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. Health Check: can you treat the common cold? — 6 comments
  2. Monday’s medical myth: take an aspirin a day after you turn 50 — 3 comments
  3. Quoted in ABC Life article, “Knowing when you should call into work sick with a cold or flu” — 3 comments
  4. Monday’s medical myth: cranberry juice prevents bladder infections — 2 comments
  5. Health Check: should we aim for daily bowel movements? — 2 comments

Author's posts

Aug 14 2020

A qualitative study of clinicians and patients exploring how alcohol brief interventions can be better embedded in routine general practice

This poster was presented at the AAAPC Annual Research Conference 2020, held online on 14-15 August 2020. [Abstract (PDF) : Poster (PNG)] Gunatillaka N, Russell G, Nielsen S, O’Donnell R, Lam T, Skouteris H, Ball L, Barton C, Jacka D, Tam M, Mazza D, Rowe C, Wells N, Sturgiss L. A qualitative study of clinicians and patients …

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Mar 24 2020

Quotation in “Advice for talking to your chill parents about coronavirus”

I was quoted in this article about communicating with older people who may not appreciate the seriousness of COVID-19, was published today by health journalist Kellie Scott at ABC Life. [Link :: PDF]  

Mar 20 2020

Quotation in “Scott Morrison’s COVID-19 adviser reveals travel bans and social distancing could remain until at least October”

I was interviewed by Sue Dunlevy, National Health Reporter, News Corp Australia Network, for this article, originally published in The Daily Telegraph, but also in News Corp’s regional newspapers. [URL :: PDF]

Feb 27 2020

N95 respirators vs surgical masks to prevent transmission of respiratory tract infections to staff in primary care

A version of this article was published in the on the AusDoc.Plus online platform in the Clinical Focus Examining the Evidence section under the title, “Do N95 respirators reduce infection risk compared to surgical masks?” on 27 February 2020. [PDF pre-print] Tam M. Do N95 respirators reduce infection risk compared to surgical masks? AusDoc.Plus. 2020 …

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Dec 20 2019

Creating a successful health pathway to support the integration of patient care

This paper on the South Western Sydney HealthPathways project was published in the Journal of Integrated Care. [PDF] Chow JSF, Gonzalez-Arce VE, Tam CWM, Warner K, Maurya N, McDougall A. Creating a successful health pathway to support the integration of patient care. J Integr Care. 2019;28(2):171-82.

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Dec 09 2019

Reality check: inert placebo use rare in Australian general practice

Our rapid response article on the frequency of use of inert placebos in general practice was published in MJA InSight Plus. (PDF) Tam M, Price K. Reality check: inert placebo use rare in Australian general practice. MJA InSight Plus. 9 December 2019; 48.