Ben White, Rachel Feeney, Marcus Sellars, Penny Neller, Patsy Yates, Lindy Willmott
{"title":"'Can a relative override a patient's Advance Care Directive?': end-of-life legal worries of general practitioners and nurses working in aged care.","authors":"Ben White, Rachel Feeney, Marcus Sellars, Penny Neller, Patsy Yates, Lindy Willmott","doi":"10.1071/PY23213","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/PY23213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This paper aimed to describe the legal worries of Australian general practitioners (GPs) and nurses regarding end-of-life care provided in the aged care setting.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An analysis of responses to the final, open-ended question of a cross-sectional online survey of GPs and nurses practising in aged care settings in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria was undertaken.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 162 GPs and 61 nurses who gave valid responses to the survey, 92% (151 GPs and 55 nurses) responded to the open-ended question. Participants identified concerns across all relevant areas of end-of-life law. The most common concerns were substitute decision-makers or family member(s) wanting to overrule an Advance Care Directive, requests for futile or non-beneficial treatment and conflict about end-of-life decision-making. Participants often also identified concerns about their lack of legal knowledge and their fear of law or risk related to both end-of-life care generally and providing medication that may hasten death.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Australian GPs and nurses working in aged care have broad-ranging legal concerns about providing end-of-life care. Legal concerns and knowledge gaps identified here highlight priority areas for future training of the aged care workforce.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139736927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicole Latham, Jeanine Young, Josephine Wilson, Michelle Gray, Kendall George
{"title":"Child health nurses' perceptions of the Family Community-based Assistance Resourcing and Education program in contemporary practice: a qualitative study.","authors":"Nicole Latham, Jeanine Young, Josephine Wilson, Michelle Gray, Kendall George","doi":"10.1071/PY23072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/PY23072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Family Community-based Assistance Resourcing and Education Program (FCP) is a nurse home visiting program that was introduced in Queensland two decades ago to redress health inequalities for infants from families experiencing specific social stressors. Locally adapted versions of this home visiting program are still in use, but have not been evaluated. This study examined child health nurse perceptions of the adapted FCP in one regional Queensland health service.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative descriptive exploratory study using two focus groups (conducted May 2019) with Child Health Nurses who delivered the FCP was conducted. Transcripts of digital recordings were analysed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-step framework for guided thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 16 Child Health Nurses participated in the study, with a mean of 10years' experience with the program. Data analysis generated 12 themes organised under three domains: 'Establishing the relationship with families', 'What works in practice' and 'We could do it better'. Participants cited flexibility, expert input and in-home delivery as key program benefits. However, narrow eligibility criteria, poor screening for perinatal anxiety and resourcing constraints were identified as limitations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study is the first to measure Child Health Nurses' perceptions of an adapted FCP. It sheds light on their 'practice wisdom', including the program's ability to meet the needs of families with social vulnerabilities. The study supports prior calls for home visiting programs to be evaluated against clearly stated program intentions. Participant insights have been shared to inform practice and program implementation both locally and as part of Queensland's First 2000Days health service delivery reform agenda.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139736892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrew Reid, Nick McGhie, Thi Huyen Linh Nguyen, Uday Yadav, Patricia Cullen, Leon Booth, Amy Bestman
{"title":"Exploring the feasibility of a gambling harm screening model in general practice and community service settings in Fairfield: a pilot study.","authors":"Andrew Reid, Nick McGhie, Thi Huyen Linh Nguyen, Uday Yadav, Patricia Cullen, Leon Booth, Amy Bestman","doi":"10.1071/PY23208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/PY23208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gambling is a growing public health issue in Australia. However, limited research has examined the role of primary health care and social services in routine screening for gambling harm in Australia. This research aimed to explore the enablers and barriers to implementing a co-designed gambling screening model in Fairfield, New South Wales - an area with high gambling expenditure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A co-designed gambling screening and referral model for GP and community-based organisations was implemented in Fairfield in 2020. Follow-up interviews were conducted with nine health care professionals who implemented the screening in 130 patients. Thematic analysis generated key barriers and enablers for implementation of this model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Key enablers for the screening model implementation included structural factors (alignment of the screening model with current work), process factors and staffing factors (staff empowerment). However, we also noted process factors as a barrier to implementation, particularly the referral pathway following screening. Other barriers included social and structural factors, such as the complexity of gambling harm and project funding.