Enhancing the implementation of provider-to-provider telehealth in rural and remote areas: A mixed methods study protocol.

Background: Virtual healthcare solutions are proposed as a way to combat the inequity of access to healthcare in rural and remote areas, and to better support the front-line providers who work in these areas. Rural provider-to-provider telehealth (RPPT) connects rural and remote clinicians to a 'hub' of healthcare specialists who can increase access to emergency and specialised healthcare via an integrated model. Reported benefits for the place-based provider include enhanced knowledge, expanded professional development opportunities, improved scope of practice, and increased confidence in treating more complex cases. These reported benefits could have implications for supporting and futureproofing our health workforce in terms of productivity, burnout, recruitment, and retention. Methods: The research uses an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach across multiple phases to evaluate the current implementation of Western Australia Country Health Service's (WACHS) Command Centre (CC) services and explore factors associated with their differential use. The primary population of interest and participants in this study are the place-based providers in country Western Australia (WA). Patient data constitutes the secondary population, informing the access and reach of CC services into country WA. Data collection will include service data, an online survey, and semi-structured interviews with the primary population. The data will be interpreted to inform evidence-based strategies and recommendations to improve the implementation and sustainment of RPPT. Discussion: Innovative and sustained workforce models and solutions are needed globally. Virtual healthcare, including provider-to-provider models, demonstrate potential, especially in rural and remote areas, designed to increase access to specialised expertise for patients and to support the local workforce. This research will generate new data around behaviour, perceptions, and value from the WACHS rural and remote workforce about provider-to-provider telehealth, to explore the implementation and investigate strategies for the long-term sustainment of RPPT services.

Simulating the healthcare workforce impact and capacity for pancreatic cancer care in Victoria: a model-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pancreatic cancer is rising. With improvements in knowledge for screening and early detection, earlier detection of pancreatic cancer will continue to be more common. To support workforce planning, our aim is to perform a model-based analysis that simulates the potential impact on the healthcare workforce, assuming an earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We developed a simulation model to estimate the demand (i.e. new cases of pancreatic cancer) and supply (i.e. the healthcare workforce including general surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pain medicine physicians, and palliative care physicians) between 2023 and 2027 in Victoria, Australia. The model compares the current scenario to one in which pancreatic cancer is diagnosed at an earlier stage. The incidence of pancreatic cancer in Victoria, five-year survival rates, and Victoria's population size were obtained from Victorian Cancer Registry, Cancer Council NSW, and Australian Bureau of Statistics respectively. The healthcare workforce data were sourced from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care's Health Workforce Data. The model was constructed at the remoteness level. We analysed the new cases and the number of healthcare workforce by profession together to assess the impact on the healthcare workforce. RESULTS: In the status quo, over the next five years, there will be 198 to 220 stages I-II, 297 to 330 stage III, and 495 to 550 stage IV pancreatic cancer cases diagnosed annually, respectively. Assuming 20-70% of the shift towards pancreatic cancer's earlier diagnosis (shifting from stage IV to stages I-II pancreatic cancer within one year), the stages I-II cases could increase to 351 to 390 or 598 to 665 per year. The shift to early diagnosis led to substantial survival gains, translating into an additional 284 or 795 out of 5246 patients with pancreatic cancer remaining alive up to year 5 post-diagnosis. Workforce supply decreases significantly by the remoteness levels, and remote areas face a shortage of key medical professionals registered in delivering pancreatic cancer care, suggesting travel necessities by patients or clinicians. CONCLUSION: Improving the early detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is expected to bring significant survival benefits, although there are workforce distribution imbalances in Victoria that may affect the ability to achieve the anticipated survival gain.

