Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Katherine A. Thurber, Emily Banks, Grace Joshy, Kay Soga, Alexandra Marmor, Glen Benton, Sarah L. White, Sandra Eades, Raglan Maddox, Tom Calma, Raymond Lovett
Summary: Smoking significantly increases the risk of mortality among Indigenous Australian adults aged 45 years and older. Results show that over half of deaths in this population are attributable to smoking, with current smokers having a much lower survival rate compared to never-smokers. Efforts to prioritize Indigenous tobacco control are crucial in reducing mortality rates related to smoking.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tamara L. Butler, Natasha Lee, Kate Anderson, Julia M. L. Brotherton, Joan Cunningham, John R. Condon, Gail Garvey, Allison Tong, Suzanne P. Moore, Clare M. Maher, Jacqueline K. Mein, Eloise F. Warren, Lisa J. Whop
Summary: This study reveals the underestimation of cervical screening among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia. Through discussions with under-screened women, it was found that they believed the risks of cervical screening outweighed the benefits, due to distress, lack of privacy and control, complicated relationships with healthcare providers, and culturally unsafe communication. The study also found that one third of under-screened women who participated in the research underwent screening within a short period of time, indicating that enhancing privacy, implementing trauma-informed healthcare approaches, and focusing on the dynamics of the clinician-client relationship can increase women's participation in cervical screening.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. Coombes, K. Hunter, K. Bennett-Brook, B. Porykali, C. Ryder, M. Banks, N. Egana, T. Mackean, S. Sazali, E. Bourke, C. Kairuz
Summary: This systematic review identified the causes of leave events among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as strategies to reduce them. It highlighted the association of leave events with gaps in healthcare quality, emphasizing the need for better representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the health workforce and partnership with them in decision-making processes for providing culturally appropriate healthcare services.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alison Brown, Tilahun Haregu, Graham Gee, Fiona Mensah, Lea Waters, Stephanie J. Brown, Jan M. Nicholson, Kelsey Hegarty, Darren Smith, Sue D'Amico, Rebecca Ritte, Yin Paradies, Gregory Armstrong
Summary: Little is known about the wellbeing and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in social housing. Most respondents in the survey demonstrated a strong sense of identity and connection to family, but also reported various health issues and barriers to employment. Improving health and wellbeing was the most cited aspiration.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joanne Luke, Philippa Dalach, Lindsay Tuer, Ravi Savarirayan, Angeline Ferdinand, Julie McGaughran, Emma Kowal, Libby Massey, Gail Garvey, Hugh Dawkins, Misty Jenkins, Yin Paradies, Glenn Pearson, Chloe A. Stutterd, Gareth Baynam, Margaret Kelaher
Summary: Research shows disparities in access to clinical genetic health services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, with fewer appointments scheduled and lower attendance rates. These findings provide important baseline data on disparities in access to clinical genomics in Australia.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Connie Henson, Felicity Chapman, Gina Shepherd, Bronwyn Carlson, Josephine Y. Chau, Josephine Gwynn, Deb McCowen, Boe Rambaldini, Katrina Ward, Kylie Gwynne
Summary: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are using digital health technologies to acquire and share health information and are interested in using apps and wearables for health management. Co-designed research enables a better understanding of diverse needs for different cohorts and informs culturally responsible design. Broader use of co-design will foster effective user-focused digital health communication and health management.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sarah C. Bourke, Janet Chapman, Roxanne Jones, Makayla-May Brinckley, Katherine A. Thurber, Bianca Calabria, Kate Doery, Anna Olsen, Raymond Lovett
Summary: Culture is foundational to health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but has rarely been explored in depth by epidemiological research. The Mayi Kuwayu study developed a new survey tool based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perceptions of health and wellbeing, identifying key cultural domains through community consultations. Further assessment of the processes used and psychometric testing of the cultural items developed will be conducted in future research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR EQUITY IN HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Nursing
Mikaela Hopkins, Shahla Meedya, Rowena Ivers, Karen Charlton
Summary: The study evaluated online breastfeeding information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia, finding that some websites had high accuracy and quality, but few had culturally appropriate design features. Further research is needed to design online platforms that take into account cultural principles, beliefs, and values for women from different cultural backgrounds.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Maria Karidakis
Summary: The study explores ways to enhance interpreting practice in healthcare settings for better communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Findings suggest the importance of understanding and addressing cultural differences, explaining medical terminology in tangible terms, using culturally appropriate language for taboo topics, and being mindful of nonverbal communication cues.
