Australian Journal of General Practice
Despite being aware of the risks of diabetes in pregnancy, less than half of women with diabetes had sought preconception care, and many had poor knowledge of the most reliable contraceptive methods.
Preconception care addresses the biomedical, behavioural and social health of women and their partners prior to pregnancy, and has far-reaching benefits for mothers and children.
Interconception care is becoming increasingly important, with rising rates of overweight, obesity, diabetes and hypertension among people of reproductive age.
General practitioners are ideally placed to offer individuals and couples carrier screening for autosomal recessive and X-linked conditions.
Because death is one of life’s only certainties, as ‘specialists in life’ it is imperative for GPs to appreciate the multifaceted nature of death.
The postnatal visit is crucial for effective healthcare education, preventive medicine and treatment, and it occurs at a time of major life transition and increased need.
The inclusion of the lived experience of patients and carers as an integral component of clinical care provides an essential perspective.
Primary care doctors may be asked about palliative sedation for a patient and can provide support to family members of patients who undergo palliative sedation.
Barriers to general practice involvement in advance care planning and strategies for incorporating it into patient care are discussed.
This paper synthesises evidence-based frameworks of palliative care with other resources to guide GPs in the systematic delivery of high-quality, home-base palliative care.
Not all preferences outlined in an individual’s advance care plan are implemented during their end-of-life care.
General practitioners believe that principles underlying Medical Homes may support whole-person care, but aspects of the current Health Care Homes trial could impede this whole-person approach.
There is an overwhelming focus on documentation of organisational structures and care processes, detracting from what really matters – whether the wellbeing of residents has been achieved.
This paper examines the theory of institutionalisation as applied to individuals entering aged care, providing a framework for GPs to appreciate the processes involved for these individuals.
We celebrate the longstanding role of nutrition in general practice and its increasing prominence in clinical practice.