Australasian Medical Journal
Not a member yet
1482 research outputs found
Sort by
. An expanded prescribing role for pharmacists – an Australian perspective
Get PDFBackground Expanded pharmacist prescribing is a new professional practice area for pharmacists. Currently, Australian pharmacists’ prescribing role is limited to over-the-counter medications. This review aims to identify Australian studies involving the area of expanded pharmacist prescribing. Results Australian studies exploring the issues of pharmacist prescribing were identified and considered in the context of its implementation internationally. Currently Australian studies have mainly focused on the attitudes of community and hospital pharmacists towards such an expansion. Studies evaluating the views of Australian consumers and pharmacy clients were also considered. The available Australian literature indicated support from pharmacists and pharmacy clients for an expanded pharmacist prescribing role, with preference for doctors retaining a primary role in diagnosis. Australian pharmacists and pharmacy client’s views were also in agreement in terms of other key issues surrounding expanded pharmacist prescribing. These included the nature of an expanded prescribing model, the need for additional training for pharmacists and the potential for pharmacy clients gaining improved medication access, which could be achieved within is an expanded role that pharmacists could provide. Conclusion Current evidence from studies conducted in Australia provides valuable insight to relevant policymakers on the issue of pharmacist prescribing in order to move the agenda of pharmacist prescribing forwards.
Lipoid Proteinosis Mimicking Congential Inmunodeficiency
Get PDFLipoid proteinosis is a rare congenital disorder that can present with a variety of symptoms. A nineteen year old Indian male with dysmorphic features was admitted with a twelve year history of recurrent ulcerations over the upper limbs and oral cavity. Although the initial presentation was strongly suggestive of a congenital immune-deficiency syndrome, all investigations for immunodeficiency disorders were negative. Subsequent evaluation yielded a diagnosis of lipoid proteinosis
Recurrent Pseudomonal Pneumonia
Get PDFCommunity-acquired pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa typically occurs in patients with pre-existing lung disease and immunocompromised individuals. We report the case of a previously healthy young adult who presented with recurrent episodes of pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa complicated by pleural effusion. Careful and extensive evaluation ultimately revealed the unusual reason behind the patient’s illnes
Drugs and Impotence
No full textIt is well known that sexual dysfunction can result from many drug classes including sedatives, anti-hypertensives and anti-depressants. Untreated sexual dysfunction can lead to patients’ distress. A 64-year-old man with a history of a left cerebrovascular accident presented for recruitment in a study on sex after stroke. He had been experiencing sexual dysfunction for four years. Discussions with the patient were difficult due to his expressive dysphasia, however the researcher asked him to re-visit his general practitioner who reviewed his medications and changed the prescribed sleeping tablet. Sexual function returned within a week. This case report highlights the need for doctors to initiate conversations about patients’ sexual concerns
Infant Mortality in Rural Aligarh
Get PDFBackgroundInfant mortality rate is regarded as an important and sensitive indicator of the health status of a community. It also reflects the living standard of the people and the effectiveness of interventions for improving maternal and child health. Multiple factors related to social and economic conditions, health care and environment have a significant role to play on childhood mortality and improving childhood mortality is a national priority. The present study was planned to 1) determine the mortality rate among neonates and infants. 2) identification of pattern of various factors in relation to infant mortality and 3) to identify the causes of death in this age group. Method All the deaths in children under 12 months during July 2005 to June 2006 in Jawan block of district Aligarh, India were recorded. The cause of death was ascertained using the standard verbal autopsy procedure. ResultsIn the study period, 446 live births and 37 deaths in children under one year of age were reported. The neonatal and infant mortality rates were 49.4 and 83.0 per thousand live births respectively. The main causes of infant deaths were birth asphyxia, diarrhoea, pneumonia, prematurity (including Low birth weight and malnutrition). ConclusionMost of the death among infants are preventable, though promotion of institutional deliveries, strengthening of referral system, early recognition of danger signs and periodic retraining of health worker
Attitudes Of Adolescent Girls Towards Contraceptive Methods
Get PDFBackgroundThere has been a growing interest in patterns of contraceptive use among adolescents, due, in particular, to the social relevance attached to pregnancy in this age group. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods among female adolescent students.Method A cross-sectional study was conducted, by means of self-applied questionnaires, among 500 adolescent girls ranging from 17 to 19 years of age. Prevalence with respect to the knowledge of contraceptive methods, condom use, and AIDS was calculated. ResultsAmong the 500 students who participated in study only one was sexually active .The factors associated with knowledge lack and misconception are less discussion at home or at school or college level. There were many negative beliefs like impotence after condom use, weakness after sterilization, fear of becoming obese as reasons for choosing different contraceptive methods.ConclusionThese results confirm the there is a need for reproductive health education in school and college as well as robust research to determine the contraceptive needs of adolescents
