Aust Fam Physician
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Urinary incontinence is common in the community and may impact significantly on quality of life; yet only one-third of sufferers seek medical attention. There are many treatment options for patients suffering with urinary incontinence. ⋯ Most urinary incontinence can be evaluated and treated in the primary care setting after careful history and simple clinical assessment. Initial treatment, for both urge urinary incontinence and stress urinary incontinence, is lifestyle modification and pelvic floor muscle treatment. Urinary urgency responds to bladder training and pharmacotherapy with anticholinergic medication. Pharmacotherapy has a limited place in stress incontinence. If there is complex symptomatology or primary management fails, then referral to a specialist is suggested.
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Evidence and quality standards support the use of professional interpreters and discourage the use of family interpreters in medical consultations. The Northern Division of General Practice documented the use of professional and family interpreters in local general practices, together with barriers and possible facilitators in the use of professional interpreters. ⋯ Surveys of practices and GPs found the use of professional interpreters is uncommon. Over two-thirds of practices reported never using the free Doctors Priority Line phone interpreting service. Family members were frequently used as interpreters, with most GPs preferring to use family rather than professional interpreters. Over a third of practices were unaware of the Doctors Priority Line. Findings suggested that relevant standards are commonly not understood or implemented.
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In 2004-2005, 15% of Australians reported having arthritis.1 Osteoarthritis (OA) is by far the most common form, and is a leading cause of pain and disability among people over 65 years of age.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have a higher incidence of cervical cancer and poorer outcomes for breast and cervical cancer than nonindigenous women. This article reports on a project that aimed to implement and evaluate strategies to improve general practitioner early detection of breast and cervical cancer in this group. ⋯ Partnerships involving community members planning and implementing evidence based strategies may improve participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in breast and cervical cancer screening.