OBJECTIVE:To collate assessment tools, diagnostic/screening methods, referral pathways, and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) available to paramedics managing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in the out-of-hospital (OOH) setting, and to examine the evidence cited in these resources. INTRODUCTION:COVID-19 presents with varied severity and has caused over seven million deaths since 2020. Ambulance Health Services (AHSs) have faced sustained demand and implemented new measures for patient care, often without evidence-based guidance. This review explores how paramedics assess, diagnose, and refer these patients, and what evidence supports these practices. INCLUSION CRITERIA:Sources from January 2020 to October 2024 were included, with grey literature from six countries eligible until April 2025. Participants were patients of any age assessed or referred by paramedics in OOH settings. METHODS:Following JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR, literature was sourced from databases and ambulance organisations. Data were extracted using Covidence and customised tools, then synthesised narratively and in tables. RESULTS:Sixty-seven sources from 20 countries were included. Six screening tools, 29 assessment tools, and 13 referral pathways were identified. Few AHS resources cited evidence. CONCLUSIONS:Paramedic practice is significantly heterogenous and most CPGs lack supporting evidence. This review can aide further evidence-mapping and validation of clinical tools and patient pathways.

The South Asian migrant youth population in Australia is growing, but research on their acculturation and psychological wellbeing is limited. This study explores how migration experiences influence family functioning and mental health in youth (ages 16-25) from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka across South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. Using mixed methods, including surveys (n = 154) and focus groups (n = 24 youth, n = 12 parents), family functioning, self-esteem, life satisfaction and support from significant other predicted a decrease in psychological distress. Qualitative findings show that youth develop a bicultural identity, balancing traditions from their country of origin and Australian culture. Youth define mental health positively, emphasizing holistic wellbeing and stress management. Family disagreements and academic pressures were identified as stressors, but coping strategies, such as physical activities and social support, were common. Parents supported cultural integration, fostering a sense of belonging. These findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive and safe mental health programmes tailored for South Asian migrant youth. The research emphasizes the importance of resilience-building initiatives and integration, with a focus on family dynamics and social support. It underscores the necessity of involving families and social networks in mental health interventions to mitigate psychological distress in migrant youth.

Dementia has become a national health priority in Vietnam due to its growing prevalence in the aging population. Although the national dementia strategy highlights health education as a key approach, there is limited formative data on public knowledge. This study aims to assess dementia knowledge among Vietnamese adults and identify factors associated with it. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 967 adults from eight provinces in Vietnam, using a structured questionnaire covering four dementia knowledge domains. Two open-ended questions were included to explore community perspectives. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and multiple linear regression methods, while qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. The participants demonstrate an average level of dementia knowledge, with an overall correct response rate of 50

Aim To co-design an information booklet to support adults living with a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) at home.Design A sequential, mixed-method approach using Boyd's co-design framework.Method A diverse project team led co-design of a PICC booklet based on preferences and PICC management strategies identified through content analysis of interviews with 15 Australian health consumers (January 2022-March 2023) using a qualitative descriptive approach. A draft booklet was developed, reviewed by the team and prototyped, which was evaluated by consumer participants and an external nurse panel, with readability assessed using Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid scores. The project team reviewed feedback, reached consensus on changes and collaborated with designers to produce the final booklet.Results Consumer participant strategies were classified into four categories: enhancing coping, taking responsibility and understanding information, modifying life and accessing supports. Two pre-determined categories were included (participant recommendations for PICC education resource content and top tips for living with a PICC). The prototype was evaluated as highly relevant (3.9/4), comprehensive (3.8/4) with an appropriate writing style and visual appeal. Readability scores were 76.1/100 (Flesch Reading Ease) and 6.9 (Flesch-Kincaid grade level). The final booklet contained 13 sections.Conclusion A co-design approach successfully created a novel PICC information booklet with positive evaluations.Implications Provides understanding of consumer information preferences to inform PICC education and offers insight into consumer-developed strategies and knowledge for living with a PICC.Impact A co-designed PICC information booklet based on consumer knowledge may augment nursing education for people living with a PICC to improve outcomes.Reporting Method The qualitative component follows the EQUATOR network COREQ guideline. A co-design research reporting standard is not available.Patient or Public Contribution A consumer representative was a member of the project team and contributed to study design, interpretation of findings and development of the booklet and manuscript.

