Category Archives: diabetes

Unpicking some of the barriers to better collaboration between health professionals involved in diabetes care

March 23, 2012 – 2:43 pm

There is so much rhetoric in the health sector about the importance of collaboration, multidisciplinary approaches and teamwork. But there are many barriers to translating the rhetoric into reality. In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) reports on a study that makes timely and relevant [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in chronic diseases, general practice, health and medical research, Medicare Locals, primary health care | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

What did Minister Roxon achieve? Some wins. But the ambulance is still parked below the cliff

January 20, 2012 – 12:29 pm

When asked to assess Nicola Roxon’s tenure as Health Minister, Croakey contributors gave varying responses (see here and here) late last year. However, there was fairly wide agreement that she will be best remembered for her achievements in public health, especially tobacco control, where she helped to make Australia a world-leader in passing legislation mandating [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, general practice, health reform, Hospitals, mental health, National Preventive Health Agency, plain packaging, public health, tobacco control | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

What matters in healthcare? Surrogate markers or patients?

January 20, 2012 – 11:35 am

In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) highlights concerns about over-reliance on the use of surrogate markers in health research, practice and policy. *** Diabetes care reveals the pitfalls of surrogate markers Christina Hagger writes: ‘What works’ in evidence-influenced health care is being overshadowed [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in evidence-based issues, health and medical research, primary health care | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

Should pharma industry fines be used in good works that create positive industry PR?

December 15, 2011 – 10:13 am

Andrew Roberts – who is better known to friends, patients, colleagues and Twitter followers as Robbo – is a pharmacist in a remote WA community. Below is an article cross-posted from his blog, Biting the Dust, in which he raises concerns about the source of funds for a dialysis truck that is providing a much-needed [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in chronic diseases, health ethics, Indigenous health, pharmaceutical industry, pharmacy, rural and remote health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

For those with chronic illness, what helps encourage self-care?

December 8, 2011 – 6:06 pm

Support from family and friends is important for our health in so many ways – and especially for those living with a chronic illness, suggests new research. In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) reports on a new study investigating what factors motivate people [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in chronic diseases, health and medical research, prevention, primary health care, social determinants of health | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Let’s talk about some important mental health issues (beyond clinical services)

November 29, 2011 – 6:11 pm

Croakey is today kicking off a series of articles on mental health. These coincide with an investigation into controversies in mental health reform that I have written jointly for Crikey (appearing as a four-part series from today) and for Inside Story (published online and also appearing today in a slightly abbreviated form in The Canberra [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in child health, chronic diseases, Health inequalities, mental health, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

A wrap of recent health news at Croakey

October 5, 2011 – 5:40 pm

Hola – I am back on deck. A large thanks to Jennifer Doggett for driving Croakey while I was away, and to Ben Harris-Roxas for looking after the Twitter feed. As previously mentioned, Croakey readers are welcome to sign up for (rather irregular) summaries of posts. If you’d like to join the mailing list, please [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in aged care, alcohol, cancer, chronic diseases, climate change, Cochrane Collaboration, complementary medicines, Croakey Register of Influencers in Public Health, disabilities, evidence-based issues, health and medical education, health and medical research, health financing and costs, Health inequalities, health reform, health regulation, health workforce, Indigenous health, Journal articles, Media Doctor Australia, Media-related issues, Medicare Locals, mental health, obesity, pharmacy, prevention, primary health care, private health insurance, public health, quality and safety of health care, rural and remote health, social determinants of health, The Conversation, Uncategorized | Comments (2)

Do incentives give you the PIP?

September 8, 2011 – 2:50 pm

A study released today by the Cochrane Library suggests that Australia should ‘proceed with caution’ when setting up financial incentives for quality care by GPs.  Study co-author Dr Peter Sivey from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (Uni of Melbourne) said that although there are hundreds of schemes across the world where [...]

By Jennifer Doggett | Also posted in Cochrane Collaboration, general practice, health financing and costs, health reform, primary health care | Comments (4)

Global shift in disease patterns requires aid rethink

September 1, 2011 – 12:23 pm

Professor Rob Moodie, Chair of Global Health at the Nossal Institute of Global Health, alerts us to an upcoming UN meeting which could save the lives of millions of people, he writes…. A global pandemic taking the lives of tens of millions of people across the world and costing trillions of dollars each year, has [...]

By Jennifer Doggett | Also posted in cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic diseases, global health, prevention, WHO | Comments (1)

A stack of reading: the latest health and medical news from The Conversation

August 29, 2011 – 2:34 am

Thanks to Reema Rattan, for providing this update of the latest health and medical reading at The Conversation. The stories below cover medical mishaps, men’s health, breast cancer screening, alcohol labelling, media reporting of suicide, hospital care of patients with mental health problems, puberty, the NT Intervention, bariatric surgery and type 2 diabetes, and the [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in adverse events, alcohol, cancer, child health, Hospitals, Indigenous health, legal issues, Media-related issues, men's health, mental health, NT Intervention, physical activity, public health, screening, surgery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)