Healthier together

Paying attention to the ‘social determinants of health’ as well as individual responsibility can reduce inequities in health outcomes, but many Australian state and federal social policies neglect them.

A sting in the tale

The anatomy of bee stingers could help lead to advancements in the emerging field of micro medical devices.

Mind over matter

Research suggests our brain can control many facets of our daily physical lives in ways which were once thought impossible.

Dark winter

In her new book Professor Raina MacIntyre proposes that we are entirely too complacent about the risks of pandemics, even after the global experience of COVID 19.

Local experience boosts rural health workforce

New research from the University of South Australia reveals that rural experience could be the key factor in increasing the number of health workers in Australia’s rural and remote communities.

A half empty pill box

Fewer than half of approved primary uses for new drugs in the US and Europe between 2011 and 2020 added substantial therapeutic value over existing treatments.

Calling the Medical Emergency Team

They prevent more deaths than almost any other single hospital intervention, but introducing Medical Emergency Teams in hospitals was no easy task.

Put back the opiods

Opioid pain-relieving medicines are not more effective than a placebo in relieving acute back and neck pain and may even cause harm, according to a world-first trial led by the University of Sydney.

Primary care nurses can ease the GP workload

Australia is lagging behind other countries in allowing nurses to offer safe, affordable and accessible primary care as opportunities for nurses to increase the services they provide are limited by Medicare fee-for-service rules.

Disaster counselling can do more harm than good

Immediate psychological counselling was offered to those affected by the Hunter Valley bus accident, as it is after every similar disaster, but the evidence shows this approach, however well-meaning, may be counter-productive.

Rural health needs more than workers

Disparities in health outcome across Australia’s population have been extensively documented, but simply increasing the number of medical staff in rural regions isn’t the complete answer.

Eat fresh

Adopting aspects of the famous Mediterranean diet could help cut your food bills as well as improve your health.