Article
Immunology
C. Degeling, J. Williams, S. M. Carter, R. Moss, P. Massey, G. L. Gilbert, P. Shih, A. Braunack-Mayer, K. Crooks, D. Brown, J. McVernon
Summary: In the context of an influenza pandemic, community juries in Australia tend to support prioritizing influenza vaccination for primary school students to indirectly protect the general population, as this approach may benefit more people and be more publicly acceptable.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Javier Canelas-Fernandez, Clara Mazagatos, Concepcion Delgado-Sanz, Amparo Larrauri
Summary: Understanding the burden of severe influenza disease is crucial for disease risk communication and public health control measures. This study estimated the number of influenza-attributable hospitalizations in Spain during the 2010-2011 to 2019-2020 seasons, finding that people aged 65 and over and children under 5 had the highest hospitalization rates.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin Plackett
Summary: Hepatitis B is prevalent among Aboriginal Australians, with interwoven and complex reasons.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tamara Riley, Raymond Lovett, Bonny Cumming, Anna Meredith, Neil E. Anderson, Joanne Thandrayen
Summary: This study provides a national presentation of the epidemiology of zoonoses within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in Australia. Salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis were the most notified zoonoses, with the highest annual notification rates. The north of Australia, remote and outer regional areas, and young children had the highest percentages of notifications.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kristy Crooks, Charlee Law, Kylie Taylor, Katie Brett, Peter Murray, Julie Kohlhagen, Kirsty Hope, David N. Durrheim
Summary: This case study describes the development and implementation of a governance structure that prioritised First Nations peoples in a local public health Incident Command System activated for the COVID-19 pandemic response in New South Wales, Australia. Public health leaders embedded an approach whereby First Nations peoples determined and led community and culturally informed pandemic control strategies and actions.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. Alexander Navarro, Howard Markel
Summary: The article explores the similarities between acts of protest during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic and the current COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. It suggests that the motivations for pushback against public health measures during the 2020 pandemic are more politically driven compared to a century ago.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sofia Moutinho
Summary: Tuberculosis is a preventable and curable disease that affects one quarter of the world's population, mostly due to poverty.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Cameron M. Wright, Rachael Moorin, Glenn Pearson, John R. Dyer, Jonathan R. Carapetis, Laurens Manning
Summary: The incidence of invasive group A Streptococcus disease in Western Australia increased from 2000 to 2018, particularly among Indigenous Australians. Mandatory notification of invasive GAS disease is recommended to address this issue.
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Matthew J. L. Hare, Yuejen Zhao, Steven Guthridge, Paul Burgess, Elizabeth L. M. Barr, Elna Ellis, Deborah Butler, Amy Rosser, Henrik Falhammar, Louise J. Maple-Brown
Summary: This study examined the prevalence and incidence of diabetes among Aboriginal peoples in remote communities of the Northern Territory, Australia. The results showed an increase in diabetes prevalence across all ages over 7 years, with higher rates among adults and in Central Australia compared to the Top End region. The study concludes that strengthened systems of care and public health prevention strategies, developed in partnership with Aboriginal communities, are needed.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Susan M. Sherman, Julius Sim, Richard Amlot, Megan Cutts, Hannah Dasch, G. James Rubin, Nick Sevdalis, Louise E. Smith
Summary: The study investigated the willingness of individuals eligible to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results showed that a majority of the sample indicated they were likely to have the vaccination, with a positive attitude towards vaccination and previous vaccination behavior being the strongest predictors of intention. It is important to convert intention into behavior and reach those individuals who reported being unlikely or unsure about vaccination.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Simon Makin
Summary: Machine learning could assist in identifying viruses with a high potential for spillover from animals to humans, leading to future pandemics.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
William Carman, Marie Ishida, Justin S. Trounson, Stewart W. Mercer, Kanya Anindya, Grace Sum, Gregory Armstrong, Brian Oldenburg, Barbara McPake, John Tayu Lee
Summary: This study examines the differences in multimorbidity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians, and how it affects health service use and work productivity. The results show that Aboriginal respondents have a higher prevalence of multimorbidity, especially mental-physical multimorbidity. Multimorbidity is associated with increased health service use, reduced employment productivity, and lower perceived health status. These associations hold true for both Aboriginal and non-Indigenous populations.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sid Kaladharan, Miranda E. Vidgen, John Pearson, Victoria K. Donoghue, David C. Whiteman, Nicola Waddell, Gregory Pratt
Summary: Guidelines in health and medical research are typically developed through expert consultation and literature review, but may not be practical or inclusive for disciplines with minimal data or issues concerning under-represented communities. This study details the development of guidelines for genomic research projects in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, using participatory action research and tailored activities to reflect the needs and perspectives of the end-users. The process also provides recommendations for developing guidelines with other under-represented communities in the future.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Tim Cheok, Morgan Berman, Richard Delaney-Bindahneem, Matthew Phillip Jennings, Linda Bray, Ruurd Jaarsma, Pradeep Mathew Poonnoose, Kanishka Williams, Narlaka Jayasekera
Summary: This retrospective cohort study investigated the impact of introducing Aboriginal Liaison Officers (ALO) on the rate of self-discharge among Indigenous orthopaedic patients. The results showed that the inclusion of ALO significantly reduced the risk of self-discharge and improved patients' compliance with treatment before leaving the hospital.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Thomas Pluemper, Eric Neumayer
Summary: The study found that during the holiday period, there was around a 45% impact on the average incidence rates in Germany, especially during the final week of holidays and the 2 weeks after holidays end. Western states were more affected than Eastern states. Additionally, there were statistically significant interaction effects between school holidays, per capita taxable income, and the share of foreign residents in a district's population.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
J. Fielding, S. G. Sullivan, F. Beard, K. Macartney, J. Williams, A. Dawson, G. L. Gilbert, P. Massey, K. Crooks, R. Moss, J. M. McCaw, J. McVernon
Summary: This study developed a framework for priority vaccine allocation during a pandemic, incorporating cross-disciplinary approaches, ethical considerations, and local risk assessment. The research involved literature review, consultation with key informants, simulation modeling studies, and engagement with national experts to generate an ethical framework best suited for the Australian context. The findings emphasized the importance of flexibility, real-time assessment, and identification of disproportionately affected groups in pandemic response.
