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Geriatric Care in General Practice

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Advanced Age Geriatric Care

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Abstract

With life expectancy increasing, the workload of the general practitioner will also increase, as more older people seek consultations. The general practitioner is best placed to deliver such care as he or she is often the first person of contact. The demographic characteristics of the oldest old are unique and different to that in the young old people. About a third are aged 75 and above and are among the very high and frequent GP attenders. The forms of preventive care that they provide are immunisation, screening and early identification of chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular and mental health, providing preventative advice, counselling and improving health literacy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Family Medical Practice, Carlingford, NSW, Australia

    Gowrie Pavan

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  1. Gowrie Pavan
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Nages Nagaratnam

  2. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Kujan Nagaratnam

  3. Rehabilitation and Aged Care Service, Blacktown-Mt Druitt Hospital, Blacktown, NSW, Australia

    Gary Cheuk

Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. 1.

    The following are true, EXCEPT:

    1. A.

      The demographic characteristics of the oldest old are unique and different to that in the young old people.

    2. B.

      Very high and frequent GP attenders are those with arthritis and osteoporosis.

    3. C.

      In general practice life-threatening conditions are common.

    4. D.

      GPs have an important role in palliative care.

  2. 2.

    The following are true, EXCEPT:

    1. A.

      Primary care physicians may have difficulty in detecting and treating depression.

    2. B.

      Several studies have revealed that 10% of the elderly suicide victims saw their primary care physician within a month of death.

    3. C.

      An important role of the GP is to identify and manage risk drivers.

    4. D.

      Some GPs feel uncomfortable when faced with dying patients about their ability to deliver palliative care adequately.

Answers

  1. 1.

    C

  2. 2.

    B

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Pavan, G. (2019). Geriatric Care in General Practice. In: Nagaratnam, N., Nagaratnam, K., Cheuk, G. (eds) Advanced Age Geriatric Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96998-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96998-5_11

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