InnovAiT: Education and inspiration for general practice

A busy GP will encounter patients with liver function tests (LFTs) outside the normal range very frequently. Some LFTs may be raised physiologically, for example in pregnancy, or for reasons not associated with liver disease. However, suboptimal investigation of LFT abnormalities may lead to important treatable causes of liver disease being missed. This article should help to provide a rational approach for interpretation of LFTs, further investigation and management of various abnormalities.

A full blood count is one of the common blood tests requested by GPs. Anaemia is frequently found, whether suspected or incidental. This article aims to guide your thinking about how to assess and investigate anaemia in adults and when to refer.

There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of allergic disorders, which have trebled over the last 20 years. This is highlighted in the International Study on Allergic Diseases in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase I and III data collected on 13-to 14-year-old children from the UK which now shows high prevalence of asthma (32%), hay fever and allergic rhinitis (40%) and eczema (9%) (Asher et al., 2006).

Otitis externa encompasses all inflammatory conditions of the external auditory canal. It is a common problem in General Practice and affects all ages, with a slightly higher incidence in women compared to men. Basic treatment measures cure 90% of cases without complications.

Otitis media, the inflammation of the middle ear, is a common primary care problem, and encompasses several subclasses of clinical conditions. The most frequently seen is acute otitis media, which most often affects children. However, otitis media exists in both acute and chronic forms, and also in the presence and absence of infection. Knowledge of how to identify the different types is essential for the formulation of an appropriate management plan.

Epistaxis (nosebleed) is a common disorder frequently seen in primary care. Most are due to minor damage to nasal mucosa however recurrent or prolonged nosebleeds can be a manifestation of an underlying systemic disorder. The majority can be terminated with simple measures, however, prolonged bleeding may require secondary care intervention. Nosebleeds are not life threatening in most people; however, identification of those at risk from complications is important. Elderly patients and those with underlying bleeding disorders or other co-morbidities require careful assessment and prompt intervention as appropriate to prevent an adverse outcome.

“Writing prescriptions is easy, but otherwise coming to an understanding with people is hard.” Kafka, K. In: ‘A country doctor’ (translated Bamforth, 1999).

The study of medical ethics has been a part of medicine since ancient times. Ethics is a term for various ways of understanding, examining and deciding what is a good moral life. Medical ethics (or bioethics in North America and other countries) is the study of ethics applied to medicine. This article will describe ethical principles, approaches and theories, how they may be used in the assessment process of nMRCGP and their relevance to the world of decision making in primary care.

Although the core function of general practice is patient care, there are many opportunities for GPs to get involved in other educational and academic activities. Most GPs find academic activities a useful adjunct to their clinical work. As well as being educational and broadening horizons, such activities stimulate GPs to think and reappraise their own clinical work and the work of their practice. This article aims to give an overview of the range of opportunities available within medical publishing and some tips on how to access those opportunities.