Young Children and the Creation of a Digital Identity on Social Networking Sites: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: There is limited understanding of the concept of the digital identity of young children created through engagement on social networking sites. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this scoping review was to identify key characteristics of the concept of digital identity for children from conception to the age of 8 years on social networking sites. METHODS: This scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. The key databases searched were EBSCO, Web of Science, ProQuest ERIC, and Scopus. Gray literature sources (National Grey Literature Collection, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and Google Scholar) were also searched to identify unpublished studies. Articles were selected if they were published in English and reported data on the digital identity of children in relation to social networking sites. RESULTS: The key terms used in the literature were sharenting, followed by digital footprints and children's identities. Our study revealed 2 approaches to the creation of digital identity: social digital identity and performative digital identity. The articles in this review most commonly used the term sharenting to describe the behavior parents engage in to create digital identities for children on social networking sites. Motivations to post information about children differed among parents; however, the most common reasons were to share with friends and family and create digital archives of childhood photos, termed social digital identity. The second motivation was categorized as performative digital identity. The risk of digital kidnapping and identity theft associated with the creation of digital identities also influenced parents' behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The creation of a digital identity for children is an emerging concept. Our review develops a deeper understanding of sharenting behaviors that can be used to better support parents and their children in creating a digital identity with children and awareness of the potential future impact. We recommend that future studies explore the perspectives of children as key stakeholders in the creation of their digital identity.

A qualitative study assessing allied health provider perceptions of telepractice functionality in therapy delivery for people with disability.

INTRODUCTION: Telepractice service delivery of allied health interventions to people with disability can potentially reduce access barriers and improve service equity. However, questions remain regarding telepractice functionality for people with disability. This study addressed questions related to how allied health clinicians and managers perceive telepractice as functioning in the provision of therapy services to people with disability. METHODS: Thirteen interviews of allied health clinicians and managers from across Australia were conducted between 21 November and 22 February via MS teams. Qualitative methodology and critical realist theoretical paradigm underpin the study. Data analysis was completed using a reflective thematic analysis method and five themes were generated and described utilising an analytic metaphor. RESULTS: The study themes were described in relation to a shopping for shoes analytic metaphor and the five themes included (1) a shoe for every foot, (2) planned purchases, (3) shoe on the other foot, (4) you need both shoes and (5) help choosing their shoes. In summary, the function of telepractice fits differently for each individual, similar to pairs of shoes. CONCLUSIONS: Telepractice has its own strengths and weaknesses and isn't a direct substitute for in-person sessions, much like left and right shoes are similar but not the same. The results support participant perceptions that telepractice functions best as an adjunct to in-person sessions through a flexible hybrid delivery model in the provision of therapy services to people with a disability. A strategy for improving perceived usefulness may involve positioning telepractice as unique with strengths and weaknesses, not replacing in-person care. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The paper forms part of a larger codesign process which included customer and carer participants throughout the design and planning of the project, inclusion of a peer researcher, and the selection of the analytic metaphor including in the findings of this article production.

The Report of Access and Engagement With Digital Health Interventions Among Children and Young People: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Digital health interventions are increasingly used to deliver health-related interventions for children and young people to change health behaviors and improve health outcomes. Digital health interventions have the potential to enhance access to and engagement with children and young people; however, they may also increase the divide between those who can access technology and are supported to engage and those who are not. This review included studies that reported on the access to or engagement with digital health interventions among children and young people. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to identify and report on access and engagement in studies involving digital health interventions among children and young people. METHODS: A systematic review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methods for conducting systematic reviews was conducted. An electronic literature search was conducted for all studies published between January 1, 2010, and August 2022, across sources, including MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Studies were included if they examined any aspect of access or engagement in relation to interventions among children and young people. The quality of the included papers was assessed, and data were extracted. Data were considered for meta-analysis, where possible. RESULTS: A total of 3292 references were identified using search terms. Following the exclusion of duplicates and review by inclusion criteria, 40 studies were independently appraised for their methodological quality. A total of 16 studies were excluded owing to their low assessed quality and flawed critical elements in the study design. The studies focused on a variety of health conditions; type 1 diabetes, weight management and obesity, mental health issues, and sexual health were the predominant conditions. Most studies were conducted in developed countries, with most of them being conducted in the United States. Two studies reported data related to access and considered ethnicity and social determinants. No studies used strategies to enhance or increase access. All studies included in the review reported on at least 1 aspect of engagement. Engagement with interventions was measured in relation to frequency of engagement, with no reference to the concept of effective engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Most digital health interventions do not consider the factors that can affect access and engagement. Of those studies that measured either access or engagement or both, few sought to implement strategies to improve access or engagement to address potential disparities between groups. Although the literature to date provides some insight into access and engagement and how these are addressed in digital health interventions, there are major limitations in understanding how both can be enhanced to promote equity. Consideration of both access and engagement is vital to ensure that children and young people have the ability to participate in studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020170874; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=170874.

