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Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the factors contributing to high-quality clinical supervision of the allied health workforce in rural and remote settings. Methods: This quantitative study was part of a broader project that used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. Participants were 159 allied health professionals from two Australian states. Quantitative data were collected using an online customised survey and the Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale (MCSS-26). Data were analysed using regression analyses. Results: Supervisee's work setting and choice of supervisor were found to have a positive and significant influence on clinical supervision quality. Supervisee profession and time in work role were found to have a negative and significant influence on the quality of clinical supervision. Conclusions: High-quality clinical supervision is essential to achieve quality and safety of health care, as well as to support the health workforce. Information on high-quality clinical supervision identified in this study can be applied to clinical supervision practices in rural and remote settings, and to professional support policies and training to enhance the quality of supervision. What is known about the topic?: There is mounting evidence on the benefits of clinical supervision to health professionals, organisations and patients. Clinical supervision enhances recruitment and retention of the health workforce. However, there are still gaps regarding the factors that contribute to high-quality clinical supervision, especially for rural and remote health professionals. What does this paper add?: This study, the first of its kind, recruited rural and remote health professionals from seven allied health disciplines across two Australian states. It investigated the factors that influence high-quality clinical supervision in this under-resourced group. This paper outlines specific factors that contribute to clinical supervision quality for rural and remote allied health professionals. What are the implications for practitioners?: Effective and high-quality clinical supervision of the rural and remote allied health workforce can enhance recruitment and retention in those areas. Healthcare organisations can facilitate effective clinical supervision delivery by using the evidence gathered in this study in clinical supervision policy, training and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the health status of South Australians with recent experience of caring for an adult with chronic disease with non-carers drawn from the same population. Methods: Data were collected via the South Australian Health Omnibus, an annual population-based, cross-sectional survey. Respondents were asked whether they had provided care or support in the last 5 years to someone with cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, mental illness, neurological disease or dementia. Health status was measured using the Short Form-12 version 1 (SF-12) physical and mental component scale summary scores (PCS and MCS respectively), with poor health status defined as ≥0.5 standard deviation below the normative mean. Logistic regression explored characteristics associated with poor health status. Results: Of 3033 respondents analysed, 987 (32.5%) reported caring experience. Poor PCS and MCS were associated with carer status, lower-than-degree-level education, employment status other than employed and annual household income less than A$60 000. Being Australian born was a protective factor for PCS, whereas factors protective for MCS were being married or in a de facto relationship and age ≥65 years. Conclusions: Providing care or support in the last 5 years is independently associated with poorer health status, but not with the magnitude found in studies of current carers. Future research should explore health status recovery after completion of the caring role, and investigate whether relationships between health and socioeconomic status differ for carers versus non-carers. What is known about the topic?: Population-based survey studies in Australia and overseas have consistently found that informal carers have worse health status than non-carers. What does this paper add?: Including recent as well as current carers in a population-based sample was associated with less effect on health status compared with studies focused on current carers only. This finding is consistent with the possibility that health status recovers during the 5 years after caring. What are the implications for practitioners?: Support for Australian carers is warranted to ensure their continuing contributions to society and return to productivity after their caring role is completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare the costs of inpatient (usual care) with outpatient (intervention) care for cervical priming for induction of labour in women with healthy, low-risk pregnancies who are being induced for prolonged pregnancies or for social reasons. Methods Data from a randomised controlled trial at two hospitals in South Australia were matched with hospital financial data. A cost analysis comparing women randomised to inpatient care with those randomised to outpatient care was performed, with an additional analysis focusing on those who received the intervention. Results Overall, 48% of women randomised into the trial did not receive the intervention. Women randomised to outpatient care had an overall cost saving of $319 per woman (95% CI -$104 to $742) as compared with women randomised to usual care. When restricted to women who actually received the intervention, in-hospital cost savings of $433 (95% CI -$282 to $1148) were demonstrated in the outpatient group. However, these savings were partially offset by the cost of an outpatient priming clinic, reducing the overall cost savings to $156 per woman. Conclusions Overall cost savings were not statistically significant in women who were randomised to or received the intervention. However, the trend in cost savings favoured outpatient priming. What is known about the topic? Induction of labour is a common obstetric intervention. For women with low-risk, prolonged pregnancies who require cervical priming there has been increased interest in whether this period of waiting for the cervix to 'ripen' can be achieved at home. Outpatient priming has been reported to reduce hospital costs and improve maternal satisfaction. However, few studies have actually examined the cost of outpatient priming for induction of labour. What does this paper add? This is the first paper in Australia to both assess the full cost of outpatient cervical priming and to compare it with usual (inpatient) care. This is the first costing paper from a randomised controlled trial directly comparing inpatient and outpatient priming with prostaglandin E[sub 2]. What are the implications for practitioners? For women with prolonged, low-risk pregnancies, a program of outpatient cervical priming can potentially reduce in-hospital costs and free up labour ward beds by avoiding an additional overnight hospitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To estimate the risk of functional decline after discharge for older people presenting to, and discharged from, a large emergency department (ED) of a tertiary hospital. Methods. The cohort was generated by consecutive sampling of non-Indigenous males and females aged 65 years or over or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males and females aged 45 years or more, without diagnosed dementia, who were living independently in the community before presenting at ED and who were not admitted to hospital as an inpatient after presenting to ED. The hospital assessment risk profile (HARP) was administered to all eligible participants. Sociodemographic information was collected. Results. Approximately 40 patients per day over two 14-week data collection periods were potentially eligible for inclusion in the study. In total, 597 (17.6% of individuals who presented to ED) were eligible, agreed to participate and continued to be eligible on discharge from ED. Their HARP scores suggested