ORCID Profile
0000-0003-4361-5294
Current Organisation
University of Tasmania School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-03-2022
DOI: 10.1002/JPPR.1783
Abstract: In Australia, the predicted oversupply of pharmacists is contributing to concern regarding employment prospects. Traditionally, there have been low numbers of pharmacists employed in the Australian pharmaceutical industry and a lack of data on pharmacy students’ perceptions of employment within this sector. To determine pharmacy students’ understanding and perceptions of the pharmaceutical industry as an employment option. Australian pharmacy students graduating in 2018 were invited to complete an online survey. Participants were recruited via Facebook sites for the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association, the Early Career Pharmacists group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and through intern training networks of the PSA, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Chemist Warehouse. Australian universities were also approached via e‐mail to assist in distribution of the survey to their 2018 graduates. Complete responses were received from 124 students, representing 17 universities. Most respondents perceived the pharmaceutical industry as a good employment option (61%). However, they generally lacked understanding (77%), information and sufficient exposure to industry to fully comprehend the potential employment opportunities available. Furthermore, placements in the pharmaceutical industry are not universally available to pharmacy students, and less than 20% had undertaken such a placement. Respondents desired industry placements (81%), education (86%) and more exposure to this career option during their studies (86%). Further research is needed on how Australian universities, the pharmaceutical industry and the pharmacy profession can collaborate to raise awareness of industry as a career option and equip graduates for these employment opportunities.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Date: 2007
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 12-2016
DOI: 10.2196/GAMES.6258
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 03-08-2017
DOI: 10.2196/JMIR.6938
Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group
Date: 30-12-2012
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 10-05-2023
DOI: 10.3390/JCM12103389
Abstract: Objective: Little research has evaluated trends in psychotropic prescribing and polypharmacy in primary care patients, especially those with dementia. We sought to examine this in Australia from 2011 to 2020 using the primary care dataset, MedicineInsight. Methods: Ten consecutive serial cross-sectional analyses were performed to evaluate the proportion of patients aged 65 years or more, with a recorded diagnosis of dementia, who were prescribed psychotropic medications within the first six months of each year from 2011 to 2020. This proportion was compared with propensity score-matched control patients without dementia. Results: Before matching, 24,701 patients (59.2% females) with, and 72,105 patients (59.2% females) without, a recorded diagnosis of dementia were included. In 2011, 42% (95% confidence interval [CI] 40.5–43.5%) of patients in the dementia group had at least one recorded prescription of a psychotropic medication, which declined to 34.2% (95% CI 33.3–35.1% p for trend 0.001) by 2020. However, it remained unchanged for matched controls (36% [95% CI 34.6–37.5%] in 2011 and 36.7% [95% CI 35.7–37.6%] in 2020). The greatest decline in the dementia groups by medication class was for antipsychotics (from 15.9% [95% CI 14.8–17.0%] to 8.8% [95% CI 8.2–9.4%] p for trend 0.001). During this period, the prevalence of psychotropic polypharmacy (use of two or more in idual psychotropics) also decreased from 21.7% (95% CI 20.5–22.9%) to 18.1% (95% CI 17.4–18.9%) in the dementia groups, and slightly increased from 15.2% (95% CI 14.1–16.3%) to 16.6% (95% CI 15.9–17.3%) in the matched controls. Conclusions: The decline in psychotropic prescribing, particularly antipsychotics, in Australian primary care patients with dementia is encouraging. However, psychotropic polypharmacy still occurred in almost one in five patients with dementia at the end of the study period. Programs focused on encouraging further reductions in the use of multiple psychotropic drugs in patients with dementia are recommended, particularly in rural and remote regions.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2014
DOI: 10.5688/AJPE789168
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 05-2018
DOI: 10.5694/MJA17.00857
Abstract: To assess the impact of a multi-strategic, interdisciplinary intervention on antipsychotic and benzodiazepine prescribing in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Design, setting: Prospective, longitudinal intervention in Australian RACFs, April 2014 - March 2016. 