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Here is the latest compilation, covering articles posted between 11 April and 3 September. As always, thanks are due to the many contributors who generously volunteer their time to research and write articles.
The latest readership figures are available here, showing that Croakey has had 95,554 unique visitors so far this year. You can also see snapshots showing the ten links that received the most hits, over this period and over the previous three months (the Naked Doctor column by Justin Coleman has drawn a lot of attention).
The links below have been grouped into these categories:
- Racism and health
- Indigenous health
- The unhealthy trifecta: tobacco, alcohol and pokies
- General public health matters
- Rural and remote health
- Mental health
- Journal watch (public health highlights)
- Social determinants of health
- Primary health care and Medicare Locals
- Health reform and health policy
- Aged care reform
- Dental reform
- Social media and media-related issues
- Pharma
***
Racism and health
Shame on Facebook, but let’s not forget that racism is a wider public health problem
Tim Senior
One more reason to stop discussing health as a “lifestyle issue” (racism)
Jerril Rechter
***
Indigenous health
Is the media juggernaut sidelining good policy in Indigenous affairs?
Tim Senior
Indigenous health professionals working in the alcohol and drug field deserve better
Kate Conigrave
For your viewing pleasure: hip hop meets Indigenous health
From Songlines to Twitter: communicating and connecting for Aboriginal health
Justin Mohamed
Why do I work in Aboriginal health? (And more news from the world of social media and health)
Tim Senior
***
The unhealthy trifecta: Tobacco, alcohol, and the pokies
A wrap of reaction to the High Court decision on plain packaging
What have the tobacco and pharma industries got in common?
Marita Hefler
Medicines Australia: we support plain packaging of tobacco products
Will social change help reduce smoking rates amongst disadvantaged Australians?
Billie Bonevski and Amanda Baker
The corporate interests that harm health: from the Olympics to closer to home
David Thomas
Support Big Tobacco (it’s fun)
Anti-smoking campaigns should focus on how big companies are using young people
Rick Turner
Naming and shaming irresponsible alcohol advertisers
Rebecca Johnson
A 7-point plan for tackling the grog toll; a memo for the NSW Premier; and the shop keeper who has taken a stand
Anthony Shakeshaft
Can bloggers help to change our drinking culture? Is alcohol your best friend? And a few other questions still to be answered…
Margo Saunders
To tackle our drinking problem, look to Newcastle – and closer to home too
Laurence Alvis
The new Clubs Australia campaign borrows heavily from tobacco industry strategies
Charles Livingstone
The unhealthy trifecta: tobacco, alcohol and gambling industries
Charles Livingstone
***
General public health
ACT prisons announcement hailed as an “historic” decision for public health and human rights
Michael Moore
Public health is in the firing line in Queensland
A mega-wrap of recent news on climate change and health
On carbon tax eve, how is the health system placed?
Prue Power
Leaked letter reveals pressure on NHMRC from the anti wind farm brigade
Simon Chapman
Why is it so hard to be a public health hero in Australia? (And more reading on “Nanny Bloomberg”)
Margo Saunders
Using the law to create healthier environments: recent developments from NYC to Victoria
Jane Martin
A local council takes on fast food: is this the future for improving public health?
Jane Martin
Why health claims may not be good for your health
Rosemary Stanton, Jane Martin
Call for crackdown on “bargain” deals for solarium visits
Jen Makin
Standing up for the sake of employees’ health. Literally.
Todd Harper
How best to improve management of childhood obesity and related health problems?
Amanda Carne
Does the ‘fat tax’ measure up?
Suzie Ferrie
Marking International Chagas Day and creating some noise about a silent disease
Unni Karunakara
***
Rural and remote health
Some solutions to health workforce shortages
Richard Murray
Remote health conference calls for regulatory action on quad bike safety
A red letter day for rural and remote health – provided these questions can be answered
Gordon Gregory
Why health promotion campaigns in rural and remote areas must be “fit for purpose”
NRHA
Sustaining small rural primary health care services
Olga Anikeeva
Pros and cons of telehealth for people in rural areas
Rachel Katterl
***
Mental health
What does it take to improve mental health? Some insights from three voices of experience
Trevor Hazell, Ian Fels, Jack Heath
Over the past 17 years, what has changed for people with mental illness?
