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Curriculum for General Practice - The Royal New Zealand College ...

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Gastroenterology<br />

G<br />

Gastroenterology<br />

A general practitioner should have a<br />

broad knowledge of conditions of the<br />

gastrointestinal tract – mouth to anus –<br />

and manage these competently. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

should not only demonstrate an in-depth<br />

knowledge of the common conditions but<br />

also have an awareness of the more rare<br />

presentations so that they can correctly<br />

place them in their differential diagnosis.<br />

Bowel cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death<br />

in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong>, 1 but it can be treated successfully if it is<br />

detected and treated early. <strong>The</strong> general practitioner has an<br />

essential role in this early detection. <strong>The</strong> Ministry of Health<br />

is currently undertaking a four-year pilot that started in 2011<br />

to look at models of screening <strong>for</strong> bowel cancer and how<br />

this would work on a population basis. 2<br />

Until the evaluation of this pilot is completed, a national<br />

programme will continue to be on the horizon, but general<br />

practitioners still need to be vigilant about detecting and<br />

referring as early as possible. It is essential that general<br />

practitioners are aware of the risk factors 3,4 and know the<br />

best evidence behind investigation and referral. Despite<br />

a reduction in the overall excess in mortality rates with<br />

colorectal cancer over the period 1991 to 2004, Māori<br />

continue to have higher mortality rates than non-Māori.<br />

Patients presenting with acute abdominal pain, which<br />

may be caused by appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis<br />

or other conditions, requires experience in recognition of<br />

symptoms, targeted investigation and often immediate<br />

referral by the general practitioner.<br />

When working in a rural setting, the general practitioner<br />

needs to be able to work more independently in an<br />

extended general practice role. <strong>The</strong>y need to provide safe<br />

and effective management of acute presentations and<br />

timely transfer <strong>for</strong> those patients who require referrals to<br />

specialist services or admission to base hospital.<br />

1<br />

http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/cancer-programme/bowel-cancer-programme/about-bowel-cancer<br />

2<br />

http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/cancer-programme/bowel-cancer-programme/bowel-screening-pilot<br />

3<br />

http://ebooks.nzgg.org.nz/suspected_cancer_guideline/<br />

4<br />

http://crct.org.nz/downloads/NZ_CRC_report.pdf<br />

www.rnzcgp.org.nz<br />

<strong>Curriculum</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>General</strong> <strong>Practice</strong><br />

73

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