COVID-19 open data: An ecological study and international collaboration examining pandemic trends in Northern Periphery arctic countries.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence generation lagged behind public health responses. This study describes an international collaboration of frontline clinicians who used open data describing COVID-19 trends to generate "practice-based evidence". Open data resources from nine Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) countries were harnessed using the open-source programming language 'R' and our collaborations analyses and insights were published on a public-facing website.

Genitourinary toxicity after pelvic radiation: Prospective review of complex urological presentations.

Objective: Recent randomised controlled trials underestimated the incidence of genitourinary (GU) complications occurring more than 5 years following pelvic radiotherapy. This study aimed to determine the burden of treatment at a single institution from late GU complications after pelvic radiotherapy.

Methods: A prospective study of all presentations for GU complications following pelvic radiotherapy at a tertiary urology department between November 2018 and November 2019 was performed.

Simulated GP clinic closure: effects on patient access in the Irish Mid-West.

Introduction: Rural communities can experience more barriers to accessing health care than their urban counterparts, largely due to fewer healthcare staff and services, and geographical isolation. The purpose of this study is to examine the availability of GP practices in rural communities across the Mid-West of Ireland and the potential impact of practice closure on patient access.

Methods: GP clinic locations were identified in Ireland's Mid-West, specifically counties Limerick and Clare.

Effects of COVID-19 on Irish general practice activity from 2019 to 2021: a retrospective analysis of 500,000 consultations using electronic medical record data.

Background: General practice (GP) is crucial to primary care delivery in the Republic of Ireland and is almost fully computerised. General practice teams were the first point of contact for much COVID-19-related care and there were concerns routine healthcare activities could be disrupted due to COVID-19 and related restrictions.

Aims: The study aimed to assess effects of the pandemic on GP activity through analysis of electronic medical record data from general practice clinics in the Irish Midwest.

External validation of predictive models of sexual, urinary, bowel and hormonal function after surgery in prostate cancer subjects.

Background: In 2020, a research group published five linear longitudinal models, predict Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 (EPIC-26) scores post-treatment for radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy and active surveillance collectively in US patients with localized prostate cancer.

Methods: Our study externally validates the five prediction models for patient reported outcomes post-surgery for localised prostate cancer. The models' calibration, fit, variance explained and discrimination (concordance-indices) were assessed.

Clinical outcomes for men with positive surgical margins after radical prostatectomy-results from the South Australian Prostate Cancer Clinical Outcomes Collaborative community-based registry.

Objective: Positive surgical margins (PSMs) after radical prostatectomy (RP) indicate failure of surgery to completely clear cancer. PSMs confer an increased risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR), but how more robust outcomes are affected is unclear. This study investigated factors associated with PSMs following RP and determined their impact on clinical outcomes (BCR, second treatment [radiotherapy and/or androgen deprivation therapy], and prostate cancer-specific mortality [PCSM]).

Irish general practitioner (GP) perspectives on impact of direct access radiology on patient care in the community: results from a mixed-methods study.

Background: Since winter 2020/21, general practitioners (GPs) in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) have been granted access to diagnostic imaging studies on a new publicly funded pathway, expediting access to services previously obtained via hospital-based doctors.

Aims: Outline GP perspectives on imaging studies obtained via the new "GP Access to Community Diagnostics" initiative.

Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed.

Trends and variation in prostate cancer diagnosis via transperineal biopsy in Australia and New Zealand.

Background: To describe changes in the use of prostate biopsy techniques among men diagnosed with prostate cancer in Australia and New Zealand and examine factors associated with these changes.

Methods: We extracted data between 2015 and 2019 from 7 jurisdictions of the Australia and New Zealand Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry (PCOR-ANZ). Distribution and time trend of transrectal (TR) vs.

Seminal papers in urology: anticholinergic therapy vs. onabotulinumtoxina for urgency urinary incontinence.

In this critical review, we explore the study design, strengths, and limitations of landmark trial "Anticholinergic therapy vs. onabotulinumtoxinA for urgency urinary incontinence". This trial was the first to directly compare two key treatment options for urge urinary incontinence - anticholinergic medication and intravesical botox, and still influences clinical guidelines a decade after publication.

Assessment of Clinical Information Quality in Digital Health Technologies: International eDelphi Study.

Background: Digital health technologies (DHTs), such as electronic health records and prescribing systems, are transforming health care delivery around the world. The quality of information in DHTs is key to the quality and safety of care. We developed a novel clinical information quality (CLIQ) framework to assess the quality of clinical information in DHTs.

Variation in patient reported outcomes following radical prostatectomy: A bi-national registry-based study.

Background And Objective: Radical prostatectomy (RP) is a common and widely used treatment for localized prostate cancer. Sequela following RP may include urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction, outcomes which are recorded within a bi-national Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry. The objective was to report population-wide urinary incontinence and sexual function outcomes recorded at 12 months following RP; and to quantify and explore factors associated with variation in outcome.

Predicting post-radiation genitourinary hospital admissions in patients with localised prostate cancer.

Purpose: The risk of treatment-related toxicity is important for patients with localised prostate cancer to consider when deciding between treatment options. We developed a model to predict hospitalisation for radiation-induced genitourinary toxicity based on patient characteristics.

Methods: The prospective South Australian Prostate Cancer Clinical Outcomes registry was used to identify men with localised prostate cancer who underwent curative intent external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) between 1998 and 2019.

Incidence of genitourinary complications following radiation therapy for localised prostate cancer.

