Search

Improving student experiences in higher education is of ongoing interest to colleges and universities across the globe. Non-university higher education institutions (NUHEIs) have outperformed universities in Australian national surveys on student experience. The present study examines qualitative responses of the Student Experience Survey within the context of Alphacrucis College (AC), a faith-based, private NUHEI to provide a contextualised understanding of NUHEIs as well as to explore reasons why NUHEIs outperform universities in most student experience categories. Content analysis revealed several themes in areas of 'best experience' and 'needs improvement.' Results were examined across AQF levels and three study modes, namely online, blended, and on-campus. Findings are discussed in terms of the NUHEI student experience, lecturer training, lecturer performance indicators, and institutional infrastructure.

Higher education's rapid expansion is paired with growing social expectations of its benefits and concern on its teaching quality. In response to these, institutional/national surveys based on an array of theories are widely used in universities for quality assurance, enhancement, and benchmarking. This paper reviews three major types of instruments used for such purposes, including two distinct schools of theory that have guided the development of such assessment in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom and then spread to the other parts of the world. The theories shaping the development of the two instruments, the dimensions assessed, and the challenges and criticisms involved when using such instruments for quality assurance are each discussed. This review concludes with a call for comparisons of different lines of research in this area, discussions on student learning experience that include more diverse characterizations of student experience across different educational contexts, development of tools to enable distributed leadership among teachers, and encouragement of students as partners for quality enhancement in higher education.

University employees experience high levels of workplace stress, with the perception that it is increasing, due to less autonomy, increased student numbers, excessive administrative work and role ambiguity. This study is part of a larger evaluation of the effectiveness of a Mindfulness, Self-Care and Resiliency (MSCR) program to improve the well-being of university employees in a regional university in Australia. In this study we report the results of interviews with 19 university employees who completed the program in 2019. The aim was to determine the acceptability, feasibility, and sustainability of the program in a university setting. MSCR teaches resiliency skills to improve overall stress management, well-being, and self-care behaviour. The program was delivered to both academic and support (professional) staff. Of the 19 employees interviewed, 13 were academic and 6 were professional staff. As it was evident that there was no difference in emerging themes between the two groups, the data were pooled for thematic analysis. Two overarching themes were found: impact of the program on the individual self (pre-existing mindset and learning and the impact of the program on individual well-being and self-care) and the way the individual interacted with others in their environment (inside the work environment -- physical space, interaction with others [staff and students]), attending follow-ups at work and outside the work environment (interaction with immediate family, social support). It is apparent that the program was acceptable, feasible and sustainable, with employees reporting changes from the program at the one-month interview point. Results highlight the importance of skills to build inner-calm to manage the complex work environment as well as providing permission to staff to implement self-care activities in the workplace, regardless of their employment status.

Objective: To assess Chinese‐Australian carers' needs and preferences through co‐design strategies with stakeholders to embed an evidence‐based iSupport for Dementia program into routine community aged care services in Chinese ethno‐specific aged care organisations. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was conducted from July to August 2022 in three Chinese ethno‐specific aged care organisations in Australia. We applied a univariate analysis to test variables associated with carers' needs and preferences when embedding the iSupport for Dementia program into routine practice among community aged care services. Results: A total of 101 carers completed the survey. Most carers in our study preferred the iSupport program to be provided in their first language, have a program facilitator to lead the program and would like to interact with peers in the program. Most carers indicated that they are willing to pay for the iSupport program using the budget allocated to their home care package. Younger carers (younger than 65 years), and adult children's carers are more likely to use the web‐based iSupport manual and invite their family members to the program compared to those older than 65 years. Other demographic characteristics had no significant association with their needs and preferences. Conclusions: Chinese‐Australian carers' perceived needs and preferences in this study will inform the implementation of a culturally tailored iSupport program to be embedded in community aged care services provided by Chinese ethno‐specific aged care organisations. Findings will also inform culturally and linguistically congruent iSupport programs for carers from other culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing intercultural communication competence (ICC) is a pursuit that has captured the interest of researchers in several disciplines for a number of decades. The urgency and interest to produce graduates who are ready for the global marketplace has never been more prevalent amongst educators as it is today. This article outlines strategies for developing ICC based on prior research, and articulates a new framework for global graduates based on four understandings: understanding of self, understanding of others, understanding of self's responsibility to others, and understanding of others' contributions to self. Curriculum development and institutional investment considerations are discussed in relation to the proposed framework.

