Professionals In Australia Research Articles

How can a community of practice support healthcare professionals navigating new roles? a case study of genetic counsellors employed to work in medical specialities

BackgroundCommunities of Practice (CoPs) have been implemented in healthcare settings to enhance knowledge translation and facilitate the implementation of new practices. However, their role in supporting healthcare professionals transitioning to new environments remains under-researched. This study examines a CoP designed for genetic health professionals in Australia who were employed to support the integration of genomics in medical specialities. Informed by the i-PARIHS framework, we explore how the facilitation of a CoP external to the implementation setting can support health professionals implementing innovative practices.MethodsData was collected through qualitative interviews with 14 genetic counsellors participating in the CoP through different stages of their new roles, 35 discussion and reflection logs, and workshop and meeting notes. Thematic analyses were carried out to capture the patterns and process of facilitation performed by this CoP, resulting in five overarching themes.ResultsParticipants highlighted the unique role of the CoP in forging peer connection and providing emotional support in new environments with a high degree of uncertainty and limited peer support. Through CoP sessions and associated professional development workshops, they benefited from ongoing knowledge acquisition about good practices and innovations. The CoP served as an effective space for identifying and solving problems collectively or escalating emergent issues. Additionally, the CoP helped participants build inter-personal skills to overcome relational challenges and improved communication with non-genetic colleagues about genomics. Critical reflection emerged as both a practice and an impact of the CoP, enabling participants to redefine their roles and adopt future-oriented thinking for the genetic counselling profession.ConclusionThe collaborative environment fostered by the CoP offered significant benefits to genetic professionals, facilitating their transition to new practice settings and supporting essential knowledge and skill development crucial for their success in introducing genomics in speciality patient care.

High Intensity Interval Training POst-STroke (HIIT-POST): Perspectives of People Living With Stroke and Health Professionals.

High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a mode of aerobic exercise that can increase neurotrophin concentration, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance recovery post-stroke. However, HIIT is not commonly prescribed in stroke rehabilitation. Exploring the clinical utility of, and barriers and facilitators to, HIIT is necessary to optimize clinical use. To identify perceptions of HIIT from people with stroke and health professionals working in stroke rehabilitation. People with stroke and health professionals in Australia were invited to participate in an online questionnaire. Participants were further invited to complete a one-on-one semi-structured interview. A Framework Analysis approach was applied to identify key themes. Twenty-six people with stroke (mean ± standard deviation = 49.2 ± 60.6 months post-stroke, 57.7% female) and 37 health professionals (2 medical and 35 allied health) completed questionnaires. Ten people with stroke (5 female) and 8 allied health professionals completed an interview. Aerobic exercise was not considered a priority after stroke, though participants were interested in HIIT. People with stroke reported a lack of understanding of the benefits of HIIT and use of the term "high intensity" as barriers to participation. Facilitators included education about safety of HIIT and referral to health professionals. Health professionals reported a lack of knowledge of HIIT prescription parameters and participant motivation as barriers to prescription. Facilitators included education of HIIT prescription and benefits and appropriate screening prior to commencement. People with stroke and health professionals are interested in HIIT after stroke. Increasing knowledge and confidence to participate in, and prescribe HIIT, may increase clinical use.

Determinants of rural practice among a cohort of dental professionals in Australia

BackgroundMost research on tracking practice locations of health students has focused on medical students, particularly the factors influencing their choice to work in rural and remote areas. However, there is limited research on how rural origin and training in regional or rural settings affect the employment destinations of dental and oral health graduates. This paper explores the practice locations of dentistry and oral health therapy (OHT) graduates from rural backgrounds compared to those from metropolitan areas in Australia.Materials and methodsThe target population was dental and OHT graduates from La Trobe University’s Rural Health School (Australia) who completed their studies between 2009 and 2023. The graduates’ primary place of practice was sourced from the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) data. The 2019 Modified Monash Model (MMM) was used to categorise the students’ original place of residence by rurality and practice locations. Multivariable analyses were conducted to explore the association between home and practice locations while controlling for the effect of socio-demographic characteristics collected from students at enrolment.ResultsData were available for 819 graduates matched to the AHPRA register. Of these, 541 (66.1%) were dentists, and 278 (33.9%) were OHTs. The majority were female (56.7% dentists and 81.7% OHTs), 11.3% (dentists) and 21.6% (OHTs) of the graduates originated from rural and remote areas, 16.6% (dentists) and 18% (OHTs) from regional areas, and 72.1% (dentists) and 60.4% (OHTs) from metropolitan areas. Multinomial logistic regression analyses for dentists and OHTs identified that , having a regional background, or having a rural or remote background were the most significant predictors for regional, rural/remote practice over metropolitan areas.ConclusionRegional background is the strongest predictor for graduate dentists and OHTs practicing in Australia’s regional or rural and remote locations. Similarly, students from rural and remote locations were highly likely to practice in rural/ remote locations. Increasing the recruitment of students with rural backgrounds may positively impact graduates’ decisions to practice in rural areas.

