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1. Guidance on mucositis assessment from the MASCC Mucositis Study Group and ISOO: an international Delphi studyResearch in context

Author

Ragda Abdalla-Aslan, Pierluigi Bonomo, Dorothy Keefe, Nicole Blijlevens, Katrina Cao, Yin Ting Cheung, Eduardo Rodrigues Fregnani, Robert Miller, Judith Raber-Durlacher, Joel Epstein, Ysabella Van Sebille, Elisa Kauark-Fontes, Abhishek Kandwal, Emma McCurdy-Franks, Joel Finkelstein, Victoria McCarvell, Yehuda Zadik, Giulia Ottaviani, Rui Amaral Mendes, Caroline Margina Speksnijder, Hannah Rose Wardill, Paolo Bossi, Alexa Laheij, Arghavan Tonkaboni, Jacqui Scott, Rania Abasaeed, Adel Kauzman, Adriana Do Socorro Lima Flato, Adwaita Gore, Anne-Marie Hardman, Agnes Horvath, Allan Hovan, Aisha Al-Jamaei, Aya koizumi, Alan Santos-Silva, Alessandra Majorana, Alexandre Giannini, Aléxia Teixeira, Muhammad Ali Shazib, Alison Melvin, Aluísio Miranda Filho, Amanda Gruza, Amber Brown-Dahl, Amit Harilall, Amr El Maghrabi, Ana Andabak Rogulj, Ana Raphaela Curvo, Ana Laura Soares, Andrea Stringer, Andréa Moreira, Andy Kurtzweil, Angelyn Salaberry, Anne Blazy, Anne Margrete Gussgard, Anne Marie Lynge Pedersen, Annette Freidank, Anura Ariyawardana, Adrian Ramseier, Jann Arends, Ariel Blanchard, Adriana Sesti Paz, Angela Thermann, Augusto Poropat, Azael Freites-Martinez, Abdul Rahman Al-Azri, Bente Brokstad Herlofson, Sitaraman BalajiSubramanian, Barbara Ballantyne, Kivanc Bektas-Kayhan, Bengt Hasséus, Benjamin Kaffenberger, Bernar Benites, Bernice Kwong, Beth Test, Fernando Chiantia, Bo Pettersson, Bomi Framroze, Božana Lončar Brzak, Brittany Dulmage, Sorin Buga, Caroline Spekssnijder, Carlton Brown, Antonio Carlos Moura de Melo, Ana Carolina Ribeiro, Caroline Silva, Caroline Fulop, Carryn Anderson, Catherine Flaitz, Cathy Massoud, Cesar Migliorati, Callie Gross, Chiara Gandini, Charles Loprinzi, Charlotte de Mooij, Catherine Hong, Ying Chu Choi, Maria Choy, Christine Boers-Doets, Leonard Schmeel, Cibele Nagano, Maria Coeli Franco, Courtney Subramaniam, Carolyn Patrick, Catherine Poh, Cristina Neuenschwander, Cesar Virgen, Dorothea Riesenbeck, Dale Weaver, Daniel Cohen Goldemberg, Daniel Sundaresan, Daniela Nunes, Danyel Perez, Daphine Travassos, David Yang, Daniela Ribeiro, Dean Kolbinson, Deborah Buick, Deborah Saunders, Juliane De Bortolli, Deepika Chugh, Denise Markstrom, Denise Travassos, Dianna Weikel, Dimitra Galiti, Dinusha Peiris, Fedja Djordjevic, Pankaj Singhai, Douglas Peterson, Douglas Fonseca, Doreen Pon, Iuliia Kovalenko, Aleksandra Polonskaia, Rogério Caldas, Kevin Saganski, Julia Néri, Dennis Abbott, Abhijna Vithal Yergolkar, Cristina Del