News update: Annual Prescribing report

News update: Criteria widened for exceptional circumstances funding of lamotrigine

The role of the primary healthcare team in pregnancy care

Pregnancy is a time when women are likely to engage with a number...

Community pharmacy guide on medicine safety in pregnancy

Community pharmacists are a key point of contact for women seeking...

News item: access to levonorgestrel intrauterine devices/systems widened

From 1 November, 2019, levonorgestrel intrauterine devices (IUDs;...

Reviewing SSRI use in older patients

This audit helps health professionals in primary care identify...

Peer group discussion: SSRI prescribing in primary care

The following questions can be used as discussion points for...

General Practice papers at the University of Otago

Three new distance taught GENA papers are now available for...

Somatisation: demystifying the “ghost in the machine”

Somatisation is a maladaptive functioning of an organ system,...

Carbon monoxide poisoning: a hidden danger

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas....

Depression or distress? Examining SSRI prescribing in primary care

Differentiating short-term psychological distress from depression...

Motivational interviewing in primary care

Motivational Interviewing is a way of building and strengthening...

The nocebo effect: what is it, why is it important and how can it be reduced?

The nocebo effect describes adverse symptoms induced independently...

The funded brand of lamotrigine is changing

Changes in funded brands of antiepileptic medicines can lead...

Navigating uncertainty: managing respiratory tract infections

With winter upon us, it is timely to reflect on antibiotic prescribing...

National report: A pharmacological profile of patients with type 2 diabetes

This report provides an overview of the clinical characteristics...

Prescribing report: A pharmacological profile of patients with type 2 diabetes

This report provides an overview of the clinical characteristics...

Clinical Audit: Monitoring renal function in patients with diabetes

This audit identifies patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes...

Diabetes theme: Knowing your patients with type 1 diabetes

The following question can be used as discussion points for...

Antiarrhythmic medicine brand changes: flecainide and amiodarone

Patients taking oral flecainide or amiodarone need to know that...

Knowing your patient with type 1 diabetes: the transition to self-management

Living with type 1 diabetes is challenging, particularly as...

Clinical Audit - Encouraging Smoking Cessation

Smoking rates have been steadily declining in New Zealand for...

Clinical Audit: Safe and Effective Use of Warfarin

Warfarin is a medicine frequently associated with adverse drug...

Clinical Audit: Sexual health checks in younger males

Increasing the uptake of opportunistic testing is essential...

Understanding the role of insulin in the management of type 1 diabetes

Insulin treatment is an essential component of type 1 diabetes...

Sexual health theme: What’s new in contraception?

The following questions can be used as discussion points for...

Slowing progression of renal dysfunction in patients with diabetes

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of end-stage...

Dialling back treatment intensity for older people with type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes management in older people can be complex due...

Weight loss: the options and the evidence

The benefits of intentional weight loss in people who are overweight...

Optimising pharmacological management of HbA_1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: from metformin to insulin

A variety of subsidised medicines are available to help manage...

Emerging issues in the management of chlamydia and gonorrhoea

New evidence suggests that a seven-day course of doxycycline...

Mycoplasma genitalium: considerations for testing and treatment in primary care

Mycoplasma genitalium infection is a potential cause of urethritis...

Syphilis rates continue to rise

New Zealand is in the midst of a syphilis epidemic. Men who...

HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): a how-to guide

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis...

HPV vaccination: getting the programme back on track

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection provides...

Prescribing report: Proton pump inhibitor prescribing in primary care

This report provides prescribers with data about the patients...

Older people’s health theme: Frailty and deprescribing

The following questions can be used as discussion points for...

Advice on measles vaccination from the Ministry of Health 14/3/19

Canterbury DHB are undertaking a MMR vaccination campaign in...

Contraception: which option for which patient?

Prescribing contraception is a core part of primary care practice....

Condoms: advising on the options

Condoms are the only form of contraception that protects against...

Oral contraceptives: selecting a pill

Oral contraceptive pills are a safe and effective contraceptive...

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injections: an intermediate option

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injections are a form of hormonal...

Long-acting contraceptives: implants and IUDs

Long-acting contraceptives include progestogen (levonorgestrel)...

Managing constipation in older people

Constipation is common in older people due to factors such as...

Prescribing for a trial period: when and how?

When initiating or changing the dose of a medicine, simple changes...

Hepatitis C management in primary care has changed

A new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) oral regimen for the treatment...

Testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients at high risk of infection

Hepatitis C infection occurs through exposure to infected blood...

Pre-treatment assessment for patients with chronic HCV infection

Patients should be assessed for cirrhosis via clinical examination,...

Management and follow-up of patients prescribed glecaprevir + pibrentasvir

Glecaprevir + pibrentasvir is taken once daily for eight weeks....

Hepatitis C is now curable:
contributed by Dr Tony Farrell

Dr Tony Farrell is a general practitioner in Mount Maunganui...

Bisphosphonates: addressing the duration conundrum

Bisphosphonates accumulate within bone tissue where they help...

Stopping proton pump inhibitors in older people

Over one-third of people aged 65 years and older in New Zealand...

Clinical Audit: Identifying patients who may benefit from “stepping down” PPI treatment

This audit identifies patients who are prescribed the proton...

Managing patients taking anticoagulants and antiplatelets prior to minor procedures and surgery

2018 Annual Prescribing Report

This report provides you with an opportunity to reflect on your...

Substance use disorder theme: Unintentional misuse of prescription medicines - Peer Group Discussion for Pharmacists

The following questions can be used as discussion points for...

Substance use disorder theme: Unintentional misuse of prescription medicines - Peer Group Discussion for Prescribers

The following questions can be used as discussion points for...

Stopping medicines in older people: the flip side of the prescribing equation

Older people are generally prescribed more medicines than younger...

Frailty in older people: a discussion

The concept of frailty identifies vulnerable people who have...

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment in primary care: the role of aspirin

In February 2018, the Ministry of Health released the Cardiovascular...