Alienation and moral disengagement have been described in the literature as some of the key factors for making some people more vulnerable to violent extremism. In this paper, I explore how mindfulness training, especially when paired with art therapy strategies, has great potential for supporting targeted educational measures for building resilience to violent extremism in individuals and communities.

Background: Day‐only emergency surgery for abscess drainage is poorly implemented in Australia. This study assessed the feasibility, outcomes, cost, and impact of an acute day‐only surgery (ADOS) program. Method: A retrospective pre‐post implementation study of patients requiring abscess drainage in theatre was performed. Following implementation of an ADOS program for abscess management, eligible patients were discharged from the emergency department and prioritized first on the following day's emergency list. Outcomes from the first 12 months of the ADOS era were compared with those of the preceding 6 months (pre‐ADOS). Primary outcome was length of hospital stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included 30‐day complications, admission costs, and impact on overall emergency theatre workflow (measured by emergency appendicectomy metrics). Results: Overall, 266 patients during the ADOS era (including 95 eligible for the ADOS pathway) were compared with 115 patients during the pre‐ADOS era. Baseline characteristics were comparable. Median LOS was shorter during the ADOS era (21.9 h (IQR 11.8–43.3) vs. 30.1 h (IQR 24.7–48.8), P < 0.001). Median LOS was 10.2 h (IQR 8.9–13.1) for patients on the ADOS pathway. There were no significant differences in 30‐day complications (9.3% vs. 9.5%), emergency department re‐presentations (7.4% vs. 5.1%), or abscess recurrence (5.6% vs. 5.7%). Average cost per patient was lower during the ADOS era ($4155 vs. $4916, p = 0.005). ADOS did not appear to materially impact other emergency procedures. Conclusion: ADOS for abscess drainage is feasible, safe, and produces cost savings, while being implemented without significant additional resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about odonate ecology and phenology in warm mediterranean climates where most wetlands are intermittent. We identified variables associated with the presence, relative abundance, assemblage composition and body size of odonates in spring and summer, to understand the influence of intermittency and season. We hypothesized that size at eclosion would be smaller in seasonal wetlands in summer due to time stress caused by drying. Nymphs, exuviae and adults were sampled in spring and summer from 22 intermittent and perennial suburban wetlands in south‐western Australia. Spatial and environmental variables within and between wetlands were measured and associated with adult and nymph distributions. Exuviae were collected to quantify size at eclosion. As in temperate perennial wetlands, wetland‐scale variables (submerged, emergent and terrestrial vegetation, water temperature) were most strongly associated with assemblage composition of adults and nymphs, but landscape‐scale variables (distance to nearest patch of native vegetation, distance to nearest large lake) were also associated with adult assemblages. Two abundant dragonfly (Orthetrum caledonicum Libellulidae, Hemicordulia tau Hemicorduliidae) and one damselfly (Xanthagrion erythroneurum Coenagrionidae) species emerged at smaller body sizes in summer than spring, but from both intermittent and perennial wetlands. Consequently, declining photoperiod and warmer summer temperatures, rather than wetland drying, probably caused reduced size at eclosion. Although the influence of vegetation, temperature and photoperiod on odonate assemblages appears similar in temperate and mediterranean climates, odonate phenology differs markedly. Fitness cost of emerging at a smaller adult size may be outweighed by the increased likelihood of successfully reaching emergence in drying waterbodies in summer. More field data on size at eclosion in warm climate regions, and laboratory experiments manipulating temperature and photoperiod, are needed to confirm the generality of patterns shown here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perinatal depression (PND) screening is often recommended in primary care settings, which includes the community pharmacy setting. However, there is limited research exploring pharmacists' perspectives on their roles in screening for perinatal mental illness. Aim: This study aimed to explore pharmacists' views of pharmacists' roles in PND screening, as well as training and resource needs for PND screening in community pharmacy settings. Method: A questionnaire including three open-ended