The European journal of general practice
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In Slovenia, primary care is the backbone and gatekeeper to the health care system. During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care had to be reorganised to manage suspected COVID-19 patients, safely care for other patients, and manage the consequences of the pandemic. ⋯ Based on participants' experiences and suggestions, the most important areas to address in similar pandemic situations are clear organisation of work in primary care (adequate funding, staff allocation, distribution of personal protective equipment), psychological solid support for health workers, and effective and timely support from health authorities.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effectiveness of the spirometry-based motivational intervention to quit smoking: RESET randomised trial.
The effectiveness of providing feedback on spirometry results for smoking cessation remains inconclusive according to the current evidence. ⋯ A primary care-delivered intervention involving brief counselling and detailed spirometry information proves effective in increasing abstinence rates among active smokers without known respiratory disease. Additionally, smoking cessation is also influenced by the individual's stage of change.
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'Gut feelings' are frequently used by general practitioners in the clinical decision-making process, especially in situations of uncertainty. The Gut Feelings Questionnaire (GFQ) has been developed in the Netherlands and is now available in English, French, German, Polish, Spanish, and Catalan, enabling cross-border studies on the subject. However, a Turkish version of the GFQ is lacking. ⋯ With these validated GFQs, Turkish GPs can facilitate studies of the role of 'gut feelings' in clinical reasoning.
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Increasing numbers of primary care physicians (PCPs) are reducing their working hours. This decline may affect the workforce and the care provided to patients. ⋯ There is evidence of both negative and positive effects of PCPs working part-time on quality of patient care. Approaches that mitigate negative effects of part-time work while maintaining positive effects should be implemented.
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Nursing home residents (NHR) and staff have been disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and were therefore prioritised in the COVID-19 vaccination strategy. However, frail older adults, like NHR, are known to have decreased antibody responses upon vaccination targeting other viral antigens. ⋯ These findings highlight the need for further monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 immunity upon vaccination in the elderly population, as their impaired humoral responses could imply insufficient protection against COVID-19.