The Medical journal of Australia
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Multicenter Study
Uptake of influenza vaccine by pregnant women: a cross-sectional survey.
To determine influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women in New South Wales, and factors associated with vaccine uptake during pregnancy. ⋯ Recommendation from a health care provider is strongly associated with influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women and can overcome their concerns about safety, but less than half the women surveyed reported receiving such a recommendation. Educational material targeting pregnant women and professional education and support for antenatal health care providers are needed to increase awareness and recommendation.
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Multicenter Study
A prospective multicentre study of barriers to discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
To assess the prevalence of and reasons for barriers to discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, to measure the resulting additional days in hospital, and to determine if these were predicted by key demographic or clinical variables. ⋯ Barriers to discharge from inpatient rehabilitation are common and substantial, and they represent an important opportunity for improvement.
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Multicenter Study
A multicentre evaluation of two intensive care unit triage protocols for use in an influenza pandemic.
To determine the increase in intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability that would result from the use of the New South Wales and Ontario Health Plan for an Influenza Pandemic (OHPIP) triage protocols. ⋯ Both triage protocols resulted in increases in ICU bed availability, but the OHPIP protocol provided the greatest increase overall. With the NSW triage protocol, ICU bed availability increased as the protocol was escalated.
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To describe the clinical syndrome associated with definite tiger snake (Notechis spp) envenoming and to examine the ability of tiger snake antivenom (TSAV) to bind free venom in vivo. ⋯ Tiger snake envenoming causes VICC, systemic symptoms, neurotoxicity and myotoxicity. One vial of TSAV, the dose originally recommended when the antivenom was first made available, appears to be sufficient to bind all circulating venom.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Waiting in pain: a systematic investigation into the provision of persistent pain services in Australia.
To document and describe outpatient persistent pain management services in Australia. ⋯ Persistent pain management services are currently unable to meet service requirements adequately, and waiting times are more prolonged for publicly funded than privately funded services. Greater service provision is required in rural areas and for children.