The Health and Social Science Blog is Closing

After four years we have decided to close this blog.

Alternative alerting Services can be found here:

Alerting services, RSS feeds and email

http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/research/alerting-services

New CSU Library Page Launched!

A new page has been created on the CSU Library site:  The Alerting Services page. This page will take over the role of the Health and Social Blog and at the end of June this blog will cease.  However all the information that appears here can still be found and subscribed to using the Alerting Services page.  If you would like further information, contact one of the Faculty Liaison Staff.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is a major national agency set up by the Australian Government under the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Act to provide reliable, regular and relevant information and statistics on Australia's health and welfare.

The AIHW produces authoritative and interesting reports, and other information products, on key health and welfare issues in Australia. One of our primary roles is to collect, analyse and report information drawn from health services, community services and housing assistance services.

Data are the core resource of the Institute. In doing our work we collaborate closely and have effective data partnerships with many experts from around Australia, including the Australian Bureau of Statistics, governments at all levels, universities, research centres, and non-government organisations. The AIHW also has agreements with a number of government departments and other organisations, which include Memorandums of Understanding with stakeholders such as the Department of Health and Ageing, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Cancer Australia and the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

You can subscribe to The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare:

• Email notice subscriptions
• RSS Feed Subscriptions 
• Twitter

Child dental health survey 2007 : 30-year trends in child oral health (AIHW)

The Child Dental Health Survey provides national information on the dental health of children attending school dental services in Australia, and shows that decay is relatively common in Australian children. This publication describes trends in oral health of Australian children between 1989 and 2007. Over this period, caries has declined markedly in the permanent teeth of children aged 12, but declined far less in the deciduous teeth of children aged 6.

Cat. no. DEN 217

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

World Health Statistics 2012

World Health Statistics 2012 contains WHO’s annual compilation of health-related data for its 194 Member States, and includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and associated targets.

This year, it also includes highlight summaries on the topics of noncommunicable diseases, universal health coverage and civil registration coverage.

http://www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/2012/en/index.html

GWAHS Libraries Blog

Are you subscribing to the GWAHS Libraries Blog yet? This blog is maintained to you by the libraries of the Far West Local Health Network and the Western NSW Local Health Network. The Blog aims to share report or information interest that are of interest to rural health staff. There is an emphasis on free web resources, but other resources are included when relevant. http://gwahslibrariesblog.blogspot.com.au

Australian Policy Online

Are you subscribing to Australian Policy Online yet? Australian Policy Online provides open access to much of the best Australian social, economic, cultural and political research available online. Australian Policy Online monitors over 500 sources each week including academic research centres and institutes, government departments, think tanks, NGOs and other media and information networks, in order to select and catalogue high quality open access research on public interest issues in Australia. The site specialises in reports and articles (grey literature) but also includes peer-reviewed journal articles and ebooks from Australia and internationally. As well as research, APO offers commentary articles, news and announcements, video, audio and web resources, topic guides and briefings, books, events, calls, jobs and courses. The APO website and weekly email newsletter are considered essential reading for anyone interested in public policy issues in Australia. The APO website and newsletter are free to use and without restriction with the intention of facilitating access to information resources important for public policy and decision making. http://apo.org.au You can subscribe through this link http://apo.org.au/about/subscribe

Clinical Skills Online

This is the official YouTube channel for Clinical Skills Online (CSO). CSO is a project aimed at providing online videos demonstrating core clinical skills common to a wide range of medical and health-based courses. http://www.youtube.com/user/sgulcso

PhysioBank

PhysioBank is a large and growing archive of well-characterized digital recordings of physiologic signals and related data for use by the biomedical research community. PhysioBank currently includes databases of multi-parameter cardiopulmonary, neural, and other biomedical signals from healthy subjects and patients with a variety of conditions with major public health implications, including sudden cardiac death, congestive heart failure, epilepsy, gait disorders, sleep apnea, and aging. http://www.physionet.org/physiobank

