FREE WEBINAR SERIES
Chronic Breathlessness in General Practice: A Multisystem Approach to Undifferentiated Dyspnoea
Earn up to 15 CPD hours across 2 integrated activities inc. 10 hours Measuring Outcomes (MO) and 2 hours Reviewing Performance (RP). Register for one to gain access to both webinars.
Moving beyond the cardiac-versus-respiratory binary to navigate diagnostic ambiguity using the "oxygen pathway".
Developed in partnership with St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Webinars in this series
Register for one webinar to gain access to both.
About this education
Chronic breathlessness is a common yet complex presentation in general practice, often leaving clinicians without a clear diagnostic algorithm to follow. Patients frequently undergo fragmented investigations that yield "normal" results despite persistent symptoms, leading to significant distress and a lack of clinical validation. On a systemic level, these diagnostic delays contribute to extended wait times for specialist review—sometimes up to a year—during which patients may remain untreated and functionally impaired.
There is a critical clinical need to move beyond the binary "cardiac versus respiratory" mindset. Current gaps in practice include uncertainty regarding when to escalate from basic spirometry to full lung function testing and how to select the most appropriate imaging modalities, such as low-dose CT versus HRCT.
This two-part webinar series addresses these challenges by introducing a practical, multisystem framework based on the physiological "oxygen pathway". Led by Respiratory Physician Dr Paul Hamor and Radiologist Dr Dean Rabinowitz, this education empowers healthcare professionals to:
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Navigate diagnostic ambiguity: Apply a structured approach to history-taking that captures overlooked causes like deconditioning, dysfunctional breathing, and anaemia.
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Optimise investigation pathways: Understand precisely which tests to order and when, reducing "double waiting periods" and radiation exposure.
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Manage complexity: Develop management plans for multi-morbid patients where breathlessness is the result of accumulated minor deficits rather than a single disease.
By attending, clinicians will gain the skills to diagnose earlier, validate patient symptoms, and manage chronic dyspnoea effectively within primary care.
Tuesday 17 February 2026, 7:30-9:00pm AEDT
Description:
Chronic breathlessness is a frequent presentation in general practice, yet the underlying cause is often difficult to diagnose because symptoms can arise from multiple physiological systems. This complexity often leads to fragmented investigations and diagnostic delays.
Join GP Dr Anita Munoz, Respiratory Physician Dr Paul Hamor, and Radiologist Dr Dean Rabinowitz for a practical guide to assessing undifferentiated dyspnoea. This webinar introduces the "oxygen pathway"—a multisystem framework used to systematically assess airflow, gas exchange, cardiac pump function, and skeletal muscle utilisation.
Grounded in real-world case studies—including persistent dyspnoea with normal initial tests—this session equips you with a structured approach to avoid "double waiting periods" and escalate care effectively.
Be sure to bring your burning questions for the live Q&A!
✔️ Register for this webinar to automatically gain access to both webinars in the series.
Learning outcomes:
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Outline a practical, multisystem framework for assessing chronic breathlessness.
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Develop a structured approach to history-taking and examination that guides first-line investigations.
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Select appropriate early investigations, including imaging, and understand what each modality can and cannot tell you.
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Describe what comprehensive lung function testing adds beyond basic spirometry.
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Formulate a referral plan for patients requiring respiratory, cardiac, or multidisciplinary assessment.
Steering committee:
Dr Anita Muñoz
General Practitioner & Medical Educator
Dr Paul Hamor
Respiratory Physician
Dr Dean Rabinowitz
Radiologist
Tuesday 10 March 2026, 7:30-9:00pm AEDT
Description:
The persistently breathless patient with unremarkable first line investigations presents a clinical challenge. Without a clear framework to approach this situation, these patients often face a fragmented and frustrating healthcare journey.
In this session—the second webinar in a two-part series—GP Dr Anita Munoz, Respiratory Physician Dr Paul Hamor, and Radiologist Dr Dean Rabinowitz address the diagnostic difficulties at the complex end of the clinical spectrum. We will explore advanced differential diagnoses as well as practical investigation pathways designed for settings where specialist access may be delayed or limited.
✔️ Register for this webinar to automatically gain access to both webinars in the series.
Learning outcomes:
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Outline key differential diagnoses for patients with chronic dyspnoea and normal first-line investigations.
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Formulate an investigation strategy for undifferentiated chronic dyspnoea, including practical approaches in settings with limited specialist access.
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Apply these principles to complex multi-morbid clinical scenarios.
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Develop a management plan and identify when further specialist referral is warranted.
Steering committee:
Dr Anita Muñoz
General Practitioner & Medical Educator
Dr Paul Hamor
Respiratory Physician
Dr Dean Rabinowitz
Radiologist
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Details
The educational activities in this collection have been accredited with RACGP, AMA's CPDHome and ACRRM wherever indicated. See individual activities for details.
Automatic hours lodgement
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Please note that any additional reading or learning connected to this activity can be self recorded with your CPD body.
Praxhub is an accredited Major Provider under the RACGP CPD Program.
Praxhub is a Certified Learning Provider under the AMA's CPDHome CPD Program.
Praxhub acknowledges 4DMedical for its support of this education. The sponsor has provided no input into the content of this activity.