Visualising Findings in the Co-Design of Telepractice for the Disability Community.

The methods and strategies utilised to facilitate focus group discussion within a co-design context have a fundamental impact on the opportunity for participants to actively engage with the content. This is a description of the strategies our project utilized including visual prompts and preparation guide to assist both service users and staff participants facilitate access to concepts discussed within our focus group sessions.

Maintaining a safe environment in emergency department waiting rooms.

Increasing demand, overcrowding and insufficient resources have led to situations where patient care is delivered in emergency department (ED) waiting rooms. For nurses undertaking triage in the ED waiting room, overcrowding is challenging, particularly in terms of assessing patients in a timely fashion, monitoring patients for clinical deterioration and ordering investigations. Additionally, long waiting times and a lack of information can lead to communication breakdowns with patients and, at times, patient confrontations with ED staff. This article explores the effects of the busy environment in ED waiting rooms on patients and staff such as triage nurses and waiting room nurses.

Impact of fly-in fly-out work on health behaviours and affective states: A daily diary study.

Our knowledge about the role of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) work-related factors on the well-being of workers across the FIFO work cycle is limited. This study examined the within-person effects of job demand and control on psychological states and health behaviours. The study employed a daily diary design, with 23 FIFO workers in the Australian mining industry completing a daily diary survey for 28 consecutive days across on-shift and off-shift periods. Multilevel analyses showed FIFO workers experienced higher positive affect and enjoyed better sleep quality, but consumed more alcohol, during off-shift days as compared to on-shift days. Within-person variability in daily demand (workload) was associated with higher anxious affect, whereas job control predicted lower anxious and depressed affects, higher positive affect, more alcohol consumption, and more physical activity. The within-person effect of demand on anxious affect was moderated by job control such that those who generally had more control over their jobs had a smaller effect of demand on anxiety than those with less control. Results suggest potentially modifiable aspects of FIFO work-particularly job control-may help alleviate the impact of workload on poorer health behaviours and mood.

Client and Clinician Experiences and Perspectives of Exercise Physiology Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in the delivery of exercise physiology services. The lived experience of those who continued to provide or receive exercise physiology services during the heightened public health restrictions of the inaugural year of the COVID-19 pandemic has received little attention to date. Acquiring this knowledge will be fundamental in addressing whether telehealth is a viable option for service delivery in exercise care, research, and policy. This is especially pertinent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global interest in digital health delivery of health care services. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the clinician and client experiences and perspectives of exercise physiology services delivered in person or via telehealth during the inaugural year of the COVID-19 pandemic (after January 25, 2020; the date of the first confirmed case in Australia). METHODS: Eligible participants for this study were adult (aged 18 years or older; capable of understanding and writing in English) clients who received and clinicians who delivered 1 or more exercise physiology sessions in Australia during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020 to June 2021). The data collection period spanned from January 20, 2021, to September 24, 2021. A total of 18 semistructured individual interviews were conducted with accredited exercise physiologists (n=7) and clients (n=11) who engaged with exercise physiology services during this period. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted with themes and subthemes derived using deductive and inductive approaches. RESULTS: A total of 3 dominant themes, each with 2 subthemes, were identified. The first theme was that telehealth enables access to services but limits the use of some clinical tools. Remote access to services was valued by both clinicians and clients, but the exercise clinical environment could not be replicated over telehealth. This was especially true regarding access to exercise equipment. Second, engagement and the "relational space" are limited by telehealth. Perceived challenges regarding social interactions and a sense of community were a limitation for clients, and difficulties fostering clinician-client report were noted by clinicians. Finally, technological challenges are pervasive in the telehealth delivery of exercise services. Both clinicians and clients noted that systems necessary to facilitate telehealth frequently disrupted delivery, and client-based technical issues were influenced by digital health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Shared client and accredited exercise physiologist experiences highlight key considerations for the ongoing implementation of telehealth to facilitate the uptake and effectiveness of exercise physiology services. These findings imply that the co-design of solutions to client-perceived limitations of telehealth delivery is warranted.

