The Medical journal of Australia
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Successful, "innovative" primary health care (PHC) models exist that have adapted to the specific circumstances of their rural and remote context. A typology of discrete, integrated, comprehensive and outreach rural and remote services exists rather than a "one coat fits all" PHC health service model. ⋯ Service sustainability depends on ensuring that key systemic service requirements are met at the local level in ways that accord with, and are supported by, the broader macro-scale environmental enablers. Based on these principles, these model types are amenable to generalisation and evaluation in other regions.
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Comparative Study
Bystander basic life support: an important link in the chain of survival for children suffering a drowning or near-drowning episode.
Eight children suffered drowning or near-drowning in Sydney pools over an 11-day period in January 2007. Four received basic life support (BLS) within 5 minutes of immersion and survived with good functional neurological outcomes. The other four were not discovered for >or= 5 minutes and all died. This cluster serves as a reminder that timely effective bystander BLS is crucial to survival and good clinical outcomes in near-drowning episodes.
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Comparative Study
Impact of specialty on attitudes of Australian medical practitioners to end-of-life decisions.
To compare attitudes and practices of Australian medical practitioners, by specialty, to a range of medical decisions at the end of life. ⋯ Perceptions about the causation of death and aspects of medical culture appear to influence physicians' attitudes towards medical decisions at the end of life. Our findings have implications for medical education, interprofessional communication and discussion between the medical profession and the community.
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To review the effectiveness of chronic disease management interventions for physical health problems in the primary care setting, and to identify policy options for implementing successful interventions in Australian primary care. ⋯ The Chronic Care Model provides a useful framework for understanding the impact of chronic disease management interventions and highlights the gaps in evidence. Consultation with stakeholders and policymakers is valuable in shaping policy options to support the implementation of the National Chronic Disease Strategy in primary care.