Aust Fam Physician
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Multicenter Study
Improving cultural respect to improve Aboriginal health in general practice: a multi-methods and multi-perspective pragmatic study.
To address the gap in access to healthcare between Aboriginal people and other Australians, we developed Ways of Thinking, Ways of Doing (WoTWoD) to embed cultural respect into routine clinical practice. WoTWoD includes a workshop, toolkit and cultural mentors in a partnership of general practice and Aboriginal organisations. The aim of this study was to examine the im-pact of WoTWoD on cultural respect, health checks and risk factor management for Aboriginal patients in general practice. ⋯ The WoTWoD may improve culturally appropriate care in general practice. Further research requires adequately powered randomised controlled trials.
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Multicenter Study
A comparison of vitamin D levels in two antenatal populations in regional Western Australia--'Tjindoo Ba Thonee Thurra': sunshine for the pregnant belly.
There is a known increased risk of vitamin D deficiency in darker skinned people living in in temperate latitudes, but there is limited literature specifically on Australian Aboriginal women and their vitamin D status in pregnancy. ⋯ Aboriginal patients from the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) had lower serum vitamin D levels (mean 46.7, SD 21.7 nmol/L), compared with their non-Aboriginal women (mean 65.4, SD 18.4 nmol/L, P CONCLUSION: We believe this is the first study to compare vitamin D levels in pregnant Aboriginal women with non-Aboriginal women living in the same community at temperate latitude.
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Multicenter Study
Spirometry screening for airway obstruction in asymptomatic smokers.
Screening spirometry might help identify patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at an earlier stage. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of airway obstruction in a cohort of asymptomatic smokers who underwent spirometry as part of a routine health maintenance examination. ⋯ Spirometry screening of asymptomatic smokers may help detect a small number of patients with airway obstruction who are at high risk for COPD.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Prevention of diabetes and heart disease -- patient perceptions on risk, risk assessment and the role of their GP in preventive care.
There are gaps between current clinical guideline recommendations and current practice for the prevention of diabetes and heart disease. This study aims to explore patients' views on risk, assessment and their general practitioner's role, and how these factors may impact their uptake of preventive care. ⋯ Patient engagement in prevention could be promoted by multi-factorial risk assessments and communication of risk, and appropriate advice and follow up delivered by their GP or practice nurse.