The Medical Journal of Australia

Professor Arumugam Manoharan discusses iron deficiency in the general Australian population, focusing on causes, symptoms, and treatments. Topics include optimizing iron therapy with vitamin C, alternative treatment approaches like total dose iron infusion, and key takeaways for managing iron deficiency anemia.

Associate Professor Reema Harrison discusses challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse patients in healthcare, emphasizing person-centric care. Topics include patient harm disparities, clinician engagement challenges, strategies for engaging diverse patients, and enhancing healthcare outcomes through cultural engagement.

Discussing new Australian guidelines for diabetes related foot disease, Associate Professor Pete Lazzarini and Professor Stephen Twigg cover topics such as foot ulcers, interdisciplinary interventions, risk classification, proper footwear, Sinbad and Wi-Fi scoring systems, infections, and wound healing. Emphasizing the importance of guideline-based care to prevent complications in diabetic foot disease.

Professor Dorothy Keefe, CEO of Cancer Australia, discusses the new Australian Cancer Plan aiming to improve outcomes for all Australians. Topics include the importance of equity in cancer care, the role of supportive care, collaboration among comprehensive cancer centers, advancements in cancer treatment, and the significance of a national plan for guiding cancer care.

Professor Sharon Goldfeld and Dr. Mihiri Silva discuss the urgent need to improve access to dental care for Australia's children. They address the high prevalence of tooth decay, inequities in dental health, and the importance of preventive dental care. Recommendations include integrating dental care into healthcare systems and implementing public health policies like fluoride in water and sugar taxes.

Dr. Owen Bradfield, Chief Medical Officer, discusses doctors facing disciplinary notifications due to mental health issues. Topics include the emotional impact of patient complaints, doctors' experiences with regulatory responses, understanding mandatory reporting, and utilizing research findings to support practitioners.

Professor Jaquelyne Hughes and Ms Kelli Owen discuss the barriers Indigenous Australians face in accessing renal healthcare services, importance of cultural safety in healthcare for First Nations individuals, and the establishment and progress of the National Indigenous Kidney Transplantation Task Force. They highlight the task force's impact in advancing Indigenous kidney health equity through data analysis, addressing cultural bias, and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experiences.

Professors Garry Jennings and Mark Nelson discuss the new cardiovascular disease risk guidelines and calculator, emphasizing factors like age, treatment, mental health, ethnicity, social deprivation, and health equity. They explore the updated percentile ranges and improved accuracy in CVD risk assessment. The podcast delves into the steps of risk assessment, effective risk communication, management strategies, and the importance of data integration and education for guideline implementation.

Prominent epidemiologist Professor Fiona Stanley discusses improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, emphasizing the need for Indigenous perspectives. Topics include closing the gap initiatives, impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous communities, intergenerational trauma effects, early childhood's influence on lifelong health, and advocating for better government consultation and funding for essential services.

Professor Peter Baade and Dr Kou Kou from Cancer Council Queensland discuss new research on breast cancer survival rates, treatment intervals, and challenges in studying rare cancers. They emphasize the importance of timely treatment for better outcomes and highlight the impact of limited data on rare cancer research in Australia.