Weaning plans at heart of new opioid care standard The guidelines, the first national clinical care standard for prescription opioid use in acute care, are designed to minimise the risks of harm.
Concern over significant NPS MedicineWise changes The recent budget revealed a ‘redesign’ for stewarding the quality use of medicines, with major implications for the organisation.
NPS MedicineWise partnership to strengthen the role of GPs The collaboration builds on a shared goal of improving quality use of medicines, clinical decision making and general practice education.
Study finds statin intolerance overestimated and overdiagnosed Fewer than 10% of patients prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs experience side effects, according to the world’s largest study on statin intolerance.
HANDI site ‘more complete’ with new patient resources The new resources complement existing resources within HANDI and are aimed at helping GPs provide non-drug intervention-based care.
Why HANDI resource is underutilised Patients and doctors could both benefit from greater adoption of non-drug interventions, writes Professor Paul Glasziou.
A smoke free society: Government urged to end tobacco sales Reducing supply is the ‘next natural step’, say researchers who argue it is time for authorities to focus on retailers, not consumers.
Opioid treatment study ‘may impact’ future Australian guidelines Results from a clinical trial of extended-release buprenorphine injections reveal high retention and treatment satisfaction.
Multiple barriers to ‘brief interventions’ for alcohol in primary care A lack of time, resources and low community awareness of alcohol harms influence uptake of brief interventions, according to new research.
Further room for improvement in health literacy Recent patient feedback further establishes GPs’ stewardship role in health literacy and safeguarding quality use of medicines.