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Background: The Partners in Recovery (PIR) program was implemented by the Australian Government Department of Health. Its overriding aim was to improve the coordination of services for people with severe and persistent mental illness, and who have complex needs that are not being met. The PIR capacity-building project (CBP) was funded to provide capacity building activities to the nationwide network of consortia that were set up in 2013 to deliver PIR over a 3-year period. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and findings from an evaluation of the PIR CBP. Methods: The evaluation involved collecting feedback from consenting PIR staff via an online survey and follow-up semi-structured interviews. CBP activities included: state and national meetings; a web portal; teleconferences; webinars; a support facilitator mentor program; and tailored support from the CBP team. Results: The CBP made a positive contribution to the implementation and delivery of PIR. Staff highly valued activities that employed face-to-face interaction or provided informative knowledge exchange, and were appreciative of CBP staff being responsive and adaptable to their needs. Conclusions: From this evaluation, we recommend the following: identify relevant functions (e.g. prioritise networking), select the right mode of delivery (e.g. establish an online presence) and abide by key principles (e.g. be responsive to staff needs). This information is informing the mental health workforce capacity building activities that our team is currently undertaking. Capacity-building programs are necessary for advancing new public health initiatives, yet there remains limited evidence to inform best practices for delivering these in the context of mental health. This paper describes the design and findings of a capacity-building program developed to enhance the knowledge and skills of community-based mental health providers. From this evaluation, we recommend the following to ensure effective capacity-building programs: identify relevant functions (e.g. prioritise networking), select the right mode of delivery (e.g. establish an online presence) and abide by key principles (e.g. be responsive to staff needs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explored the experiences, concerns and perceptions of hospital clinical staff returning to work after parental leave during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An exploratory mixed-methods study was performed. Eligible staff employed at a large metropolitan tertiary health service in Melbourne, Australia, completed an ethics-approved anonymous online cross-sectional survey and/or participated in an interview between February and June 2021. Results: Ninety-six staff completed a survey and four participated in an interview. Staff reported both positive and negative aspects of being on parental leave during the COVID-19 pandemic including disappointment their leave had not gone as planned; feeling isolated from family and friends; wanting greater communication from their health service; appreciating the increased opportunities for them and their partner to be at home and bond with their baby; and concerns about returning to work such as limited knowledge of COVID-19 workplace policies and potentially infecting their baby and family. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a unique impact on the parental leave and return to work experiences of hospital clinical staff. The findings suggest that staff would benefit from formal return to work policies and programs including regular contact with their manager while on parental leave and workplace reorientation on their return, especially during events such as a pandemic. What is known about the topic? Healthcare workers often experience additional challenges and stressors returning to work after parental leave compared to other workers. What does this paper add? The COVID-19 pandemic had a unique impact on the parental leave and return to work experiences of healthcare workers who reported positive and negative aspects including isolation, limited workplace communication and increased opportunities for bonding with their baby. What are the implications for practitioners? Appropriate organisational initiatives may alleviate staff distress and support their return to work and could include formal return to work programs, regular managerial contact and workplace reorientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Consumer-centred care is fundamental to high-quality health care, with allied health professionals playing a pivotal role in hospital settings. Allied health typically operates within standard weekday working-hours. Consumer preferences for receiving allied health services are largely unexplored but could inform whether weekend and/or out-of-hours services are required. This study aims to understand consumer preferences for hospital-based inpatient and outpatient allied health services. Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey and convenience sampling approach, consumers of a public health service in Melbourne, Australia were surveyed about preferences for allied health service delivery. Electronic health record reviews compared the accuracy of self-reported service delivery times. Descriptive statistics, concordance and predictive values were calculated. Responses to free-text survey items were analysed using content analysis. Results: Of 120 participants (79% response rate), most (69%) received allied health services, however, almost half of inpatient responders (44%) were unsure of the specific allied health professional involved. Audit results found moderate–high concordance overall (range, 77–96%) between self-reported and audit-identified allied health services by profession. Most inpatient responders had no strong day of week preference, equally selecting weekdays and weekend days, with most preferring services between 8 am and 4 pm. Outpatient responders (81%) preferred a weekday appointment between 8 am and 12 pm or before 8 am (29%) to complete scheduled activities early in the day. Conclusion: While provision of allied health services during standard working-hours was preferred by most consumers, some inpatient and outpatient consumers are receptive to receiving weekend and out-of-hours services, respectively. Decisions about offering these services should consider operational capacity and research evidence. What is known about the topic? Research on consumer acceptance of out-of-hours or weekend allied health services is lacking, with an assumption of consumer willingness and demand for these service models. What does this paper add? Hospital inpatients are generally indifferent to the day of allied health services, preferring weekday or weekend day equally, typically between 8 am and 4 pm, while outpatients favour weekday mornings. Although consumers reported that their needs were met by allied health services, there was a lack of awareness about the specific services they received. What are the implications for practitioners? Results highlight the importance of not only aligning service delivery with consumer preferences for timing, but also enhancing awareness and understanding of the available allied health