Hike in complaints about AHPRA
Complaints about the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and health practitioner boards were up by 32% in the last financial year, new data shows. The office of the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner (NHPOPC) released its annual report this week. The NHPOPC oversees AHPRA and the 15 health practitioner boards, including the […]
Car crash risk higher after first rostered night shift
Shift workers are more likely to crash their car after finishing their first night shift of the week, Australian research shows. The CQ University study also found the likelihood of a shift worker crashing on the way home from night shift on the first night was eight times greater than the likelihood of crashing on […]
Female shift workers higher risk of poor mental health
Shift workers are at higher risk for poor mental health, particularly symptoms of depression, new research shows. Women were especially affected, with a 70% higher risk of depression among shift workers, compared to women who worked day shifts, according to the study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers reviewed seven longitudinal studies […]
Nurses to improve cardiac rehab in rural and remote
A $1.35 million NHMRC research grant to help reduce the risk of repeat heart attacks in people living in rural and remote Australia has been awarded to Flinders University. The Country Heart Attack Prevention (CHAP) project aims to boost the completion of cardiac rehabilitation. Statistics show only 20-50% of patients attend rehabilitation in rural and […]
Shifting weight on shift work research
No doubt being a shift worker plays havoc on eating and sleeping habits not to mention opportunities for exercise. Consequently, shift workers are more likely to put on more weight placing them at risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes than regular day workers. Researchers from the University of South Australia and Monash University […]
The future of the primary healthcare nursing workforce
“We need to build a robust primary healthcare (PHC) workforce to provide care for those in the community, and to be able to deliver on our commitment to universal health coverage and health for all. This was a commitment made 40 years ago through the Declaration of Alma Ata, recognising that health is a fundamental […]
Nurse-led care to reduce cardiovascular disease risk
An Australian study is aiming to develop a nurse-led evidence-based model of care to reduce the heightened risk of developing cardiovascular disease currently experienced by breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer treatment increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, Australia’s biggest killer, yet researchers say no formal clinical pathway exists to prevent, monitor and manage the larger […]
Homebirths as safe as hospital births
Homebirths in a well-integrated midwife setting are as safe as hospital births for low-risk pregnant women, a large international study shows. Canadian researchers found low-risk pregnant women who intended to give birth at home had no increased risk of perinatal or neonatal death than those who gave birth at hospital. “More women in well-resourced countries […]
Be kind to yourself
Having aspirations help lead a meaningful life but can cause distress when hopes are left unfulfilled, research shows. An Edith Cowan University (ECU) study found that it’s not failing to make progress toward our ‘ideal-self’, but rather the tendency to focus on lack of progress in a negative way that leads to psychological distress. It’s […]
A simple snack best on night shift
A simple snack such as a muesli bar is the best choice for maximising alertness and productivity while working a night shift, according to new research from University of South Australia. The study set out to investigate whether altering food intake during a night shift could optimise how shift workers feel during the night and […]