. However, the model for health professional regulation remains essentially reactive. Although the management of complaints is an essential aspect of protecting public health and safety, ongoing review of complaints data should point to more proactive efforts to prevent their occurrence.
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Charlesworth, Stephanie. "Why Two Jurisdictions? Some Aspects of the Historical Context of the Decision to Maintain Separate Courts for Married and Unmarried Parents in Relation to Parental Rights in Victoria." Children Australia 9, no. 4 (1985): 7–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0312897000007463.
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Many professional people working with families are frustrated by the fact that there is still a marked differentiation made between children of married parents and children of non-married parents in the courts. This division has persisted in spite of legislation to remove the status of illegitimacy and the reasons for this are far from obvious to those who are not lawyers. This paper traces the historical background of this split in jurisdiction between State and Federal Courts (i.e., the Family Court) and concludes that it is based on an anachronistic view of State’s rights which no social group or political party would support today.
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Mwainge, Venny Mziri, Caleb Ogwai, Christopher Mulanda Aura, Alice Mutie, Veronica Ombwa, Hilda Nyaboke, Kennedy Ngoko Oyier, and Joseph Nyaundi. "An overview of fish disease and parasite occurrence in the cage culture of Oreochromis niloticus: A case study in Lake Victoria, Kenya." Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 24, no. 1 (January 2, 2021): 43–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.14321/aehm.024.01.08.
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Abstract Cage aquaculture has been on a steady rise in Lake Victoria, Kenya, since 2016, resulting in the current culturing of over 3,600 cages of Tilapia (O. niloticus) (Orina et al., 2018). Unfortunately, there has been limited, if any, focus on fish health aspects. Rise in intensification and commercialization predisposes fish stocks to disease due to rise in stress levels and consequent reduction in the fish immunity. Nutrient rich surroundings create a conducive environment for rapid proliferation of bacterial and saprophytic fungal growth leading to net clogging and consequently a low biological oxygen demand. Such conditions predispose the stocks to infections. This study was conducted to provide a baseline analysis of the health conditions/status of the cultured fish in this region. It encompassed studies from 2016 to 2018 on tilapia of the genus O. niloticus using both experimental (using standard procedures and protocols) and socio-economic studies (using structured questionnaires, see annexure 1). Results found the following occurrences; bacterial infections (10%), fungal infestations (12.5%), myxosporean parasites in the gills (5%), parasitic copepods (10%) and fin rot (2.5%) in the stocks. There were no significant differences between abiotic parameters in the cage locations and the wild (p > 0.05). Additionally, 90% of the respondents had no fish disease training or clue on the treatment action necessary whenever fish diseases struck. Findings from this study put to the fore the significance of fish diseases in a cage culture system in light of commercialization of the industry and the importance of biosecurity and maintenance of optimal environmental conditions within the scope of Blue Economy growth in this region. This study did not detect any disease or parasite of zoonotic importance.
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Gray, Kathleen, Wendy Chapman, Urooj R. Khan, Ann Borda, Marc Budge, Martin Dutch, Graeme K. Hart, Cecily Gilbert, and Tafheem Ahmad Wani. "The Rapid Development of Virtual Care Tools in Response to COVID-19: Case Studies in Three Australian Health Services." JMIR Formative Research 6, no. 4 (April 6, 2022): e32619. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/32619.
Full textAbstract:
Background News of the impact of COVID-19 around the world delivered a brief opportunity for Australian health services to plan new ways of delivering care to large numbers of people while maintaining staff safety through greater physical separation. The rapid pivot to telemedicine and virtual care provided immediate and longer term benefits; however, such rapid-cycle development also created risks. Objective The aim of this study was to understand the sociotechnical aspects of the rapid-cycle development of seven different COVID-19 virtual care tools, and to identify enablers, barriers, and risks at three health services in Victoria, Australia. Methods A qualitative, embedded, multiple case study design was adopted. Researchers from three health services collaborated with university researchers who were independent from those health services to gather and analyze structured interview data from key people involved in either clinical or technical aspects of designing and deploying seven different virtual care tools. Results The overall objectives of each health service reflected the international requirements for managing large numbers of patients safely but remotely and for protecting staff. However, the governance, digital maturity, and specific use cases at each institution shaped the methodology and specific outcomes required. Dependence on key individuals and their domain knowledge within an existing governance framework generally enabled rapid deployment, but sometimes posed barriers. Existing relationships with technical service developers enabled strong solutions, which in some cases were highly scalable. Conventional project methodologies such as steering committees, scope, budget control, tight functional specification, consumer engagement and codesign, universal accessibility, and postimplementation evaluation were ignored almost universally in this environment. Conclusions These three health services took a variety of approaches to the rapid-cycle development of virtual care tools to meet their urgent needs for triaging and remote monitoring during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their experiences provided insights into many social and technical barriers and enablers to the development of virtual care tools. If these are addressed proactively, they will improve clinical governance and technical management of future virtual care. Some changes can be made within individual health services, while others entail health system policy reforms. Enhancing the environment for virtual care tool design and implementation now will yield returns not only during future health emergencies but also in many more routine care settings.