Conte, Januaria Passos, Katia Uezu, Paula Silva, Steven Gilbert, Keng Yeoh, Kunal Jain, Madhup Rastogi, Satheeshkumar Poolakkad Sankaran, Deborah Manne, Evgeniya Shatokhina, Esther Adebayo-Olojo, Eszter Somogyi-Ganss, Eli Ehrenpreis, Wilber Bernaola-Paredes, Eduardo Fregnani, Elaci Cardoso, Elena Bardellini, Eleni Arvanitou, Elisa Kauark Fontes, Elise Bruning, Eloise Neumann, Elsa Madureira, Marcia Ramires, Erofili Papadopoulou, Etiene Munhoz, Fred Spijkervet, Fabiana Granzotto, Fabiana Martins, Fabio Alves, Farah Mougeot, Federica Aielli, Fernanda Pigatti, Fernanda Fonseca, Firoozeh Samim, Flavia Carvalho, Florence Cuadra Zelaya, Cesar Freytes, Gabriela da Silveira, Gabriela Torino, Gabriela Martins, Geisa Silva, Gemma Caro, Gemma Bryan, Georgette Radford, Ghanyah Al-Qadami, Giorgia Albini, Gisele Mainville, Georgios Gkardiakos, Gleidston Potter, Gulbin Hoeberechts, Gordon Howarth, Grace Bradley, Gunjan Verma, Gustavo dos Santos, Margaret Randles-Guzzardi, Hanlie Engelbrecht, Hannah Wardill, Heidi Hansen, Iquebal Hasan, Hironobu Hata, Helena Ullgren, Heliton Spindola Antunes, Heloísa Laís dos Santos, Howard Weld, Helen McInnes, Hans Peter Jungbluth, Hsiaofen Weng, Ian Hewson, Ingrid Santos, Jorge Illarramendi, Ines Semendric, Rol Menge, Inger Von Bultzingslowen, Maria da Gloria de Melo, Iona Leong, Isabella Fonseca, Isadora Kalif, James Carroll, Janet Coller, Johann Beck-Mannagetta, Joanne Bowen, Jose Meurer, Ricky McCullough, Jennifer Powers, Jesus Gomez, Jimma Lenjisa, jaya Vangara, Jasna Leko, Jane Fall-Dickson, Jean-Luc Mougeot, Joan Fox, Jolien Robijns, Jonn Wu, Patricio Palma, Jaya Amaram-Davila, Jim Siderov, Juliana Dantas, Juliana Jasper, Juliana Monteiro, Julia Bruno, julie pfeffer, Julija Jovanovic Ristivojevic, Juliana Brito, Jyothsna Kuriakose, Yuji Kabasawa, Kanan Dave, Karin Barczyszyn, Karol Sartori Lima, Kate Secombe, Kate White, Kate Cooper, Kouji Katsura, Karen Biggs, Katharine Ciarrocca, Kristopher Dennis, Ken Tomizuka, Kevin Hendler, Ikuko Komo, Kristina Skallsjö, Kristy Hodgins, Katia Rupel, Keiko Tanaka, Seema Kurup, Luiz Gueiros, Larissa Agatti, Laura Garzona-Navas, Letícia Guerra, Leila Portela, Leilani Iossi, Linda Elting, Lene Baad-Hansen, Leslie Reeder, Leticia Lang, Liciane Menezes, Liliana Braun, Liliane Grando, Mathew Lim, Lina Fernandez, Lucy McKeage, Luana Campos, Luciana Simonato, Luciana Muniz, Leah van Draanen, Mieko Mizutani, Tsai-Wei Huang, Mahfujul Riad, Mahnoor Nazar, Maíra Souza, Mariana Minamisako, Manoela Pereira, Carlos Mantelato, Márcio Diniz-Freitas, Marco Montezuma, Marco Andrade, Marcos Santos, Margherita Gobbo, Maria Caterina Fortuna, Mariana Vitor, Joana Marinho, Alina Markova, Marlyse