What is known about the topic? Voluntary assisted dying is a legal end-of-life option in all Australian states, but not all health services support or offer it. In Queensland, the law prescribes actions that non-participating health services must take so that access to voluntary assisted dying is not hindered. What does this paper add? This study explores how privately funded health services in Queensland prepared for the implementation of voluntary assisted dying, highlighting the anticipated challenges. What are the implications for practitioners? Organisational policies related to voluntary assisted dying can support practitioners to ensure their practice meets their legal obligations.

What is known about the topic? Healthcare gaps mean people with type 2 diabetes struggle to attain management goals. Smartphone-based digital health interventions can improve diabetes outcomes, but rely on smartphone ownership and confidence with use. Populations experiencing increased burdens of diabetes overlap with those experiencing barriers to smartphone uptake, potentially contributing to health inequity. What does this paper add? In a socioeconomically marginalised, multiculturally diverse community healthcare setting, we describe the prevalence of smartphone ownership, app use and internet access and factors around uptake and utilisation. What are the implications for practitioners? Smartphone ownership and utilisation are unlikely to be barriers to future uptake of smartphone-based digital health interventions. Focus on tailored supports is needed for older adults and females.

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What is known about this topic? The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) produces resources to characterise areas in terms of socio-economic status and service accessibility. These resources are useful, though complex. What does this paper add? An overview of these ABS-produced resources and considerations in their use. The paper includes files and computer code to attach this information to administrative research data. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper will aid research projects and will build research capacity.

What is known about this topic? There is emerging evidence that research capacity and culture of allied health professionals may be different to medically trained health professionals. What does this paper add? This paper provides understanding of how research engagement is perceived by a large group of psychologists working in public health in Australia and describes motivators and barriers that influence their research engagement. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper suggests that a targeted future capacity building strategy is required to improve research engagement of Australian psychologists working in public health.

What is known about the topic? Understanding commuting patterns of healthcare workers is important but relatively little is known. What does this paper add? This study explores different commuting modes and the barriers to active travel and public transport use among healthcare workers, finding car travel to be the most prevalent. What are the implications for practitioners? The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to promote sustainable commuting options, which can improve health outcomes and reduce environmental impact.

What is known about the topic? There are still significant pressures on the healthcare system from a workforce perspective. Job demands are still exceeding job resources. Relatively little is known about how human resource management (HRM) and management support can contribute effectively to improve the psychological wellbeing of medical radiation practitioners (MRPs). What does this paper add? This paper details the workplace issues faced by MRPs and contributes to literature on wellbeing HRM in the allied health sector. What are the implications for practitioners? Identification of a collaborative multi-level management approach is required to actively support MRPs to manage and address mental health and wellbeing issues.

What is known about the topic? Despite the critical importance of communication and collaboration within multidisciplinary healthcare teams, there is limited literature addressing interventions that are both effective and feasible in a busy hospital setting. What does this paper add? This paper evaluates the Hospital Harmony program, a brief, group-based intervention that was well-received and significantly enhanced psychological safety and communication within a general medicine multidisciplinary team. What are the implications for practitioners? The Hospital Harmony program has the potential to be adapted for use in other multidisciplinary healthcare teams, improving team functioning and ultimately patient care.

What is known about the topic? Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to assist in generating medical documents, but evidence regarding its effectiveness in creating emergency department (ED) discharge summaries is limited. What does this paper add? This study shows that AI-generated discharge summaries were rated comparably to ED medical notes in expected contents, readability, and internal consistency. What are the implications for practitioners? AI could be a valuable tool for enhancing efficiency and accuracy in creating ED discharge summaries, supporting clinicians in delivering high-quality patient care. It is possible to use ChatGPT4 to produce succinct discharge summaries. AI-generated discharge summaries are potentially comparable to the comprehensive medical notes written by doctors.

What is known about the topic? Fertility treatment can be expensive and not all people who require fertility treatment can access financial assistance from Medicare. What does this paper add? For those eligible for assistance, Medicare enhances accessibility and the amount of treatment undertaken due to increased affordability. People also alter their treatment plans based on Medicare policy. What are the implications for practitioners? The findings support calls for changes to Medicare eligibility to enable equitable access to fertility treatment and a pathway to parenthood for all Australians.

What is known about the topic? Australians eligible for public oral healthcare can wait a long time for an appointment. What does this paper add? This analysis provides an update and 10-year review (2015–2024) of numbers waiting for care, and numbers and percentages waiting beyond a desirable time for their clinical priority group, in Queensland. What are the implications for practitioners? Clear and feasible strategies need to be implemented to substantially reduce waiting list numbers in Queensland and more broadly across Australia; including appropriate federal and state government funding of public oral healthcare.