General practice experiences of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout: lessons for primary care reform.

Objective The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of general practice in delivering Australia's coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, and the impact on practice finances and workforce. Methods Eighteen semi-structured interviews with owners and practice managers of general practices in Greater Sydney between June and August 2021 were conducted. Results Practices reported early enthusiasm for the vaccine rollout and engaged in large-scale staffing and infrastructure adaptations to manage increased vaccination workload. Although some practices reported increased income related to vaccination, nearly all reported increased costs. Lack of timely and transparent communication between primary care and policymakers was a major concern for practices. Conclusions The success of Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout relied on the goodwill of general practices. Participation in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout resulted in increased stress, increased administration workload, and reduced financial viability for many practices.

Review of adaptations of U.S. Commercial Fisheries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic using the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework.

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed social and economic systems globally, including fisheries systems. Decreases in seafood demand, supply chain disruptions, and public safety regulations required numerous adaptations to maintain the livelihoods and social resilience of fishing communities. Surveys, interviews, and focus groups were undertaken to assess impacts from and adaptive responses to the pandemic in commercial fisheries in five U.S. regions: the Northeast, California, Alaska, the U.S. Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. Fishery adaptation strategies were categorized using the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework, a novel application to understand social transformation in a social-ecological system in response to a disturbance. A number of innovations emerged, or were facilitated, that could improve the fisheries' resilience to future disruptions. Fishers with diversified options and strategic flexibility generally fared better, i.e., had fewer disruptions to their livelihoods. Using the RAD framework to identify adaptation strategies from fishery system actors highlights opportunities for improving resilience of fisheries social-ecological systems to future stressors.

Who is asking? Requests for antimicrobial prescribing advice received by hospital pharmacists

Doctors are perceived as the primary decision makers in antimicrobial therapy, but prescribing decisions are influenced by the multidisciplinary team. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs formalise interprofessional advice‐giving. No studies capture the advice provided by pharmacists. This study aimed to describe the volume and nature of antimicrobial prescribing advice that healthcare professionals seek from hospital pharmacists. A prospective audit of antimicrobial‐related advice requests received by pharmacists (n = 18) at an Australian public hospital was undertaken in July 2020. Antimicrobial advice was sought from 11 pharmacists on 300 occasions. Most requests (80%) were received by the AMS pharmacist. A mean (range) of 30 (17–40) requests per day was recorded and the AMS pharmacist received 24 (16–31) requests daily. Most requests came from the intensive care unit (22.1%), pharmacy (21.4%), and infectious diseases (17.1%). The AMS pharmacist was mostly contacted by consultants and pharmacists, and other pharmacists were contacted by registrars and junior medical officers. Despite COVID‐19 adaptations, face‐to‐face interaction was most common. This audit demonstrates the value of an AMS pharmacist, and indicates the importance of face‐to‐face interactions and the formalisation of pharmacists' role in prescribing decision‐making. Pharmacists provided antimicrobial advice daily to other healthcare professionals. Further research is required to provide insights into the barriers and enablers to effective advice‐giving interactions. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment strategies for postviral olfactory dysfunction: A systematic review.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with a dramatic increase in postviral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) among patients who are infected. A contemporary evidence-based review of current treatment options for PVOD is both timely and relevant to improve patient care. Objective: This review seeks to impact patient care by qualitatively reviewing available evidence in support of medical and procedural treatment options for PVOD. Systematic evaluation of data quality and of the level of evidence was completed to generate current treatment recommendations. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify primary studies that evaluated treatment outcomes for PVOD. A number of medical literature data bases were queried from January 1998 to May 2020, with completion of subsequent reference searches of retrieved articles to identify all relevant studies. Validated tools for the assessment of bias among both interventional and observational studies were used to complete quality assessment. The summary level of evidence and associated outcomes were used to generate treatment recommendations. Results: Twenty-two publications were identified for qualitative review. Outcomes of alpha-lipoic acid, intranasal and systemic corticosteroids, minocycline, zinc sulfate, vitamin A, sodium citrate, caroverine, intranasal insulin, theophylline, and Gingko biloba are reported. In addition, outcomes of traditional Chinese acupuncture and olfactory training are reviewed. Conclusion: Several medical and procedural treatments may expedite the return of olfactory function after PVOD. Current evidence supports olfactory training as a first-line intervention. Additional study is required to define specific treatment recommendations and expected outcomes for PVOD in the setting of COVID-19.

Staffing policy in aged care must look beyond the numbers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an aged care system struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable Australians. Staffing levels and skill mix in aged care have declined, whereas the health and social needs of an older and more clinically complex population have risen. Increasing staff and improving personal care workers' skills and education are essential steps to quality aged care in Australia, but it will not be possible without funding models that foster secure employment, development opportunities and long-term career pathways.