Telepractice implementation experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, a qualitative exploration of Australian disability allied health providers: A diamond in the rough.

Telepractice has existed for decades, but as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it gained value and increased desirability across the disability service and health sectors, as a mitigation strategy for the viral transmission risk. The increased desirability of telepractice encouraged organisations to invest and correspondingly enhance access to services delivered remotely via digital technology including allied health therapy interventions. The investment and uptake of telepractice provided greater learning opportunities and ability to investigate telepractice implementation in specific contexts such as disability services, enabling service providers the ability to tailor to specific population needs. Methods: This study investigated the experience of telepractice implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic from 13 allied health clinicians and managers of disability organisations across Australia between November 2021 and February 2022. A contextualist and critical realist theory was applied through the study, with reflective thematic analysis used as the data analysis method and findings described using a metaphor method centring on diamond formation. The method selection aimed to produce findings grounded in qualitative methodology and methods while remaining accessible to the disability community. Results: An exploration and analysis of the data by the authors identified six themes addressing the experiences of participants and used the metaphor of diamond formation to describe changes in allied health clinicians and disability organisations during the COVID-19 influenced telepractice implementation. Conclusion: The allied health clinicians and managers who participated in this study demonstrated an overall sense of hope that telepractice would be a viable and sustainable delivery pathway for services in the future. This article endorses the integration of a planned telepractice delivery pathway that capitalises on the momentum created by the COVID-19 pandemic in a purposeful and accessible way that looks to enhance rather than replace current practices.

Public preference on sharing health data to inform research, health policy and clinical practice in Australia: A stated preference experiment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate public willingness to share sensitive health information for research, health policy and clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 1,003 Australian respondents answered an online, attribute-driven, survey in which participants were asked to accept or reject hypothetical choice sets based on a willingness to share their health data for research and frontline-medical support as part of an integrated health system. The survey consisted of 5 attributes: Stakeholder access for analysis (Analysing group); Type of information collected; Purpose of data collection; Information governance; and Anticipated benefit; the results of which were analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS: When asked about their preference for sharing their health data, respondents had no preference between data collection for the purposes of clinical practice, health policy or research, with a slight preference for having government organisations manage, govern and curate the integrated datasets from which the analysis was being conducted. The least preferred option was for personal health records to be integrated with insurance records or for their data collected by privately owned corporate organisations. Individuals preferred their data to be analysed by a public healthcare provider or government staff and expressed a dislike for any private company involvement. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that Australian consumers prefer to share their health data when there is government oversight, and have concerns about sharing their anonymised health data for clinical practice, health policy or research purposes unless clarity is provided pertaining to its intended purpose, limitations of use and restrictions to access. Similar findings have been observed in the limited set of existing international studies utilising a stated preference approach. Evident from this study, and supported by national and international research, is that the establishment and preservation of a social license for data linkage in health research will require routine public engagement as a result of continuously evolving technological advancements and fluctuating risk tolerance. Without more work to understand and address stakeholder concerns, consumers risk being reluctant to participate in data-sharing and linkage programmes.

