Associate Professor Anthony Smith

AIM: Previous studies, some dating back several decades, have recommended that the use of plain abdominal radiography should be curbed, particularly with the growth of more accurate imaging modalities. However, evidence from referral data suggests that plain abdominal radiography continues to be a commonly requested examination. The aim of this review was to explore the gap between evidence and practice by re-examining the evidence using a robust methodology, investigating the diagnostic accuracy of plain abdominal radiography. METHODS: Studies were identified from electronic databases and reference lists. Eligible studies provided data as to the sensitivity and specificity of plain abdominal radiography for either acute abdominal pain (Group A) or suspected intestinal obstruction (Group B). Version 2 of the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies was used to assess the quality of studies and hierarchical summary receiver operator characteristic curves and coupled forest plots were generated. RESULTS: Four studies evaluated plain abdominal radiography for acute abdominal pain (Group A) and 10 for suspected intestinal obstruction (Group B). Two studies investigated both presentations and were included in both groups. Methodological quality of studies was moderately high, though incorporation bias was a common limitation. Sensitivity for Group A studies ranged from 30 to 46%, with specificity from 75 to 88%. For Group B, the range of sensitivity was 48 to 96% and specificity from 50 to 100%. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that use of plain abdominal radiography could be substantially reduced, particularly for patients with undifferentiated acute abdominal pain. While some guidelines exist, there is sound argument for clinical decision rules for abdominal imaging to inform evidence-based clinical decision-making and radiology referrals.

Background: Negative workplace behaviour among nurses is a globally recognised problem and new graduate nurses are at high risk for exposure. Negative behaviour has detrimental effects on new graduate nurses, the nursing profession and patients. Objectives: To synthesise evidence on negative workplace behaviour experienced by new graduate nurses in acute care setting and discuss implications for the nursing profession. Design: An integrative review guided by Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) framework. Data sources and review methods: A search of evidence-based research from five electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest, JBI and Scopus) was conducted for the period of 2007-2017. Eligible articles were critically appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Eight qualitative and eight quantitative studies were identified and reviewed. There was a variety of terms and definitions used to describe the disrespectful, unprofessional and uncivil targeted behaviour towards new graduate nurses. The incidence of negative workplace behaviour varied from 0.3% as a daily occurrence to 57.1% experiencing sporadic exposure. The precipitating factors included the new graduates¿ perceived lack of capability, magnifying power and hierarchy, leadership style and influence of management. The negative behaviour was identified as either a personal or professional attack, which left new graduates feeling emotional distress, anxiety or depression, which in turn impacted upon job satisfaction, cynicism, burnout, and intention to leave. The lack of a definitional consensus and the range of negative workplace behaviour make identification, seeking assistance and intervention difficult. Specific or ongoing organisational support to address negative behaviours towards new gradute nurses was not identified. Instead, the way they used to deal with these behaviours were personal. Conclusion: Negative workplace behaviour towards new graduate nurses continues to be an international problem. Available studies are descriptive and exploratory in nature and there have been few effective strategies implemented in acute care setting to address towards new graduate nurses. Multi-level organisational interventions are warranted to influence the ¿civility norms¿ of the nursing profession. With a new understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of negative workplace behaviours towards new graduate nurses and the identification of limited intervention studies being undertaken, the nursing profession is provided with new directions in their future endeavours.

Introduction: Health workforce shortages have driven the Australian and other Western governments to invest in engaging more health professional students in rural and remote placements. The aim of this qualitative study was to provide an understanding of the lived experiences of students undertaking placements in various nonmetropolitan locations across Australia. In addition to providing their suggestions to improve rural placements, the study provides insight into factors contributing to positive and negative experiences that influence students¿ future rural practice intentions. Methods: Responses to open-ended survey questions from 3,204 students from multiple health professions and universities were analyzed using two independent methods applied concurrently: manual thematic analysis and computerized content analysis using Leximancer software. Results: The core concept identified from the thematic analysis was ¿ruralization of students¿ horizons,¿ a construct representing the importance of preparing health professional students for practice in nonmetropolitan locations. Ruralization embodies three interrelated themes, ¿prepa-ration and support,¿ ¿rural or remote health experience,¿ and ¿rural lifestyle and socialization,¿ each of which includes multiple subthemes. From the content analysis, factors that promoted students¿ rural practice intentions were having a ¿positive¿ practice experience, interactions with ¿supportive staff,¿ and interactions with the ¿community¿ in general. It was apparent that ¿difficulties,¿ eg, with ¿accommodation,¿ ¿Internet¿ access, ¿transport,¿ and ¿financial¿ support, negatively impacted students¿ placement experience and rural practice intentions. Conclusions: The study findings have policy and practice implications for continuing to support students undertaking regional, rural, and remote placements and preparing them for future practice in nonmetropolitan locations. This study may, therefore, further inform ongoing strategies for improving rural placement experiences and enhancing rural health workforce recruitment, retention, and capacity building.

Objective: The aim of this study was to profile students undertaking placements at University Departments of Rural Health (UDRHs) and investigate factors affecting students' satisfaction and intention to enter rural practice. Design: Cross-sectional survey comprising 21 core questions used by all UDRHs. Setting: Eleven UDRHs across Australia that support students' placements in regional, rural and remote locations. Participants: Medical, nursing and allied health students who participated in UDRH placements between July 2014 and November 2015 and completed the questionnaire. Main outcome measures: Key dependent variables were placement satisfaction and rural practice intention. Descriptive variables were age, gender, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) background, location of placement, healthcare discipline, year of study and type and length of placement. Results: A total of 3328 students responded. The sample was predominantly female (79%), the mean age was 26.0 years and 1.8% identified as ATSI. Most placements (69%) were >2 but =12 weeks, 80% were in Modified Monash 3, 4 or 5 geographical locations. Public hospitals and community health made up 63% of placements. Students satisfied with their placement had 2.33 higher odds of rural practice intention. Those satisfied with Indigenous cultural training, workplace supervision, access to education resources and accommodation had higher odds of overall satisfaction and post-placement rural practice intention. Conclusions: The majority of students were highly satisfied with their placement and the support provided by rural clinicians and the UDRHs. UDRHs are well placed to provide health professional students with highly satisfactory placements that foster rural practice intention.

Objective: To better understand issues related to access to injecting equipment for people who inject drugs (PWID) in a rural area of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Design: Cross-sectional face-to-face survey using convenience and snowball sampling. Setting: Six regional and rural population centres in Northern NSW, within the Hunter New England Local Health District. Participants: The sample included 190 PWID who had accessed a needle and syringe program outlet within 4¿weeks of the survey. Main outcome measures: Data include demographic information, preferred location for accessing injecting equipment, reasons for that preference, whether they obtained enough equipment, travelling distance to an NSP and self-reported hepatitis C virus status. Results: Sixty percent self-identified as Aboriginal people. The median age of respondents was 32¿years and 60% were men. A significantly larger proportion (P¿<¿0.05) of the Aboriginal respondents were women (27% versus 11.6%) and younger (37.6 versus 12.7%) compared to non-Aboriginal respondents. Most preferred to access injecting equipment at a community health facility (62.6%), as opposed to other secondary outlets, where they gained enough equipment (67.4%). Just over 80% said they were tested for HCV in the past year, with about 37% told they had tested positive. Conclusions: There are complex dimensions affecting how rural PWID access secondary NSP outlets. Although access is similarly limited as other rural health services because of the nature of injecting drug use and sensitivities existing in rural communities, there is potential for application of unique access models, such as, promoting secondary distribution networks.