Knuchel, Marta Carlesimo, Marta Neves, Andrew Mazar, Maria Cristina Gomez Amarilla, Mark Chambers, Melissa de Araujo, Alexandre Melo, Melody Cole, Mohamed Elsayed, Monica Fliedner, Martin Hauer-Jensen, Micaela Bouchacourt, Michael Brennan, Michael Thirlwell, Michio Nakamura, Midori Nakagaki, Camila Rossi, Mireille Kaprilian, Michael Kase, Michael Dougan, Monique Stokman, Ragnhild Monsen, Alisha Morgan, Jocelyn Harding, Maryam Taleghani, Marie-Therese Genot, Mukund Seshadri, Brian Muzyka, Nancy Batista, Nancy Gadd, Naoko Tanda, Narmin Nasr, Natália Garcia, Nathan Lee, Natalia Palmier, Norman Brito-Dellan, Nancy Corbitt, Neli Pieralisi, Verônica Serrano, Nicola Alessandro Iacovelli, Norma Lúcia Sampaio, Nour Karra, Niveditha Venkatesh, Noam Yarom, Renata Cristina Borin, Olivia Lemenchick, Ondina Mendes, Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis, Vasiliy Shchitka, Paula Reis, Paulo Sérgio Santos, Paz Fernandez-Ortega, Ira Parker, Raquel García, Peter Fritz, Edmund Peters, Pamela Gardner, Pierre Saint Girons, Priya Tiwari, Pravin Chaturvedi, Tais de Moraes, Priscila Andrade, Raj Nair, Rachel Gibson, Rachita Gururaj, Raghu Thota, Rajesh Lalla, Raquel Almeida Prado, Ravikiran Ongole, George Taybos, Regina Mackey, Renata Rego, Renata Camilotti, Renata Ferrari, Renato Junior, Rene-Jean Bensadoun, Richard Logan, Roberta Sales, Roberta Zanicotti, Roberta Tunes, Rodolfo Mauceri, Rosiene Feitoza, Kathryn Ruddy, Cynthia Rybczyk, Stephanie Trager, Sachiyo Mitsunaga, Sahani Gunathilake, Rajan Saini, Viola Salvestrini, Sandip Mukhopadhyay, Sandrina Angeloz, Pramod Sankar S, Luciana S Barbosa Barbosa, Elena Volkova, Sharon Elad, Sergio Cantoreggi, Sharon Gordon, Shelly Brown, Shu Yie Janine Tam, Sibelle Faleiro, Silmara da Silva, Silvia de Oliveira, Siri Beier Jensen, Ivana Skrinjar, Sophie Beaumont, Felipe Sperandio, Sandra Reese, Steven Roser, Sachiko Seo, Stephanie van Leeuwen, Stephen Sonis, Stephen Bernard, Stephen Rajan Samuel, Stuart Taylor, Suranjan Maitra, Susanne Skulski, Suzanne Carlisle, Sylvie Louise Avon, Tomoya Yokota, Takashi Yurikusa, Tabata Santos Polvora, Tabitha Kelock, Tauana Fernandes, Taylor Wain, Timothy Brown, Tetsuhito konishi, Thalyta Amanda Ferreira, Tomoko Kataoka, Thomas Kelly, Takehiko Mori, Tomoko Higuchi, Toshiaki Saeki, Nikolaos Tsoukalas, Typhaine Maupoint De Vandeul, Masatoshi Usubuchi, Vanessa Lacerda, Vanessa Tilly, Emmanuelle Vigarios, Alessandro Villa, Vinicius Torregrossa, Vinodh Kumar Selvaraj, Viviane Sarmento, Vivien Heng, Wagner Gomes-Silva, Petter Wilberg, Wanessa Miranda e Silva, Wan Nor I'zzah Wan Mohamad Zain, Wonse Park, Wim Tissing, Yoshihiko Soga, Bella Van Sebille, and Yuhei Matsuda

