Mapping access to health services as a strategy for planning: access to primary care for older people in regional Queensland.

Australia has seen a significant increase in people aged over 65 years accessing general practice services over the last decade. Although people aged 65 years and over comprise 14% of the total population, this age demographic accounts for the largest proportion of general practitioner (GP)-patient encounters. Access to general practice is important for older Australians as the burden of chronic disease increases with age.

A 12-week lifestyle intervention for middle-aged, overweight men who are supporters of local sporting clubs.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week lifestyle program for changes in healthy lifestyle knowledge, health perceptions and body composition of middle-aged, overweight men.

Methods: A participatory, action-based experimental design was employed with a convenience sample (n = 24) of middle-aged men who were supporters of either a local rugby league or rugby union club. Participants attended an introductory session and baseline testing in week one, participated in once-weekly group circuit exercise and lifestyle education sessions for 10 weeks and attended post-testing and project evaluation in week 12.

Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection - a study on testing in general practice.

Background: Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection is prevalent in Australia. Although testing rates are increasing, studies suggest that levels of testing of asymptomatic, sexually active people aged 16-29 years remain relatively low. Various barriers to testing in general practice have been identified.

Randomised controlled trial of an in-home monitoring intervention to improve health outcomes for type 2 diabetes: study protocol.

Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of death and morbidity and is a health priority in Australia. This randomised controlled trial will explore whether remote access to clinical care, supported by telehealth technologies over high speed broadband, leads to improved diabetes control in a way that benefits patients, carers and clinicians and improves the overall health system. People in the intervention arm of the trial will receive additional diabetes care from a care coordinator nurse via an in-home broadband communication device that can capture clinical measures, provide regular health assessments and videoconference with other health professionals when required.

Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection - a study of general practice management in northern Queensland.

Background: Most diagnoses of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Queensland are made by general practitioners. This study aimed to describe GP knowledge of recommended guidelines for chlamydia management and ascertain GPs' preferred model for contact tracing.

Methods: A questionnaire completed by 35 GPs in northern Queensland in January 2011.

An evaluation of the self-management support capacity of providers of chronic condition primary care.

Self-management support (SMS) is an important skill for health professionals providing chronic condition management in the primary health care sector. Training in SMS alone does not always lead to its utilisation. This study aimed to ascertain whether SMS is being used, and to identify barriers and enablers for SMS in practice.

Recommending vaccination - general practice intervention with new parents.

Background: Parents can be the source of vaccine preventable diseases that their children contract. The vaccination status of parents may not be readily available, and uptake rates are affected by factors such as complexity of vaccination schedules, personal perception of risks, and physician recommendation.

Methods: Parents at eight general practices in North Queensland had immunisation histories recorded and vaccine recommendations made when they brought in their infants for vaccination.

Evaluating the use of Enhanced Primary Care health assessments by general practices in North Queensland.

The Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program funds GPs to provide preventative health assessments through a specific set of Medicare item numbers. The study aimed to show whether patients completing these health assessments had better recorded screening rates than those receiving usual care. A retrospective clinical record audit was undertaken in north Queensland general practices by practice nurses from the North Queensland Practice Based Research Network.

At work or play: a comparison of private property vehicle crashes with those occurring on public roads in north Queensland.

Objective: To define characteristics of vehicle crashes occurring on rural private property in north Queensland with an exploration of associated risk factors.

Design: Descriptive analysis of private property crash data collected by the Rural and Remote Road Safety Study.

Setting: Rural and remote north Queensland.

Acute otitis externa: management by GPs in North Queensland.

Background: Acute otitis externa (AOE) is a common condition in North Queensland. Clinical guidelines exist for the management of this condition. This study explores the pattern of causative pathogens and management of AOE by general practitioners in North Queensland.

Expanding the role of paramedics in northern Queensland: an evaluation of population health training.

Objective: To describe the experience of the paramedics doing the population health component of the Graduate Certificate in Rural and Remote Paramedic Practice.

Design: Analysis of paramedics' reported opinions about the course and its impact.

Setting: Primary care.

Young driver restrictions: does the evidence support them?

Objective: To assess the suitability of Queensland's graduated licensing system in the context of rural and remote Queensland.

Design: Age-based comparison of crash data collected by the Rural and Remote Road Safety Study (RRRSS).

Setting: Rural and remote North Queensland.

School-based vaccinations delivered by general practice in rural north Queensland: an evaluation of a new human papilloma virus vaccination program.

A local general practice was contracted to provide the school-based immunisation program over two years in Mount Isa, Queensland. The schedule was for female Year 10, 11 and 12 students to receive three doses of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination (Gardasil). This was provided as part of the broader immunisation program that involved providing Year 8 students with two doses of hepatitis B vaccination and one dose of varicella-zoster, and Year 10 students with one dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTPa).

Rural GPs' management of vehicle related trauma.

Background: There is twice the morbidity and mortality resulting from vehicle related trauma in rural and remote areas than in metropolitan areas. Little is known about Australian rural general practitioners' management of those affected.

Methods: Seventeen rural GPs in North Queensland participated in semi-structured interviews for this exploratory study of the management of patients presenting with acute or chronic vehicle related trauma.