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Objective: To evaluate the suitability and acceptability of virtual training post accreditation visits conducted online for medical specialist training in ophthalmology in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: A two-phase study (pilot and implementation) was conducted. In the pilot phase, an open-ended observation proforma was used by the authors to independently record their observations, which were later compared and discussed until consensus was achieved. All participants were asked to complete an online survey. A document analysis of accreditation documents was conducted. Observation data were broken down into themes and triangulated with online survey and document analysis results. In the implementation phase, the inspections were observed by one of the authors (SK) and the observation notes were discussed with other authors to obtain a contextual and consensual view. A document analysis of all accreditation-related documentation was undertaken. The documents included in the document analysis were planning and scheduling records, interview and inspection notes, training post inspection fact and document notices and accreditation reports. Finally, a post-inspection focus group of all inspectors was conducted. Results: The accreditation interviews adequately addressed all relevant issues with high levels of robustness and reliability. Participants found it more difficult to discuss complex issues virtually compared with onsite visits. The virtual accreditation reports were not any different to what would be expected if a face-to-face accreditation visit had been conducted; however, it was not possible using the virtual inspection to determine the appropriateness of facilities and clinic layout to support and facilitate trainee learning and supervision. Conclusions: Virtual accreditation of training posts in medical specialist training is viable in limited circumstances where there are no known complex training post-related issues and the site has not made substantial changes to clinic and theatre layout, equipment and facilities since the previous accreditation. What is known about the topic? All medical specialist colleges in Australia and New Zealand accredit the sites where training is delivered, usually by conducting periodic face‐to‐face visits. What does this paper add? This paper provides evidence that in limited circumstances, it is possible to accredit training posts virtually. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper provides an outline of issues to consider when planning virtual accreditation of training posts in medical specialist education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-traumatic lower limb amputation rates are rising worldwide, resulting in increased hospitalisations and use of rehabilitation services. This study aimed to identify key comorbidities associated with prolonged length of stay or decreased functional gain for episodes receiving inpatient rehabilitation following non-traumatic lower limb amputation. Methods: Prospectively collected data submitted to the Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre were analysed. The cohort comprised episodes for patients (aged ≥18 years) discharged from inpatient rehabilitation between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2018 following a non-traumatic lower limb amputation. Results: The cohort included 5074 episodes with an average age of 66.3 years and the majority being male (71.7%). Comorbidities affecting the ability to participate in rehabilitation were reported for 65.4% of episodes, most commonly diabetes mellitus (50.3%), cardiac disease (33.5%), and respiratory disease (10.1%). These comorbidities were associated with a prolonged length of stay and reduced functional improvement. Conclusion: This study showed comorbidities contribute to prolonged length of stay and poorer functional outcomes among those undergoing inpatient rehabilitation following non-traumatic lower limb amputation. Future research should focus on strategies to address these comorbidities to help improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. What is known about the topic? It is known that the presence of comorbidities contributes to lower limb amputation; however, the effect that comorbidities have on inpatient rehabilitation outcomes is not well reported. What does this paper add? This study identified five comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, respiratory disease, renal failure with dialysis, and mental health problems) associated with prolonged length of stay and decreased functional outcomes following inpatient rehabilitation for non-traumatic lower limb amputation. What are the implications for practitioners? Our findings suggest practitioners should focus on strategies to address these comorbidities to help improve functional outcomes, reduce length of stay, and reduce healthcare costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite needs, people with advanced non-malignant respiratory disease are infrequently referred to palliative care services. Integrated models of palliative care and respiratory service delivery have been advocated to address this inequity of access. This study mapped current ambulatory palliative care service provision for patients with advanced non-malignant respiratory disease in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: An online survey was distributed to the palliative care physician membership of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine. Information was sought regarding access to specific breathlessness and integrated respiratory and palliative care services, and their operation. Data were described using descriptive statistics. Results: In all, 133 respondents (93 from Australia, 40 from New Zealand; representing 55 Australian and 26 New Zealand discrete sites) with complete data were available for analysis. More than half the respondents reported seeing patients with advanced non-malignant respiratory disease frequently (56/97; 58%), and 18 of 81 services (22%) reported having breathlessness or integrated respiratory and palliative care services caring for this patient group. Such services were mostly staffed by respiratory and palliative care doctors and nurses and based in the clinic environment, with limited support