questions focusing on pharmacists' perspectives of their role in PND screening, their training, and resource needs in this area, was disseminated to pharmacists across Australia via professional organisations and social media. Each open-ended question was separately analysed by inductive content analysis. Subcategories were deductively mapped to the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Results: Responses (N = 149) from the first open-ended question about pharmacists' roles in PND screening resulted in three categories (PND screening in primary care settings will support the community, community pharmacy environment, and system and policy changes) and ten subcategories. Responses to question two on training needs (n = 148) were categorised as: training content, training length, and training delivery while responses about resource needs (n = 147) fell into three categories: adapting community pharmacy operating structures, pharmacist-specific resources, and consumer-specific resources. Conclusion: While some pharmacists were accepting of a role in PND screening due to pharmacists' accessibility and positive relationships with consumers, others had concerns regarding whether PND screening was within pharmacists' scope of practice. Further training and resources are needed to facilitate pharmacists' roles in PND screening, referral and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore stakeholders' perceptions of a facilitator's role in supporting carers when embedding iSupport for Dementia psychoeducation program, in care services. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study design was applied. Data were collected from workshops and interviews with carers of people living with dementia (PLWD)and with health and social care professionals from two tertiary hospitals and two community aged care organisations across three Australian states between October 2021 and March 2022. A thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The COREQ guideline was followed to report our findings. Results: A total of 30 family carers and 45 health and social care professionals participated in the study. Three main themes and seven subthemes were identified from the data. We described the main themes as (1) the facilitator's role at the time of dementia diagnosis, (2) the facilitator's role throughout the everyday dementia care journey and (3) the facilitator's role during transition moments. Conclusions: Caring for family members with dementia is demanding and stressful for carers. Embedding a facilitator‐enabled iSupport for Dementia program in hospital and community aged care settings has the potential to mitigate sources of stress associated with care recipient factors, carer factors and care service factors, and improve the health and well‐being of carers and those for whom they care. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Our findings will inform the establishment of iSupport facilitators appointed by dementia care providers in hospital and community care settings and help determine their roles and responsibilities in delivering the iSupport program. Our findings relate to nurse‐led and coordinated dementia care in hospital and community aged care settings. Patient or Public Contribution: This study was co‐designed with stakeholders from two aged care organisations and two tertiary hospitals. The study participants were staff employed by these organisations and carers of PLWD who were service users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The "Signposts for Building Better Behaviour" program, developed by the Parenting Research Centre, Victoria, Australia, was conducted at a public hospital facility in Singapore. Method: More than 1,000 parents completed the program, and filled in questionnaires about their child's behaviours. Results: Parents rated themselves in the questionnaires as being significantly less hassled, stressed, depressed, and anxious after attending the program. They were more confident and satisfied with managing their child, and rated their children's behaviours as having improved. Effect sizes ranged from 0.12 to 0.59. The findings were maintained 3 months after completion of the program. Conclusions: The study provides evidence of the cross-cultural applicability of the principles underlying the Signposts program. As there are long-term repercussions when children's behaviour problems are not dealt with appropriately, such behaviour management programs should be made more available to parents and caregivers.

The wonderful plants and animals of the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia, are at risk of extinction. They and the rainforests of the world must be protected by taking action on climate change.

