Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Woldesellassie M. Bezabhe, Luke R. Bereznicki, Jan Radford, Barbara C. Wimmer, Colin Curtain, Mohammed S. Salahudeen, Gregory M. Peterson
Summary: The study showed that over the past 10 years, the proportion of high stroke risk patients with atrial fibrillation prescribed oral anticoagulants increased by one-third, with significant variation in prescribing patterns observed between different general practices.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Anna Gkiouleka, Geoff Wong, Sarah Sowden, Clare Bambra, Rikke Siersbaek, Sukaina Manji, Annie Moseley, Rebecca Harmston, Isla Kuhn, John Ford
Summary: Although general practice has the potential to reduce health inequalities, there is a lack of evidence on how to achieve this reduction. This study reviewed interventions in general practice that influence health and care inequalities and developed a framework for action. The results suggest that to reduce health inequalities, general practice should focus on coordinated services, address differences within patient groups, accommodate diverse patient needs and preferences, integrate patient worldviews and cultures, and engage communities in service design and delivery. Further research is needed to explore how these principles can inform the organizational development of general practice.
LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
J. Dustin Tracy, Kevin A. James, Hillard Kaplan, Stephen Rassenti
Summary: The study found that subjects in the employer-implemented insurance plan were more likely to purchase insurance, reducing differences due to income and age. While the actuarial plan led to more health-promoting behaviors, subjects still did not realize the full benefits of the plan. Contrary to predictions, the actuarially priced insurance plan did not increase utility relative to the employer-based plan.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Gabriel Chamie, Judith A. Hahn, Allen Kekibiina, Nneka Emenyonu, Brian Beesiga, Kara Marson, Robin Fatch, Sara Lodi, Julian Adong, Harsha Thirumurthy, Michael G. McDonell, Monica Gandhi, Kendall Bryant, Diane Havlir, Moses R. Kamya, Winnie R. Muyindike
Summary: A randomized controlled trial conducted in Uganda showed that escalating financial incentives based on recent negative alcohol biomarker testing led to significantly lower alcohol use, while incentives for recent isoniazid adherence did not change adherence.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Anne-Mette Hjalager, Jan Kloster Staunstrup, Michael Tophoj Sorensen, Rasmus Nedergard Steffansen
Summary: The study reveals a trend towards densification in second homes in Denmark, driven by rising market prices and opportunities for renting the properties to the tourism market. However, this focus on densification neglects other important sustainability goals. Therefore, a more firm and transparent planning practice is necessary.
Article
Economics
Hongsheng Fang, Xiao Wu, Jim Huangnan Shen, Lexin Zhao
Summary: Using firm-level data of companies listed on China's A-share market from 2006 to 2017, this research applies a difference-in-differences (DID) empirical method to test whether the state policy in China used for identifying firms as being high-tech enhances their innovative capabilities. The main findings suggest that the state technology identification policy does improve the total number of patent applications and the number of patent invention applications. Government subsidy plays an important role as a channel through which this policy affects a firm's innovation capabilities. The policy has a more prominent and positive influence on the innovation capabilities of firms located in regions with a higher rate of taxation and relatively more developed products and factor markets.
