Role of the prescriber in supporting patients to discontinue benzodiazepines: a qualitative study.

Background: Given the prevalence of long-term benzodiazepine (BZD) prescribing, increased monitoring through the implementation of prescription monitoring programmes (PMPs) may be the necessary impetus to promote BZD deprescribing. Despite evidence promoting the importance of patient-centred care, GPs have not been sufficiently supported to implement these principles through current deprescribing practice.

Aim: To investigate patients' perception of their prescriber's influence on ceasing BZD use, including their willingness to take their advice, and to understand how a patient's stage of change influences the barriers and facilitators they perceive to discontinuing BZDs.

Beyond Prescriptions Monitoring Programs: The Importance of Having the Conversation about Benzodiazepine Use.

Internationally there is an escalation of prescription-related overdose deaths, particularly related to benzodiazepine use. As a result, many countries have implemented prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) to increase the regulation of benzodiazepine medications. PMPs centralize prescription data for prescribers and pharmacists and generate alerts to high-doses, risky combinations, or multiple prescribers with the aim to reduce inappropriate prescribing and subsequently the potential of patient harm.

Increasing the knowledge, identification and treatment of osteoporosis through education and shared decision-making with residents living in a retirement village community.

Objective: This pilot study explored whether individual goal setting in a retirement village setting could improve strategies to strengthen bones in an ageing population and help prevent osteoporosis.

Methods: A two-phased osteoporosis prevention program was developed, piloted and evaluated involving a group education session followed by the development of individualised Bone Plans based upon personal understanding of individual fracture risk and lifestyle factors.

Results: A significant improvement in knowledge and understanding of factors to prevent and manage osteoporosis was achieved, and changes in lifestyle behaviours were sustained at six months.

Orthopedic surgeons' attitudes to osteoporosis investigation and management after minimal trauma fracture (MTF).

Unlabelled: A study of orthopedic surgeons in rural and regional Southeast Australia to determine attitudes to investigation and management of osteoporosis found they believe follow-up in regard to osteoporosis after MTF is important; responsibility for follow-up diagnosis and management lies with primary health care and current communication systems are poor.

Purpose/introduction: The investigation and treatment of osteoporosis after minimal trauma fracture (MTF) is regarded as sub-optimal. There is strong evidence of the benefit of identifying and treating osteoporosis after MTF, and there has been discussion of the possible role that orthopedic surgeons might play in the management of osteoporosis after MTF.

Issues for clinicians training international medical graduates: a systematic review.

Objective: To ascertain the specialised communication issues clinicians need to understand when preparing international medical graduates (IMGs) for clinical practice in Australia.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Data Sources: A series of searches using MEDLINE (1990-2006) was conducted with relevant keywords.