Government initiatives over the last few years have had
different effects on the way general practitioners manage type 2
diabetes and depression, according to a report released today by
the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The report, General Practice Activity in Australia
2006-07, shows that diabetes policy initiatives have, on the
whole, been associated with significant changes in management of
this condition in GP surgeries. However, there is less evidence of
change in depression management.
Professor Helena Britt, Head of the AIHW's Australian General
Practice Statistics and Classification Centre, based at the
University of Sydney, said, 'Since 2000, the Federal Government has
introduced a number of programs and initiatives aiming to improve
diabetes care, the most recent being the 2004 Action Plan.'
These programs and initiatives have had desired effects,
including increased identification of new cases, higher referral
rates to other health professionals, increased management rates in
patients over 45, and increased attention to blood pressure and
cholesterol levels as part of diabetes management plans,' she
said.
Initiatives in depression management, on the other hand, have
had comparatively little effect, with the notable exception of the
Government's 2006 'Better Access' initiative, which led to a big
rise in GP referrals of patients with depression to
psychologists.
'Consultations involving the management of depression are 5-6
minutes longer than average. We believe that the increased referral
rates reflect GP acknowledgement that counselling and therapy are
important in the management of depression, but may be too
time-consuming,' Professor Britt said.
General Practice Activity in Australia 2006-07 reports the
results from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health
(BEACH) program's national survey of 100,000 GP-patient encounters.
Other findings include:
- Patients aged 75 years and over and baby boomers (aged 45-64
years) are taking up an increasing proportion of GPs'
workloads.
- The number of tests and investigations ordered by GP continues
to rise, particularly pathology test ordering. GPs ordered about
44% more tests (or batteries of tests) per 100 encounters in
2006-07 than in 2000-01.
- Among a sample of more than 32,000 attending patients, 58.5%
were overweight or obese - a considerable increase on the 1998-99
figure of 51.1%.
Wednesday 30 January 2008
Further information: Professor Helena Britt,
AIHW, 02 9845 8150 or 0411 197 938.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for the availability of General Practice
Activity in Australia 2006-07.