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1.
Arts and the Market ; 13(1):20-32, 2023.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-2302527

ABSTRACT

PurposeIn-person film festival experiences have faced uncertain futures since the spread of COVID-19. Snap-lockdowns, unclear and rapidly changing rules to public density allowances in theatres, distribution and challenges of "working-from-home” have become prominent issues to creative and cultural workers employed within the film festival ecosystem. The purpose of this paper, drawing from a series of interviews with film festival directors, organisers and workers within Australia, offers insight into the working lives of those employed within the film festival sector during 2020.Design/methodology/approachUsing the research team's existing professional networks and a targeted approach of participant recruitment, this paper draws upon interview data from 5 semi-structured interviews with participants located in various Australian capital cities, who were working in the film festival sector during 2020. Participants were all mid-career, having at least 5 years of employment experience within the film festival ecosystem (directors, programmers and content creators) as well as having experience in other adjacent cultural and creative work.FindingsThe results in this study highlight common concerns of the legacy precarity has on professional and creative practice for those engaged in creative and cultural work, but also of unusual and unexpected opportunities for creativity and new film festival delivery beyond the dominant mode of in-theatre only experience pre-COVID-19.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in its qualitative exploration of the various employment experiences of Australian film festival workers during COVID-19.

2.
Conservation Science and Practice ; 5(3), 2023.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-2284195

ABSTRACT

This grey literature review documents koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) conservation initiatives applied across 12 local government areas in South East Queensland, Australia. To overcome threats to koalas' survival, the grey literature indicates that local governments in this region focus on wildlife management solutions, wildlife signage, habitat restoration projects and koala awareness campaigns. Despite these measures, land clearing of koala habitat to cater for urban population growth combined with recent bushfires and floods have contributed to the decline of koalas in this region. Recommendations to enhance progress include greater usage of the grey literature in peer review work and further application of social marketing to encourage residents to uptake behaviors that can mitigate threats to koalas, including slowing down when driving in koala zones, participating in citizen science, and leashing dogs when walking in native bush areas. The need for collaborative efforts aimed at conserving the koala from potential extinction is indicated. This paper provides an approach that can be applied to track progress on coordinated efforts to conserve koalas.

3.
American Journal of Transplantation ; 22(Supplement 3):873, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2063493

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are highly vulnerable to severe COVID-19, however are poorly protected by vaccination. Additional vaccine doses have achieved limited improvements in serological neutralisation or T cell response. A novel strategy to boost vaccine response is needed. Method(s): KTRs (n=80) and healthy cohabitants (HCs;n=80) were recruited from a transplant centre in South Australia to undergo a 2-dose vaccination schedule with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1. KTRs were most commonly receiving the standard-of-care (SOC) triple therapy: tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, prednisolone. Following 2 vaccine doses (median 21 days;IQR 21-24), spike-specific IgG and T cell responses (by IFNgamma ELISpot) were measured to assess vaccine immunogenicity, and live virus neutralisation and anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG (Elecsys, Roche) were evaluated as correlates of protection from infection and disease. In an extended cohort comparing SOC (n=15) and sirolimus-inclusive (n=15) protocols, function and phenotype of antigen-specific T cells were further interrogated by flow cytometry. Result(s): Vaccine immunogenicity was profoundly reduced in KTRs, with a >1,000- fold lower median anti-spike IgG titre, and >10-fold lower median antiviral T cell response relative to HCs. Thresholds for protective anti-RBD IgG (100 U/mL) and serological neutralisation (50% neutralisation at a serum dilution of 1/40) were achieved by 6.7% and 10.9% of KTRs, respectively, and by 100% of cohabitants. In an extended cohort, patients on mTOR inhibitors (mTORi;sirolimus or everolimus) achieved 4-fold higher rates of serological neutralisation than those on SOC therapy (34.6% vs 7.9%). Remarkably, sirolimus use was associated with a median antiviral T cell response 55-fold greater than SOC therapy, and 5-fold greater than HCs. SARSCoV- 2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in these patients were highly polyfunctional and formed robust central memory out to 3 months post second vaccine dose. Conclusion(s): These data underscore priority vaccination of cohabitants as an effective strategy to protect KTRs, and support a randomised controlled trial of immunosuppression modification with sirolimus as a strategy to directly improve vaccine responses in KTRs.

