Parents of male high school rugby players reported having basic knowledge of concussion symptoms and the seriousness of concussion. Parents are potentially key figures in the detection of a possible concussion in the postgame/practice home environment.

The aims of this study were to compare the effect of bubble-positive expiratory pressure with a commercial positive expiratory pressure device and standardised physiotherapy in patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and to assess the feasibility of inpatient research methods. Patients admitted to a medical ward at Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were randomly assigned to a treatment group. Participants undertook one supervised treatment, then independently completed two further sessions. Participants' symptoms and ease of sputum expectoration were measured using the Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum Scale. Health-related quality of life and length of hospital stay were also recorded. Only eleven participants were recruited, over ten months. The study was, therefore, underpowered to show differences in end points. Useful findings were uncovered relating to the feasibility of the protocol. Limitations to the recruitment process were identified, including staffing issues and the assessment schedule. Findings from this study will enable revision of the study protocol to allow a modified trial to be performed in the future. B, Jepsen N, Coulter K, Wong C, Zeng I (2016) Challenges of undertaking a clinical trial using bubble-PEP in an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A feasibility study. Eastwood

Mental distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is recognised among frontline health professionals. Experiences of physiotherapists in New Zealand during the initial outbreak in early 2020 were explored in an online survey made available to members of the professional association in February 2021. Respondents (n = 326) included physiotherapists from both the public and private sectors. Mental distress was a key factor across all workplaces: 48% (n = 132) experienced stress and 44% (n = 120) felt anxious and overwhelmed. Furthermore, despite being "essential workers", 55% (n = 11) of physiotherapists working in acute hospitals were excluded from collaborations due to misconceptions about their roles by other health professionals or poor communication. Respondents from acute hospital settings encountered a lack of training (30%; n = 10) and those from both acute, non-acute/community settings experienced inadequate access to personal protective equipment (44%; n = 19). Study outcomes suggest more work needs to be done at the managerial level to understand and support the contribution physiotherapists make as key members of the interprofessional team and to support physiotherapists' wellbeing across all workplaces.