Reduction in Radiation Exposure to Children and Young People from CT Scans

Reduction in Radiation Exposure to Children and Young People from CT Scans

Children Diagnostic testing Radiation therapy

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has published a range of resources aimed at reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to children and young people from CT scans. They estimate that over 80,000 CT scans are performed on children and young people in Australia each year, and although they are a valuable diagnostic tool, they use a higher level of ionising radiation than other types of imaging. 

The resources include brochures for parents and carers outlining the benefits and risks of CT scans - available at http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/ctscansforkids, a fact sheet for referring doctors to provide information on the typical radiation doses and the key questions to consider when deciding whether to refer a child for a CT scan, and an online training module from the Australian Institute of Radiography to support radiographers who undertake CT scans for children and young people. 

More information can be found on the dedicated ACSQHC pages, as well as at Healthdirect, which has partnered with the Commission to develop these resources and others. See http://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ctscansforkids

Renal Care in Children

Renal Care in Children

Children Chronic Disease Kidney disease

This virtual issue focuses on “Renal care in children” highlighting previously published papers from the Journal of Renal Care on this topic. Three of the original articles explore how young adults experienced the child-to-adulthood transition, how children cope with a chronic illness, and whether the application of a specific tool can support children with CKD in achieving autonomy in the management of their disease.                                                  

Journal of Renal Care Virtual Issue: Renal Care in Children

Facing Tough Time

Facing Tough Time

Child protection Children Grief Trauma

This booklet produced by the Australian Child & Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network discusses the impact of family adversities on children, what helps children to get through adversities and how important it is for families to seek help and support when it is needed. 
The booklet isn't designed to take the place of advice from a health professional, rather it is designed to share information about how experiences of trauma and adversity can impact on your child. 
Facing Tough Time: Supporting your family through life's tough times

The mental health of children and adolescents

The mental health of children and adolescents

Adolescents Children Mental health

The Department of Health (Australia) has just released The mental health of children and adolescents: report on the second Australian child and adolescent survey of mental health and wellbeing. The survey referred to was conducted in the homes of more than 6,300 families with children or adolescents between the ages of four and seventeen. Children over the age of eleven completed their own survey.

The report presents a comprehensive picture of the mental health of young Australians, documenting the prevalence and type of mental health problems, the impact of those problems on families and young people themselves and the role of health and education services in providing assistance.    

Young Australians, illness and education

Young Australians, illness and education

Children Chronic Disease Education Youth

Chronically-ill children who need to take extended absences from school are neither officially acknowledged nor assisted to keep up, according to this report from Julie White and Karen Roauer at the Victoria Institute: Young Australians, illness and education: report on the national database project.

Advances in medicine mean that many children are surviving diseases, but are struggling to keep abreast of their education. This report provides a detailed summary of education, health and demographic information about 2360 Australian children and young people who live with significant health conditions.  The study aims to provide an empirical base for policy recommendation and further investigation and to contribute to the growing body of evidence about pressing educational issues related to these children and young people. 

An Introduction to Trauma Informed Care

An Introduction to Trauma Informed Care

Adolescents Carers Children Education eHealth Trauma

ACATLGN has recently announced the launch of a free online learning website - An Introduction toTrauma Informed Care. This online learning has been designed to increase information and knowledge on the impact of experiences of adversity and trauma on children and young people. It contains information, resources, videos and links to provide a comprehensive introduction to trauma informed care.  

The program is designed as an easily accessed on-line introduction and learning program for families, carers and other professionals with responsibilities for the care of children who may need support as a result of challenging and potentially traumatic experiences. There are six modules that you can work through at your own pace, with free resources to download that accompany the modules.

The Australian Child & Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network is based at the Australian National University and is funded by the Australian Government.

Free e-learning-An Introduction to Trauma Informed Care           

Young Australians, Illness and Education

Young Australians, Illness and Education

Adolescents Children Chronic Disease Education

This report by Julie White and Karen Rosauer of the Victoria Institute, provides a detailed summary of education, health and demographic information about Australian children and young people who live with significant health conditions. This study closely examined a national database of 2360 such individuals through the socio-economic indexes developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.The major purpose of this study was to provide an empirical base for policy recommendation and further investigation. An important secondary aim of the study was to contribute to the growing body of evidence about pressing educational issues related to these children and young people.
Click here to access the report for free.

Violence Against Women and Children

Violence Against Women and Children

Child protection Children Violence Women's health

The Lancet has published a number of articles on violence against women in the issue April 25, 2015. Every day, millions of women and girls worldwide experience violence. This abuse takes many forms, including intimate physical and sexual partner violence, female genital mutilation, child and forced marriage, sex trafficking, and rape.

• Prevention of violence against women and girls: what does the evidence say?  p. 1555-1566; Mary Ellsberg, Diana J Arango, Matthew Morton, Floriza Gennari, Sveinung Kiplesund, Manuel Contreras, Charlotte Watts.

