Enhancing the Detection and Care of Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Primary Care: Cost-Effectiveness and Return on Investment.

Background: Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) is under-detected and undertreated. A general practitioner-led screening and care program for HeFH effectively identified and managed patients with HeFH. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness and the return on investment of an enhanced-care strategy for HeFH in primary care in Australia.

Participant experiences of intervention to detect and manage familial hypercholesterolaemia in Australian general practice: A qualitative descriptive study.

Background And Objectives: General practitioners (GPs) are ideally placed to have a much larger role in detection and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) among their patients. The aim of this study was to seek the reflections of practice staff and newly diagnosed patients with FH on the implementation of an FH model of care in the general practice setting.

Method: Qualitative descriptive methodology was used.

Awareness of familial hypercholesterolaemia in Australian primary care: A qualitative descriptive study.

Background And Objectives: A lack of public and health professional awareness about familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) leads to an estimated 90,000 Australians remaining undiagnosed. The aim of this study was to establish the level of knowledge and awareness of FH in Australian general practices.

Method: A qualitative descriptive methodology was used to explore baseline knowledge and perceptions of practice staff about diagnosing and managing FH.

Improving detection and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia in Australian general practice.

Objective: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is characterised by elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, FH remains substantially underdiagnosed and undertreated. We employed a two-stage pragmatic approach to identify and manage patients with FH in primary healthcare.

Growing and retaining general practice research leaders in Australia: How can we do better?

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of Australian general practitioners (GPs) with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) about their choice to abandon or pursue an academic career.

Methods: A qualitative study of 18 GPs (PhD obtained between 2006 and 2016) was conducted. Semi-structured telephone interviews were transcribed and analysed using concurrent thematic analysis.

Supporting Australia's new veterans.

Background: The recent period of instability and conflict in parts of the world has exposed a new generation of Australian service members to conflict and its associated traumas.

Objective: The aim of this article is to assist general practitioners (GPs) in engaging with younger veterans who have served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) since 1990 and acquired health problems as a result of this service. It provides abbreviated advice on the resources available from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), particularly for mental health problems, and how to efficiently access DVA-funded services for newer veterans.

On the right path? Exploring the experiences and opinions of clinicians involved in developing and implementing HealthPathways Barwon.

The aims of this paper are to present the findings of a process evaluation exploring the experiences and opinions of clinicians who have been involved in the HealthPathways Barwon clinical workgroups and discuss implications for further development of the program, as well as regional health service initiatives more broadly. HealthPathways Barwon is a web-based program comprising locally agreed-upon evidence-based clinical pathways that assist with assessment, management and region-specific referral for various clinical conditions. Clinical workgroup members participated in focus groups.

The telehealth skills, training, and implementation project: an evaluation protocol.

Background: Telehealth appears to be an ideal mechanism for assisting rural patients and doctors and medical students/registrars in accessing specialist services. Telehealth is the use of enhanced broadband technology to provide telemedicine and education over distance. It provides accessible support to rural primary care providers and medical educators.

HOSPEX in the antipodes.

The Australian Army recently adopted the British concept of hospital exercise (HOSPEX) as a means of evaluating the capabilities of its deployable NATO Role 2E hospital, the 2nd General Health Battalion. The Australian approach to HOSPEX differs from the original UK model. This article describes the reasons why the Australian Army needed to adopt the HOSPEX concept, how it was adapted to suit local circumstances and how the concept may evolve to meet the needs of the wider Australian Defence Force and our allies.

Did general practice health assessments of older Australians improve equity?

Objective: To examine if claims for general practice health assessments of older persons in Australia over the period 1 November 1999 to 30 September 2002 were equitably distributed.

Design: Closed cohort study with data analysis using logistic regression.

Setting: Private general practice in Australia.