Purpose: Studies of genitourinary toxicity following radiotherapy for prostate cancer are mainly from high volume single institutions and the incidence and burden of treatment remain uncertain. Hence we determine the cumulative incidence of treatment-related genitourinary toxicity in patients with localised prostate cancer treated with primary external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) at a state population level.

Methods: We analysed data from a prospective population-based cohort, including hospital admission and cancer registry data, for men with localised prostate cancer who underwent primary EBRT without nodal irradiation between 1998 and 2019 in South Australia.

Public opinion of the Irish "COVID Tracker" digital contact tracing App: A national survey.

Objective: This study aims to gather public opinion on the Irish "COVID Tracker" digital contact tracing (DCT) App, with particular focus on App usage, usability, usefulness, technological issues encountered, and potential changes to the App.

Methods: A 35-item online questionnaire was deployed for 10 days in October 2020, 3 months after the launch of the Irish DCT App.

Results: A total of 2889 completed responses were recorded, with 2553 (88%) respondents currently using the App.

Long term genitourinary toxicity following curative intent intensity-modulated radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recent studies have shown that radiation-induced pelvic toxicity often requires urological consultation. However, the 10-year incidence of genitourinary toxicity following intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) amongst patients with localised prostate cancer remains unclear. Hence, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the incidence of late genitourinary toxicity relying on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade as well as the incidence of specific genitourinary toxicity.

Evaluation of Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy Use and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Men With Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer in Australia and New Zealand.

Importance: Randomized clinical trials in prostate cancer have reported noninferior outcomes for hypofractionated radiation therapy (HRT) compared with conventional RT (CRT); however, uptake of HRT across jurisdictions is variable.

Objective: To evaluate the use of HRT vs CRT in men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer and compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at a population level.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Registry-based cohort study from the Australian and New Zealand Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry (PCOR-ANZ).

Features and Management of Late Relapse of Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumour.

Background: Late relapse (LR) of nonseminomatous germ cell tumour (NSGCT) is uncommon, with limited data published. LR is defined as relapse occurring after a disease-free interval of 2 yr.

Objective: To review features of NSGCT LR in a UK tertiary centre.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in general practice in Ireland: a seroprevalence study.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody testing in community settings may help us better understand the immune response to this virus and, therefore, help guide public health efforts.

Aim: To conduct a seroprevalence study of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in Irish GP clinics.

Design & Setting: Participants were 172 staff and 799 patients from 15 general practices in the Midwest region of Ireland.

PSA response to antiandrogen withdrawal: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Antiandrogen withdrawal (AAW) response is the paradoxical decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) following the withdrawal of antiandrogen in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Currently, the reported literature on the proportion of patients exhibiting AAW response and the differences in PSA response between the types of antiandrogens is unclear.

Methods: This review aimed to explore the PSA response to AAW and to identify if the response depends on the type of antiandrogens.

A national survey of attitudes to COVID-19 digital contact tracing in the Republic of Ireland.

Background: Contact tracing remains a critical part of controlling COVID-19 spread. Many countries have developed novel software applications (Apps) in an effort to augment traditional contact tracing methods.

Aim: Conduct a national survey of the Irish population to examine barriers and levers to the use of a contact tracing App.

Survival outcomes in men with a positive family history of prostate cancer: a registry based study.

Background: To investigate the correlation between family history of prostate cancer (PCa) and survival (overall and cancer specific) in patients undergoing treatment for PCa.

Methods: ine thousand four hundred fifty-nine patients with PCa were extracted from the South Australian Prostate Cancer Clinical Outcomes Collaborative (SA-PCCOC) database. Diagnosis occurred after 1998 and treatment before 2014.

A real-time measurement of general practice workload in the Republic of Ireland: a prospective study.

Background: Demand for GP services in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) is increasing, and the resultant escalation in workload demands is an issue of growing concern. Accordingly, the accurate measurement and description of GP workload is essential to inform future healthcare planning.

Aim: To provide a real-time measurement of GP workload with respect to hours worked and of proportional time expenditure on typical workload activities.

Renal tumours in Australian children: 30 years of incidence, outcome and second primary malignancy data from the Australian Childhood Cancer Registry.

Aim: This paper describes the incidence and outcomes of childhood renal malignancies in Australia using national population-based data from the Australian Childhood Cancer Registry.

Methods: De-identified data for children (0-14 years) diagnosed with renal malignancies from 1983 to 2015 inclusive were extracted. Cause-specific (CSS) and event-free survival up to 20 years from diagnosis were estimated using the cohort method.

Acceptability and accuracy of oral fluid drug testing for patients on methadone maintenance.

Background: Methadone maintenance is currently the predominant form of opioid substitution treatment available in the Republic of Ireland. Prescribing decisions currently involve urine testing for drug use. Urine testing may involve provision of a supervised sample in some circumstances, despite recommendations made in 2010 to abandon this practice.

Satisfaction with care in men with prostate cancer.

Purpose: This study aims to describe: (a) the proportion of prostate cancer patients satisfied with treatment, (b) how satisfaction changes after treatment, and (c) predictors of patient satisfaction including demographic, symptom-related and treatment variables.

Method: Self-reported quality of life and satisfaction questionnaire (UCLA Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite [EPIC] 26), and demographics were obtained from the South Australian Prostate Cancer Clinical Outcomes Collaborative (SA-PCCOC) database. Responses were obtained pre-treatment (radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation therapy) and 6, 12 and 24 months post-treatment, for patients diagnosed between 2009 and 2013.