186362 - Providing Quality Health Care for People Who Use Illicit Drugs

To improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of general practitioners to provide quality primary health care services to patients who use/have used illicit drugs.

Relevance to General Practice

Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use is commonplace in Australia with recent data showing that 4 in 10 Australians either smoked daily, drank alcohol to potentially risky levels or used an illicit drug in the previous 12 months (AIHW, 2017). While not all drug use (licit or illicit) is problematic or harmful for the individual, AOD use is a major cause of preventable disease and illness in Australia (AIHW, 2019). The prevalence and health impacts of drug use in society has led to a growing recognition of the important role of general practice in providing primary care for people who use drugs (RACGP, 2013). Recent research has found however, that negative attitudes of GPs towards patients who use illicit drugs are common and contribute to suboptimal health care for these patients (Van Boekel, 2015, Lancaster, 2017). More targeted and interactive GP training and education is therefore needed to address these barriers and concerns (CESPHN, 2017, Reavley, 2014, Lancaster, 2017).

Learning outcomes

• Implement effective engagement and communication skills in relation to patients who use illicit drugs.
• Determine the key barriers to accessing primary health care for people who use illicit drugs.
• Integrate an evidence-based, harm reduction approach and a risk:benefit analysis when assessing, treating and managing patients who use illicit drugs.
• Plan appropriate referrals for patients who use illicit drugs to peer-based and other relevant programs and services.
• Domains of General Practice

  D1. Communication skills and the patient-doctor relationship

  D2. Applied professional knowledge and skills

  D3. Population health and the context of general practice

  D4. Professional and ethical role

  D5. Organisational and legal dimensions

  Curriculum Contextual Units
  • Adult health
  • Custodial health
  • Addiction medicine
  • Pain management
  • Psychological health
  Partnering organisations

  n/a

  Activity sponsor

  n/a

  This activity is also available on these dates

  21/11/2020

  NUAA 414 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills

  12/09/2020

  NUAA 414 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills

  20/06/2020

  NUAA 414 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills