The epidemiology workforce: are we planning for the future?

Epidemiology has a central role in public health practice, education and research, and is arguably the only discipline unique to public health. A strong perception exists among epidemiologists in Australia that there is a substantial shortage in epidemiological capacity within the health workforce and health research, and that there are few graduates with sufficient high-level epidemiological training to fill the educational and leadership roles that will be essential to building this capacity. It was this concern that led the Australasian Epidemiological Association (AEA)--the peak professional body for epidemiologists in Australia and New Zealand--to convene a working group in 2007 to assess and address these concerns. This article summarises the key training challenges and opportunities discussed within this group, and the larger organisation, with the intention of stimulating greater public debate of these issues

Strategy to safeguard the rights of older South Australians: action plan 2015-2021

This Action Plan is a key outcome of Strategy to Safeguard the Rights of Older South Australians 2014-2021. To quote the South Australian Charter of the Rights and Freedoms of Older People ‘Older people have the right to be treated with dignity and humanity and to be free to exercise personal self-determination.’ These adult entitlements should not be dependent upon health and personal circumstances, but are to be enjoyed, lifelong. The South Australian Government has a positive view of growing older in our state. Prosperity Through Longevity: South Australia’s Ageing Plan, Our Vision 2014-2019 celebrates our state’s diversity as it sets out the benefits of longevity and the value of intergenerational cooperation. Ageing also carries challenges. The abuse of older people by someone they know and trust is known as elder abuse. Many people are unsure what elder abuse is and whether it happens in their community. Unfortunately, it is found in every society and recognised as a problem around the world

Footing the bill: the introduction of Medicare Benefits Schedule rebates for podiatry services in Australia

The introduction of Medicare Benefits Schedule items for allied health professionals in 2004 was a pivotal event in the public funding of non-medical primary care services. This commentary seeks to provide supplementary discussion of the article by Menz (Utilisation of podiatry services in Australia under the Medicare Enhanced Primary Care program, 2004-2008 Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 2009, 2:30), by placing these findings within the context of the podiatry profession, clinical decision making and the broader health workforce and government policy

Public Say Food Regulatory Policies to Improve Health in Western Australia Are Important: Population Survey Results

Objective: To investigate the level of support among Western Australian adults for food control policies to improve diet, reduce obesity and protect the environment. Methods: Attitudes towards government food control policies on food labelling, food advertising, and the supply of environmentally friendly food data were pooled from two Nutrition Monitoring Survey Series telephone surveys of 2,147 adults aged 18–64 years collected in 2009 and 2012. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted using survey module of STATA 12.Results: The majority of adults believe it is important that government regulates food policy options under consideration: nutrition information on food labels (97% versus 2% who think it is not important);health rating on food labels (95% versus 3%); food advertising (83% versus 11%); and the supply of environmentally friendly food (86% versus 9%).Conclusions: Community perception is that government control or regulation of food labelling, food advertising and the supply of environmentally friendly food is important. Implications: Curbing excess weight gain and related disease burden is a public health priority. Australian governments are considering food regulatory interventions to assist the public to improve their dietary intake. These findings should provide reassurance to government officials considering these regulatory measures

Access to health services by Australians with disability 2012

This bulletin examines the level of access to a range of health services by Australians with disability living in the community (excluding people living in institutions), and the experiences these people face in accessing health services. Abstract In 2012, 17% of people with disability who needed to see a GP delayed or did not go because of the cost; 20% who needed to see a medical specialist did not go mainly due to the cost; and 67% who needed to see a dentist delayed seeing or did not go because of the cost. Compared with people with disability living in Major cities, people with disability living in Outer regional and Remote areas had lower use rates of services provided by GPs, medical specialists and dentists as well as coordinated care provided by different types of health professionals. They were more likely to visit a hospital emergency department for health issues that could potentially be dealt with by non-hospital services, and to face barriers to accessing health services

Socio-demographic factors drive regional differences in participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program – An ecological analysis

© 2017 The Authors Objective: To examine if geographic variations in the participation rates in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) are related to population-level socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: Data reflecting participation in the NBCSP for 504 Local Government Areas (LGAs) between July 2011 and June 2013 were extracted from the Social Health Atlas of Australia. Logistic regression models were used to examine independent associations (odds ratios [ORs]) between participation, Remoteness Area (RA) and selected socio-demographic variables. Results: Compared to the participation rate for major cities (33.4%), participation was significantly higher in inner regional areas (36.5%, OR=1.15), but was much lower in remote (27.9%, OR=0.77) or very remote areas (25.0%, OR=0.65). When controlling for study period, gender, proportion of persons aged 65 years and older, Indigenous status, cultural background and socioeconomic status, significantly higher rates were observed in all non-metropolitan areas than in major cities. Indigenous status was strongly related to the poorer participation in remote areas. Conclusions: Socio-demographic characteristics, particularly Indigenous status, cultural background and population ageing, seem to be more important drivers of regional disparities in NBCSP participation than geographic remoteness. Implications for public health: This study provides important evidence to understand the regional disparities in participating in the national screening program

