Australian Classification Research Articles

Quality management capabilities of manufacturing industries in the Western Sydney region

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to, using a quality management assessment framework (QMAF), provide a comparative analysis of quality management capabilities of organisations categorised by size and groups, based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) code.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire-based survey was used for data collection. Statistical data analysis, including descriptive statistics, multivariate and univariate analysis of variance and Hsu’s multiple comparisons with/to the best post-hoc test results, was carried out to identify significant differences and similarities in total quality management capabilities between organisations based on the QMAF model.FindingsSignificant differences in quality management capabilities were identified between large organisations and SMEs while no significant differences were found to exist between medium- and small-size organisations. Most of the QMAF-based capabilities do not seem to show significant differences between the four groups of ANZSIC code of firms, except for partnering focus and business outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsThe research was limited by the number of returned responses of survey questionnaire from manufacturing organisations in the Greater Western Sydney region. This research provides practitioners with practical guidelines for improving quality management capabilities and can become the basis for comparative analysis in other regions of Australia, and globally. In addition, the research findings can be used by government and quality associations to develop appropriate strategies and policies for supporting the development of quality enhancing programmes in SMEs.Originality/valueThe comparative analysis of quality management capabilities by organisational size and industry type advances the previous work on optimum pathways of achieving business outcomes using the QMAF model. In addition, the research has mapped out differences in quality management capabilities, based on a combined scope of size and industry type, especially in the Greater Western Sydney region where a large number of SMEs are located.

Variability of perioperative mortality of hepatic resection in Australia.

Hepatic resection is a relatively young and complex specialized procedure. A strong relationship between volume and perioperative mortality has been reported internationally. However, there has been no multicentre study into hepatic resection in Australia. This retrospective, population-based cohort study was conducted to determine national, state and territory based volume and perioperative mortality rates (POMRs). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data was interrogated for the Australian Classification of Health Intervention codes for hepatic resection defined as extended hemi-hepatectomy (30421), hemi-hepatectomy (30418), segmental hepatic resection (30415) and sub-segmental hepatic resection (30414). Logistic regression analysis was performed using the de-identified data to investigate trends and differences between states/territories. Mortality rates were risk adjusted for age, gender and public or private admission. The data set included patients who underwent hepatic resection in the financial years 2005/2006 to 2012/2013. The overall POMR for all types of hepatic resection was 1.6% (201/12 562). There was no significant change in POMR over time. However, there was significant variation between the states and territories with two states having significantly higher POMR for major hepatic resections (regional range: 1.3-3.8%). POMRs increased with age with the highest mortality seen in the 75-79 year age group. The POMR was lower in private than in public hospitals. The results of this study confirm that the overall Australian POMR for major hepatic resection is similar to results reported internationally. National and state/territory POMR has not varied significantly over time. The significant variation between states/territories warrants further investigation.

Nutritional quality of new food products released into the Australian retail food market in 2015 \u2013 is the food industry part of the solution?

BackgroundFood manufacturers have made public statements and voluntary commitments, such as the Healthier Australia Commitment (HAC), to improve the nutritional quality of foods. However, limited information about the nutritional quality or healthfulness of new products makes it difficult to determine if manufacturers are doing this. The purpose of this study was to assess the healthfulness of new food products released into the Australian retail market in 2015, and whether those companies who were HAC members released healthier food options compared to non-HAC members.MethodsThis cross-sectional study assessed the healthfulness of all new retail food products launched in Australia in 2015 as indexed in Mintel’s Global New Products Database. Healthfulness was assessed using three classification schemes: Healthy Choices Framework Victoria, Australian Dietary Guidelines and NOVA Food Classification System. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests described and compared the number and proportions of new foods falling within each of the food classification schemes’ categories for companies that were and were not HAC members.ResultsIn 2015, 4143 new food products were launched into the Australian market. The majority of new products were classified in each schemes’ least healthy category (i.e. red, discretionary and ultra-processed). Fruits and vegetables represented just 3% of new products. HAC members launched a significantly greater proportion of foods classified as red (59% vs 51% for members and non-members, respectively) discretionary (79% vs 61%), and ultra-processed (94% vs 81%), and significantly fewer were classified as green (8% vs 15%), core foods (18% vs 36%) and minimally processed (0% vs 6%) (all p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study found that the majority of new products released into the Australian retail food market in 2015 were classified in each of three schemes’ least healthy categories. A greater proportion of new products launched by companies that publicly committed to improve the nutritional quality of their products were unhealthy, and a lower proportion were healthy, compared with new products launched by companies that did not so commit. Greater monitoring of industry progress in improving the healthfulness of the food supply may be warranted, with public accountability if the necessary changes are not seen.

