Aust Fam Physician
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Osteoporosis remains undertreated in Australian primary care, with as few as 30% of postmenopausal women with a fracture and 10% of men with osteoporosis receiving pharmacological treatment. ⋯ Lifestyle factors and ensuring adequate calcium and vitamin D intake are important in preventing and treating osteoporosis. Pharmacological treatments are recommended for patients with a minimal trauma fracture, for those aged 70 years or over with a T-score of -3.0 or lower, or for those who are currently taking prolonged high dose corticosteroids and who have a T-score of -1.5 or lower. Bisphosphonates are recommended as first line therapy for established postmenopausal osteoporosis. Medicine selection is guided by patient gender, menopausal status, medical and fracture history, patient preference and eligibility for government subsidy.
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People with intellectual disability experience difficulty forming intimate relationships and are prone to sexual exploitation and abuse. This study sought information from people involved in the care of adults with intellectual disability regarding how they supported them in the areas of sexuality, relationships and abuse prevention. ⋯ People with intellectual disability were described as lonely, disempowered and vulnerable to abuse. The sex industry, internet and mobile telephones were identified as new forms of risk. While this study looked at the views of both family members and support workers, the sample was too small to identify any meaningful differences between the two groups.
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In 2010, the federal government introduced the first comprehensive national policy statement for primary healthcare in Australia. This policy identifies key reform initiatives with the overall aim of improving the quality of healthcare. However, what constitutes quality and how to measure it is the subject of ongoing debate both nationally and internationally. ⋯ There are multiple and varying definitions of quality in general practice, but most emphasise patient experience as their primary focus. The quality frameworks used in the countries investigated are all based on Donabedian's systems-based framework of structure, process and outcome. Implementation and application varies however, with top-down approaches in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and bottom-up approaches in Germany. Provision of high quality care is the primary goal in all the systems described. External standards, targets and incentives are important initiatives, but countries with high quality general practice excel at empowering general practice to own the quality agenda.
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Paget disease of bone is the most common metabolic bone disease after osteoporosis, affecting 2-4% of adults over 55 years of age. Its aetiology is only partly understood, but includes both genetic and environmental factors. ⋯ The disease may be asymptomatic, found incidentally on radiography or biochemistry, or present with bone pain, deformity, fracture or other complications. Bisphosphonate therapy is indicated for patients with symptomatic disease and should also be considered in patients whose sites of disease suggest a risk of complications, such as long bones, vertebrae or base of the skull. The treatment of choice is a single infusion of zoledronic acid; courses of oral alendronate (3-6 months) or risedronate (2 months) are also effective.