Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2013
Multicenter StudyDescription of the Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains local health districts' influenza prevention programme.
Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In 2011, influenza vaccination was provided free for people at greatest risk of severe disease: people aged 65 years and over, Aboriginal Australians 15 years and older, pregnant women, and individuals aged 6 months and over who suffered chronic medical conditions. ⋯ A hospital-based influenza vaccination programme can be an effective way to improve influenza vaccination rates among specific population groups at high risk of severe disease with influenza, particularly pregnant women and those younger than 65 years with a chronic medical condition.
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Internal medicine journal · May 2013
Multicenter StudyAttitudes and views of the general public towards research participation.
While the challenges of recruitment into clinical trials are well described, little is known about the public's perceptions towards research. ⋯ Attitudes of the public towards research participation are beleaguered by misconceptions. Stakeholders in clinical research must educate the general public regarding research methods and ethics.
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyProspective observational study of dementia and delirium in the acute hospital setting.
Dementia and delirium appear to be common among older patients admitted to acute hospitals, although there are few Australian data regarding these important conditions. ⋯ The prevalence of dementia and delirium among older patients admitted to acute hospitals is high and is likely to increase with population aging. It is suggested that hospital design, staffing and processes should be attuned better to meet these patients' needs.
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Internal medicine journal · Mar 2013
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialImpact of age, gender and indigenous status on access to diagnostic coronary angiography for patients presenting with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes in Australia.
Using Australian guidelines for management of acute coronary syndromes, we investigated the proportion of high-risk patients enrolled in the Acute Coronary Syndromes Prospective Audit registry who received a coronary angiogram. A prospective nationwide multicentre registry involving 39 Australian hospitals was used. The study cohort were patients with high-risk clinical features without ST segment elevation (n = 1948) admitted from emergency departments between 1 November 2005 and 31 July 2007. ⋯ Indigenous patients were as likely to access angiography as eligible non-indigenous patients (RR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.85, 1.25). There is underinvestigation of high-risk patients without ST segment elevation in Australian hospitals, particularly for women and older patients. Indigenous patients are younger and have poorer risk profiles, and represent a group that would benefit from greater investment in prevention strategies.
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2013
Multicenter StudySurvey of practices and policies relating to the use of complementary and alternative medicines and therapies in New South Wales cancer services.
To examine policies and practices relating to the provision, prescription and monitoring of complementary and alternative medicine and therapies (CAM) in conventional cancer services in NSW. ⋯ Most cancer services in NSW recognise potential CAM use by patients and expect medical staff to ask patients about their use of CAM. While few cancer services provided or prescribed CAM, over half permitted inpatients to bring their own CAM into hospital. There was little control over the use of CAM, however, and monitoring was lax. Given the wide usage of CAM by patients with cancer, this lack of control may compromise clinical outcomes, with potentially dangerous consequences.