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A planetary health–organ system map to integrate climate change and health content into medical curricula

Hayden Burch, Laura J Beaton, Grace Simpson, Ben Watson, Janie Maxwell and Kenneth D Winkel
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (9): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51737
Published online: 7 November 2022

Health professionals must be prepared to address the health risks and impacts of climate change

Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause about 250 000 additional deaths per year.1 This does not include deaths from pollution, mental illness, extreme weather events and resultant migration and conflict, all of which carry significant morbidity and mortality risks. The medical profession has a responsibility to prepare practitioners and the health system for the escalating challenges of this health crisis.

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  • 1 University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2 Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Melbourne, VIC


Correspondence: burchh@unimelb.edu.au


Open access

Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Melbourne, as part of the Wiley ‐ The University of Melbourne agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.


Acknowledgements: 

We thank the members of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) for their clinical and research expertise, and the organisation for its graphic support to produce our final curriculum mapping resource.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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Feticide and late termination of pregnancy: an essential component of reproductive health care

Caroline M Costa
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (8): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51727
Published online: 17 October 2022

Decisions about late abortion and care for women and their families are supported by sensitive and professional care

Most pregnant women in Australia undergo some form of antenatal screening for fetal anomalies. This includes ultrasound scanning for fetal structural anomalies and combined first trimester screening, which is largely publicly funded, and non‐invasive prenatal screening for certain chromosomal or genetic conditions, currently available only at private expense.1


  • The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD


Correspondence: caroline.decosta@jcu.edu.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

  • 1. Hui L, Edwards L. First and second trimester screening for fetal structural anomalies. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2018; 23: 102‐111.
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  • 4. Lou S, Castersen K, Petersen O, et al. Termination of pregnancy following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome: a qualitative study of the decision‐making process of pregnant couples. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2018; 97: 1228‐1236.
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  • 6. Rosser S, Sekar R, Laporte J, et al. Late termination of pregnancy at a major Queensland tertiary hospital, 2010–2020. Med J Aust 2022; 217: 410‐414.
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  • 10. Barratt A, McGeechan K, Black K, et al. Knowledge of current abortion law and views on abortion law reform: a community survey of NSW residents. Aust N Z J Public Health 2019; 43: 88‐93.

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Breast cancer metastasis: mapping long term outcomes in Australia

Andrew Redfern and Hilary Martin
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (8): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51728
Published online: 17 October 2022

Characterising the ongoing but changing risk of relapse after breast cancer diagnosis improves surveillance planning and patient care

The high incidence of breast cancer and the enduring risk of relapse are major burdens for oncology care. Defining individual recurrence risk profiles would help optimise resource use when managing patients with breast cancer, but population‐based outcomes datasets are unfortunately scarce.


  • 1 The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA
  • 2 Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, WA



Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

  • 1. Lord SJ, Daniels B, Kiely BE, et al. Long term risk of distant metastasis in women with non‐metastatic breast cancer and survival after metastasis detection: a population‐based linked health records study. Med J Aust 2022; 217: 402‐409.
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  • 9. Dawson G, Madsen LT, Dains JE. Interventions to manage uncertainty and fear of recurrence in female breast cancer survivors: a review of the literature. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2016; 20: E155‐E161.

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Mycobacterium haemophilum in a patient with inflammatory bowel disease

Fleur W Kong, David Wong, Kendall Sharpe, Louis Pool and James Muir
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (8): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51720
Published online: 17 October 2022

A 38‐year‐old woman with longstanding Crohn’s disease presented with 7 months of a non‐healing widespread rash. Examination revealed indurated and ulcerated papulonodular lesions on the abdomen and extremities (Box 1). Medications included adalimumab, 6‐mercaptopurine, allopurinol and an oral contraceptive pill. There were no other significant medical conditions. The main differentials considered were cutaneous/metastatic Crohn’s disease or a disseminated atypical infection such as atypical mycobacterium or deep fungal. The lesions were too numerous for a skin malignancy.


  • 1 Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD
  • 2 Mater Hospital, Brisbane, QLD
  • 3 Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Brisbane, QLD
  • 4 University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD



Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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Care for adults with COVID‐19: living guidelines from the National COVID‐19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce

Heath White, Steve J McDonald, Bridget Barber, Joshua Davis, Lucy Burr, Priya Nair, Sutapa Mukherjee, Britta Tendal, Julian Elliott, Steven McGloughlin and Tari Turner
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51718
Published online: 3 October 2022

Abstract

Introduction: The Australian National COVID‐19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce was established in March 2020 to maintain up‐to‐date recommendations for the treatment of people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). The original guideline (April 2020) has been continuously updated and expanded from nine to 176 recommendations, facilitated by the rapid identification, appraisal, and analysis of clinical trial findings and subsequent review by expert panels.

