The Medical journal of Australia
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To review the literature on the effectiveness of competency-based education (CBE) as a means of equipping the Australian general practice workforce to deliver optimal chronic disease outcomes to articulate policy options for the Australian context. ⋯ Policy options range from those relatively simple and achievable to more complex and difficult. The full report is available at http://www.anu.edu.au/aphcri/Domain/Workforce/final_25_glasgow.pdf.
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To determine what preventive models or programs are most likely to improve patterns of growth faltering in children aged under 5 years in remote Australian Indigenous communities. ⋯ For remote Indigenous communities, development and implementation of programs should involve a consideration of the evidence for potential impact, strength of community support and local feasibility. Given the lack of strong evidence supporting programs, any new or existing programs require ongoing evaluation and refinement.
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To examine policy and implementation issues around multidisciplinary care planning (MDP) as a means of improving outcomes for patients with chronic disease and/or complex care needs. ⋯ While MDP improves many functional outcomes, widespread implementation of MDP in standard practice will require complex and targeted strategies. Devising and testing such strategies is a prerequisite for widespread, routine use of MPD in chronic disease management.
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To consider the implications for mental health policy of a recent synthesis of the literature on the effectiveness of different service delivery models for depression in primary care. ⋯ There is a need to support evidence-based models for depression care, including innovative new technologies for facilitating consumer self-management of depression. The ability of practitioner training and guideline implementation to improve consumer outcomes for depression is limited. Policies and incentives are required to facilitate the reorganisation of general practice and, in particular, the implementation of care management as well as enhanced care and guided self-help in these settings.
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In 1997, the University of Sydney replaced its undergraduate medical course with a new 4-year graduate medical program. The course was reaccredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) in 2005. Suggestions for further development by the AMC led to a comprehensive review of the course, commencing in July 2006. This article describes the review process and outlines key recommendations that came out of the review that have been or are being implemented.