Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
Final results of the National Oncology Mentorship Program 2023 and its impact on burnout and professional fulfilment.
Significant burnout and low professional fulfilment are noted among medical oncologists and trainees. The National Oncology Mentorship Programme (NOMP23) was designed to evaluate the impact of a 1-year mentorship program between oncology trainees (mentees) and consultants (mentors) on improving professional fulfilment and burnout. ⋯ NOMP23 demonstrated that a centrally coordinated, low-cost mentorship program could be feasible and was of high value. Mentorship programs, alongside multifactorial institutional, state-based and national interventions to improve well-being, can help ensure a sustainable workforce.
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
The impact of obstructive sleep apnoea on post-operative outcomes.
Unrecognised obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been associated with adverse cardiorespiratory perioperative outcomes. However, with changing anaesthetic and perioperative management, there is ongoing uncertainty about the importance of OSA as a risk factor for post-operative complications. ⋯ Unrecognised OSA was not associated with an increase in clinically evident cardiorespiratory complications in this cohort. The lower complication rates compared with earlier studies suggest that increased use of less invasive surgical techniques, improved pain management and increased awareness of OSA have had an impact in reducing postoperative complications in this group. Further research is needed to clarify the impact of severe OSA on post-operative outcomes in different surgical cohorts with varying risk profiles in order to develop optimal perioperative pathways.
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
Healthcare burden of public hospital gout admissions in New South Wales, Australia.
In New Zealand, the Māori and Pacific Islander population has a higher rate of hospital admissions for gout; however, we lack data for these population groups who reside in Australia. This study examined the pattern of hospital gout admissions in New South Wales (NSW), the most populous state of Australia, with a particular focus on the Māori and Pacific Islander population. ⋯ This study highlights the ethnic and geographical disparities in gout hospital admissions in NSW, with the Māori and Pacific Islander population of Western and South Western Sydney disproportionately affected. Culturally appropriate gout management strategies may be needed in the Māori and Pacific Islander population to address the large number of gout cases in western and southwestern Sydney.
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
Kidney transplant outcomes of Māori and Pasifika people receiving transplantation in Australia: an Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry study.
The numbers of Māori and Pasifika peoples with kidney failure living in Australia are rising. However, data describing outcomes of those proceeding to transplantation are limited. This study describes clinical outcomes of Māori and Pasifika peoples who received a kidney transplant in Australia. ⋯ Times to graft loss for Māori and Pasifika kidney transplant patients were shorter than for other ethnicities.
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
Statewide neurology inpatient whole body and brain 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography utilisation patterns demonstrate avenues for optimisation.
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) can provide unique insights; however, access may be difficult. In this 2-year statewide study of all neurology inpatient admissions, 27.9% (41/147) of PET (any field of view) demonstrated significant abnormalities. At sites without on-site PET access, the proportion of patients receiving PET was lower (P < 0.01), and the time from admission to receiving PET was longer (P = 0.018), as compared to those with on-site access. Investigation of strategies to improve access is warranted.