Q and A with Barbara Hocking
Some recent reports on preventing suicide, and providing better support to the bereaved
Jaelea Skehan
To improve men’s mental health, focus on education, employment and providing services that men want to use
Sebastian Rosenberg
An important policy gap: mental health in early childhood
***
Journal Watch
A call for more research and planning to deal with the public health challenges of mega-events
Melissa Stoneham
Environmental factors that promote cycling
Melissa Stoneham
A focus on the corporate practices that contribute to poor health
Melissa Stoneham
A wrap of recent news on McDonald’s, marketing and health (and some parallel universes)
Melissa Stoneham
***
Social determinants of health
Will the Senate inquiry lead to action on the social determinants of health?
Fran Baum
What are the signs of a healthy #goodsociety?
John Falzon
What have the Olympics got to say about social justice and health inequalities?
Marie McInerney
Health experts support calls for increase to unemployment benefits
Andrew Podger, Vern Hughes, Gawaine Powell Davies, Mary Chiarella, Hal Kendig, Tim Woodruff, Justine Caines
Where is the health sector when it comes to addressing poverty?
Tessa Boyd-Caine
What are the health implications of building more prisons?
Jonathan Heller
When will policy catch up with the science on drug prohibition?
Alex Wodak
In case you missed this series on the need for drug law reform
Andrew Jakubowicz, Alex Wodak, Monica Barratt, Alison Ritter, Mike Pottenger, Alex Steel, Justin Norrie
New book investigates the links between power and health
Luke Slawomirski
Reporting on a recent forum on health inequalities and the social determinants of health
Deborah Lupton
Pressure mounting for action on health inequities
Rebecca de Boer
A new report highlights the cost of health inequalities: but what’s the real story?
Gavin Mooney
Is the post-budget “class warfare” discussion helpful for public health?
Gavin Mooney
Raising awareness of the health needs of homeless people
Debra Cerasa
Some news for those with an interest in the arts and health
Gordon Gregory
Breaking down the digital divide: two case studies
Mark Egan
The digital divide and its implications for health, services and conferences. And a prediction for the future…
Caroline Chen
What does the NSW review of health and medical research say about a critical health concern?
Sally Redman
***
Primary health care and Medicare Locals
A critical challenge for health reformers: how to hear from those with the greatest need?
Vahid Saberi and Lesley Barclay
The great adventure story of Medicare Locals: will it have a happy ending?
Jennifer Doggett
Memo to Peter Dutton and others who don’t “get” Medicare Locals: this is what they’re doing and where they’re heading
Vahid Saberi, Tony Lembke
Federal Opposition rebuked over plans to abolish Medicare Locals
Jon Wardle
Peter Dutton urged not to “turn back the clock” on primary health care reform
Mark Harris, Daryl Sadgrove, Australian Medicare Local Alliance, Carol Bennett, Prue Power, Vern Hughes, Gavin Mooney, David Briggs, Marilyn Wise, Rosemary Stanton, John Dwyer, Gawaine Powell Davies.
Learning from the “pioneers of ehealth” in general practice
Samantha Smorgon and colleagues
Ehealth records: too important to muck up
Robert Pask
Sounding the alarm over cutbacks to Qld organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health
Daniel Reeders
Should your doctor be asking after your pet too?
Amanda Carne
Nurses add value to chronic disease management
Petra Bywood
For patients to play a more active role in managing chronic health conditions, some changes are needed
Olga Anikeeva
***
Health reform and health policy
Health Workforce Australia report gives the nod to physician assistants
Ben Stock
Tweet of the week…Stephen Duckett on health reform
A wrap of health policy reading
Jennifer Doggett
Engaging leadership – what does it mean for health reform in Australia?
Daryl Sadgrove
Some metaphors for the future of healthcare: from tsumamis and trains to frogs, bikes and jigsaw puzzles
Fiona Armstrong, Chris Rissel, Tony Webber, Andrew Roberts, Merrilyn Walton, Gab Kovacs, Jon Wardle, Ron Batagol, Hudson Birden, Vern Hughes, John Menadue, Peter Sainsbury,Ben Harris-Roxas, Alan Rosen, David Gillespie, Gawaine Powell Davies, Amanda Wilson, Kishan Kariippanon, Ian Cameron, Ian Hickie, Wendy Oakes, Lesley Barclay, Yvonne Luxford, David Briggs Rob Loblay, Gavin Mooney, Ken Hillman, Gawaine Powell Davies, Stephen Leeder, Ken MacWilliams, Ed Butler, Simon Chapman
A leader’s reflection on health reform: the merits of “muddling through” and more
Stephen Leeder
Out-of-pocket health costs: adding to the burden on patients
Kellie Bisset
What can we learn from the history of health reform in the UK? (part 1)
Terrie Paul
What can we learn from healthcare reform in the UK? (part 2)
Terrie Paul
Tasmania’s healthcare system: it needs more than money
Rebecca de Boer
The Tasmanian health rescue: don’t break out the champagne just yet
Martyn Goddard
The financial crunch and its impact on health – globally, nationally and locally (with particular reference to Tasmania)
Martyn Goddard
What is the evidence on knowledge translation strategies?