4.
Horticulturae ; 8(8):691, 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-2023405

ABSTRACT

Urban Agriculture (UA) is the widespread practice of food production within available city space using non-commercial, commercial and hybrid production technologies. The economic viability of UA remains a concern among UA practitioners. To investigate UA’s viability;land, labour and distribution cost are analyzed, and margin and benefit–cost ratio (BCR) under vacant lot, rooftop/backyard and discretionary labour UA are calculated. We present a straightforward approach to gauge the economic viability of UA taking examples from 40 distinct locations of two divergent development contexts of Adelaide, South Australia and Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. UA seems potentially viable by selecting high-value crops in Adelaide but showed little chance of viability under low-value crop scenarios in both contexts. The high cost of land is shown to be the primary driver of cost for UA. Labour cost appears to be a critical difference between the two cities, being an important constraint for the economic viability in Adelaide, where the wage rate is high. To improve economic viability, the respective governments and planners should consider better ways to avail subsidised land through policy intervention and volunteer or subsidised labour arrangement mechanisms. Home food gardens accessing available land and labour as a discretionary/spare time activity with zero distribution cost may represent the best way to produce food without exceeding market costs in cities.

5.
Infection Disease & Health ; 27(3):149-158, 2022.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-1977339

ABSTRACT

Background: In Australia, the relationships of cultural contexts with health challenges in older culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) adults during the COVID-19 remain under-investigated. This study explored the older CALD adults' risk perceptions of COVID-19, and identified demographics and risk perceptions associated with their health precautions and emergency preparation in South Australia.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. 155 older adults aged 60 years and over from 28 CALD communities completed the surveys. We described demographics, risk perceptions, seven items of health precautions, and five items of emergency preparedness. Data were analyzed in Stata/MP version 13.0.Results: Mean sum-score of fear was 7.3 [SD 1.9], signifying that the participants were afraid of being infected with COVID-19. Health precaution items presented a mean sum-score of 24.8, with a compliance in washing and disinfecting hands [M: 4.4], avoiding public places and events [M: 3.9] and transports [M: 3.8], but they did not present high-alignment with staying at home and avoiding meeting at risk population groups. Overall health precautions were positively influenced by ethnicity [Asian fl 3.40;95% CI 1.21, 5.59;African fl 5.46;95% CI 0.76, 10.16];perceptions of long-term effects [fl 1.82;95% CI 0.65, 2.99];and fear [fl 0.55;95% CI 0.08, 1.01]. Mean sum-score of emergency preparedness was 14.9, which indicated the participants' responses, on average, did not prevent them from buying large quantities and storing essential goods.

6.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ; 56(SUPPL 1):50, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1916670

ABSTRACT

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated far-reaching impacts on the provision of psychiatric care in Australia. Psychiatry registrars across states and territories are faced with the challenge of providing highquality and equitable care within clinical settings impacted by COVID-19 and related restrictions. The Association of Psychiatry Trainees in South Australia (APT SA) elects a Wellbeing Officer to advocate for trainee well-being within SA. Through this office, APT SA aims to foster trainee mental and physical health amid changing healthcare environments. Objectives: To describe the challenges faced by psychiatry registrars working within healthcare settings impacted by COVID-19 in South Australia and review local trainee-led strategies towards greater trainee well-being. Methods: The author undertook a survey among the South Australian psychiatry trainee cohort to evaluate local registrar experiences and views on the impact of COVID-19 on trainee well-being and Fellowship progression. This was followed by a review of APT SA trainee-led strategies towards promoting well-being within the cohort. Findings: Trainee well-being within South Australia has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trainee-led committees including APT SA are wellpositioned to engage with local training branches to help combat rates of burnout and distress related to increased clinical uncertainty and demand. Conclusion: Trainee-led bodies such as APT SA have a meaningful role to play alongside local training branches towards maintaining registrar well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures to this end are diverse in nature and are undertaken with the aim of fostering trainee well-being and improving training and clinical outcomes.

7.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ; 19(10):6256, 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1871334

ABSTRACT

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FPQ-9) in Indigenous Australian people. FPQ-9, a shorter version of the original Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III, was developed to support the demand for more concise scales with faster administration time in the clinical and research setting. The psychometric properties of FPQ-9 in Indigenous Australian participants (n = 735) were evaluated with network psychometrics, such as dimensionality, model fit, internal consistency and reliability, measurement invariance, and criterion validity. Our findings indicated that the original FPQ-9 three-factor structure had a poor fit and did not adequately capture pain-related fear in Indigenous Australian people. On removal of two cross-loading items, an adapted version Indigenous Australian Fear of Pain Questionnaire-7 (IA-FPQ-7) displayed good fit and construct validity and reliability for assessing fear of pain in a sample of Indigenous Australian people. The IA-FPQ-7 scale could be used to better understand the role and impact of fear of pain in Indigenous Australian people living with chronic pain. This could allow for more tailored and timely interventions for managing pain in Indigenous Australian communities.

