News Articles
Investing in behavioural research to improve patient safety
Date of Posting: 31-05-2017
A partnership between the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) and BehaviourWorks Australia is delivering a new $1.5 million Patient Safety Research and Innovation Program to improve patient safety in public healthcare. The three-year prog Read More...
New research shows lung cancer rates among rich, poor widens
Date of Posting: 30-05-2017
Lung cancer rates in women are on the increase, except in the highest socio-economic areas. The gap in lung cancer rates among the poorest and richest women has not changed in nearly 30 years and is actually widening despite the many tobacco contr Read More...
Breastfeeding has been linked to a lower risk of developing cancer of the uterus
Date of Posting: 30-05-2017
Researchers have found another health benefit of breastfeeding, it has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer of the uterus. An international study, led by Australian researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, found women who b Read More...
Epworth nurse leads new hospital sustainability program
Date of Posting: 29-05-2017
Epworth HealthCare (Epworth) and Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd (Baxter) are joining forces to divert an estimated 12 tonnes of hospital waste from landfill each year, with Epworth Richmond the first hospital in Australia to recycle aluminium and PV Read More...
Osteoarthritis in Australia has increased due to obesity
Date of Posting: 29-05-2017
The incidence of osteoarthritis in Australia has grown in line with the national trend towards obesity, according to the Medibank Better Health Index. The number of Australians living with osteoarthritis has soared over the last nine years, in lin Read More...
New study shows obesity causes heart changes in young
Date of Posting: 29-05-2017
A high BMI is known to cause heart disease in mid-to-late life, but new research has revealed it can worsen cardiovascular health even in those as young as 17. Obesity can cause poor cardiovascular health, even in the young, according to a new stu Read More...
Study shows preventable nursing home deaths increased
Date of Posting: 29-05-2017
A study of deaths in Australian nursing homes reveals a more than 400 per cent increase in premature and potentially preventable deaths since 2011. The number of nursing home residents dying prematurely as a result of a potentially preventable inj Read More...
MND funding boost will investigate drug treatment
Last Updated: 29-05-2017
Almost $1 million in funding for research into a potential drug therapy for motor neurone disease (MND) will flow to the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research. The funding is part of a $7.8 million allocation for re Read More...
Shares in private healthcare firms impacted by Budget Medicare proposals
Date of Posting: 29-05-2017
The 2017 Budget saw Medicare take centre stage, as a new levy was introduced to cover the cost of disability insurance. To fund the cost of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), a 0.5% increase in the levy paid for accessing Medicare is to Read More...
Scientists hopeful to potential cancer vaccines
Date of Posting: 26-05-2017
The Australian Centre for Cancer Glycomics has been launched at Griffith University, with scientists hopeful it will lead to potential cancer vaccines. Australian scientists are leading the world in a new and unique approach to fighting some of th Read More...
Researchers closer to identifying genes linked to a painful disease affecting women
Last Updated: 25-05-2017
Researchers are one step closer to identifying genes linked to a gynaecological disease affecting one in 10 Australian women. A global study into the genetic causes of endometriosis has identified a wider array of genetic links to the disease than Read More...
Scientists have made a breakthrough in uterine cancer research
Date of Posting: 25-05-2017
Scientists at the Hunter Medical Research Institute have made a breakthrough in their understanding of uterine cancer that could save lives. Australian research has identified a protein that allows endometrial cancer cells to spread from the uteru Read More...
A marijuana-based medicine is a treatment for epilepsy
Date of Posting: 25-05-2017
Researchers in the United States say they have found a medicine made from marijuana that won't give users a 'high' but will cut seizures in children with a severe form of epilepsy. "This is the first solid, rigorously obtained sci Read More...
Pneumonia don't respond to antibiotics
Date of Posting: 24-05-2017
Older Australians are being encouraged to get the free pneumococcal vaccine, with research showing antibiotics fails to treat pneumonia in 20 per cent of cases. One-in-four patients with pneumonia don't respond to antibiotics, leading to calls Read More...
Chocolate linked to lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation
Date of Posting: 24-05-2017
Research has found a link between regular chocolate consumption and a lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation, also known as heart flutter. Moderate consumption of chocolate has been linked to a lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation (A Read More...
A new report shows palliative care hospitalisations are growing in Australia
Date of Posting: 24-05-2017
A higher proportion of the Australian population is going to hospital for end-of-life care than ever before. New data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that palliative care hospitalisations are growing faster Read More...
Exercise does significantly protect against dying from cancer
Date of Posting: 23-05-2017
An Australian researcher is calling for all cancer patients to have access to exercise treatment facilities to boost their chances of survival. The impact exercise has on surviving many common cancers can't be ignored, with Australian research Read More...
Aspirin can help pregnant women at high risk of pre-eclampsia
Date of Posting: 23-05-2017
Doctors at The Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne have begun prescribing pregnant women at high risk of pre-eclampsia with low doses of aspirin. Aspirin and early detection are helping to save the lives of Australian women and babies at risk Read More...
Entrepreneurship course gives rise to med-tech startups
Date of Posting: 22-05-2017
A fashionable pair of earrings for women with gestational diabetes that automatically monitors and helps control blood glucose levels and a device to help brain to bladder function among geriatric patients are among the newest medical innovations bei Read More...
Union keeps fighting for registered nurses in aged care
Last Updated: 22-05-2017
The New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) has vowed to continue its fight to have one registered nurse on duty at all times in the state’s residential aged care facilities. NSWNMA general secretary Brett Holmes labe Read More...
