Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Individual Radiographers On Rates Of Attendance To Breast Screening: A 7-Year Retrospective Study, S. Savaridas, J. Brook, J. Codde, M Bulsara, W. Wylie

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

AIM: To establish whether individual radiographers had significantly different rescreening rates whilst controlling for other known confounding factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged 50e69 years were identified from a state-wide screening database at their first screening attendance during the study period (2007e2013). The radiographer performing this index screen and potential confounding factors were recorded and subsequent screening behaviour was assessed. Clients with abnormal screens and those known to have died during the time period were excluded. A univariate analysis of the data from 160,028 women was assessed using the chi-square test to compare those women who attended their next mammography …

Mortality In A Cohort Of Remote-Living Aboriginal Australians And Associated Factors, Zoe Hyde, Kate Smith, Leon Flicker, David Atkinson, Osvaldo P. Almeida, Nicola T. Lautenschlager, Anna Dwyer, Dina Logiudice

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: We aimed to describe mortality in a cohort of remote-living Aboriginal Australians using electronic record linkage.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2006, 363 Aboriginal people living in remote Western Australia (WA) completed a questionnaire assessing medical history and behavioural risk factors. We obtained mortality records for the cohort from the WA Data Linkage System and compared them to data for the general population. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to identify predictors of mortality over a 9-year follow-up period.

Results: The leading causes of mortality were diabetes, renal failure, and ischaemic heart disease. Diabetes and renal failure accounted for 28% …

Factors Contributing To Australian Adolescents’ Self-Report Of Their Motor Skill Competence, Amanda Timler, Fleur Mcintyre, Beth Hands

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

An adolescents motor skill competence can affect areas such as sports participation, social activities and future academic or employment decisions. The Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ) is a 26-item questionnaire that uses a four point Likert response (never, sometimes, frequently, always) to assess motor-related activities during adolescence. This study aims to provide evidence of the construct validity using Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and to identify factors that contributed to Australian adolescent self-reported motor competence. A final aim was to determine whether individual item responses differed between males and females. The AMCQ was completed by 160 adolescents (M_age = 14.45 …

Adherence To Prescribing Restrictions For Her2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer In Australia: A National Population-Based Observational Study (2001-2016), Benjamin Daniels, Federico Girosi, Hanna Tervonen, Belinda E. Kiely, Sarah J. Lord, Nehmat Houssami, Sally-Anne Pearson

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Targeted cancer therapy is often complex, involving multiple agents and chemotherapeutic partners. In Australia, prescribing restrictions are put in place to reflect existing evidence of cost-effectiveness of these medicines. As therapeutic options continue to expand, these restrictions may not be perceived to align with best practice and it is not known if their use in the real-world clinic adheres to these restrictions. We examined the treatment of women receiving trastuzumab for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (HER2+MBC) to determine the extent to which treatment adhered to national prescribing restrictions.

Patients and methods: Our population-based, retrospective cohort study used dispensing records …

Vitamin D Deficiency And Segregation Status In Prisoners, Zelda Doyle, John Dearin, Joe Mcgirr

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate if any exposure to segregation minimal association in a single male prison population had any association with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency.

Design/methodology/approach: A retrospective case study was undertaken with all inmates who had a 25-hyrdoxy-vitamin D test taken during the study period deemed eligible. Hand searching of the medical records by an independent party identified eligible participants whose data were recorded for analysis.

Findings: In total, 124 prisoners were deemed eligible for inclusion; 67 were vitamin D sufficient and 57 were vitamin D deficient by Australian standards. Time …

Carers' Preferences For The Delivery Of Therapy Services For People With Disability In Rural Australia: Evidence From A Discrete Choice Experiment, G Gallego, A Dew, M Lincoln, K Bulkeley, J Brentnall, C Vietch

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: The implementation of the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is expected to generate a responsive, person-centred system that will empower people with disability to choose the services and support they receive. However little attention has been paid to examine how users of the NDIS will choose and spend their individual budgets. This study aimed to determine quantitatively the relative importance that carers of people with a disability living in rural Australia place on different therapy service delivery characteristics.

Methods: A stated preference discrete choice experiment (DCE) was incorporated into a survey of carers of people with disability living …

How Are Junior Doctors Managing Patients With Self-Limiting Illnesses At Their First Presentation? A Video Vignette Study, Eugene D'Souza, Catherine Krejany, Rosie Meng, Moyez Jiwa

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Purpose: To conduct a video vignette survey of medical students and doctors investigating test ordering for patients presenting with self-limiting or minor illness.

Methods: Participants were shown six video vignettes of common self-limiting illnesses and invited to devise investigation and management plans for the patients’ current presentation. The number of tests ordered was compared with those recommended by an expert panel. A Theory of Planned Behaviour Questionnaire explored participants’ beliefs and attitudes about ordering tests in the context of self-limiting illness.

Results: Participants (n=61) were recruited from across Australia. All participants ordered at least one test that was not recommended …