Learn About Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Learn About SMA is divided into five sections that can be browsed in a non-linear fashion, with video interviews, animations, and narrative. What is SMA? includes interviews with doctors and patients, plus an animation explaining the cause, inheritance and diagnosis of SMA. http://www.learnaboutsma.org

Animated Tutorials: General Biology

The Sumanas Corporation was created in 1994 to help design accurate and interesting products for higher education. Here is a range of complementary online animations for students and teachers interested in biology. http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/biology.html

CellBase - Image and Video Library

CellBASE is a comprehensive, multimedia-based web resource covering all aspects of cell biology. It contains innovative and authoritative digital resources selected by scientists and librarians to promote cell biology research and education. http://www.ascb.org/ivl/design/education.html

Inside the Cell

Inside the Cell is a science education booklet that explores the interior design of cells and vividly describes the processes that take place within its organelles and structures. Each chapter includes a few review questions. http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/insidethecell

CTisus: Advanced Diagnostic Imaging

This website offers over 154,000 images designed to assist individuals learn how to read them to craft an accurate medical diagnosis. The images are divided into anatomical regions (such as adrenal, chest, and colon, and visitors can browse around at their leisure.

http://www.ctisus.com

NIH Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR)

The ORDR Web site [U.S.] aims to answer questions about rare diseases and the activities of the ORDR for patients, their families, healthcare providers, researchers, educators, students, and anyone with concern for and interest in rare diseases. The site provides information about ORDR-sponsored biomedical research, scientific conferences, and rare and genetic diseases. It also serves as a portal to information on major topics of interest to the rare diseases community.

http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov

Listen to Weekly Science Podcast From the Guardian

The Guardian is publishing weekly science podcast. You can subscribe to the series.

Science Weekly

Humanitarian Affairs: United Nations:

This section of the UN website provides information about their work on humanitarian affairs. Visitors can find resources available to relief efforts, such as the financial tracking service, the consolidated apparel process, and the International Early Warning Programme. One tool that visitors won't want to miss learning about is the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The CERF functions "to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts." Finally, the site also contains a Thematic Issues area, which contains information about the impact of climate change, food security problems, and other matters as they relate to the UN's humanitarian relief projects. [Abstract from the Scout Report]

http://www.un.org/en/humanitarian

Cytogenetics Gallery

Cytogenetics is the study of chromosomes and chromosome abnormalities. The purpose of this Cytogenetics Gallery is to see what chromosomes look like under the microscope and how abnormalities of chromosomes are identified.

http://www.pathology.washington.edu/galleries/Cytogallery

BioEd Online

BioEd Online, the online educational resource for educators, students, and parents. BioEd Online utilizes state-of-the-art technology for instant access to reliable, cutting-edge information and educational tools for biology and related subjects.

BioEd Online is regularly updated with pertinent new slides in the slide library, presentations on breakthrough research, reviews, and virtual workshops on educational approaches and materials.

http://www.bioedonline.org

Examples of Lessons - Microorganisms

Using economic evaluations for drug reimbursement decisions - what have we achieved?

A new report by Professor Mike Drummond of the University’s Centre for Health Economics assesses the actual impact of the research.

Professor Drummond reflects on the global development of ‘economics‐based reimbursement’ over the past 20 years and examines the evidence to determine the impact of economic evaluation on the drug pricing and reimbursement processes.

The Centre for Health Economics (CHE)

Using economic evaluations for drug reimbursement decisions - what have we achieved?

Systematic Reviews

Systematic Reviews encompasses all aspects of the design, conduct and reporting of systematic reviews. The journal aims to publish high quality systematic review products including systematic review protocols, systematic reviews related to a very broad definition of health, rapid reviews, updates of already completed systematic reviews, and methods research related to the science of systematic reviews, such as decision modeling. The journal also aims to ensure that the results of all well-conducted systematic reviews are published, regardless of their outcome.

