Be An Awesome GP Podcast

Unveiling the New Edition of RACGP's Red Book with Professor Danielle Mazza

Welcome to another episode of "Be an Awesome GP"! Today, we are thrilled to sit down with Professor Danielle Mazza, a prominent figure in general practice and women's health. As the head of the Department of General Practice at Monash University School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Professor Mazza has played a pivotal role in updating the RACGP's Red Book.
In this episode, Professor Mazza provides an insightful overview of the newly launched 10th edition of the Red Book. She discusses the comprehensive updates and expanded chapters, covering essential topics like cancer prevention, women's reproductive health, eating disorders, and frailty. Professor Mazza also highlights the rigorous evidence-based framework used to develop the recommendations, ensuring they are relevant and trustworthy for Australian GPs.
Tune in to learn about the significant contributions the Red Book makes to preventive care in general practice, and how it aims to combat misinformation and provide GPs with the best tools and resources to serve their patients effectively. Don't miss this enlightening conversation!
Be An Awesome GP is targeted at GP's in the Australian Context. It is not specific medical advice for patients. The presenters views do not necessarily represent those of organisations they are affiliated with. 

Dr Nicole Higgins - President of the RACGP on GPs and the Scope of Practice Review.

In this episode of Be an Awesome GP, Dr. Nicole Higgins, the President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners shares her insights on the Scope of Practice Review, a crucial topic. As GPs navigate the increasingly turbulent healthcare system, they play a unique role equivalent to pilots ensuring a safe landing in the field of primary care. This Scope of Practice Review emerges from the 2022 Strengthening Medicare Taskforce. It examines the roles of all primary healthcare providers from GPs to nurses, allied health professionals, and pharmacists. This episode further explores the issues paper 2 concerning health workforce scope, opportunities, and the potential for the inter-professional collaboration in the Australian healthcare system.Dr. Higgins emphasizes the immense training duration and expertise of GPs in managing complex care. However, she acknowledges that current legislation and regulations often limit their potential. She further discusses matters of duplication, increased healthcare costs, and the risk of care fragmentation.The concerns revolving around the direction of health reform and the potential for a fragmented, two-tiered health system are also addressed. Members are briefed on how to take actionable steps regarding these reforms and the invaluable role of GPs in advocating for better patient outcomes and a stronger healthcare system.To conclude the episode, Dr. Higgins inspires other GPs to take initiative in advocacy, emphasizing how anyone can contribute to enhancing the healthcare landscape. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the potential challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for GPs and the broader healthcare workforce.

E-sports, gamers and physical injuries: Is it time for an e-sports physician?

Today we delve into the realm of gaming disorders, with a particular focus on the physically associated symptoms. We are thrilled to have Dr. Daniel Stjepanovic from the University of Queensland as our guest. Dr. Stjepanovic has recently published a paper titled 'Extended Hours of Video Gameplay and Negative Physical Symptoms and Pain' in Computers in Human and Behaviour.
This episode stands out as a Journal Club episode, as we shed light on the essentials of Dr. Stepanovic's paper. His research, part of the International Gaming Study 2022, looks at the implications of gaming disorder's recent classification as a diagnosable condition by WHO. The study focusses on the physical harm or discomfort associated with video gaming, a domain seldom touched upon in comparison to the social, emotional, and mental well-being.
The research methodology involved disseminating a comprehensive survey to regular video gamers, with the threshold for "regular" set as at least three hours a week. The concentration was on symptoms like eye fatigue, wrist or hand pain, back or neck pain, and general problems like headaches and muscle aches. Outcomes highlighted age or gender displaying no significant difference. However, a noticeable dose-response connection was observed where players who indulged in continuous gaming for at least three hours signposted significantly increased odds of physical discomfort.
As we continue discussing the evolving field of gaming disorder, we also touch upon the budding genre of esports and its potential translation into an actual career. With this in consideration, we further delve into the difference between aspiring professional players and those diagnosed with internet gaming disorder, in terms of the rate of physical injuries.
Lastly, we recount the chief physical injuries as reported in the survey, which include eye fatigue, wrist or hand pain, back or neck pain, and general physical problems like headaches and muscle aches. The episode ends on an open-ended note, awaiting more organized structure and research in the gaming disorder space, hinting at the probability of witnessing a future where generalized practicing encompasses sub-specialties like 'esports physicians'. Feel free to check out The National Center for Youth Substance Use Research at the University of Queensland's website for more information and findings on the subject.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563224000499?via%3Dihub

EP10: Doctors for the Environment Australia

What do patient health, doctor health and environmental health have to do with each other? Dr Nicole Sleeman and Dr Kate Wylie run us through it.

EP11: Skin Cancer Clinics with Dr John O’Bryen

I sat down with Dr John O'Bryen owner of Body Scan Clinic. A GP with additional training in skin cancer medicine, John also runs a thriving dermoscopy Instagram account. John is a keen advocate for doctor's health, and a peer reviewer for the AJGP. A family man, a gentleman and a scholar, join us as we hear about John's story.

EP9: Dr Terrance Lim and the Mindsight Clinic

We sat down with Dr Terrance Lim, psychiatrist and Director at the Mindsight Clinic. We talked about how to improve mental health care in Australia, the utility of general practice to deliver high quality mental healthcare to patients and ADHD.
 

EP8: Dr Olivia Ong, the Heart Centred Doctor

Introducing the heart centred Dr Olivia Ong, a remarkable medical mum and a passionate medical entrepreneur dedicated to delivering healthcare coaching. With a heart-centered and soul-driven approach, Olivia supports fellow healthcare professionals in achieving a more balanced life, enabling them to thrive both at work and at home without experiencing burnout.
Olivia's life took a significant turn when, at the age of 28, she was involved in a life-altering accident that left her paralyzed. Despite this immense challenge, Olivia found strength and resilience throughout her recovery journey. This experience gave her a unique perspective as she transitioned from being a medical doctor to becoming a patient herself.
Join us as we discuss writing, TED talks and whether done is better than perfect. 

EP7: Dr Rebecca Nothrop on coaching, self doubt and impostor syndrome.

Dr Rebecca Nothrop is a certified professional coach, medical registrar with additional training in cognitive behavioural therapy, qualified group fitness instructor and personal trainer. 
Self-doubt is a common feeling that almost every GP has experienced at some point in their lives. Whether you are a successful professional or a student trying to achieve high grades, self-doubt can be a critical factor to your progress. This is where the expert services of Dr. Rebecca Nothrop come into play. Dr. Nothrop is a certified professional coach, medical registrar, group fitness instructor, and personal trainer with additional training in cognitive behavioural therapy. In this blog post, we will explore her journey, strategies and how she has been transforming the lives of women around the world by helping them conquer self-doubt.

EP6: Coffee with Ms Kitty Pham

Coffee! Most doctors drink it, whether it's to get going in the morning or to make it through a night shift, but how much is too much? We sit down with Ms Kitty Pham a researcher at UniSA to talk about risks and benefits.
Kitty's publication is here 'High coffee consumption, brain volume and risk of dementia and stroke'. 

EP5: Long Covid Clinics with Dr Jenny Huang

Dr Jenny Huang works at a GP lead Long COVID clinic. Finding the opportunity in a challenging scenario, the Geelong Long Covid Clinic has set a standard of excellence for family medicine. What can we do better for our patients with Long COVID?
Don't worry ear jockeys because the first step, as with a podcast, is to listen.