{"title":"Skin cancer 2.","authors":"David Wilkinson","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-09-24-1234e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-09-24-1234e","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127314","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":"Book review: In turn: Every junior doctor must do their time.","authors":"Richard Hays","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-05-24-7290","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-05-24-7290","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127299","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}
Ilana N Ackerman, Fiona Doukas, Rachelle Buchbinder, Sally Dooley, Wendy Favorito, Phoebe Holdenson Kimura, David J Hunter, James Linklater, John B North, Louise Elvin-Walsh, Christopher Vertullo, Alice L Bhasale, Samantha Bunzli
{"title":"Special Editorial: Ensuring a fit-for-purpose resource for consumers, clinicians and health services - The updated Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard.","authors":"Ilana N Ackerman, Fiona Doukas, Rachelle Buchbinder, Sally Dooley, Wendy Favorito, Phoebe Holdenson Kimura, David J Hunter, James Linklater, John B North, Louise Elvin-Walsh, Christopher Vertullo, Alice L Bhasale, Samantha Bunzli","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-06-24-7332","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-06-24-7332","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127315","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}
Mark L Stroud, Asif N Malik, Shahid Ahmad, Saqib Ahmed, Leena Abdulla Kadhem
{"title":"Reducing therapeutic inertia in type 2 diabetes.","authors":"Mark L Stroud, Asif N Malik, Shahid Ahmad, Saqib Ahmed, Leena Abdulla Kadhem","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-05-23-6838","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-05-23-6838","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Therapeutic inertia describes a failure to establish appropriate treatment targets and escalate treatment to achieve those targets. This inertia can be measured, and evidence of this inertia is present in approximately one-third of diabetes management consultations. This inertia describes a failure in the system to produce change, rather than assigning fault to the physician or patient.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article discusses the importance of reducing therapeutic inertia in type 2 diabetes and focusing on reducing overall cardiovascular risk.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This article discusses approaches to reducing treatment inertia in type 2 diabetes (ie identify the problem, get permission, set goals, measure progress and alter treatment to reach those goals). The treat-to-target methodology, the STABLE (Smoking cessation, Target organ involvement, HbA1c, Blood pressure, Lipid profile, Energy balance) acronym and practical approaches are described.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127311","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}
Marie Pirotta, Michael Yelland, Chris G Maher, Elizabeth Marles, Christina Lane, Alice Bhasale
{"title":"Best practice care for acute low back pain: A new clinical standard to assist general practitioners.","authors":"Marie Pirotta, Michael Yelland, Chris G Maher, Elizabeth Marles, Christina Lane, Alice Bhasale","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-02-23-6725","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-02-23-6725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Low back pain is one of the most common presentations in general practice. Although there is excellent evidence regarding best management of the condition, in primary care there is often overuse of less effective and expensive options, whereas effective, inexpensive options are underused. After broad consultation and evidence review, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a clinical care standard in response to this identified gap between best and actual practice. A clinical care standard focuses only on key areas of care where the need for quality improvement is greatest.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We explore the new standard using a typical patient scenario in primary care to highlight evidence-based approaches for challenging aspects of management, such as imaging and pain management.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>General practitioners (GPs) might find the practical GP 'quick guide' resource from the standard useful to support their care of patients with low back pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127298","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":"Increased skin cancer development in a previously stable elderly female.","authors":"Xiaozhun Hang, Daniel Kennedy, Jim Muir","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-12-23-7050","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-12-23-7050","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127303","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":"Modern radiation therapy for keratinocyte cancer: What the general practitioner needs to know.","authors":"Andrew E Potter, Siddhartha Baxi, Bradley Wong","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7146","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Keratinocyte cancer (KC) in Australia poses a unique healthcare challenge due to its high prevalence and the requirement for multidisciplinary management of many cases. Advances in radiation therapy (RT) have increased its use in treating different keratinocyte cancer presentations. Understanding the indications for RT and the role that general practitioners (GPs) play in the treatment pathway are imperative to ensure best patient outcomes.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This review examined the efficacy, advances and treatment considerations of RT for the management of keratinocyte cancer, and role of the GP in the treatment pathway.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Radiation therapy offers effective alternatives to, or adjuvants for, surgery in existing keratinocyte cancer treatments in appropriate cases. The evolving RT landscape necessitates GPs to be well informed for effective case identification, referral and management. This includes understanding RT advances, protocols, treatment reactions and managing patient expectations. Continuing education in this space is important for GPs to understand the suitability of RT for their patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127310","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":"Melanoma imaging and diagnosis: What does the future hold?","authors":"Lena von Schuckmann, Leith Banney, H Peter Soyer","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7156","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Australia, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in the field of melanoma diagnosis. Early diagnosis is arguably the most important prognostic factor for melanoma survival. The use of digital monitoring of naevi, especially dysplastic naevi, might reduce the number of biopsies needed in managing patients at risk of melanoma, especially in patients with high naevi counts.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article discusses advances in imaging and early diagnosis including the use of AI in this process.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The benefits of performing biopsies must be balanced with the potential to cause harm. Whole-body imaging can assist with more accurate detection of changing lesions and enable clinicians to focus on lesions where change is detected.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127304","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":"Melanoma overdiagnosis: What do we know and what do we do?","authors":"Simon Clark, Nikita Rosendahl, Cliff Rosendahl","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7176","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7176","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Melanoma overdiagnosis occurs when melanomas, not destined to cause morbidity or death in a patient's lifetime, are identified and treated.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study considers the causes and magnitude of melanoma overdiagnosis in Australia. We also speculate about a possible benefit of overdiagnosis in Australia; namely, a reduction in excess deaths in the geographical areas where melanoma is diagnosed most frequently.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Overdiagnosis can arguably be mitigated by factors that reduce the number of lesions treated for each melanoma identified. Data from the Australian Cancer Atlas show that there is a reduction in excess deaths from melanoma in geographical areas where diagnostic rates are higher (Pearson correlation coefficient r=-0.5978, 95% CI: -0.6243 to -0.5699, P<0.0001); this being the strongest inverse correlation observed among the 20 cancer types in the Atlas. Is early diagnosis of actual life-threatening melanomas in these geographical regions impacting survival? Further research is planned.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127309","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}
Christopher Chun Wen Wong, Stephen Muhi, Daniel O'Brien
{"title":"An overview of Buruli ulcer in Australia.","authors":"Christopher Chun Wen Wong, Stephen Muhi, Daniel O'Brien","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-08-23-6914","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-08-23-6914","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Buruli ulcer (BU) is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, an environmental pathogen that causes severe skin and soft-tissue necrosis. In Australia, cases of BU are acquired in endemic regions, which include Victoria and Far North Queensland, but those who have visited these regions can present to health practitioners anywhere.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article provides Australian general practitioners with an overview of BU, including its epidemiology, transmission, clinical features, diagnosis and management.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>BU can manifest as an ulcer or as a non-ulcerated skin lesion, such as a plaque, nodule or oedema. Diagnosis can be achieved with a dedicated Mycobacterium ulcerans polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test performed on a wound swab. Swabs on non-ulcerated disease have a high false negative rate, and a PCR test should be performed on a tissue biopsy to confirm disease. Most cases are managed with prolonged antibiotic therapy - commonly a combination of oral rifampicin and clarithromycin or fluroquinolone (moxifloxacin or ciprofloxacin) - and wound dressings.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127297","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}