Article
Immunology
C. Degeling, J. Williams, S. M. Carter, R. Moss, P. Massey, G. L. Gilbert, P. Shih, A. Braunack-Mayer, K. Crooks, D. Brown, J. McVernon
Summary: In the context of an influenza pandemic, community juries in Australia tend to support prioritizing influenza vaccination for primary school students to indirectly protect the general population, as this approach may benefit more people and be more publicly acceptable.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amy-Louise Byrne, Adele Baldwin, Clare Harvey, Janie Brown, Eileen Willis, Desley Hegney, Bridget Ferguson, Jenni Judd, Doug Kynaston, Rachel Forrest, Brody Heritage, David Heard, Sandy Mclellan, Shona Thompson, Janine Palmer
Summary: The study aimed to understand the impact and causes of 'Failure to Attend' (FTA) labelling in patients with chronic conditions. Nurse navigators play a crucial role in improving care management and reducing FTAs by engaging with outpatient services and helping patients to cope with multiple appointments. The reasons for FTA are often a mix of systems error, miscommunication, social factors, and personal barriers.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Leon Manehoua, Karen Carlisle, Maxine Whittaker, Sarah Larkins, Humpress Harrington, Peter D. Massey, Freda Pitakaka, David MacLaren
ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Chrishanthi I. Rajasooriyar, Ramya Kumar, Madona H. Sriskandarajah, Shahini W. Gnanathayalan, Jenny Kelly, Sabe Sabesan
Summary: This qualitative study explores the psychosocial morbidity among women diagnosed with breast cancer in post-war northern Sri Lanka. The findings highlight the challenges faced by these women, such as body image concerns, social stigma, and financial burdens, as well as the importance of family and community support in the absence of a formal psychosocial care system.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2021)
Editorial Material
Emergency Medicine
Alan R. Clough, Angela Evans, Kristy Grant, Veronica Graham, Janet Catterall, Richard Lakeman, John Gilroy, Gregory Pratt, Joe Petrucci, Richard Stone
Summary: The Queensland Police Service and Queensland Ambulance Service are authorized to detain and transport individuals with severe mental disturbances to an emergency department, but discrepancies in record-keeping have made it difficult to scrutinize this legal intervention, resulting in essential information becoming less accessible.
EMERGENCY MEDICINE AUSTRALASIA
(2022)
Editorial Material
Substance Abuse
Michelle S. Fitts, Richard Burchill, Scott Wilson, Gavan R. Palk, Alan R. Clough, Katherine M. Conigrave, Tim Slade, Anthony Shakeshaft, K. S. Kylie Lee
Summary: The Australian Government is establishing a National Road Safety Strategy for 2021-2030 to address road safety, focusing on Indigenous Australians who are disproportionately affected by alcohol-related road crashes. Therapeutic and educational programs are key strategies to reduce drink driving. A coordinated national response, with ongoing monitoring and tailored programs, is needed to effectively tackle drink driving among Indigenous populations in Australia.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jennifer Habel, Andrea Nguyen, Louise Rowntree, Christopher Szeto, Nicole Mifsud, E. Bridie Clemens, Liyen Loh, Weisan Chen, Steve Rockman, Jane W. Nelson, Jane Davies, Adrian Miller, Steven Y. C. T. Tong, Jamie Rossjohn, Stephanie M. Gras, Anthony Purcell, Luca M. Hensen, Katherine Kedzierska, Patricia M. Illing
Summary: HLA-A*11:01 is highly prevalent in East Asian and Oceanian populations and is associated with high risk of severe influenza disease. Using immunopeptidomics, researchers identified novel CD8(+) T cell targets for influenza A and influenza B viruses in HLA-A*11:01-expressing individuals. These findings have implications for the design of broadly cross-reactive influenza vaccines.