How Can Routine Health Information Systems Improve Health Systems Functioning in Low-Resource Settings? Assessing the Evidence Base

Health system strengthening depends on production and use of quality health data and information at all levels of the health system. Routine health information systems (RHIS) are receiving increasing attention as a sustainable strategy towards country-owned, integrated national systems that reduce reliance on parallel, vertical systems. To guide investment decisions on RHIS strengthening, evidence is needed on which types of strategies work and which do not. This paper reviews the literature on the evaluation of RHIS interventions in low- and middle-income countries, on the premise that investments in RHIS could produce greater benefits than they currently do. The paper describes the conceptual literature on the determinants of RHIS performance and its role in improving health systems functioning and performance at the local level, discusses the evidence base on the effectiveness of strategies to improve RHIS performance, provides an overview of RHIS evaluation challenges, and makes suggestions to improve the evidence base that can be used to help ensure that (a) RHIS interventions are appropriately designed and implemented to improve health systems functioning and (b) resulting RHIS information is used more effectively.

MEASURE Evaluation

How Can Routine Health Information Systems Improve Health Systems Functioning in Low-Resource Settings? Assessing the Evidence Base

Geriatric Nursing Teaching Resources

Older adults are the core population for health care services in the United States. They make up 48% of hospital patients, 80% of home care patients, and 90% of nursing home residents. Today, more than 35 million Americans are over the age of 65, but by 2030, this number will double! Newly licensed nurses report that their older patients currently make up 62.5% of their patients (Wendt, 2003).

University of Minnesota

Geriatric Nursing Teaching Resources

OpenCourseWare - The University of California, Irvine

The University launched its OpenCourseWare initiative in November 2006. As the first West Coast university and UC campus to join the OpenCourseWare Consortium (OCWC), the OCW project is growing rapidly with the addition of nearly10 new courses every month. Many of the OCW offerings are directed at working adults seeking continuing education, with the option to enroll in instructor-led, for-credit courses, related to the OCW content.

UCI OpenCourseWare

Diabetes indicators in Australia

he Diabetes indicators in Australia are standardised measures of the highest priority information that can be used to:

establish benchmarks
monitor and compare the diabetes status of population groups over time, and
monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of health policy, prevention and management strategies.

http://www.aihw.gov.au/diabetes-indicators

Dental health behaviours among children 2002-2004: the use of fluoride toothpaste, fluoride tablets and drops, and fluoride mouthrinse

This report from a study of almost 17,500 children from four Australian states (Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania) shows that more than 99% of children brushed their teeth with toothpaste, with more than two-thirds brushing the recommended 2 times per day. About 10% of children had used fluoride tablets or drops, and the majority used them for less than 3 years. The use of a fluoride mouthrinse was more common among older children.

AIHW

Cat. no. DEN 215

Dementia videos on Social Care TV

Social Care TV [U.K.] is an online channel for everyone involved in the social care sector, from managers to frontline staff, trainers to people who use care services. SCTV brings to life the work and lives of people involved in all aspects of the social care sector, through a series of short films and links to multimedia and elearning resources. It offers access to video-based training resources and general interest programmes, reflecting the issues, challenges and rewards in social care practice.

Social Care TV

Dementia videos on Social Care TV

Improving Indigenous health through lifestyle programs and building organisational capability

A new resource sheet "Healthy lifestyle programs for physical activity and nutrition", identifies a number of programs shown to be effective that were initiated and managed by local Indigenous communities.

A second paper, Improving Indigenous community governance through strengthening Indigenous and government organisational capacity, was also released. It reveals that strengthening organisational capacity was relevant for all seven COAG-endorsed building blocks for overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: early childhood, economic participation, governance and leadership, health, healthy homes, safe communities and schooling.

http://www.aihw.gov.au/closingthegap

Neuroscience & the Classroom

A video course for grades K-12 teachers and school counselors. 42 video modules of varying lengths, course guide, online text and Web site.