Representation of ICD-10-AM/ACHI Using Classification Markup Language (ClaML).

This paper outlines the Australian experience in adopting the Classification Markup Language (ClaML) to represent two clinical classification systems: ICD-10-AM (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Australian Modification) and ACHI (Australian Classification of Health Interventions). The primary goal of this process is to share classification data efficiently with relevant parties in a consistent format. This paper outlines extensions implemented in ClaML to facilitate the representation of the above classifications, with validation of the resulting ClaML files verified through XML stylesheet transformation (XSLT) to render the data on a browser, in the same format of printed ICD-10-AM and ACHI books.

VP40 Robotic Surgery: From Health Technology Assessment To State Health Policy

Introduction:The aging population means more men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, resulting in greater demand for treatment. Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) claims to offer additional benefits to patients and providers. The independent Victorian Health Technology Program Advisory Committee assessed safety, clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness evidence and financial impact to inform policy, access and reimbursement decision-making by state government policy makers and public hospital providers.Methods:Public and private hospital activity and costs for 2008–09 to 2012–13 from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Database (VAED) and the Victorian Cost Data Collection (VCDC) were identified. Data were extracted and reviewed based on (i) DRGs M01A and B, (ii) primary diagnostic code C61 (ICD-10-AM), and (iii) Australian Classification of Health Interventions procedure codes for open (ORP), laparoscopic (LRP) and RARP, supplemented by Victorian Prostate Cancer Clinical Registry data. English language Health Technology Assessments (HTAs)/systematic reviews published January 2009 to January 2015 were identified and analysed with comparative clinical outcomes data for RARP vs. ORP and RARP vs. LRP analysed. Not all reported the same data and most outcomes data presented were odds ratios and risk ratios.Results:RARP offers patients a shorter length of stay (LOS) compared with ORP or LRP, but the procedure takes longer to perform. While RARP has similar safety and clinical effectiveness profiles compared with ORP and LRP, published data do not unequivocally demonstrate that RARP is superior to ORP or LRP in terms of clinical outcomes. RARP is more expensive than ORP and LRP. The cost differential increases when capital costs are taken into account. Cost offsets from a reduced LOS are insufficient to justify the higher cost.Conclusions:Since RARP produces similar clinical outcomes to ORP and LRP but at a higher cost, the Victorian Health Technology Program Advisory Committee considered the case for public sector support of RARP is weak and provided two recommendations: (i) State Government resources are not used to procure RARP capital equipment; (ii) public hospitals can refer patients to a RARP provider, provided costs are negotiated prior to patient transfer and fully covered by the referring hospital.

Measuring Outcomes of Clinical Care: Victorian Emergency Laparotomy Audit Using Quality Investigator.

The Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality (ANZASM) National Report 2015 found that within the cohort of audited deaths, 85% were emergencies with acute life-threatening conditions, and by far, the most common procedures were laparotomy and colorectal procedures. Emergency laparotomy outcomes have shown improvement through audit and reporting in the UK. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of emergency laparotomy in the state of Victoria, Australia. The Dr Foster Quality Investigator (DFQI) database was interrogated for a set of Australian Classification of Health Intervention (ACHI) codes defined by the authors as representing an emergency laparotomy. The dataset included patients who underwent emergency laparotomy from July 2007 to July 2016 in all Victorian hospitals. There were 23,115 emergency laparotomies conducted over 9years in 66 hospitals. Inpatient mortality was 2036/23,115 (8.8%). Mortality in the adult population increased with age and reached 18.1% in those patients that were 80years or older. 51.3% were females, and there was no significant difference in survival between genders. Patients with no recorded comorbidities had a mortality of 4.3%, whereas those with >5 comorbidities had 19.3% mortality. Administrative data accessed via a tool such as DFQI can provide useful population data to guide further evidence-based improvement strategies. The mortality for emergency laparotomy within Victorian hospitals is comparable, if not better than that seen in overseas studies. There is a need to continue routine audit of mortality rates and implement systems improvement where necessary.

