Medical

Recurrent urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are a common problem amongst women, although it’s fair to say that they’re sometimes difficult to recognise, and a delayed or misdiagnosis is not infrequent. Prophylactic treatment can be recommended to prevent recurrent UTIs and there are several options available depending on the clinical situation. In this interview we discuss practical tips on the management of recurrent lower UTIs in common patient groups.

What’s the biggest killer of women?  Many people think it’s cancer, and in the case of women, breast cancer. But in fact it’s cardiovascular disease. We hear a lot about CVD risks and management in general, but there are some significant differences in women that we need to be aware of. Long-term morbidity and mortality will be affected not only by life events and lifestyle decisions, but also gender-specific issues experienced by women, particularly during the reproductive phase of their lives.
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They say 50’s the new 40, but our changing perception on ageing doesn’t change the fact that women reach the menopause on average in their early 50s, as they always have. At this time in their lives, women still continue to contribute to their families, serve in caregiving roles, and contribute more than ever to the workforce. Are women aware at what age menopausal symptoms hit, do they know what to expect, will they talk to their GP about it, or is menopause a taboo topic? 15 minute listen

Plaque psoriasis has traditionally been a difficult condition to manage, with a range of comorbidities and a lifelong course that can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. Up until now, for patients with moderate to severe disease, management has been limited and treatments difficult to adhere to. Additional options are now available for patients not being well managed by topicals alone.

Treating symptomatic atrial fibrillation with anti-arrhythmic medications has been standard practice for many years, but first-line treatment with medications may not be providing the best outcomes for our patients. Recent evidence has emerged showing that catheter ablation, often still perceived as an intervention of last resort, is effective as a first-line treatment for symptomatic paroxysmal AF. So which patients may benefit from this procedure?

Mental Health During the Pandemic

We need to remember to look after ourselves. Doctors are at risk of depression, just as much as anybody else. We should all have our own family GP, not only for our mood symptoms, but to check our blood pressure, and all the other things that we tell our patients to do. In this interview we cover the four Ms, and other practical tips in this area.

The Australian Frontline Healthcare Workers Study explores the important social, occupational, and mental health effects experienced by frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, examining factors that promote good mental health and wellbeing, as well as risk factors for poorer mental health. The study focuses on the experiences of medical, nursing, allied health, clinical scientists, physiologists, technicians, healthcare students and clerical staff who are working in frontline health areas. In this interview Dr Ginni Mansberg speaks with A/Prof Natasha Smallwood, Consultant Respiratory Physician at Royal Melbourne & Alfred Hospital, who is leading the study, and Prof Karen Willis, co-lead investigator, Social Scientist and Professor of Allied Health Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital & La Trobe University.

This audio file contains all 6 interviews on this edition.

• Track 1, Case studies on the prophylaxis of recurrent lower UTIs
• Track 2, CVD – The biggest killer of women
• Track 3, Menopause – Do women know what to expect?
• Track 4, Chronic plaque psoriasis, so much more than a skin disease
• Track 5, What choices are available for our atrial fibrillation patients?
• Track 6, Mental Health – How do we look after ourselves and our patients?

To view reference lists or product information please go to the individual tracks.

“You never know when you might have a day when the pain is so bad that you can do little other than rest and give into it”. This is not an uncommon situation with osteoarthritis (OA). Joint pain and reduced movement from OA can often impose limits on what people can do. In this interview we discuss options for pain relief.

Responsible prescribing of opioids means evaluating the risk and benefits for each individual patient and prescribing only for the right patient, at the right dose, and for the right length of time. To minimise the harm caused by opioid prescription medicines, regulatory changes are currently being implemented to ensure the safe and effective prescribing and use of opioids, while maintaining access for patients who need them. In this interview we discuss these changes and what they mean for GPs managing pain.