Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
Measuring variations in healthcare data using run charts and statistical process control charts: a survey of general physicians attending the quality improvement workshop.
General physicians as system leaders play a significant role in quality improvement (QI) initiatives within respective health services. However, there are very few formal QI training programmes available for general physicians in Australia. This survey described the experiences of attendees at the 2024 Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand QI workshop, which delivered topics on understanding variations in healthcare data using QI tools such as run charts and statistical process control (Shewhart) charts.
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
ReviewCurrent state of the non-pharmacological management of irritable bowel syndrome: an up-to-date review of the literature.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) that is thought to affect a significant proportion of the population. As a result of the nature of IBS, it is hard to predict treatment efficacy as all individuals respond differently, and thus multidisciplinary treatment has become increasingly of interest as it targets multiple aspects of IBS at the same time. Here, we aim to review the literature of both multidisciplinary and single-discipline therapy for IBS. ⋯ GDH was also found to be efficacious, but 83.3% of studies examined a refractory IBS population. There is a lack of literature looking at how multidisciplinary care and different combinations of disciplines work to treat those with IBS in secondary care. Further studies are required for a greater understanding of how multidisciplinary care may be utilised to better manage IBS.
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
Multicenter StudyPatients with functional gastrointestinal disorders spend less time in tertiary care when managed by a single clinician: results of a multicentre audit in South Australia.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) impact quality of life and represent a significant burden on healthcare services. Guidelines recommend an early, positive diagnosis to reduce harmful over-investigation in FGID patients. The aim of this multicentre study was to evaluate FGID management against current guidelines. ⋯ Consistent delivery of clinical care reduces healthcare utilisation in the management of FGIDs. Further studies are needed to identify optimal care models for managing outpatients with FGIDs.
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Internal medicine journal · Feb 2025
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: a retrospective pathway assessment in a regional cancer centre.
The optimal care pathway (OCP) for people with breast cancer provides a framework for investigation and management of patients with breast cancer, with delays previously identified regionally. ⋯ Adherence to OCP timeframes for patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy in a regional centre was feasible and strategies are needed to bridge gaps identified for rural patients.