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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Assessing The Quality, Suitability And Readability Of Internet-Based Health Information About Warfarin For Patients, Sayeed Nasser, Judy Mullan, Beata Bajorek Jul 2013

Assessing The Quality, Suitability And Readability Of Internet-Based Health Information About Warfarin For Patients, Sayeed Nasser, Judy Mullan, Beata Bajorek

Judy Mullan

BackgroundWarfarin is a high-risk medication where patient information may be critical to help ensure safe and effective treatment. Considering the time constraints of healthcare providers, the internet can be an important supplementary information resource for patients prescribed warfarin. The usefulness of internet-based patient information is often limited by challenges associated with finding valid and reliable health information. Given patients’ increasing access of the internet for information, this study investigated the quality, suitability and readability of patient information about warfarin presented on the internet.MethodPreviously validated tools were used to evaluate the quality, suitability and readability of patient information about warfarin on …


Educating Patients About Warfarin Theray Using Information Technology: A Survey On Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives, Sayeed Nasser, Judy Mullan, Beata Bajorek Jul 2013

Educating Patients About Warfarin Theray Using Information Technology: A Survey On Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives, Sayeed Nasser, Judy Mullan, Beata Bajorek

Judy Mullan

Objective: To explore healthcare professionals’ views about the benefits and challenges of using information technology (IT) resources for educating patients about their warfarin therapy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of both community and hospital-based healthcare professionals (e.g., doctors, pharmacists and nurses) involved using a purpose-designed questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed using a multi-modal approach to maximise response rates. Results: Of the total 300 questionnaires distributed, 109 completed surveys were received (43.3% response rate). Over half (53.2%) of the healthcare participants were aged between 40-59 years, the majority (59.5%) of whom were female. Fifty nine (54.1%) participants reported having had no access …


The Chronic Heart-Failure Assistance By Telephone (Chat) Study: Assessment Of Telephone Support For Vulnerable Patients With Chronic Disease, Julie Yallop, Bianca Chan, Leon Piterman, Andrew Tonkin, Andrew Forbes, Patricia M. Davidson, Robyn Clark, Elizabeth Halcomb, Andrea Nangle, Simon Stewart, Joanne Croucher, Henry Krum Jul 2013

The Chronic Heart-Failure Assistance By Telephone (Chat) Study: Assessment Of Telephone Support For Vulnerable Patients With Chronic Disease, Julie Yallop, Bianca Chan, Leon Piterman, Andrew Tonkin, Andrew Forbes, Patricia M. Davidson, Robyn Clark, Elizabeth Halcomb, Andrea Nangle, Simon Stewart, Joanne Croucher, Henry Krum

Elizabeth Jane Halcomb Professor

Aim: To determine whether telephone support using an evidence-based protocol for chronic heart failure (CHF) management will improve patient outcomes and will reduce hospital readmission rates in patients without access to hospital-based management programs. Methods: The rationale and protocol for a cluster-design randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a semi-automated telephone intervention for the management of CHF, the Chronic Heart-failure Assistance by Telephone (CHAT) Study is described. Care is coordinated by trained cardiac nurses located in Heartline, the national call center of the National Heart Foundation of Australia in partnership with patients' general practitioners (GPs). Conclusions: The CHAT Study model represents …


Portal And Systemic Haemodynamic Action Of N-Acetylcysteine In Patients With Stable Cirrhosis, Alison Jones, I Bangash, I.A.D Bouchier, P Hayes Jun 2013

Portal And Systemic Haemodynamic Action Of N-Acetylcysteine In Patients With Stable Cirrhosis, Alison Jones, I Bangash, I.A.D Bouchier, P Hayes

