Commentary on 'Co-amoxiclav had short-term effectiveness for persistent otitis media with effusion in young children'

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General practitioners as teachers

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Should family doctors refer their patients for mammography screening?

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Commentary on 'Co-amoxiclav had short-term effectiveness for persistent otitis media with effusion in young children'

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Medical education: the next revolution?

Contemporary medical education, based on ideas and methods developed in the 19th century, no longer prepares medical graduates for careers in the 21st century. Changes and improvements in health care systems will demand changes in the way doctors are educated, and how their values and attitudes, as well as their knowledge and skills, are shaped. Serious questions are being raised about what is taught in medical school, how it is taught, where it is taught, and who does the teaching. In the future medical schools will need to use active, problem-based teaching methodologies that encourage students to 'learn how to learn'. Educational activities will take place in community settings as well as within hospitals, and general practitioners will play a much greater role in undergraduate education.published_or_final_versio

Otitis media in Hong Kong

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Cholesterol: a continuing controversy

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Asian family doctors must prepare for change

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Is good general practice possible in Hong Kong?

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Is hypercholesterolaemia common among Hong Kong Chinese?

There is growing concern that coronary heart disease (CHD) is becoming more common and that hypercholesterolaemia may be an important problem among Hong Kong Chinese. This study aims at finding out the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia among adult patients in general practice. 1113 Chinese patients aged 21 to 60 attending a Government general outpatient clinic were randomly sampled. The demographic data and information on other CHD risk factors were obtained from each participant. All participants had their cholesterol measured by the Reflotron. The reflotron cholesterol results were validated and calibrated against laboratory results. The survey showed 10% of the sample had blood cholesterol > 6.2mmol/l, and 32% had borderline hypercholesterolaemia between 5.2 to 6.2mmol/l. Less than 1% of the people had cholesterol levels above 7.8mmol/l. Age had the most significant effect on cholesterol level especially in females after 40. One in four females over 50 had blood cholesterol levels > 6.2mmol/l. Twentyone percent of the sample had > 2 other CHD risk factors, over half of them had cholesterol >5.2mmol/l. The main problem among Hong Kong Chinese is borderline hypercholesterolaemia which is most significant in people with additional CHD risk factors. Cholesterol screening will be more costeffective if directed to people known to have other CHD risk factors but may not be worthwhile for the low risk group.published_or_final_versio