Subjects
Oral mucositis, Gastrointestinal mucositis, Mucositis assessment tools, Patient-reported outcome measures, Medicine (General), R5-920
Abstract

Summary: Background: Mucositis is a common and highly impactful side effect of conventional and emerging cancer therapy and thus the subject of intense investigation. Although common practice, mucositis assessment is heterogeneously adopted and poorly guided, impacting evidence synthesis and translation. The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Mucositis Study Group (MSG) therefore aimed to establish expert recommendations for how existing mucositis assessment tools should be used, in clinical care and trials contexts, to improve the consistency of mucositis assessment. Methods: This study was conducted over two stages (January 2022–July 2023). The first phase involved a survey to MASCC-MSG members (January 2022–May 2022), capturing current practices, challenges and preferences. These then informed the second phase, in which a set of initial recommendations were prepared and refined using the Delphi method (February 2023–May 2023). Consensus was defined as agreement on a parameter by >80% of respondents. Findings: Seventy-two MASCC-MSG members completed the first phase of the study (37 females, 34 males, mainly oral care specialists). High variability was noted in the use of mucositis assessment tools, with a high reliance on clinician assessment compared to patient reported outcome measures (PROMs, 47% vs 3%, 37% used a combination). The World Health Organization (WHO) and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) scales were most commonly used to assess mucositis across multiple settings. Initial recommendations were reviewed by experienced MSG members and following two rounds of Delphi survey consensus was achieved in 91 of 100 recommendations. For example, in patients receiving chemotherapy, the recommended tool for clinician assessment in clinical practice is WHO for oral mucositis (89.5% consensus), and WHO or CTCAE for gastrointestinal mucositis (85.7% consensus). The recommended PROM in clinical trials is OMD/WQ for oral mucositis (93.3% consensus), and PRO-CTCAE for gastrointestinal mucositis (83.3% consensus). Interpretation: These new recommendations provide much needed guidance on mucositis assessment and may be applied in both clinical practice and research to streamline comparison and synthesis of global data sets, thus accelerating translation of new knowledge into clinical practice. Funding: No funding was received.

Published
2024
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2. Post-exposure prophylaxis in the era of pre-exposure prophylaxis: a study of post-exposure prophylaxis use in South-East Queensland since the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listing of pre-exposure prophylaxis

Author

Maree O'Sullivan, Fiona Marple-Clark, Cheryn Palmer, Adam Spinks, Caroline Thng, Karen Biggs, Julian Langton-Lockton, and Jacqualine McLellan

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Adolescent, Anti-HIV Agents, medicine.medical_treatment, education, HIV Infections, Dermatology, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, 03 medical and health sciences, Pre-exposure prophylaxis, Young Adult, 0302 clinical medicine, South east, medicine, Humans, Pharmacology (medical), 030212 general & internal medicine, Hiv acquisition, Post-exposure prophylaxis, Homosexuality, Male, Aged, 030505 public health, business.industry, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Middle Aged, Infectious Diseases, Emergency medicine, cardiovascular system, Female, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, Queensland, 0305 other medical science, business, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, circulatory and respiratory physiology
Abstract

Both post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) involve the use of antiretroviral drugs taken by HIV-uninfected individuals to reduce HIV acquisition risk. While PEP has been available in Australia for many years, PrEP became widely accessible in 2018 after listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Studies have reported on the impact of PrEP on condom use. The impact of PrEP on the use of PEP in Australia has not been reported. This project examined PEP use across three public sexual health services in South-East Queensland, Australia, comparing rates in 2016 (prePBS-listed PrEP) and 2019 (postPBS-listed PrEP), to determine if PEP prescribing, and the characteristics of people accessing PEP, have changed. Results showed that PEP prescribing made up 2.85% of all clients seen in 2016, dropping to 2.33% in 2019, reflecting a decrease of 0.5% (p = 0.048). There was a significant increase in Medicare-ineligible clients accessing PEP (9% in 2016; 21% in 2019; p = 0.002) and a significant increase in PrEP-experienced clients accessing PEP between the two study periods (4% in 2016; 14% in 2019; p ≤ 0.001). The marginal decrease in PEP prescribing highlights that PEP remains an important option especially for those with barriers to accessing and adhering to daily PrEP.

Published
2020

3. Literacy Workshop : Where Reading and Writing Converge

Author

Maria Walther, Karen Biggs-Tucker, Maria Walther, and Karen Biggs-Tucker

Subjects
Language arts (Elementary), Literacy, Project method in teaching
Abstract

The Literacy Workshop: Where Reading and Writing Converge is a first-of-its-kind resource that offers a practical process for creating an integrated literacy workshop using demonstration lessons that align with current curriculum standards. In this forward-thinking book, authors Maria Walther and Karen Biggs-Tucker share what they've learned over countless reading and writing workshops and combine into one literacy workshop.The authors demonstrate how you can save valuable classroom time while still empowering students to uncover exciting connections in their learning – leading to stronger, more motivational readers and writers. By weaving the common threads of literacy learning together, you can increase the time your students spend engaged in authentic reading and writing. Inside you'll find the following: A clear, succinct explanation of the literacy workshop structure, how to get started, and how to determine the best time to begin the merge 50+ demonstration lesson plans, appropriate for both primary and intermediate grade levels, that use strategies incorporating elements from recommended fiction and nonfiction anchor texts Substantial, printable resources and online tools to help make this instructional shift as smooth as possible. From the big picture to small, helpful details, The Literacy Workshop will be your guide as you blur the lines between your reading and writing workshops - creating space for students to apply their learning and practice the habits, behaviors, and actions of literate and engaged citizens.

