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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
