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Biomedical subjects

David Pierce

Publications and source records attributed to David Pierce.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Do GPs use electronic mental health resources? - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care (BOMHC) initiative encourages general practitioners to use electronic mental health resources (EMHRs) during consultation with patients requiring psychological assistance. However, there is little data on GPs' acceptance and use of EMHRs. METHOD: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 27 GPs to determine their attitude toward EMHRs, and their use during consultation with patients. RESULTS: Few GPs reported frequently using EMHRs in consultation. Identified barriers to use included lack of familiarity with information technology, and insufficient knowledge of available resources. Identified advantages of electronic resources included high patient acceptance, time efficiency, and improved quality of information. DISCUSSION: General practitioners recognise several advantages of utilising electronic resources for managing patients with mental illness. However, GPs are not sufficiently familiar with electronic resources to use them effectively. This could be overcome by education.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2004

Psychiatric comorbidity in general practice.

BACKGROUND: Much of teaching and research has concentrated on single disease entities. In general practice, however, many patients suffer from a number of interacting illnesses at the same time. It is unlikely we will ever have randomised controlled trials to guide the management of such patients. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to develop a framework that will assist general practitioners in day-to-day clinical work with patients presenting with concurrent multiple physical and mental health problems. DISCUSSION: A positive, caring, patient centred approach is required and multiple diagnoses need to be managed within an integrated treatment plan. The quality of the therapeutic relationship is central to patient outcomes. Assessing and managing risk issues is a priority and coordinating care with other health professionals is essential. Set realistic goals, don't make changes too quickly or all at once, and don't assume that because a patient is taking a particular medication the associated diagnosis is correct.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Australian GPs' preferences for education about depression and related disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate Australian general practitioners' experiences of accessing education about depression and their preferences for future education on depression and related disorders. METHOD: Six hundred and eight anonymous surveys were distributed to GPs through 52 rural and urban divisions of general practice; 420 were returned. RESULTS: Educational formats involving direct contact with people having mental health expertise were highly valued. Distance education and web based technologies were least used. In the previous year, women and older GPs had spent more time on education about depression. Most intended to undertake more such education in the future and said that education in psychosocial strategies would be very useful. General practitioners' attitudes to further education about depression were influenced by their gender, practice location, and their previous mental health training. DISCUSSION: More face-to-face training may be desirable to take advantage of GPs' willingness to spend more time on education about depression and related disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A complex microbiota from snowball Earth times: microfossils from the Neoproterozoic Kingston Peak Formation, Death Valley, USA.

A thin carbonate unit associated with a Sturtian-age ( approximately 750-700 million years ago) glaciogenic diamictite of the Neoproterozoic Kingston Peak Formation, eastern California, contains microfossil evidence of a once-thriving prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial community (preserved in chert and carbonate). Stratiform stromatolites, oncoids, and rare columnar stromatolites also occur. The microbial fossils, which include putative autotrophic and heterotrophic eukaryotes, are similar to those found in chert in the underlying preglacial units. They indicate that microbial life adapted to shallow-water carbonate environments did not suffer the significant extinction postulated for this phase of low-latitude glaciation and that trophic complexity survived through snowball Earth times.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed2003

Cognitive behavioural therapy: a study of rural general practitioners' understanding and expectations.

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been extensively used to manage depression and anxiety. It has been offered to general practitioners (GPs) as a technique suited to primary care. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-two GPs, who had participated in workshops on CBT, in rural Victoria, were surveyed about their use, expectations and understanding of CBT. Most of the GPs either occasionally or regularly used CBT. Respondents expressed concern that CBT would lengthen their consultations, while recognising its usefulness in their practice and capacity to enhance doctor-patient communication. CONCLUSIONS: The GPs in this study, while regarding CBT as an appropriate technique in general practice, expressed both broad outcome expectations from its use and concerns about its time management impact. This study indicates the need for further research on the role of CBT in rural general practice.

Adult↗