Produced by Science Media Group at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in association with the Mind, Brain, and Education program at the Harvard GSE; and the Brain and Creativity Institute and Rossier SOE at the University of Southern California.

http://www.learner.org/resources/series214.html#jump1

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence [U.S.A.]

More than 1,500 federally supported teaching and learning resources are included from dozens of federal agencies. New sites are added regularly.

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence - Science

HyperHeart - Pharmacology Animations

Dr. Don Blumenthal and the Knowledge Weavers at the University of Utah have teamed up to provide course material in the Pharmacology Department using the multimedia software Macromedia Flash 3. Flash is a vector-based animation and multimedia application allowing for complex and detailed animations and images at extremely low file sizes.

http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/pharm/

End the decay: The cost of poor dental health and what should be done about it

The Brotherhood of St Laurence has released a report analysing the costs of poor dental health on the economy and those least able to afford dental care.

Millions of people are financially locked out of Australia’s expensive dental health system, undermining their capacity to gain and keep employment and at an annual cost to the economy of more than $1.3 billion.

The report, “End the Decay: The cost of poor dental health and what should be done about it”, analysed existing data to estimate the disease burden of untreated dental conditions - and the resulting economic burden. The report’s authors, Professor Jeff Richardson from Monash University and Bronwyn Richardson from Campbell Research and Consulting, found that the direct and indirect costs to the economy are significant.

http://www.bsl.org.au/Research-and-publications/End-the-decay.aspx

Health Voices – Journal of the Consumers Health Forum of Australia

This edition looks at Medicines in Australia: Regulation, safety and access.

Health Voices, Issue 9, October 2011

https://www.chf.org.au/health-voices.php

Ear and hearing health of Indigenous children in the Northern Territory

This report presents findings from the audiology and Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) follow-up services provided to children in prescribed areas of the Northern Territory as part of the Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory National Partnership Agreement. Between August 2007 and May 2011, 7,421 audiology and 3,838 ENT services were provided to 4,993 and 2,670 children respectively. About 66% were diagnosed with at least one type of middle ear condition, and of children who were tested, 11% had moderate, severe or profound hearing impairment.

AIHW

Cat. no. IHW 60

eHealth technologies in primary health care: current strengths and limitations

This RESEARCH ROUNDup focuses on the use of eHealth technologies in primary health care, by exploring the benefits and current limitations of a number of eHealth tools.

RESEARCH ROUNDup > Issue 21

Exercise for improving balance in older people

There is weak evidence that some types of exercise (gait, balance, co-ordination and functional tasks; strengthening exercise; 3D exercise and multiple exercise types) are moderately effective, immediately post intervention, in improving clinical balance outcomes in older people. Such interventions are probably safe. There is either no or insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions for general physical activity (walking or cycling) and exercise involving computerised balance programmes or vibration plates. Further high methodological quality research using core outcome measures and adequate surveillance is required.

Howe TE, Rochester L, Neil F, Skelton DA, Ballinger C. Exercise for improving balance in older people. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD004963. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004963.pub3

The Cochrane Library November 2011 Issue (11)

Cancer Education

CancerQuest has developed many different tools to help teachers design coursework for students of all ages about cancer biology and prevention.

The lesson plans are designed to meet the Georgia Performance Standards. The following tools are currently available:

Curriculum about Skin and Cervical Cancer
3D Skin and Cervical Cancer Posters
Timelines for the History of Cancer and Cancer Detection
3D Animations About the Biology of Cancer
Interactive Educational Games about Cancer
Video Interviews with Cancer Survivors, Researchers and Clinicians.

