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The article presents a study which examined diabetes prevalence in Australian long-term care (LTC) facilities using a linked national health and aged care data platform and the level of agreement of prevalence estimates between datasets that capture diabetes cases. Topics include diabetes case ascertainment using linked aged care and health administrative data sets, prevalence of diabetes in National Death Index (NDI) data, and the high burden of diabetes in Australian LTC facilities.

Purpose: Gaming and interactive virtual simulation environments support a learner-centered educational model allowing learners to work through problems acquiring knowledge through an active, experiential learning approach. To develop effective virtual simulations and serious games, the views and perceptions of learners and educators must be assessed and taken into account, regarding their use in the classroom. This paper aims to present the results of two surveys conducted to assess faculty and student perceptions. Design/methodology/approach: Both surveys were conducted at University of Ontario Institute of Technology. The surveys were made available to students and faculty members via a link on an institute-wide internal course management system. Findings: Results indicate that students and educators appreciate the use of virtual simulations and serious games, but care must be taken to ensure that they are relevant to the course material and that educators are familiar with their use to assist students, should problems arise. Originality/value: This is the first study of its kind conducted at a laptop-based university and the results are important when considering the development of virtual simulations and serious games for teaching and learning. (Contains 6 figures and 1 table.)

The article presents the discussion on considering the significant number of people living with undiagnosed diabetes. Topics include adding complications of comorbidities showing frailty, functional deficits, cognitive changes, cardiovascular disease and polypharmacy; and medicare and privately funded community-based health providers supporting chronic disease self-management.

Rationale/aim: Medication administration is a complex and time‐consuming task in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Understanding the time associated with each administration step may help identify opportunities to optimize medication management in RACFs. This study aimed to investigate the time taken to administer medications to residents, including those with complex care needs such as cognitive impairment and swallowing difficulties. Method: A time‐and‐motion study was conducted in three South Australian RACFs. A representative sample of 57 scheduled medication administration rounds in 14 units were observed by a single investigator. The rounds were sampled to include different times of day, memory support units for residents living with dementia and standard units, and medication administration by registered and enrolled nurses. Medications were administered from pre‐prepared medication strip packaging. The validated Work Observation Method By Activity Timing (WOMBAT) software was used to record observations. Results: Thirty nurses were observed. The average time spent on scheduled medication administration rounds was 5.2 h/unit of average 22 residents/day. The breakfast medication round had the longest duration (1.92 h/unit). Resident preparation, medication preparation and provision, documentation, transit, communication, and cleaning took an average of 5 minutes per resident per round. Medication preparation and provision comprised 60% of overall medication round time and took significantly longer in memory support than in standard units (66 vs 49 seconds per resident per round for preparation, 79 vs 58 for provision; P <.001 for both). Almost half (42%) of tablets/capsules were crushed in memory support units. The time taken for medication administration was not significantly different among registered and enrolled nurses. Conclusions: Nurses took an average of 5 minutes to administer medications per resident per medication round. Medication administration in memory support units took an additional minute per resident per round, with almost half of tablets and capsules needing to be crushed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bread and Roses Words by James Oppenheim, 1929 As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day, A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts grey Are touched [...]