Family doctors were told at the ICGP meeting of a new system which could help patients to be more involved in the consultation through the use of new computer technology.
The new Prodigy programme has been developed by researchers at Newcastle University Medical School. It allows doctors to call up information and advice which is tailored to the patient's medical history.
By using a "shared advice" computer screen, the patient is involved in decision-making on an equal basis with the doctor.
Dr David Finnegan demonstrated the programme and said it "empowers the patient within the doctor-patient interaction".
The programme contains an option to print information leaflets which are personalised for the patient and which have been shown to maximise the effectiveness of the consultation.
Prodigy is supported by the British Department of Health, where it has helped to develop quality assurance initiatives in primary care.
Doctors at the conference expressed strong interest in the new system. While it would be theoretically possible to introduce it here, there are no plans to do so.
A session on continuing medical education for family doctors was told that 68 per cent of GPs participated in a national small group learning programme.
Dr Pat Durcan, a tutor with the national continuing medical education programme, described the results of a study of its effectiveness. GPs reported definite educational benefits through experience-based learning. The scheme has also improved practice by influencing clinical decision-making.
GPs have also benefited from a distance learning programme run by the Postgraduate Resource Centre of the ICGP.
Dr Margaret O'Riordan and Dr Eibhlis O'Leary said the scheme improved rational prescribing by doctors and quality of care for patients.
Dr Martin Daly, a Galway GP, told the conference that a new system for managing blood-thinning treatment had considerable benefits.
Drugs such as warfarin are used in patients with rhythm disturbances of the heart and after heart valve replacement. The new technology means patients will no longer have to travel to hospital to have their treatment monitored. It will enable essential dose changes to be made following a speedy blood test in the GP's surgery.
Dr Daly said there could be significant cost benefits but he warned it had resource implications for primary care which must be addressed.