Global suicide rates are highest among older adults, and especially older men, yet proximal predictors of suicidal ideation in older age remain poorly understood. This study tested the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide in older men and women by investigating whether perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness and/or their interaction are proximal predictors of suicidal ideation before versus during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The sample (N = 208) included healthy community-dwelling older Australian persons surveyed face-to-face pre-pandemic (n = 102), or online peri-pandemic (n = 106). Depression, social interaction, social satisfaction, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness were assessed as predictors of suicidal ideation. Perceived burdensomeness was a more proximal predictor of suicidal ideation among older adults than depression or thwarted belongingness. Suicidal ideation and perceived burdensomeness were higher in men than women, but sex did not moderate the influence of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness or social satisfaction on suicidal desire. The interaction between perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness predicted more additional variance in suicidal ideation in the older persons surveyed during the COVID-19 pandemic relative to those surveyed before the pandemic. Suicidal ideation among older persons peri-pandemic is discussed, and recommendations are made for age-specific suicide prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to generate a baseline database of print media reporting on alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues prior to the release of the Mindframe guidelines in March 2019. Specifically, to: (i) describe the content associated with media entries that focus on AOD use in Australian news media; (ii) determine how the media entries compare to several domains associated with recently developed Mindframe guidelines for publicly reporting on AOD; and (iii) identify content factors associated with different scores. Methods: Media entries between July 2016 and June 2017 were searched for key AOD‐related terms using the Australian and New Zealand Newsstream database. Two coding schemes were developed to rate a stratified sample of 50% of the media entries against the Mindframe guidelines. Associations between content and total comparison scores were determined using linear regression models. Results: Detailed coding of the 2007 articles identified as relevant for the current study indicated that a majority (67%) were focused on one of three substances: alcohol, cannabis or methamphetamine. Most of the entries were either law enforcement (22%) or criminal justice related (19%). Entries that focused on methamphetamine scored significantly lower than entries on alcohol when compared to the Mindframe guidelines, similarly entries focused on crime/justice‐related topics scored significantly lower than entries focused on positive outcomes. Discussion and Conclusions: A disproportionate number of print media entries, particularly those related methamphetamine use, focused on crime or justice‐related topics, potentially further contributing to stigma, and emphasising the legal consequences of AOD use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article presents a large-scale example of culturally responsive assessment and analysis of multilingual Vietnamese-English–speaking children and their family members using the VietSpeech Protocol involving (a) examining all spoken languages, (b) comparing ambient phonology produced by family members, (c) including dialectal variants in the definition of accuracy, and (d) clustering participants with similar language experience. Method: The VietSpeech participants (N = 154) comprised 69 children (2;0–8;10 [years;months]) and 85 adult family members with Vietnamese heritage living in Australia. Speech was sampled using the Vietnamese Speech Assessment (Vietnamese) and the Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology (English). Results: Children’s Vietnamese consonant accuracy was significantly higher when dialectal variants were accepted (percentage of consonants correct– dialect [PCC-D]: M = 87.76, SD = 8.18), compared to when only Standard Vietnamese was accepted as the correct production (percentage of consonants correct– standard [PCC-S]: M = 70.34, SD = 8.78), Cohen’s d = 3.55 (large effect). Vietnamese voiced plosives, nasals, semivowels, vowels, and tones were more often correct than voiceless plosives and fricatives. Children’s Standard Australian English consonant accuracy (PCC-S) was 82.51 (SD = 15.57). English plosives, nasals, glides, and vowels were more often correct than fricatives and affricates. Vietnamese word-initial consonants had lower accuracy than word-final consonants, whereas English consonant accuracy was rarely influenced by word position. Consonant accuracy and intelligibility were highest for children with high proficiency in both Vietnamese and English. Children’s consonant productions were most similar to their mothers’ than other adults or siblings’ productions. Adults’ Vietnamese consonants, vowels, and tones were more likely to match Vietnamese targets than their children’s