150 RACFs (with 12 157 residents) comprised the main participant group two further groups were consultant pharmacists (staff education) and community pharmacies (prescribing data). Data for all RACF residents, excluding residents receiving respite or end-stage palliative care, were included. A multi-strategic program comprising psychotropic medication audit and feedback, staff education, and interdisciplinary case review at baseline and 3 months final audit at 6 months. Mean prevalence of regular antipsychotic and benzodiazepine prescribing at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months. Secondary measures: chlorpromazine and diazepam equivalent doses/day/resident proportions of residents for whom drug was ceased or the dose reduced prevalence of antidepressant and prn (as required) psychotropic prescribing (to detect any substitution practice). During the 6-month intervention, the proportion of residents prescribed antipsychotics declined by 13% (from 21.6% [95% CI, 20.4-22.9%] to 18.9% [95% CI, 17.7-20.1%]), and that of residents regularly prescribed benzodiazepines by 21% (from 22.2% [95% CI, 21.0-23.5%] to 17.6% [95% CI, 16.5-18.7] each, P < 0.001). Mean chlorpromazine equivalent dose declined from 22.9 mg/resident/day (95% CI, 19.8-26.0) to 20.2 mg/resident/day (95% CI, 17.5-22.9 P < 0.001) mean diazepam equivalent dose declined from 1.4 mg/resident/day (95% CI, 1.3-1.5) to 1.1 mg/resident/day (95% CI, 0.9-1.2 P < 0.001). For 39% of residents prescribed antipsychotics and benzodiazepines at baseline, these agents had been ceased or their doses reduced by 6 months. There was no substitution by sedating antidepressants or prn prescribing of other psychotropic agents. The RedUSe program achieved significant reductions in the proportions of RACF residents prescribed antipsychotics and benzodiazepines. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials, ACTRN12617001257358.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 03-05-2018
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 21-07-2022
DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2022.2103540
Abstract: We aimed to compare the risk of developing osteoporosis in patients prescribed warfarin or direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) with those with no therapy. We included 37,632 patients aged between 18 and 111 years with a recorded diagnosis of AF between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017. Patients were followed until the diagnosis of osteoporosis, switch or discontinuation of the OAC, last clinical visit, or end of the study period, whichever occurred first. The incidences of new-onset osteoporosis were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. Of total, 16,995 (45.2%) had no recorded OAC prescription, and 20,637 had a recorded prescription of warfarin (6,609) or DOAC (14,028). Compared with those not prescribed an OAC, the risk of being diagnosed with new-onset osteoporosis increased in patients prescribed warfarin (HR 2.22, 95% CI 2.00-2.47, p < 0.001) and DOACs (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.29-1.58, p < 0.001). However, the effect of DOACs was not statistically significant (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.86-1.33, p < 0.535) after excluding patients with at least one recorded prescription of systemic corticosteroids, antiepileptics, or proton pump inhibitors. Use of warfarin or DOACs was associated with a significantly increased risk of developing osteoporosis compared with no OAC treatment.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 21-08-2020
Abstract: umerous mobile health (mHealth) apps have been developed to support smokers attempting to quit smoking. Although these apps have been reported to be successful, only modest improvements in the quit rate have been measured. It has been proposed that efforts to improve user engagement and retention may improve the quit rate further. Owing to the high cost of smoking-related disease, it is considered worthwhile to pursue even small improvements. he aim of this study was to test a novel smartphone app that leverages premium currency strategies developed by the mobile games industry in an attempt to improve engagement and retention with a smoking cessation intervention. e designed and developed a smoking cessation app called “Quittr” in line with previously developed smoking cessation mHealth apps. In addition to this established framework, we added a stand-alone fully featured city-building clicker-style game called “Tappy Town,” and a premium virtual currency called “QuitCoins.” The user earns QuitCoins for using the app in a way that contributes positively toward their quit attempt, and they can redeem these coins in Tappy Town for bonuses. To establish whether these features improved engagement and retention, we ran a 5-month randomized controlled trial where the intervention group had the full app with the extra games features, while the control group had the standard app only. Recruitment was performed via web-based advertising. Participants (N=175) had no direct contact with the researchers or other support staff. o significant differences in terms of engagement, retention, or smoking outcomes were found between the control and intervention groups. However, survey data indicated that the majority of the participants valued Tappy Town (10/17, 59%) and the QuitCoins rewards system (13/17, 77%). Usage data also suggested that Tappy Town was widely played and was generally appealing to users (mean total time spent in app, control group: 797 seconds vs intervention group: 3502 seconds, i P& /i .001). Analysis of the results suggests that users in the intervention group may have been negatively affected by the aspects of the chosen design, and some theories were explored to explain this unexpected outcome. lthough the novel features of the Quittr app failed to improve the key outcomes measured in this study, there were enough positive indications to warrant further exploration of the concept. Additional research will be required to identify and correct any design flaws that may have adversely affected our participants before a follow-up study can be completed. ustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12617000491369 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372661& isReview=true
