Identification and surgical management of acute severe ulcerative colitis: A guide for general practitioners.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 25% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) develop acute severe UC (ASUC), necessitating urgent care. General practitioners (GPs), whether based in rural or urban settings, are instrumental in detecting early warning signs, expediting emergency interventions, coordinating with medical teams, educating patients and overseeing outpatient care. This involvement ensures timely, appropriate surgical responses, especially if complications arise or medical treatments prove ineffective. OBJECTIVE: This review provides GPs with an understanding of ASUC evaluation and risk assessment, emphasising surgical management and complementing existing medical methods. The objective is to equip GPs, whether in rural or urban environments, with the knowledge and confidence to play an integral role in the treatment team. DISCUSSION: Identifying and diagnosing ASUC is crucial for timely emergency care. Moreover, effective ASUC management demands appropriate preoperative work-up. GPs should be adept at monitoring treatment efficacy and guiding patients through surgical aftercare. Thus, GPs should be well versed in diagnostic criteria and surgical approaches for ASUC, as well as their important role within a multidisciplinary team.

Suicide, mental, and physical health condition stigma in medical students.

The current study aimed to compare the personal stigma of suicide with the personal stigma for other mental and physical health conditions. 116 Australian medical students (58% women), aged between 20 and 41 years (M = 25.02, SD = 3.80), completed an online survey. Suicide was more highly stigmatized than most of the other mental and physical health conditions in both attitudes toward suicide and willingness to disclose. The current study highlights the need for further medical student education in suicide, as ongoing negative attitudes could negatively affect patient care and disclosure.

Predictors of Comfort and Confidence Among Medical Students in Providing Care to Patients at Risk of Suicide.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with comfort and confidence in providing care to patients at risk of suicide, in a sample of Australian medical students. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was completed by 116 current medical students (42 % male) aged between 20 and 41 years (M = 25, SD = 3.8). RESULTS: Greater personal experience of suicide and previous contact with patients with psychiatric problems were significantly associated with both increased perceived comfort and increased confidence in providing care for individuals with suicidal thoughts or behaviors, based on self-report. However, these effects may not reflect objective measures of competency and additional research is needed to assess generalizability of the findings due to the sampling method. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing medical student contact with patients at risk of suicide through the implementation of psychiatry placements, gateway programs, and early year exposure to patients with psychiatric problems may increase perceived confidence and comfort in providing care to individuals at risk of suicide. Further research should evaluate the impact of such programs on behavioral indices of clinical competency.