Recent changes to immigration laws: Implications for hospitality employers

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) recently announced changes to the skilled migrant residence and essential-skills work visas based on a strong association between skills and salary. This shift will impact both employers and migrants, especially in hospitality.&#x0D; According to the INZ, the hospitality sector was the fourth-largest recipient of skilled migrant residence visas in their last reporting year [1,2]. INZ expects migrants employed as chefs, café/restaurant managers and retail managers to be the hardest hit by these changes [1,2]. Residence under the skilled migrant policy can be gained for jobs in skill levels 1–3 as defined in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). Traditionally, hotel managers, chefs, and café/restaurant managers have been classed as level 2, and bakers at level 3 in accordance with ANZSCO. However, skills levels are now also assessed based on salary (at least $23.49 p/h) and specialist skills obtained through qualifications and/or work experience.&#x0D; Migrants paid a justifiable $35.24 p/h for a position previously considered unskilled (levels 4–5), or those with positions unclassified by ANZSCO, could gain residence under the new policy shift. While this could mean a residence visa for people whose jobs do not neatly fit within ANZSCO, INZ are not easily deceived. Indeed, the Labour Inspectorate reports that 20 percent of the published list of employers currently barred from recruiting migrants (due to breaches of employment and immigration laws) are in the hospitality sector. Accordingly, there is little to be gained by migrants claiming to be paid $80,000 for a housekeeping position. &#x0D; Approximately 21 percent of essential-skills work visas issued by Immigration New Zealand in the last reporting year were for migrants in the hospitality sector [1,2]. Essential-skills work visas cover five skills levels (as indicated by ANZSCO) but now have accompanying salary thresholds. The main change affects migrants earning below $19.97 p/h because they will now be unable to sponsor their partner’s work visa or child’s domestic student visa. While their partner and child would still be able to apply for visas, the partner would have to meet the visa requirements in their own right to obtain a work visa, and their child could only obtain an international student visa – the costs associated with which would likely consume the ‘low’ salary of the migrant worker. Additionally, this ‘low-skilled’ migrant will only be able to obtain one ‘low-skilled’ essential-skills work visa of three-year duration before experiencing a 12-month stand-down period, during which they would be barred from applying for another low-skilled essential-skills work visa. This does not, however, prevent the migrant from applying for an essential-skills visa at a higher skill level or for a visa in another category entirely. Those in positions assessed as skill levels 4–5 under ANZSCO and paid below $19.97p/h will only be issued a 12-month work visa, and will be unable to sponsor a partner for a work visa or a child for domestic student status. There are some elements of the policy change that are not retrospective. It is, therefore, vital to seek specific advice in each case.&#x0D; Many employers will now be faced with the prospect of increasing salaries to attract migrants or expending more time and resources to recruit and train New Zealanders. However, it is recalled that many employers, particularly in the regions, have experienced recruitment difficulties for decades. It is, therefore, unclear whether these changes will produce the desired increase in job opportunities and salaries for New Zealanders or whether they will only add to the recruitment woes of employers.&#x0D; Corresponding author&#x0D; Stewart is a Senior Solicitor with Ryken and Associates (www.rykenlaw.co.nz). He assists in all aspects of immigration and refugee law, including advising on visas, deportation and humanitarian claims. He has experience in representing clients at the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, Family Court, District Court and High Court. Stewart is an active member of the Auckland District Law Society’s Immigration and Refugee Law Committee, where he engages with Immigration New Zealand, the Immigration Protection Tribunal, and other outside organisations, to help shape and inform discussion on immigration and refugee-related policy matters. His work has been published in the New Zealand Law Society’s official magazine (LawTalk) and the New Zealand Law Journal.&#x0D; Stewart Dalley can be contacted at: stewart@rykenlaw.co.nz&#x0D; References&#x0D; (1) New Zealand Immigration. www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/research-and-statistics/statistics&#x0D; (2) Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Aide Memoire Information for Ministers: Composition of the Skilled Migrant Category – updated slide pack, May 26, 2016.