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Embedding routine screening in primary and community care settings can play a role in treating, reducing and preventing gambling-related harm, and reducing stigma in Fairfield and beyond. Additionally, screening models such as this provide health systems with clear evidence on the level of gambling harm in their community (particularly important in culturally and linguistically diverse communities who are underrepresented in research). This evidence is important for addressing system-level drivers of harm and advocating for political reform to reduce the impact of gambling on communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139736893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Slavica Krstic, Sarah Dennis, Faye Southcombe, Elizabeth Denney-Wilson
{"title":"What do parents think about child's routine height and weight measures? A qualitative study.","authors":"Slavica Krstic, Sarah Dennis, Faye Southcombe, Elizabeth Denney-Wilson","doi":"10.1071/PY23017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/PY23017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Routine height and weight screening of children accessing health services in South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) was implemented to address childhood obesity. This qualitative study aims to explore the views of parents/carers regarding the role of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in measuring their child and raising the issue of weight when accessing health services.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was performed. Parents/carers of children who had their height and weight measured at a SWSLHD facility were invited to participate. Purposive sampling was used to select parents/carers of children from different body mass index (BMI) categories and different health settings. Interviews were digitally audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The de-identified data were coded and analysed thematically using NVivo.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 24 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Of these, 14 were of parents/carers of children who were outside the healthy weight range. Three main themes were identified: parental perception of their child's weight, parental expectations, and parental challenges. We found that many parents/carers were unaware of their child's weight status and often underestimated it. Many were open to receiving advice and resources as long as it was addressed professionally and respectfully.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Contrary to the views of some health professionals, parents/carers want to know their child's weight status. They valued the information and advice provided by well-trained clinicians who are confident to raise the issue of weight with parents/carers.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139708803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sharon Parker, An Tran, Shoko Saito, Carmel McNamara, Elizabeth Denney-Wilson, Don Nutbeam, Mark Fort Harris
{"title":"Exploring organisational readiness to implement a preventive intervention in Australian general practice for overweight and obese patients: key learnings from the HeLP-GP trial.","authors":"Sharon Parker, An Tran, Shoko Saito, Carmel McNamara, Elizabeth Denney-Wilson, Don Nutbeam, Mark Fort Harris","doi":"10.1071/PY23085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/PY23085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The HeLP-GP trial aimed to increase the capacity of practice nurses to deliver weight management to overweight and obese patients through an intervention comprising a health check, a lifestyle app and/or telephone coaching. This paper describes implementation through the lens of organisational readiness with emphasis on the role of the practice nurse.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Routinely collected mixed method research data including practice surveys, field notes, and diaries and process data were mapped against the domains: motivation to implement, general capacity and intervention-specific capacity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Organisational readiness varied considerably, particularly the domain of intervention-specific capacity. Practice nurse turnover negatively impacted the implementation, affecting half of the practices. We observed a general lack of practice-based support for intervention delivery, and varying levels of interest, skill and confidence in delivering the intervention. Nurses struggled to complete the research and intervention tasks in a timely way. Conducting risk assessments and referring to coaching were generally not problematic; however, we noted lower confidence levels with the lifestyle app and instructing patients to use it.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We found a lack of general 'readiness' inherent in the nursing role, particularly related to their capacity to complete intervention tasks and practice-level support to implement the intervention. For nurses in general practice to fulfil their potential in supporting patients to reduce risk and adopt healthier life choices, our study indicates that more could be done to improve their workforce positioning and remuneration, which may, in turn, improve continuity of care, retention and individual motivation.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139704247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eileen Willis, Claire Verrall, Susan McInnes, Elyce Pate