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Swasti Chaturvedi, Shahid Ullah, Amelia K. LePage, Jaquelyne T. Hughes
Summary: The study reveals increasing incidence rates and poorer access to kidney transplantation among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young adults in Australia. The reasons for this disparity in healthcare and barriers to transplantation need further exploration and resolution.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Urology & Nephrology
Stephen P. Mcdonald, Katie Cundale, Kelli J. Owen, Matilda D'Antoine, Jaquelyne T. Hughes
Summary: Indigenous people in Australia are disadvantaged in accessing kidney transplantation. The National Indigenous Kidney Transplant Taskforce was established to address this issue by providing support to clinicians, implementing and evaluating innovative practices, and developing strategies to overcome barriers in the care system.
NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tanya Martin, Sarah McIntyre, Emma Waight, Gareth Baynam, Linda Watson, Katherine Langdon, Susan Woolfenden, Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, Juanita Sherwood, ACPR Birds Eye View Grp
Summary: The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the trends of cerebral palsy (CP) for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young adults. Data was collected from the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register (ACPR) for individuals born between 1995 and 2014. The study showed a decline in the birth prevalence of CP in this population between the mid-2000s and 2013-2014. This information can be used to advocate for funding for accessible, culturally safe, antenatal and CP services.
DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Stephanie M. Topp, Josslyn Tully, Rachel Cummins, Veronica Graham, Aryati Yashadhana, Lana Elliott, Sean Taylor
Summary: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (A&TSIHWs) are professional health workers in Australia, with core functions including health promotion, clinical service, and cultural brokerage, realizing unique value through client-centredness and Indigenous strengths. However, the role remains under-recognized and undervalued in the broader health workforce, posing potential threats to its long-term sustainability.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alison Brown, Fiona Mensah, Graham Gee, Yin Paradies, Samantha French, Lea Waters, Kerry Arabena, Gregory Armstrong, Jan Nicholson, Stephanie J. Brown, Kelsey Hegarty, Rebecca Ritte, Kristy Meiselbach, Margaret Kelaher
Summary: This study presents a protocol for evaluating a strengths-based initiative providing life coaching services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community housing tenants. It aims to assess the effect of life coaching on the social and emotional wellbeing of tenants in order to promote wellbeing in these communities.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Pedro Henrique Ribeiro Santiago, Davi Manzini Macedo, Dandara Haag, Rachel Roberts, Lisa Smithers, Joanne Hedges, Lisa Jamieson
Summary: This study used EGA to evaluate the dimensions of caregiver-informant SDQ version 4-10 years nationally in Australia, finding strong evidence against the construct validity of the original five-factor SDQ structure. Future research should conduct external validation with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander parents/carers and community groups to develop guidelines for the instrument's future use in Australia.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Samantha Bateman, Melissa Arnold-Chamney, Shilpanjali Jesudason, Rhanee Lester, Stephen McDonald, Kim O'Donnell, Kelli Owen, Odette Pearson, Nari Sinclair, Tahlee Stevenson, Inawinytji Williamson, Janet Kelly
Summary: This study describes the process of repositioning and valuing the knowledge and lived experiences of Aboriginal community members, with the aim of strengthening relationships, research processes, and outcomes. Through co-creation and community-based participatory action research (cb-PAR), deeply respectful community engagement was possible. This approach resulted in multiple positive impacts and beneficial relationships between community members, clinicians, and academics. Meaningful consultation with Aboriginal communities guides culturally safe research processes, health policy, and service delivery.
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Dharmenaan Palamuthusingam, Elaine M. Pascoe, Carmel M. Hawley, David W. Johnson, Gishan Ratnayake, Stephen McDonald, Neil Boudville, Matthew Jose, Magid Fahim
Summary: This study assessed the concordance between comorbidities recorded in the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry and those in state-based hospital admission datasets. The results showed that the accuracy of diabetes mellitus recording was the highest, while the accuracy of cerebrovascular disease recording was the lowest.