Seismic site classification based on constrained modeling of measured HVSR curve in regolith sites

Seismic site classification is the most widely accepted practical method in the design of seismic resistant infrastructure. The horizontal vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique for analyzing ambient noise data has been successfully applied to quantify site effects in the estimation of seismic site classes associated with seismic hazards. This successful application was mainly carried out in high impedance contrast sites. The present paper focuses on the application of the HVSR technique to regolith sites which were suggested by previous studies to be low in impedance contrast between the upper and underlying bedrock layers (< 4–5). A case study is examined which explores the central business district of Adelaide, South Australia and incorporates 10 in situ ambient noise measurements carried out across the city. Adelaide experienced more medium-sized earthquakes than any other capital city in Australia in the past half of the last century. Site amplification was also observed to occur in Adelaide. Ambient noise data were used to estimate the site predominant period and to infer the site shear wave profile, after establishing that the data were free from noises from an industrial source, checking the reliability of the HVSR ellipticity curve and validating the appropriateness of the adopted method and resulting shear wave models. The results show that the predominant fundamental period for Adelaide is 0.8s or higher, which suggests a subsoil class D according to the Australian Standard. Results of the inversion for the upper 30m shear wave velocities of Adelaide's subsoil layers varies from 194m/s to 418m/s, which are related to classes D to C (NEHRP classification system), classes D to B (Australian Standard classification system) or classes D/DE to C (regolith case classification system). These results are in a good agreement with several previous studies. This suggests a promising application of the HVSR analysis for seismic assessment at regolith sites.

A critical examination of the demand for occupational therapy skills into the future

International Journal of Therapy and RehabilitationVol. 24, No. 10 EditorialA critical examination of the demand for occupational therapy skills into the futureMichelle Fair, Tawanda MachinguraMichelle FairSearch for more papers by this author, Tawanda MachinguraSearch for more papers by this authorMichelle Fair; Tawanda MachinguraPublished Online:11 Oct 2017https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2017.24.10.417AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View article References Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian and New Zealand standard classification of occupations, first edition, revision 1 [Internet]; 2016 March 29 [cited 2017 September 29]. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/0/598C2E23628BB8FDCA2575DF002DA6B8?opendocument Google ScholarAustralian Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Lists of eligible skilled occupations. [Internet]; 2017 [cited 2017 September 26]. Available from: http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessmentand-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists Google ScholarBath P, Deeg D. Social engagement and health outcomes among older people: Introduction to a special section. Eur J Ageing. 2005;2(1):24–30. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10433-005-0019-4 Crossref, Google ScholarBedwell WL, Fiore SM, Salas E. Developing the future workforce: an approach for integrating interpersonal skills into the MBA classroom. Acad Manag Learn Educ. 2014;13(2):171–186. https://doi.org/http://doi.org.10.5465/amle.2011.0138 Crossref, Google ScholarDavies A, Fidler D, Gorbis M. Future Work Skills 2020 [Internet]; 2011 [cited 2017 September 21]. Available from: http://www.iftf.org/uploads/media/SR-1382A_UPRI_future_work_skills_sm.pdf Google ScholarHamilton A, Copley J, Thomas Y, Edwards A, Broadbridge J, Bonassi M, et al.. Responding to the growing demand for practice education: are we building sustainable solutions? Aust Occup Ther J. 2015;62(4):265–270. https://doi.org/https://doi.org.10.1111/1440-1630.12181 Crossref, Google ScholarLabour Market Information Portal. Employment projections. [Internet]; 2017 [cited 2017 September 26]. Available from: http://lmip.gov.au/default.aspx?LMIP/EmploymentProjections Google ScholarOccupational Therapy Australia. The occupational therapy workforce. Connections. 2017;14(2):21. Google ScholarSilverman RS. An increasing need. Rehab Manage. 2008;21(8):8. Google ScholarWorld Federation of Occupational Therapists. WFOT human resources project 2016 [Internet]; 2016 [cited 2017 September 21]. Available from: http://www.wfot.org/ResourceCentre.aspx Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 October 2017Volume 24Issue 10ISSN (online): 1759-779X Metrics History Published online 11 October 2017 Published in print 2 October 2017 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

Perioperative Mortality Following Oesophagectomy and Pancreaticoduodenectomy in Australia.