Review
Immunology
Luca Hensen, Patricia T. Illing, Louise C. Rowntree, Jane Davies, Adrian Miller, Steven Y. C. Tong, Jennifer R. Habel, Carolien E. van de Sandt, Katie L. Flanagan, Anthony W. Purcell, Katherine Kedzierska, E. Bridie Clemens
Summary: This article discusses the complexity of CD8(+) T cell immune response and the use of immunopeptidomics approach to identify CD8(+) T cell epitopes restricted by specific HLA allotypes. The focus is on the identification of influenza-specific CD8(+) T cell epitopes in Indigenous Australians to improve vaccine coverage and efficacy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Megan J. Hobbs, Natkunam Ketheesan, Keith Eastwood, Peter Massey, Geetha Ranmuthugala, Robert Norton, Frances H. Quirk
Summary: This study assessed the awareness and risk of Q fever among agricultural show attendees. The results showed relatively high awareness of Q fever among participants, but a significant proportion of them had a moderate to high risk of exposure and had not been vaccinated.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Wendy Newton, Tania Signal, Jenni A. Judd
Summary: Animals are frequently seen in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF), but there are few policies or guidelines to assist managers in developing RACF animal policies, posing risks to both residents and animals. A survey and interview with RACF managers revealed that while there were some existing policies, they lacked details on handwashing, infection prevention, and animal welfare. The inclusion of unregulated family pets in RACF was also identified as an unexpected risk factor. National guidelines tied to aged care policies are needed, along with training and educational resources for RACF and AAI providers.
Article
Emergency Medicine
Alan R. Clough, Angela Evans, Veronica Graham, Janet Catterall, Richard Lakeman, John Gilroy, Gregory Pratt, Joe Petrucci, Ulrich Orda, Rajesh Sehdev, Neale Thornton, Sourav Das, Gillian Yearsley, Richard Stone
Summary: This study investigated the application of emergency examination authority (EEA) in Queensland and found that most patients did not require inpatient admission.
EMERGENCY MEDICINE AUSTRALASIA
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Wuji Zhang, Lukasz Kedzierski, Brendon Y. Chua, Mark Mayo, Claire Lonzi, Vanessa Rigas, Bianca F. Middleton, Hayley A. McQuilten, Louise C. Rowntree, Lilith F. Allen, Ruth A. Purcell, Hyon-Xhi Tan, Jan Petersen, Priyanka Chaurasia, Francesca Mordant, Mikhail V. Pogorelyy, Anastasia A. Minervina, Jeremy Chase Crawford, Griffith B. Perkins, Eva Zhang, Stephanie Gras, E. Bridie Clemens, Jennifer A. Juno, Jennifer Audsley, David S. Khoury, Natasha E. Holmes, Irani Thevarajan, Kanta Subbarao, Florian Krammer, Allen C. Cheng, Miles P. Davenport, Branka Grubor-Bauk, P. Toby Coates, Britt Christensen, Paul G. Thomas, Adam K. Wheatley, Stephen J. Kent, Jamie Rossjohn, Amy W. Chung, John Boffa, Adrian Miller, Sarah Lynar, Jane Nelson, Thi H. O. Nguyen, Jane Davies, Katherine Kedzierska
Summary: Kedzierska et al. found that there is an association between low production of receptor-binding domain (RBD) antibodies after mRNA vaccination and altered glycosylation of IgG before vaccination in people with comorbidities. This condition disproportionately affects Australia's First Nations peoples due to their high burden of comorbidities. The study also showed that Indigenous people, including Australian First Nations peoples, have effective immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nina Lazarevic, Kayla S. Smurthwaite, Philip J. Batterham, Jo Lane, Susan M. Trevenar, Catherine D'Este, Archie C. A. Clements, Amelia L. Joshy, Rose Hosking, Imogen Gad, Aparna Lal, Hsei Di Law, Catherine Banwell, Deborah A. Randall, Adrian Miller, Tambri Housen, Rosemary J. Korda, Martyn D. Kirk
Summary: This study examined the impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on psychological distress. The research found that residents in communities exposed to PFAS contamination had higher levels of psychological distress compared to those in non-contaminated communities. Additionally, psychological distress was found to be associated with increasing PFAS serum concentrations and factors related to perceived risk of living in a community exposed to PFAS. These findings suggest that environmental chemical contamination can have negative effects on mental health.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Karen Cheer, Lalen Simeon, Rachael Tommbe, Jenny Kelly, David MacLaren, Komla Tsey
Summary: This study explores the experiences of midwifery students at a faith-based university in Papua New Guinea in providing care to women following stillbirth. The students utilized a process called "Balancing it Out" to balance social, cultural, and professional factors in order to achieve their goal of providing optimal care. Providing holistic care to women following stillbirth and promoting health across sectors are essential for achieving the best outcomes for both women and the midwifery staff caring for them.
HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
