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Following the release of the final report from the Inquiry into Long Covid and Repeated Covid Infections (Inquiry), the Federal Government has announced $50 million in funding for research into post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (Long Covid).
The Inquiry held four public hearings and received almost 600 submissions, following which the report recommended:
- a definition of Long Covid for use in Australia,
- a nationally coordinated research program,
- a National database of Long Covid,
- evidence-based living guidelines co-designed with patients with lived experience,
- access to antiviral treatments for Covid-19,
- improved indoor air quality,
- support for primary care providers, and
- Covid-19 vaccination communication strategies.
Dr Mike Freelander MP is the Chair of the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sports and said the Inquiry made clear that Long Covid is creating significant challenges for patients and healthcare practitioners, due to lack of information and treatment options. Many patients emphasised the impact of the illness on their mental health, feeling disbelieved, anxious, isolated or depressed.
Professor Kevin Barnham, Head of the Neurotherapeutics Laboratory at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, welcomed the report’s recommendations and emphasised his concern for the neurological symptoms present in Long Covid. Professor Barnham said, “approximately 80% of those infected with Covid-19 report neurological dysfunction, and 30% have persistent symptoms.”
Professor Jon Wardle, Foundation Director at the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine at Southern Cross University, says that Long Covid provides an opportunity to consider what other long-term syndromes have been overlooked and how better to work with patients experiencing these illnesses. Professor Wardle emphasised that Ebola, SARS and Chikungunya outbreaks have also resulted in long-term sequelae and that post viral issues are often incredibly complex and highly individualised, which the healthcare system struggles to support.
To read more on the final report, please click here. The final report can be found here.
The Albanese Government will include $737 million in the 2023-2024 Budget to fund their plans to use stronger legislation, enforcement, education and support to reduce smoking and vaping, particularly among young Australians.
The Government will work with states and territories to:
- stop the import of non-prescription vapes,
- increase the minimum quality standards for vapes including by restricting flavours, colours and other ingredients,
- require pharmaceutical-like packaging,
- reduce the allowed nicotine concentrations and volumes, and
- ban all single use, disposable vapes.
The Government will also introduce changes to reduce the affordability of tobacco, including increasing tax on tobacco by 5% per year for 3 years and aligning the tax treatment of loose-leaf tobacco products with the manufactured stick excise rate.
These changes will raise an additional $3.3 billion over the next 4 years. This funding will contribute to the following initiatives:
- $264 million will be invested in a new national lung cancer screening program,
- at risk Australians will be able to get a lung scan every two years,
- $239 million will be invested to ensure mainstream cancer care services are culturally safe and accessible to First Nations people and support the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sector to support cancer needs, and
- $141 million will extend the Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) program to reduce both vaping and smoking among First Nations people.
The Government also released the National Tobacco Strategy 2023-2030 on 2 May 2023. This strategy is a new national framework which has committed to reducing daily smoking prevalence to below 10% by 2025 and to 5% by 2030 and prioritises tackling smoking in First Nations communities.
For more information, click here.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) published their yearly report, Cancer in adolescents and young adults in Australia in April 2023. The report shows that cancer related death rates in adolescents and young adults has more than halved, from 62 to 29 deaths per million population over the last thirty years.
However a spokesperson of AIHW stated there has been an increase in cancer cases among adolescents and young adults in Australia. The number of new cases increased from approximately 3,800 in 1984 to 1988 to around 5,300 from 2014 to 2018. Despite this increase, cancer is rare in young people and survival rates are generally quite high. The five year relative survival rate for all cancers combined in people aged 15 to 24 increased from 79% to 90%.
The three most common diagnosed cancers among adolescents and young adults were Hodgkin lymphoma (13%), melanoma (12%) and testicular germ cell cancers (12%). Whilst melanoma rates have significantly decreased due to sun safety awareness, it remains the second most common form of cancer in adolescents and young adults.
The young Australian age group has a higher overall five year survival rate than any other age group. In particular, the five year relative survival rate for blood cancers increased by 27%.
To read more, please click here.
The University of Technology Sydney has developed a new rapid test for early diagnosis of preeclampsia, proving more accurate and faster than existing tests.
Preeclampsia is a potentially life-threatening complication that affects 2-8% of pregnancies. Symptoms can include high blood pressure, protein in urine and damage to organs in the second half of pregnancy.
The new test detects biomarkers in the blood plasma of women with preeclampsia. Specific results can be produced within 15 minutes.
The University of Technology Sydney’s Associate Professor Lana McClements stated that "this test has the potential to revolutionise the way preeclampsia is diagnosed and managed".
Studies have shown improved specificity and sensitivity compared to previously available tests. Further, it can be used at any point of care, such as early in the clinical process by a general practitioner, making it more accessible.
Associate Professor McClements noted that "in addition to the next test, the novel biomarkers also show potential as a drug and cell therapy targets of emerging treatments for preeclampsia. This offers hope not only for earlier diagnosis, but also for a future cure to this terrible disorder".
The University of Sydney is now working to commercialise the test with the intention to distribute it for worldwide use.
For more information, click here.
George Mason University, a university in America, has commenced studies into the efficacy of immersive virtual reality (VR) training for nursing students. Early studies show that VR training is advantageous for nurses learning to care for acute paediatric patients. Overall, VR training has even shown be just as effective as inpatient training for nursing students.
A key takeaway from one of the university’s studies suggest that the performance of nursing students who undergo VR training is superior to that of their counterparts who receive inpatient clinical training. On average, the immersive VR nursing group scored higher in all performance criteria, while also showing faster developmental improvement in the areas of infection control, initial assessment, and oxygen therapy compared to the group who received in-person clinical training. However, there were no notable differences between the two groups when assessed on their ability to assess the patient, administer medication, and evaluate patient care.
Nursing schools are consistently exploring new ways to enhance learning, engage students, and ensure that future nursing graduates are competent. These preliminary findings are promising and highlight the potential of immersive virtual reality in nursing education and the preparation of the future nursing workforce, which studies conclude will ultimately lead to better patient care.
For more information, see here.
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