Oesophagectomy (OG) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remain associated with significant perioperative mortality rates (POMR). Improved outcomes in high-volume centres have led to these procedures being centralised in some countries. This retrospective, population-based cohort study was conducted to determine the Australian national, and state and territorybased POMR associated with OG and PD, and assess trends over time. Logistic regression analysis was performed using de-identified procedural data between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2013 from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Codes relating to OG and PD contained in the Australian Classification of Health Interventions were used to extract patient data. Mortality rates were risk adjusted for age, gender and urgency of admission. Temporal trends and differences between states/territories were investigated. The average Australian POMR throughout the study period was 3.5 and 3.0% for OG and PD, respectively. OG POMR showed no significant change over time (P=0.30) or variation between states (P=0.079). The annual POMR associated with PD, however, showed a significant decrease during the study period (P=0.01) with variation in PD POMR outcomes evident amongst different regions (P=0.0004). This study demonstrates a comparable Australian PD and OG POMR when correlated with international studies. National PD POMR improved throughout the study with consistent improvement across the states and territories. This study does, however, show variation in PD POMR between states and territories. Potential intra-state variation merits further investigation.

Safety assessment of herbal drugs in pregnancy

This contribution consolidates data on international pregnancy rating classifications, including the former US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Swedish, and Australian classification systems, as well as the evidence-based medicine system, and discusses discrepancies among them. It reviews the new Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) that replaced the former FDA labeling system with narrative-based labeling requirements. PLLR emphasizes on human data and highlights pregnancy exposure registry information. In this context, the review discusses important data on the safety of most medications used in the management of skin disease in pregnancy. There are also discussions of controversies relevant to the safety of certain dermatologic medications during gestation.

No laughing matter: film advisory boards’ evaluations of award-considered comedies

ABSTRACTHumor research has not addressed the treatment of comedy movies by film advisory boards, the panels informing local moviegoers of the inappropriateness of contents in these comedies. This is especially true for films subsequently nominated for best comedy of the year by various organizations. The assigned age classifications and their justifications by the Motion Picture Association of America, the British Board of Film Classification and the Australian Classification Board (ACB) for films nominated by voters of the Teen Choice Award (TCA) and the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), as best comedy movies of the year were analyzed. Three findings stand out. First, there is very little agreement among the voters on these panels of films they consider prime examples of comedies. Second, the majority of TCA and BFCA chosen comedies are evaluated more leniently by the ACB in terms of age restrictions. Finally, the film boards consider profanity and sexual references, but hardly mention humor as a justification for their decisions, regardless of the type of award considered.

Predictors of remote practice location in the first seven cohorts of James Cook University MBBS graduates.

This article describes factors predicting James Cook University (JCU) medical graduates undertaking at least 1 year of remote practice. The cross-sectional design involved point-in-time (2015) analysis of the JCU medical school's ongoing longitudinal graduate tracking database. Participants were the first seven cohorts of graduates from the JCU medical school who had completed at least their postgraduate year (PGY) 4 in Australia (n=529); that is, PGY 4 to PGY 10 graduates. Multiple logistic regression and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis of medical graduate application data (age, gender, hometown, interview score, ethnicity), undergraduate data (scholarships awarded, clinical school location) and postgraduation data (internship location, specialty training) was performed. Analysis identified independent predictors of having practised for at least 1 year in a 'remote' Australian town (Australian Standard Geographic Classification Remoteness Area 4-5). Forty-seven (9%) of JCU Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery graduates in the first seven cohorts had practised for at least 1 year in a remote location between PGY 4 and 10. Practice in a 'remote' town was predicted by undertaking rural generalist training (p<0.001; prevalence odds ratio (POR)=17.0), being awarded an 'above average' interview score at medical school selection (p=0.006; POR=5.1), attending the Darwin clinical school in years 5-6 (p=0.005; POR=4.7), being female (p=0.016, POR=3.6) and undertaking an outer-regional or remotely based internship (p=0.006; POR=3.5). CART analysis identified Indigenous graduates as another key subgroup of remote practice graduates. This study provides the first Australian evidence that likelihood of remote medical practice is enhanced by investment in a 'remote pipeline' - medical education via clinical schools and internships in rural/remote locations, with a later option of a rural generalist pathway. The proportion of medical graduates working in remote practice may also be increased by preferentially selecting Indigenous Australian applicants and applicants who score highly for communication, teamwork, self-reliance and motivation for rural and remote practice.