BACKGROUND:Adverse events associated with umbilical vascular catheters occur frequently in the neonatal intensive care unit. International guidelines recommend limiting catheter dwell time to reduce the risk of adverse events, and this drives clinical decision-making regarding catheter removal, yet other risk factors may also influence the risk of adverse events. OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to develop a clinically useful risk prediction model that could be utilised in the neonatal intensive care unit to identify infants at a greater risk of developing an adverse event associated with umbilical vascular catheters. METHODS:A risk prediction model was developed for the umbilical venous catheter and umbilical arterial catheter based on the dataset of a published retrospective cohort study in a South Australian neonatal intensive care unit. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to develop the model. Deviance was used to evaluate the model's goodness of fit, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration plot were used to assess calibration. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve evaluated the model's discrimination. RESULTS:For adverse events associated with umbilical venous catheters, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model selected none of the potential predictor variables. Five predictors of adverse events were identified for umbilical arterial catheters: thrombocytopaenia, intrauterine growth restriction/small for gestational age, congenital heart disease/defects including patent ductus arteriosus, maternal diabetes, and a dwell time of >7 days. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.68 (95% confidence interval: 0.61-0.74). A link test found that the model was properly specified, and a Hosmer-Lemeshow test demonstrated that the model was well calibrated (p = 0.104). CONCLUSIONS:A risk prediction model has been developed to identify infants at a greater risk of an adverse event associated with umbilical arterial catheters. The model needs to be externally validated before it can be implemented into clinical practice.

BACKGROUND:Chronic pelvic pain, defined as persistent pain in the structures of the pelvis, is a condition that significantly impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of up to one-third of people worldwide, with substantial associated costs to both the individual and healthcare system/s. The present trial aims to establish the efficacy of e-hypnotherapy over relaxation and waitlist controls on pain, HRQoL and biopsychosocial outcomes, and evaluate cost-effectiveness. METHODS:A parallel-group, investigator-blinded, randomised controlled trial will be conducted. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to either a 7-week online personalised e-hypnotherapy programme (n=44), a 7-week online personalised relaxation control (n=44) or waitlist control (n=44). The primary outcome will be self-reported pain level, and secondary outcomes will include psychological distress, QoL, pain catastrophising, self-efficacy, central sensitisation, somatic symptoms, fatigue and sleep. Cost-effectiveness will also be examined. Longitudinal qualitative interviews will be conducted with participants in the e-hypnotherapy (n=20) and relaxation (n=20) groups to understand meaningful change and barriers/facilitators for ongoing use. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION:This protocol has received ethics approval in Australia from the Deakin University Research Ethics Committee (DUREC ref. 2024-080). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences related to chronic pelvic pain and mind-body interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12623000368639p.

Objective: To identify Child Health Nurses, Registered Midwives, Registered Nurses, or General Practice Nurses' individual practices, understand their practice and any enablers or barriers to their practice when screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in infants. Methods: Online focus groups were held via Zoom. The focus groups were semi-structured and utilised a pre-developed guide to ensure the research aims and objectives were covered. The three focus groups were recorded transcribed, and data from the 11 participants analysed using a structured thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were found to be important to practice when screening for DDH. Theoretical education and practical training of clinicians was viewed as essential and included consistency of training and ongoing education. Participants highlighted perceptions of practice and confidence in their own and others practice. Understanding screening, diagnosis and treatment was important, as was the role of other health care providers and best practice recommendations. Finally supporting families and the child was seen as an essential role especially during missed diagnoses. Conclusion: Barriers to confidently screening for DDH are many, with enablers few. Child Health Nurses require ongoing training and education to confidently screen infants for DDH. This training should be evidence based which will require further research into the current education available. To support an evidence-based approach to screening a study of accuracy should be explored.

The World Health Organization's iSupport for Dementia program provides an online platform for carer education, yet its suitability for culturally and linguistically diverse communities remains under explored. This study evaluated the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the adapted Vietnamese iSupport program for carers in Australia and identified factors influencing the future implementation of an iSupport Virtual Assistant (iSupport VA). A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using five focus group discussions with 30 participants, including 18 family carers and 12 formal carers from Vietnamese communities in Australia. Thematic analysis, guided by a deductive-then-inductive approach, was applied to analyse the data. Discussions were conducted in Vietnamese, recorded, transcribed, translated, and systematically coded for recurring themes. The findings showed that participants emphasized the need for culturally sensitive language and visual representation in the adapted iSupport program, stressing the necessity for translations that align with context, incorporate relatable examples, and feature realistic video content. They expressed a strong preference for accessible multimedia formats, favouring video content with voice-over and interactive features over text-heavy materials, particularly for those with limited literacy. The importance of culturally tailored caregiving scenarios was highlighted, with a preference for real actors over animated characters to enhance emotional authenticity. Despite recognising the program's value in improving caregiving skills, carers cited time constraints, competing responsibilities, and digital literacy challenges as barriers to engagement, emphasising the need for a clear value proposition and targeted support mechanisms, including introductory tutorials and peer-based community interaction. Adapting iSupport to align with cultural and linguistic needs enhances its relevance and accessibility for Vietnamese carers in Australia. Refining translations, incorporating culturally familiar multimedia elements, and addressing usability concerns are crucial to optimising engagement and effectiveness.

