Almost one-quarter of prescriptions in hospitals have been assessed as inappropriate, and one-third were non-compliant with guidelines, according to new data from the Hospital National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS) 2017. 1 The report, which is conducted annually by the Australian...

Almost three-quarters of Australians are aware of the term ‘antibiotic resistance' and one quarter believe that it is affecting us, an NPS MedicineWise survey has found. But NPS MedicineWise CEO Steve Morris says many Australians still lack awareness of the...

Experts are urging allergic rhinitis (hay fever) sufferers to seek the help of pharmacists, following a recent poll showing hay fever to be the most common allergic disorder in Australia; causing more than a simple case of the sniffles,...

Research from the University of New South Wales National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) has shown a decline in illicit low-dose codeine use since the February rescheduling. The report shows 14% of the 910 metropolitan-based participants in the national...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by joint inflammation. The immune system attacks the tissue lining the joints (synovial membrane), causing joint pain, swelling and stiffness. It usually occurs in joints on both sides of the...

Recent research has shed light on a potential new avenue to reduce insulin requirements for people with type 1 diabetes. An estimated 1.2 million Australians (6%) live with diabetes, not including gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is one of the...

Evidence supports the effectiveness of meditation in managing various common conditions. These apps can guide practice. If you’re hearing mindfulness and meditation more and more in your patient discussions, you may be curious or have been asked about how...

A 20-year population-based study has found the use of diclofenac for pain relief is linked to an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events compared with traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol and other non-NSAID use.   The research, published...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the small intestine and colon. There is no underlying structural or biochemical explanation for the symptoms, and the pathophysiology of IBS is not fully understood. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating...

A seven-year international study has found aspirin is not beneficial in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease for those aged over 70. The ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) trial found that daily low-dose aspirin (100mg) did not...