8.
Australasian Journal of Regional Studies ; 27(2):202-220, 2021.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1837028

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this article is to identify the current and future of healthcare and social assistance workforce needs in Gippsland, a region of the State of Victoria in Australia. In doing so, it uses a range of data sources to illustrate the nature of the anticipated future workforce, based on the government forecasts of future population changes. It then uses data from the O·NET database to identify the types of skills and knowledge required. This analysis focuses on the present and future workforce of Gippsland. In Gippsland, the healthcare and social assistance sectors together employ 14,000 people as well as an additional 4,000 in related administration, clerical duties, and allied duties. Gippsland has fewer healthcare professionals per capita than Australia overall (except for nurses) and has a disproportionate number of professionals that are older or recruited from overseas. Numbers employed will rise from around 14,000 to reach nearly 19,000 by 2036. As well as growing numbers, the skill intensity of the work has risen over the years. Also, the technical complexity of many jobs has changed, which means people will need to undertake life-long learning. Tertiary education providers will need to modify and expand their offerings in these fields to cope with the changes in skill and knowledge requirements of many occupations.

9.
SARDI Research Report Series - South Australian Research and Development Institute|2021. (1101):viii + 66 pp. many ref. ; 2021.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-1824155

ABSTRACT

This stock assessment determined the status of South Australia's Southern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (SZRLF) and provides the latest estimates of the biological performance indicators (Pis) information in context of the reference points (RPs) and stock status classification described in the Management Plan for the fishery (PIRSA 2020). Stock status was determined using the harvest strategy for the fishery that was developed in alignment with the National Fishery Status Reporting Framework (NFSRF) classification system that is used to determine the status of all South Australian fish stocks. Assessment of the SZRLF relies heavily on data from the commercial fishing sector through mandatory catch and effort logbook reporting. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) of legal and undersized (pre-recruit) lobsters are the main indicators of legal and pre-recruit abundance. Fishery-independent surveys and fishery model outputs also contribute to the assessment. During the 2019 fishing season (i.e. 1 October 2019 to 31 May 2020), the fishery was impacted by the COVID-19 market closure in late January of 2020. The primary impact was a considerable reduction in catch in February (6 t in 2020), where normally up to 100 t is landed. Consequently, the 2019 TACC (1,246 t) was not fully taken with a total commercial logbook catch of 1,202.4 t (96% of TACC). Effort required to take the catch was 758,029 potlifts, the lowest on record. Nominal legal-sized CPUE in 2019 was 1.59 kg/potlift, reflecting a 65% increase over the last three seasons and the highest catch rate since 2005. Current legal-sized catch rates are now above both the long-term average and the trigger reference point (TrRP) for the fishery. Recent increases in CPUE are also reflected in fishery-independent surveys. The pre-recruit index (PRI) shows a long-term decline since the late 1990s with the 2015 estimate the lowest on record Over the last four seasons, the PRI has increased by 138% to 1.76 undersized/pot, the highest since 2002. In the SZRLF, the time taken for pre-recruits to enter the fishable biomass is approximately one year. Fishery-independent surveys also support recent increases in PRI. Model outputs indicate considerable increases in legal-size biomass over the last three seasons. In 2019, the estimate was approximately 4,235 t, equating to an exploitation rate of 29%, the lowest on record Despite recent increases, egg production in the fishery remains low with 2019 estimates equating to 12% of unfished levels. In 2019, the CPUE of 1.59 kg/potlift was above the TrRP of 0.60 kg/potlift. Asa result, the SZRLF stock is classified as "sustainable". This means that the current fishing mortality is being adequately controlled to avoid the stock becoming recruitment impaired.

