Abstract:Background: This study aimed to assess and compare health literacy levels in a range of university-based health students. Methods: A survey containing the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) was administered to students enrolled in university-based medical, allied health or nursing degree programs. The HLQ scores and scale scores were compared across student groups. Results: In total, 374 students (24% response rate) with a median age of 25 years (range: 17-61 years), returned completed surveys. Three students who did not identify their degree programs were excluded from the final analysis which included 371 respondents; 242 graduate-entry medical students (65%), 67 allied health students (18%) and 62 nursing students (17%). Overall, the medical students had the highest score for seven of the nine HLQ scales; while the nursing students had the lowest score for all of the nine HLQ scales. Conclusion: These results show that health literacy profiles are different across student groups. In order to provide excellent patient-centred care, and to successfully look after their own health, a high level of health literacy is required by future health professionals. Health literacy training modules, tailored according to the different needs of the student groups, should therefore be included in university-based health professional degree programs.

Strategies to recruit and retain staff must take account of personal needs and aspirations. While there is room for state strategies to improve employment incentives, there is also considerable scope for local managers to improve the design and attractiveness of jobs.

Asthma and ageing: an end user' s perspective-the perception and problems with the management of asthma in the elderly AbstractDespite the high prevalence of asthma in the elderly, its development, diagnosis, and treatment are underresearched. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge in relation to management of asthma in the elderly -focusing on barriers to diagnosis and treatment and the central role of self-management. Asthma prevalence increases with age, as does the risk of dying from asthma, and with the ageing of the population and increasing life expectancy, the prevalence of (diagnosed and undiagnosed) asthma in older adults is expected to increase drastically, placing an increasing burden on sufferers, the community and health budgets. Asthma sufferers are more likely to be psychologically distressed and at a higher risk of anxiety and depression, more likely to experience a sense of lack of control over their health and to have lower self-reported quality of life. Asthma is under-diagnosed, and under-treated, in the elderly, further exacerbating these negative consequences. The review concludes, among other things, that there is a need to better understand the development and impact of asthma in the elderly, to increase community awareness of asthma in the elderly, to improve both 'medical management' and 'self-management' in this population and to develop more effective tools for diagnosis and treatment of asthma in the elderly. The paper concludes with key recommendations for future research and practice in this area.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the feasibility and acceptability of an online asthma selfmanagement program developed for older Australians with asthma. Methods: AsthmaWise, an internet education self-management program, was piloted for a 3-month period at the beginning of 2012. Participants were recruited using both online and offline strategies and were required to complete surveys, both pre-and post-intervention, in a repeated measures design. Results: Matched data were collected from 51 participants; the results showed AsthmaWise to be a feasible and acceptable method of delivering asthma education to the target population. Self-reported measures showed an increase in participants' asthma knowledge, asthma control and quality of life. Results from the Perceived Health Web Site Usability Questionnaire (PHWSUQ) showed improvements between usability testing and implementation. Conclusion: The need for asthma selfmanagement education will continue to increase as the population ages and a greater number of older adults are living with asthma. This small pilot study indicates that an online asthma self-management education program can result in improved outcome measures in a target group not normally considered technologically literate. Abstract ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to establish the feasibility and acceptability of an online asthma self-management program developed for older Australians with asthma. MethodsAsthmaWise, an internet education self-management program, was piloted for a three month period at the beginning of 2012. Participants were recruited using both online and offline strategies, and were required to complete surveys, both pre and post intervention, in a repeated measures design. ResultsMatched data was collected from 51 participants; the results showed AsthmaWise to be a feasible and acceptable method of delivering asthma education to the target population.Self-reported measures showed an increase in participants' asthma knowledge, asthma control and quality of life. Results from the Perceived Health Web Site Usability Questionnaire (PHWSUQ) showed improvements between usability testing and implementation.AsthmaWise -a field of dreams? The results of an online education program targeting older adults with asthma. 2 ConclusionThe need for asthma self-management education will continue to increase as the population ages and a greater number of older adults are living with asthma. This small pilot study indicates that an online asthma self-management education program can result in improved outcome measures in a target group not normally considered technologically literate.AsthmaWise -a field of dreams? The results of an online education program targeting older adults with asthma.

