NHMRC information paper: evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy for treating health conditions

This paper provides a summary of evidence from research on the effectiveness of homeopathy in treating health conditions in humans. Findings There was no reliable evidence from research in humans that homeopathy was effective for treating the range of health conditions considered: no good-quality, well-designed studies with enough participants for a meaningful result reported either that homeopathy caused greater health improvements than placebo, or caused health improvements equal to those of another treatment. For some health conditions, studies reported that homeopathy was not more effective than placebo. For other health conditions, there were poor-quality studies that reported homeopathy was more effective than placebo, or as effective as another treatment. However, based on their limitations, those studies were not reliable for making conclusions about whether homeopathy was effective. For the remaining health conditions it was not possible to make any conclusion about whether homeopathy was effective or not, because there was not enough evidence. Conclusions Based on the assessment of the evidence of effectiveness of homeopathy, NHMRC concludes that there are no health conditions for which there is reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective. Homeopathy should not be used to treat health conditions that are chronic, serious, or could become serious. People who choose homeopathy may put their health at risk if they reject or delay treatments for which there is good evidence for safety and effectiveness. People who are considering whether to use homeopathy should first get advice from a registered health practitioner. Those who use homeopathy should tell their health practitioner and should keep taking any prescribed treatments

Health communication implications of the perceived meanings of terms used to denote unhealthy foods

Background: Using appropriate terminology in nutrition education programs and behaviour change campaigns is important to optimise the effectiveness of these efforts. To inform future communications on the topic of healthy eating, this study explored adults’ perceptions of the meaning of four terms used to describe unhealthy foods: junk food, snack food, party food, and discretionary food. Methods: Australian adults were recruited to participate in an online survey that included demographic items and open-ended questions relating to perceptions of the four terms. In total, 409 respondents aged 25–64 years completed the survey. Results: ‘Junk food’ was the term most clearly aligned with unhealthiness, and is therefore likely to represent wording that will have salience and relevance to many target audience members. Snack foods were considered to include both healthy and unhealthy food products, and both snack foods and party foods were often described as being consumed in small portions. Despite being used in dietary guidelines, the term ‘discretionary food’ was unfamiliar to many respondents. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that different terms for unhealthy foods can have substantially different meanings for audience members. A detailed understanding of these meanings is needed to ensure that nutrition guidance and health promotion campaigns use appropriate terminology

Rising health spending, new medical technology and the Baumol effect

This paper estimates the Baumol effect in health spending, using a panel data set of OECD countries. Health expenditure as a share of GDP rises in most OECD countries. One of the possible causes is the so-called Baumol effect, which may arise if labour productivity in health care grows more slowly than in the overall economy. If in addition demand for health care is inelastic, then the share of health spending in GDP will rise over time. We do indeed find that one percentage growth in economy-wide labour productivity is associated with about 0.5 percent growth in real health spending. This implies that economy-wide productivity growth leads to higher real health spending.

Information paper: evidence on wind farms and human health

This Information Paper provides Australians with a summary of the evidence on possible health effects of wind farms in humans and explains how NHMRC developed its summary based on the findings of independent reviews of the evidence. It is intended for use by any person or group interested in wind farms. Wind farms in Australia Wind turbines use rotating blades attached to towers to convert wind energy into electricity. A group of wind turbines is known as a wind farm and may be located on land or offshore. Wind turbine design has evolved over the last 20 years to enable better harnessing of wind energy. Wind farms have been promoted as a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional, non-renewable forms of energy production. Since the introduction of the Renewable Energy Act 2000, the number of wind farms in Australia has grown substantially. At the end of 2013, there were 68 wind farms across the country and more were being constructed or planned. Why NHMRC is conducting this work NHMRC is responsible for ensuring that Australians receive the best available, evidence-based advice on matters relating to improving health and to preventing, diagnosing and treating disease. Concern about the effects on health from living near a wind farm has been expressed by some members of the community. Therefore, NHMRC examined the evidence on health effects associated with exposure to specific emissions from wind farms — noise, shadow flicker and electromagnetic radiation. The current investigation of the potential health effects of wind farms builds upon NHMRC’s previous work in this area. In 2010, NHMRC’s Public statement: Wind turbines and health was published, with supporting evidence from Wind turbines and health: A rapid review of the evidence. The 2010 NHMRC Public Statement concluded that there “is currently no published scientific evidence to positively link wind turbines with adverse health effects”. Due to the limited amount of published scientific literature, NHMRC committed to carrying out a more extensive search for evidence. This Information Paper provides an update to NHMRC’s previous work in this area. It is based on a comprehensive review of the available scientific evidence following well-established systematic review principles, which provide the most rigorous process for identifying and critically appraising evidence. In Australia, responsibility for regulating the planning, development and operation of wind farms lies with state, territory and local governments. The outcomes of NHMRC’s review may assist these organisations to make decisions about the regulation of wind farms. NHMRC’s review of the evidence will enable well-designed and targeted research to be undertaken in areas that have been identified as gaps in the evidence base

Heart Health Literacy Tables: Exploring Cardiology and Medical Terminology with the Community