Smoking Among Healthcare Professionals in Australia: A Scoping Review.

Studies showed healthcare professionals who are non-smokers are more likely to deliver smoking cessation advice to their patients than those who are smokers. However, healthcare professionals continue to smoke across the globe. This scoping review assessed the available data on the prevalence and predictors of smoking among healthcare professionals in Australia. Following the PRISMA extension for the Scoping Review checklist, a systematic literature search was conducted on CINAHL, MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library in August 2024. Articles published between 1990 and 2024 were considered, and finally, 26 papers met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Australian healthcare professionals showed varying smoking prevalence. For physicians, it was 10.2% in 1990 to 7.4% in 2013; among dentists, 6% in 1993 to 4.9% in 2004; and among nurses, 21.7% in 1991 and 10.3% during 2014-15. The highest smoking rates were observed among Aboriginal health workers (AHWs): 63.6% in 1995 to 24.6% in 2021. Age was a positive predictor for smoking among nurses, and so was male gender among dentists, physicians, and nurses; other predictors included area of specialty, lower emotional wellbeing, etc. This review highlighted a declining trend in smoking among healthcare professionals in Australia; however, it was not proportionate among the different health specialties.

Charting the course: Insights into EMR usability from Australian clinicians – A national survey

Electronic Medical Record Systems (EMRs) are integral to the work of nursing, medical and allied health professionals in Australia and other countries. Successful adoption of EMR systems is reliant upon their usability and effective use. Usability issues impact safety and quality, workflow, communication, and collaboration. The objective of the study was to measure clinician (nurse, medical and allied health professionals) experience of EMR usability in Australia.We conducted an observational study using a validated, cross-sectional survey, the National Usability-focused Health Information System Scale (NuHISS). Thirteen usability statements collect clinician impressions of EMRs related to ease of use, benefits and collaboration and technical quality. This paper presents responses of Australian clinicians using EMRs in primary care, hospitals and public and private sectors.In 2023, 534 health professionals from Australia submitted valid survey responses. The largest respondent group comprised nurses and midwives, working in publicly funded hospitals and having over three years of experience with the EMR mainly used. A majority (69%) agreed that the EMR system is stable and does not crash and 62% felt that the system responds quickly to inputs. Regarding ease of use of the EMR, 50% disagreed that the arrangement of fields and functions is logical, while 58% found the terminology clear and understandable. Sixty-two percent (62%) disagreed that routine tasks can be performed without extra steps, and 65% felt that significant training to learn the EMR is required. Although 63% agreed it is easy to obtain necessary patient information, 45% disagreed that entering and documenting data is quick and smooth. There were mixed responses regarding the EMR system's role in preventing medication errors, with 50% agreeing that it helps prevent errors and 27% disagreeing. There was agreement (74%) that the EMR system supports collaboration and information sharing within the same health service. Respectively, 51% and 47% disagreed regarding support of their EMR for collaboration between different health services and between clinicians and patients.We highlight the importance of understanding clinicians’ experiences with EMR usability. Our findings suggest areas where EMR usability can be strengthened to enhance user experience and support clinicians in delivering high quality, safe care. The study’s findings provide valuable insights for EMR system developers, vendors, and healthcare organisations, emphasising the need to improve usability to realise the full benefits of EMRs and support a digitally enabled healthcare system. Addressing these issues through targeted interventions is essential to enhance clinician satisfaction with the EMRs used, reduce burnout and improve patient care.

University-based academic programs in addiction studies in the regions of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand: An overview.