Entrainment and transport of larval fish assemblages by the East Australian Current (EAC) were examined from the coastal waters of northern New South Wales (NSW) to the western Tasman Front, via the separation of the EAC from the coast, during the austral spring of 2004. Shore-normal transects from the coast to the EAC off northern NSW revealed an inner shelf assemblage of near-shore families (Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Platycephalidae and Triglidae), an EAC assemblage dominated by Myctophidae and Gonostomatidae, and a broadly distributed assemblage over the continental shelf dominated by Scombridae and Carangidae. Further south and after the EAC had separated from the coast, we observed a western Tasman Front assemblage of inner shelf and shelf families (Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Serranidae, Scombridae, Carangidae, Bothidae and Macroramphosidae). The abundance of these families declined with distance from the coast. Surprisingly, there was no distinctive or abundant larval fish assemblage in the chlorophylland zooplankton-enriched waters of the Tasman Sea. Water type properties (temperature-salinity, T-S), the larval fish assemblages and family-specific T-S signatures revealed the western Tasman Front to be an entrained mix of EAC and coastal water types. We found an abundance of commercially important species including larval sardine (Sardinops sagax, Clupeidae), blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus, Scombridae) and anchovy (Engraulis australis, Engraulidae). The entrainment and transport of larval fish from the northern inner shelf to the western Tasman Front by the EAC reflects similar processes with the Gulf Stream Front and the Kuroshio Extension.

Objective: To investigate consumers' knowledge about commonly purchased over-the-counter (OTC) products containing ibuprofen.Methods: Customers buying two popular OTC ibuprofen-containing products (Nurofen or Nurofen Plus) were asked to complete a short survey assessing their knowledge about the products. Results:The survey was completed by 262 respondents, most of whom were older than 50 years of age; female; well-educated; with adequate functional health literacy. The majority correctly identified ibuprofen as an active ingredient and knew the correct intervals between doses. However, almost a third couldn't correctly identify the maximum daily dose and were unaware of some contraindications. Furthermore, fewer than half recognised potential side effects. Those who hadn't completed high school were significantly less likely to seek medical advice (when required) and significantly less likely to know when it was safe to take these products. Conclusions:The gaps in consumer knowledge, especially about the maximum daily dose, contraindications and potential side effects may be placing consumers at risk of experiencing ibuprofen-related adverse events.Implications for public health: Improving consumer knowledge to address these gaps in their understanding about the safe use of popular OTC ibuprofen-containing products is an important public health concern.

Objectives To compare rates and trends in hospital admissions due to medication misadventure for older adults (≥65 years) with and without dementia. Methods A retrospective analysis of hospital admissions that occurred between 2012 and 2016, for medication misadventures among older adults living in regional Australia. Results Medication misadventures contributed to 10 555 (4.6%) of the total 228 165 admissions for older adults over the study period. Among these admissions, older adults with dementia were three times more likely to be hospitalised with medication misadventures (14.0%), than their non‐dementia counterparts (4.2%). Medication misadventures relating to “anticoagulants” and “opioids/related analgesics” accounted for the majority of admissions (24.3% dementia vs 30.7% non‐dementia). Conclusions This study highlights that the proportion of older adults hospitalised for a medication misadventure is much higher among those with dementia, than those without dementia. Strategies should target older adults, and especially those with dementia, to reduce medication‐related harm and improve patient safety.

The objective was to test the feasibility of electronic medication charts in aged care facilities and the impact on general practitioner (GP) and staff work processes. The Illawarra Division of General Practice conducted a trial where GPs used a modified version of commercially available software to generate medication charts, in four residential aged care facilities. Semistructured, face-to-face interviews, log books and an issue register were used to evaluate the success of this trial. The system improved chart clarity, which was felt to have improved medication management accuracy. However, system usability was hindered by the location of the computer, the availability of prescription paper, and technical difficulties. The system is inexpensive and three facilities have continued to use it after the trial period. To show measurable improvements in medication management, a trial that includes all residents is needed. Aged care facilities need more computer equipment in order to adopt important innovations.• The use of electronic medication charts is likely to increase patient safety.• There is a lack of computer infrastructure in most aged care facilities which will hinder the adoption of important innovations.