productions. Conclusions: Children’s speech acquisition was influenced by cross-linguistic, dialectal, maturational, language experience, and environmental (ambient phonology) factors. Adults’ pronunciation was influenced by dialectal and crosslinguistic factors. This study highlights the importance of including all spoken languages, adult family members, dialectal variants, and language proficiency to inform differential diagnosis of speech sound disorders and identify clinical markers in multilingual populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fires in buildings are significant public safety hazards and can result in fatalities and substantial financial losses. Studies have shown that the socioeconomic makeup of a region can impact the occurrence of building fires. However, existing models based on the classical stepwise regression procedure have limitations. This paper proposes a more accurate predictive model of building fire rates using a set of socioeconomic variables. To improve the model's forecasting ability, a backward elimination by robust final predictor error (RFPE) criterion is introduced. The proposed approach is applied to census and fire incident data from the South East Queensland region of Australia. A cross-validation procedure is used to assess the model's accuracy, and comparative analyses are conducted using other elimination criteria such as p-value, Akaike's information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), and predicted residual error sum of squares (PRESS). The results demonstrate that the RFPE criterion is a more accurate predictive model based on several goodness-of-fit measures. Overall, the RFPE equation was found to be a suitable criterion for the backward elimination procedure in the socioeconomic modeling of building fires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim is to report the results of Australia's first uterus transplantation (UTx). Methods: Following long‐standing collaboration between the Swedish and Australian teams, Human Research Ethics approval was obtained to perform six UTx procedures in a collaborative multi‐site research study (Western Sydney Local District Health 2019/ETH13038), including Royal Hospital for Women, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Westmead Hospital in New Souh Wales. Surgeries were approved in both the live donor (LD) and deceased donor models in collaboration with the inaugural Swedish UTx team. Results: This is the first UTx procedure to occur in Australia, involving a mother donating her uterus to her daughter. The total operative time for the donor was 9 h 54 min. Concurrently, recipient surgery was synchronised to minimise graft ischaemic time, and the total operative time for the recipient was 6 h 12 min. Surgery was by laparotomy in the LD and recipient. The total warm ischaemic time of the graft was 1 h 53 min, and the cold ischaemic time was 2 h 17 min (total ischaemic time 4 h 10 min). The patient's first menstruation occurred 33 days after the UTx procedure. Conclusion: Twenty‐five years of Swedish and Australian collaboration has led to Australia's first successfully performed UTx surgery at The Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing concern over the "obesity epidemic" in children, schools have become the front line of defence in the "war against obesity". However there is a growing body of evidence of unintended harm associated with school-based health education programs framed as "obesity prevention", including body dissatisfaction, eating and physical activity disorders and size-based bullying, harassment, violence and discrimination. An alternative paradigm known as Health at Every Size (HAES) aims to avoid such unintended negative consequences and to promote holistic health and well being. A HAES focused curriculum unit was designed and implemented at a school in Queensland, Australia. The impact of the project on students and teachers was evaluated. This paper reports on the results of classroom observations and individual semi-structured interviews, which were used to collect qualitative data about the impact on teachers. There was a substantial and positive impact on teachers' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and teaching skills. The HAES paradigm enabled teachers to design and implement a curriculum unit consistent with the holistic, ecological (social) model of health and syllabus requirements, and have a positive impact on student learning and teaching practice. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)

Literature reveals difficulties in preparing nurses to care for older people. This article reports a study that aimed to facilitate positive changes in gerontological education in an undergraduate nursing program by identifying barriers and effective actions. A critical research approach was applied to the study. Data were mainly collected through focus groups. A total of five barriers were identified in gerontological education in an undergraduate nursing program. Actions which may address these barriers were explored. Critical reflection on educational practice based on partnerships between education and service sectors has the potential of leading an educational reform in gerontological nursing. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.)

