Background: Changes to the software used in general practice could improve the collection of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status of all patients, and boost access to healthcare measures specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples provided directly or indirectly by general practitioners. Objective/s: Despite longstanding calls for improvements to general practice software...

Introduction Approximately 33% of patients with schizophrenia are treatment-refractory, yet clozapine remains underused, even though it is the most effective treatment. One barrier is routine echocardiography, which in Australia is performed before clozapine initiation, six months afterwards and then annually. Elsewhere, such as in New Zealand, routine echocardiography is generally restricted to the initiation of...

Background Globally, cannabis is the most widely used and variably regulated illicit drug. The rates of use appeared to be stable in Australia at the time of the 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, but levels of cannabis use disorder are rising and treatment seeking is increasing internationally. Objective/s This article describes the prevalence of...

Introduction Alcohol is one of the most widely used drugs in Australia. According to the 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS), about four out of five Australians aged ≥14 years consumed alcohol in the previous year, and 6.5% did so on a daily basis. Those most likely to drink daily were in the ≥70-year...

Background Limited studies have explored the actual usage of the ‘after hours GP helpline’ (AGPH). Objective/s The objectives of the article are to describe medication-related calls to the AGPH and compare callers’ original intentions versus the advice provided by the general practitioner (GP). Methods We performed a detailed descriptive statistical analysis of medication-related queries received...