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

Jun 08 2012

Antibiotic drops for conjunctivitis in children

Rose PW, Harnden A, Brueggemann AB, et al. Lancet 2005; 366(9479): 37-43
The majority of children are cured by day 7 regardless of treatment.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1577

Apr 13 2012

Is vitamin C effective in treating the common cold?

Hemilä H, Chalker E, Douglas B. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD000980.
Oral vitamin C is not an effective treatment for the common cold in the general community.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1573

Dec 09 2011

How can we treat hangovers?

Pittler MH, Verster JC, Ernst E. BMJ 2005; 331: 1515
There is no convincing evidence of the effectiveness of any hangover treatments.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1569

Nov 30 2011

GP Synergy EBM Online Course

The GP Synergy Evidence-Based Medicine and Critical Appraisal Online Course for GP registrars is completed!

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1552

Oct 24 2011

Is cryotherapy the best treatment for common warts?

Bruggink SC, et al. CMAJ 2010; 182(15): 1624-30
LN2 cryotherapy is likely more effective than topical salicyclic acid for the treatment of common warts in primary care.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1563

Sep 11 2011

GPET Convention workshop: EBM journal clubs

I ran a workshop on Thursday 8 September 2011, at the GPET 2011 Convention on Evidence-based journal clubs for professional development. The presentation can be viewed online (through prezi.com). A warm thank you to Dr Sjoerd Bruggink for allowing me to use his study published in 2010 for a critical appraisal group exercise.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1481

Aug 19 2011

Can cranberry prevent UTIs?

Barbosa-Cesnik C, et al. Cranberry juice fails to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection: results from a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2011; 52(1): 23-30
Cranberry juice is unlikely to be an effective prophylactic for recurrent urinary tract infections in young women.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1557

Jun 22 2011

Dabigatran versus warfarin for atrial fibrillation

Connolly SJ, et al. Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2009; 361:1139-1151
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is non-inferior to warfarin for the prevention of strokes or systemic embolism, in non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1443

Apr 27 2011

Zinc for the common cold

Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD001364
Zinc administered within 24 hours of the symptoms of a common cold is associated with favourable outcomes but with some side-effects.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1393

Apr 06 2011

Deaths after chiropractic upper cervical spine manipulation

Ernst E. Deaths after chiropractic: a review of published cases. Int J Clin Pract, July 2010; 64(8): 1162-5
Chiropractic, specifically, high-velocity, short-lever thrusts of the upper spine with rotation is associated with numerous deaths.

Permanent link to this article: https://evidencebasedmedicine.com.au/?p=1312

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