Reports the results of the first year of SAND (Supplementary Analyses of Nominated Data). SAND is a sub-sampling methodology of the BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation And Care of Health) program, a continuous national study of general practice activity, conducted between April 1998 and March 1999.
The SAND method examines patient health and aspects of health care delivery through data collected in parallel to the BEACH GP-patient encounter information. The SAND questions investigate: patient wellbeing, body mass, smoking, and alcohol use; prevalence of disease, for example hypertension, upper gastrointestinal conditions, musculoskeletal problems, hepatitis; severity of illness; co-morbidity; immunisation; mammography; occupation and employment; length of consultation; and GP satisfaction.
This report is the third in the General Practice Series produced by the University of Sydney's General Practice Statistics and Classification Unit, a collaborating unit of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.