Aust Fam Physician
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Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) disproportionately affects Indigenous Australians. This article reports the findings of two studies in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula area (T&NPA) of Queensland in Australia. The aim of the first study was to assess CHB care delivery, the second assessed CHB patient knowledge about the condition. ⋯ Chronic hepatitis B affects a substantial number of Indigenous adults in the T&NPA. There is limited adherence to clinical guidelines. Improved uptake of clinical guidelines adapted for remote areas, incorporation of CHB into systematic chronic disease care, and culturally appropriate patient education resources and programs are needed.
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General practices are required to have flexible systems to accommodate urgent appointments. Not all patients requesting a same day appointment receive one. There is scant research detailing how requests for same day appointments are managed. Our study examined this issue from the perspective of practice staff. ⋯ Practice policies must make clear roles and responsibilities for all staff managing patient appointments. Aspects of clinic policies and practices could be reviewed to reduce medicolegal risk and additional workload caused by non-medically urgent needs.