Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Associated With Patterns Of Psychological Distress, Alcohol Use And Social Network Among Australian Mineworkers, Carole L. James, Mijanur Rahman, Aaron Bezzina, Brian Kelly

Australian Health Services Research Institute

Objective: To investigate the convergence of individual findings relating to psychological distress, alcohol use and social network (SN) to identify their associated clusters within Australian mineworkers. Methods: This study used cross‐sectional survey data from 3,056 participants across 12 Australian mines. Latent class analysis used the scores of Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Social Network Index. Results: Class 1 (moderate to very high psychological distress, low SN score and low to moderate AUDIT) included 39% (n=1,178) participants and class 2 (low to moderate psychological distress and AUDIT and very high SN) composed of 61% (n=1,873) …

Factors Contributing To Low Readiness And Capacity Of Culturally Diverse Participants To Use The Australian National Bowel Screening Kit, Lyn Phillipson, Leissa Pitts, Julie Hall, Tameika Tubaro

Australian Health Services Research Institute

Objectives: Bowel screening is an effective way to promote early detection of bowel cancer. Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people face considerable barriers to screening. This qualitative study explored perceptions towards, and usability of, Australia's national bowel screening kit with members of two migrant communities. Methods: Thirty-three people (aged 50-79 years) from Serbian and Macedonian communities in the Illawarra region in New South Wales, Australia, participated in one of five interactive focus group sessions. Sessions used innovative 'customer journey' techniques to understand participants' experience of each step of the faecal occult blood test process. Participants discussed knowledge of bowel cancer …

Comparability Of The Australian National Cancer Symptom Trials (Cst) Group's Study Populations To National Referrals To Non-Cst Specialist Palliative Care Services Participating In The Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration, Hiromichi Matsuoka, Samuel F. Allingham, Belinda Fazekas, Linda Brown, Zac Vandersman, Katherine Clark, Meera Agar, David C. Currow

Australian Health Services Research Institute

Using the results of Phase III studies in clinical practice depends on how representative study participants are of the clinical population to whom the results will be applied. The closer the characteristics between the subgroup who participate in a clinical trial and the whole population, the easier it is for clinicians to apply the results directly to the patient that he/she is treating. Trial participation is generally more happenstance than a systematic sampling of a population and is limited by eligibility criteria that do not reflect the entire clinical population. Phase III study populations tend to be younger with fewer …

Comparison Of Rehabilitation Outcomes For Long Term Neurological Conditions: A Cohort Analysis Of The Australian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre Dataset For Adults Of Working Age, Lynne Turner-Stokes, Roxana Vanderstay, Tara L. Stevermuer, Frances D. Simmonds, Fary Khan, Kathy Eagar

Australian Health Services Research Institute

Objective

To describe and compare outcomes from in-patient rehabilitation (IPR) in working-aged adults across different groups of long-term neurological conditions, as defined by the UK National Service Framework.

Design

Analysis of a large Australian prospectively collected dataset for completed IPR episodes (n = 28,596) from 2003-2012.

Methods

De-identified data for adults (16–65 years) with specified neurological impairment codes were extracted, cleaned and divided into ‘Sudden-onset’ conditions: (Stroke (n = 12527), brain injury (n = 7565), spinal cord injury (SCI) (n = 3753), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (n = 805)) and ‘Progressive/stable’ conditions (Progressive (n = 3750) and Cerebral palsy (n = …

The Contribution Of Focus Group Discussions To Aboriginal Australian Health Service Research: A Content Analysis Of Practice And Experience, Angela Dawson, John Daniels, Kathleen F. Clapham

Australian Health Services Research Institute

Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) are a common way of gathering qualitative data in Aboriginal health services research; however there have been no studies on the question of whether they are appropriate research tools in such contexts, nor are there are specific guidelines available to ensure that FGDs are delivered to collect data in ways that are consistent with Aboriginal approaches to consultation, ownership and ways of knowing. Furthermore, there is a lack of clarity concerning the theoretical and methodological perspectives that could be operationalised by FGDs to gather data, guide analysis and interpretation in ways that are culturally appropriate, ethically …

Mental Health: Findings From The Australian Longitudinal Study On Women’S Health, Libby Holden, Annette Dobson, Julie E. Byles, Deborah J. Loxton, Xenia Dolja-Gore, Richard Hockey, Christina Lee, Catherine Chojenta, Nicole M. Reilly, Gita D. Mishra, Deirdre Mclaughlin, Nancy Pachana, Leigh Tooth, Melissa Harris

Australian Health Services Research Institute

This report uses data from cohorts born 1973-78, 1946-51 and 1921-26 to explore patterns of mental health among Australian women as well as their use of mental health services. It includes analyses of factors associated with poor mental health as well as specific areas such as perinatal mental health, interpersonal relationships and mental health, and comorbidity of physical and mental health.

The Aroc Annual Report: The State Of Rehabilitation In Australia And New Zealand In 2010, Frances D. Simmonds, Tara L. Stevermuer, B Marosszeky

Australian Health Services Research Institute

Powerpoint presentation presented at the ANZCOS / AFRM Conference, Brisbane.

Rehabilitation For Guillain Barre Syndrome: Analysis Of The Australian Rehabilitation Outcomes Dataset, F Khan, Tara L. Stevermuer, Frances D. Simmonds

Australian Health Services Research Institute

To examine the outcomes of inpatient rehabilitation for Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) survivors using the Australian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre (AROC) database. De-identified data from the AROC database was analysed for all rehabilitation admissions during 2003 - 2008, using 4 classes for functional level. The outcomes included: Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores and FIM efficiency, hospital length of stay (LOS) and discharge destination. Of 577 case episodes 58% were male, mean age 56.7 years, 91% were discharged to the community and 64.8% (n = 374) were in the lowest functional classes (217, 218 and 219). The majority of GBS survivors were …