10.
SARDI Research Report Series - South Australian Research and Development Institute|2021. (1115):vi + 35 pp. 6 ref. ; 2021.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-1823792

ABSTRACT

This report provides an assessment of stock status for Greenlip (Haliotis laevigata) and Blacklip (H. rubra) Abalone (hereafter referred to as 'greenlip' and blacklip'. respectively) in the Central Zone (CZ) of the South Australian Abalone Fishery in 2020. Greenlip: Prior to 2020, catches of greenlip in the CZ were stable, and had been consistent with the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for 25 years. In 2020, total greenlip catch fell to 28.1 t (i.e. 61% of the 46.0 t TACC). This decrease in catch is likely to reflect a combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, disruption to international markets and declining greenlip harvestable biomass. Following record high catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) in the early 2000s. CPUE for greenlip has declined from 31 kg.hr-1 to 19.8 kg.hr-1 over the last 20 years. and is now comparable to levels observed during the 1990s. Among the six Spatial Assessment Units (SAUs) identified in the Harvest Strategy (HS), three had CPUE values within the target range (i.e. West Yorke Peninsula, East Yorke Peninsula and South Kangaroo Island), whereas the remainder had CPUE values below the target range (i.e. Tiparra Reef. West Kangaroo Island and data-limited SAUs). With regard to the legal density from fishery-independent surveys (FIS) at the key fishing ground (Tiparra Reef). abalone density was within the target range. Densities of sub-legal abalone at Tiparra Reef remain among record low levels. Application of the HS in 2020 resulted in a zone score of 4.4 that, in combination with the zone trend score of 4.6 (reflecting a decreasing trend), define the stock status for greenlip in the CZ in 2020 as 'depleting'. This means that biomass is declining and that the current level of fishing mortality (i.e. catch) and moving the stock in the direction of becoming recruitment impaired (Paddocks et al 2021). This is consistent with the stock being classified as depleting in 2019. The HS zone score of 4.4 in 2020 translates to a recommended zonal catch of 40.0 t for 2022. which is 13% below the current TACC of 46.0 t. Blacklip: Annual catches of blacklip from 1990 to 2017 varied between 14.4 and 5.8 t. There were limited data for assessment of the bleak stocks, following the fishery closure in 2018 and subsequent low levels of fishing in 2019 and 2020. The catch of 1.2 t in 2020 (19% of TACC) was harvested at a CPUE of 18.9 kg.hr-1, which was among record low levels. Application of the HS in 2020 resulted in a zone score of 0.8 that, in combination with the zone trend score of 5.2 (reflecting an increasing trend). define the stock status for blacklip in the CZ in 2020 as 'recovering'. This is a change in status from 2019. when the stock was classified as depleted.

11.
Respirology ; 27(SUPPL 1):137, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1816638

ABSTRACT

Introduction/Aim: To determine (1) the influenza vaccine uptake of children with cystic fibrosis from 2016 to 2020 and (2) the impact of the COVID pandemic of 2020 and increased uptake of Telehealth outpatient appointments on vaccination rates. Methods: A retrospective audit of children with cystic fibrosis aged 6 months to 18 years who reside in South Australia was performed using the Women's and Children's Respiratory Department cystic fibrosis database from 2016 to 2020. The Australian Childhood Immunization Record (ACIR) was used to determine vaccination status during this period. Results: One hundred eighty-two children with cystic fibrosis were identified, 172 of whom vaccination records were available on the ACIR. Proportion of eligible patients who were vaccinated ranged from 66% to 88% over the 5 year period. There was nil significant decrease in uptake during the COVID pandemic in 2020 (75%). Despite the introduction of Telehealth reviews in 2020 majority (66%) of patients continued to have exclusive face-to-face appointments, of which 73% received the vaccination. Vaccination coverage of those who received combination of Telehealth and faceto- face was 81%. Conclusion: The high influenza vaccination rate of South Australian children with cystic fibrosis is consistent with rates seen in other tertiary centres globally. This audit demonstrated that the COVID pandemic and introduction of Telehealth appointments did not have any measurable uptake of the influenza vaccination our South Australian population.

12.
Respirology ; 27(SUPPL 1):77, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1816630

ABSTRACT

Introduction/Aim: We are seeing the rapid emergence of a significant new threat to CF survival;chronic nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection. This study aims to understand the aetiology and epidemiology of NTM in Australians with CF. Methods: Nationally, nine adult and nine paediatric CF services prospectively collected respiratory samples from people with CF (pwCF) for acid fast bacilli (AFB) culture at regular clinic appointments (Baseline, 6 months, 1 year, then annual to 4 years);associated clinical data, geographic and social data was also collected. Sites commenced recruitment between December 2016 and August 2018. Retrospective clinical and culture data were also collected to offset the shift to a telehealth model of care during the global coronavirus pandemic. Results: 15.1% of 1322 study participants cultured NTM (NTM+) from at least one AFB culture during the study, 5.1% of study participants were M. abscessus (MABS) positive. Adolescents and young adults (11-25 years) had the highest rates of NTM infection (19%, p = 0.0004). MABS was more commonly isolated in participants <25 years (6.7%) compared to participants 25 years and older (2.5%, p < 0.001). Of NTM+ study participants, 49% were incident cases. The species of NTM recovered from participants varied depending on the Australian state of residence, with South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania having greater diversity of isolated species. Conclusion: In Australia, during this sampling period pwCF <25 years of age were more likely to be infected with MABS than older pwCF. We hypothesize that this may be due to increasing attempts at eradication of Pa in early life and/or increased exposure from environmental sources at a vulnerable age.