CHINA ECONOMIC REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bianca Perera, Chris Barton, Christian Osadnik
Summary: Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs) are a major cause of preventable hospital admissions in Australia. The immediate period following an exacerbation is critical for intervention to prevent recurrence. This study found that general practitioners (GPs) in Australia lack familiarity with COPD guidelines and face challenges in obtaining necessary information from hospital discharge summaries. Prioritization of referrals to rehabilitation and evaluation of spirometry and oxygen therapy needs improvement.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Maryam Naghsh-Nejad, Serena Yu, Philip Haywood
Summary: This study examines how providers responded to the expansion of public subsidies for innovative oral chemotherapy treatment in 2015, in a health system where providers set their own prices. While the new treatment was preferred by patients for its at-home administration, the potential misalignment between patient and provider preferences raised concerns for policymakers. Our study used national administrative data on services and chemotherapy medications prescribed to 1850 patients in Australia to analyze the impact of the subsidies. The results highlight the importance of understanding provider responses to financial incentives in policy changes.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Carol El-Hayek, Siamak Barzegar, Noel Faux, Kim Doyle, Priyanka Pillai, Simon J. Mutch, Alaina Vaisey, Roger Ward, Lena Sanci, Adam G. Dunn, Margaret E. Hellard, Jane S. Hocking, Karin Verspoor, Douglas I. R. Boyle
Summary: This study evaluated the suitability of four automated de-identification tools for Australian general practice progress notes and found that existing off-the-shelf solutions required modification to be applicable in this context. Philter showed the most promise with high recall and flexibility, but extensive revisions of its pattern matching rules and dictionaries are necessary.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Jacqueline Roseleur, David A. Gonzalez-Chica, Carla O. Bernardo, Benjamin P. Geisler, Jonathan Karnon, Nigel P. Stocks
Summary: Hypertension is prevalent in Australian general practice, with around 39.8% of 'regular' patients diagnosed. However, controlling hypertension remains a challenge, especially in primary care settings. There are no significant differences in blood pressure assessment or control based on sociodemographic characteristics.
JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah J. Fendrich, Mohan Balachandran, Mitesh S. Patel
Summary: This study identified four behavioral phenotypes among participants using smartphones and wearable devices for tracking physical activity after hospital discharge, finding differences in duration and consistency of device use by phenotype for wearables but not smartphones. At-risk phenotypes were more likely to discontinue use of wearables, while activity monitoring did not differ significantly by device type in other phenotypes. These findings could help improve targeted remote-monitoring interventions for hospitalized patients.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Amelia M. Bond, Emma B. Dean, Sunita M. Desai
Summary: The 340B Drug Pricing Program in the US has been found to hinder the adoption of biosimilar drugs, possibly due to financial incentives that make reference drugs more profitable than biosimilar medications.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eszter Krasznai Kovacs, Agnes Kaloczkai, Balint Czucz
Summary: This study investigates the consequences of the Hungarian government cancelling its national agri-environmental programme on farmers and conservation activities. The withdrawal of conservation payments led to more intensive cropping by farmers, despite many farmers still adhering to certain conservation rules. The study highlights the influence of multi-level politics on farmer-public agency relations in the management of conservation incentive schemes.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Tom Brett, Dick C. Chan, Jan Radford, Clare Heal, Gerard Gill, Charlotte Hespe, Cristian Vargas-Garcia, Carmen Condon, Barbara Sheil, Ian W. Li, David R. Sullivan, Alistair W. Vickery, Jing Pang, Diane E. Arnold-Reed, Gerald F. Watts
Summary: This study utilized a two-stage pragmatic approach to identify and manage patients with FH in primary healthcare settings. The results demonstrated that integrating electronic tools with clinical GP assessment can effectively diagnose high-risk FH patients and implement follow-up management measures, leading to a significant reduction in LDL-cholesterol levels.
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Claire L. Jackson
Summary: COVID-19 has posed challenges to Australian general practice and highlighted its importance and potential.
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Chunzhou Mu, Jane Hall
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rebecca Addo, Jane Hall, Marion Haas, Stephen Goodall
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mohammad Habibullah Pulok, Kees van Gool, Jane Hall
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2020)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Rebecca Addo, Stephen Goodall, Jane Hall, Marion Haas
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT IN HEALTH CARE
(2020)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kees van Gool, Chunzhou Mu, Jane Hall
Summary: This study examines the association between primary care investment and performance in 34 OECD countries. Greater investment in primary care does not significantly improve health system performance, but it does lead to higher breast and cervical cancer screening rates. Countries where GPs are more aware of health promotion/preventive activities achieve higher screening rates with the same investment.
