Michael Tam

Dr Michael Tam is a clinical academic Specialist General Practitioner, combining the provision of family medicine, research, health services development, and governance. Michael’s clinical interest is in the whole-person primary care of people living with mental illness. He is actively involved in mental health policy, strategy, and governance, with local, state, and national bodies. Michael’s research is in integrated care and preventive care in general practice. He has expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Most commented posts

  1. Incidence and progression of thyroid dysfunction in elderly — 2 comments
  2. Glucosamine and/or chondroitin for osteoarthritis — 2 comments
  3. N95 respirators vs surgical masks to prevent transmission of respiratory tract infections to staff in primary care — 1 comment
  4. Zinc for the common cold — 1 comment
  5. Daily aspirin on long-term risk of death due to cancer — 1 comment

Author's posts

Feb 22 2018

Do oral sweets reduce injection pain in children?

Harrison et al. Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2015 May 5(5):CD008408
The effect of oral sweets on injection pain in children is unclear. Much of the data were from small studies with conflicting results. There is better evidence for other approaches (e.g., distraction).

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1733

Nov 06 2017

Baclofen as treatment for alcohol use disorders

Garbutt et al. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2010 Nov;34(11):1849-57
Baclofen cannot be recommended as a routine treatment for alcohol use disorders. The quality of the evidence is low overall.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1728

Aug 31 2017

Do vitamin D supplements reduce falls in older people living in the community?

Bolland et al. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2014 Jul;2(7):573-80
The beneficial effect of vitamin D on falls in otherwise well community-dwelling people is likely to be small, if it exists at all. Its routine preventive use cannot be justified on the evidence.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1724

Jul 03 2017

Should PPIs be routinely co-prescribed with long-term NSAIDs?

Rostom et al. Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2002(4):CD002296.
Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) protect against the development of ulcers seen on endoscopy, in patients taking longer-term NSAIDs. Little data exists on clinical outcomes.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1719

Jun 09 2017

NSAIDs as treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections

Gagyor et al. BMJ 2015 Dec 23;351:h6544.
NSAIDs should not be recommended as a first line treatment for uncomplicated UTIs in women. Compared to empirical antibiotics, women experienced a significantly greater burden of UTI symptoms.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1712

Mar 01 2017

Duct tape to treat cutaneous warts

Kwok CS, et al. Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2012 Sep 12(9):CD001781
Duct tape should not be routinely recommended as wart therapy. There is no compelling evidence that duct tape is more effective than placebo.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1707

Dec 05 2016

Milk thistle for chronic hepatitis B

Rambaldi et al. Cochrane database Syst Rev 2007 Oct 17(4):CD003620
Milk thistle products cannot be recommended for chronic hepatitis B. Only limited research evidence of unclear/poor quality exists.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1703

Oct 10 2016

Sterile water injections for acute low back pain

Cui JZ, et al. Braz J Med Biol Res 2016 Mar;49(3)
Sterile water injections are of uncertain value in acute low back pain. It may have a role in patients who consent after being informed to its uncertain value.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1700

Aug 08 2016

Does co-enzyme Q10 reduce statin-related muscle pain?

Banach et al. Mayo Clin Proc 2015 Jan;90(1):24-34.
The effect of CoQ10 on muscle pain in people on statin therapy is uncertain with the evidence limited and inconsistent. CoQ10 cannot be recommended as a matter of routine supplementation to prevent muscle pain in people taking statins.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1696

Jun 14 2016

Metformin as prevention in people taking antipsychotic medication

Zheng et al. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2015 Oct;35(5):499-509.
The effect of metformin on cardiovascular disease in people living without diabetes on long-term antipsychotic medication is unknown.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1693

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