CancerQuest

http://www.cancerquest.org/cancer-education-resources.html

MathBench Biology Modules

These modules introduce students (and anyone else who's interested) to the mathematical underpinnings of what they learn in introductory biology courses.
But unlike a textbook, the modules are not full of equations and proofs. Instead, we try to bring math to life using intuitive approaches, everyday situations, and even humor.
The modules contain hundreds of interactive activities, games, and questions. They range from the relatively simple (what to do with division) to the relatively abstruse (discrete diffusion models).[Their abstract]

University of Maryland

http://mathbench.umd.edu/

Biology: a suite of multimedia course materials developed to improve learning

Carnegie Mellon’s Department of Biological Sciences and Office of Technology for Education are collaborating to create a suite of multimedia course materials developed to improve learning Biology.

http://telstar.ote.cmu.edu/biology/

Perspectives on telehealth and telecare

This paper, the third in a series of WSDAN briefing papers, examines the experiences of the network’s 12 member sites in implementing telehealth and telecare.

It examines the challenges and barriers they faced, and the progress they made, in developing and adopting new technologies.

The King's Fund

http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/articles/th_perspectives.html

MicrobeWorld

Established in 2003, MicrobeWorld is an interactive multimedia educational outreach initiative from the American Society for Microbiology that promotes awareness and understanding of key microbiological issues to adult and youth audiences, and showcases the significance of microbes in our lives.

http://www.microbeworld.org/index.php

Case Studies in Primary Health Care

The Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health has participated in the OpenCourseWare program for a number of years, and this course is one of their most recent offerings.

This course introduces students to the origins, concepts, and development of community-based primary health care through case studies from both developing and developed countries. As in clinical bedside teaching, we use real cases to help students develop problem-solving skills in practical situations. We also discuss participatory approaches in the organization and management of health services and other factors such as equity, socio-cultural change, environmental protection, and the process of community empowerment.

Included among this course's lecture materials are several recorded presentations by Carl Taylor, a giant in the field of international health. Dr. Taylor recorded the presentations for this course in January of 2008, just 2 years before he passed away in February of 2010.


The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's OPENCOURSEWARE

Case Studies in Primary Health Care

Obesity and injury in Australia: a review of the literateure

Obesity and injury are major health burdens on society. Possible relationships between obesity and injury have recently been reported, but their nature and extent has been unclear. This report presents summary information from an overview of the existing literature to investigate obesity injury relationships. It also surveys opportunities to fill relevant gaps in knowledge in Australia.

AIHW

Cat. no. INJCAT 136

Lung cancer in Australia: an overview

Data in this report provide a comprehensive picture of lung cancer in Australia including how lung cancer rates differ by geographical area, socioeconomic status, Indigenous status and country of birth.

The incidence rate of lung cancer has fallen in males but risen in females.
Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer.
Lung cancer survival has improved but still remains low.
The number of hospitalisations for lung cancer has increased.

AIHW

Cat. no. CAN 58

Assisted reproductive technology in Australia and New Zealand 2009

In 2009, there were 70,541 assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment cycles undertaken in Australian and New Zealand. Of these cycles, 17.2% resulted in a live delivery (the birth of at least one liveborn baby). In total, 13,114 liveborn babies were born following ART treatment in 2009. The most important trend in ART treatment has been the increase of single embryo transfer, from 48.3% in 2005 to 69.7% in 2009. This trend has resulted in significant reduction of multiple delivery rate from 14.1% in 2005 to 8.2% in 2009.

AIHW

Cat. no. PER 51

Health expenditure Australia 2009-10

Health expenditure in Australia in 2009-10 increased to $121.4 billion. As a percentage of GDP it was 9.4% of the GDP, 0.4% higher than in 2008-09. Public hospital services accounted for under one-third (31%) of the total increase in 2009-10, while medications accounted for over one-fifth (21%) of the total growth. 2009-10 marks the first year of the transition to the National Health Care Agreement, a new health care funding arrangement between the Australian government and state and territory governments.

AIHW

Cat. no. HWE 55

Cervical screening in Australia 2008-2009

The National Cervical Screening Program aims to reduce incidence, morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. Cervical screening in Australia 2008-2009 presents national statistics monitoring the NCSP using new performance indicators. For women in the target age group, 20-69 years, participation in the program was around 59%, with more than 3.6 million women screened over the 2 years 2008-2009. Cervical cancer incidence remains at an historical low of 9 new cases per 100,000 women, and deaths are also low, historically and by international standards, at 2 deaths per 100,000 women.

