Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
Measuring variations in healthcare data using run charts and statistical process control charts: a survey of general physicians attending the quality improvement workshop.
General physicians as system leaders play a significant role in quality improvement (QI) initiatives within respective health services. However, there are very few formal QI training programmes available for general physicians in Australia. This survey described the experiences of attendees at the 2024 Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand QI workshop, which delivered topics on understanding variations in healthcare data using QI tools such as run charts and statistical process control (Shewhart) charts.
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This article considers claims to ownership over genomic data and implications for data sharing and research. There are various arguments for vesting ownership in individuals, but little supporting authority. However, policies such as privacy law and informed consent provide alternative methods of protecting individuals. The conclusions highlight the importance of clear channels of communication with patients.
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Pain is a common presenting symptom to consultant physicians, both in the hospital and in the clinic or rooms. Biologically, pain serves as warning of tissue damage. But this is no longer the case when pain is present for months or years, especially when it has been fully investigated. ⋯ The response to the so-called 'opioid epidemic' has led to a renewed focus on how chronic pain should be managed. The aim of this article is to update fellows and trainees on the assessment and management of chronic pain in adult medical patients. In particular, we address the role of pharmacotherapy post-opioid epidemic (primarily antidepressants and anticonvulsants in neuropathic pain), the place of interventional procedures and the nature and effectiveness of pain self-management training in people with chronic pain, many of whom have had pain for a year or more and failed other treatments.
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
Multicenter StudyPatients with functional gastrointestinal disorders spend less time in tertiary care when managed by a single clinician: results of a multicentre audit in South Australia.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) impact quality of life and represent a significant burden on healthcare services. Guidelines recommend an early, positive diagnosis to reduce harmful over-investigation in FGID patients. The aim of this multicentre study was to evaluate FGID management against current guidelines. ⋯ Consistent delivery of clinical care reduces healthcare utilisation in the management of FGIDs. Further studies are needed to identify optimal care models for managing outpatients with FGIDs.