Rates of low-value care vary between hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Understanding factors associated with this variation will help in understanding the drivers of low-value care and in planning initiatives to reduce low-value care.
Good hospitals are vital to healthy communities, but how you measure 'good' matters. This US index offers a new model for weighing up a hospital's worth beyond traditional metrics. The rankings are based on a hospital’s contribution to the public good in three broad categories: [...]
The article by McCarty and colleagues discusses neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), including opioid withdrawal syndrome, and the use of physical therapist treatment of infants with this condition. Similar to these authors, we are concerned about the “opioid crisis” and are open to the idea that [...]
We believe that it is imperative to have robust evidence about whether to communicate breast density information to women and, if so, how best to do it. Before this happens, there first needs to be an assessment of the balance between the benefits and harms [...]
The use of more medicalised labels can increase both concern about illness and the desire for more invasive treatment. This study analyses the media’s coverage of an Analysis article in The BMJ which generated a large amount of high-profile international media coverage. It aims to understand how [...]
Most people are familiar with the concept of undergoing general health checks. This might mean that your doctor talks to you about your medical history and lifestyle including diet, physical activity, alcohol intake and smoking history. This is part of providing holistic care to identify [...]
In the article below, University of Sydney Public Health Professor Alexandra Barratt explores the contention around the AgeX trial, the biggest randomised trial ever, which is considering how long should older women continue to be screened for breast cancer. It is published as part of [...]
This paper investigates the change in mammography screening technology, comparing digital mammography with the older film-screen mammography. Findings suggest that the transition to the newer technology has not resulted in health benefits for screened women.
Prof Alex Barratt responds to the claim that screening women in their 40s for breast cancer saves lives
This weekend Australia breathed a collective sigh of relief as some COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Australia is by no means out of the woods but signs are promising and we are in an enviable position internationally. This loosening of restrictions has occurred just in time [...]