Co-designing a telepractice journey map with disability customers and clinicians: Partnering with users to understand challenges from their perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Telepractice has the potential to align with the directive to reduce inequalities by United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10. Telepractice additionally addresses a national digital health strategic plan for accessible digitally enabled models of care. To plan improvements, it is essential to understand the experience of telepractice for people with disability, which may be achieved through an approach such as journey mapping. The current article provides both a disability-specific case study and a methodological guide for the inclusion of customers and clinicians in the meaningful redevelopment of services. The Perth, Australia-based case study aimed to gain insights into the experience of telepractice for people with disability. The methodological aim describes using co-design to produce a journey map in collaboration with customers and clinicians, for potential replication in a wide range of health and social care contexts. METHOD: Interview transcripts gathered from a cohort of customer participants (n = 17) were used to inform the journey map. A group of customers (n = 5) and clinicians plus one manager (n = 5) distributed the findings onto a customer experience journey map during a co-design workshop. The journey map describes the emotional experience and actions taken, along five phases of a timeline through telepractice service interactions: (1) before, (2) selecting telepractice, (3) telepractice preparation, (4) during telepractice sessions and (5) after. RESULTS: A journey map visualisation of customer experiences was produced that identified strengths of telepractice service delivery (flexibility) while noting challenges (with technology) as opportunities for improvement. The consensus of participants was the desire to have access to telepractice currently and in the future, in addition to in-person delivery. CONCLUSION: These findings are valuable in the context of advocating for the incorporation of customers and clinicians through co-design workshops in the content analysis and creation of a journey map that is representative of the lived experience of accessing telepractice services. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The paper forms part of a larger co-design process that included customer participants throughout the design and planning of the project, inclusion of a peer researcher and the co-designers in the workshops, journey map and this article production.

Evaluation of the priority primary care centre program to reduce emergency department burden in regional Victoria, Australia: a mixed-method study.

INTRODUCTION: In Australia, the Victorian State Government has established a number of priority primary care centres (PPCCs) across the state to address the increasing demand for emergency departments (EDs). PPCCs are general practitioner-led, free-of-charge services that aim to provide care for conditions that require urgent attention but do not require the high-acuity care of an ED. This study aims to evaluate the implementation processes, outcomes and the impact of the PPCC on reducing ED demand within Barwon, Warrnambool and Grampians Health Services in the Western region of Victoria, Australia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a convergent mixed-method study. Qualitative data collection will be undertaken through semistructured interviews to understand the experiences of PPCC patients, PPCC clinical staff, PPCC managerial and administrative staff and ED clinical staff. A documentary analysis will be conducted on the materials relating to the implementation of the PPCC. The quantitative component will involve interrupted time series analysis of de-identified administrative data, comprising ED presentation records and PPCC clinical records. Implementation science frameworks will be integrated throughout the study. The RE-AIM framework is a guide used for the planning and evaluation of programmes through five outcomes: reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research will be integrated. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received ethical approval from Deakin University HREC (Ref No. 2023-046) and Barwon Health HREC (Ref No. 94374). Findings will be disseminated as reports, presentations and peer-reviewed journal articles.

'A healthy lifestyle is a journey': exploring health perceptions and self-defined facilitators to health through photo-elicitation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore health perceptions and self-defined facilitators to health in general population. An additional aim of the study was to assess if these perceptions were connected with the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. DESIGN: We applied photo-elicitation method by gathering original photographs and narratives (captions) via social media and e-mails. Participants (N = 50) were asked to answer the question: 'What does it mean to be healthy?'. Data were collected online in Poland. We generated and interpreted the main themes associated with common perceptions of health and self-defined facilitators to health using polytextual thematic analysis. RESULTS: The health perception themes were, health as: a 'long journey'; keeping balance; and self-acceptance. The main facilitators to health were: enjoyment of activities that are part of a healthy lifestyle; planning time for rest; contact with nature, and supportive relationships. Participants' perceptions of how Covid-19 impacted on their health differed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide evidence for individual health perceptions and self-defined facilitators to health and can support the development of future health interventions.