Background: Domestic violence is a significant public health issue with survivors experiencing short- and long-term physical, sexual and psychological health issues. Given this, survivors of domestic violence use healthcare services at an increased rate compared to the general population. Therefore, general practitioners (GPs) are well placed to support survivors of domestic violence. However, many practitioners do not feel ready to address this complex issue of domestic violence. Further, there is no research exploring GPs' role in supporting families through family court in the context of domestic violence. Methods: This study used qualitative methods. Fifteen GPs participated in individual in-depth interviews. The interviews were audio recorded with consent, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Results: The majority of participants were female GPs working in metropolitan settings. Four themes were generated from the data: on different planets, witnessing legal systems abuse, weaponizing mental health in family court and swinging allegiances. Participants had negative perceptions of family court and felt that it operated on a different paradigm to that of general practice which caused difficulties when supporting patients. Participants supported survivors through instances where the court was used by perpetrators to further their abusive behaviour or where the court acted abusively against survivors. In particular, perpetrators and the family court used survivors' mental health against them in court proceedings, which resulted in survivors being reluctant to receive treatment for their mental health. Participants struggled with their allegiances within their patient family and usually opted to support either the mother, the father, or the children. Conclusions: Implications of these findings for GP training are evident, including curriculum that discusses the intersection of mental health diagnoses and legal proceedings. There may also be a place for health justice partnerships within general practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to understand older Chinese migrants' perceptions of social cohesion and access to health to manage chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. This study employed a qualitative descriptive study design. Participants were recruited from a Chinese community organisation in an Australian state. Data were collected via online interviews with participants using Zoom and WeChat Apps. A semistructured interview guide informed by the social determinants of health framework was used in the interview. The data collection period was between August and October, 2020. Thematic analysis was used in data analysis. In total, 24 participants including 17 older Chinese migrants with noncommunicable chronic diseases and seven family carers participated in the study. Of the 17 older Chinese migrants, 10 were male and seven were female. Their mean age was 76 years (ranging from 65 to 86) and they spoke little English. All seven carers were females with a mean age of 61 years (ranging from 35 to 76). Three main themes were identified in the study and described as: increased loneliness, anxiety, and depression; increased difficulties in accessing healthcare services; and various experiences in telehealth. In conclusion, older Chinese-Australians who spoke little English and lived with chronic diseases experienced the loss of their only social capital during the COVID-19 pandemic. They faced language barriers for accessing and utilising primary care to manage their chronic diseases when these care services were changed into telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings provide a clear direction for stakeholders to take actions to address the lack of social cohesion and health inequalities for the most vulnerable populations in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The planning of a community-based accident prevention program in a rural Queensland (Australia) community is described. The process involved the establishment of a local steering committee, data collection, presentation of findings, determination of priorities, review of the evidence, description of target group, exploration of problem and analysis of contributing factors, and assessment of community resources. (Contains 24 references.) (TD)

The COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to scarce clinical resource allocation via secondary population-based triage (S-PBT) throughout the international healthcare community. Experiences overseas highlighted the importance of coordinated and consistent approaches to allocating resources when facing overwhelming demand, particularly for critical care. Noting the importance of consistency and the system of devolved governance deployed in Australia, this study aimed to identify and analyse sources of high-level policy that affect Australia's health system preparedness for the operationalisation of S-PBT. Of the 39 documents reviewed, 17 contained potential references to S-PBT. There was a lack of clear recommendations and guidance to inform S-PBT operationalisation and, where provided, advice conflicted between documents. Many jurisdictions did not detail how S-PBT would be operationalised and failed to delineate stakeholder responsibilities. These results are important as they reveal a lack of high-level jurisdictional policy preparedness for coordinated and consistent S-PBT operationalisation. These results offer insights and opportunities for enhanced disaster preparedness as clinicians, policymakers and academics critically reflect on pandemic responses. The results show a need for enhanced preparedness around the management of overwhelming demand and clinical resource management in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Health consumers (patients, their family, friends and carers) are frequently using their smartphones to record hospital clinical encounters. However, there is limited research which has explored the social interaction surrounding this behaviour. Understanding the consumer perspective is key to informing policy and practice. This study explored consumer attitudes and experiences regarding patient‐led recordings. Methods: Semistructured interviews were undertaken with 20 hospital consumers. Participants were recruited via advertising, posters and invitation letters. