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 latest issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal is out tomorrow
The latest issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal is out tomorrow

Editorial
Is melanoma treatment failing national standards?
Jeremy Simcock
Articles
Assessment of training capacity in New Zealand general practices: a stocktake in the lower North Island and South Island
Samantha A Murton, Susan RH Pullon
Qualitative study: the experience and impact of living with Behcet’s syndrome
Vicky Tai, Karen Lindsay, Joanne Sims, Fiona McQueen
New Zealand women have suboptimal intakes of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy—a cross sectional study
Michele Eickstaedt, Kathryn L Beck, Cathryn A Conlon
Family planning unmet need and access among iTaukei women in New Zealand and Fiji
Radilaite Cammock, Peter Herbison, Sarah Lovell, Patricia Priest
Cutaneous melanoma: an audit of management timeliness against New Zealand guidelines
Tess Brian, Brandon Adams, Michael Jameson
Assessment and modelling of general practice and community setting capacity for medical trainees in northern New Zealand
Felicity Goodyear-Smith, Abbas Al-Murrani
Seasonal influenza and vaccination strategies—is a paradigm shift needed? A synopsis of the 3rd New Zealand Influenza Symposium, November 2016
Nadia A Charania, Diana Murfitt, Nikki Turner
Stimulating the clinical academics of tomorrow: a survey of research opportunities for medical students in New Zealand
Ibrahim S Al-Busaidi, Cameron Wells
Viewpoint
Local and regional smokefree and tobacco-free action in New Zealand: highlights and directions
George Thomson, Nick Wilson