Published
2020

4. Assessing Preference of Nasogastric vs. Gastrostomy Feeding Tubes in Chemoradiation Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancer

Author

Karen Biggs, Cici Liang, Anishka Saldanha, Lilian Doerwald-Munoz, and Thomas J. Farrell

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Radiological and Ultrasound Technology, business.industry, Internal medicine, medicine, Gastrostomy feeding, Cancer, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging, medicine.disease, business, Gastroenterology, Preference
Published
2017
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6. How clinical nurse and midwifery consultants optimise patient care in a tertiary referral hospital

Author

Christine Atsalos, Marlene Payk, Grace Trapolini, Karen Biggs, Susan Heath, Fiona Lee Gavegan, and Sabine Boensch

Subjects
Adult, medicine.medical_specialty, Consultants, International studies, Nurse–client relationship, Tertiary referral hospital, Midwifery, Phenomenology (philosophy), Interviews as Topic, Tertiary Care Centers, Nursing, Tacit knowledge, Pregnancy, Health care, medicine, Humans, Nurse Practitioners, General Nursing, Practice Patterns, Nurses', Descriptive statistics, business.industry, Obstetrics, Australia, General Medicine, Continuity of Patient Care, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, business, Nurse-Patient Relations, Inclusion (education), Program Evaluation
Abstract

Aims and objectives To develop new insights into the phenomenon of clinical nurse/midwifery consultant clinical effectiveness in a tertiary referral hospital. Background International studies identify the pivotal role clinical nurse/midwifery consultants play in patient outcomes. There remains, however, a significant deficit in our knowledge of how these, or other advanced practice nurses and midwives, apply their extensive experience, ontological understandings and tacit knowledge to the enhancement of patient outcomes in complex healthcare environments. Design This study was underpinned by the principles of Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology. Methods Recruitment involved expressions of interest distributed hospital-wide to clinical nurse/midwifery consultants. Inclusion criteria specified a minimum of three years’ experience. Fifteen clinical nurse/midwifery consultants, representing a broad range of specialties, were interviewed. Preliminary descriptive analysis of transcribed data was followed by in-depth hermeneutic analysis. Results The findings comprise four themes: walking beside the patient, anticipating the unexpected, pushing through barriers and leading within a complex system. These themes highlight how clinical nurse/midwifery consultants significantly influence pre-existing trajectories of patient care delivery through context-appropriate strategies. Conclusion This study introduces new insights into the meanings advanced practice nurses and midwives develop from their engagements with patients and how these meanings inform clinical decisions. The paper accomplishes this by drawing on Heideggerian philosophical concepts such as ontological understandings, authenticity and care. It also casts light on the participants’ shared understandings of how to synergise expectations within the team. Relevance to clinical practice The significance of this paper lies in the uncovering of ontological understandings and tacit knowledge of how consultant nurses and midwives optimise patient care delivery in challenging situations. The findings indicate, however, that the value of these internationally established roles is yet to be fully realised. The paper concludes by recommending strategies to assist newly appointed clinical nurse/midwifery consultants transition into these demanding autonomous roles.

Published
2014

7. Deadly Liver Mob: opening the door – improving sexual health pathways for Aboriginal people in Western Sydney

Author

Karen Biggs, Jennifer Walsh, and Catriona Ooi

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Gonorrhea, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Genital warts, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Epidemiology, Blood-Borne Pathogens, medicine, Humans, 030212 general & internal medicine, Retrospective Studies, Reproductive health, Gynecology, 030505 public health, biology, business.industry, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Attendance, medicine.disease, biology.organism_classification, Infectious Diseases, Health promotion, Family medicine, New South Wales, Sexual Health, 0305 other medical science, business, Thrush
Abstract

