EDUCATE FREE STUFF

These articles have been endorsed by the RNZCGP and have been approved for continuing professional development purposes (1 credit per learning hour). To claim your CPD credits, log in to your Te Whanake dashboard and record the activity under the appropriate learning category.

Nurses may also find that reading these articles and reflecting on their learning can count as a professional development activity with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

Primary care has a central role in identifying, evaluating and managing patients with osteoporosis and high risk of fracture. This article, written by David Kim, reviews the condition, patient risk assessment and the use of established and new treatments.

On 1 October 2022, the Accident Compensation (Maternal Birth Injury and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2022 came into effect, resulting in the biggest change to ACC coverage of injuries in recent history. Now, birthing parents can access ACC funding for maternal birth injuries that were previously excluded from coverage. This article, written by specialist physiotherapist Melissa Davidson, outlines what this means for birthing parents and all healthcare providers in New Zealand.

Human papillomavirus vaccinations have dropped as the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the school-based immunisation programme. In this article, specialist GP Cathy Stephenson and registered nurse Robyn Kooperberg outline some ways you can help ensure children and young people don’t miss out.

New Zealand can draw on the experiences of health systems around the world that have been caring for COVID-19 patients in the community much longer than us. This article outlines the evidence-based processes and protocols written by Professor Dee Mangin for the hfam.ca website, which is the basis for the COVID-19 primary care pathway in Ontario, Canada. The information and resources provided here can be adapted and used alongside New Zealand-specific guidance.

In this article, interventional cardiologist Jonathon White writes about the contemporary management of aortic stenosis. He covers the importance of detecting AS early, challenges surrounding diagnosis, indications for treatment, and how management pathways are decided on by the heart team. The definitive treatment for AS – aortic valve replacement – is described in detail.

Haemorrhoids are very common in patients presenting to general practice and can significantly impact on quality of life. This article, written by colorectal and general surgeon Sze-Lin Peng, summarises the treatment of haemorrhoids after careful history and accurate examination have been performed.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is a common, debilitating and costly disease. Diagnosing and managing complex chronic conditions such as this is not easy with a 15-minute consultation, but this article, written by specialist GP Cathy Stephenson and clinical psychologist Rose Silvester, provides a framework of evidence-based information for GPs working with patients with ME/CFS.

This article covers the diverse aspects of providing gender-affirming healthcare for Aotearoa’s transgender and non-binary people, including the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy, as well as the general principles behind this rapidly evolving area of medicine. It was written by Cathy Stephenson, Alex Ker and Rachel Johnson, and was peer-reviewed by the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa board.

New asthma guidelines were released by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ in 2020. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Helen Cant outlines the new recommendations for asthma management and the reasons behind these changes.

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition encountered in general practice. This article, by Suzanne Davis and Elizabeth Walker, discusses recommendations regarding diagnosis and indications for starting anti-seizure medication. It also reviews self-management and lifestyle issues for people with epilepsy.