The Medical journal of Australia
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To assess the impact of the quick-service restaurant industry (QSRI) self-regulatory initiative on fast-food advertising to children on Australian commercial television. ⋯ Children's exposure to unhealthy fast-food advertising has not changed following the introduction of self-regulation, and some fast foods advertised for children's consumption contain excessive energy. The limited impact of self-regulation suggests that governments should define the policy framework for regulating fast-food advertising to children.
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To identify characteristics of doctors who are repeated subjects of complaints by patients. ⋯ A small group of doctors in private practice in Victoria account for nearly 18% of complaints. Interventions to improve patient satisfaction and public confidence in health services should target complaint-prone subgroups of practitioners.
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An international consensus statement recommends that dual reporting of haemoglobin A (HbA(1c)) levels--in the current units (percentage) and Système International (SI) units (mmol/mol)--be used as an interim measure for a 2-year transition period before progressing towards the use of SI units only. This recommendation is supported by the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists, the Australian Diabetes Educators Association, the Australian Diabetes Society and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. The SI units are a true measure of HbA(1c) and remove potential confusion between HbA(1c) values and blood glucose values.