No abstract available.
Australia* ; Education* ; Fellowships and Scholarships*

Australia ; Humans ; Registries ; Twins

Accreditation ; Australia ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Whilst global asthma mortality seems to be decreasing, childhood asthma incidence is rising, and early warnings from Australia show an increase in asthma-related deaths in under-15s; this article considers whether we should view the future impact of asthma with trepidation. Age-adjusted mortality statistics for asthma have been reevaluated to provide an international standard. Comparisons across regions and time are complex, yet over the last two decades asthma mortality has clearly decreased, coinciding with a significant change in asthma management. The majority of remaining asthma deaths are preventable.
Asthma ; Australia ; Child ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in Australia. The Tick Program by the National Heart Foundation was designed to assist consumers in making healthier food choices. The aim of our study was to evaluate the awareness of university students regarding the Tick Program as a sustainable approach in preventing the onset of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in youth. Following Ethics Committee approval, a cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2006 to measure university students’ level of awareness of the Tick Program using a self-administered survey form. Inclusion criteria were full-time university students who have lived in Australia for a minimum duration of twelve months and do their own shopping. Students of less than 18 years of age were excluded from the study. Of 110 university students surveyed, 97 questionnaires were successfully completed (response rate: 88%). Overall there was a high level of awareness (72.2%) of the Tick program, which was also considered trustworthy by a majority of participants, with a mean rating of 3.87 (on a scale of 1 to 5). Tick-approved products were also considered a healthier choice by participants (mean 4.06 out of 5). Participants were also asked to identify potential barriers limiting the use of the Tick in making purchase decisions. The most important barrier identified to the Tick program was the limited range of Tick-approved products. A significant proportion of respondents also believed there was limited publicity of the program. The Tick Program is considered to be trustworthy and the approved products were regarded as healthy, with the results showing that participants have confidence in the Tick Program. This research also highlighted the potential areas for improvement of the Tick Program.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Food Preferences ; Students ; Universities ; Australia

This brief paper presents an argument for the establishment of permanent twinning relationships between hospitals in Australia and Papua New Guinea as one way of expressing the advantages of expanding globalization while countering its disadvantages for human health, especially in poorer countries. This particular suggestion is based on the general argument that widespread and sustainable improvement in people's health will be more likely to occur if health professionals take action themselves and work directly with each other. Disease does not respect national borders. Therefore, professional solidarity must be international, and strengthening the global health sector will amplify its benefits to human health, now and in the future. The particular suggestion that is made here is but one small step in this direction, but should have immediate benefit to those involved.
Health ; seconds ; Papua New Guinea ; Australia ; argument

OBJECTIVES: To explore alcohol perceptions and their association hazardous alcohol use in the populations of Alberta, Canada and Queensland, Australia. METHODS: Data from 2500 participants of the 2013 Alberta Survey and the 2013 Queensland Social Survey was analyzed. Regression analyses were used to explore the association between alcohol perceptions and its association with hazardous alcohol use. RESULTS: Greater hazardous alcohol use was found in Queenslanders than Albertans (p < 0.001). Overall, people with hazardous alcohol were less likely to believe that alcohol use contributes to health problems (odds ratio [OR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 0.78; p < 0.01) and to a higher risk of injuries (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.90; p < 0.05). Albertans with hazardous alcohol use were less likely to believe that alcohol contributes to health problems (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.92; p < 0.05) and were also less likely to choose a highly effective strategy as the best way for the government to reduce alcohol problems (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.91; p=0.01). Queenslanders with hazardous alcohol use were less likely to believe that alcohol was a major contributor to injury (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.77; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that people with hazardous alcohol use tend to underestimate the negative effect of alcohol consumption on health and its contribution to injuries. In addition, Albertans with hazardous alcohol use were less in favor of strategies considered highly effective to reduce alcohol harm, probably because they perceive them as a potential threat to their own alcohol consumption. These findings represent valuable sources of information for local health authorities and policymakers when designing suitable strategies to target alcohol-related problems.
Alberta ; Alcohol Drinking ; Australia ; Canada ; Queensland

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop a nursing competency scale according to a clinical ladder system for intensive care nurses. METHODS: Index of content validation was done by 20 clinical experts and 80 nurses in Intensive Care Units (ICU). RESULTS: The process and results of study are as follows. First, 12 nursing competencies were used in the establishment of the clinical ladder system (Jang, 2000). Second, the first draft of the competency lists was developed. It was based on the clinical nurses' behavioral indicators of nursing competency by Jang (2000), and was modified and supplemented through various literature reviews including competency standards for specialist intensive care nurses in Australia and consultation with 2 clinical nurses with over 10 years experience in the ICU. Third, the draft was examined by 20 clinical experts for content validity. Finally, the final draft was analysed using clinical validity where 20 nurses in each ladder participated. The final number of items was fixed at 309. CONCLUSION: The tool represents expected nursing competency of nurses working in ICU. Intensive care nurses can recognize their strengths and weaknesses, and identify directions for their professional growth by analysing results of their competency evaluation using this tool.
Australia ; Career Mobility ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Specialization

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the status of corneal transplantation in Korea over the last 6 years. METHODS: We evaluated the current status of domestic corneal transplantation using the data obtained from Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS). We evaluated imported corneal transplantation by the number of corneal transplantations, the country of origin of imported cornea, the preserved state of corneas, the time from the death to transplantation and the result of corneal transplantation. The imported corneal transplantation data was obtained from the institution registered in KONOS and the institution recognized by the authers. RESULTS: The number of domestic cornea donations has not increased since 2000, but the number of transplantations using imported corneas has increased year by year. The quality of imported corneas was good. There was no difference in operation results when domestic corneas were used compared to the use of imported corneas from the USA, Australia or Sri Lanka. CONCLUSIONS: The increased use of imported corneas results of a deficiency in the number of domestic cornea donations. Social motivation should be used to increase domestic donations of corneas.
Australia ; Cornea ; Corneal Transplantation ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Korea ; Motivation ; Sri Lanka

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the status of corneal transplantation in Korea over the last 6 years. METHODS: We evaluated the current status of domestic corneal transplantation using the data obtained from Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS). We evaluated imported corneal transplantation by the number of corneal transplantations, the country of origin of imported cornea, the preserved state of corneas, the time from the death to transplantation and the result of corneal transplantation. The imported corneal transplantation data was obtained from the institution registered in KONOS and the institution recognized by the authers. RESULTS: The number of domestic cornea donations has not increased since 2000, but the number of transplantations using imported corneas has increased year by year. The quality of imported corneas was good. There was no difference in operation results when domestic corneas were used compared to the use of imported corneas from the USA, Australia or Sri Lanka. CONCLUSIONS: The increased use of imported corneas results of a deficiency in the number of domestic cornea donations. Social motivation should be used to increase domestic donations of corneas.
Australia ; Cornea ; Corneal Transplantation ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Korea ; Motivation ; Sri Lanka