Main recommendations: In this article, we describe the recommendations for treating non‐pregnant adults with COVID‐19, as current on 1 August 2022 (version 61.0). The Taskforce has made specific recommendations for adults with severe/critical or mild disease, including definitions of disease severity, recommendations for therapy, COVID‐19 prophylaxis, respiratory support, and supportive care.

Changes in management as a result of the guideline: The Taskforce currently recommends eight drug treatments for people with COVID‐19 who do not require supplemental oxygen (inhaled corticosteroids, casirivimab/imdevimab, molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, regdanvimab, remdesivir, sotrovimab, tixagevimab/cilgavimab) and six for those who require supplemental oxygen (systemic corticosteroids, remdesivir, tocilizumab, sarilumab, baricitinib, casirivimab/imdevimab). Based on evidence of their achieving no or only limited benefit, ten drug treatments or treatment combinations are not recommended; an additional 42 drug treatments should only be used in the context of randomised trials. Additional recommendations include support for the use of continuous positive airway pressure, prone positioning, and endotracheal intubation in patients whose condition is deteriorating, and prophylactic anticoagulation for preventing venous thromboembolism. The latest updates and full recommendations are available at www.covid19evidence.net.au.

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  • 1 Cochrane Australia, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2 QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD
  • 3 John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW
  • 4 The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW
  • 5 Mater Hospital Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD
  • 6 Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
  • 7 St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  • 8 Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, Adelaide, SA
  • 9 The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC
  • 10 Monash University, Melbourne, VIC


Correspondence: heath.white@monash.edu


Open access

Open access publishing facilitated by Monash University, as part of the Wiley–Monash University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.


Acknowledgements: 

The National COVID‐19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce is funded by the Australian Department of Health, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, the Ian Potter Foundation and the Walter Cottman Endowment Fund (managed by Equity Trustees), and the Lord Mayors’ Charitable Foundation. We thank all members of the National COVID‐19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce for their magnificent contributions to the work described in this article, and acknowledge the Taskforce member organisations and our partners (complete list included in the Supporting Information).

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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Practice and system improvements for better physical health and longer lives for people living with serious mental illness

Rosemary V Calder, James A Dunbar and Maximilian P Courten
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51713
Published online: 3 October 2022

The Being Equally Well policy roadmap seeks to end the neglect of physical health for people living with serious mental illness

People living with serious mental illness die up to 20 years prematurely from chronic physical health conditions.1 Most of these early deaths are from preventable health conditions including cardiovascular disease, smoking‐related respiratory illness, diabetes, and cancer.2 Primary care is not organised to provide this group with screening for cardiometabolic risk factors.

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  • 1 Mitchell Institute, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2 Deakin University, Warrnambool, VIC


Correspondence: rosemary.calder@vu.edu.au

Acknowledgements: 

The Being Equally Well project has been partially supported by grant funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University for the Australian Health Policy Collaboration, a network of chronic disease and population health academics, clinicians, experts, and advocates who have participated in this project. The supplement accompanying this issue of the MJA was financially supported by the Mitchell Institute, Victoria University, and by grant funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care for the Australian Health Policy Collaboration. The authors acknowledge and thank all participants in and contributors to the Being Equally Well project for their expert commitment to the project and its potential impacts on health care for people living with serious mental illness.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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  • 9. Sharma S, Buckhalter S, Siskind S, Castle D. Clozapine shared care: mental health services and GPs working together for better outcomes for people with schizophrenia. Med J Aust 2022; 217 (7 Suppl): S36‐S38.
  • 10. Rocks T, Teasdale SB, Fehily C, et al. The role of dietary intervention for the management of physical health conditions in individuals with serious mental illness: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Med J Aust 2022; 217 (7 Suppl): S7‐S21.

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Australia needs to implement a national health strategy for doctors

Chanaka Wijeratne, Margaret P Kay, Mark H Arnold and Jeffrey CL Looi
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51714
Published online: 3 October 2022

Coordinated systemic change and enhanced access to care are needed to improve doctors’ wellbeing

Over the past decade, there has been growing recognition of the prevalence of psychological distress across the medical profession and that practitioner wellbeing has significant implications for patient safety. The fact that burnout, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and completed suicide are higher in doctors than in the general population1,2 is a problem requiring urgent and novel interventions.

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  • 1 University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, NSW
  • 2 UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  • 3 University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
  • 4 School of Rural Health, University of Sydney, Dubbo, NSW
  • 5 University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  • 6 Australian National University, Canberra, ACT



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Competing interests:

Chanaka Wijeratne is a Medical Council of New South Wales Directed Health Assessor. Margaret Kay is a member of the Management Committee, Queensland Doctors’ Health Advisory Service. Mark Arnold is a member of the Medical Council of New South Wales.