Alison L Jones

The effects of intravenous N-acetylcysteine on hepatic and systemic haemodynamics were investigated in 11 patients with stable cirrhosis (eight alcohol; two primary bilary cirrhosis; one cryptogenic). N-acetylcysteine administration had no effect on the mean heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure despite a significant fall in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance. Cardiac index increased but estimated liver blood flow and portal venous pressure did not change significantly. Administration of N-acetylcysteine resulted in increased oxygen delivery to the tissues because of the increased cardiac index but this was not accompanied by a rise in either arteriovenous oxygen extraction ratio or mean …


Cognitive Skills Underlying Driving In Patients Discharged Following Self-Poisoning With Central Nervous System Depressant Drugs, Tharaka Dassanayake, Patricia Michie, Alison Jones, Trevor Mallard, Ian Whyte, Gregory Carter Jun 2013

Cognitive Skills Underlying Driving In Patients Discharged Following Self-Poisoning With Central Nervous System Depressant Drugs, Tharaka Dassanayake, Patricia Michie, Alison Jones, Trevor Mallard, Ian Whyte, Gregory Carter

Alison L Jones

Background: Central nervous system–depressant (CNS-Ds) drugs can impair cognitive functions and driving. They are also the most common drugs taken in overdose in hospital-treated episodes of self-poisoning. In Australia most of these patients are discharged within 48 h, while they still have possible subclinical drug effects. We aimed to determine whether patients treated for self-poisoning with CNS-Ds are impaired in the Trail-Making Test (TMT, parts A and B), a neuropsychological test that is known to correlate with driving performance. Methods: This study was a conducted from November 2008 to April 2011 in a referral center for poisonings in New South …


The Older Patient, The Doctor And The Trainee: Patients' Attitudes And Implications For Models Of Care, Andrew Bonney, Sandra Jones, Donald Iverson Jun 2013

The Older Patient, The Doctor And The Trainee: Patients' Attitudes And Implications For Models Of Care, Andrew Bonney, Sandra Jones, Donald Iverson

Sandra Jones

Aims & rationale/Objectives Population ageing poses major challenges for health systems. Additionally, training future general practitioners in the management of older and chronically ill patients is potentially hampered by the reluctance of these patients to consult trainees for chronic care. This paper reports a cross-sectional study investigating the attitudes of older patients to trainees, to inform strategies to improve older patient-trainee interaction. Methods The survey instrument was distributed to 1900 patients aged 60 and over from 38 training practices from five Australian states using a stratified, randomised cluster sampling process. Generalised estimating equation models were used for analysis. Principal findings …


'If My Arms And Legs Aren't Dropping Off I'Ll Wait To See My Usual Gp!' An Analysis Of Older Patients' Attitudes To Registrars Informed By Agency Theory, Andrew D. Bonney, Sandra C. Jones, Donald C. Iverson, Christopher A. Magee Jun 2013

'If My Arms And Legs Aren't Dropping Off I'Ll Wait To See My Usual Gp!' An Analysis Of Older Patients' Attitudes To Registrars Informed By Agency Theory, Andrew D. Bonney, Sandra C. Jones, Donald C. Iverson, Christopher A. Magee

Sandra Jones

Continuity of care and trust are important in older patient-doctor relationships which impacts older patient willingess to consult registrars for chronic disease management.


Poor Nutritional Status Of Older Subacute Patients Predicts Clinical Outcomes And Mortality At 18 Months Of Follow-Up, K Charlton, C Nichols, S Bowden, Marianna Milosavljevic, K Lambert, L Barone, M Mason, M Batterham Apr 2013

Poor Nutritional Status Of Older Subacute Patients Predicts Clinical Outcomes And Mortality At 18 Months Of Follow-Up, K Charlton, C Nichols, S Bowden, Marianna Milosavljevic, K Lambert, L Barone, M Mason, M Batterham

Karen E. Charlton

Background/Objectives: Older malnourished patients experience increased surgical complications and greater morbidity compared with their well-nourished counterparts. This study aimed to assess whether nutritional status at hospital admission predicted clinical outcomes at 18 months follow-up. Subjects/Methods: A retrospective analysis of N=2076 patient admissions (65+ years) from two subacute hospitals, New South Wales, Australia. Analysis of outcomes at 18 months, according to nutritional status at index admission, was performed in a subsample of n=476. Nutritional status was determined within 72 h of admission using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Outcomes, obtained from electronic patient records, included hospital readmission rate, total Length of …


