As busy GPs with 10-15 minute consultations it is essential to bookmark commonly used screening tools, not only does it save you time but it demonstrates your organisational skills to the patient. In the RACGP’s red book (Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice) there are many screening tools, scales and questionnaires that are used often in both prevention and review of medical conditions. I found that when I started to work as a new GP having shortcuts on my internet browser allowed my consultations to run in a slick manner and I was able to show patients what their scores were visually.
Below I have listed free to access screening tools and questionnaires that can be used for patient assessments. Please note that some practices/ states use different tools as part of their guidelines so first check your local policies.
Frequently used calculators
MDCALC (one stop shop for all the risk assessment scores!): MDCalc - Medical calculators, equations, scores, and guidelines. Note that this is also available as an app on the phone.
Preventative activities lifechart from the RACGP red book (adult and child): 17048-Red-Book-9th-Edition.pdf (racgp.org.au)
Family history screening questionnaire from the RACGP red book: Appendix-2A-Family-history-screening-questionnaire.pdf (racgp.org.au)
Diabetes risk assessment tool (AUDRISK): Diabetes risk assessment tool | Australian Government Department of Health
Australian absolute cardiovascular disease risk calculator: Australian absolute cardiovascular disease risk calculator - National Vascular Disease Prevention Alliance (cvdcheck.org.au)
Australian cardiovascular risk chart: Absolute-CVD-Risk-Quick-Reference-Guide_2018.pdf (heartfoundation.org.au)
Mental health and neurology
Depression anxiety stress scale (DASS 21): DASS 21 with scoring information (workcover.wa.gov.au)
Kessler psychological distress scale (K10): The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) (worksafe.qld.gov.au)
The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale: edinburgh-postnatal-depression-scale.pdf (blackdoginstitute.org.au)
Standardized mini-mental state examination: Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) | IHPA
General practitioner assessment of cognition (GPCOG): http://gpcog.com.au/
Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS)- where English is not first language: https://www.dementia.org.au/resources/rowland-universal-dementia-assessment-scale-rudas
Dementia outcome and measurement suite (including specific assessment tools for cognition, behaviour, function, staging, delirium and quality of life): DOMS - DCRC (dementiaresearch.org.au)
Alcohol withdrawal assessment scale: https://umem.org/files/uploads/1104212257_CIWA-Ar.pdf
Other useful scales
Breast cancer risk assessment tool (iPrevent): iPrevent | Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Western Ontario and McMaster osteoarthritis index (WOMAC): MR1433.pdf (yrmc.org)
Knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS): Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (worksafe.qld.gov.au)
Hip dysfunction and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS): Microsoft Word - HOOSEng[1].doc (koos.nu)
FRAX tool (evaluation of fracture risk): https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/
The 3 incontinence questions: Appendix-13A.pdf.aspx (racgp.org.au)
Health literacy and plain language communication
Over the last few years, the importance of using plain language to communicate with patients has featured prominently in all aspects of healthcare. By communicating without using medical jargon and asking for a summary of their understanding you can ensure that they have understood the information.
There is now a shift to include plain language summaries to healthcare documentation for example the RACGP’s guideline for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis includes a plain language summary.
Often it can be difficult to assess the health literacy of patients in a single consultation however it is possible to formally document this using tools from the Health Literacy Toolshed if assessing a patient’s understanding forms an integral aspect of their ongoing care. There are multiple tools in various languages which can be completed with a practice nurse and this can act as a guide to the level of healthcare input patients require. The website with the health literacy measures can be found on: Health Literacy Tool Shed (bu.edu).
Summary
Over time you may find links to useful tools and you can bookmark them for later use and ultimately this will help you to save time searching for tools. I also have found that patients perceive you to be more organized when you have everything organized in this way and I have had many comments about this during consultations.
If you have any other useful resources to add to this list please email us at doctorology.podcast@gmail.com.
Link to the RACGP’s preventative activities in general practice (red book): 17048-Red-Book-9th-Edition.pdf (racgp.org.au)
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