that ~52% were at-risk of functional decline (14.1% high risk, 38.5% intermediate risk). Conclusions. Elderly patients present to and are discharged from ED every day. The routinely administered HARP instrument scores suggested that approximately half these individuals were at-risk of functional decline in one large hospital ED. Given this instrument's moderate diagnostic accuracy, the true figure may be higher. We suggest that all over-65 year olds presenting at ED without being admitted as an inpatient should be considered for routine screening for potential downstream functional decline, and for intervention if indicated. What is known about the topic? Older individuals often present to ED in lieu of consulting a general medical practitioner, and are not admitted to a hospital bed. Patient demographics, functional and mental capacity and reasons for presentation may be flags for functional decline in the coming months. These could be used by ED staff to implement targeted assessment and intervention. What does this paper add? This paper highlights the high percentage of older individuals who, at time of ED presentation, are at-risk of downstream functional decline. What are the implications for practitioners? Older people who are discharged from ED without a hospital admission may 'slip through the net', as an ED presentation presents a limited window of opportunity for ED staff to undertake targeted assessment, and intervention, to address the potential for downstream functional decline. The busy nature of ED, resource implications and the range of presenting conditions of older people may preclude this. This research suggests a reality that a large percentage of older people who present at ED but do not require a subsequent hospital admission have the potential for functional decline after discharge. Addressing this, in terms of specific screening processes and interventions, requires a rethink of hospital and community resources, and relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To describe the burden of bone and joint problems (BJP) in a defined regional population, and to identify characteristics and service-usage patterns. Methods In 2010, a health census of adults aged ≥15 years was conducted in Port Lincoln, South Australia. A follow-up computer-assisted telephone interview provided more specific information about those with BJP. Results Overall, 3350 people (42%) reported current BJP. General practitioners (GP) were the most commonly used provider (85%). People with BJP were also 85% more likely to visit chiropractors, twice as likely to visit physiotherapists and 34% more likely to visit Accident and Emergency or GP out of hours (compared with the rest of the population). Among the phenotypes, those with BJP with co-morbidities were more likely to visit GP, had a significantly higher mean pain score and higher levels of depression or anxiety compared with those with BJP only. Those with BJP only were more likely to visit physiotherapists. Conclusions GP were significant providers for those with co-morbidities, the group who also reported higher levels of pain and mental distress. GP have a central role in effectively managing this phenotype within the BJP population including linking allied health professionals with general practice to manage BJP more efficiently. What is known about the topic? As a highly prevalent group of conditions that are likely to impact on health-related quality of life and are a common cause of severe long-term disability, musculoskeletal conditions place a significant burden on individuals and the health system. However, far less is known about access and usage of musculoskeletal-related health services and programs in Australia. What does this paper add? As a result of analysing the characteristics of the overall BJP population, as well as phenotypes within it, a greater understanding of patterns of health service interactions, care pathways and opportunities for targeted improvements in delivery of care may be identified. The results emphasise that participants with BJP utilised the services of a narrow range of providers, which may have workforce implications for these sectors. The funding models for physiotherapists and chiropractors in Australia involve a mix of private and fees for service, which limits access to those who have private health insurance or can pay directly for these services. What are the implications for practitioners? These analyses indicate the importance of linking allied health professionals with general practice to manage BJP more efficiently. Alternative and appropriate care pathways need to be more strongly developed and identified for effective management of these conditions rather than relying on a traditional range of practitioners. Alternatively, greater ease of access to allied health practitioners may enable more effective treatment and improved quality of life for those with BJP. There is an urgent need to develop an effective population-based model of integrated care for BJP within regional Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To assess the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and service use for people with a chronic disease in rural and regional Australia, where reported prevalence of CAM use is higher. Methods. Data were from the Whyalla Intergenerational Study of Health, a population representative cross sectional study of 1146 people recruited in 2008-2009. Self-reported chronic disease diagnosis and health service use including CAM use were collected. Complementary and other medicines were recorded at a clinic visit in a reduced sample (n = 722) and SF36 data were collected by questionnaire. Results. Around 32% of respondents reported complementary medicine use and 27% CAM service use. There was no difference in the overall prevalence of CAM use among those with and without a chronic disease (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.7-1.3). Greater age- and sex-adjusted use of complementary medicines was associated with the ability to save money (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.17-2.63), but not with any other socioeconomic position indicator. Those who reported using prescribed medication were more likely to report using complementary medicines (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.35-3.24). Conclusions. The prevalence of CAM use in this regional community appeared lower than reported in similar communities outside of South Australia. Mainstream medicine use was associated with complementary medicine use, increasing the risk of an adverse drug interaction. This suggests that doctors and pharmacists should be aware of the possibility that their clients may be using complementary medicines, and the need for vigilance regarding potential side effects and interactions between complementary and mainstream therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Despite the expansion of postnatal domiciliary services, we know little about the women receiving visits and how they regard their care. The aim of this study is to examine the provision of postnatal domiciliary care from a consumer perspective. Methods. All women who gave birth in September--October 2007 in South Australia and Victoria were mailed questionnaires 6 months after the birth. Women were asked if they had received a midwifery home visit, and to rate the care they received. Results. More women in South Australia reported receiving a domiciliary visit than in Victoria (88.0% v. 76.0%) and they were more likely to rate their care as 'very good' (69.1% v. 63.4%). Younger women, women on a lower income, who were holding a healthcare concession card or who had not completed secondary education were less likely to receive a visit. Conclusion. Although the majority of women in public maternity care in Victoria and South Australia receive domiciliary care and rate it positively, there are significant state-based differences. Those more likely to benefit from domiciliary care are less likely to receive a visit. There is a need to further explore the purpose, aims and content of domiciliary care at individual and state-wide levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]