For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
The unmistakable whiff of Italy’s happy smokers: What’s the story?
+Opinion
The unmistakable whiff of Italy’s happy smokers: What’s the story?
Friday 25 August 2023, 03:07 PM

Northern Italy vista [Image: Shane Dunphy]
The acrid smell of cigarettes is ever-present when dining al fresco in Italy, writes Shane Dunphy. Dr Dunphy checks out some comparisons with New Zealand’s smoking rates and ponders the possible public health conclusions
Maybe the olive oil/Mediterranean diet mitigates against the higher rates of smoking in Italy?
I am fortunate to have spent the past four weeks in
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
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