Australian and New Zealand journal of public health
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Dec 2001
Recognising and responding to outbreaks of hepatitis A associated with child day-care centres.
To assess the appropriateness of a protocol for recognising and responding to outbreaks of hepatitis A in child day-care centres and to determine if measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine was given too soon following the administration of normal human immunoglobulin (NIGH) to young children to control the outbreaks. ⋯ Although outbreaks of hepatitis A were common events in day-care centres in north Queensland during the two-year study period, a single case of hepatitis A associated with a centre was a poor predictor of an outbreak within that centre. Precautions must be taken to ensure that live vaccines are not administered to young children too soon after NIGH.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Dec 2001
Outcomes from NHMRC public health research project grants awarded in 1993.
In 1987, the Public Health Research and Development Committee (PHRDC) was established by the NHMRC as one mechanism to fund public health research in Australia. In 1993, it awarded 32 new and 31 continuing project grants. Given increasing interest in research accountability in Australia, we designed an audit to determine outcomes from this investment. We also explored grant recipients' views about sources of research funding and strategies to enhance research dissemination. ⋯ A pleasing proportion of projects funded by PHRDC in 1993 generated peer-reviewed publications and provided research training. Recipients perceive their research has influenced policy and practice. Recipients' views about strategies to increase funding for public health research are consistent with current reforms within the NHMRC. Policy makers emerge as a key target for training in research transfer.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Oct 2001
Health services research using linked records: who consents and what is the gain?
To assess consent to record linkage, describe the characteristics of consenters and compare self-report versus Medicare records of general practitioner use. ⋯ Linked records provide a powerful tool for health care research, particularly in longitudinal studies.
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Aust N Z J Public Health · Oct 2001
Ambulance calls to suspected overdoses: New South Wales patterns July 1997 to June 1999.
Using data on New South Wales ambulance calls to suspected overdoses from July 1997 to June 1999 to: a) examine temporal and geographic trends in calls; and b) compare geographic patterns of fatal and non-fatal opioid overdose. ⋯ Rates of ambulance attendance at suspected overdoses is a promising indicator that allows monitoring of trends and identification of areas with high rates of opioid use.
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Universal hepatitis B immunisation of young adolescents was included in the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule in 1998. However, rates of immunisation among adolescents world-wide have often been inadequate. Australia's experience in this area is no exception, particularly in States where school-based delivery is not carried out. ⋯ However, it is important to recognise that both certification and mandatory immunisation legislation have inherent difficulties. In this paper, we argue that legislation for high school immunisation certification, as part of a multi-faceted vaccine delivery strategy tailored to adolescents, is required to achieve the uptake that will lead to interruption of transmission of the hepatitis B virus in Australia. Not only will it substantially reduce incident cases of hepatitis B for the next decade, it will also provide a framework for the successful introduction of future adolescent vaccine initiatives in Australia.