Australian journal of general practice
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Ensuring compliance with privacy law is not just a matter of respecting patient confidentiality. The past year has seen the introduction of new legal requirements including data breach notification, and higher penalties for breaches of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth). Disturbingly, the first reporting period shows that the health sector has the highest number of data breaches of any sector. ⋯ The absence of a privacy compliance program can itself be a breach of the Privacy Act, even if no personal information was lost or misused in any way. Health service providers need to place a fresh focus on their legal compliance.
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Palliative care aims to improve quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses. It is often linked to the care of people with cancer; however, patients with non-cancer end-stage conditions also have significant needs. ⋯ The symptom burden and care needs for patients with end-stage, nonmalignant illnesses are similar to those of patients with advanced cancer. These patients benefit from a palliative approach, comprising management of the underlying condition and attention to symptoms, psychosocial needs and carer support. Advance care planning provides an opportunity to prepare for future illness episodes, including provision of end-of-life care. General practitioners are well placed to provide palliative care for patients with advanced non-cancer illnesses.
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General practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs) are mandated to report child abuse; however, only 2–4% of reports are made by Victorian health professionals. This is concerning, given that the estimated prevalence of physical child abuse alone in Australia is 5–18%. The aim of this study was to explore GPs’ and PNs’ experiences and perceptions of mandatory reporting of child abuse in Victoria. ⋯ GPs and PNs must negotiate their legal obligation, with the emotional burden associated with the decision to report. Updated education on reporting processes and more support for GPs and PNs are recommended.
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Australian junior doctors are stressed and report high rates of burnout. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of burnout in general practice registrars and hospital equivalents. ⋯ On the basis of our findings, we propose a multifactorial model of junior doctor burnout. This model warrants further investigation to inform policies to reduce burnout in junior doctors and ensure a research-based solution is found to the progressive concerns regarding junior doctor burnout and suicides.
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Medical students on clinical placements value positive experiences with specialty trainees. We aimed to document student contact with general practice registrars and other specialty registrars and any relationship between this contact and student career interests. ⋯ Student exposure to general practice registrars in at least one Australian medical school is relatively low. Opportunities to increase this should be explored. Students themselves may have little influence over their contact with specialty trainees, despite valuing it highly.