Background Digoxin is widely used in the medical management of patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD), atrial fibrillation (AF), and for the treatment of heart failure (HF). Observational data from older patients with non-valvular AF suggest a higher mortality risk among those who received digoxin. However, patients with RHD are younger, without associated comorbidity, and it is unclear if digoxin will have similar adverse effects in these patients. Extrapolating the results of studies in patients without valve disease, to patients with RHD may result in the underuse of an inexpensive treatment which has proven benefit in reducing hospitalisation for worsening HF. Therefore, there is a clear need for an adequately powered randomized controlled trial to answer: How does digoxin use affect mortality in patients with RHD? Does digoxin use reduce the incidence of worsening heart failure in patients with RHD? Aim To determine whether the use of digoxin in symptomatic patients with RHD af

Background Burn injuries can have long-term physical, emotional and social impacts on children and their families. For optimal recovery, burn injuries need to be treated with immediate first aid and appropriate ongoing care and aftercare to minimise initial injury and optimise long-term outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are admitted to hospitals with an acute burn injury at a rate three times greater than other Australian children1. Additionally, their length of stay in hospital is approximately 4 days longer compared to other Australian children. There are very few healthcare services in NSW with the cultural safety or expertise needed for aftercare and recovery of burn injury for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. However, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services are well placed to provide best practice, comprehensive and culturally safe care. In partnership with ACCHS, the NSW Statewide Burn Injury Service and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, we wi

Background Gaining informed consent is a critical step before any medical procedures, or before taking part in medical research that requires effective communication. Cultural differences in concepts of health and healing, miscommunication, language barriers, and racism, hinder an appropriate informed consent process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Inappropriate informed consent processes worsen historical distrust and poor communication with health professionals widening health disparities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aims To explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s experience of informed consent process in relation to cardiac surgery and participation in medical research To explore clinician’s and researchers’ experience obtaining informed consent from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Results will inform the development of strategies to ensure informed consent processes are culturally safe and assist Aborigina

Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children present with burn injuries covering larger body surface areas, suffer full thickness burns and require hospital admission more often and for longer than other Australian children. Lack of cultural safety, communication gaps between service providers and family members and institutional racism have been identified as major barriers to accessing appropriate aftercare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children following a burn injury. Aims We aim to develop a model of care that will be integrated in the burns clinic and will enhance burn care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families. The model of care will deliver a culturally safe, structured discharge plan and ongoing follow up support aftercare for children and their family. Method Safe pathways will co-develop, implement, and evaluate a patient-centred discharge and follow up model of care. It will be developed in partnership with

Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers/Practitioners and Liaison Officers are qualified professionals in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care. There are different terms for this profession and a variety of roles for this workforce which are key to closing gaps in health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Despite their crucial role, their work is challenged by lack of clarity about their roles, diverse expectations, racism, varying levels of acceptance by non-Indigenous clinicians of their value in health care and working in culturally unsafe environments. Aims To explore how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers/Practitioners/Liaison Officers are involved in the delivery of quality hospital care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To explore how the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers/Practitioners/Liaison Officers facilitate improved health ou