AIHW

http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737420251

Point-of-Care Diagnostics for the Developing World

People living in the developing world suffer greatly from many illnesses, many of them caused by infectious agents. These people usually do not have access to stable power or clean water, let alone the best diagnostic tools. What can we do to bring the high-tech diagnostic methods used in the developed world to those with fewer resources? Dr. Paul Yager, Professor and Acting Chair in the Department of Bioengineering, explains how microfluidics, a new technology for manipulating small volumes of fluids, is enabling the development of a small portable and inexpensive system for detecting pathogens far from the centralized laboratory. This system could soon have an impact on global health.

Point-of-Care Diagnostics for the Developing World

Molecular Medicine 2008 Public Lecture Series

http://www.uwtv.org/video

The Secrets of the Sequence Video Series

The“Secrets of the Sequence Project” takes you and your students to laboratories where scientists are investigating fascinating questions. SOSQ creates an avenue for students to learn from leading scientists and ethicists about the profound moral, ethical and legal impact of recent discoveries in the life sciences. Secrets of the Sequence videos [PDF] engage students and introduce them to a variety of traditional and cutting edge topics.

The SOSQ series was produced by Ward Television of Washington, D.C., one of the most-respected names in quality documentary programming. Ward produces educational, scientific and historical programs for the commercial networks, public television and the Discovery Channel, and is a frequent winner of the television industry’s highest awards. This series was produced in collaboration with an advisory board made up of six leading genetic research universities.

Harvard University
The Medical Research Council/Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
University of California San Francisco
University of Michigan
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Virginia Commonwealth University
Additional videos have recently been added through the generous support of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Videos

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services report 2009-10: OATSIH Services Reporting - key results

In 2009-10, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander: * primary health care services provided 2.4 million episodes of health care to about 456,000 clients, a 14% increase in episodes of care, and a 22% increase in the number of clients reported compared with 2008-09. * substance use services provided treatment and assistance to about 26,300 clients, an increase of 14% compared with 2008-09. * Bringing Them Home and Link Up services provided counselling to about 10,700 clients, an increase of about 27% compared with 2008-09.

AIHW

Cat. no. IHW 56

Common core principles for supporting people with dementia: a guide to training the social care and health workforce

The 'Common core principles for supporting people with dementia' have been produced jointly by Skills for Care and Skills for Health. They can be used to support workforce development for any member of staff, in any health or social care setting, working with people at any stage of dementia. They can also be used to inform the content of curricula and training courses.

The Department of Health [U.K.]

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_127442

Trends in palliative care in Australian hospitals

Trends in palliative care in Australian hospitals provides an overview of the nature and extent of palliative care separations in public and private hospitals across Australia for the 10-year period from 1999-00 to 2008-09. These separations may have occurred in a dedicated palliative care ward, a hospice or in other admitted patient beds in a hospital. The report indicates that there has been a substantial increase in the number of palliative care separations in admitted patient settings over time.

AIHW

Cat. no. HWI 112


Identifying palliative care separations in admitted patient data: technical paper
This technical paper explores the most appropriate method of identifying those separations that occurred in Australian hospitals for which palliative care was a substantial component of the care provided. Coding and collection rules are considered, as well as national admitted patient data for 1999-00 to 2008-09.

AIHW

Cat. no. HWI 113

Juvenile justice in Australia 2009-10

This bulletin is an overview of Juvenile justice in Australia 2009–10, which presents information on the young people under juvenile justice supervision, both in detention and under community-based supervision, and the characteristics of their supervision. For more information on the juvenile justice system in Australia and the data used in this bulletin, see Juvenile justice in Australia 2009–10.

In Australia, around 7,250 young people were under juvenile justice supervision on any given day in 2009-10. These young people spent, on average, a total of 6 months under supervision during 2009-10. Most (86%) were under community-based supervision, with the remainder in detention, and almost half of those under supervision in 2009-10 had never been in detention. This report presents information on the characteristics of young people under community-based supervision and in detention and the type and length of their supervision.