13.
Sustainability ; 14(6):3273, 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1765868

ABSTRACT

Given they are two critical infrastructure areas, the security of electricity and gas networks is highly important due to potential multifaceted social and economic impacts. Unexpected errors or sabotage can lead to blackouts, causing a significant loss for the public, businesses, and governments. Climate change and an increasing number of consequent natural disasters (e.g., bushfires and floods) are other emerging network resilience challenges. In this paper, we used network science to examine the topological resilience of national energy networks with two case studies of Australian gas and electricity networks. To measure the fragility and resilience of these energy networks, we assessed various topological features and theories of percolation. We found that both networks follow the degree distribution of power-law and the characteristics of a scale-free network. Then, using these models, we conducted node and edge removal experiments. The analysis identified the most critical nodes that can trigger cascading failure within the network upon a fault. The analysis results can be used by the network operators to improve network resilience through various mitigation strategies implemented on the identified critical nodes.

14.
J Multidiscip Healthc ; 15: 497-514, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1753260

ABSTRACT

Background: Risk perceptions and precaution-taking against COVID-19 are affected by individuals' health status, psychosocial vulnerabilities and cultural dimensions. This cross-sectional study investigates risk perceptions associated with COVID-19 and specifically the problem- and emotion-focused health precautions of older, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) South Australians. Methods: Cross-sectional research involving self-administration of an online survey. Participants were CALD adults living in South Australia, aged 60 years and above (n = 155). Multi-indicator surveys were analyzed using Stata/MP version 13.0 and multiple linear regression models fitted to examine associations between risk perceptions and problem- and emotion-focused health precautions. Results: Dread risk returned the highest mean score; COVID-19 was perceived as a catastrophe. Mean scores for fear showed that participants were worried about COVID-19 and scared of becoming infected. Participants followed health advice as they were worried [ß 0.15; 95% CI 0.07, 0.23] and realized the effect of COVID-19 on them [ß 0.15; 95% CI 0.02, 0.28], or worried and had trust in experts' knowledge and managing capacity [ß 0.17; 95% CI 0.06, 0.28]. Age was negatively associated with sum-score of problem-focused coping: compared to participants aged 60-69 years, 80+ years revealed a decrease in problem-focused health precautions. Variables like education (primary schooling [ß 2.80; 95% CI 0.05, 5.55] and bachelor degree [ß 3.16; 95% CI 0.07, 6.25] versus no formal education), self-confidence in reducing risk, and fear [ß 0.84; 95% CI 0.31, 1.36] significantly affected emotional-focused health precautions. Conclusion: This local study has global implications. It showed that COVID-19 has psychosocial and environmental implications for older CALD adults. When many CALD populations have existing vulnerabilities to intersecting disadvantage, cultural-tailoring of interventions and pandemic response plans may buffer the effects of compounding disaster. Larger studies are needed to compare risk perception and health response patterns across countries and cultural groupings.

15.
Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change ; : 14, 2021.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-1585385

ABSTRACT

In regional South Australia, a combination of droughts, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic has presented dynamic challenges to tourism economies. As inbound international tourism remains unlikely to return to pre-COVID-19 levels for the foreseeable future, the importance of domestic tourism has become further pronounced, most notably in regions that have been affected by major declines in tourist flows. This exploratory qualitative study reports on regional South Australians' participation in domestic tourism during the pandemic and the factors that have influenced how they travel. Our findings reveal that participants had predominantly engaged in self-drive tourism due to the feelings of safety it offered in contrast to other modes of transport, the opportunities it permitted in fostering reconnections and supporting wellbeing, and because of its ability to evoke positive feelings and emotions that were structured around adventure and discovery. Moreover, it was additionally observed that self-drive tourism offered practical opportunities to engage in altruistic pursuits to support crisis-affected regions across the state. Therefore, this paper offers timely insights into the behaviours of regional South Australians during the pandemic and how they utilised self-drive tourism to support both personal and community recovery from the impacts of multiple crises across the state.

