General practice activity – report

Government initiatives over the past few years have had different effects on the way general practitioners manage type 2 diabetes and depression, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

General Practice Activity in Australia 2006–07 shows that diabetes policy initiatives have, on the whole, been associated with significant changes in management of this condition in GP surgeries. However, there is less evidence of change in depression management.

General Practice Activity in Australia 2006–07 reports the results from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) program’s national survey of 100,000 GP–patient encounters. Other findings include:

· Patients aged 75 years and over and baby boomers (aged 45–64 years) are taking up an increasing proportion of GPs’ workloads;

· The number of tests and investigations ordered by GP continues to rise, particularly pathology test ordering. GPs ordered about 44% more tests (or batteries of tests) per 100 encounters in 2006–07 than in 2000–01; and

. Among a sample of more than 32,000 attending patients, 58.5% were overweight or obese — a considerable increase on the 1998–99 figure of 51.1%.