Australian Family Physician audio

Dr Tricia Nagel talks about the successful use of a brief goal setting intervention in remote indigenous communities. You don't need special skills, client self-care is enhanced, and co-morbid disorders are addressed in an integrated way. And it can be used in a wide variety of settings

Dr Aleeta Fejo talks about being an indigenous doctor, efforts to increase the number of indigenous doctors in Australia, and helping out Santa for disadvantaged indigenous children

GP Dr Andrew Knight talks to Dr Kathryn O'Connor about his approach to assessment and management of case study "Serge" who presents saying "I've been bleeding from the bowels".

Much undifferentiated illness is seen in general practice.

GP Dr Louise Stone discusses assessment and management of osteoarthritis in General Practice with Dr Kathryn O'Connor.

Aches and pains are commonly seen in general practice and osteoarthritis may be an underlying cause.

Dr Michael Harrison discusses pathology testing in the tired patient with Dr Kathryn O'Connor.

Pathology tests are often ordered by general practitioners to investigate patients with nonspecific complaints such as malaise and tiredness.

GP Dr Andrew Knight talks to Dr Kathryn O'Connor about his approach to assessment and management of case study "Serge" who presents saying "I've been bleeding from the bowels". Patient history is important and open questions are especially helpful in complex presentations. Serge has multiple problems including tiredness, constipation and rectal bleeding. Causes of tiredness are many and varied and basic pathology can help exclude an organic cause. Screening for a psychogenic cause is important and the BATHE framework can is a useful method. It is important to address the patient's main concern; in this case "Serge" is concerned about cancer. Excluding cancer in Serge allows the GP to move onto other management priorities including lifestyle issues, possible sleep apnoea, cardiovascular risk and further psychological assessment

GP Dr Louise Stone discusses assessment and management of osteoarthritis in General Practice with Dr Kathryn O'Connor. Patient history is important; especially duration and severity of pain. Alternative diagnoses should be considered and excluded. Education and patient self management are vital as the management of osteoarthritis happens mainly outside the consulting room. Treatment modalities include exercise, weight loss, topical and oral medications, appliances. Referral to a surgeon may be required to allow the patient to gather information about future treatment options. Oraganisations such as Arthritis Australia can play a key role

Dr Michael Harrison discusses pathology testing in the tired patient with Dr Kathryn O'Connor. International guidelines on pathology testing in the tired patient vary and all are consensus rather than evidence based. Dr Harrison discusses the incidence of tiredness, the pick up rate of serious disease for pathology testing in the tired patient and other important reasons for decisions about testing in the general practice setting. He explains that, despite the fact that best practice eludes definition, it is possible to be rational in our approach to this problem

Nick Collins, a GP from Leumeah, New South Wales, discusses planning for pandemic flu and the checklists from his article in October AFP.

Influenza A virus has a range of subtypes characterised by the display of particular surface structures and is associated with significant symptoms and a tendency to cause epidemics and pandemics.

Nick Collins discusses planning for pandemic flu with Dr Jenni Parsons. The discussion focuses on the practical strategies general practices can employ to both prior to and during a flu pandemic. Although the process can seen daunting, simple starting points of good staff and patient education, maintaining good infection control practices, encouraging good ‘cough etiquette’ and improving practice triage procedures will make significant differences and will have benefits to the practice in managing other infections and local disasters and improving patient safety and care.

Dr Steven Rudolphy discusses straight forward ways for the busy GP to improve asthma management with Dr Jenny Presser.