This article {extract} was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Vol 29 No 1 March 2005 and may be downloaded as a full version PDF from the Table of contents page.
Results, continued
Other communicable disease surveillance, continued
Australian Sentinel Practice Research Network
The Research and Health Promotion Unit of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners operates the Australian Sentinel Practice Research Network (ASPREN). ASPREN is a national network of general practitioners who report each week on a number of conditions selected annually. The data provide an indicator of the burden of disease in the primary care setting and allows trends in consultation rates to be detected.
In 2002, influenza-like illnesses, acute cough (with chest and systemic signs or with chest signs only or with systemic signs only or without signs) and gastroenteritis were the clinical conditions related to communicable diseases, which were reported to ASPREN. Approximately 66 general practitioners from all states and territories participated in the scheme. Seventy-five per cent of these were located in metropolitan areas and the remainder in rural areas. Each week, on average 51 general practitioner practices (with an average capacity of 5,674 consultations per week) reported to the scheme.
Acute cough, without chest or systemic signs, was the most reported condition with a mean weekly consultation rate of 17 cases per 1,000 consultations. Consultation rates for influenza-like illnesses and acute cough reached their peak in mid-July to mid-August (Figures 65 and 66). During this peak period consultation rates per week were 17 cases per 1,000 consultations for influenza-like illnesses, and 27 cases per 1,000 consultations for acute cough without chest or systemic signs. Consultation rates per week for the other categories of acute cough were 13 cases per 1,000 consultations for acute cough with chest signs and eight cases per 1,000 consultation for both acute cough with systemic signs and acute cough with chest and systemic signs. For gastroenteritis consultation rate peaked in December at 14 cases per 1,000 consultation per week (Figure 67).
Figure 65. Consultation rates for influenza-like illness, ASPREN 2002, by week of report
Figure 66. Consultation rates for acute cough, ASPREN, 2002, by week of report
Figure 67. Consultation rates for gastroenteritis, ASPREN, 2002, by week of report
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