available outside this setting. Of the 63 respondents without existing breathlessness or integrated services, 49 (78%) expressed interest in their establishment, with limited resources cited as the most common barrier. Conclusions: There is limited availability of integrated respiratory and palliative care or specialised breathlessness services in Australia and New Zealand despite widespread support by palliative care physicians. This study provides a snapshot to inform strategic service development. What is known about the topic?: People with advanced respiratory disease have very significant morbidity with complex needs equivalent to, and in many cases more intense than, people with end-stage lung cancer; they also have significant mortality. Yet, these people frequently do not access palliative care services. The establishment of integrated respiratory and palliative care services has been advocated as an effective means to overcome the barriers to palliative care access. Such services have demonstrated improved patient and family-reported outcomes, as well as service-level improvements. What does this paper add?: This paper maps the availability of integrated respiratory palliative care services in Australia and New Zealand. We reveal that although most palliative care physicians report seeing patients with advanced respiratory disease in practice, just one-fifth of services report having an integrated service approach. There was high interest and enthusiasm for such services (78%), but resources limited their establishment. What are the implications for practitioners?: Palliative care services recognise the needs of patients with advanced respiratory disease and the benefits of integrated respiratory and palliative care services to address these needs, but scarcity of resources limits the ability to respond accordingly. This study provides a snapshot of current service level to inform strategic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The climate crisis necessitates urgent decarbonisation. The health sector must address its large carbon footprint. In the present study, we sought healthcare thought leaders' views about a future environmentally sustainable health system. Methods: The present study was a qualitative exploratory study consisting of semistructured, in-depth interviews with 15 healthcare thought leaders from Australia, the UK, the US and New Zealand. Audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed and analysed by matrix display and thematic analysis. Results: Overall, healthcare thought leaders believe that to reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare we need to look beyond traditional 'green' initiatives towards a more fundamental and longer-term redesign. Five main themes and one 'key enabler' (information communication technology) were identified. In this paper we draw on other relevant findings, but chiefly focus on the fifth theme about reshaping the role of healthcare within society and using the size and influence of the health sector to leverage wider health, environmental and societal benefits. Conclusions: These ideas represent potentially low-carbon models of care. The next step would be to pilot and measure the outcomes (health, environmental, financial) of these models. What is known about the topic?: The health sector needs to reduce its large carbon footprint. Traditional 'green' initiatives, such as recycling and improving energy efficiency, are insufficient to achieve the scale of decarbonisation required. What does this paper add?: Healthcare thought leaders surveyed in the present study suggested that we also consider other, non-traditional ways to achieve environmental sustainability. In this paper we discuss their ideas about adopting an anticipatory approach to healthcare using predictive analytics, and using the size and influence of the health sector to effect wider health and environmental benefits. What are the implications for practitioners?: Achieving an environmentally sustainable healthcare system is likely to require broad and fundamental (i.e. transformational) change to the current service model. Health practitioners throughout the sector must be closely engaged in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: HealthPathways, pioneered in Canterbury, New Zealand, in 2008, is a web-based tool designed to promote health care integration and patient management in primary care and to reduce fragmentation in the delivery of health services. This cross-sectional study evaluated the utilisation and perceptions of this tool among health professionals in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered online through Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) to general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses and managers, nurse practitioners, specialist and community nurses, hospital clinicians, nurses, managers, and allied health professionals between April and September 2018. The frequency of HealthPathways use in the previous month was modelled as an ordered response using an ordered logistic regression model after adjusting for the possible effects of sex, age, years in clinical practice, location and time spent in practice. Results: Health professionals perceived HealthPathways to be useful in primary care management and referral, as well as in the prereferral treatment of patients. GPs in New Zealand, New South Wales and Victoria were 73%, 47% and 27% more likely to have used HealthPathways ≥10 times in the previous month respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that HealthPathways is having a positive effect on healthcare systems in New Zealand and Australia. However, differences in uptake suggests the need for focused implementation, integration into eReferral software and expanding the tool to medical students, registrars, allied health professionals and potentially patients to encourage behavioural change. What is known about the topic?: Early evaluations suggest that HealthPathways is a useful tool for health professionals, although uptake and utilisation may be limited. However, there is no comparative evidence regarding uptake and implementation of the tool. What does the paper add?: This study is among the first to provide a comparative narrative of the literature assessing the implementation and uptake of HealthPathways across Australia