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