services for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintaining sexual health and function is important to many older adults. Although older patients are regular users of primary care, opportunities to address sexual health concerns are missed. Building on interview studies, this research aimed to collect a larger number of older adults' perspectives to deepen understanding of sexual healthcare needs and formulate recommendations for the Australian primary care context. Methods: As part of the SHAPE2 Survey of older adults' sexual health information-seeking behaviours, participants (aged ≥60 years and living in Australia) were asked what sexual health issues were most important to them, and the barriers they experienced in managing their sexual health. Data were collected in 2021 in the form of free-text comments. The sub-set of comments that related to healthcare experiences were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Out of 1470 survey participants, 864 responded to the relevant questions, and of these 107 wrote about healthcare experiences. Some comments described positive experiences seeking sexual health care; however, the majority outlined barriers to accessing support. Barriers were categorised into seven categories: patient embarrassment, barriers to rapport, uncertainty about finding solutions, ageism, barriers unique to minorities, needing general practitioners to initiate conversations and structural barriers. Conclusions: Older patients want general practitioners to initiate sexual health conversations as part of routine care, and, crucially, sexual issues raised by the patient should be legitimised and treated with due attention. Although challenges, such as time, embarrassment and pressing health concerns, may hamper sexual health discussions, it is important that this area of holistic care is given more attention. Sexual health is an aspect of holistic care that is often missed for older patients. Using 107 free-text comments from survey participants aged ≥60 years, we investigate the barriers in accessing sexual health care in the Australian primary care setting. The findings highlight the need for practitioners to initiate sexual health conversations with their older patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acoustic neuromas (ANs) are consistently associated with decreased quality of life (QOL) related to the physical and psychosocial impacts of symptoms experienced from the tumour and its treatment. This study explored patient-reported experiences of ANs in New Zealand, with a focus on the impact on QOL and the provision of information, support and services. Methods: A mixed methods approach was taken, conducting an online community survey that included the Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life Scale (N = 52). Those who indicated interest were offered semi-structured interviews after the survey (N = 17), which were analysed using content analysis. Results: A negative impact on QOL was found, highlighting five key themes in the experiences of people: (1) ongoing physical, social and psychological impacts; (2) information and support from the medical system; (3) autonomy and decision-making; (4) the importance of peer support; and (5) remaining positive – life goes on. Conclusions: Our findings indicate areas for improvement that may benefit people's healthcare experience and QOL. Both quantitative and qualitative results identified gaps associated with person-centred care and the need for information, education, emotional support and access to services. Recommendations include a need for more information (verbal and written) during all stages of diagnosis and treatment, shared decision-making and increased access to allied health, including psychological services and support groups. This study explored the experiences of people with an acoustic neuroma in New Zealand. We asked about changes to quality of life and the provision of information, support and services. We concluded that there are negative impacts of acoustic neuroma for New Zealanders and gaps in person‐centred care, such as provision of information, education, and access to formal and informal support. There is a need for practical information, education and support during diagnosis, treatment and post‐treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aimed to investigate allied health professionals' (AHPs') perspectives preand post-implementation of an electronic medical record (EMR) in a tertiary health service in Australia and examine factors influencing user acceptance. Methods. Data were collected preand post-EMR implementation via cross-sectional online surveys based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology (UTAUT). All AHPs at a large tertiary hospital were invited to complete the surveys. Data analysis included descriptive analysis, Mann--Whitney U tests for pre-post item- and construct-level comparison and content analysis of free-text responses. The theoretical model was empirically tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Results. AHPs had positive attitudes toward EMR use both pre- and post-implementation. Compared to pre-implementation, AHPs felt more positive post-implementation about system ease of use and demonstrated decreased anxiety and apprehension regarding EMR use. AHPs felt they had adequate resources and knowledge to use EMR and reported real-time data accessibility as a main advantage. Disadvantages of EMR included an unfriendly user interface, system outages and decreased efficiency. Conclusions. As AHPs increase EMR system familiarity, their positivity towards its use increases. An understanding of what influences AHPs when implementing new compulsory technology can inform change management strategies to improve adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. There is limited evidence about how legal frameworks that underpin end-of-life decisions are applied in practice. This study aimed to identify how end-of-life decisions are made and documented in emergency departments and intensive care units. The secondary aim was to explore the extent to which the legal processes featured in these decisions. Methods. A retrospective chart audit of 85 adult patients who died in the emergency departments and intensive care units of a Queensland health service was undertaken. Quantitative data were analysed and reported using descriptive statistics. Qualitative textual data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Results. Nearly all admissions were unplanned (97.6%), and most patients (74.1%) were admitted from home. Only one patient had an advance health directive, although all had an eligible substitute decision-maker. The qualitative analysis revealed two main concepts -- 'healthcare professionals choreograph the end of life' and 'patients and families are carried on an unplanned journey'. Conclusions. There was limited documentation related to the application of the legal framework in these decisions. Healthcare professionals relied on their clinical judgment about what was in the best interest of the patient. It was common for there to be a substantial effort to achieve consensus in decision-making which coincidentally complied with the law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]