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1. New report examines therapy and equipment needs of people with cerebral palsy in Australia
In the first project of its kind in Australia, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and Cerebral Palsy Australia examined therapy and equipment needs among people with cerebral palsy and related conditions.
The report, Therapy and equipment needs of people with cerebral palsy and like disabilities in Australia, shows that people with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities and their carers, found both therapy and equipment to be greatly beneficial in terms of minimising the impact of disability and facilitating greater independence and participation in society.
The AIHW's Dr Xingyan Wen, who headed the project team, said “People with cerebral palsy and like disabilities commonly use physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Many of these people also use specialised equipment, such as walking frames, wheelchairs, splints, adjustable beds, communication devices and self-care aids”.
There were approximately 33,800 people in Australia in 2003 with cerebral palsy or similar disabilities. The majority of those lived in households, while 2,000 lived in institutional settings. Of those living in households, 26,500 needed help with activities, such as self care, mobility or communication. While many of their needs were met, people with cerebral palsy, their families and therapists, also reported unmet need in a number of areas, as well as long waiting times for accessing therapy and equipment.
The Cerebral Palsy Australia clients, their families and therapists provided personal feedback and professional advice to the AIHW team. According to Dr Wen many of these people did not have enough access to “hands on” therapy, especially physiotherapy, social work, psychology and family support. Such unmet need is particularly high for services that support participation, especially in employment and social activities, and appear to be more of an issue for people living in non-metropolitan or lower socioeconomic areas.
To come up with estimates of the cost of meeting unmet need for therapy nationally, the researchers combined available data sources in three different ways, using different assumptions. The estimates range from $22.5 million to $54.8 million per annum.
Reference: http://www.aihw.gov.au/mediacentre/2006/mr20061207.cfm
Further information on the report: Dr Xingyan Wen, AIHW tel. 02 6244 1177.
2. Help for GPs for mental health and substance-use patients
http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/phe/nci/nci.pdf
A new project to assist general practitioners and health workers to manage patients with substance-use disorders and mental illness was launched on 7 December 2006 by Christopher Pyne, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing.
In launching the report, Pyne said that the Commonwealth Government has allocated about $932,000 to the Australian General Practice (GP) Network for the Can Do Initiative: Managing mental health and substance use in general practice.
This project is funded under the National Comorbidity Initiative, which aims to improve the capacity of general practices and divisions to recognise and effectively respond to mental health and substance-use concerns in their community. It will raise awareness and increase clinical knowledge and skills in general practices about managing and treating individuals with these health issues.
According to Pyne, it is common for people who are substance users to also have a mental health disorder, presenting added challenges to GPs. Treatment of these patients becomes much more complex and difficult for GPs so it is important that they have the training and tools to assist them in these cases.
The project focuses on education and training for two teams of health professionals—a general practice team and a community health team, particularly those engaged in alcohol and drug services, community pharmacies and mental health services. The project has a particular focus on bringing these health professionals together to ensure better treatment of substance users who have mental health problems.
The project will be pilot-tested across Australia in 2007. Media contact: Adam Howard 0400 414 833.
References:
http://www.health.gov.au
http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/phe/nci/nci.pdf
3. New Journal focuses on Lifestyle Health
With more and more Americans battling maladies such as allergies, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and weight management issues, it is clear that everything people do—from what they eat to how much exercise and sleep they get—directly impacts on health. The need for the latest research and information in these fields is apparent.
As a result of this dynamic and growing field, SAGE is launching its newest publication, the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (AJLM). The bi-monthly journal, which launches its first issue in January 2007, will feature peer-reviewed papers exploring lifestyle medicine's many disciplines, and is geared at helping primary care providers guide their patients to lead healthier lives.
"While there are many factors that contribute to health problems one common denominator is that they are all associated with a person's daily habits and actions. With more research in this field than ever before, healthcare providers are not only educating their patients about disease management, but should also be advising them on how to maintain their health through proper lifestyle choices. That is what AJLM is all about", commented James M Rippe, MD, Editor-in-Chief of AJLM.
"I expect the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine to become an authoritative voice in the field for caregivers because it is a unique publication. It is not only edited by the leader in the lifestyle medicine field (cardiologist Dr Rippe); it also comprises an outstanding editorial board with extensive expertise in the disciplines covered by the Journal. The AJLM is the latest in SAGE's growing number of journals in the fields of science, technology, medicine and social sciences", says Ron Epstein, SAGE Director, Controlled Circulation Publications.
To find out more about the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, visit the journal's website at http://ajlm.sagepub.com/.
About SAGE …
SAGE Publications is a leading international publisher of journals, books, and electronic media for academic, educational, and professional markets. Since 1965, SAGE has helped inform and educate a global community of scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students spanning a wide range of subject areas including business, humanities, social sciences, and science, technology and medicine. A privately owned corporation, SAGE has principal offices in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, and Singapore.
http://www.sagepublications.com/
Contact for further information: Ron Epstein, SAGE Publications
Monika Bhatia
Project Manager and Editor, Quality4life
13 December 2006
