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Interactive quizzes are based on material found in Best Practice Journal and Best Tests. Initially, quizzes are posted out with journals and GPs are invited to submit their answers for CME credits.
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Older people, particularly those who are frail and with multiple morbidities, are most susceptible to the cumulative effects... View Article
Three main aspects form the foundation of a management strategy for patients with osteoarthritis: education, exercise and weight... View Article
The purpose of this report is to provoke thought and discussion about how and why antipsychotic medicines are prescribed to older... View Article
Physical symptoms commonly experienced by people with advanced dementia include pain, difficulties with hydration and nutrition,... View Article
Advanced dementia is a terminal condition for which palliative care is appropriate, however, knowing when to initiate this process... View Article
Most people with dementia develop behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD) at some point during their journey, which can... View Article
Dementia (mate wareware - see below) is a growing healthcare challenge. There are an estimated 70,000 people with dementia in... View Article
Declining cognitive function can be a difficult topic to raise with patients and their families. It is important to reassure older... View Article
Type 2 diabetes management in older people can be complex due to the wide variations in co-morbidities, physical and cognitive... View Article
Constipation is common in older people due to factors such as multimorbidity, polypharmacy, frailty, dehydration, a lack of exercise... View Article
When initiating or changing the dose of a medicine, simple changes to the prescription can allow pharmacists to dispense a trial... View Article
Bisphosphonates accumulate within bone tissue where they help rebalance the remodelling cycle to increase bone mineral density.... View Article
Over one-third of people aged 65 years and older in New Zealand were dispensed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in the last year.... View Article
Older people are generally prescribed more medicines than younger people, which contributes to a higher risk of adverse effects.... View Article
The concept of frailty identifies vulnerable people who have an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Frailty is not defined... View Article
Since publication of our article on Zostavax vaccine in March, 2018, we have received feedback from several readers seeking clarification... View Article
Zostavax is a herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine that will become fully subsidised from 1 April, 2018 for people aged 65 years.... View Article
The progression of osteoarthritis varies from person to person. Functional decline and worsening of symptoms is not inevitable,... View Article
This report provides prescribers with details about patients in their practice who are taking ten or more medicines over a 12... View Article
View Article
Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive condition which results in loss or distortion of the central visual field, and... View Article
In the previous edition of Best Practice Journal, we covered the appropriate use of testosterone in older male patients (see:... View Article
Testosterone supplementation may be an appropriate treatment for males with clinical features of androgen deficiency and early... View Article
This month we release a range of resources aimed at falls prevention within the community, developed in partnership with the Health... View Article
Asymptomatic bacteriuria and urinary tract infections (UTIs) frequently occur in people aged over 65 years. Bacteriuria in older... View Article
With winter upon us it is a timely reminder of the importance of implementing strategies to keep older people healthy, independent... View Article
Contributed by the Health Quality & Safety Commission View Article
In 2014 we published over 60 medical education articles in Best Practice Journal, spanning more than 450 pages. Context is crucial... View Article
This article has been archived. If you would like access to the original article please contact: editor@bpac.org.nz View Article
Polypharmacy is a marker of potential problematic prescribing. In clinical practice, defining polypharmacy purely by a specific... View Article
Polypharmacy can be appropriate and beneficial for patients. However, polypharmacy also increases the risk of problematic prescribing... View Article
As skin ages, increased transepidermal water loss leads to dry skin (xerosis) and reduced barrier function. Dry skin is often... View Article
Age-related changes in women can result in an increased occurrence of vulvovaginal dermatological conditions such as vulval dermatitis... View Article
Herpes zoster (shingles) is a self-limiting condition caused by reactivation of the Varicella zoster virus. Shingles most frequently... View Article
The treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease usually involves a multidisciplinary approach to care. The role of the general... View Article
