"I just don't know enough": Australian perspectives on community involvement in health and medical research.

Background: There is increasing global support from governments and other funding bodies for community involvement in research, alongside a scientific and moral imperative for responsible and ethical research practice. Ninety per cent of Australian patient-led organisations in rare diseases have clearly articulated research priorities, indicating a desire among people affected by disease to be involved in research that impacts their communities. Philanthropic research, which is likely to have predominantly community-minded priorities, is worth over AU$1 billion annually and increased more than 100% between 2007 and 2017.

Shaping the future of kidney genetics in Australia: proceedings from the KidGen policy implementation workshop 2023.

The KidGen Collaborative's Policy Implementation Workshop 2023 celebrated the 10th anniversary of Australia's first kidney genetics clinic in Brisbane. This event marked the establishment of a national network now comprising 19 kidney genetics clinics across Australia, all dedicated to providing equitable access to genomic testing for families affected by genetic kidney diseases. The workshop reflected on past progress and outlined future objectives for kidney genetics in Australia, recognising the collaborative efforts of clinical teams, researchers, and patients.

Differences in the pattern and cost of hospital care between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with cirrhosis: an exploratory study.

Background: Liver diseases are important contributors to the mortality gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Aims: This cohort study examined factors associated with hospital admissions and healthcare outcomes among Indigenous Australians with cirrhosis.

Methods: Patient-reported outcomes were obtained by face-to-face interview (Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire and Short Form 36 (SF-36)).

Changes in self-determined motivation for exercise in people with mental illness participating in a community-based exercise service in Australia.

Exercise has diverse benefits for physical and mental health in people with mental illness; however, it is unclear how to effectively promote exercise motivation in this group. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions utilising exercise instruction or behavioural counselling with people with mental illness to improve self-determined motivation for exercise, and physical and mental health. Participants were adults (aged 18+ years) receiving mental health services.

Hepatocellular carcinoma amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.

Background: Liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are important contributors to the mortality gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. However, there is a lack of population based high quality data assessing the differences in HCC epidemiology and outcomes according to Indigenous status. The aim of this study was therefore to perform a large epidemiological study of HCC investigating differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with HCC.

Equitable Expanded Carrier Screening Needs Indigenous Clinical and Population Genomic Data.

Expanded carrier screening (ECS) for recessive monogenic diseases requires prior knowledge of genomic variation, including DNA variants that cause disease. The composition of pathogenic variants differs greatly among human populations, but historically, research about monogenic diseases has focused mainly on people with European ancestry. By comparison, less is known about pathogenic DNA variants in people from other parts of the world.

Knowledge, beliefs, and concerns about bone health from a systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative studies.

Background: Patients with low bone density or osteoporosis need information for effective prevention or disease management, respectively. However, patients may not be getting enough information from their primary care providers or other sources. Inadequate disease information leaves patients ill-informed and creates misconceptions and unnecessary concerns about the disease.

A Review of the Presentation of Overdiagnosis in Cancer Screening Patient Decision Aids.

. Patient decision aid (PDA) certification standards recommend including the positive and negative features of each option of the decision. This review describes the inclusion of concepts related to overdiagnosis and overtreatment, negative features often ambiguously defined, in cancer screening PDAs.

Association between Perioperative Blood Transfusions and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Bladder Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Study.

Background. Perioperative blood transfusions are associated with poor survival in patients with solid tumors including bladder cancer. Objective.

Enhanced recovery after surgery for oncological craniotomies.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) initiatives in the fields of gastrointestinal and pelvic surgery have contributed to improved postoperative functional status for patients and decreased length of stay. A similar comprehensive protocol is lacking for patients undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection. A literature search was performed using PubMed.

Regional anesthesia/analgesia and the risk of cancer recurrence and mortality after prostatectomy: a meta-analysis.

Aims: To determine whether the use neuraxial anesthesia/analgesia is associated with longer biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) and overall survival (OS) after radical prostatectomy.

Methods: Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. A random-effects model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs).

Bisphosphonates in the treatment of patients with lung cancer and metastatic bone disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Bisphosphonates are known to prevent skeletal-related events (SREs) in advanced breast cancer, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma. This systematic review assessed the efficacy of bisphosphonates in preventing SREs, controlling pain, and overall survival in patients with bone metastases from lung cancer.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases through November 10, 2011 for controlled trials that included lung cancer patients with bone metastases treated with bisphosphonates.

Reflections of an Indigenous counsellor: sharing the journey--therapist and person?

Objective: Therapy in the form of counselling for Indigenous Australians is much debated. Effective engagement is the key to productive therapy. This paper notes some of the constraints of mainstream therapeutic methodologies and makes suggestions to ensure a therapeutic setting for both the person and therapist born from my experience as a counsellor working in government and community settings, with adults, young people and children, and in mental health, substance use and social/emotional wellbeing.