Report

The Hospital Dementia Services Project: a study description

The Hospital Dementia Services Project is an innovative mixed-methods study funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council to investigate how health and aged care system factors influence care outcomes for hospital patients with dementia. People with dementia have comparatively high rates of hospitalisation and longer hospital stays which has an impact on their physical and mental wellbeing. The project focuses on patients aged 50 or over who had an overnight stay in a public hospital in New South Wales during 2006-07. This publication describes the project's objectives and design features.

AIHW

Cat. no. AGE 67

WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2011: warning about the dangers of tobacco

his report is the third in a series of WHO reports on the status of global tobacco control policy implementation.

All data on the level of countries’ achievement for the six MPOWER measures have been updated through 2010, and additional data have been collected on warning the public about the dangers of tobacco. The report examines in detail the two primary strategies to provide health warnings – labels on tobacco product packaging and anti-tobacco mass media campaigns. It provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence base for warning people about the harms of tobacco use as well as country-specific information on the status of these measures.

To continue the process of improving data analysis, categories of policy achievement have been refined and, where possible, made consistent with new and evolving guidelines for the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Data from the 2009 report have been re-analyzed to be consistent with these new categories, allowing for more direct comparisons of the data across both reports.

http://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/2011/en/index.html

Asthma in Australia 2011: with a focus chapter on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Asthma is an important health problem in Australia. This report brings together data from a wide range of sources to describe the current status of asthma in Australia. It includes information on the number of people who have asthma and who visit their general practitioner, are hospitalised or die due to asthma. Time trends and profiles of people who receive various treatments for asthma are also presented, along with information on those who have written asthma action plans. In addition, comorbidities and quality of life among people with asthma are also investigated. This report also includes a chapter that focuses on chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in Australians aged 55 years and over.

AIHW

Cat. no. ACM 22

Mental health services - in brief 2011

Mental health services - in brief 2011 provides an overview on the characteristics and activity of Australia's mental health services, the availability of mental health resources, and the changes that have occurred in these over time. It is designed to accompany the more comprehensive data on Australia's mental health services available online at http://mhsa.aihw.gov.au

AIHW

Cat. no. HSE 113

The Science Museum's History of Medicine website

'Brought to Life', is a website provided by the Science Museum, London. It offers access to images of thousands of fascinating objects from the Museum’s great medical collections. The site also incorporates detailed descriptions, introductions to major themes in the history of medicine and engaging multimedia.

This site is not only a valuable resource for teachers and students working on the history of medicine, and related subjects, in schools and universities. It also engages people of all ages and interests in the story of medicine.

Creation of the site has been made possible through the generous financial support of the Wellcome Trust and the loan of the Trust’s great collections to the Science Museum. The Museum is most grateful for their support.

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife.aspx

Example of an interactive:
The Black Death

Mandatory folic acid and iodine fortification in Australia and New Zealand:supplement to the baseline report for monitoring

This supplement is a companion document to the Mandatory folic acid and iodine fortification in Australia and New Zealand: baseline report for monitoring. Additional or updated data are provided on: * folic acid intake and supplement usage for children and pregnant women * NTD incidence rates * iodine intake and status for children * iodine status in regional and remote areas of the Northern Territory.

AIHW

Cat. no. PHE 153

10 facts on ageing and the life course

The ageing of the world's population - in developing and developed countries - is an indicator of improving global health. The world's elderly population - people 60 years of age and older - is 650 million. By 2050, the "greying" population is forecast to reach 2 billion.

Along with this positive trend, however, come special health challenges for the 21st century. Preparing health providers and societies to meet the needs of older populations is essential: training for health professionals on old-age care; preventing and managing age-associated chronic diseases; designing sustainable policies on long-term and palliative care; and developing age-friendly services and settings.

WHO

10 facts on ageing and the life course

Health Topic: Ageing