Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2020
Complementary medicine use and its cost in Australians with type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II.
Few studies have examined complementary medicine (CM) use in diabetes. Australian data are inconsistent, limited in scope and have not considered cost. ⋯ CM use in type 2 diabetes is both common and costly. Healthcare professionals should consider discussing safe and cost-effective use of CM with their patients with type 2 diabetes.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2020
Supporting choice: an innovative model of integrated palliative care funded by a private health provider.
The number of Australians dying each year is predicted to double in the next 25 years and there is an urgent need to establish sustainable models for providing high quality end-of-life care. An innovative community care model (Bupa Palliative Care Choices Program or BPCCP) was developed and piloted with the purpose of supporting patients in achieving their choices surrounding end-of-life care. ⋯ This evaluation of an innovative community palliative care intervention indicates that the extra services available to patients support the choice of dying at home and the ability to do so while generating claims cost efficiencies.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2020
Low serum albumin levels predict short- and long-term mortality risk in patients hospitalised to general surgery wards.
Previous studies have reported conflicting results on the association between hypoalbuminaemia and morbidity and mortality in hospitalised patients. ⋯ Low albumin levels on admission to general surgery wards are associated with increased short- and long-term mortality. Normalisation of albumin levels before discharge was associated with lower mortality, compared to hypoalbuminaemia before discharge.
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Internal medicine journal · Aug 2020
Decreases in cardiac catheter laboratory workload during the COVID-19 level 4 lockdown in New Zealand.
An increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections prompted Level 4 lockdown throughout New Zealand from 25 March 2020. We have investigated trends in coronary and electrophysiology (EP) procedures before and during this lockdown. ⋯ In contrast, the number of in-patient angiograms and percutaneous intervention procedures fell by 53% compared with the previous 4 weeks in 2020 and by 56% compared with the corresponding period in 2019. Further study is required to determine the reasons for these trends.