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Drugs and devices

Medical,Technology,,Doctor,Use,Ai,Robots,For,Diagnosis,,Care,,And
Greg Merlo
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles

The evidence shows pharmacist prescribing is nothing to fear

Prominent GP and former member of parliament Kerryn Phelps has entered the turf war between doctors and pharmacists over who gets to prescribe.Pharmacy groups have long called for changes to allow pharmacists to prescribe specified medications, such as the oral contraceptive pill and antibiotics for urinary tract infections.But Phelps argues allowing pharmacists to prescribe will lead to perverse incentives – where pharmacists prescribe inappropriately – because they have a financial interest in the sale of medicines.Phelps has a point. Studies in countries where doctors have dispensing roles have found evidence of financial profits influencing prescribing behaviour.A Swiss study, for instance, found physician dispensing leads to a 34% increase in drug costs per patient, as doctors overprescribe and prescribe more expensive medications.

Expert/s: Greg Merlo
plaster protectors
Dr Linda Calabresi
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles

Plaster protectors

This resource is a little different to the usual guideline or website that is commonly discussed in this newsletter.This is a product that was recommended by a number of patients and has the potential to really improve the quality of someone’s life.Quite simply it’s a waterproof protector that goes over a patient’s plaster or dressing.Called Blocc’s protectors, these covers are made of a type of rubber that stretches over the cast or dressing to make a waterproof seal. And apparently they are excellent at keeping the dressing or plaster dry.

Expert/s: Dr Linda Calabresi
shutterstock_1485019400
Dr Linda Calabresi
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles

Correct inhaler technique

Recognise this scenario? You prescribe an inhaler for the patient. You educate the patient on why they need the inhaler. You draw diagrams. You demonstrate the technique on the placebo inhaler. You write the script. And then… you cross your fingers.

Expert/s: Dr Linda Calabresi
shutterstock_1443361490
Dr Linda Calabresi
Clinical Articles iconClinical Articles

Paracetamol – the hidden harm

While the ‘opioid epidemic’ might be grabbing all the headlines at the moment, Australian toxicologists are reminding us that paracetamol is the most common drug used in overdoses in this country.What’s more the numbers of both paracetamol-related hospital admissions and liver injury have been increasing over the past decade at a rate that far exceeds the rate of population increase.According to a retrospective study recently published in The Medical Journal of Australia, there has been an average 3.8% annual increase in the number of paracetamol-related hospital admissions since 2007, and a mean 7.7% annual increase in paracetamol-related liver injury cases, whereas the population has been increasing at a rate of only 1.6% annually.

Expert/s: Dr Linda Calabresi

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