I hope you find something interesting in this selection.
The Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage Key Indicators 2011 is a long and very sad read.
Across virtually all the indicators in this report, there are wide gaps in outcomes between Indigenous and other Australians. The report shows that the challenge is not impossible — in a few areas, the gaps are narrowing. However, many indicators show that outcomes are not improving, or are even deteriorating. There is still a considerable way to go to achieve COAG’s commitment to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage.
Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal differentials in 2-year outcomes following non-fatal first-ever acute MI persist after adjustment for co-morbidity you have probably guessed is a very dry research article. It looked at death rates from heart attacks from 2000-2004. Aboriginal people were much more likely to have a heart attack and were younger when they occurred. Sadly, even when adjusting for the increased disease rate (e.g. renal) in Aboriginal Australians it found that Aboriginality is a significant independent risk factor.
The Australian reported that the committee set up to review the constitution, looking at a preamble recognising Indigenous Australians seem to have surprised with suggesting Section 51(xxvi) of the Constitution – the “race power” that allows the Commonwealth to legislate in regard to “any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws” – be removed.
We are fast running out of antibiotics with bacterial resistance developing to many. The Antimicrobial Stewardship in Australian Hospitals by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care looks at ways to minimise the spread of resistance.
The publication provides guidance on developing and introducing a hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship program. It describes the structure, governance and resources needed for an effective program, along with those strategies shown to influence antimicrobial prescribing and reduce inappropriate use.
The Oxford League Table of Analgesic Efficacy looks at various pain relievers and the numbers needed to treat for at least 50% pain relief compared to placebo.
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