Breast cancer risk factors in Queensland women attending population-based mammography screening.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of established modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors associated with breast cancer in Queensland (Australia) women.

Study Design: Cross-sectional prevalence study of 9792 women (58% of women sent the questionnaire) attending BreastScreen Queensland Screening and Assessment Services between November 2008 and February 2009. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each risk factor, stratified by age-group (45-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, ≥70 years).

Obstacles and solutions to maintenance of advanced procedural skills for rural and remote medical practitioners in Australia.

Introduction: Most rural communities are too small and remote to sustain specialist services, and therefore some rural and remote doctors in Australia practice advanced procedural skills as part of their comprehensive care to underserved rural communities. The declining number of rural and remote procedural non-specialist doctors poses a problem in Australia. There is, at present, no comprehensive delineation of the obstacles Australian rural doctors face in trying to maintain their skills in the procedural areas of obstetrics, anaesthetics and surgery, nor of the solutions that may overcome the problems.

Educational needs of Australian rural and remote doctors for intermediate obstetric ultrasound and emergency medicine ultrasound.

Introduction: The aim of this research was to determine the educational needs of Australian rural and remote doctors for intermediate obstetric ultrasound and emergency medicine ultrasound. The main research questions were: what educational topics would rural and remote doctors prefer to learn about in intermediate obstetric ultrasound and emergency medicine ultrasound, and what were those doctors' preferred methods of delivery for an ultrasound education program.

Method: A self-administered postal questionnaire containing a pre-paid return envelope was mailed to 344 Australian rural and remote doctors in December 2003.

Evaluation of an ultrasound program (intermediate obstetric and emergency medicine) for Australian rural and remote doctors.

Introduction: This paper describes the evaluation of an intermediate obstetric ultrasound and emergency medicine ultrasound education workshop for rural and remote Australian doctors, which was developed in response to an educational needs assessment that showed an unmet need in this area. The workshop was held in four Australian states. The participants were 61 rural and remote doctors.

Evaluation of the ACRRM national radiology program for Australian rural and remote medical practitioners.

Introduction: In 2000, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) developed a national radiology quality assurance (QA) and continuing medical education (CME) program for rural and remote non-specialist Australian doctors. The program commenced on 1 January 2001. It required rural doctors to obtain 30 radiology QA/CME points over a 4 year period.

Educational needs of rural and remote Australian non-specialist medical practitioners for obstetric ultrasound.

Objective: To determine the educational needs of rural and remote non-specialist Australian doctors for obstetric ultrasound.

Design: Survey design.

Setting: The study surveyed rural and remote doctors practising in a variety of settings including general practice, rural hospitals, Aboriginal communities and flying doctor organisations throughout Australia.