This paper measures the degree of medical literacy in Robeson County and to better improve the understanding of various cardiovascular ailments. This will be done through numerous Heart Health Literacy Tables held at a local venue, Golden Corral (Lumberton, NC). Blood pressures will be administered on-site for willing participants, American Heart Association literature will be provided and explained, and comparisons will be drawn between the data collected and national values. Trends were seen, such as a greater participation of women, a higher incidence of hypertension in African Americans than other ethnicities (in contrast to their population sizes), and an upward trend in participation with respect to age. Overall, results corresponded nicely with national averages, with the exception that we had a larger percentage of Native American volunteers. This can be attributed to the proximity of the literacy table venue to the Lumbee Tribe population (Pembroke, NC). Strategies for improved methodology in communicating with patients, bridging the literacy gap, and blood pressure measurements are given as well

Beyond Chapter 4.7

Chapter 4.7 of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research refers specifically to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. It lays out the points at which researchers working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders must consider their approach, and the engagement with individuals, communities or groups who are involved in or affected by their research. History, of Australia and of research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, has informed this approach. The response to that history has been a rational, institutionalised, systematic demand for a different perception of what should direct research and research processes to ensure engagement with and service to the community with whom the researchers wish to do the work. This paper considers whether these principles could inform the approach to other research work.not applicabl

Implementing a strategic plan for child health: a Sydney case study

Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe the implementation of a strategic plan, ‘Health Gain for Children and Youth of Central Sydney”, over a 10 year period to December 2005. Methods: Descriptive information was obtained from the records and minutes of all relevant committees, interviews with key workers who were involved with the committees, managers and senior health professionals, and from the involvement of the authors throughout the process of the implementation. Results: An implementation steering committee was established to oversee the implementation of the plan. Rather than adopting a uniform approach to assigning responsibility for the implementation of each strategy in the plan or developing specific costs and time frames for each strategy, a more pragmatic, flexible and opportunistic approach was taken. Most of the plan’s strategies were implemented over a 7 year time frame using a combination of service reorientation and implementation of new programs, some of which were funded from sources not anticipated during the development of the plan. Implementation required a dedicated driver, commitment at senior level and participation by many staff at many levels. Outcomes, monitored through data collected at 5 year intervals, revealed positive trends in a number of child and youth health indicators. Conclusions: The successful implementation of the strategic plan required pragmatism, flexibility, opportunism and the commitment and involvement of staff at all organisational levels. . It is envisaged that this approach provides a firm base for future evidence based developments to benefit the health and well being of children, youth and their families and reduce health inequities

Medical and Social Characteristics of Physicians Attending Postgraduate Training Courses (Social Survey)

The paper studies professional, social and psychological aspects concerned with a practical activity of physicians referred to attend postgraduate training courses at Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University.Aim. To develop the recommendations on the improvement in the system of postgraduate medical education under the conditions of general reform in the health care system.The research was done by the survey method in the form of standardized (formalized) interview that was applied as the main approach to the process of collecting social and psychological information.The survey included 823 physicians referred to attend postgraduate training courses at Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University. The working experience of postgraduate course attendants was the following: up to 5 years – 25.39±1.52 %, 5–10 years – 21.39±1.43 %, 11–15 years – 11.79±1.12 %, 16–20 years – 9.96±1.04 %, 21–30 years – 16.89±1.31 %, more than 30 years – 14.58±1.23 %.The majority of questioned medical workers (74.24±1.52 %) feel calm and happy at their working place. However, the received data indicates that 23.09±1.47 % of the responders feel disturbance and 1.94±0.48 % experience fear at work. The analysis of the research results allowed differentiating five sharp problems which are very topical and significant at the medical institution where the physicians have been performing their practice. They can be ranged in the following way: the job compensation (42.93±2.09 %), absence of modern medical equipment (26.65±1.87 %), organization of the working process (22.90±1.78 %), reorganization (7.69±1.13 %), extra documentation (7.33±1.10 %). The carried out survey permitted to determine the psychological atmosphere at medical institutions there the course attendants have been practicing. The conflicts are not a characteristic feature of medical institutions, since almost half of the responders indicated the absence of conflicts with higher managers (52.86±1.74 %), direct managers (43.01±1.73 %), subordinate personnel (43.38±1.73 %). This index is somewhat lower concerning the colleagues and patients. It amounts for 36.33±1.68 % and 33.17±1.64 % respectively.The physicians practicing in medicine and prevention as well as dentistry branches are most disturbed by the lack of financial sources. More than a half of responders (73.86±2.70 %) indicated it by their answers. Other responses included the absence of perspectives – 68.18±2.87 %, extreme, stressful living conditions – 25.38±2.68 %, personal present health status – 20.08±2.47 %, personal lack of confidence – 9.47±1.80 % (the number of responses was not restricted).The carried out work has showed the necessity of introducing the specialized course “State medical policy”. It should be aimed at delivering the information on the status, perspectives, reforming changes and the expected outcomes resulting from these factors in the branch of medicine. In order to decrease the negative influence of the professional burnout, it is recommended to plan the specialized training classes that are directed on the prevention of the listed above phenomena