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Four main themes were identified relating to participant perspectives of patient‐led recordings: (1) consumers viewed clinician consent as important, although they reported different experiences of the consent process, (2) consumers indicated that a clinician refusing the recording had the potential to undermine the consumer–clinician relationship, (3) consumers were both uninformed and misinformed regarding relevant policy and legislation and (4) consumers expressed a number of expectations regarding their rights to record and of the health service in supporting this practice. Conclusion: Consumers want to record their clinical encounters with the consent of their clinician but are unprepared to navigate consent discussions. Health services and clinicians should inform consumers who want to record about their rights and responsibilities, to support the consent process and safe recording environments. Clinician refusal to consent to a patient‐led recording may not lead to increased covert recording; however, clear communication about the reasons for refusing a recording is needed to protect the consumer–clinician relationship. Patient or Public Contribution: A health consumer was part of the research team and was involved in all stages of this study, including the design, data analysis and reviewing of the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multicomponent interventions with carers of people with dementia demonstrate positive effects on the health and quality of life for carers and care recipients. The World Health Organization's iSupport for Dementia is an evidence-based online psychoeducation programme for carers. However, the programme was mainly implemented as a self-learning tool which might have limited its positive effects on carers and care recipients. Evidence for online multicomponent interventions with carers that incorporates the iSupport programme remains unknown. This study aimed to partner with health and social care organisations to evaluate the effects of a facilitator-enabled online multicomponent Chinese iSupport programme, which included psychoeducation using the iSupport programme, facilitator-enabled carer support groups and access to care services. A multicentre randomised controlled trial. Participants were family carers in Australia and greater China. We recruited participants to the study from 1st November 2021 to 30th June 2022. The intervention group received the Chinese iSupport programme delivered online. The intervention lasted for 6 months. Our primary outcome was carers' quality of life. Our secondary outcomes were carers' self-efficacy, social support, distress reactions to changed behaviours, care recipients' frequency of changed behaviours, quality of life, unplanned hospital admissions, emergency department presentations and permanent admissions to nursing homes. The outcomes were measured at baseline (T0), 6 months (T1) and 9 months (T2). We applied a multivariate mixed effect linear regression model to capture the group effect, time effect and their interaction. In total, 266 eligible family carers agreed to participate and were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 131) or a usual care group (n = 135). Most carers were women with a mean age of 53 years. The intervention group showed a statistically significant higher score of mental-health-related quality of life (mean difference = 4.1, 95 % CI: 1.5, 6.8, p = 0.002), self-efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts (mean difference = 7.1, 95 % CI: 2.2, 12.0, p = 0.005) and lower score of distress reactions to changed behaviours (mean difference = − 0.1, 95 % CI: − 0.3, − 0.03, p = 0.012) than the usual care group at T1. The facilitator-enabled online multicomponent Chinese iSupport programme demonstrated positive effects for carers on mental health-related quality of life, controlling upsetting thoughts and distress reactions to changed behaviours of people with dementia. This study is registered in the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry on 12th March 2021 (ACTRN12621000276853). The facilitator-enabled online multicomponent Chinese iSupport programme improved family carers' mental health-related quality of life, control of upsetting thoughts and distress reactions to changed behaviours of people with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide is among the leading causes of death among people aged 15 to 29 worldwide. Healthcare professionals interact with people at risk of suicide regularly, yet mental health and crisis first aid training is lacking in curricula. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training teaches crucial communication and crisis first aid skills and is increasingly recognised as integral to healthcare education. This study aimed to explore the extent of, as well as barriers and enablers to MHFA training delivery and assessment in Australian medical, nursing and pharmacy curricula. Methods: All accredited Australian medical, nursing and pharmacy program providers were identified through Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and National Boards websites and invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. A purpose-designed interview guide explored if and how MHFA training was delivered and assessed in curricula, as well as perceptions of and barriers and enablers to MHFA training. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim, allowing for deductive content analysis to compare MHFA training provision across programs. Results: Of 75 invited program providers, 36 (48%; 13 medical, 13 nursing and 10 pharmacy) participated, of which 15 representatives (42%; six medical, two nursing and six pharmacy) reported providing MHFA training to students. Differences in mandating training, year level of students completing training, type of training delivered and source of MHFA instructors were identified. Barriers to MHFA implementation included perceived adequacy of existing curricula, lack of funding and time, while facilitators included perceived benefit and availability of funding. Conclusion: MHFA training is provided to more than one third of medical, nursing and pharmacy students in Australia. Increased funding may facilitate the integration of MHFA as a minimum standard of mental health training for future healthcare professionals. Further research exploring the effectiveness of MHFA in improving behaviours and its impact on patient outcomes is warranted. Trial registration: This study was approved by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee [Project number: 2020/087]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Home-based dementia care is common in the Chinese-Australian community. However, dementia education programs for Chinese-Australians in the language of their choice are scarce. The World Health Organization has developed iSupport for Dementia, an online education program for informal caregivers. Cultural adaptation of the program for Chinese-Australian caregivers is an opportunity to address this gap in caregiver support. Aim: The aims of the study were (1) to understand stakeholders' perspectives on the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the Chinese iSupport for Dementia content and design and (2) to explore factors affecting the future implementation of the Chinese iSupport program in Australia. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was applied to address the aims of the study. Focus group discussions with Chinese-Australian caregivers and community aged care workers were conducted to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Results: In total, six focus groups were conducted with 18 Chinese-Australian caregivers and 17 care workers. Six themes were identified and described as follows: (1) appropriateness of the Chinese iSupport content; (2) acceptability of the online Chinese iSupport design; (3) motivations to engage in the iSupport program; (4) desire to interact with peers and professional facilitators; (5) concerns about program accessibility; and (6) the need to extend the iSupport program to care workers. Conclusions: Engagement with Chinese-Australian caregivers and care workers will inform further revisions of the Chinese iSupport program contents to ensure the program is culturally congruent to Chinese-Australian caregivers. Factors affecting the implementation of the program identified in the study will be considered in the intervention phase of the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian wild deer populations have significantly expanded in size and distribution in recent decades. Due to their role in pathogen transmission, these deer populations pose a biosecurity risk to the livestock industry. However, little is known about the infection status of wild deer in Australia. The intestinal parasite Entamoeba bovis has been previously detected in farm and wild ruminants worldwide, but its epidemiology and distribution in wild ruminants remain largely unexplored. To investigate this knowledge gap, faecal samples of wild deer and domestic cattle from south-eastern Australia were collected and analysed for the presence of Entamoeba spp. using PCR and phylogenetic analysis of the conserved 18S rRNA gene. E. bovis parasites were detected at high prevalence in cattle and wild deer hosts, and two distinct Entamoeba ribosomal lineages (RLs), RL1 and RL8, were identified in wild deer. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed the existance of a novel Entamoeba species in sambar deer and a novel Entamoeba RL in fallow deer. While we anticipated cross-species transmission of E. bovis between wild deer and cattle, the data generated in this study demonstrated transmission is yet to occur in Australia. Overall, this study has identified novel variants of Entamoeba and constitutes the first report of Entamoeba in fallow deer and sambar deer, expanding the host range of this parasite. Epidemiological investigations and continued surveillance of Entamoeba parasites in farm ruminants and wild animals will be required to evaluate pathogen emergence and transmission to livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the ways in which the Coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) pandemic has affected Australians who live and travel in cross‐border regions in the course of their daily lives. Design: Semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with participants by telephone. The analysis utilised qualitative exploratory methods and provided rich data through immersive and reflexive analysis. Setting: Interviews of people across Australia. Participants: Of 90 people interviewed in relation to their experiences of the COVID‐19 pandemic, 13 described challenges related to border crossing that impacted their usual work and personal life. Main outcome Measure: Description of challenges faced by Australians living close to state borders due to internal border closures in the early period of COVID‐19 (2020). Results: Policy changes surrounding border closures negatively impacted people's wellbeing in Australia with three key interconnected themes identified for Australians living in cross‐border regions. First, border closures presented participants of these communities with physical barriers which reduced access to healthcare and employment. Second, participants reported how restrictions on travel to neighboring states and territories impacted their mental wellbeing. Finally, many Australians in cross‐border regions faced financial struggles exacerbated by border closures. Conclusion: Normally, interstate borders are largely invisible with formalities relevant to few circumstances. Since the emergence of the COVID‐19 pandemic, Australians who used to regularly cross these borders in the course of their daily activities were no longer able or willing to do so due to the uncertain circumstances surrounding border policy. This study elaborates on the impact of these closures on people's physical, financial, and emotional state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]