Current trends in the addiction field reflect a significant emphasis on the workforce development and education. There are already some data about university-based addiction studies programs, but not much from Australasia. The aim is to provide an overview and describe the academic programs for addiction professionals in Australia and Aotearoa NZ. The research was conducted in 2017 and updated in 2023. Firstly, university websites were searched using pre-defined keywords, followed by a content analysis of the identified programs. The data were analysed and interpreted by using descriptive statistics. We found 21 universities in Australia (13) and Aotearoa NZ (8) where 46 single programs are provided. There are three bachelor programs, nine masters, and the majority of degrees include (post)graduate certificates and diplomas. No doctorate programs are identified. The taught courses provide comprehensive coverage of the addiction field topics. Twelve programs state clearly that there is clinical practice/internship included. Application to most programs requires completion of a relevant degree and in some cases possible clinical experience. In comparison to educational options in other regions, we observe a trend towards preparing university graduates for the workforce, thereby expanding the range of programs at lower levels. Most programs possibly represent clinically oriented education primarily specialising in addictions, and graduate programs in addictions for professionals with other disciplinary bases. Great emphasis is given to the quality standards of education, and also to relationship between education and labour market. Findings help opening opportunities to collaborate globally.

A study of professional practices, attitudes and barriers to blended tube feeding in Australia and New Zealand.

This study investigates the utilisation of blended tube feeding by health professionals in Australia and New Zealand, assessing factors influencing its implementation following the Australasian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition blended tube feeding consensus statement. A cross-sectional survey was conducted targeting health professionals across Australia and New Zealand. The survey comprised 35-questions including multiple choice, Likert scales and open-ended responses, to gain insights into blended tube feeding practices and perspectives. The effect of the health professional factors on outcomes was explored in pairs with a series of Chi-squared tests. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using standard univariate logistic regression. An exploratory content analysis was used to code the open-ended text responses to the survey questions which were then categorised and further synthesised into overarching themes. Out of 89 health professionals who completed the survey, the majority were dietitians, 63% reported managing fewer than five patients using blended tube feeding within their services. Parental request was the leading reason for adoption. Notable barriers included clinician time constraints, resource limitations and a lack of formal guidelines. Some health professionals considered the primary risk associated with blended tube feeding to be poor growth and/or weight loss. Professional development was pivotal in increasing confidence and advocating for blended tube feeding, with significant correlations observed between blended tube feeding training and clinical practice. This study emphasises the essential role of education, resource availability and institutional policy in promoting blended tube feeding practices for health professionals. Findings suggest that focusing on professional development and standardised resources could significantly enhance knowledge, confidence and competence of health professionals in blended tube feeding application. The outcomes point towards the need for a coordinated approach to support evidence-based blended tube feeding practices, aligning with the Australasian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition blended tube feeding resources and recommendations.

Comparison of the impacts of in-person and virtual conference attendance

Introduction. In-person conferences provide attendees with the opportunity to extend their knowledge, networks and sense of belonging in their field. This paper reports on an investigation that compared attendance at virtual and in-person conferences to identify differences in the impacts for delegates Method. An online survey was distributed widely to attract responses from library and information professionals in Australia and internationally. The questionnaire was designed to gather data relating to in-person and virtual conference attendance. It included demographic questions, statements with Likert scale responses and open-ended free text. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out on the data relating to 225 individual responses. Results. The findings of the study confirmed previously identified impacts of in-person conference attendance and highlighted the primary challenge of virtual conference attendance, which was the networking aspect. Some advantages of virtual conferences were found to be the lower cost, better accessibility and diversity of delegates. However, these potential advantages came with challenges, including distractions and loss of focus in an online environment. Conclusion. Despite their potential advantages of increased accessibility and lower environmental impact, virtual conferences lack opportunities for attendees to connect and socialise, which needs to be addressed to increase the impact of these events.

Competencies required by sonographers teaching ultrasound interprofessionally: a Delphi consensus study

BackgroundClinicians from multiple professional backgrounds are increasingly using point-of-care ultrasound in clinical practice. Performing ultrasound is a complex skill, and training is required to ensure competency and patient safety. There is a lack of skilled trainers within health professions to meet this increasing educational demand. The role of sonographers in educating other health professionals in point-of-care ultrasound has not yet been well defined. Sonographers can provide ultrasound education interprofessionally, if equipped with appropriate clinical knowledge and educational skills.MethodsA Delphi consensus study was conducted to define the knowledge, skills and attributes required of sonographers teaching point-of-care ultrasound to other health professionals in Australia and New Zealand. Health professionals with subject matter expertise in the leadership, facilitation, and delivery of ultrasound education by sonographers were invited to participate.ResultsThere were 72 expert participants in survey round one, and 49 in round two. Participants included physicians, sonographers, and other health professionals. Consensus was reached on 31 competency items for sonographers teaching ultrasound interprofessionally, with agreement of greater than 94% reached by participants.ConclusionsThis consensus study has defined the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for sonographer competence in point-of-care ultrasound education. This is an important step to developing a training pathway for sonographers engaging in this emerging area.

