Barriers and enablers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander careers in health: A qualitative, multisector study in western New South Wales.

OBJECTIVE: Growing a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce is key to closing the gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This study sought to explore barriers and enablers to career development for Aboriginal health staff and potential strategies to enhance career pathways. DESIGN: Qualitative study, with data collected primarily through focus group discussions (yarning circles) at different health workplaces. SETTING: Western New South Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Aboriginal health staff (n = 54) from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, a Local Health District and a Primary Health Network, and their managers (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal; n = 28). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Identified barriers and enablers and regional strategies for improving career pathways. RESULTS: Aboriginal people interested in pursuing a career in health face barriers in: pre-employment, recruitment, the workplace and further education and training. Being given practical and emotional support, as well as opportunities, makes a difference at every stage. Family and community are very influential in career decisions. Within the workplace, culturally appropriate human resource systems and management structures are vital. The ability to obtain employment and access education and training locally is important to rural and remote communities. CONCLUSION: To enhance health career pathways for Aboriginal people, strategies are needed at all levels: community, organisation, system and society. Aboriginal leadership and self-determination are crucial, as are partnerships within the health sector and between the health and the education and training sectors. Cultural safety is essential to expansion of the Aboriginal workforce, and to health care experiences and outcomes for Aboriginal community members.

Caracterização do perfil do consumidor de carne na cidade de Santa Maria (RS), quanto à segurança dos alimentos / Characterization of the consumer profile of meat in the city of Santa Maria (RS), and food safety

Com a finalidade de analisar o conhecimento do consumidor frente à segurança e qualidade dos alimentos foram realizadas entrevistas em um local central de grande fluxo de pessoas na cidade de Santa Maria, RS. Os consumidores foram entrevistados utilizando-se um questionário com questões fechadas e os resultados avaliados através de estatística descritiva. Foi observada uma preocupação em relação à higiene, fiscalização e riscos à saúde, ou seja, assuntos relacionados à segurança dos alimentos.

Teste de biocompatibilidade e resistência de membranas de látex em cães / Biocompatibility and resistance test of latex membranes in dogs

O látex natural extraído da seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis) possui propriedades indutoras de neovascularização e regeneração tecidual, comprovadas em várias espécies e em diferentes tecidos do organismo. Este estudo testou a biocompatibilidade e a resistência de três membranas de látex em seis cadelas, sendo duas dessas membranas ainda não utilizadas e uma já testada em estudos prévios. Os implantes foram colocados entre os músculos cutâneo e reto do abdome através de procedimento cirúrgico e, após 45 dias, foram removidos e submetidos a exames histológicos. Durante esse período, os animais foram avaliados quanto à dor e às alterações clínicas e macroscópicas nas membranas. Testes mecânicos de tração para determinação de deformação e resistência foram efetuados em amostras-controle. Pelos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que as membranas testadas são compatíveis para substituir a bainha muscular em cães, exceto a membrana 2, por apresentar características de rejeição.

The natural latex extracted of the Rubber Tree, has properties to induce characteristics of tissue vascularization and regeneration that had been comproved in different species and tissues. This study tested the biocompatibility of three latex membranes in six dogs. Two of these membranes have not been used yet, while one of them has been tested in previous studies. Membranes were implanted between the cutaneous and the rectum of the abdomen muscles by a surgical procedure. In a forty five days period, the animals were evaluated for pain, clinical and macroscopic alterations of the membranes and, after the membranes were removed in order to submit them to histological exams. Mechanical traction tests were realized in control membranes to measure deformation and resistance. The results indicated that membranes are compatible, and able to substitute the muscular sheath in dogs, excepting membrane 2, because of it rejecting characteristics.