Australian and New Zealand journal of public health
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Jun 2013
Air pollution from bushfires and their association with hospital admissions in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, Australia 1994-2007.
We examined the association between validated bushfire smoke pollution events and hospital admissions in three eastern Australian cities from 1994 to 2007. ⋯ Smoke events were associated with increased hospital admissions for respiratory but not cardiovascular conditions. Large populations are needed to assess the impacts of brief exposures. Implications : Public health impacts from bushfire pollution events are likely to increase in association with a warming climate and more frequent severe fire weather.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Jun 2013
An investigation of culturally competent terminology in healthcare policy finds ambiguity and lack of definition.
This research explored how the concept of cultural competence was represented and expressed through health policies that were intended to improve the quality and efficacy of healthcare provided to families from culturally marginalised communities, particularly women and children with refugee backgrounds. ⋯ Clearly defined pathways are necessary from health policy to inform culturally competent service delivery. The capacity for policy directives to effectively circumvent the potential deleterious outcomes of culturally incompetent services is only possible when that policy provides clear definitions and instructions. Consultation and partnership are necessary to develop effective definitions and processes relating to cultural competence.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Apr 2013
Prescribing databases can be used to monitor trends in opioid analgesic prescribing in Australia.
There has been increased use of prescription opioid analgesics in Australia in the past 20 years with increasing evidence of related problems. A number of data sources collect information about the dispensed prescribing for opioid medications, but little is known about the extent to which these data sources agree on levels of opioid prescribing. ⋯ Improved access to PBS data for relevant stakeholders could provide an efficient and cost-effective way to monitor use of prescription opioid analgesics.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Apr 2013
Older fallers attended to by an ambulance but not transported to hospital: a vulnerable population at high risk of future falls.
This prospective cohort study describes older non-transported fallers seen by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales (ASNSW), quantifies the level of risk and identifies predictors of future falls and ambulance use. ⋯ Onward referral for preventive interventions may reduce future falls and ambulance service calls.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Apr 2013
Beyond the paper trail: using technology to reduce escalating harms from opioid prescribing in Australia.
The paper highlights the extent of pharmaceutical drug misuse problems in Australia and explores how pharmaceutical opioid misuse could be reduced by implementation of a technological tool: a prescription co-ordination program (PCP). The paper explores how enhancements to existing computer-assisted clinical decision support systems through real-time, on-line information to prescribers, pharmacists and regulators could address drug-seeking and improve the quality use of medicines. ⋯ Providing prescribers, pharmacists and regulators with on-line, real-time information about patients' prescription opioid use will improve the quality use of medicines. A national system is required to co-ordinate data on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and unsubsidised medicines, including private prescriptions. Pharmaceutical opioids are not the only medicines subject to misuse and therefore the need to capture data on other relevant medicines is also addressed.