Aust Fam Physician
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Divisions of general practice are key structures for integration between general practice and other health services in Australia. ⋯ Formalizing collaboration will require changes to funding and accountability. However there is also a need for cultural change to support greater integration of patient care between general practice and both hospitals and community health services.
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Course evaluation is essential for continuous enhancement of teaching. This evaluation aimed to assess the impact of the Graduate Diploma of Family Medicine on the clinical practices, community activities, learning styles and personal lives of its graduates. ⋯ The clinical electives of the Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine had the most significant impact on the clinical practices of full time GPs who were predominantly male graduates. Gender differences were apparent in styles of practice as males tended to conduct more procedural work, while female graduates preferred the gatekeeper role and referred more. The course also impacted on the students' approach to evidence in their clinical decision making. They were more critical of medical information provided by pharmaceutical representatives who are one of the major sources of CME for many GPs. Future evaluations should be based on experimental and quasi-experimental designs in order to measure changes in student perceptions and clinical practice, as well as more objective measures of learning styles.
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The Irukandji syndrome is a group of delayed (10-40 mins, mean 30 mins) severe systemic symptoms occurring after an initial mild skin sting by small carybdeid (box) jellyfish including Carukia barnesi, known colloquially as the 'Irukandji'. Although the syndrome is well known in tropical Australian waters, the 1998-1999 season in north Queensland was notable for the unusually high number of victims with severe toxic heart failure who needed admission to intensive care facilities for more complex investigations and treatment. There have also been other severe and unusual symptoms reported this year, which leads to the conclusion that there may be more than one species of jellyfish causing the Irukandji syndrome, or a seasonal variation in the symptoms and/or severity of symptoms caused by Carukia spp. ⋯ To date there have been no reported deaths from Irukandji envenomation but there have been a number of patients who were probably only saved by high quality intensive care treatment. Research into the cause and treatment of this potentially devastating syndrome is hampered by lack of funding, although there are large costs to the taxpayers for retrieval and medical treatment of victims. These costs are analysed and presented.
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To conduct an attitudinal postal survey of all 118 divisions of general practice known to the National Asthma Campaign. ⋯ Divisions of general practice are becoming involved in the management of asthma throughout Australia although there are considerable hurdles to overcome. The role of the GPAG and NAC in this process is discussed.