Background: The Deadly Liver Mob project (DLM) is an incentive-based, peer-driven health promotion intervention for Aboriginal people, focusing on hepatitis C and offering education and screening for sexually transmissible infections (STI) and blood-borne viruses (BBV). This study aims to assess the DLM effect on attendance and STI/BBV screening, describe BBV risk factors and report infection rates among Aboriginal people attending Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre (WSSHC). Methods: A retrospective review of Aboriginal clients during the first year of the DLM project was compared with Aboriginal clients who attended during the 5.3 years before implementation of the project. Data on attendance, screening rates, demographics, lifestyle information and STI/BBV results were extracted. Results: There was a 10-fold increase in the number of Aboriginal people attending, via the DLM project (P

Published
2016
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8. Why not the GP? Client preferences for sexually transmissible infection testing in Western Sydney

Author

Karen Biggs and Jennifer Walsh

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, biology, business.industry, Gonorrhea, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, medicine.disease, biology.organism_classification, Triage, Genital warts, Infectious Diseases, Nursing, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Epidemiology, medicine, Confidentiality, business, Thrush, Reproductive health
Abstract

Background Publicly funded sexual health services (PFSHS) in NSW use triage to prioritise access for people at increased risk of infection and refer people at lower risk to General Practitioners (GPs). This study aimed to determine why people in Western Sydney attend a PFSHS in preference to their GP, whether they would be willing to see their GP for sexual health services and what factors were important when making this decision. Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used for this study. Results: In total, 228/249 (92%) of all respondents had visited a GP in the previous 12 months; 192/249 (77%) knew the GP could perform sexually transmissible infection testing (STI) testing; 124/249 (50%) had ever had a STI check with a GP and 101/249 (41%) were willing to attend a GP service for STI-related care in the future. Factors relating to the health service staff and client comfort emerged as strong reasons for choice of health service. One-third of non-priority clients (33%) were unwilling to see a GP for STI testing in the future. Respondents raised concerns regarding perceived issues with confidentiality and lack of confidence in the GP’s expertise in sexual health. Conclusions: The underlying factors relating to sexual health care with the GP, whether real or perceived, need to be addressed in order for PFSHS to successfully triage out attendees who are at a lower STI risk.

Published
2015
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9. A retrospective case note review of sex worker attendees at sexual health clinics in the western suburbs of Sydney

Author

Charles Chung, Richard J. Hillman, Karen Biggs, Shailendra Sawleshwarkar, Adrian Mindel, Sheena Kakar, and Katerina Lagios

Subjects
Adult, Vaginal discharge, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, medicine.medical_specialty, Pediatrics, Urban Population, Health Status, Gonorrhea, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Health Promotion, Genital warts, Young Adult, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Epidemiology, medicine, Humans, Retrospective Studies, Reproductive health, Unsafe Sex, biology, business.industry, musculoskeletal, neural, and ocular physiology, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, medicine.disease, biology.organism_classification, Sex Work, Women's Health Services, Infectious Diseases, Health promotion, Family medicine, Female, New South Wales, medicine.symptom, business, Attitude to Health, Thrush, psychological phenomena and processes, Women, Working
Abstract

Background: Sex workers (SWs) are globally recognised to be at high risk for the acquisition and transmission of sexually transmissible infections (STIs). There is a paucity of published data concerning SWs from the western suburbs of Sydney, with the last published study conducted in 1988. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine the demographics, sexual practices and health care needs of SWs attending Sexual Health Clinics (SHCs) in the region. Methods: Self-identified SWs presenting to SHCs in western Sydney between April 2007 and March 2008 were identified using clinic databases. A case note review was then undertaken. Results: One hundred and eighty-five female SWs were included in the analysis. Ninety-eight (54.5%) were born overseas (predominantly China) and 82 (45.6%) were born in Australia. One hundred and seventeen (68%) were English speaking backgrounds (ESB), while 55 (32%) were from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). Seventy-two (38.9%) were symptomatic on attendance, with vaginal discharge the most common symptom. Chlamydia was the most commonly reported STI in the previous 12 months with 28 cases (15.1%). SWs from NESB were significantly more likely to be older, symptomatic, have a hepatitis B diagnosis in the previous year and work more shifts per week, compared with SWs from ESB. SWs born overseas were more likely to be symptomatic than Australian born SWs who, in turn, were more likely to have a hepatitis C diagnosis in the previous year. Conclusion: SWs from NESB would potentially benefit from evidenced-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions and targeted health promotion.

Published
2010
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