16.
Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology ; 49(8):838-839, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1583623

ABSTRACT

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a sight-threatening disease requiring long-term immunosuppression, which carries inherent risk. Temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is the gold-standard investigation to confirm the diagnosis. Guidelines classically recommend a post-fixation sample length of 20 mm to achieve reliable histopathological results, but recent studies suggest sample lengths >6 mm are adequate. Benchmarking/Standard: Various papers report a minimum TAB length ranging from >6 mm to >20 mm to avoid false negative histology results. No reports examine the effect of COVID lockdowns on GCA presentations and TABs. Methods: All TABs in South Australia processed by the public state-wide pathology provider from September 2017 until June 2020. Histological diagnosis and sample lengths were extracted from reports. Clinical information and biochemistry for cases at the Royal Adelaide Hospital were derived from medical records. Results: A total of 362 temporal artery biopsies were conducted;156 conducted at Royal Adelaide Hospital, of which 41% were performed by Ophthalmology. Thirty-one percent of Ophthalmology TABs were <10 mm compared to 20% outside Ophthalmology (p = 0.018). TABs performed by Ophthalmology were twice as likely to be positive (34.4% vs 17.2%). Visual symptoms (p = 0.046), older age (p = 0.02), elevated ESR (p = 0.002) and elevated platelets (p = 0.003) were significant predictors of positive histology. Length was not significantly associated with positive histology after adjusting for above factors (p = 0.617). COVID-19 precautions and lockdown in April-May 2020 did not significantly alter the number of TABs. Recommendations: Given that most TABs were performed by Ophthalmology registrars, more direct supervision and techniques such as ultrasound marking may increase sample length. However, TAB lengths <20 mm are acceptable.

17.
Commun Dis Intell (2018) ; 452021 May 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1524942

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: With COVID-19 affecting millions of people around the globe, quarantine of international arrivals is a critical public health measure to prevent further disease transmission in local populations. This measure has also been applied in the repatriation of citizens, undertaken by several countries as an ethical obligation and legal responsibility. This article describes the process of planning and preparing for the repatriation operation in South Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interagency collaboration, development of a COVID-19 testing and quarantining protocol, implementing infection prevention and control, and building a specialised health care delivery model were essential aspects of the repatriation operational planning, with a focus on maintaining dignity and wellbeing of the passengers as well as on effective prevention of COVID-19 transmission. From April 2020 to mid-February 2021, more than 14,000 international arrivals travellers have been repatriated under the South Australian repatriation operations. This paper has implications to inform ongoing repatriation efforts in Australia and overseas in a pandemic situation.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Infection Control/legislation & jurisprudence , Public Health/legislation & jurisprudence , Quarantine/legislation & jurisprudence , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/transmission , COVID-19 Testing/methods , COVID-19 Testing/standards , Delivery of Health Care , Humans , Infection Control/methods , International Health Regulations , Pandemics , Public Health/methods , Quarantine/methods , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , South Australia/epidemiology , Travel
18.
Aust N Z J Public Health ; 45(4): 325-329, 2021 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1258873

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To report the experience of quarantine for international arrivals to South Australia requiring quarantine in a medi-hotel setting during the COVID-19 pandemic and to describe the range of evidence-based support services to mitigate the mental health impacts of quarantine. METHODS: A range of services targeted at physical and mental wellbeing were provided. Data from 533 adult respondents out of 721 passengers were included. The Kessler 10 was used to measure psychological distress at two time points. RESULTS: About 7.1% of respondents reported psychological distress at time one, reduced to 2.4% at time two. There was no significant difference in psychological distress by gender at either time point. The mean K10 score at time one was 13.6 (standard deviation=5.2) and the mean score at time two was 11.5 (standard deviation=3.1), with a significant reduction in mean scores (p<0.001) between the two time points. CONCLUSIONS: The level of psychological stress in repatriated Australians was low at arrival and improved further at the time of release from quarantine. Implications for public health: A collaborative multi-sector approach to provide support services for individuals in quarantine can mitigate risks to mental wellbeing.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/psychology , Health Status , Holistic Health , Mental Disorders/therapy , Psychological Distress , Quarantine/psychology , Stress, Physiological , Transients and Migrants/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , South Australia , Young Adult
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