Bedtime is the best time

Late night movies, gaming marathons and impromptu sleepovers may have featured over the holidays, but as we near a new school term, UniSA sleep experts say it’s time to settle kids back into a regular sleep routine.

Patient data can help prevent overdiagnosis

The increasing use of digital technologies in medical screening may lead to a rise in overdiagnosis that could be prevented by a new focus on patient data.

Reforming Australia’s medical billing

New research reveals GPs and specialists are ill-equipped to manage their Medicare compliance obligations, and have trouble accessing accurate advice and education, which can lead to billing errors. It finds that structural reforms are urgently needed to address the problem.

Training our doctors for the future

We must teach our future doctors how to intelligently access and thoughtfully use the knowledge available to them – including the lessons of COVID-19.

Breaking through to the other side

Neuromedicine-assisted psychotherapies are offering new hope in the treatment of mental illness.

Exercise in a pill for at-risk people?

Researchers from The Australian National University have identified unique molecular signals in the body that could hold the key to developing a supplement capable of administering the health benefits of exercise to patients incapable of physical activity.

Diet, exercise…and telehealth

New research investigating the benefits of telehealth-delivered exercise and diet programs has found 80 per cent of participants experienced improvement in knee pain and lost significant body weight.

Screen time?

Genomics England has announced a pilot programme of whole genome sequencing to screen for genetic diseases in 200,000 healthy seeming newborns, so should every newborn baby have their whole genome sequenced as a matter of course? 

Better leadership in hospitals can improve patient outcomes

New research has found an improved approach to leadership coordination and communication in hospitals can improve patient outcomes.

Early intervention is no panacea for young people’s mental health

Two thirds of young people with emerging mental disorders who attended primary care-based early intervention services remained poor or deteriorated over two years of care, according to research published by the Medical Journal of Australia.

Lockdowns punished children’s mental health

Hospital data reveals an increased use of children’s mental health services after Sydney’s first lockdown in 2020. The researchers say the study shows we need sustained and targeted mental health services for children and adolescents now – and beyond the pandemic.

Only 3.8% of Australian aged care homes would meet new mandatory minimum staffing standards

Substantial increases in staffing will be needed across the aged care sector, placing more pressure on an industry already struggling to meet the needs of a growing number of Australians.