and New Zealand. It is also among the first to compare the perceptions of allied health professionals in the use of HealthPathways across Australia and New Zealand. What are the implications for practitioners?: The results of this study suggest the need for focused implementation, integration into eReferral software and expanding the tool to medical students, registrars, allied health professionals and potentially patients to encourage behavioural change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore whether a relationship exists between the number of disasters a jurisdiction has experienced and the presence of disaster-specific pharmacy legislation. Methods: Pharmacy legislation specific to disasters was reviewed for five countries: Australia, Canada, UK, US and New Zealand. A binary logistic regression test using a generalised estimating equation was used to examine the association between the number of disasters experienced by a state, province, territory or country and whether they had disaster-specific pharmacy legislation. Results: Three of six models were statistically significant, suggesting that the odds of a jurisdiction having disaster-specific pharmacy legislation increased as the number of disasters increased for the period 2007–17 and 2013–17. There was an association between the everyday emergency supply legislation and the presence of the extended disaster-specific emergency supply legislation AH19093_IE1.gif. Conclusions: It is evident from this review that there are inconsistencies as to the level of assistance pharmacists can provide during times of crisis depending on their jurisdiction and location of practice. It is not a question of whether pharmacists have the skills and capabilities to assist, but rather what legislative barriers are preventing them from being able to contribute further to the disaster healthcare team. What is known about the topic?: The contributing factors to disaster-specific pharmacy legislation has not previously been explored in Australia. It can be postulated that the number of disasters experienced by a jurisdiction increases the likelihood of governments introducing disaster-specific pharmacy legislation based on other countries. What does this paper add?: This study compared five countries and their pharmacy legislation specific to disasters. It identified that as the number of disasters increases, the odds of a jurisdiction having disaster-specific emergency supply or disaster relocation or mobile pharmacy legislation increases. However, this is likely to be only one of many factors affecting the political decisions of when and what legislation is passed in relation to pharmacists' roles in disasters. What are the implications for practitioners?: Pharmacists are well situated in the community to be of assistance during disasters. However, their ability to help patients with chronic disease management or providing necessary vaccinations in disasters is limited by the legislation in their jurisdiction. Releasing pharmacists' full potential in disasters could alleviate the burden of low-acuity patients on other healthcare services. This could subsequently free up other healthcare professionals to treat high-acuity patients and emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study reports on the characteristics of individuals conducting health service research (HSR) in Australia and New Zealand, the perceived accessibility of resources for HSR, the self-reported impact of HSR projects and perceived barriers to conducting HSR. Methods: A sampling frame was compiled from funding announcements, trial registers and HSR organisation membership. Listed researchers were invited to complete online surveys. Close-ended survey items were analysed using basic descriptive statistics. Goodness of fit tests determined potential associations between researcher affiliation and access to resources for HSR. Open-ended survey items were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: In all, 424 researchers participated in the study (22% response rate). Respondents held roles as health service researchers (76%), educators (34%) and health professionals (19%). Most were employed by a university (64%), and 57% held a permanent contract. Although 63% reported network support for HSR, smaller proportions reported executive (48%) or financial (26%) support. The least accessible resources were economists (52%), consumers (49%) and practice change experts (34%); researchers affiliated with health services were less likely to report access to statisticians (P < 0.001), economists (P < 0.001), librarians (P = 0.02) and practice change experts (P = 0.02) than university-affiliated researchers. Common impacts included conference presentations (94%), publication of peer-reviewed articles (87%) and health professional benefits (77%). Qualitative data emphasised barriers such as embedding research culture within services and engaging with policy makers. Conclusions: The data highlight opportunities to sustain the HSR community through dedicated funding, improved access to methodological expertise and greater engagement with end-users. What is known about the topic?: HSR faces several challenges, such as inequitable funding allocation and difficulties in quantifying the effects of HSR on changing health policy or practice. What does this paper add?: Despite a vibrant and experienced HSR community, this study highlights some key barriers to realising a greater effect on the health and well-being of Australian and New Zealand communities through HSR. These barriers include limited financial resources, methodological expertise, organisational support and opportunities to engage with potential collaborators. What are the implications for practitioners?: Funding is required to develop HSR infrastructure, support collaboration between health services and universities and combine knowledge of the system with research experience and expertise. Formal training programs for health service staff and researchers, from short courses to PhD programs, will support broader interest and involvement in HSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the impact and cost associated with mental illness. Methods: A rapid review of the literature from Australia, New Zealand, UK and Canada was undertaken. The review included literature pertaining to the cost-of-illness