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 19 2016

Aspirin as DVT prophylaxis for high risk long-haul travellers

Cesarone MR, et al. Angiology 2002 Jan-Feb;53(1):1-6.
It is unclear whether aspirin is effective as DVT prophylaxis for high risk long-haul travellers. The lack of evidence should preclude it from being recommended.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1687

Oct 30 2015

Starting allopurinol in acute gout

Hill et al. J Clin Rheumatol 2015;21(3):120-5.
It is unclear what effect starting allopurinol in acute has on symptoms, due to the lack of good evidence. It may be preferable to avoid starting allopurinol in an acute attack, but this should not be a dogmatic stance.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1683

Sep 04 2015

Corticosteroid injections for tennis elbow

Olaussen et al. BMJ Open 2013;3(10):e003564
Corticosteroid injections should generally be avoided for tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1677

Jul 10 2015

Pelargonium sidoides extract (Kaloba (R)) for the common cold

Timmer et al. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 10. Art. No .: CD006323.
There exists only very-low quality evidence of the effect of Pelargonium sidoides extract on the common cold.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1669

May 15 2015

Paracetamol for acute low-back pain

Williams et al. Lancet 2014;384(9954):1586-96.
Paracetamol does not have an effect on time to recovery for acute low-back pain in the general practice setting.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1664

Mar 13 2015

Yoghurt to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children

Fox MJ, et al. BMJ Open 2015;5(1): e006474
Probiotic yoghurt appears to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in children receiving antibiotics in general practice settings.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1658

Nov 07 2014

St John’s wort for minor depression

Rapaport MH, et al. Journal of Psychiatric Research 2011; 45(7): 931-941
St John’s wort is probably ineffective for minor depression.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1654

Sep 05 2014

Does caffeine help with migraines?

Derry et al. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev 2012, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD009281
Oral caffeine as a single dose may have a modest effect on acute pain when used as an adjuvant to oral analgesia.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1646

Jul 11 2014

Echinacea and the common cold in children

Taylor JA, et al. JAMA 2003; 290(21): 2824-30
Echinacea does not appear to be an effective treatment for the common cold in children.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1638

May 16 2014

Newer oral contraceptives and risk of venous thrombosis

de Bastos M, et al. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev 2014, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD010813
cOCPs containing drospirenone as compared to levonorgestrel are associated with twice the risk of venous thrombosis.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1615

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