Table of contents

  • Preliminary material 
    • Title and verso pages
    • Foreword
    • Acknowledgments
    • List of tables
    • List of figures
    • Executive summary
  • Sections
    1. Introduction
      • Aims
      • Geographical classification
        • RRMA
        • ARIA and ASGC Remoteness Structure
      • MBS claims and full-time workload equivalents
    2. Methods
      • Sampling frame
      • Recruitment methods
      • Data elements
      • Applying RRMA and ASGC Remoteness Structure to the BEACH sample
      • The BEACH relational database
      • Statistical methods
      • Classification of data
        • Classification of pharmaceuticals
      • Quality assurance
      • Validity and reliability
    3. The sample
      • GP sample size
      • The BEACH data set
        • RRMA versus ASGC Remoteness concordance
        • BEACH versus MBS claims
    4. The participating GPs 
      • Characteristics of the GPs
      • GP computer use in the practice
    5. The encounters
      • Types of encounter
      • Distribution of Medicare-claimable encounters
      • Summary of morbidity and management
    6. The patients
      • Patient characteristics
        • Number of RFEs at encounter
        • Reasons for encounter by ICPC-2 component
        • Reasons for encounter by ICPC-2 chapter and common individual RFEs
    7. Problems managed 
      • Number of problems managed at the encounter
      • Nature of morbidity
        • Types of problems managed
        • Problems managed by ICPC-2 chapter
        • Most frequently managed problems
        • Most frequently managed new problems
        • National Health Priority Areas
    8. Treatments
      • Medications
        • Types of medications prescribed or supplied
      • Other treatments
        • Clinical treatments
        • Procedures
    9. Referrals
      • Referral rates
    10. Tests and investigations 
      • Rates of tests and investigations
      • Distribution of pathology orders across MBS pathology groups
      • Distribution of imaging tests across MBS groups
    11. Summary of results 
      • RRMA
      • ASGC Remoteness
    12. Discussion
      • RRMA versus ASGC
      • GP visit rates per head of population
      • National Health Priority Areas
      • Methodological issues
    13. Conclusion
  • End matter
    • Reference list 
    • Glossary
    • Abbreviations
    • Appendices
      • Appendix 1: Example of a 2003-04 recording form1
      • Appendix 2: GP characteristics questionnaire for 2003-04 
      • Appendix 3: Code groups from ICPC-2 and ICPC-2 PLUS
      • Appendix 4: Chronic code groups from ICPC-2 and ICPC-2 PLUS