Australian Health Review

What is known about the topic? Guidance on how researchers can influence policy is broad, tending to focus on communicating with policy audiences, rather than how to engage policy professionals. While the term evidence-based policy implies that researchers will have access to policymakers, in reality they have limited engagement with evidence, relying instead on briefs from advisers and policy professionals. What does this paper add? This paper provides an illustrative guide for a workshop model that facilitates evidence-informed policy. What are the implications for practitioners? Understanding what policy professionals require and when best to engage with the policy process will maximise the role researchers and other experts can have on informing policy.

What is known about the topic? Despite recognising the value of clinical supervision, many physiotherapists do not participate in regular supervision. What does this paper add? Our paper identified three themes explaining factors that influence participation in clinical supervision: the value of clinical supervision; operationalisation of organisational clinical supervision frameworks; and the clinical supervision culture. What are the implications for practitioners? Physiotherapists’ participation in clinical supervision could be facilitated by addressing all factors.

What is known about the topic? COVID-19 affected health care globally, including emergency department (ED) care. In Australia, findings predominately focus on public EDs. What does this paper add? ED presentation trends for one Queensland region, including both public and private sectors, are presented. Public sector costs and the impact of patients with COVID-19 on the ED are described. What are the implications for practitioners? Government policies and/or population behaviour change following initial pandemic restrictions accelerated presentations to the private sector. A virtual ward, along with designated testing centres and public health case coordination, were effective in reducing ED presentations of patients with COVID-19.

What is known about the topic? Mental health policy in Australia has been criticised for failing to promote an environment suitable for translational research. What does this paper add? This paper identifies that translational research functions are not well highlighted within mental health policy. What are the implications for practitioners? Policy makers can improve guidance for the mental health system by better integrating translational research and enhancing how it is talked about within policy. Practitioners should receive better guidance and policy environments to enable research translation.

What is known about this topic? Access to dental care is difficult for many Australians, particularly in rural and remote regions. As the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples increase with increased remoteness, the limited access is reflected by the high prevalence of dental disease within this population. What does this paper add? This review identifies where and how oral health services are provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural and remote regions. What are the implications for practitioners? Future research should explore the experiences of the workforce providing these services to enhance delivery of culturally and clinically safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

What is known about the topic? Internationally, universal health coverage typically excludes oral healthcare. This includes an abstract definition of essential oral healthcare. What does this paper add? We mapped out elements that are important when considering how to increase resource allocation decisions regarding what types of dental services are essential oral healthcare in Australia. What are the implications for practitioners? Clearer guidance on essential oral healthcare in Australia can inform future oral health funding policies for both the public and private sector.

What is already known about the topic? Chronic kidney disease leads to frequent hospitalisations, but it is not well-known whether patients follow different trajectories of hospital service use at the end-of-life. What this paper adds? Increasing age, comorbidities, and being a smoker were all associated with a higher hospitalisation. Adults residing in a rural location and with cancer, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and mental disorder diagnoses were more likely to have an unplanned admission. What are the implications for practitioners? Strategies to reduce unplanned hospitalisations could involve services such as home-based hospital care, patient-focused renal support, telehealth monitoring or outpatient care.

What is known about the topic? Patients commonly leave the emergency department without being seen. What does this paper add? Wait time was the primary reason that patients left without medical review. Outcomes were similar for those who left compared with those who were seen. Most sought alternative medical review and did not feel the experience influenced future emergency attendance. What are the implications for practitioners? The motivation of patients to return to emergency or seek alternative care may reduce potential risks associated with leaving. Strategies improving wait time duration or tolerability remain a priority.

What is known about the topic? When patients or providers want to record consultations, they may not know whether they are allowed to. Because relevant law is complex and not well known, hospital policies are likely to guide behaviour. What does this paper add? We asked Australia’s 43 largest hospitals for their policies, finding that most had no, or only a scant, policy. Policies usually unduly restricted recording. What are the implications for practitioners? Healthcare providers should have clear, accessible policies that allow consultation recording where appropriate, in support of high-quality provider–patient communication and information provision.

What is known about the topic? Podiatric foot and ankle surgery has a greater than 40-year history in Australia. A proposal to change the title of podiatric surgeon by the podiatry board is under consultation. What does this paper add? This paper provides an argument why such as change is contrary to current healthcare policy agendas and supports professional silos in health care. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper provides context for all healthcare practitioners as to the need for regulation in title and scope to be consistent with the concepts of regulatory right touch.

What is known about the topic? There are few studies describing the types or outcomes of medication incidents that occur in supported disability homes. What does this paper add? This study describes medication incidents that resulted in calls to an emergency poisons information service. The most common incidents were missed doses and accidental overdoses; the majority of calls were outside business hours. What are the implications for practitioners? Strategies to prevent common medication incidents at supported disability homes are needed, along with better access to pharmacist advice outside business hours to reduce the burden on emergency services.