Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Telehealth model of care for outpatient inflammatory bowel disease care in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advances in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) monitoring, greater number of available treatments and a shift towards tight disease control, IBD care has become more dynamic with regular follow ups. ⋯ Patients report high levels of satisfaction with a telehealth model of care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with clinic attendance rates not being affected. Telehealth appointments significantly reduced work absenteeism when compared to traditional face-to-face clinics.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among hospital employees in Italy - a single center study.
The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak early in 2020 overwhelmed the Italian national health system, and hospitals were considered places at high risk of spreading the infection. We explored specific antibody seroprevalence of all employees at a single hospital in the epicentre of the outbreak, to identify areas of risk in nosocomial setting and to evaluate the usefulness of antibody testing. ⋯ Seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 in this population of hospital workers was overall about 10%, with an excess prevalence in roles and departments associated with contacts with COVID-19 patients.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Nicotine in electronic cigarette fluid: importation pathways to unequal harm.
The Australian Government recently walked away from changes to the importation of nicotine-containing electronic cigarette fluids, originally due to come into force on 1 January 2021. Additionally, the Therapeutic Goods Administration is in the process of rescheduling nicotine for use in e-fluids. We are concerned that the 270 000 daily vapers in Australia will purchase high concentrations of nicotine (≥100 mg/mL) for mixing with nicotine-free locally purchased e-fluids, which is a pathway of increased relative harm. We would like to see regulation of these products to limit the maximum concentration of nicotine, ensure appropriate child-resistant containers and compulsory labelling for all nicotine-containing e-fluid bottles.
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The Therapeutic Goods Administration has since 2013 neglected its long tradition of publishing regular bulletins and updates about medicine safety issues directed to Australian healthcare professionals. Recent publication policy is confused with information about clinically important safety issues published only in the alternative Safety Information Alerts and, unlike other comparable regulators, a failure to publish direct healthcare professional communications.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Treatment And Outcomes For Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Lung Cancer Patients In The Top End Of The Northern Territory.
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and the death rate of lung cancer in Indigenous Australians is increasing. ⋯ Indigenous patients from the Top End diagnosed with lung cancer were more likely to have poorer survival outcomes when compared to non-indigenous people. Potential reasons for the discrepancy in survival need to be addressed urgently.