Get your CPD fix online

With the November CPD reporting deadline looming, we’ve compiled a few suggestions to accrue a some hours at home

If you’re a bit behind on your CPD hours, then the following articles may be of interest.

Follow the links and review the contents. Please note that allocated CPD hours are just a recommendation, you may self-record the actual time spent on these articles as part of your CPD.

Vaccination after-effects

“Safety and immunogenicity of seven COVID-19 vaccines as a third dose (booster) following two doses of ChAdOx1 nCov19 or BNT162b2 in the UK (COV-BOOST): a blinded, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial .”

This project reviewed the impact of a third dose of 7 COVID-19 vaccines after the initial 2 doses of Astra-Zeneca and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines.

All study vaccines boosted antibody and neutralising responses after AstraZeneca initial course and all except one after Pfizer, with no safety concerns.

• Published online: December 2, 2021 (The Lancet)

• Authors: Alasdair P S Munro, Leila Janani, Victoria Cornelius et al

• CPD hours: 0.5 (Scientific)

Reduce risks of alcohol

Revision of the Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol.

The Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol were released in 2020 by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Based on the latest evidence, the guidelines provide advice on how to keep the risk of harm from alcohol low. They refer to an Australian standard drink (10 g ethanol).

The recommended limit for healthy adults changed from two standard drinks per day (effectively 14 per week) to ten per week. The new guideline states that the less you drink, the lower your risk of harm from alcohol. The recommended maximum on any one day remains four drinks (clarified from previously “per drinking occasion”). Guidance is clearer for pregnancy and breastfeeding; and for people aged less than 18 years, recommending not drinking.

• Authors: Katherine M Conigrave, Robert L Ali, Rebecca Armstrong, et al.

• CPD hours: 0.5 (Scientific)

Pregnancy and diabetes care

Pre-pregnancy planning and care for women with diabetes is an online course for health professionals developed as part of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).

Three e-learning modules cover key aspects of planning and preparing for pregnancy for women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Four non-assessed case studies have been incorporated into the modules to assist learners with applying the content to their practice.

The course is free to complete and takes approximately two hours. A certificate is provided upon completion of the modules and course evaluation. Health professional CPD points are available for this e-learning activity.

• CPD hours: 2.0 (Scientific)

Gum disease

“Time to take gum disease seriously: The societal and economic impact of periodontitis”

This report describes the methods and main findings from The Economist Intelligence Unit’s research which assesses the evidence linking improved periodontal health to better overall health outcomes and showcases the economic and societal implications associated with periodontal health across six European countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. These countries were selected for their geographic, demographic, epidemiologic and socioeconomic comparability.

• Published: The Economist - Intelligence Unit 2021

• CPD hours: 1.0 (Non-scientific)

The perils of vaping (2 parts)

Two articles to be read together.

Course 1 Chemical analysis of fresh and aged Australian e-cigarette liquids Med J Aust 2022; 216 (1): 27-32. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51280

To assess the chemical composition of electronic cigarette liquids (e-liquids) sold in Australia, in both their fresh and aged forms. The measured levels of propylene glycol and glycerol often diverged from those recorded on the e-liquid label. All e-liquids contained one or more potentially harmful chemicals, including benzaldehyde, menthol, trans-cinnamaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Nicotine or nicotyrine were detected in a small proportion of e-liquids at extremely low concentrations.

Course 2 E-liquids and vaping devices: public policy regarding their effects on young people and health Med J Aust 2022; 216 (1): 23-24. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51362

Knowledge about the composition and physiological effects of e-liquids is essential for assessing their effects on health.

• CPD hours: 0.5 (Scientific) – both articles together

Behavioural and social

Consensus Statement on Future Directions for the Behavioural and Social Sciences in Oral Health

The behavioural and social sciences are central to understanding and addressing oral and craniofacial health, diseases, and conditions. With both basic and applied approaches, behavioural and social sciences are relevant to every discipline in dentistry and all dental, oral, and craniofacial sciences, as well as oral health promotion programs and health care delivery.

The statement reflects the current state of knowledge in the behavioural and social oral health sciences and identifies future directions for the field.

Focusing on 4 key areas: behavioural and social theories and mechanisms related to oral health; use of multiple and novel methodologies in social and behavioural research and practice related to oral health; development and testing of behavioural and social interventions to promote oral health; and dissemination and implementation research for oral health.

• CPD hours: 0.25 (Scientific)

Vitamin efficiency

The safety of commonly used vitamins and minerals – Aust Prescr 2021;44:11923 2 August 2021

Like all medicines, supplements can cause potential harms such as adverse reactions, drug interactions, monetary cost, delay of more effective therapy, false hope, and increased medication burden. Consumers are at risk of overdose when the same ingredient is present in multiple products.

Health professionals can assist consumers by discussing the potential benefits and harms of vitamins and minerals and assisting them to find authoritative information.

• CPD hours: 0.5 (Scientific)