Paediatric Buruli ulcer in Australia.

AIM: This study describes an Australian cohort of paediatric Buruli ulcer (BU) patients and compares them with adult BU patients. METHODS: Analysis of a prospective cohort of all BU cases managed at Barwon Health, Victoria, from 1 January 1998 to 31 May 2018 was performed. Children were defined as ≤15 years of age. RESULTS: A total of 565 patients were included: 52 (9.2%) children, 289 (51.2%) adults aged 16-64 years and 224 (39.6%) adults aged ≥65 years. Among children, half were female and the median age was 8.0 years (interquartile range 4.8-12.3 years). Six (11.5%) cases were diagnosed from 2001 to 2006, 14 (26.9%) from 2007 to 2012 and 32 (61.5%) from 2013 to 2018. Compared to adults, children had a significantly higher proportion of non-ulcerative lesions (32.7%, P < 0.001) and a higher proportion of severe lesions (26.9%, P < 0.01). The median duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was shorter for children compared with adults aged 16-64 years (42 vs. 56 days, P = 0.04). Children were significantly less likely to experience antibiotic complications (6.1%) compared with adults (20.6%, P < 0.001), but had a significantly higher rate of paradoxical reactions (38.8%) compared with adults aged 16-64 (19.2%) (P < 0.001). Paradoxical reactions in children occurred significantly earlier than in adults (median 17 vs. 56 days, P < 0.01). Cure rates were similarly high for children compared to adults treated with antibiotics alone or with antibiotics and surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Paediatric BU cases in Australia are increasing and represent an important but stable proportion of Australian BU cohorts. Compared with adults, there are significant differences in clinical presentation and treatment outcomes.

Key stakeholder perspectives on expert-by-experience involvement in the values-based recruitment of student mental health nurses: A co-produced qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Values-based recruitment is a mandatory process for nursing programmes within UK higher education, with the Nursing Midwifery Council expecting that experts-by-experience are engaged in these recruitment and selection processes. The wider involvement of experts-by-experience in healthcare education is gaining momentum internationally with calls for engagement in all aspects of design and delivery; however, the impact of such involvement in recruitment of nursing students has received little attention, particularly in mental health nursing. AIM: To understand the impact of expert-by-experience involvement in the values-based recruitment of mental health nursing students from the perspective of candidates, experts-by-experience, and academic staff. DESIGN AND METHODS: This qualitative approach was co-designed and implemented by a research team comprised of academics, experts-by-experience, and student mental health nurses. Focus groups and an on-line survey were used to collect data, with Burnard's thematic analysis providing a framework for data analysis. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: This study took place at one UK university. Participants included nurse academics, experts-by-experience, and student nurses with experience of a values-based recruitment process. RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified four themes: starting out, collaboration, rich assessment, and stakeholder gains. Whilst not without its challenges, the involvement of experts-by-experience in the recruitment of mental health nursing students was identified as delivering a robust recruitment process, encompassing academic abilities alongside the personal qualities required to make a 'good nurse'. Personal benefits for experts-by-experience, candidates, and academics were also reported. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into the impact of experts-by-experience in supporting values-based recruitment. The approach is identified as enhancing the selection process by drawing from academic and lived experience perspectives and highlights to potential candidates, at the outset of their career, the value of meaningful engagement. These findings support the Nursing Midwifery Council's position that experts-by-experience should be engaged in the recruitment and selection of student nurses.

Impact of the 2020 New Zealand COVID-19 lockdown on participants in a community-based, peer-led fall prevention program.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the impacts of the 2020 New Zealand COVID-19 lockdown on peer-led Steady as You Go (SAYGO) fall prevention exercise classes and members, and to develop recommendations for mitigating impacts during future lockdowns. METHODS: Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 20 SAYGO program participants and managers following the first COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the General Inductive Approach. RESULTS: Participants were between 67 and 88 years of age, predominantly female (90%) and NZ European (80%), with one participant identifying as NZ Maori. Three themes were constructed from the analysis: Personal Function and Well-Being, Class Functioning and Logistics, and Future Strategies for Classes During Prospective Lockdowns. Participants used a range of strategies to stay connected with each other and continue the SAYGO exercises at home. Most participants and peer-leaders reported that they maintained physical function during lockdown, although some had feelings of psychological distress and social isolation. Contact systems and resource distribution varied substantially between groups. Classes resumed post-lockdown with only minor modifications and slightly decreased attendance. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, members of this peer-led model of fall prevention classes demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 lockdown, despite some challenges. We propose three recommendations to address the challenges of maintaining existing peer-led exercise classes in the context of prospective lockdowns: (1) develop a comprehensive contact detail register and plans for each group; (2) delivery of modified exercise classes remotely over lockdown; and (3) implementation of a nationwide IT education and resource program for older adults.

Impact of early kangaroo mother care versus standard care on survival of mild-moderately unstable neonates <2000 grams: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the effect of early kangaroo mother care on survival of mild-moderately unstable neonates <2000 g is a high-priority evidence gap for small and sick newborn care. METHODS: This non-blinded pragmatic randomised clinical trial was conducted at the only teaching hospital in The Gambia. Eligibility criteria included weight <2000g and age 1-24 h with exclusion if stable or severely unstable. Neonates were randomly assigned to receive either standard care, including KMC once stable at >24 h after admission (control) versus KMC initiated <24 h after admission (intervention). Randomisation was stratified by weight with twins in the same arm. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 28 postnatal days, assessed by intention to treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included: time to death; hypothermia and stability at 24 h; breastfeeding at discharge; infections; weight gain at 28d and admission duration. The trial was prospectively registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03555981). FINDINGS: Recruitment occurred from 23rd May 2018 to 19th March 2020. Among 1,107 neonates screened for participation 279 were randomly assigned, 139 (42% male [n = 59]) to standard care and 138 (43% male [n = 59]) to the intervention with two participants lost to follow up and no withdrawals. The proportion dying within 28d was 24% (34/139, control) vs. 21% (29/138, intervention) (risk ratio 0·84, 95% CI 0·55 - 1·29, p = 0·423). There were no between-arm differences for secondary outcomes or serious adverse events (28/139 (20%) for control and 30/139 (22%) for intervention, none related). One-third of intervention neonates reverted to standard care for clinical reasons. INTERPRETATION: The trial had low power due to halving of baseline neonatal mortality, highlighting the importance of implementing existing small and sick newborn care interventions. Further mortality effect and safety data are needed from varying low and middle-income neonatal unit contexts before changing global guidelines.