Skin cancer medicine is a core component of Australian general practice and is consistently in the top 10 conditions managed.

Skin cancer medicine is a core component of Australian general practice. The Focus articles featured in this issue discuss the management of pigmented skin lesions in general practice.

Australian primary healthcare has been transitioning from episodic to continuous care of patients with diabetes.

Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease in Australia, with 1.2 million people known to have type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes.

Respiratory tract and sleep disorders – including obstructive sleep apnoea, difficult-to-treat asthma in adults, and insomnia – are commonly encountered in general practice.

The connection between sleep and health has been recognised for centuries, but it is only relatively recently that the treatment of sleep disorders has developed as a medical specialty.

Advances in genomic epidemiology and sequencing technology will change the way GPs practice medicine in the 21st century.

The genomics era is finally upon general practice, and we need to be prepared to meet the challenges it raises and reap its benefits.

The Focus articles featured in this issue highlight medico-legal concerns that may be encountered in general practice.

General practice is well placed to help design, deliver and evaluate collaborative partnerships with the legal profession.

Prevention has been a core focus in Australian primary healthcare since the 1980s.

Prevention as a key aspect of healthcare is probably as old as history. The Focus articles in this issue highlight opportunities for prevention in general practice.

Palliative care has progressed from the margins to having a key role and responsibility within the discipline of general practice.

Palliative care has progressed from the margins to having a key role and responsibility within the discipline of general practice.

Continuity of care is an integral part of quality healthcare. Focus articles this month discuss issues and challenges for continuity of care in the current health system.