{"title":"An integrative review of missed nursing care and the general practice nurse.","authors":"Eileen Willis, Claire Verrall, Susan McInnes, Elyce Pate","doi":"10.1071/PY23127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/PY23127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The phenomenon of missed care has received increasing interest over the past decade. Previous studies have used a missed care framework to identify missed nursing tasks, although these have primarily been within the acute care environment. The aim of this research was to identify missed care specific to the role of the general practice nurse.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An integrative review method was adopted, using The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool to assist in a methodological appraisal of both experimental, theoretical, and qualitative studies. Thematic analysis was then used to analyse and present a narrative synthesis of the data.</p><p><strong>Data sources: </strong>CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched between 2011 and 2022 for empirical research that reported missed care and the general practice nurse.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 787 papers identified, 10 papers met the inclusion criteria. Three themes identified missed care in relation to primary healthcare nurses: under-staffing and resourcing, communication difficulties, and role confusion.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Isolating missed care by general practice nurses was challenging because much of the research failed to separate out general practice nurses from community and primary health care nurses. This challenge was exacerbated by disparity in the way that a general practice nurse is defined and presented in the various databases. While some themes such as those related to communication and understaffing and resourcing demonstrate some parallels with the acute sector, more research is required to identify missed care specific to the general practice nurse.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139693735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jack Seaton, Anne Jones, Catherine Johnston, Karen Francis
{"title":"Promoting effective interprofessional collaborative practice in the primary care setting: recommendations from Queensland physiotherapy private practitioners.","authors":"Jack Seaton, Anne Jones, Catherine Johnston, Karen Francis","doi":"10.1071/PY23175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/PY23175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physiotherapy private practitioners represent a growing proportion of Australia's primary care workforce; however, they face significant barriers in integrating seamlessly within interprofessional teams. Historically, the landscape of primary care in Australia has been one where many physiotherapists work in monoprofessional private practice facilities at dispersed locations, potentially limiting collaborative and coordinated care. The aim of this study was to investigate strategies recommended by physiotherapists to promote effective interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) within the Australian private practice setting.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using interpretive description as the guiding methodological framework, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 physiotherapists in 10 private practice sites in Queensland, Australia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data analysis produced three themes that characterised physiotherapy private practitioners' recommendations to improve IPCP: (a) the need for improved funding and compensation, particularly addressing the limitations of the Medicare Chronic Disease Management program; (b) the development of integrated and secure digital communication systems to facilitate better information exchange; and (c) prioritising professional development and training to enhance collaboration.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This research lays the groundwork for informed policy making to advance person-centred care and support the integration of services in the Australian healthcare system. The findings from this study indicate that promoting effective IPCP in physiotherapy private practice requires a comprehensive strategy that addresses systemic funding and compensation issues, enhances digital communication systems and optimises interprofessional education and training.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139682059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Melissa Savaglio, Renee O'Donnell, Helen Skouteris
{"title":"The impact of COVID-19 on community mental health: lessons learned from Tasmania, Australia.","authors":"Melissa Savaglio, Renee O'Donnell, Helen Skouteris","doi":"10.1071/PY23006","DOIUrl":"10.1071/PY23006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on community mental health globally and widened pre-existing health and social inequities. Tasmania, Australia has one of the highest rates of mental ill health and socioeconomic disadvantage in the country. Whilst Tasmania experienced a delayed and reduced physical presence of COVID-19 compared to other states and territories, mental health impacts remain. It is necessary to understand such impacts to inform policy, practice, and recommendations to enhance the mental health service sector and prevent future mental health burden. This qualitative study aimed to explore expert mental health stakeholders' perspectives of the impact of COVID-19 on: (1) the mental health of people living in Tasmania, and (2) mental health services.