G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 4 Polymorphisms Predict Blood Pressure Response To Dietary Modification In Black Patients With Mild-To-Moderate Hypertension, B Rayner, R Ramesar, K Steyn, N Levitt, C Lombard, K Charlton Apr 2013

G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 4 Polymorphisms Predict Blood Pressure Response To Dietary Modification In Black Patients With Mild-To-Moderate Hypertension, B Rayner, R Ramesar, K Steyn, N Levitt, C Lombard, K Charlton

Karen E. Charlton

No abstract provided.


Older Rehabilitation Patients Are At High Risk Of Malnutrition: Evidence From A Large Australian Database, Karen Charlton, Clare Nichols, Steven Bowden, Kelly Lambert, Lilliana Barone, Michelle Mason, Marianna Milosavljevic Apr 2013

Older Rehabilitation Patients Are At High Risk Of Malnutrition: Evidence From A Large Australian Database, Karen Charlton, Clare Nichols, Steven Bowden, Kelly Lambert, Lilliana Barone, Michelle Mason, Marianna Milosavljevic

Karen E. Charlton

No abstract provided.


Mglur5 And Nmda Receptor Density Are Reduced In The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Of Schizoaffective But Not Schizophrenia Patients, Kelly Newell, Natalie Matosin, Elisabeth Frank, Chao Deng, Xu-Feng Huang Apr 2013

Mglur5 And Nmda Receptor Density Are Reduced In The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Of Schizoaffective But Not Schizophrenia Patients, Kelly Newell, Natalie Matosin, Elisabeth Frank, Chao Deng, Xu-Feng Huang

Xu-Feng Huang

Abstract of a poster that presented at the Society of Biological Psychiatry 67th Annual Meeting.


Gender Differences In Cognitive Function Of Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia, Mei Han, Xu-Feng Huang, Da Chen, Mei Xiu, Li Hui, Haibo Liu, Thomas Kosten, Xiang Zhang Feb 2013

Gender Differences In Cognitive Function Of Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia, Mei Han, Xu-Feng Huang, Da Chen, Mei Xiu, Li Hui, Haibo Liu, Thomas Kosten, Xiang Zhang

Xu-Feng Huang

Schizophrenic patients have cognitive impairments, but gender differences in these cognitive deficits have had limited study. This study assessed cognitive functioning in 471 subjects including 122 male and 78 female schizophrenic patients and 141 male and 130 female healthy controls. We found that immediate memory, language, delayed memory and total RBANS scores were significantly decreased in schizophrenia compared with healthy controls for both genders. Male patients had significant lower immediate memory, delayed memory and total RBANS scores than female patients, and healthy controls showed a similar gender difference. The RBANS showed modest correlations with PANSS scores, duration of illness and …


Neck Muscle Fatigue And Postural Control In Patients With Whiplash Injury, Paul Stapley, Maria Beretta, Elena Toffola, Marco Schieppati Jan 2013

Neck Muscle Fatigue And Postural Control In Patients With Whiplash Injury, Paul Stapley, Maria Beretta, Elena Toffola, Marco Schieppati

Dr Paul J Stapley

Objectives: To examine if patients with whiplash injury show identifiable increases in neck muscle fatigability and associated increase in postural body sway after contractions of dorsal neck muscles, and if physiotherapy treatment reduces these effects. Methods: Sway was measured during stance in 13 patients before and after 5 min of isometric dorsal neck muscle contractions and after recovery, pre- and post-physiotherapy, using a force platform. Amplitude and median frequency of neck muscle EMG were calculated during the contracting period. After each stance trial, patients gave a subjective score of sway. Results: Pre-treatment, seven patients showed EMG signs of fatigue (increases …