The Australian journal of rural health
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Aust J Rural Health · Feb 2010
Exploratory study examining barriers to participation in colorectal cancer screening.
To examine the Stage of Change distribution for bowel cancer screening in a regional Australian community and the factors associated with varying positions on the continuum of change. ⋯ Bowel cancer screening participation rates are currently lower than those associated with breast and prostate screening. Reducing perceptions of embarrassment and discomfort, increasing awareness of potential health benefits and maximising participation in other screening procedures might increase participation in bowel cancer screening.
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Aust J Rural Health · Dec 2009
Emergency department performance at a small rural hospital: an independent in-depth review.
This study aims to provide a retrospective review of the recent performance of the emergency department of Cobram District Hospital, a small rural hospital located on the border of Victoria and New South Wales. ⋯ The small size and lack of dedicated emergency department staff place restrictions on the ability of an unfunded rural hospital to match the performance of major metropolitan emergency departments. ATS guidelines should be revised to improve clarity and reflect the different performance capabilities between metropolitan and rural centres.
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Aust J Rural Health · Oct 2009
All-terrain vehicle crashes and associated injuries in north Queensland: findings from the Rural and Remote Road Safety Study.
To define characteristics of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) crashes occurring in north Queensland from March 2004 till June 2007 with the exploration of associated risk factors. ⋯ Considerable trauma results from ATV crashes in rural and remote north Queensland. These crashes are not included in most general vehicle crash data sets, as they are usually limited to events occurring on public roads. Minimal legislation and regulation currently applies to ATV use in agricultural, recreational and commercial settings. Legislation on safer design of ATVs and mandatory courses for riders is an essential part of addressing the burden of ATV crashes on rural and remote communities.
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Aust J Rural Health · Oct 2009
Linkage, coordination and integration: evidence from rural palliative care.
Review the findings from the evaluations of three rural palliative care programs. ⋯ The 'laws' proposed by Leutz and the concepts of linkage, coordination and full integration provide a useful framework to understand the barriers to integrating GPs and other health providers. It is important to be clear on what level of integration is required. Improving links might be sufficient (and realistic), rather than striving for full integration.