Concerns have been raised, both in New Zealand and internationally, about the increasing off-label use of antipsychotics, and... View Article
Giant cell arteritis, also referred to as temporal arteritis, is a form of vasculitis which predominantly affects older people.... View Article
This report focuses on continuous polypharmacy, which is the chronic use of multiple medicines over a long period of time. View Article
It is increasingly recognised that health care for older people is improved when one prescriber takes responsibility for all of... View Article
In the March 2012 issue of Best Tests, bpacnz published an article discussing testing for CVD, diabetes and renal disease in elderly... View Article
Testosterone levels naturally decline with age in males. Some health professionals claim that a clinical syndrome of testosterone... View Article
Consideration of laboratory testing and interpretation of subsequent results should be guided by a patients “drugs, diseases and... View Article
Interpreting and managing a laboratory result of abnormal sodium or potassium levels is a common scenario in general practice.... View Article
This article has been removed as the Liverpool Care Pathway was discontinued in 2014 following a national review in the United... View Article
Despite the increasing focus on vitamin D levels and claimed associations with many health conditions, there is no evidence to... View Article
The incidence and impact of malnutrition in older people is underestimated. The best option for treating malnutrition is to enhance... View Article
Links to video files of the TV show broadcast on Sky channel 950, Thursday May 5th View Article
Evidence suggests that warfarin is under utilised in older people. The dilemma is that in older people with atrial fibrillation,... View Article
From November 1, 2010 donepezil will be funded without Special Authority, on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Donepezil and other... View Article
Donepezil to be funded on pharmaceutical schedule | Dextropropoxyphene - finding alternatives View Article
The majority of older people who require drug therapy take multiple medicines. Polypharmacy increases the risk of adverse effects... View Article
In New Zealand, it is estimated that 30% of people aged over 75 years are taking five or more medicines and around 10% are taking... View Article
The Antipsychotics in Dementia (A4D) programme was launched in October 2008. Since then, the use of antipsychotics in older people... View Article
The incidence of medical conditions that can affect safe driving increases with age. Older people should be regularly assessed... View Article
Approximately one-third of New Zealander’s aged over 65 years fall each year and this can result in considerable morbidity.... View Article
People who have had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack are at increased risk of future stroke, especially in the first few... View Article
Differentiating normal age-related memory loss from early onset dementia Normal age-related memory loss affects everybody. Assessing... View Article
Notification and details of an educational programme on the use of antipsychotics for symptoms associated with dementia View Article
Many older people suffer from the “anorexia of ageing”. The best option for treating malnutrition is to enhance normal... View Article
A new study suggests that taking antioxidant supplements, especially vitamin A, vitamin E or beta-carotene, does not prevent ageing... View Article
The development and marketing of anti-ageing products is a multi-million dollar industry. There is no shortage of remedies and... View Article
Depression in elderly people can be a significant cause of disability and is under-recognised and often complex to treat. A SSRI... View Article
When prescribing for older Māori people, it is important to take their views and beliefs into consideration and provide information... View Article
Older people have a higher cardiovascular risk and therefore appear to have the most potential to benefit from risk reduction,... View Article
Several key principles should be considered when prescribing for elderly people. Quality of life is the most relevant outcome.... View Article
Chronic pain is common in elderly people, however it is often unrecognised, treated sub-optimally or not treated at all. Regular... View Article
Prescribing for elderly people is difficult because the risks of polypharmacy, adverse drug effects and drug interactions are... View Article
A Māori perspective on impacts on New Zealand society of an ageing population. View Article
Preventive health care aims to prevent premature deaths and delay the onset of the suffering caused by illness and disease (compression... View Article
Covers diagnosis and management of Parkinson's disease View Article
This article covers the role and safety concerns of antipsychotics in the treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms... View Article
Polypharmacy due to multiple physician involvement in patient care increases the risk of serious adverse drug event. View Article
Nocturnal leg cramps are common, particularly in older people and in women who are pregnant. Is there an effective treatment?... View Article