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Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) and Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine (AChSHM) for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) clinical guidelines on the management of erectile dysfunction

Eric Chung, Michael Lowy, Michael Gillman, Chris Love, Darren Katz and Graham Neilsen
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (6): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51694
Published online: 19 September 2022
Correction(s) for this article: Erratum | Published online: 21 November 2022

Abstract

Introduction: These clinical practice recommendations by the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) and the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine (AChSHM) for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) provide evidence‐based clinical guidelines on the management of erectile dysfunction (ED) in Australia.

Main recommendations:

  • A comprehensive clinical history and a tailored physical examination are essential (Level of evidence [LoE] 3; GRADE B).
  • Laboratory testing should include fasting glucose, lipid profile and total testosterone level (LoE 3; GRADE A).
  • Specialised diagnostic tests are recommended in selected cases and the patient should be counselled accordingly (LoE 4; GRADE B).
  • Lifestyle changes and optimisation of existing medical conditions should accompany all ED treatment regimens (LoE 1; GRADE A).
  • Oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) is an effective first line medical therapy (LoE 1; GRADE A).
  • Intracavernosal injections and vacuum erection devices are recommended as second line therapy (LoE 1; GRADE B).
  • A penile prosthesis implant can be considered in men who are medically refractory or unable to tolerate the side effects of medical therapy (LoE 4; GRADE B).
  • Pro‐erectile regenerative therapy remains largely experimental (LoE 3; GRADE B).

 

Changes in management as a result of these guidelines: Modification of lifestyle behaviour, management of reversible risk factors and optimisation of existing medical conditions remain pivotal, and existing standard ED therapies are often effective and safe following cardiovascular risk stratification. Caution should be exercised on the use of regenerative technology in ED due to unknown long term outcomes.

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  • 1 Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD
  • 2 University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
  • 3 AndroUrology Centre, Brisbane, QLD
  • 4 Male Clinic, Sydney, NSW
  • 5 Men’s Health Doctor, Brisbane, QLD
  • 6 Urology South, Melbourne, VIC
  • 7 Men’s Health Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
  • 8 Stonewall Medical Centre, Brisbane, QLD


Correspondence: ericchg@hotmail.com

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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A polymorphic rash from across the seas

Akshay Flora, Priya Garg, Karen Cheung, Deshan F Sebaratnam and Monisha Gupta
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (6): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51690
Published online: 19 September 2022

A 21‐year‐old man who migrated to Australia from Nepal 4 years previously was referred to a dermatologist. He had a 12‐month history of a polymorphic eruption consisting of widespread macules, plaques, papules, and nodules. As these were asymptomatic, he had not previously sought medical attention.

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  • 1 Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW
  • 2 UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  • 3 Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW
  • 4 Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, Sydney, NSW


Correspondence: a.flora@unsw.edu.au


Open access

Open access publishing facilitated by University of New South Wales, as part of the Wiley ‐ University of New South Wales agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.


Acknowledgements: 

We thank Timothy Gray, Staff Specialist in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Concord General Repatriation Hospital, for his contribution to this article.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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Roadmap to incorporating group A Streptococcus molecular point‐of‐care testing for remote Australia: a key activity to eliminate rheumatic heart disease

Dylan D Barth, Gelsa Cinanni, Jonathan R Carapetis, Rosemary Wyber, Louise Causer, Caroline Watts, Belinda Hengel, Susan Matthews, Anna P Ralph, Janessa Pickering, Jeffrey W Cannon, Lorraine Anderson, Vicki Wade, Rebecca J Guy and Asha C Bowen
Med J Aust 2022; 217 (6): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51692
Published online: 19 September 2022

Strep A POCT is a critical element in preventing acute rheumatic fever and will contribute to the elimination of rheumatic heart disease in Australia

Group A β‐haemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) most commonly causes superficial infections of the throat (pharyngitis) and skin (impetigo). In Australia, one‐third of primary school aged children have an episode of pharyngitis each year,1 with Strep A identified in about 20% of children with symptomatic pharyngitis and 10% of asymptomatic children.2,3,4 Superficial Strep A infections are the sole precursor of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD),5 with risk likely to be driven by both pharyngitis and impetigo.6 These autoimmune sequelae are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries and among Indigenous people living in high income countries.7 The burden of ARF and RHD in remote Australian communities is high and disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.8 The reported mortality rates of RHD in Aboriginal populations are among the highest worldwide (28.4 per 100 000 population; 95% CI, 24.1–32.7).9 This is despite ARF and RHD being preventable through the early treatment of Strep A pharyngitis and impetigo.10 In this article, we focus on the use of molecular point‐of‐care testing (POCT) in the diagnosis of pharyngitis, which is the dominant superficial infection leading to ARF.

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  • 1 University of Western Australia, Perth, WA
  • 2 Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA
  • 3 The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW
  • 4 Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  • 5 Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA
  • 6 Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT
  • 7 Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT
  • 8 Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Limited, Broome, WA



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Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Western Australia, as part of the Wiley ‐ The University of Western Australia agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.


Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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