Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Management of diabetes-related foot disease in the outpatient setting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The use of telephone and/or video consultation in routine management of acute diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at a tertiary hospital is unprecedented. In March 2020, the Diabetes Feet Australia (DFA) released a national guideline to inform DFD management during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to describe the adherence to the DFA guideline of managing acute DFD using telephone and/or video consultation at a Western Australian tertiary hospital during this period. We found >80% adherence rate to the DFA guideline and the management of active DFD using telephone and/or video consultations was feasible and acceptable in carefully selected patients.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Patient satisfaction and acceptability with telehealth at specialist medical outpatient clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
Outpatient clinics were shifted rapidly to telehealth in Australia during the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, drastically altering patient care and experience. ⋯ This study offers unique insights into patients' experiences with telehealth, which until the current global pandemic, has been an uncommon mode of consultation delivery in urban areas. This study suggests when defining the place of telehealth in future healthcare delivery, patient perspective and careful patient selection will be key. Disease progression, language and cognitive ability, health literacy, technology access and patient and clinician preference are important considerations when deciding how effectively to embed and integrate telehealth into consultations.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Rapid implementation of telehealth in geriatric outpatient clinics due to COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the rapid implementation of telehealth. However, little is known about its suitability for the older population. ⋯ Advantages included time efficiency and ability to visualise the home. Preference for the future was initial appointments as face-face, but reviews as either telehealth or face-face.
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Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by spirochaete Treponema pallidum. The incidence of syphilis is rising across the globe. It has been described in the literature as a great imitator due to the vast range of clinical manifestations that can occur in the disease. ⋯ It can cause glomerulopathies, tubular pathology and vasculitic lesions in the kidney. Membranous nephropathy is the most commonly reported glomerular lesion associated with syphilis. With two recent cases of secondary membranous nephropathy due to syphilis, it is timely to review the current state of knowledge, and discuss the different renal manifestation of syphilis, its pathology and treatment options.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2021
Nicotine in electronic cigarette fluid: importation pathways to unequal harm.
The Australian Government recently walked away from changes to the importation of nicotine-containing electronic cigarette fluids, originally due to come into force on 1 January 2021. Additionally, the Therapeutic Goods Administration is in the process of rescheduling nicotine for use in e-fluids. We are concerned that the 270 000 daily vapers in Australia will purchase high concentrations of nicotine (≥100 mg/mL) for mixing with nicotine-free locally purchased e-fluids, which is a pathway of increased relative harm. We would like to see regulation of these products to limit the maximum concentration of nicotine, ensure appropriate child-resistant containers and compulsory labelling for all nicotine-containing e-fluid bottles.