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released: 8 Dec 2010 author: Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Valenti L, Pan Y, Harrison C, O'Halloran J, Fahridin S, Chambers T media release

This report presents results from the most recent 10 years (April 2000 to March 2010) of the BEACH program, a national cross-sectional study of general practice activity. During this time 9,842 GPs provided details of almost 1 million GP-patient encounters. Readers can review changes that have occurred over the decade in the characteristics of general practitioners and the patients they see; the problems managed; and the treatments provided. Changes in patients' body mass index, smoking status and alcohol use are described for a subsample of adult patients.

ISSN 1442-3022; ISBN 978-1-74249-080-9; Cat. no. GEP 28; 206pp.; INTERNET ONLY

Full publication

Publication table of contents 

  • Preliminary material
    • Title and verso pages
    • Contents
    • Acknowledgments
    • Abbreviations
    • Symbols
    • Summary   
  • Body section
    1. Introduction
      • 1.1 Background—general practice in Australia
    2. Methods
      • 2.1 Sampling methods
      • 2.2 Recruitment methods
      • 2.3 Data elements
      • 2.4 The BEACH relational database
      • 2.5 Supplementary Analysis of Nominated Data
      • 2.6 Statistical methods
      • 2.7 Changes over time
      • 2.8 Extrapolated national estimates
      • 2.9 Changes to data elements and reporting methods
      • 2.10 Classification of data
      • 2.11 Quality assurance
      • 2.12 Validity and reliability
    3. The sample
    4. The participating GPs
    5. The encounters
      • 5.1 Content of the encounters
    6. The patients
      • 6.1 Age–sex distribution of patients at encounter
      • 6.2 Other patient characteristics
      • 6.3 Patient reasons for encounter
    7. Problems managed
      • 7.1 Number of problems managed
      • 7.2 Distribution of problems managed by ICPC-2 component
      • 7.3 Problems managed by ICPC-2 chapter and individual problems managed
      • 7.4 Most common new problems
      • 7.5 Most frequently managed chronic problems
    8. Overview of management
    9. Medications
      • 9.1 Prescribed medications
      • 9.2 Medications supplied by GPs
      • 9.3 Medications advised for over-the-counter purchase
    10. Other treatments
      • 10.1 Clinical treatments
      • 10.2 Procedures
    11. Referrals and admissions
    12. Investigations
      • 12.1 Number of problems or encounters where pathology or imaging was ordered
      • 12.2 Pathology test orders by MBS groups
      • 12.3 Imaging test orders by MBS group
    13. Practice nurse activity
      • 13.1 Overview of practice nurse activity
      • 13.2 Distribution of practice nurse item numbers claimed at encounters
      • 13.3 Treatments provided by practice nurses
      • 13.4 Problems managed with practice nurse
    14. Patient risk factors
      • 14.1 Body mass index
      • 14.2 Smoking
      • 14.3 Alcohol consumption
  • End matter
    • Appendices
      • Appendix 1: Example of a 2009–10 recording form
      • Appendix 2: GP characteristics questionnaire,2009–10
      • Appendix 3: Dissemination of results from the BEACH program
      • Appendix 4: Code groups from ICPC-2 and ICPC-2 PLUS
      • Appendix 5: Chronic code groups from ICPC-2 and ICPC-2 PLUS
    • List of tables
    • List of figures

Recommended citation

Britt H, Miller GC, Charles J, Henderson J, Bayram C, Valenti L, Pan Y, Harrison C, O'Halloran J, Fahridin S, Chambers T 2010. General practice activity in Australia 2000-01 to 2009-10: 10 year data tables. General practice series no. 28. Cat. no. GEP 28. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 12 June 2013 <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442472440>.