Indigenous Australians have high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but are under screened for CVD risk. Two cardiovascular disease risk tools are available to determine risk of a cardiovascular disease event in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This study adds urban clinic level data to the growing population level research in CVD risk assessment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, by comparing the two available CVD risk algorithms, screening coverage and treatment in an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Service.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness, and moderate DR (or above) requires management with an ophthalmologist. However, public eye clinics have access blocks. High quality referrals are needed to make decisions regarding the urgency of patient care for ocular complications associated with diabetes. Primary care-initiated referrals are poorly targeted to tertiary care. To improve diabetic retinopathy screening and management, strategies should focus on education and feedback for primary care providers as well as integration of care.

Grey nomads with diabetes may not be prepared or aware of services available to them while on the road. The research aimed to ascertain the experiences of diabetes educators in rural and remote South Australia. Insight into the problems experienced by the diabetes educators of this cohort were explored and further suggestions for improvement and further research were made.

The long-term benefits and risks of diabetes medications in older people are uncertain. Over 7-years follow up, older people on insulin or other oral hypoglycaemic/s compared with metformin-only were at increased risk of hypoglycaemia, cardiovascular disease and death. Findings raise questions about treatment intensification with second-line diabetes medications in older people.

Primary care practitioners play a pivotal role in identifying chronic conditions and health promotion, yet little is known about how consumers perceive their role in providing support to achieve healthy lifestyles. This study identified a lack of consumer knowledge about roles of health professionals; suggested gender differences in relation to seeking health advice; and indicated that lifestyle risk discussions were perceived as often being opportunistic rather than planned. Findings indicate that programs and information promoting healthy lifestyles need to be flexible and adaptable to maximise their effect.

Narrowly defining hepatitis C virus as a medical condition, with the potential for liver and extrahepatic disease at some point in the future, may not encourage patients to initiate and continue hepatitis C treatment. This study aimed to report patient-perceived outcomes of receiving treatment for hepatitis C. Apart from physical health, patients expect and experience various outcomes, which are related to psychological and social aspects of living with, and being cured of, hepatitis C virus. Emphasis on the outcomes that are valued by patients may improve hepatitis C treatment uptake and adherence rates.

National and state policies recommend strategies to improve childhood immunisation rates in areas of low coverage, regardless of financial or geographic barriers. Using a social model of health, this study examined factors influencing childhood immunisation on the Central Coast, New South Wales and found that socioeconomic factors, poor service accessibility and under-utilisation of data and reminder systems were associated with under-immunisation. Findings can help in the planning and delivery of supportive primary health care that includes equitable access to immunisation

HealthPathways is an online tool that supports primary care providers to adhere to evidence-based care and referral guidelines. We developed a model for using Google Analytics data to evaluate HealthPathways usage and present the most detailed analysis of HealthPathways usage to date. HealthPathways is increasingly being adopted in clinical practice; in order to maintain this momentum and ensure that the content is meeting the needs of primary care providers, evaluation should be an ongoing effort.