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Semi-structured interviews with 12 expert mental health stakeholders across Tasmania were conducted. This sample was well-positioned to comment on the impact of COVID-19 on community mental health and provide recommendations to enhance the sector. Interviews were thematically analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three subthemes exploring the COVID-19 impact on mental health were included: (1) anxiety, distress, and isolation; (2) varying presentations across age groups; and (3) increased complexity. Four key themes capturing the COVID-19 impact on mental health services were identified: (1) transition to telehealth; (2) increased service demand; (3) spotlight on service gaps; and (4) local workforce shortages.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The pandemic has highlighted existing gaps across the community mental health service sector, and exacerbated existing psychosocial/structural stressors resulting in increased presentations and complexity of mental illness among the community, particularly for youth. Existing treatment gaps and inequities in service access, engagement, and mental health outcomes will persist if not addressed. Recommendations have been provided to inform community mental health service planning, policy, design, access, and provision, and improve wellbeing.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":"NULL"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41124139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aboriginal Health Practitioners <i>obtaining, possessing</i> and <i>administering</i> fluoride varnish: self-determination driven regulation amendment for integrated oral health care for Aboriginal children.","authors":"Rahila Ummer-Christian, Dallas Widdicombe, Anil Raichur, Danielle Couch","doi":"10.1071/PY23201","DOIUrl":"10.1071/PY23201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Self-determination informed policies are key to improved outcomes for Aboriginal health. Aboriginal leadership must be reflected throughout any public health reform process that affects Aboriginal communities. This paper presents a body of oral health policy work, undertaken under Loddon Mallee Aboriginal Reference Group's (LMARG's) leadership, as an exemplar of a self-determination informed change, that led to an amendment of an Australian state (Victoria) regulation - The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners [AHPs]) Regulations 2022. A summary of activities undertaken by LMARG, from advocacy to leading the submission, to amend the regulation, is provided. The amendment, now in place, authorises registered AHPs to obtain, possess, and administer fluoride varnish (FV) as a part of health services they provide. FV is a concentrated form of fluoride applied to tooth surfaces to prevent tooth decay. The practical implication of this amendment is delivery of a culturally appropriate integrated oral health promotion FV model that addresses mainstream dental access barriers commonly experienced by Aboriginal people. The model aims at upskilling an Aboriginal workforce to facilitate timely FV application to Aboriginal children.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":"NULL"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139428043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The evaluation of the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles for a healthcare quality improvement intervention in primary care.","authors":"Deborah Manandi, Qiang Tu, Nashid Hafiz, Rebecca Raeside, Julie Redfern, Karice Hyun","doi":"10.1071/PY23123","DOIUrl":"10.1071/PY23123","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is an iterative framework that has been gaining traction in primary care for quality improvement. However, its implementation remains understudied. This study evaluated the completion, achievement of goal, content quality, and enablers and barriers associated with completion of high-quality PDSA cycles in cardiovascular disease management in general practices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study analysed data from intervention practices of the QUality improvement in primary care to prevent hospitalisations and improve Effectiveness and efficiency of care for people Living people with coronary heart disease (QUEL) study. Content quality of cycles was assessed using a scoring system created based on established criteria of ideal PDSA cycles in the healthcare context. Practice-level factors associated with completion and cycles achieving the planned goal were explored through logistic regression models, and with content quality score through linear regression model. Enablers and barriers were assessed using thematic analysis of practices' responses to the PDSA sections.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ninety-seven cycles were reported by 18/26 (69%) practices. Seventy-seven percent of the cycles were completed and 68% achieved the planned goal. Content quality was low, with a median score of 56% (interquartile interval: 44%, 67%). Odds of cycles that were completed and achieved what was planned increased by 3.6- and 9.6-fold, respectively, with more general practitioners (GPs) within practices. Content quality was higher by 15% with more GPs. Lack of interprofessional engagement was a barrier to implementation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cycles were well completed, but poor in content quality, with high variability between practices. Human or capital resources and organisational support may be critical for the completion and cycles achieving the planned goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":93892,"journal":{"name":"Australian journal of primary health","volume":" ","pages":"NULL"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138464988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}