This article was published in Medical Observer.
The article is also available on the Medical Observer website (may need registration) under the title, “What’s the evidence for metformin in the absence of diabetes?”.
May 26 2016
Metformin as prevention in people taking antipsychotic medication
May 11 2016
Quotation in “Does a diet full of vitamin C really prevent you from catching a cold?”
Dr Michael Tam was interviewed and quoted by Stuart Marsh, a health journalist publishing an article in ninemsn Coach. (PDF)
May 10 2016
Patients’ acceptance of SNAP assessment: An exploration
This paper looking at the variation in patient acceptance of SNAP risk factor enquiry by GPs was published in Australian Family Physician (PDF)
Tam CWM, Zwar N, Hespe C. Patients’ acceptance of SNAP assessment: An exploration. Australian family physician 2016 5/01;45:340-1.
Full results from extended analysis here: https://vitualis.com/?page_id=1148
May 08 2016
Quotation in “Using folk remedies to feel better will leave you cold”
Dr Michael Tam was interviewed and quoted in an article written by journalist Jane Hansen, published in the Sunday Telegraph.
“THEY are the first things we reach for when the winter sniffles arrive but experts say popular supplements such as vitamin C and echinacea are really just a waste of money.
Dr Michael Tam, a general practitioner and senior lecturer at the University of NSW, said most popular natural cold and flu supplements simply don’t work.
“They appear to be no better than placebo,” he said. “In the general community there is no evidence vitamin C makes any difference in terms of length or severity of a cold.”
Another popular herbal remedy, echinacea, which is a member of the daisy family, has also failed to prove its effectiveness as a preventative.
One supplement that has shown promise is zinc, Dr Tam said. “There is some evidence it can reduce some symptoms but you need high doses and it tastes bad and can make you sick, ” he said.
Garlic has shown some promise but only one study has been done by the company which is selling the garlic supplement, Dr Tam said.”
Mar 02 2016
Ethical considerations in recruiting primary care patients to research studies
This paper on the ethics of recruiting primary care patients into research was published in Australian Family Physician. (PDF)
Barton C, Tam CWM, Abbott P, Liaw S. Ethical considerations in recruiting primary care patients to research studies. Australian family physician 2016;45:144-8.
Feb 22 2016
Treating depression in general practice: the role of medication (short film)
This short film was produced by the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales as part of the Medication and mental illness: perspectives paper.