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(2006)Conference PaperBackground: Warfarin reduces stroke risk associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) yet is underutilised. Wider use of warfarin is advocated to reduce the risk of mortality and disability. Aims: We have funding to: 1) develop an innovative intervention (Stop-Stroke) to optimise General Practitioners' (GPs) management of NVAF; 2) evaluate Stop-Stroke using a rigorous, clustered RCT; 3) determine the incremental cost per life year saved due to Stop-Stroke. Methods: Random allocation of 110 GPs from across Australia to control or the Stop-Stroke intervention. Stop-Stroke will comprise patient identification and recall, management plans, peer coaching, specialist support and decision tools. Data will be collected from over 2500 patients. Primary Outcome: The proportion of patients with NVAF over 65 who are on 'appropriate' antithrombotic treatment (judged against standardised criteria) will be compared. 'Appropriate treatment' will be determined using standardised medical record audits and blinded expert review. Results and Analysis: Outcomes will be compared, adjusting for clustered randomisation. Analysis will be by intention to treat. Implications: There is no proven implementation strategy for enhancing the prevention of stroke in patients with NVAF. If effective, Stop-Stroke will bridge evidence-practice gaps in managing NVAF and reduce the risk of stroke and disability in the Australian community.
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(2007)Conference PaperBackground: Optimising the management of NVAF is proving difficult and the potential to reduce stroke risk is yet to be fully realised. Barriers to using anticoagulants need to be addressed. Aims: To describe GP management of NVAF and barriers to the use of warfarin. Methods: Representative survey of Australian GPs. b: Of the 593 GP participants (response = 64.3%), 46.2% reported the experience of an ischaemic stroke in their NVAF patients without anticoagulation. When asked to select treatment for a hypothetical NVAF patient at 'high' risk of stroke, 71.0% appropriately selected warfarin. In the presence of a minor falls risk, 45.4% of GPs selected warfarin. Only 28.8% would anticoagulate the patient at high risk of stroke with a history of recurrent nosebleeds and 16.9% would anti-coagulate such a patient with a treated peptic ulcer bleed. 37.9% agreed that 'it is hard to decide whether the benefits of warfarin outweigh the risks', while only 54.3% agreed they fully understood their patients' views on both the benefits and risks of warfarin. Conclusion: Any strategy to improve the evidence based management of NVAF must address the excessive concerns clinicians have about anticoagulation. We need to reduce anxiety about 'acts of commission' in the management of NVAF.
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(2011)Conference PaperResearchers, policy makers, healthcare professionals, advisory groups and industry representatives reviewed the latest research and discussed future directions at a forum on adult vaccination against pneumococcal disease on 29-30th August, 2011 at UNSW in Sydney, Australia. The Forum was organized and chaired by Professor Raina MacIntyre with sponsorship from CSL Biotherapies. Hosted by the School of Public Health and Community of Medicine at UNSW, the forum featured national and international speakers including Professor David Goldblatt, Professor Peter McIntyre, Professor Peter Richmond and Dr John Grabenstein. This report describes some of the key messages and issues discussed at the forum.
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(2008)Conference PaperDescription of a certain experience as ‘illness’ or distress and the presumed course of treatment developed in one cultural group, may not be applicable to people who share a different set of cultural beliefs about illness and treatment (Kleinman, 1980). Miscommunication occurs in the absence of an understanding of the cultural norms, values and beliefs of the patients (Guindon & Sobhany, 2001) leading to misperceptions and quite possibly to misdiagnosis (Patel, 2001; Wagner et al., 2006). This seminal study provides an empirical understanding of Maldivian women’s mental well-being and contributes a proposed foundation for mental health policy development. Findings of this study may be useful to educate and inform mental health practitioners about culturally congruent and culturally competent approaches to mental health promotion for Maldivian patients and patients who share their cultural concepts such as South Asians.
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(2007)Conference Paper