and impact of mental illness as well as any modelling studies. Included studies were categorised according to impact on education, labour force engagement, earlier retirement or welfare dependency. The well-accepted Drummond 10-point economic appraisal checklist was used to assess the quality of the studies. Results: A total of 45 methodologically diverse studies were included. The studies highlight the significant burden mental illness places on all facets of society, including individuals, families, workplaces and the wider economy. Mental illness results in a greater chance of leaving school early, a lower probability of gaining full-time employment and a reduced quality of life. Research from Canada suggests that the total economic costs associated with mental illness will increase six-fold over the next 30 years with costs likely to exceed A$2.8 trillion (based on 2015 Australian dollars). Conclusions: Mental illness is associated with a high economic burden. Further research is required to develop a better understanding of the trajectory and burden of mental illness so that resources can be directed towards cost-effective interventions. What is known about the topic?: Although mental illness continues to be one of the leading contributors to the burden of disease, there is limited information on the economic impact that mental illness imposes on individuals, families, workplaces and the wider economy. What does this paper add?: This review provides a summary of the economic impact and cost of mental illness. The included literature highlights the significant burden mental illness places on individuals, families, workplaces, society and the economy in general. The review identified several areas for improvement. For example, only limited information is available on the impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, cognitive function, conduct disorder, eating disorder and psychological distress. There was also a dearth of evidence on the intangible elements of pain and suffering of people and their families with depressive disorders. More research is required to better understand the full extent of the impact of mental illness and strategies that may be implemented to minimise this harm. What are the implications for practitioners?: Knowing the current and future impact of mental illness highlights the imperative to develop an effective policy response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses what health workforce 'sustainability' might mean for Australia and New Zealand, given the policy direction set out in the World Health Organization draft code on international recruitment of health workers. The governments in both countries have in the past made policy statements about the desirability of health workforce 'selfsufficiency', but OEC data show that both have a high level of dependence on internationally recruited health professionals relative to most other OEC countries. The paper argues that if a target of 'self-sufficiency' or sustainability were to be based on meeting health workforce requirements from home based training, both Australia and New Zealand fall far short of this measure, and continue to be active recruiters. The paper stresses that there is no common agreed definition of what health workforce 'self-sufficiency', or 'sustainability' is in practice, and that without an agreed definition it will be difficult for policy-makers to move the debate on to reaching agreement and possibly setting measurable targets or timelines for achievement. The paper concludes that any policy decisions related to health workforce sustainability will also have to taken in the context of a wider community debate on what is required of a health system and how is it to be funded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian government has announced major reforms with the move to a primary maternity care model. The direction of the reforms remains contentious; with the Australian Medical Association warning that the introduction of non-medically led services will compromise current high standards in maternity services and threaten the safety of mothers and babies. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a critical review of the literature to determine whether there is convincing evidence to support the safety of non-medically led models of primary maternity care. Twenty-two non-randomised international studies were included representing midwifery-led care, birth centre care and home birth. Comparative outcome measurements included: perinatal mortality; perinatal morbidity; rates of medical intervention in labour; and antenatal and intrapartum referral and transfer rates. Findings support those of the three Cochrane reviews, that there is sufficient international evidence to support the conclusion of no difference in outcomes associated with low risk women in midwifery-led, birth centre and home birth models compared with standard hospital or obstetric care. These findings are limited to services involving qualified midwives working within rigorous exclusion, assessment and referral guidelines, limiting the number of urgent intrapartum transfers that come with increased risk of perinatal mortality. What is known about the topic? Systematic reviews of maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with midwifery-led care when compared to conventional intrapartum hospital care concluded that these non-medically led models of care are associated with several benefits for low risk women and their babies with no identified adverse effects. What does this paper add? The finding of no difference in outcomes associated with midwifery-led, birth centre and home birth compared with standard hospital or obstetric care is limited to international studies involving women in the care of qualified midwives working within rigorous guidelines for practice involving inter-professionally agreed exclusion, assessment and referral criteria. What are the implications for practitioners? Midwives caring for women in non-medically led models are urged to be vigilant to the need for early detection and prompt action in the event of unforseen complications to avoid an over emphasis on normality. This decreases the likelihood of urgent intrapartum transfers that come with an increased risk of perinatal mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]