• The health-systems response to violence against women, p. 1567-1579; Claudia Garcia-Moreno, Kelsey Hegarty, Ana Flavia Lucas d'Oliveira, Jane Koziol-McLain, Manuela Colombini, Gene Feder 

• From work with men and boys to changes of social norms and reduction of inequities in gender relations: a conceptual shift in prevention of violence against women and girls, p. 1580 - 89; Rachel Jewkes, Michael Flood, James Lang.

 The Lancet Series on Violence against women and girls shows that such abuse is preventable (published 2014). Five papers cover the evidence base for interventions, discuss the vital role of the health sector in care and prevention, show the need for men and women to be involved in effective programs, provide practical lessons from experience in countries, and present a call for action with five key recommendations and indicators to track progress.

The most recent issue May 1, 2015, also includes articles on violence against women and girls.

TheLancet Volume 385, Issue 9977 ,  Pages1477-1590, 18–24 April 2015

The Lancet Series on Violence against women and girls 

NSW Health staff can access the full text articles via CIAP. Otherwise check with your library.

Autism virtual issue

Autism virtual issue

Autism Child development Children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1 in 68 children have an ASD diagnosis, with the prevalence in males being nearly five times more likely than females.

You can read and share some of the recently published research on this disorder in the special, free Virtual Issue on Autism.  The articles are taken from the Wiley Neurology & Neuroscience portfolios. 

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology- free virtual issues

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology- free virtual issues

Antibiotics Children Pharmacy

The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology has published a number of free virtual issues including:

•  Paediatric Prescribing
•  Future of Antimicrobials   

Improving the early life outcomes of Indigenous children

Improving the early life outcomes of Indigenous children

Child development Children Indigenous health

This paper outlines the wide gaps in early life outcomes for Indigenous people compared with non-Indigenous people, such as higher rates of poor health conditions, hospital admissions and poor nutrition among Indigenous children. It then discusses how localised early childhood development works to overcome these disadvantages through a range of interventions that are tailored to address the local determinants of early childhood development. 

Improving the early life outcomes of Indigenous children: implementing early childhood development at the local level.

Issues paper no. 6 produced for the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse. AIHW. Sarah Wise, December 2013

The State of the World's Children - UNICEF

The State of the World's Children - UNICEF

Children Disabilities Global health

The 2013 edition of The State of the World’s Children is dedicated to the situation of children with disabilities. This UNICEF report examines the barriers that deprive children with disabilities of their rights and keep them from participating fully in society, such as inaccessible buildings, dismissive attitudes, and invisibility in official statistics.  It also lays out some of the key elements of inclusive societies that respect and protect the rights of children with disabilities, adequately support them and their families, and nurture their abilities, so that they may take advantage of opportunities to flourish and make their contribution to the world.

Children and needles: a pain solution

Children and needles: a pain solution

Children Pain Vaccination

With a son who had a phobia of needles, Dr. Amy Baxter stumbled upon a solution: a high-frequency vibrating ice pack that helps disrupt pain signals on their way to the brain. She stuck a cute bee on the front, won a $1 million federal health grant, and the product now known as Buzzy was born.
(re-posted from NPR Weekly Innovation Blog series)

Autism - management of autism in children and young people

Autism - management of autism in children and young people

Adolescents Autism Children

NICE´s guideline on the management and assessment of children and young people with autism recommends a range of treatments and interventions to help ensure management addresses individual needs. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK believes that health and social care professionals should tailor the management and assessment of children and young people with autism to their individual needs.

The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children: Annual Statistical Report 2012

The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children: Annual Statistical Report 2012

Child development Children Statistics Wellbeing

This report, Growing up in Australia: the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), aims to provide the evidence base for future research and policy development to support family functioning and children's health and wellbeing. LSAC was initiated and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and is conducted in partnership with the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). A consortium of leading researchers and experts from universities and research agencies provide advice to the study.
This is the third volume in the LSAC Annual Statistical Report series, which for the first time incorporates data from the fourth wave of the study. The purpose of these reports is to provide an overview of the data from the study and to address policy-relevant questions about aspects of Australian children’s lives and development. The reports make use of the longitudinal nature of LSAC data to describe continuities and change as children develop, as well as the dynamics of change in their families, neighbourhoods and communities. (APO 19 June 2013)

Staying healthy - preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care

Staying healthy - preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care

Children Infection control Infectious diseases

The 5th edition of Staying Healthy : Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) represents an increased focus on a risk-management approach to infection prevention and control principles in daily care activities. Staying Healthy provides educators and other staff working in education and care services with simple and effective methods for minimising the spread of disease. It contains advice on procedures and discussing exclusion periods with parents in six parts: 

• concepts of infection control 
• monitoring illness in children 
• procedures 
• issues for employers, educators and other staff 
• fact sheets on diseases common to education and care services 
• forms, useful contacts and websites.