Common Sense Pathology (CSP) was a publication series produced primarily to assist GPs in determining appropriate pathology tests. It ran for six editions, comprised a separately bound eight-page A4 supplement with graphic artwork and/or photos appropriate to the topic and was included in the Australian Doctor magazine. All editions were posted on the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) website within one month of publication.
Grant Recipient
RCPA
Aim
to improve rational and cost-effective utilisation of pathology tests.
It is not clear if this aim was achieved although general practitioners (GPs), other doctors and medical students indicated the CSP articles were a valuable source of information.
Outcomes
EDITION
ARTICLE
AUTHOR/S
7 April 2006
Malabsorption
Dr Danny Stiel and Dr Paul O’Farrell
2 June 2006
Viral Hepatitis
Prof Yvonne Cossart
7 July 2006
Micro Urine
Prof Syd Bell and Dr Alex Outhred
4 August 2006
Genital Infection
Dr Andrew Daley and Dr Suzanne Garland
1 September 2006
Lipids
Dr David Sullivan and Dr David Tognarini
3 November 2006
Iron Studies
Dr Alan R McNeil and Emeritus Prof Jack Metz
CSP articles on the RCPA website received 340 ‘hits’ by the end of December 2006.
The RCPA covered all its administrative costs, and the authors of the CSP articles were not paid, and nor was the CSP Editor, as these roles were honorary.
Findings
An Australian Doctor general reader survey found that CSP was a valuable source of information for GPs.
Pathologists were keen to contribute to the publication as authors as they considered it to be an effective communication tool, were helping GPs and involving them in the pathology process.
CSP helps prevent unnecessary testing resulting in cost savings and avoidance of invasive tests that are not warranted.
CSP promotes good patient care and cost effective patient management by helping to prevent potential misdiagnoses that may occur by omitting important tests.
CSP saves costs of health care as management can be instigated at an earlier stage of disease.
Recommendation
Dr Matthew Meerkin, RCPA CSP Editor, suggested that a compilation of the last 24 issues would be a useful addition to the library of GPs, pathologists and medical students.
Key Project Learnings
As the pathologists writing the articles donated their time, the issue of time lines was managed by:
securing an author’s agreement to write the articles well in advance wherever possible
providing regular reminders for deadlines
shortening deadlines for delivery of articles to the RCPA to allow for unforeseen delays.
To ensure the tone was appropriate for the intended audience:
authors were asked in their letter of invitation to write at a level which will educate GPs with explanatory guidelines provided
the RCPA CSP Editor sometimes requested sending the article to a GP with an interest in the specific topic before publication to test its effectiveness.
Difficulties with early articles exceeding the word limit imposed by the publisher did not recur, and these limits were clearly defined in correspondence to prospective authors. Time was also built into deadlines to enable articles that were too long to be revised.
Follow on Initiatives and Projects
Common Sense Pathology Publication Series (2011).
Common Sense Pathology Publication Series (2011)
Description
The Common Sense Pathology (CSP) publication series for general practitioners (GPs) highlights areas that are topical or problematic in diagnosis or management. The topics are chosen after consideration of feedback from Australian Doctor magazine research about topics of interest, as well as via feedback from pathologists about areas of their pathology specialty that appear to be confusing, controversial or frequently misunderstood by GPs.
CSP was delivered with Australian Doctor magazine to 21,000 recipients (which essentially encompassed every practicing GP in Australia). All 2010/11 editions were posted on the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) website within one month of publication. Issues dating back to 2002 were also available on the Australian Doctor website .
Grant Recipient
RCPA
Aims and Objectives
to produce a series of articles on areas that are topical or known to be problematic when it comes to diagnosis and management by GPs
to provide practical, relevant information about appropriate pathology ordering for GPs.
These aims and objectives were achieved by this project.
Outcomes
NUMBER
EDITION
ARTICLE
AUTHOR/S
1
29 October 2010
Tired All the Time
Dr Steve Flecknoe-Brown
2
18 February 2011
Genetic Investigation of Children
Dr Sui Yu & Dr Nicola Poplawski
3
1 April 2011
Vitamin D
Dr Margaret Janu
4
3 June 2011
Coeliac Disease
Dr David Gillis
Findings
Australian Doctors’ own research has shown that clinical information is the most popular area of the publication with research suggesting over 85% of all GPs are reading sections entirely focused on clinical topics.
Reed Publishing advised they believe CSP served as a useful adjunct to the promotion of appropriate ordering, interpretation and follow-up of pathology testing by Australian GPs.