People with perforated eardrums will put their faith in silkworms
Date of Posting: 22-05-2017
New human trials will start this year to help people with perforated eardrums and chronic middle ear disease thanks to experts in Perth and Melbourne. People with perforated eardrums will put their faith in silkworms and scientific research to res Read More...
Western Australia supports 'no jab, no play' policy
Date of Posting: 22-05-2017
Western Australia is supporting the "no jab, no play" policy to keep unvaccinated children out of child care centres and preschools. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has written to the prime minister in support of a national push to Read More...
There's a link between a father's vitamin D intake and a child's height and weight
Date of Posting: 19-05-2017
An Irish study has found an association between fathers' vitamin D intake before conception and their child's height and weight. What a woman eats during pregnancy may not be the only factor that ensures a baby's healthy development.[s Read More...
A total knee replacement should be a "last resort" treatment of osteoarthritis
Date of Posting: 19-05-2017
A knee replacement should only be considered after all non-surgical treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee have failed, say health authorities. A total knee replacement should be a "last resort" treatment of osteoarthritis, with those Read More...
A virtual schizophrenia library has been launched to help patients and their families
Date of Posting: 18-05-2017
A virtual library on schizophrenia full of accurate and reliable information is now available to Australians impacted by the mental illness. The Schizophrenia Library developed by scientists at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) contains 2,00 Read More...
Advanced melanoma patients with brain tumours may be able to live longer
Date of Posting: 18-05-2017
Australian researchers say a combination of immunotherapy drugs may help increase life expectancy for patients with advanced melanoma. Advanced melanoma patients with brain tumours may be able to live longer using a combination of immunotherapy dr Read More...
Smokers are significantly more likely to develop skin cancer
Date of Posting: 17-05-2017
Queensland researchers have found what they say is the strongest link yet between smoking and skin cancer. Smokers are significantly more likely to develop skin cancer, a Queensland study has found.[subscribe] Researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Read More...
World-class testing available for Queensland coalminers to combat black lung disease
Date of Posting: 17-05-2017
Queensland coal miners will be given access to world-class testing for black lung in response to a growing number of cases of the disease. Since its re-emergence two years ago, 21 Queensland miners have been diagnosed with the disease, prompting t Read More...
NSW bill allows terminally ill patients to end their lives
Date of Posting: 17-05-2017
A NSW woman suffering from motor neuron disease has given her backing to a new bill that could allow terminally ill patients to end their lives. A terminally ill mother of two has told her emotional story in NSW parliament, leaving politicians in Read More...
Global push to reform the way we define disease
Date of Posting: 17-05-2017
Experts release new rules for panels which seek to make more healthy people into patients A group of international experts today released the first ever guidance for medical panels which make changes to disease definitions, in a landmark paper in Read More...
Australia's mental health nurses urged to 'understand and foster resilience'
Date of Posting: 17-05-2017
A CQUniversity Noosa academic has chosen the occasion of International Nurses' Day and Florence Nightingale's birthday to urge mental health nurses across our nation to understand and foster resilience. Professor Margaret McAllister presen Read More...
Continence care for the transgender community
Date of Posting: 17-05-2017
The specific continence needs of transgender people will be among topics on the agenda at the Continence Foundation of Australia’s Victorian conference at Torquay this week (May 18-19). RSL Care + RDNS senior clinical nurse adviser Kate McLe Read More...
Pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination campaign is failing
Last Updated: 16-05-2017
Life-threatening consequences are not enough to make three quarters of Australian adults vaccinate against pneumococcal pneumonia, a survey reveals. Potential death is not enough to make three quarters of Australian adults vaccinate against pneumo Read More...
Researchers analysed Zika-associated birth defects
Date of Posting: 16-05-2017
A study into microcephaly, where babies are born with smaller heads, found foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and genetic conditions can cause the birth defect. The birth defect microcephaly had the world's attention when images of Zika-infected Read More...
Management of epidurals for obese women is a growing concern for anaesthetists
Date of Posting: 16-05-2017
As obesity rates rise in Australia, the administration of epidurals for pregnant women become a concern among anaesthetists. Losing weight before falling pregnant may save mums-to-be a world of pain during labour.[subscribe] Research shows that Read More...
Physiotherapists treat more iHunch pain
Last Updated: 15-05-2017
New Zealand’s peak physiotherapy organisation has urged people using smart phones, tablets and laptops for extended periods of time to avoid ‘iHunch’ with good posture and regular movement. Physiotherapists and chiropractors in t Read More...
Having a pet dog reduces a child's risk of developing a food allergy
Date of Posting: 15-05-2017
Having a pet dog reduces a child's risk of developing a food allergy before the age of four, new Australian research has identified. Nearly two thirds of children with a food allergy will have outgrown it by the age of four, Australian researc Read More...
HPV vaccination and screening will prevent women from rare cervical cancer
Date of Posting: 12-05-2017
HPV vaccination and screening will prevent thousands of women developing a rare type of cervical cancer. More than 6000 cases of a rare, hard-to-detect type of cervical cancer will be averted by 2040 as a result of vaccination and screening, accor Read More...
Regular high-intensity exercise can significantly slow down ageing
Date of Posting: 12-05-2017
Regular high-intensity exercise can slow the ageing of the body's cells by nearly 10 years, according to a US study. Research from Brigham Young University (BMU), published in medical journal Preventive Medicine, found people who consistently Read More...
Doctors need to be taught how to discuss their patients' excess weight
Last Updated: 12-05-2017
Adrienne Gordon, University of Sydney and Kirsten Black, University of Sydney With 80% of adults and close to one-third of children expected to be overweight or obese by 2025, doctors are increasingly likely to be working with people who ar Read More...