Interventions to reduce wait times for adolescents seeking mental health services: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The demand for adolescent mental health services has increased significantly in recent years, leading to excessive wait times for adolescents seeking mental health services and poor mental health outcomes. Timely access to mental health services is critical to reducing the risk of symptom chronicity and progression to mental disorder. A better understanding of whether and how interventions to reduce wait times impact mental health outcomes is needed to guide mental health policymakers and service planners in their approach to reducing wait times. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The scoping review will use Arksey and O'Malley's six-stage framework for scoping reviews and Rayyan to support screening, data extraction and evidence synthesis. The review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. We will search the Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycArticles (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), Web of Science, ProQuest and Scopus databases for peer-reviewed texts published in English between 1 January 2000 and 28 February 2023. We will also search Google Scholar for additional grey literature. To be eligible for inclusion, studies must focus on adolescent populations aged 13-18 years and report on interventions to reduce wait times for any mental health service except crisis and emergency services. Title, abstract and full-text screening will be done by two reviewers. We will extract data describing the interventions and their effects on wait times and adolescent mental health outcomes, and we will identify strengths and limitations in the evidence base to inform recommendations for future research. A youth advisory group with lived experience of mental health difficulties will be consulted throughout the review process. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presented at conferences. STUDY REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework on 20 February 2023 (https://osf.io/qt4zy).

Exposure to low-level ambient air pollution and the relationship with lung and bladder cancer in older men, in Perth, Western Australia.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution is a cause of lung cancer and is associated with bladder cancer. However, the relationship between air pollution and these cancers in regions of low pollution is unclear. We investigated associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and black carbon (BC), and both these cancers in a low-pollution city. METHODS: A cohort of 11,679 men ≥65 years old in Perth (Western Australia) were followed from 1996-1999 until 2018. Pollutant concentrations, as a time-varying variable, were estimated at participants' residential addresses using land use regression models. Incident lung and bladder cancer were identified through the Western Australian Cancer Registry. Risks were estimated using Cox proportional-hazard models (age as the timescale), adjusting for smoking, socioeconomic status, and co-pollutants. RESULTS: Lung cancer was associated with PM2.5 and BC in the adjusted single-pollutant models. A weak positive association was observed between ambient air pollution and squamous cell lung carcinoma but not lung adenocarcinoma. Positive associations were observed with bladder cancer, although these were not statistically significant. Associations were attenuated in two-pollutant models. CONCLUSION: Low-level ambient air pollution is associated with lung, and possibly bladder, cancer among older men, suggesting there is no known safe level for air pollution as a carcinogen.

Patient Use, Experience, and Satisfaction With Telehealth in an Australian Population (Reimagining Health Care): Web-Based Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a rapid scale-up of telehealth services in Australia as a means to provide continued care through periods of physical restrictions. The factors that influence engagement in telehealth remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to understand the experience of Australian people who engaged in a telehealth consultation during the pandemic period (2020-2021) and the demographic factors that influence engagement. METHODS: A web-based survey was distributed to Australians aged over 18 years that included 4 questions on frequency and type of clinical consultation, including with a general practitioner (GP), specialist, allied health, or nurse; 1 question on the experience of telehealth; and 2 questions on the quality of and satisfaction with telehealth. Statistical analysis included proportion of responses (of positive responses where a Likert scale was used) and regression analyses to determine the effect of demographic variables. RESULTS: Of the 1820 participants who completed the survey, 88.3% (1607/1820) had engaged in a health care consultation of some type in the previous 12 months, and 69.3% (1114/1607) of those had used telehealth. The most common type of consultation was with a GP (959/1114, 86.1%). Older people were more likely to have had a health care consultation but less likely to have had a telehealth consultation. There was no difference in use of telehealth between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan regions; however, people with a bachelor's degree or above were more likely to have used telehealth and to report a positive experience. A total of 87% (977/1114) of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they had received the information they required from their consultation, 71% (797/1114) agreed or strongly agreed that the outcome of their consultation was the same as it would have been face-to-face, 84% (931/1114) agreed or strongly agreed that the doctor or health care provider made them feel comfortable, 83% (924/1114) agreed or strongly agreed that the doctor or health care provider was equally as knowledgeable as providers they have seen in person; 57% (629/1114) of respondents reported that they would not have been able to access their health consultation if it were not for telehealth; 69% (765/1114) of respondents reported that they were satisfied with their telehealth consultation, and 60% (671/1114) reported that they would choose to continue to use telehealth in the future. CONCLUSIONS: There was a relatively high level of engagement with telehealth over the 12 months leading up to the study period, and the majority of participants reported a positive experience and satisfaction with their telehealth consultation. While there was no indication that remoteness influenced telehealth usage, there remains work to be done to improve access to older people and those with less than a bachelor's degree.

