Search

Objective: This paper describes my experience as a psychiatric registrar working with indigenous communities in a remote setting in Far North Queensland. Conclusions: Working in a remote environment provided an insight into how to engage culturally diverse Indigenous communities and an invaluable training experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the opportunities and challenges associated with the establishment of health care networks across rural and remote communities. A definition of rural communities is offered. The process of networking, particularly the issues that require consideration when networks involving human interaction are established, is described. An overview of the telecommunications infrastructure in North Queensland, Queensland is provided.

The aetiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is thought to involve both genetic and environmental factors. In other complex diseases, analysis of large multi-case families has resulted in insights into biological mechanisms. We have sought to characterise the members of an extended Indigenous family, five of whom have been diagnosed with SLE. Pedigree members were evaluated using the Lupus Screening Questionnaire, clinical interviews and medical records. Participants contributed blood and urine samples for laboratory analysis. A Mendelian pattern of inheritance was not observed. The five affected members (all female) shared two American College of Rheumatology criteria (positive ANA and arthritis) but showed a wide variety of other SLE manifestations. Disease onset, severity and progression were discordant. Including the five individuals with SLE, 15 blood relatives and two non-consanguineous spouses had autoimmune manifestations. Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (one case), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (one case) and hypothyroidism (two cases) were observed in non-SLE affected individuals. Anti-nuclear antibodies were present in 12 blood relatives and one non-consanguineous spouse. Infections (especially of the skin) were observed to be common in the kindred. The lack of clear Mendelian inheritance or phenotypic concordance makes a rare monogenic explanation for SLE unlikely in this family. The finding of familial autoimmunity associated with SLE further supports the hypothesis that a common genetic pathway can precipitate autoimmunity, with further genes and possible environmental factors interacting to produce the eventual phenotype. Future genetic linkage studies may reveal a rare 'autoimmune gene' variant in this kindred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the influences of organizational culture on rangers' perceptions of tourism management in North Queensland's (Australia) protected areas. This research was undertaken during a time of an increasingly anthropocentric management focus, including the creation of partnership agreements with tourism operators. Qualitative, semistructured interviews revealed that some rangers embraced tourism as an asset to parks, whereas others perceived the industry to be in conflict, or in competition, with the preservation of their areas. The concepts of organizational culture and climate were found to be useful for explaining the differences in rangers' perceptions of tourism and for explaining the presence of a distinct subcultural group amongst the rangers interviewed. Poor communication of tourism policy changes between the upper management levels and the on-park rangers had contributed to a loss of goal congruence, infighting, low morale, and an organizational climate in turmoil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]