https://dora.health.qld.gov.au/qldresearchjspui/handle/1/20 2026-04-19T15:01:10Z 2026-04-19T15:01:10Z Brown, Matthew Gerrard, John Lynne McKinlay John Marquess Teneika Sparrow Ross Andrews https://dora.health.qld.gov.au/qldresearchjspui/handle/1/5375 2023-10-23T16:00:45Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Ongoing symptoms and functional impairment 12 weeks after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 or influenza in Australia: an observational cohort study Authors: Brown, Matthew; Gerrard, John; Lynne McKinlay; John Marquess; Teneika Sparrow; Ross Andrews Abstract: Objective In a highly vaccinated Australian population, we aimed to compare ongoing symptoms and functional impairment 12 weeks after PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection with PCR-confirmed influenza infection. Methods and analysis The study commenced on a positive PCR test for either COVID-19 or influenza in June 2022 during concurrent waves of both viruses. Participants were followed up 12 weeks later in September 2022 and self-reported ongoing symptoms and functional impairment. We conducted a multivariate logistic regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, First Nations status, vaccination status and socioeconomic profile. Results There were 2195 and 951 participants in the COVID-19 and influenza-positive cohorts, respectively. After controlling for potential predictor variables, we found no evidence to suggest that adults with COVID-19 were more likely to have ongoing symptoms (21.4% vs 23.0%, aOR 1.18; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.50) or moderate-to-severe functional impairment (4.1% vs 4.4%, OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.55 to 1.20) at 12 weeks after their diagnosis than adults who had influenza. Conclusions In a highly vaccinated population exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, long COVID may manifest as a postviral syndrome of no greater severity than seasonal influenza but differing in terms of the volume of people affected and the potential impact on health systems. This study underscores the importance of long COVID research featuring an appropriate comparator group. Trial registration number ACTRN12623000041651. Data availability statement Data are available upon reasonable request. Because of data confidentiality provisions under Queensland public health legislation, individual data from Queensland Health’s Notifiable Conditions System will not be shared publicly. We can share the research protocol and survey questions. Requests for deidentified data associated with this research should be sent to the corresponding author (matthew.brown@health.qld.gov.au) after publication of the paper Description: This study involves human participants and was approved by the Metro South Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC/2022/QMS/88587) and the Queensland Office of Precision Medicine and Research (SSA/2022/QHC/88587). Participants gave informed consent to participate in the study before taking part.

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z Anita Groos Shelley Peardon-Freeman Kim McFarlane Simone Braithwaite Deepa Gajjar Pamela Murch Catherine Spucches https://dora.health.qld.gov.au/qldresearchjspui/handle/1/1409 2021-07-21T03:02:38Z 2021-06-21T00:00:00Z

Title: Free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine test request in Queensland, Australia: convenience of home sample collection versus pathology collection centre attendance for faster results Authors: Anita Groos; Shelley Peardon-Freeman; Kim McFarlane; Simone Braithwaite; Deepa Gajjar; Pamela Murch; Catherine Spucches Abstract: Background: A free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine testing service (Webtest) is available for people living in Queensland, Australia. There are two options to provide a urine sample: at a pathology collection centre or by using a home mailing kit. The study aimed to trial these two testing options designed for young people and describe which is the preferred testing choice. Methods: Data for online requests made from 3 August 2017 to 31 December 2019 provides information for age, gender, location of clients, results received, treatment and partner notification reported by people with positive results. Results: For 29 months, there were 4642 Webtest requests and 2906 valid results received. For young people (16–29 years), chlamydia positivity was 8.2% (172/2105; 95% CI, 7.1–9.4) versus 3.2% (26/801; 95% CI, 2.2–4.7) for people aged ≥30 years, and 6.8% (198/2906; 95% CI, 6.0–7.8) for all ages. Home mailing kits were the most popular testing choice, with 68.0% (1977/2906) of results received from urine submitted by post and 32.0% (929/2906) via pathology collection centre. Conclusions: The free online test request service engaged young people at risk of sexually transmissible infections and found home sample collection was most popular.

2021-06-21T00:00:00Z Anita Groos Shelly Peardon-Freeman Kim McFarlane Simone Braithwaite Deepa Gajjar Pamela Murch Catherine Spucches https://dora.health.qld.gov.au/qldresearchjspui/handle/1/1408 2021-07-21T03:02:00Z 2021-07-06T00:00:00Z

Title: Quick online STI risk-assessment questions for asymptomatic young people: the computer said I should get tested Authors: Anita Groos; Shelly Peardon-Freeman; Kim McFarlane; Simone Braithwaite; Deepa Gajjar; Pamela Murch; Catherine Spucches Abstract: Both healthcare providers and clients identify barriers to sexually transmissible infections (STI) testing associated with time, embarrassment, anxiety, or stigma. Online testing options are one mechanism to address some of these constraints and engage people who prefer technology facilitated processes. Queensland Health in Australia offers a free chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine test and uses four STI risk-assessment questions with yes/no answers to guide client decisions whether to continue to use the online service to order a Webtest. The STI risk assessment generates high, medium and low-risk categories with messages recommending where or how to get tested. Description: Poster Presentation - PDF at https://sti.bmj.com/content/97/Suppl_1/A77.2

2021-07-06T00:00:00Z Anita Groos Peardon-Freeman, Shelley McFarlane, Kim Braithwaite, Simone Gajjar, Deepa Murch, Pamela https://dora.health.qld.gov.au/qldresearchjspui/handle/1/1397 2021-07-21T03:00:39Z 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine test request in Queensland: sexually transmissible infections testing can be hard for young people even if the process is easy Authors: Anita Groos; Peardon-Freeman, Shelley; McFarlane, Kim; Braithwaite, Simone; Gajjar, Deepa; Murch, Pamela Abstract: Online options to request sexually transmissible infections testing are increasingly popular and a free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine testing service is available for people living in Queensland, Australia. Data from 3 August 2017 to 31 August 2019 provide information for 1316 reminder calls to young people (aged 16-29 years) to encourage sample submission. The reminder calls generated few additional samples for testing, suggesting young people may have changed their mind about using the service, sought testing elsewhere or were reluctant to talk further about their original decision to request a test online.

2021-06-01T00:00:00Z