University life and pandemic influenza: Attitudes and intended behaviour of staff and students towards pandemic (H1N1) 2009

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In a pandemic young adults are more likely to be infected, increasing the potential for Universities to be explosive disease outbreak centres. Outbreak management is essential to reduce the impact in both the institution and the surrounding community. Through the use of an online survey, we aimed to measure the perceptions and responses of staff and students towards pandemic (H1N1) 2009 at a major university in Sydney, Australia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The survey was available online from 29 June to 30 September 2009. The sample included academic staff, general staff and students of the University.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 2882 surveys were completed. Nearly all respondents (99.6%, 2870/2882) were aware of the Australian pandemic situation and 64.2% (1851/2882) reported either "no anxiety" or "disinterest." Asian-born respondents were significantly (p < 0.001) more likely to believe that the pandemic was serious compared to respondents from other regions. 75.9% (2188/2882) of respondents had not made any lifestyle changes as a result of the pandemic. Most respondents had not adopted any specific behaviour change, and only 20.8% (600/2882) had adopted the simplest health behaviour, i.e. hand hygiene. Adoption of a specific behaviour change was linked to anxiety and Asian origin. Students were more likely to attend the university if unwell compared with staff members. Positive responses from students strongly indicate the potential for expanding online teaching and learning resources for continuing education in disaster settings. Willingness to receive the pandemic vaccine was associated with seasonal influenza vaccination uptake over the previous 3 years.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Responses to a pandemic are subject to change in its pre-, early and mid-outbreak stages. Lessons for these institutions in preparation for a second wave and future disease outbreaks include the need to promote positive public health behaviours amongst young people and students.</p

National opioid pharmacotherapy statistics 2014

Summary Dependence on opioid drugs is associated with a range of health and social problems that affect individual drug users, their family and friends, and the wider public. This bulletin presents information on the clients receiving opioid pharmacotherapy treatment, the doctors prescribing opioid pharmacotherapy drugs, and the dosing points that clients attend to receive their medication. Over 48,000 Australians received pharmacotherapy treatment for their opioid dependence on a snapshot day in June 2014 The number of people receiving opioid pharmacotherapy treatment almost doubled between 1998 (from around 25,000) and 2014, but growth in client numbers slowed in recent years (growing by 0.5-2% a year between 2011 and 2014). Heroin is the most common opioid drug leading people to pharmacotherapy treatment Clients were nearly twice as likely to report heroin as an opioid drug of dependence as they were for all opioid pharmaceuticals combined, however this varied by jurisdiction. Methadone continued to be the drug most commonly prescribed; the form in which buprenorphine is prescribed is changing Around two-thirds &nbsp;(67%) of clients received methadone in 2014, and this has been relatively stable since 2006. The remaining third (33%) received 1 of 2 forms of buprenorphine. Of these, the proportion receiving buprenorphine only has fallen (from 24% to 13%) while the proportion receiving buprenorphine combined with naloxone has risen (from 5% to 20%) over the same period. Naloxone is added to buprenorphine to deter its injection. Opioid pharmacotherapy clients are getting older on average In 2014, around two-thirds &nbsp;(69%) of clients were aged 30-49, and this has been fairly consistent since 2006. However, from 2006 to 2014 the proportion of clients aged less than 30 more than halved (from 28% to 10%), and the proportion of clients aged 50 and over more than doubled (from 8% to 21%). These trends indicate an ageing population of clients in pharmacotherapy treatment. Males and Indigenous Australians are over-represented in pharmacotherapy treatment Around two-thirds (65%) of clients receiving pharmacotherapy in June 2014 were male. Where reported, 1 in 10 (10%) clients identified as Indigenous and Indigenous Australians were around 3 times as likely to have received pharmacotherapy treatment as non-Indigenous Australians. Prescriber numbers have increased, and most work in the private sector The number of prescribers of opioid pharmacotherapy rose by 31% since 2012 (from 1,768 to 2,319). In 2014, most prescribers treated 1-5 clients (39%), worked in the private sector (82%) and were authorised to prescribe more than 1 type of pharmacotherapy drug (74%). Most dosing points were located in pharmacies Most clients need to attend a dosing point regularly to take their opioid pharmacotherapy drug under supervision. In 2013-14 there were 2,432 dosing point sites in Australia, and 9 in 10 (89%) were located in pharmacies

Snapshot of Australian primary health care research

Snapshot of Australian primary health care research is a collaborative venture involving representatives from PHCRIS, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Association for Academic General Practice, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine

Snapshot of Australian primary health care research 2012

Snapshot of Australian primary health care research 2012 is a collaborative venture involving representatives from PHCRIS, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, Australian Association for Academic General Practice, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. This snapshot of recent Australian research projects demonstrates the potential for primary health care research to improve the health of Australian