Prioritizing population oral health through public policy in Australia: the Victorian experience.

Dental caries, a non-communicable disease, is one of the most prevalent diseases globally and share common modifiable risk factors with obesity such as excess sugar intake. However, prioritization by governments to improve population oral health has been limited and is typically excluded from the discourse of public health policy development. Therefore, interventions that target dental caries can have other co-benefits including obesity prevention. In Victoria, Australia, local government authorities have a regulatory requirement to develop their Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plans. The aim of this paper is to identify whether prioritization for oral health by local government authorities in Victoria has changed through the subsequent renewal of the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plans 2011-2015 and 2019-2023. Three desktop audits for all publicly available Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plans by local government authorities in Victoria were conducted between 2014 and 2022. Key terms related to oral health was searched within these policy documents and categorized into six indicators: (i) included oral health as a priority, (ii) linked healthy eating and oral health, (iii) supported the Achievement Program, (iv) included the Smiles 4 Miles program, (v) advocated for fluoridated drinking water, and (vi) included other strategies related to oral health. Overall, there was statistically significant reduction in five of the six indicators, with the exception for prioritization of other strategies related to oral health such as targeting excess sugar intake and smoking. A multi-sectoral approach, that includes oral health would be advantageous to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

Prevalence of mental disorders among older Australians: Contrasting evidence from the 2020-2021 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing among men and women and the Health In Men Data Linkage Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of common mental disorders among older Australians included in the Health In Men Data Linkage Study and compare those with the results of the 2020-2021 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHW). METHOD: We used longitudinal record linkage to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders from age 65 years in a random sample of 38173 Australian men aged 65-85 years living in the Perth metropolitan region. Outcome was the proportion of participants affected by depressive episodes or dysthymia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder and alcohol use disorder. RESULTS: Prevalence estimates for participants aged 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84 and ≥85 years were 0.9%, 2.0%, 3.6%, 5.8% and 12.6% for depressive, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.4% and 0.7% for bipolar, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.3%, 2.2%, 6.9% for anxiety, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.4% and 0.6% for psychotic and 1.2%, 1.7%, 2.1%, 2.2% and 4.2% for alcohol use disorders. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the NSMHW, our data indicate that the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders increases with age, particularly among the older old. We conclude that the NSMHW should not be relied upon to guide planning or policies to address the mental health needs of older Australians.

Rotation work in the resources sector: a systematic review of the impact on workers' families.

OBJECTIVE: Rotation work involves travelling to work in remote areas for a block of time and alternate with spending another block of time at home; such work arrangements have become common in the resources sector. The intermittent absence of workers from the home may adversely affect the health of the workers' families. This study synthesises research on mental and physical health outcomes in partners and children of rotation workers in the resources sector. DESIGN: A systematic review was conducted. Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Nineteen studies were included and findings were summarised narratively. RESULTS: The impact of rotation work on the mental health and well-being of partners and children of rotation workers remains unclear. However, on days where workers are away, partners may experience greater loneliness and poorer sleep quality. CONCLUSION: Partners may benefit from support, particularly when they have younger children and/or their spouses first begin rotation work. Research is limited, particularly regarding the impact on health-related behaviours and physical health outcomes. REGISTRATION: This review was registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42020167649).