Search

Identification of risk factors for race day injury can improve greyhound welfare. Race day fractures are the most significant injury event and have the greatest negative impact on dog welfare and the industry's social license to operate. This study aimed to describe the incidence and risk factors for race‐related fractures in greyhounds racing in Western Australia. Electronic extracts describing race level data and race day injuries were provided by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA). The incidence rate (IR) of fractures for all greyhound race starts in Western Australia from 1 January 2017–31/12/2023 was calculated per 1000 starts. Univariable and multivariable models using Poisson regression were used to calculate the IR ratio of fracture type based on race and greyhound‐level factors. There were 198,008 racing starts and 662 (n = 643, 97.1% involving the limbs) fractures resulting in an IR of 3.3 fractures per 1000 starts (95%CI 3.1–3.6). Greyhounds that had an injury in their previous race were 2.3 times (95%CI1.4–4.3) more likely to have a forelimb fracture than greyhounds that did not have an injury (P = 0.013). The risk of tarsal bone fracture was greater in greyhounds older than 30 months and greyhounds that had not raced in the previous 15 days. Risk factors for fractures in the forelimb were associated with trauma after interference or dog collisions, whereas tarsal fractures were associated with strain and cyclic loading from race training/racing. Changes to racing structure, rules and policies based on these risk factors may help to reduce fracture incidence in racing greyhounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on a paediatric oncology research nursing team, who highlighted potential gaps in their service provision because of the fact that both team members were part time. It discusses the processes undertaken once issues that were essential to maintain the smooth running of the service were highlighted. In today's climate of clinical governance, which facilitates the improvement and maintenance of high standards of patient care, nurses are required to demonstrate evidence of providing a high-quality service. By producing new documentation, and consequently two standards, the oncology research team provided evidence of its endeavour to not only deliver a high level of care to children and families partaking in research studies, but also show written evidence of so doing. This evidence could be audited as a way of measuring service provision, to allow the team to make further developments and changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on a paediatric oncology research nursing team, who highlighted potential gaps in their service provision because of the fact that both team members were part time. It discusses the processes undertaken once issues that were essential to maintain the smooth running of the service were highlighted. In today's climate of clinical governance, which facilitates the improvement and maintenance of high standards of patient care, nurses are required to demonstrate evidence of providing a high-quality service. By producing new documentation and consequently two standards, the oncology research team provided evidence of its endeavour to not only deliver a high level of care to children and families partaking in research studies, but also show written evidence of so doing. This evidence could be audited as a way of measuring service provision, to allow the team to make further developments and changes.