Decoding the gendered imaginary of cybersecurity careers: a social shaping of technology perspective

ABSTRACT Women account for less than one quarter of the global cybersecurity workforce. Encouraging more women into cybersecurity careers has been identified as one way to address persistent skills shortages in this crucial field. Using expert elicitation, this paper draws on in-depth interviews with 31 senior cybersecurity professionals in Australia to analyse the popular imaginaries that characterise cybersecurity careers. Applying social shaping of technology to examine the causes and effects of women’s low participation in cybersecurity careers, this paper finds that cybersecurity careers are characterised by gendered imaginaries that frame cybersecurity as the exclusive domain of ‘hackers-in-hoodies’, secretive male operators possessed of highly specialised technical knowledge. These imaginaries not only distort the lived reality of cybersecurity work, limiting the popular appeal of cybersecurity careers, they also shape how cybersecurity itself is defined, with gendered effects. This paper calls for a more expansive and inclusive definition of cybersecurity to broaden the appeal of this increasingly interdisciplinary field and ensure gendered consideration of cyber risk.

Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for Atrial Fibrillation Based on the Screening Preferences of Healthcare Professionals in Australia

Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for Atrial Fibrillation Based on the Screening Preferences of Healthcare Professionals in Australia

Fostering social responsibility for interior design practice

Tertiary interior design courses incorporating the equivalent of four years education aim to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values needed to practice as a professional interior designers. In doing this, the various universities recognise the parameters and elements of professionalism formalised by the International Federation of Interior Designers and Interior Architects (IFI) and correspondingly endorsed by the Design institute of Australia (DIA), a member organisation of IFI and professional organisation for design professionals in Australia.

Nursing and allied health workforce in Australian public rheumatology departments is inadequate: a cross-sectional observational study

Rheumatological conditions are complex and impact many facets of daily life. Management of people with rheumatological conditions can be optimised through multidisciplinary care. However, the current access to nursing and allied health professionals in Australia is unknown. A cross-sectional study of nursing and allied health professionals in Australian public rheumatology departments for adult and paediatric services was conducted. The heads of Australian public rheumatology departments were invited to report the health professionals working within their departments, referral pathways, and barriers to greater multidisciplinary care. A total of 27/39 (69.2%) of the hospitals responded. The most common health professionals within departments were nurses (n = 23; 85.2%) and physiotherapists (n = 10; 37.0%), followed by pharmacists (n = 5; 18.5%), psychologists (n = 4; 14.8%), and occupational therapists (n = 4; 14.8%). No podiatrists were employed within departments. Referral pathways were most common for physiotherapy (n = 20; 74.1%), followed by occupational therapy (n = 15; 55.5%), podiatry (n = 13; 48.1%), and psychology (n = 6; 22%). The mean full-time equivalent of nursing and allied health professionals per 100,000 population in Australia was 0.29. Funding was identified as the most common barrier. In Australia, publicly funded multidisciplinary care from nurses and allied health professionals in rheumatology departments is approximately 1.5 days per week on average. This level of multidisciplinary care is unlikely to meet the needs of rheumatology patients. Research is needed to determine the minimum staffing requirements of nursing and allied health professionals to provide optimal care.

Experiences with neonatal jaundice management in hospitals and the community: interviews with Australian health professionals

IntroductionWorldwide, neonatal jaundice accounts for considerable morbidity and mortality. Although severe adverse outcomes, such as hyperbilirubinaemia and kernicterus, are uncommon in high-income countries, these outcomes do occur, have enormous lifelong...

Children's and young people's experiences of expressing their views and having them heard in health care: A deductive qualitative content analysis.

To gain an understanding of children's experiences of expressing their views and having them heard in Australian healthcare settings. Child-centred qualitative research. A deductive qualitative content analysis was undertaken. Data were collected from 20 Australian children and young people between the ages of 7 and 18 years old using the 'draw, write and tell' method. Children's experiences of 'space' and 'voice', and therefore the opportunity to express their views in health care were, in the main, positive. At the same time, their experiences of 'audience' and 'influence', the situations in which those views are given due weight, were overwhelmingly described as negative. Australian paediatric health services appear to have responded to calls to provide children with the opportunity to express their views and thus are delivering on the elements of 'space' and 'voice', whereas the realisation of 'audience' and 'influence' has some way to go. Due weight is not always given to children's views. The Lundy model can be used to facilitate a better understanding of the concept of voice, and the responsibility of health organisations in implementing the rights of children and young people, as articulated in Article 12. Children and young people have a right to express their views and have them heard in health care, but their experiences in Australian health care are unknown. While children's experiences of expressing their views in health care were mostly positive, their views are not always taken seriously or given due weight. This research impacts child health professionals in Australia and internationally. The study is reported using the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). Members of the Youth Advisory Council of two tertiary children's hospitals were consulted and invited to become members of the research team.

