RESUMEN
Vitamin D research can vary geographically, as vitamin D status is influenced by latitude, season, dietary intake, body mass index, ethnicity, and public health initiatives. Over the last two decades, research on vitamin D has increased in Australia, where the potential for sun exposure (a major source of vitamin D) is high. We aimed to identify key topics and gaps in vitamin D research in Australia using a data-driven approach. A literature search limited to Australian studies was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database. Citation network analysis was conducted to identify clusters and sub-clusters, depicted using word clouds. Topic analysis of each cluster and sub-cluster was conducted to identify topics and sub-topics, respectively. From 934 publications (over the period 1984-2022), nine topics and 60 sub-topics were identified. The nine topics were: vitamin D in vulnerable populations and its impact on child development; impact of sun exposure and ultraviolet-B radiation on various health conditions; vitamin D and falls and fractures in older adults; vitamin D and its association with health outcomes; vitamin D from sun exposure; testing of vitamin D status in Australia; vitamin D, calcium, and musculoskeletal health; vitamin D status and knee osteoarthritis; and vitamin D status and exercise performance in athletes. There were limited publications on vitamin D in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and dietary vitamin D. We have provided an overview of vitamin D research in Australia. The research trends and knowledge gaps identified can guide future research to better inform public health initiatives in Australia.
RESUMEN
In Australia, telehealth is not new, with several telehealth specialist services being available for those living in rural and remote communities. However, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was not routinely available for primary care or urban specialist appointments. There has been an increased focus in the use of telehealth within primary care, and particularly general practice, but overall, there has been limited research to date to guide telehealth best-practice based on consumer experiences and preferences within these settings. We aimed to capture the consumer experience of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, through a novel Kitchen Table Discussion (KTD) method. This increases access to a broader community consumer cohort, with consumer hosts leading discussions in a safe environment. The KTDs were conducted in May 2021, with 10 community members each hosting a group of up to 10 participants. A total of 90 participants took part from across Australia, with the majority living in major cities, although a significant proportion lived in inner and outer regional areas of Australia, or had experience living in rural, regional or remote areas. Seventy percent of participants reported using telehealth in the past. Data were analysed sequentially using thematic analysis and identified key themes: modality, convenience, access, wait time, existing relationship, communication, connectivity, cost, and privacy. Overall, the future of telehealth looks hopeful from the perspective of the consumer, but significant improvements are required to improve consumer engagement and experience. It is evident that 'one size does not fit all', with results suggesting consumers value the availability of telehealth and having choice and flexibility to use telehealth when appropriate, but do not want to see telehealth replacing face-to-face delivery. Participants tended to agree that telehealth was not a preferred method when physical examination was required but would suit certain points of the patient journey.