Christina Hagger
Some useful tips for finding health policy information on the web
Christina Hagger
Informed consent: it’s not a reality for too many patients
Carol Bennett
Have we reached a critical tipping point with healthcare?
Alan Cassels
Overuse of healthcare: some suggestions for how to tackle it
Tim Woodruff
Are Australian women’s birthing rights now perched on a slippery slope?
Hannah Dahlen
***
Aged care reform
Aged care reform: it needs careful monitoring (and adjustment, where necessary)
Rebecca de Boer
Aged care reforms an important step in the right direction, but many questions and concerns remain
Hal Kendig
An indepth analysis of aged care reforms, covering community care, rural/regional concerns and more
Rebecca de Boer
***
Dental reform
Wrapping the news on dental reform into a rather pretty image
On dental reform: there is plenty more to do
Jennifer Doggett, Alexis Zander
https://croakey.org/on-dental-reform-there-is-plenty-more-to-do/
A cautious welcome for dental reforms, but concerns remain about underlying systemic problems with health “system”
A wrap on the dental health reform package – an overview, analysis & some reaction
Should dental reform aim to benefit dentists – or the community?
Tim Woodruff
Better oral health for all: what will it take?
Lexia Smallwood and Gordon Gregory
Why has dental health been getting the brush off?
Gordon Gregory, Tessa Boyd-Caine
Dental reform: a work in progress
Amanda Biggs
Lack of access to dental care is putting children in hospital and entrenching disadvantage
Johanna de Wever
***
Social media and media-related issues
Could this be the beginning of a new online publication covering climate change and health? (And would you like to help kickstart it?)
Help create an online publication covering climate change and health
Introducing a wealth of ideas for new online health-related publications
Any ideas for a new online publication covering a health-related area of need?
AMA says “uninformed” attacks on Tim Flannery are a “disgrace”
Steve Hambleton
The media & healthcare industries: some challenges and opportunities from the digital revolution
Never mind the barriers to the health sector’s uptake of social media – here are some useful resources and examples
David Corbet
How Ramsay Health Care is embracing digital transformation
Damon Klotz
Is this a digital media innovation? Or a health innovation? Or something in between?
What has social media got to do with blood transfusions, haematology and the like?
Carolyn Der Vartanian
What does social media mean for health and medical education?
Mavis Duncanson and Dr Zelda Doyle
What can bloggers do for public health and the greater good?
Cairín Conway
Will social media prove useful in efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance?
Lynn Weekes
Join a Twitter chat about involving children and parents in research and service development
Eva Alisic
Know of any public health courses focused on new media?
Becky Freeman
Why aren’t more academics making their own apps and getting digitally savvy?
Deborah Lupton
What does it take to get our media to cover health issues affecting low and middle income countries?
Michelle Imison
Should this headline about the swine flu pandemic be really alarming or just a bit worrying?
Julie Leask
Efforts to minimise harm from media reporting of Breivik trial may have wider application
Marie McInerney
Profiling a new media outfit that focuses on ehealth
Mark Jones
Wraps of reading from The Conversation: July, August
What’s on the menu for Queensland’s new Health Media Club? Some Ministerial grilling, perhaps
Jane Milburn
A proposal for some online sharing to help people with disabilities
Niki Ellis
Some developments and opportunities in health and the media
***
Pharma
Consumer group raises concerns about pain medicines – and the company responds
Carol Bennett
For more information on GlaxoSmithKline and the biggest healthcare fraud settlement in US history
A multi-national MasterChef for Medicines?
Gavin Mooney
Advertising a prescription medicine to the general public: what’s going on?
**
Wrap of Federal Budget coverage
Health and the Federal Budget: a wrap of links, news and reaction
Let’s “streamline” some of the Budget’s Weasel words
The budget failed to address health risks from climate change
Fiona Armstrong
Budget cuts to foreign aid: what will they mean for global health?
Joel Negin
Mental health and the federal budget
Sebastian Rosenberg, Pat McGorry
At last, a REAL cancer breakthrough (and why some politicians deserve a cuddle)
Terry Slevin
The Federal Budget and health: what’s on the table (or not)
Sebastian Rosenberg
This is an incredible resource, Melissa — you could easily teach a subject just based on these readings.