Early Complications of Cardiac Pacemaker and Defibrillator Implantation Among Hospitals in Australia and New Zealand

Background: Variation in early outcomes following pacemakers (PPM) and implanted cardiac defibrillators (ICD) are uncertain. We assessed variation in complications within the first 90-days after a PPM or ICD implantation among hospitals in Australia and New Zealand (NZ). Method: We used hospitalisation data from all Australian States (except the Northern Territory) and the NZ Ministry of Health from 2010-2015 linked with Death Registries to identify post-discharge deaths. We identified new and replacement PPMs and ICDs among patients ≥18 years of age using Australian Classification of Health Interventions procedure codes. Consistent with prior literature, early device-related complications were defined as the composite of (1) death in-hospital or within 30-days of discharge; or (2) device (generator, lead or pocket) reoperation or hospitalisation for a device-related complication up to 90-days post-discharge. Results: We identified 106,405 devices (82,899 PPMs, 23,506 ICDs; 67.1% elective). These patients had mean age of 74.6 ± 12.8y and 62.3% were male. Of these procedures, 1070(1.0%) resulted in death in-hospital or up to 30-days post-discharge. By 90-days post-hospital discharge, a further 2,463(2.3%) required a pocket, lead or generator reoperation (including lead/generator replacements) and 3,463(3.3%) experienced at least one hospitalisation for a device-related complication. Overall, 5.1% of patients experienced the composite endpoint of any device-related complication with a higher rate observed after ICD vs PPM implantation (6.6% vs 4.7%,P < 0.01). Among 93 hospitals implanting at least 25 devices, the crude complication rate varied from 0.0% to 13.4%. Conclusion: Early device-related complications are not uncommon following PPM or ICD and markedly among implanting hospitals.

Iran Diabetes Research Roadmap (IDRR): the study protocol.

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder which is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to undertake a survey of the diabetes research in Iran to identify gaps and highlight strengths in order to develop a roadmap for diabetes research in Iran for the next years.MethodsTo develop a roadmap and to identify major areas of diabetes research, we carried out a systematic assessment of Iranian diabetes research publications. All obtained studies were categorized to 11 groups and each group was classified according to the “study design”, “subject area”, “World Health Organization (WHO) classification”, and “Australian Standard Research Classifications”. The number of publications per each year was calculated. Research trends in publications in each area were assessed and compared.ConclusionBy this study, we will provide the highlighted priorities, the gaps of research and strategic mapping of each area of diabetes research that could serve as a precious guideline for national research initiatives in the field of diabetes. By a strategic map, we can achieve many advances in the all aspects of diabetes research that finally impact on the health, quality of life and well-being of diabetic patients.

Omega-3 fatty acids, nutrient retention values, and sensory meat eating quality in cooked and raw Australian lamb

This study evaluated omega-3 intramuscular fatty acids in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum of commercially prepared Australian lamb loin chops. Meats, denuded of external fats were cooked by means of conductive dry-heat using a fry grilling hot plate, to a core temperature of 70°C. An untrained consumer panel assessed meat appearance, aroma, tenderness, juiciness, taste and overall liking. Results showed no compositional alterations (P>0.05) to omega-3 fatty acids due to cooking treatment, whereas on absolute terms (mg/100g muscle) omega-3 fatty acids significantly (P<0.05) increased. The mean EPA+DHA content of the cooked meat at 32.8±2.3mg/100g muscle exceeded the minimum 30mg/100g per edible portion required for the defined Australian classification as ‘source’ long-chain (≥C20) omega-3 for cooked lamb. A 3.4% intramuscular fat content in the initial raw meat was sufficient to maintain acceptable overall sensory eating quality. Results endorse the application of this cooking method to enable delivery of health beneficial long-chain omega-3 fatty acids of commercially prepared Australian lamb loin chops to consumers without impediments to sensory eating properties.

Characteristics of Queensland physicians and the influence of rural exposure on practice location.

