People You May Know: What Happens Next? podcast on social media and mental health, part two

Every generation faces its own moral panic over new technology. Even right back to Socrates when the use of written text in books was seen as something that would negatively impact our lives. In the 20th century, wireless radio and television was thought or assumed to bring about the downfall of civilisation.

Face masks and risk of falls – a vision for personalised advice and timing?

Wearing masks restricts vision to a small extent, requiring people

to look down to negotiate steps and other obstacles or hazards.

What is the best advice for the elderly with restricted mobility?

Image: Shutterstock

Mask wearing continues to be mandatory in Victoria as a tried and tested public health measure to limit the spread of COVID-19. The World Health Organisation has recommended that mask-wearing be routine practice throughout the world. What are the implications for those who experience difficulty negotiating their environment?

Elderly people have all kinds of mobility issues. Wearing masks adds to the complexity of their experience. The authors of a recently published British Medical Journal (BMJ) editorial about mask-wearing and risk of falls in older people suggest that slowing down walking pace may be safer than looking down when wearing face masks. 

Associate Professor Michele Callisaya, Professor Keith Hill and colleagues who created the Safe Exercise at Home website have published a reply. She says, "We advocate that advising people to simply slow down without taking other aspects of negotiating your environment while wearing a mask is not the best approach. Masks do restrict your vision to some extent. Strategies should be individualised and looking down over a mask is required especially on curbs and obstacles."  

See the group's response: https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4133/rr

27 Oct - 2 Nov 2020 Central Clinical School publications

Mauritius took early, stringent action to prevent the spread of

COVID-19. To date, only 368 people have been infected: 

Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology study. Image: Shutterstock

Recent publications featuring research as notified by PubMed during 27 October - 2 November 2020 from Central Clinical School affiliated researchers in the following departments. The below is not a comprehensive list:

• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases
• Diabetes
• Infectious Diseases
• Medicine - Peninsula
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• Neuroscience

Congratulations to our recently completed PhD students!

L-R: Michael Keating, Amy Searle, Jasper Cornish, Sarah Luu

Congratulations to Michael Keating, Amy Searle, Jasper Cornish and Sarah Luu on earning their PhDs! 2020 has been a difficult year, so extra well done to these graduate research students on their successful completions.

Central Clinical School's OHS staff update

L-R: Rachael Borg, Rebecca Reismanis, Darren Partridge

Congratulations to Dr Rebecca Reismanis, who has been appointed to a new, ongoing position for a Senior Technical Officer focussing on the Departments of Immunology & Pathology and Diabetes. This new position was created to provide longer-term support for the school’s growing portfolio of research activities and projects. Rebecca had already been working in a similar role supporting our Departments of Neuroscience, Infectious Diseases and Gastroenterology during Rachael Borg's maternity leave. 

Lessons from COVID-19 in critical care: Human Factors Webinar

Free 1.5 webinar on critical care and COVID-19. Register

You are invited to attend a FREE 1.5 hour Human Factors Webinar titled "Lessons from COVID-19 in critical care." 

 

Aspects of critical care such as our PPE, procedures, communication systems, digital and telehealth, and the design of spaces and equipment are critical for positive health outcomes and the safety of staff and patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought these issues to the forefront and highlighted the importance of human factors principles and techniques. 

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy video published

Professor Terry O'Brien explains Sudden Unexpected Death
in Epilepsy (SUDEP). See video

Central Clinical School's annual public lecture was given on 29 October by Professor Terry O'Brien, our Head of School, and a long time clinician-researcher specialising in epilepsy.

Prof O'Brien ran through a case study, where the research is up to, why SUDEP happens and how it might be prevented. 

See video.