The General Practice Research Network: the capabilities of an electronic patient management system for longitudinal patient data.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of a general practice research database derived directly from de-identified electronic medical records to provide national prescribing data in Australia. To observe the utilisation of a computer-based patient management system over time. To evaluate the impact of the research network participation on data quality in participants' electronic records.

Surveillance of work-related disorders in Australia using general practitioner data.

Objectives: The focus of this paper is to compare the main findings regarding work-related problems managed in general practice with those of other data sources in the occupational and public health arenas that provide some information on work-related disorders in Australia, in order to examine the implications for surveillance and prevention.

Methods: Data on work-related disorders managed in general practice were obtained from a larger study of general practice activity that involved a cluster random sample of all significantly active general practitioners in Australia from 1998 to 2000. These data were compared with other Australian datasets containing information on work-related disorders.

Malignant mesothelioma in Australia, 1945-2000.

Background: Australia has maintained a total national malignant mesothelioma case register since 1980. There has been a marked increase in the incidence of mesothelioma in the last 20 years. Currently 450-600 cases are notified annually in a population of 20 million.