Objective:The objective of this review is to develop a comprehensive collection of information about the current processes for paramedics assessing and referring patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in the out-of-hospital environment.Introduction:Paramedics and ambulance service clinicians commonly encounter patients with COVID-19. Increased demand on ambulance services has resulted in many of these services developing alternative referral pathways to avoid unnecessary conveyance to emergency departments. There is not a strong body of literature or rigorous clinical practice guideline on this topic to support the assessment and referral decision-making for patients with COVID-19 in the out-of-hospital setting.Inclusion criteria:Any sources of evidence on patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in the out-of-hospital environment who are seeking care for COVID-19-related symptoms and being assessed by paramedics will be considered for inclusion. Sources from scholarly literature and gray literature, such as ambulance service clinical practice guidelines, will be included. Sources from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, the US, Canada, and the UK will be included.Methods:The review will be guided by the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and will be reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A database search for scholarly literature will be performed, followed by a gray literature search. Databases will include MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus (Ovid), Emcare (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), amber, JBI Evidence Synthesis, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Epistemonikos. Gray literature will include clinical practice guidelines, protocols, and procedures obtained from ambulance service websites and apps. Results will be presented through figurative, tabular, and narrative synthesis methods.Review registration:Open Science Framework https://osf.io/yc7vq

INTRODUCTION: Many health professionals (HPs) are reluctant to offer smoking cessation advice to Aboriginal Australians who smoke; suggesting a need for better education to improve HP skills and knowledge to increase confidence. Previous studies exploring culturally relevant smoking cessation training for HPs have been effective among HPs working with Aboriginal Australians. Thus, identifying mechanisms to increase accessibility of these programs is an important public health issue. Augmented reality (AR) has the potential to enhance digital health interventions, and is effective and acceptable across a range of fields. Under the guidance of an Aboriginal advisory group, two sets of resources were developed; i) patient education and cessation resources for use by Aboriginal people who smoke, and ii) HP resources providing brief education to support Aboriginal patients who smoke. The aim of this study was to explore the acceptability of, and iteratively co-design these resources with HPs through qualitative interviews and questionnaires. METHODS: HPs were recruited from two South Australian public hospitals between August 2020 and June 2021. One-on-one interviews were conducted with n=18 HPs, with transcripts coded using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). RESULTS: Participants found that the AR-embedded patient resources provided engaging and relatable quit smoking support. The HP resources based on brief counselling techniques were considered a helpful reminder to prompt a smoking cessation conversation with Aboriginal patients. CONCLUSION: These resources were considered acceptable by HPs who treat Aboriginal Australians who smoke, and may serve as a useful adjunct to HP training sessions.

Developmental hip dysplasia is an abnormality of the hip joint which is associated with an unstable or dislocatable hip. During infancy, hips should be screened to determine whether they are stable, unstable or dislocated. In Australia, this screening is often performed by nurses using physical assessment. Physical examination includes a number of assessments which seek to identify underlying abnormalities in hip joint anatomy and function. This scoping review outlines the physical assessments used by nurses in the screening and surveillance of developmental hip dysplasia. A review of the literature identified 15 (N = 15; 100%) sources of evidence, which included original research articles (n = 6; 40%), expert opinion pieces (n = 2; 13.3%) and practice guidelines (n = 7; 46.7%). There were 18 physical assessments identified as being used by nurses in the screening process for developmental hip dysplasia. However, it is apparent that high quality research is required to examine the timing, specificity and sensitivity of the physical assessments identified.

This qualitative study involved interviews with staff in a women’s prison to explore their suggestions about parenting education. Interviews were conducted to identify whether staff agreed with previous parenting education suggestions made by women experiencing incarceration and contribute to developing a parenting education program. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Staff highlighted the importance of accommodating complex needs, cultural safety, trauma-informed, woman-centred and a strengths-based approach. This approach to program development will contribute to a parenting education program designed for women experiencing incarceration and may support program sustainability attributing to the involvement of the prison community in program design.