The World Health Organization has published new resources on digital healthcare, and air pollution training for health workers, while many Croakey readers may be interested in women’s health consultations that are underway nationally and in Victoria, as well as a consultation for the National Autism Strategy.
Also, don’t miss Professor Mike Daube’s 15 tips for researchers wanting to make a difference. The column also highlights yet more extreme weather events affecting many countries around the world, as well as some untenable conflicts of interests for a high-profile journalism organisation.
Spot the red shoes, and scroll to the end for some job news.
The quotable?
The AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics send two clear messages, and hopefully the global community is open to receiving them. The first is that inequalities drive the likelihood and consequences of pandemics, and pandemics amplify health inequalities.”
Public health matters
Australia’s lung cancer screening program should be co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, organisations and people with lived experience of lung cancer, according to an important new publication.
Writing in The Medical Journal of Australia, researchers say that a commitment to culturally appropriate co-design processes will shape the development of an equitable lung cancer screening pathway.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations have the most to gain from an equitable approach to implementation and, conversely, the greater burden to bear if population-specific implementation barriers are not identified and addressed as part of an lung cancer screening program,” they say.
The Australian Government is funding a risk-tailored program, which will identify and refer individuals aged 50–70 years with a history of cigarette smoking of at least 30 pack-years, and, if they had formally smoked, had quit within the previous ten years, for a low dose computed tomography scan.
“We argue that an equity lens must be applied to designing and implementing [a lung cancer screening program] with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation at the core of program design rather than a post hoc alteration to a mainstream program,” say the authors.
Existing bowel, breast and cervical cancer screening programs have failed to provide equitable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with low reported participation, high screening positivity, low diagnostic assessment rates, and high age-standardised incidence and mortality for these cancers, they write.
Meanwhile, for researchers who want to make a difference, Professor Mike Daube offers these 15 tips:
- Do research that aims to be useful.
- Even the best research achieves nothing if it just sits on the shelf and nobody knows about it.
- Take time out to learn about those you are seeking to reach.
- Take time out to learn about those who may disagree with or oppose your approach and conclusions, especially harmful industries and their allies.
- Then look further into interests, declared or undeclared.
- Impact is about much more than traditional researcher metrics.
- Translation is about much more than the role some may envisage.
- Pursue your research in ways that will add to its impact.
- Choose the approach to media and policy advocacy that suits you.
- Find mentors.
- Don’t be put off by critics (especially those with declared or undeclared interests).
- Don’t be satisfied with soft options
- Support, don’t compete.
- We are parts of a team.
- Stay with it.
And read the rest of his article here.
Read more from the Sax Institute.
#AusPol
Certain pharmacy owners did their cause no favours in Parliament House this week, while also providing an opportunity for health, medical and consumer health groups to reiterate their support for 60-day prescribing.
Women’s health consultations are underway nationally and in Victoria
See the consultation for the National Autism Strategy
See more about the report on sport and exercise
Read the Senate inquiry’s report, Concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports 
Read the article by John Menadue
Read the AHPRA statement
Meanwhile, in lutruwita/Tasmania …
Global health
Read: The global community needs to do more to tackle the inequality crisis 
Read: ‘Bullying’ Pharma Giants Charged South Africa More Than EU for COVID-19 Vaccines
Read more about the new WHO initiative on air pollution training for health workers 
Experts urge more scrutiny of WHO regional elections after racism scandal 
Read the new report: Digital Health in the WHO European Region: the ongoing journey to commitment and transformation 
See the IARC resources 
Meanwhile, extreme weather events continue around the globe.
Media matters
Psychiatrist Professor Ian Hickie delivers a lesson in public health communications. Watch the clip.
As many others have also noted, the trials of Twitter are affecting climate and environmental communications. 
The Walkley Foundation is being forced to reckon with a history of white supremacy and untenable conflicts of interest involving the fossil fuels industry.
Read: The awkward snub of climate change by Ampol-sponsored Walkley Awards 