The Queensland branch of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) commissioned this study to update their workforce profile and examine rural practice. The present investigation aimed to describe characteristics of Queensland physicians and determine the influence of childhood and training locations on current rural practice. A cross-sectional online survey, conducted 4 July-4 November 2013, was administered to Fellows of The RACP, Queensland. Descriptive statistics report characteristics and logistic regression analyses identify associations and interactions. The outcome measure was current practice location using the Australian Standard Geographic Classification - Remoteness Area. Data were obtained for 633 physicians. Their average age was 49.5 years, a third was female and a quarter was in rural practice. Rural practice was associated with a rural childhood (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval, CI) 1.89 (1.10, 3.27) P = 0.02) and any time spent as an intern (OR 4.07 (2.12, 7.82) P < 0.001) or registrar (OR 4.00 (2.21, 7.26) P < 0.001) in a rural location. Physicians with a rural childhood and rural training were most likely to be in rural practice. However, those who had a metropolitan childhood and a rural internship were approximately five times more likely to be working in rural practice than physicians with no rural exposure (OR 5.33 (1.61, 17.60) P < 0.01). The findings demonstrate the positive effect of rural vocational training on rural practice. A prospective study would determine if recent changes to the Basic Physician Training Pathway and the Basic Paediatric Training Network (more rural training than previous pathways) increases the rate of rural practice.

Learning from Experience inNSW?

While the bulk of the empirical evidence shows that municipal mergers do not improve the performance of local authorities, Australian policy‐makers nonetheless continue to impose council amalgamation, as illustrated by the current New South WalesFit for the Futurelocal government reform process. This paper first critically examines the empirical evidence employed by the Independent Local Government Review Panel on the impact of the 2004 council mergers. We argue that this evidence is flawed. We then provide an empirical assessment of the municipal mergers, which occurred over 2000–2004 with our sample drawn from Group 4 councils in the New South Wales variant of the Australian Local Government Classification System. Group 4 councils represent a group of significant regional cities and town councils with similar operational activities. We demonstrate that merged councils have not performed any better than their unmerged peers over the period 2004 to 2014. The paper concludes with some brief policy implications for local government reform in New South Wales and elsewhere.

Validity of a Job-Exposure Matrix for Psychosocial Job Stressors: Results from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey.

IntroductionA Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) for psychosocial job stressors allows assessment of these exposures at a population level. JEMs are particularly useful in situations when information on psychosocial job stressors were not collected individually and can help eliminate the biases that may be present in individual self-report accounts. This research paper describes the development of a JEM in the Australian context.MethodsThe Household Income Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey was used to construct a JEM for job control, job demands and complexity, job insecurity, and fairness of pay. Population median values of these variables for all employed people (n = 20,428) were used to define individual exposures across the period 2001 to 2012. The JEM was calculated for the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) at the four-digit level, which represents 358 occupations. Both continuous and binary exposures to job stressors were calculated at the 4-digit level. We assessed concordance between the JEM-assigned and individually-reported exposures using the Kappa statistic, sensitivity and specificity assessments. We conducted regression analysis using mental health as an outcome measure.ResultsKappa statistics indicate good agreement between individually-reported and JEM-assigned dichotomous measures for job demands and control, and moderate agreement for job insecurity and fairness of pay. Job control, job demands and security had the highest sensitivity, while specificity was relatively high for the four exposures. Regression analysis shows that most individually reported and JEM measures were significantly associated with mental health, and individually-reported exposures produced much stronger effects on mental health than the JEM-assigned exposures.DiscussionThese JEM-based estimates of stressors exposure provide a conservative proxy for individual-level data, and can be applied to a range of health and organisational outcomes.

Drug safety: Pregnancy rating classifications and controversies

This contribution consolidates data on international pregnancy rating classifications, including the former US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Swedish, and Australian classification systems, as well as the evidence-based medicine system, and discusses discrepancies among them. It reviews the new Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) that replaced the former FDA labeling system with narrative-based labeling requirements. PLLR emphasizes on human data and highlights pregnancy exposure registry information. In this context, the review discusses important data on the safety of most medications used in the management of skin disease in pregnancy. There are also discussions of controversies relevant to the safety of certain dermatologic medications during gestation.