Volume three, Issue 3

You may have heard that the health status of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is an issue of international concern. But what do you know about indigenous men's health? Probably not much, as there is very little published in this field. This editorial sets the scene for a research and education strategy to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander men.

High quality undergraduate education in rural hospitals is a crucial element of the rural workforce and quality improvement strategies of many countries. But how do good clinicians decide whether a student is competent or not? This article explores this issue from the perspective of rural nurses.

Sometimes, endemic infectious diseases can seem overwhelming, and attempts to control them frustrating and exhausting. Yet population approaches to such major health problems, for example using insecticide coated nets for malaria, are essential to improving the health of rural and remote communities throughout the world. This article analyses the issues faced in Africa in a major initiative to control the scourge of onchocerciasis. Maybe there are lessons for us all from this experience.

Regionalisation of health services with increased autonomy to local decision makers is a common policy direction internationally that directly effects rural clinicians and communities. Does it work? This article provides evidence to help answer this question from a decade of experience in the Philippines.

Few would doubt that enabling post-graduate doctors to train in remote locations is crucial to a medium-term rural medical workforce strategy. Yet, to be effective, this education must be a positive experience for both trainee and trainer. This article, and its accompaning commentary, explore the crucial issues of practice workload, population health, gender, teaching time and learning styles that have arisen in Central Australia, 1500km from the nearest capital city.

Few would doubt that enabling post-graduate doctors to train in remote locations is crucial to a medium-term rural medical workforce strategy. Yet, to be effective, this education must be a positive experience for both trainee and trainer. This commentary accompanies Susan Wearne's article. Together, they explore the crucial issues of practice workload, population health, gender, teaching time and learning styles that have arisen in Central Australia, 1500km from the nearest capital city.

How do rural health services develop systems to address chronic diseases? This paper provides a case-study of an attempt by a rural Australian region to do this in relation to asthma. What does your region do? RRH would be interested to hear.

Rural practice is a team effort. If one element of the team is missing, all are under strain. Whilst much work has addressed the maldistribution of the medical and nursing workforces, less has been published on the allied health disciplines. This article outlines the benefits of a pro-active approach in the discipline of podiatry.

When universities decide to move substantial medical education programs out of urban tertiary centres and into rural community settings, new methods need to be found that take advantage of the unique characteristics of the new setting. This article describes one such approach in rural Australia. Could this be useful where you live?

Have you recently been asked to have a student in your rural practice? Have you felt guilty if you refused? In this personal view, experience rural supervisor, Prof Ian Couper, gives a realistic perspective on having students in your rural practice, and offers some thoughtful guidelines for those considering giving something back to the profession, and helping the future rural workforce, through having a student visit.

Most readers of this journal would regard themselves as advocates for rural health. But do we all mean the same thing when we refer to 'rural'. This article provides a South African perspective to this debate. We would be interested to hear how other countries define rural in the context of health.

Do you work in a small rural hospital? Have you ever thought of developing your own local continuing education program instead of going to city-based functions? This short article from South Africa presents some simple and practical advice on how you can go about it and reap the rewards.

Journal Search brings Rural and Remote Health users information about relevant recent articles, including abstracts. This month's highlights include recent publications from the rural health journals about recruitment and retention of medical staff, and rural clinical material.

Journal Search brings Rural and Remote Health users information about relevant recent articles, including abstracts. This month's highlights include recent publications in the rural health journals on the subjects of rural health services, health economics and medical education.