Design of Pacifiers
No full textBackgroundA pacifier is an object designed for use by children aged two weeks to around five years old. It. Although a convenient and an efficient alternative to thumb sucking, its use is highly questionable. With the advancement of medicine and technology, harms related to its use were discovered and were related to poor development of the teeth. Furthermore, the use of some industrial raw materials may cause damage to the child’s health during the growing process. Method This study evaluates different models of pacifiers available on the market, taking into consideration the design, materials and attendance to Brazilian Standards.ResultsThe Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the five different models of pacifiers indicates the use of different materials. For models A, B and E, the nipple is basically composed of silicone, while the guard is made of polycarbonate. For model C and D, the nipple is basically composed of natural rubber, while the guard and the ring are made of polycarbonate. For model D and E, however, the presence of Bisphenol A (BPA) was also used in composition. For the tensile strength tests, only model C was disapproved.ConclusionSilicon and natural rubber satisfy the requirements for technical performance. However, this does not take into account hygiene and toxicity as parameters for the selection, which are also important when considering child health
Nursing Students and Gluteal Intramuscular Injection
No full textBackgroundNurses are required to perform gluteal intramuscular (IM) injections in practice. There are dangers associated with erroneous performance of this task, particularly with dorsogluteal injections. Knowledge regarding safe injection practice is therefore vital for nursing students.Method Fifty-eight second year students at a New Zealand Nursing School were given schematic drawings of the posterior and lateral aspects of the gluteal region. They were asked to mark and justify the safest location for gluteal IM injections.ResultsFifty-seven students marked the dorsal schematic and one the lateral, with 38 (66.7%) marking in the upper outer quadrant (UOQ). Twenty indicating the UOQ (52.6%) wrote ‘sciatic’ or ‘nerve’ in justifying their location.Nineteen (33.3%) marked a location outside the UOQ; nine (47.4%) of these mentioned ‘sciatic’ or ‘nerve’ as reasons for injection safety. Overall, 50% of students mentioned ‘sciatic’ or ‘nerve’ in justifying the safety of their chosen injection location.ConclusionResults suggest some second year nursing students do not understand safe gluteal IM injection locations and rationale. Current teaching practices and IM injection techniques could be revisited to prepare students more effectively; this may help prevent pathologies arising from this procedure.
Design and Manufacture of Cushions for Wheelchair Users
No full textBackgroundThe design of custom contoured cushions manufactured in flexible polyurethane foams is an option to improve positioning and comfort for people with disabilities that spend most of the day seated in the same position. These surfaces increase the contact area between the seat and the user. This fact contributes to minimise the local pressures that can generate problems like decubitus ulcers. The present research aims at establishing development routes for custom cushion production to wheelchair users. This study also contributes to the investigation of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining of flexible polyurethane foams.Method The proposed route to obtain the customised seat began with acquiring the user’s contour in adequate posture through plaster cast. To collect the surface geometry, the cast was three-dimensionally scanned and manipulated in CAD/CAM software. CNC milling parameters such as tools, spindle speeds and feed rates to machine flexible polyurethane foams were tested. These parameters were analysed regarding the surface quality. The best parameters were then tested in a customised seat. The possible dimensional changes generated during foam cutting were analysed through 3D scanning. Also, the customised seat pressure and temperature distribution was tested.ResultsThe best parameters found for foams with a density of 50kg/cm3 were high spindle speeds (24000 rpm) and feed rates between 2400–4000mm/min. Those parameters did not generate significant deformities in the machined cushions. The custom contoured cushion satisfactorily increased the contact area between wheelchair and user, as it distributed pressure and heat evenly.ConclusionThrough this study it was possible to define routes for the development and manufacturing of customised seats using direct CNC milling in flexible polyurethane foams. It also showed that custom contoured cushions efficiently distribute pressure and temperature, which is believed to minimise tissue lesions such as pressure ulcers
Sexual Assault: Implications for Counselling Support.
No full textSexual Assault (SA) is a major public health and pervasive social problem that transcends socio-cultural bounds; with myriad bio-psychosocial effects on victims/survivors and the wider community. Indeed, survivors of SA suffer the effects of assault for a lifetime. A key aspect for practitioners working with individuals, families and communities affected by SA is to understand the background, nature and extent of the problem; as well as important medicolegal considerations and support services.