The European journal of general practice
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In the migrant population, there is a higher risk of dementia. However, dementia is underdiagnosed in this population due to the underuse of appropriate screening tools. The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) is designed for culturally and linguistically diverse populations. ⋯ GPs find screening for dementia in migrant patients a challenging act, mainly due to language barriers. GPs are not confident enough with the appropriate screening strategies and tools adjusted to the needs of migrant patients. Abbreviations: GP: general practitioner; RUDAS: Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale; MMSE: Mini Mental State Examination.
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To curb future antibiotic resistance it is important to monitor and investigate current prescription patterns of antibiotics. ⋯ The trend in antibiotic prescription to children aged 0-6 years old decreased substantially in all the investigated municipalities in the 10-year study period. Local differences in prescription rates declined towards a more uniform prescription pattern across municipalities and association with socioeconomic status of the municipalities was reduced.
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Healthcare professionals (HCPs) in family medicine (FM) in Croatia work in a demanding environment caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Besides particular circumstances in healthcare, an unknown virus, social distancing, and homeschooling, the capital was hit with the earthquake during the lockdown. ⋯ Family physicians and nurses in FM in Croatia are under a great mental load during the COVID-19 outbreak. Results suggest that HCPs of the female sex, with pre-existing chronic conditions, work in regions with a high incidence of SARS-CoV-2 or have schoolchildren at greater risk of the poor psychological outcome.
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Several European countries face a shortage of general practitioners (GPs), in part due to GP attrition. Most studies of GP attrition have focussed on why GPs decide to leave. Yet understanding why GPs decide to remain may also elicit potential interventions to reduce attrition. ⋯ Reasons GPs leave the profession are multiple. The typology that emerged indicates that only some of the career trajectories would benefit from interventions to reduce attrition such as improving working conditions and providing psychological support for GPs.
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Letter Observational Study
Underdiagnosis, false diagnosis and treatment of COPD in a selected population in Northern Greece.
In the primary care setting, diagnosis and treatment of COPD is not always consistent with GOLD guidelines. ⋯ Among the general population subjects in northern Greece, more than 50% of patients with COPD were underdiagnosed, more than 50% of correctly diagnosed COPD patients were overtreated and most patients taking inhaled drugs were those with a false diagnosis of COPD (possibly GOLD stage 0).