Article
Economics
Denzil G. Fiebig, Kees van Gool, Jane Hall, Chunzhou Mu
Summary: The study found that low-income and high-income patients choose different healthcare pathways following a change in health needs, with payment ability playing a key role in healthcare choices.
Article
Economics
Chunzhou Mu, Jane Hall
Summary: The proportion of single person households is increasing with population ageing. This study examines the relationship between marital status and hospitalisations, finding that singles have an increased probability of hospitalisation and longer length of stay. The association between marital status and hospitalisations varies by different types of care, indicating a need for targeted strategies to reduce hospitalisation in this group.
AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC PAPERS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kees van Gool, Jane Hall, Philip Haywood, Dan Liu, Serena Yu, Samuel B. G. Webster, Bahare Moradi, Sanchia Aranda
Summary: This study examines the recent trends in funding for radiotherapy services from 2009-10 to 2021-22 and provides policy implications. The research reveals a 78% increase in demand for radiotherapy services while funding has increased by 137%. Despite the main driver of funding growth being the Extended Medicare Safety Net, patients are facing increasing financial barriers. Therefore, there is a need to review policies on funding radiotherapy services to ensure easy and affordable access for all patients in need of treatment, while maintaining reasonable costs for the government.
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Dan Liu, Serena Yu, Samuel B. G. Webster, Bahare Moradi, Philip Haywood, Jane Hall, Sanchia Aranda, Kees van Gool
Summary: This study aimed to analyze patients' out-of-pocket costs for radiation oncology services and their variation by geographic location. The results showed that there was a significant variation in out-of-pocket costs for radiation therapy among different areas, with some patients facing high costs, and this situation changed over time.
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2023)
Article
Economics
Patricia Kenny, Dan Liu, Denzil Fiebig, Jane Hall, Jared Millican, Sanchia Aranda, Kees van Gool, Philip Haywood
Summary: The costs of care in the last year of life are substantially higher, and the use of specialist palliative care (SPC) services can have complex effects on costs. Early initiation of SPC is associated with higher costs over the last year of life but lower costs in the last 1 to 3 months. This is true for both cancer and non-cancer patients.
PHARMACOECONOMICS-OPEN
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Mohammad Habibullah Pulok, Kees van Gool, Jane Hall
Summary: There is socioeconomic inequality in specialist services in Australia, with wealthier individuals more likely to access care. While visits incurring zero out-of-pocket costs slightly favor those in lower socioeconomic areas, this does not fully offset the inequality seen in visits with out-of-pocket costs.
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sarah Wise, Jane Hall, Philip Haywood, Nikita Khana, Lutfun Hossain, Kees van Gool
Summary: Value-based health care has become increasingly important in improving patient outcomes relative to resources used in Australia. Challenges for successful implementation include fairly attributing financial risk and addressing organizational structures, with options for payment reform including episode-based bundled payments, chronic condition bundled payments, and comprehensive capitation payments. Successful implementation will also require investment in data collection and information technology.
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Patricia Kenny, Deborah J. Street, Jane Hall, Meera Agar, Jane Phillips
Summary: This study found that investment in services to support people at the end of life would be better targeted toward programmes that improve patient and carer wellbeing irrespective of the location of care and death.
PATIENT-PATIENT CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jane Hall, Rosalie Viney
Summary: The use of QALY as a basis for evaluating healthcare expenditure is widely accepted, but has not been applied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite no alternative ways to manage the pandemic early on, there were other means to mitigate economic losses. With vaccine programs underway, the question of whether economic evaluation should be applied is raised.
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sue Kirby, Karen Edwards, Serena Yu, Kees van Gool, Gawaine Powell-Davies, Ben Harris-Roxas, Ellie Gresham, Mark Harris, Jane Hall
Summary: Health promotion programs focus on the impact of living circumstances on health and well-being. Integrated services are needed for chronic health issues. Navigators play a key role in assisting patients and families in accessing services. Trust in the navigator and their ability to coordinate services are crucial for improving outcomes for families.
HEALTH PROMOTION JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2021)