Core Knowledge and Fundamentals Flashcards

Which immunisation schedule component is most likely to be missed in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children compared to urban children?

Answer: Catch-up doses of vaccines due to irregular healthcare access and higher rates of mobility

Geographic isolation, family mobility, and socioeconomic factors mean catch-up doses are the most commonly missed vaccinations in remote Indigenous children, requiring active recall and opportunistic immunisation.

A rural GP suspects alcohol-related liver disease in a patient. Which single blood test is most sensitive for detecting recent heavy alcohol use?

Answer: GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase)

GGT is the most sensitive single marker for recent heavy alcohol use, rising within days of significant intake and normalising with abstinence over weeks.

When using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in a rural emergency, which application has the strongest evidence base for improving patient outcomes?

Answer: FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma) examination in trauma patients

The FAST examination has the strongest evidence base in emergency settings, rapidly identifying free intraperitoneal and pericardial fluid in trauma patients to guide resuscitation decisions.

In rural practice, what is the most important consideration when prescribing Schedule 8 (controlled) medications via telehealth?

Answer: State-based regulatory requirements and the need to verify patient identity and clinical appropriateness

Each Australian state and territory has specific regulatory requirements for S8 prescribing via telehealth, including identity verification, authority requirements, and limits on quantities dispensed remotely.

Which model of care is most appropriate for managing a stable patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in a remote community with no resident endocrinologist?

Answer: GP-led chronic disease management with telehealth specialist support and structured care plans

GP-led management supported by telehealth endocrinology, structured care plans (including GPMPs and TCAs), and allied health engagement represents best practice for chronic disease in remote settings.

What is the primary mechanism by which activated charcoal reduces absorption of a toxic ingestion?

Answer: It adsorbs the toxin onto its large surface area, preventing gastrointestinal absorption

Activated charcoal has a large surface area that adsorbs many toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing their systemic absorption; it does not neutralise, induce emesis, or accelerate gastric emptying.

Which risk factor most significantly increases the likelihood of suicide completion (versus attempt) in rural Australian males?

Answer: Access to and use of highly lethal means such as firearms

Access to lethal means—especially firearms, which are more prevalent in rural areas—is the single most significant factor increasing the case fatality ratio of suicide attempts in rural Australian men.