{"title":"Improving women's health improves health for everyone.","authors":"Claire Denness","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-11-24-1234e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-11-24-1234e","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The art of effective communication between family physicians and their adolescent patients: Challenges and solutions.","authors":"Basel Ayoub","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-07-23-6894","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-07-23-6894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare delivery and excellent health outcomes for teenagers depend on the establishment of effective communication between family physicians and adolescent patients. However, communicating with adolescents can be challenging due to their stage of development and unique needs. By implementing effective communication strategies and fostering a positive environment, family doctors can build trust, enhance patient participation and ultimately improve health outcomes for their adolescent patients.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article explores the value of excellent communication in the healthcare of teenagers, identifies potential barriers that family doctors might encounter and provides solutions to overcome these challenges.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Adolescence is a critical developmental stage marked by physical, emotional and social changes, making effective communication particularly challenging. During this phase, adolescents might face various health concerns, including mental health issues, substance use, sexual health and chronic diseases. This emphasises the importance of tailoring communication strategies to connect with the adolescent mind. Active listening, using age-appropriate language, incorporating technology, empathy, promoting autonomy and shared decision making are tools to open communication bridges between healthcare providers and their adolescent patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Susan Saldanha, Cassandra Caddy, Henrietta Williams, Jane S Hocking, Jacqueline Coombe
{"title":"Early medical abortion provision via telehealth in Victoria: A qualitative descriptive study.","authors":"Susan Saldanha, Cassandra Caddy, Henrietta Williams, Jane S Hocking, Jacqueline Coombe","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-04-23-6799","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-04-23-6799","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Little is known about the views of service providers currently working in telehealth early medical abortion (EMA) provision in Victoria, Australia. This study aims to contextualise the enablers and barriers to telehealth EMA provision, providing insight for healthcare policy and practice to improve the accessibility of this service.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a qualitative descriptive study involving semi-structured interviews with 14 Victorian stakeholders with expertise and knowledge on telehealth EMA provision. Data were analysed using conventional content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study presents perceived enablers and barriers across four different contexts of the Victorian abortion system: (1) perceived patient context; (2) perceived provider context; (3) health organisation-system context; and (4) sociopolitical context. The COVID-19 pandemic's disruption of healthcare services led to greater patient and provider acceptance of telehealth EMA. However, barriers within the patient context included the inability to ensure safety and confidentiality, digital access and literacy issues, language barriers, and the importance of trusting provider-patient relationships. Providers encountered challenges in delivering holistic care via telehealth, including time and workload issues and working with interpreters. Shortcomings within the organisational context encompassed structural barriers for culturally and linguistically diverse population groups, the absence of standard telehealth guidelines and varying interpretations of telehealth. Although temporary Medicare item number changes improved access, they presented financial challenges for mixed and private billing practices.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The application of these findings by relevant health services and policymakers has the potential to improve the quality of, and increase accessibility to, telehealth EMA, better meeting the needs of individuals seeking this service.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elizabeth Hoon, Jessie Edwards, Philip Robinson, Debra Rowett, Nigel Stocks, Helen I Keen, Catherine L Hill
{"title":"How is gout currently managed, and is there interest in changing the way we deliver care? A qualitative exploratory study.","authors":"Elizabeth Hoon, Jessie Edwards, Philip Robinson, Debra Rowett, Nigel Stocks, Helen I Keen, Catherine L Hill","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6980","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6980","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>This study aimed to understand how gout is currently managed in Australian primary care and to assess the level of interest in changing the delivery of care for gout.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This pragmatic qualitative study was conducted among Australian general practitioners (GPs), pharmacists and adults living with gout. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The key theme identified was that chronic gout has low priority compared to managing other conditions, and management is often responsive to patient action. Lack of confidence was expressed about medication regimens for multimorbidities. Regarding changing care delivery, there was widespread interest in enhancing pharmacists' role in providing medication reviews and guidance, but there were conflicting views between some pharmacists and GPs about clinical decisions and prescribing arrangements.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Interpreting findings based on Wagner's chronic care model, it is apparent that there are multiple potential opportunities to change practice that might improve gout management.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana Rita de Oliveira Coelho, Jaquelina Soares Santos
{"title":"The vulvar ulcer that did not heal: An approach to vulvar ulceration in a postmenopausal woman.","authors":"Ana Rita de Oliveira Coelho, Jaquelina Soares Santos","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6956","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6956","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rapid cycle evaluation of a program to enhance the readiness and response to family violence in general practices.","authors":"Melinda Gill, Louise Greenstock","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6964","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6964","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>The research evaluated an introductory‑level training program to improve the readiness of general practices in regional Victoria to identify and support victim-survivors of family and domestic violence (FDV).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Mixed methods research was conducted in parallel with a co-design process to optimise the program over three iterations using a rapid-cycle evaluation approach, with data collected to assess early indicators of the program's effectiveness.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six practices participated in the training sessions. Post-training surveys demonstrated significant changes in their perceived readiness to respond to FDV, with five main themes emerging from the qualitative analysis, including navigating the multiple layers of complexity, providing victim-centred care, tailoring the program to the needs of practices, the program's influence on staff, and recommendations.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The research confirmed that the project achieved its aim of developing a training program that improved the readiness of general practices to identify and support victim-survivors.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Robin M Daly, Chris Bollen, Jane Bollen, Linda Govan, David Scott, Simon Willcock, Linda Xu, Solomon Yu
{"title":"Sarcopenia in general practice: Towards improving muscle health screening, assessment and management in Australia.","authors":"Robin M Daly, Chris Bollen, Jane Bollen, Linda Govan, David Scott, Simon Willcock, Linda Xu, Solomon Yu","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-12-23-7062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-12-23-7062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>An estimated one in five Australians aged 60 years and older have sarcopenia, marked by progressive and accelerated loss in muscle mass, strength and function. Sarcopenia is associated with considerable healthcare costs and a myriad of adverse health outcomes, including increased risk of death. Despite its clinical importance, muscle health is often overlooked in routine clinical practice, hindering diagnosis and treatment.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>In July 2023, eight representatives from Australia's primary care and research communities convened to discuss barriers to sarcopenia screening, assessment and management within routine clinical practice. Solutions were proposed to improve the implementation of muscle health assessment and management in general practice. This article summarises the key discussions and outcomes from this meeting.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Strategies to improve the implementation of muscle health assessment and management in general practice include (1) improving public awareness; (2) professional education; (3) provision of tools and resources; (4) advocacy and policy; and (5) increasing collaborative efforts between healthcare professionals, professional societies, universities, electronic medical record software vendors and the government.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142382420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jason Agostino, Karl Skewes, Deborah Wong, Andrea Timothy, Rosemary Wyber, Kim Greaves
{"title":"Inaccuracy of cardiovascular disease calculators in Australian primary healthcare software.","authors":"Jason Agostino, Karl Skewes, Deborah Wong, Andrea Timothy, Rosemary Wyber, Kim Greaves","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6975","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6975","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142382413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Debra Scott, Suzanne Solvyns, David Ralston, Mariese A Hely
{"title":"Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: From presentation to palliative care.","authors":"Debra Scott, Suzanne Solvyns, David Ralston, Mariese A Hely","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6955","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-09-23-6955","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142382411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}