Publisher: IEEE
Date: 10-2007
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Date: 2009
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 11-10-2023
DOI: 10.3390/MPS6050098
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 14-12-2020
DOI: 10.2196/23734
Abstract: Numerous mobile health (mHealth) apps have been developed to support smokers attempting to quit smoking. Although these apps have been reported to be successful, only modest improvements in the quit rate have been measured. It has been proposed that efforts to improve user engagement and retention may improve the quit rate further. Owing to the high cost of smoking-related disease, it is considered worthwhile to pursue even small improvements. The aim of this study was to test a novel smartphone app that leverages premium currency strategies developed by the mobile games industry in an attempt to improve engagement and retention with a smoking cessation intervention. We designed and developed a smoking cessation app called “Quittr” in line with previously developed smoking cessation mHealth apps. In addition to this established framework, we added a stand-alone fully featured city-building clicker-style game called “Tappy Town,” and a premium virtual currency called “QuitCoins.” The user earns QuitCoins for using the app in a way that contributes positively toward their quit attempt, and they can redeem these coins in Tappy Town for bonuses. To establish whether these features improved engagement and retention, we ran a 5-month randomized controlled trial where the intervention group had the full app with the extra games features, while the control group had the standard app only. Recruitment was performed via web-based advertising. Participants (N=175) had no direct contact with the researchers or other support staff. No significant differences in terms of engagement, retention, or smoking outcomes were found between the control and intervention groups. However, survey data indicated that the majority of the participants valued Tappy Town (10/17, 59%) and the QuitCoins rewards system (13/17, 77%). Usage data also suggested that Tappy Town was widely played and was generally appealing to users (mean total time spent in app, control group: 797 seconds vs intervention group: 3502 seconds, P .001). Analysis of the results suggests that users in the intervention group may have been negatively affected by the aspects of the chosen design, and some theories were explored to explain this unexpected outcome. Although the novel features of the Quittr app failed to improve the key outcomes measured in this study, there were enough positive indications to warrant further exploration of the concept. Additional research will be required to identify and correct any design flaws that may have adversely affected our participants before a follow-up study can be completed. Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12617000491369 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372661& isReview=true
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 28-02-2018
Abstract: For at least two decades, concerns have been raised about inappropriate psychotropic prescribing in Australian residential aged care facilities, due to their modest therapeutic benefit and increased risk of falls and mortality. To date, the majority of prevalence data has been collected in Sydney exclusively and it is not known if recent initiatives to promote appropriate psychotropic prescribing have impacted utilisation. Thus, we aimed to comprehensively analyse psychotropic use in a large national s le of residential aged care facility residents. A cross-sectional, retrospective cohort study of residents from 150 residential aged care facilities distributed nationally during April 2014–October 2015. Antipsychotic, anxiolytic/hypnotic and antidepressant utilisation was assessed, along with anticonvulsant and anti-dementia drug use. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to examine variation in psychotropic use. Full psychotropic prescribing data was available from 11,368 residents. Nearly two-thirds (61%) were taking psychotropic agents regularly, with over 41% prescribed antidepressants, 22% antipsychotics and 22% of residents taking benzodiazepines. Over 30% and 11% were charted for ‘prn’ (as required) benzodiazepines and antipsychotics, respectively. More than 16% of the residents were taking sedating antidepressants, predominantly mirtazapine. South Australian residents were more likely to be taking benzodiazepines ( p 0.05) and residents from New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory less likely to be taking them ( p 0.01), after adjustment for rurality and size of residential aged care facility. Residents located in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory were also significantly less likely to take antidepressants ( p 0.01), as were residents from outer regional residential aged care facilities ( p 0.01). Antipsychotic use was not associated with State, rurality or residential aged care facility size. Regular antipsychotic use appears to have decreased in residential aged care facilities but benzodiazepine prevalence is higher, particularly in South Australian residential aged care facilities. Sedating antidepressant and ‘prn’ psychotropic prescribing is widespread. Effective interventions to reduce the continued reliance on psychotropic management, in conjunction with active promotion of non-pharmacological strategies, are urgently required.
Location: Australia
No related grants have been discovered for Tristan Ling.