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Dharmenaan Palamuthusingam, Carmel M. Hawley, Elaine M. Pascoe, David W. Johnson, Palvannan Sivalingam, Stephen McDonald, Neil Boudville, Matthew D. Jose, Girish Talaulikar, Magid Fahim
Summary: This study found that patients receiving chronic kidney replacement therapy have high rates of surgery and morbidity, with older age, diabetes, dialysis modality, and time all influencing these rates.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Benjamin Talbot, Katherine Barraclough, Matthew Sypek, Pedro Gois, Leila Arnold, Stephen McDonald, John Knight
Summary: This study investigated the environmental sustainability practices of dialysis facilities in Australia and New Zealand. The findings showed a lack of prioritization of environmental sustainability in clinical practice, building design and infrastructure, and management systems.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Ian A. Harris, Michelle F. Lorimer, Christopher E. Davies, Dominic Keuskamp, Kathryn B. Dansie, Peter L. Lewis, Stephen E. Graves, Stephen P. McDonald
Summary: This study compared the rate of revision surgery and mortality following THA between patients who have kidney failure receiving long term dialysis or who had a kidney transplant and those who did not have kidney failure. The results showed that patients on dialysis had a higher risk of mortality after THA compared to those with a functioning kidney transplant or no kidney failure, but there was no early excess mortality due to the surgery.
JOURNAL OF ARTHROPLASTY
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Ryan Gately, Elasma Milanzi, Wai Lim, Armando Teixeira-Pinto, Phil Clayton, Nicole Isbel, David W. Johnson, Carmel Hawley, Scott Campbell, Germaine Wong
Summary: BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN) is associated with an increased risk of graft dysfunction and loss in kidney transplant recipients. This cohort study in Australia and New Zealand found that BKPyVAN occurred in 3% of recipients and was linked to higher rates of graft loss, rejection, and death. Changes in immunosuppression, such as reducing tacrolimus and mycophenolate doses, were commonly made after BKPyVAN. Several factors, including gender, age, blood group, donor characteristics, transplantation era, immunosuppression use, and transplant center volume, were associated with the development of BKPyVAN. The study also found that BKPyVAN increased the risk of graft loss but not mortality. It highlights the need for interventional trials to evaluate strategies for reducing immunosuppression and minimizing adverse outcomes associated with BKPyVAN.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Alison C. Weightman, Simon Coghlan, Philip A. Clayton
Summary: The refusal of doctors to accept donations from living kidney donors with certain comorbidities is unjustified according to this paper. The paper argues for greater acceptance of such donations to address the ongoing shortage of kidney transplants.
MONASH BIOETHICS REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Joe Lu, Erandi Hewawasam, Christopher E. Davies, Philip A. Clayton, Stephen P. McDonald, Shilpanjali Jesudason
Summary: This study aimed to determine the rates of preeclampsia in women with kidney transplants and its association with graft survival and function. The results showed that while preeclampsia is common in women with transplanted kidneys, it is not associated with worse graft survival or function.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Urology & Nephrology
Stephen P. Mcdonald, Katie Cundale, Kelli J. Owen, Matilda D'Antoine, Jaquelyne T. Hughes
Summary: Indigenous people in Australia are disadvantaged in accessing kidney transplantation. The National Indigenous Kidney Transplant Taskforce was established to address this issue by providing support to clinicians, implementing and evaluating innovative practices, and developing strategies to overcome barriers in the care system.
NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ken-Soon Tan, Stephen McDonald, Wendy Hoy
Summary: This study compared the performance of a clinical diagnosis to biopsy-proven diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and found that a clinical diagnosis has high sensitivity but low specificity, indicating the possibility of overdiagnosis.
Letter
Urology & Nephrology
Richard Le Leu, Paul N. Bennett, Kathryn Dansie, Lisa Shanahan, Anna Chur-Hansen, Kathryn L. Collins, Anne L. J. Burke, Fiona Donnelly, Emily Duncanson, Anthony Meade, Stephen McDonald, Shilpanjali Jesudason
JOURNAL OF NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Urology & Nephrology
Samantha Bateman, Michael Riceman, Kelli Owen, Rhanee Lester, Nari Sinclair, Odette Pearson, Stephen Mcdonald, Martin Howell, David Tunnicliffe, Shilpanjali Jesudason
Meeting Abstract
Urology & Nephrology
Jayson Catiwa, Sarah Coggan, Alan Cass, Nicholas Gray, Stephen Jan, Stephen Mcdonald, Kevan Polkinghorne, Girish Talaulikar, Martin Gallagher, Sradha Kotwal
Meeting Abstract
Urology & Nephrology
Dominic Keuskamp, Christopher E. Davies, Philip A. Clayton, David V. Pilcher, Shaila Chavan, Paul J. Secombe, Sarah L. Jones, Benjamin E. Reddi, Stephen Mcdonald
Meeting Abstract
Urology & Nephrology
Dominic Keuskamp, Christopher E. Davies, Robert Baker, Kevan Polkinghorne, Christopher Reid, Julian Smith, Lavinia Tran, Jenni Williams-Spence, Rory Wolfe, Stephen Mcdonald