Promoting care for the wellbeing of early childhood professionals in Australia

Early childhood (EC) professionals are valuable educators and teachers, and their work involves being caregivers, yet the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the lack of ‘caring about’ and ‘for’ EC professionals. With the increasing focus on educator wellbeing, this paper explores how eight EC professionals understand the role of care for their wellbeing. Drawing upon a feminist ethics of care, this paper interrogates the role of care in the everyday professional work lives of educators. The findings reveal that while EC professionals understand the importance of self-care, however, their self-care is more likely to be prioritised when it is promoted by leadership (e.g., centre directors, organisational). This study also found that EC professionals need to receive care through recognition by parents, centre leaders and colleagues.

User profile of people contacting a stroke helpline (StrokeLine) in Australia: a retrospective cohort study

Background StrokeLine is a specialised telephone helpline led by health professionals in Australia. Aims (i) To describe the profile of StrokeLine callers; (ii) to understand the reasons people engage with the service and (iii) how StrokeLine responded to the caller's needs. Methods Routine call data were obtained from the StrokeLine between November 2019 and November 2020. Data were extracted and descriptive analyses performed. De-identified free-text data were obtained separately for November 2019 and June 2020 and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Of the 1429 calls most were from carers, family and friends (38%) or the stroke survivor themselves (34%). Most calls were made by women (64%) and the average age of the stroke survivor was ≥65 years (33%) with the time since the stroke occurred <1 year. The main reason for calling was to manage stroke-related impairments (40%). Providing information, support and advice was the most common action provided by StrokeLine staff (25%). Content analysis of 225 calls revealed most stroke survivors called for emotional support, while carers sought more practical guidance. StrokeLine provided information for referral to relevant services and guidance on what to do next. Conclusions Most calls were received from family and carers, as well as stroke survivors. They contacted StrokeLine for information and advice, practical solutions, emotional support, and referral advice to other services.

Systematic review of Indigenous cultural safety training interventions for healthcare professionals in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States

ObjectiveTo synthesise and appraise the design and impact of peer-reviewed evaluations of Indigenous cultural safety training programmes and workshops for healthcare workers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and/or the United...

Considerations in career choices for oral health professionals in Australia

Considerations in career choices for oral health professionals in Australia

Building the capacity of rural allied health generalists through online postgraduate education: a qualitative evaluation.

Workforce development is a key strategy for building the capacity and capability of a workforce. Accordingly, rural and remote practising allied health professionals require relevant and accessible continuing professional development to enhance their knowledge and skills and improve consumer health outcomes. This study explored the impact of an online postgraduate allied health rural generalist education program, from the perspective of allied health professionals participating in the program and their supervisors and managers. A qualitative, exploratory descriptive study design was employed using semistructured interviews. This study formed the qualitative component of a larger convergent mixed-methods evaluation study aimed at evaluating the reach, quality and impact of an online rural generalist education program for allied health professionals in Australia. Allied health professionals from seven professions enrolled in an online postgraduate rural generalist education program, the rural generalist program (RGP). Their designated work-based supervisors and their managers who were responsible for the operational management of the study sites were invited to participate in the study. All participants were employed in rural and remote health services in 10 sites across four Australian states. Study participants' experience and perceptions of the impact of the RGP on themselves, the healthcare service and the broader community were explored using semistructured interviews. Data were thematically analysed site by site, then across sites using Braun and Clarke's (2012) systematic six-phase approach. Provisional codes were generated and iteratively compared, contrasted and collapsed into secondary, more advanced codes until final themes and subthemes were developed. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 23 allied health professionals enrolled in the RGP and their 27 work-based supervisors and managers across the 10 study sites. Three final themes were identified that describe the impact of the RGP: building capability as rural generalist allied health professionals; recruiting and building a rural workforce; enhancing healthcare services and consumer outcomes. Allied health professionals working in rural and remote locations valued the RGP because it provided accessible postgraduate education that aligned with their professional and clinical needs. Integrated into a supportive, well-structured development pathway, the experience potentiated learning and facilitated safe clinical practice that met the needs of consumers and organisations. The findings demonstrate that effective work-integrated learning strategies can enhance the development of essential capabilities for rural practice and support early-career allied health professionals' transition to rural and remote practice. These experiences can engage allied health professionals in a way that engenders a desire to remain working in rural and remote contexts.