Tag Archives: overtreatment

Deprescribing: a fancy word for ceasing?

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Dr Justin Coleman

What’s old is new again. Hipster beards are so in, they’re out, and where we used to simply cease medications—we now deprescribe them. Continue reading →

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Does high antibiotic use prevent serious complications?

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Dr Justin Coleman

A BMJ article yesterday provided strong evidence that doctors who prescribe antibiotics at high rates for respiratory tract infections are not, in fact, protecting their patients from serious bacterial complications such as meningitis. This finding negates the ‘patient safety’ claim repeatedly pulled out … Continue reading →

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World’s best video animation about pharmacists in GP-land

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Dr Justin Coleman

Disclaimer; my claim of ‘world’s best’ relies heavily on the supposition that this is also the ‘world’s only’ such video animation. It introduces the novel concept of embedding a pharmacist within a general practice (in addition to the pharmacy business owner down the road). … Continue reading →

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We doctors must lift our game on antibiotics

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Dr Justin Coleman

Today’s major report on Australia’s antibiotic prescribing makes fairly grim reading. The Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Australia (AURA) report reveals the following: Almost half (46%) the population was prescribed an antibiotic in 2014. More than half of patients with colds, flu and … Continue reading →

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Weight-loss surgery: really the most radical treatment in a century?

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Dr Justin Coleman

I spend a lot of time highlighting the commercial forces that promote expensive medical interventions. So yesterday, when I read a lead author describe his new guidelines as “the most radical change in the treatment of type 2 diabetes for almost … Continue reading →

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Today Tonight: product promotion dressed as health news

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Dr Justin Coleman

Last Friday on the Seven Network’s Today Tonight (TT), an episode on arthritis featured respected GP Dr Robert Menz, who gave a very solid interview – warning about the over-use of opioid medications, and promoting exercise and weight loss. Dr … Continue reading →

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Fifteen things good doctors should avoid – Choosing Wisely II

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Dr Justin Coleman

This is important reading if you’re a doctor. And maybe of some interest even if you’re not. Following this year’s successful launch of the Choosing Wisely Australia campaign by NPS Medicinewise, we have produced a second round of recommendations about … Continue reading →

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The neglected art of stopping medications

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Dr Justin Coleman

Whenever a medication is re-prescribed, some thought should be given to the important art of ‘deprescribing’. Doctors are taught far more about starting medications than stopping them, and most pharmaceutical research ignores the ‘cessation’ question altogether. Each 6-monthly round of … Continue reading →

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Choosing Wisely – sneak preview of GP shortlist. #FOAM4GP #FOAMed

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Dr Justin Coleman

What interventions do you think GPs should do less of? Do you think we sometimes prescribe inappropriately or order too many tests? I’m not talking about individual anecdotes, but widespread trends accepted as ‘normal’ in some parts of Australian general practice. I am … Continue reading →

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Top list of wasteful procedures in the ED and General Practice

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Dr Justin Coleman

  Yesterday, JAMA published a list of  tests and treatments ordered in the Emergency Department which a group of 283 Emergency clinicians considered the most wasteful. Because accessing the list requires a log-in (which is a bit of a waste!) I have copied it here. … Continue reading →

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