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Introduction: In older people undergoing surgery, there is a lower tolerance for complications. This highlights the need for documented clinical practices on proper prevention, pre‐screening and management of complications such as postoperative delirium (POD). Evidence‐based clinical practice guidelines exist for delirium management; however, the management of delirium in clinical settings differs widely. Objective: This study aims to develop an understanding of the knowledge, components of self‐efficacy (confidence/competence), and clinical practice related to POD care among preoperative and recovery nurses across different types of geographical locations in Australia. Design: A 27‐item online survey was sent out to professional associations focused on perioperative care across Australia. The participants included practicing registered nurses specialising in perioperative care. The main outcome measures were Knowledge, confidence/competence and clinical practice relating to POD care in older patients. Findings: Respondents were categorised into two groups—major cities and rural and remote. Mean age was 46.3 years for respondents in Australian major cities and 49.5 for the comparison group. There was a statistically significant difference between Australian major cities and 'rural and remote' in confidence in detecting hyperactive delirium, 25.2% versus 11.7% respectively as well as managing hyperactive delirium, 13.8% versus 1.7%, respectively. Similar results were also observed on hypoactive delirium. Respondents from both groups did not mirror the ideal situation in managing a hyperactive delirium. Discussion: Results from this study are inconclusive and there is no clear‐cut observation in clinical practice or knowledge between the two geographical categories in this study. Conclusion: The absence of a distinct strategy with POD prevention highlights the need for a uniform approach and consensus on POD prevention and management in older people. This can be achieved by creating more awareness and education through professional development related to POD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Socio‐economic (SE) status is closely linked to health status and the mechanisms of this association are complex. One important adverse effect of SE disadvantage is vulnerability to cancer and cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia. Aims: We aimed to estimate the effect of SE status on mortality rates from ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancer. Materials and Methods: National mortality data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for the calendar years from 2001 to 2018, inclusive. Individual deaths were grouped by the ABS Index of Relative Socio‐economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Population data were obtained to provided denominators allowing calculation of mortality rates (deaths per 100 000 women aged 30–79 years). Statistical analyses performed included tabulating point‐estimates of mortality rates and their changes over time and modelling the trends of rates using maximum likelihood method. Results: Age‐standardised mortality rates for ovarian and cervical cancer fell over the study period but increased for endometrial cancer. There was clear evidence of a SE gradient in the mortality rate for all three cancers. This SE gradient increased over the study period for ovarian and cervical cancer but remained unchanged for endometrial cancer. Conclusions: Women at greater SE disadvantage have higher rates of death from the commonest gynaecological cancers and this gradient has not reduced over the last two decades. After the COVID‐19 pandemic efforts must be redoubled to ensure that Australians already at risk of ill health do not face even greater risks because of their circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New South Wales has recently added the capability of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to the neonatal and paediatric retrieval process and this paper describes the early experiences and protocol development for the first eight cases transported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Improvements in success rates of assisted reproduction led to predictions that infertility surgery in both women and men would become extinct in developed countries. We sought to identify the changes in reproductive surgery that occurred between 2001 and 2015 to determine whether these predictions have been accurate. Design: The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) national procedural dataset and the Australian Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) claims database were searched for procedure data for male and female reproductive surgery and assisted reproduction from January 2001 to December 2015. The denominators were based on annual point estimates of the total population aged 25–44 years (female) and 25–55 years (male) from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This dataset provides procedures undertaken but not their indications. Results: Over the study period the incidence of tubal surgery fell by 66%, vasectomy reversal by 33%, and surgical varicocoelectomy by 50%. In contrast, the rate of hysteroscopic myomectomy increased by 48%, hysteroscopic septoplasty by 125%, and laparoscopy for severe endometriosis increased by 84%. In vitro fertilisation oocyte retrievals increased by 90%. The rate of abdominal myomectomy was unchanged. Conclusion: Fertility surgery is not dead but has evolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers news briefs related to veterinary services in Australia. The veterinarian Deborah Middleton announced the trials of a horse vaccine against the Hendra virus at the Australian Veterinary Acupuncture (AVA) Annual Conference. Sam McMahon of the Aboriginal Community Veterinary Services (ACVS) presented an overview of dog population in remote indigenous communities at the conference. The Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) has been funded in the federal budget in Australia.

The article discusses various developments related to the Australian Veterinary Association (ASA), Australia. As stated, veterinarian Onn Ben-David received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterinary science and animal welfare. The AVA launched its new website in July 2010 which provides online information for veterinarians and its members. The article also presents the views of AVA president Barry Smyth regarding the situation of feral animals in Australia.

The article offers news briefs related to veterinary medicine and vaccination in Australia. Global Biosecurity Conference held in Brisbane in February 2010 to display world achievements in biosecurity research. International Henipavirus Workshop conducted by World Health Organization announces that the transmission risk of Hendra virus (HeV) can be reduced by vaccinating infected horses. Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. is planning to acquire the KraMar Pet Company Pty Ltd.

Background: The use of government health data for secondary purposes, such as monitoring the quality of hospital services, researching the health needs of populations, and testing how well new treatments work, is increasing. This increase in the secondary uses of health data has led to increased interest in what the public thinks about data sharing, in particular, the possibilities of sharing with the private sector for research and development. Although international evidence demonstrates broad public support for the secondary use of health data, this support does not extend to sharing health data with the private sector. If governments intend to share health data with the private sector, knowing what the public thinks will be important. This paper reports a national survey to explore public attitudes in Australia toward sharing health data with private companies for research on and development of therapeutic drugs and medical devices.Objective: This study aims to explore public attitudes in Australia toward sharing government health data with the private sector.Methods: A web-based survey tool was developed to assess attitudes about sharing government health data with the private sector. A market research company was employed to administer the web-based survey in June 2019.Results: The survey was completed by 2537 individuals residing in Australia. Between 51.8% and 57.98% of all participants were willing to share their data, with slightly fewer in favor of sharing to improve health services (51.99%) and a slightly higher proportion in favor of sharing for research and development (57.98%). There was a preference for opt-in consent (53.44%) and broad support for placing conditions on sharing health information with private companies (62% to 91.99%). Wide variability was also observed in participants' views about the extent to which the private sector could be trusted and how well they would behave if entrusted with people's health information. In their qualitative responses, the participants noted concerns about private sector corporate interests, corruption, and profit making and expressed doubt about the Australian government's capacity to manage data sharing safely. The percentages presented are adjusted against the Australian population.Conclusions: This nationally representative survey provides preliminary evidence that Australians are uncertain about sharing their health data with the private sector. Although just over half of all the respondents supported sharing health data with the private sector, there was also strong support for strict conditions on sharing data and for opt-in consent and significant concerns about how well the private sector would manage government health data. Addressing public concern about sharing government health data with the private sector will require more and better engagement to build community understanding about how agencies can collect, share, protect, and use their personal data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]