[Elevated liver enzymes: update 2024].

Elevated liver enzymes are a common finding in primary care medicine, with an estimated prevalence of 8 %. Steatotic liver diseases are the most frequently encountered etiologies and r-epresent the main cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. This article looks at the latest developments in these diseases, with a particular focus on MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease).

Who are the patients who use non-pharmacological home remedies? Cross-sectional study in Switzerland and France.

Background: Many patients may be tempted to use non-pharmacological home remedies (NPHRs) to relieve various complaints. To the best of our knowledge, there is little data on the characteristics of patients using NPHRs. In this cross-sectional study carried out between March 2020 and July 2021, we examined the socio-demographic factors underlying their use in patient populations in Switzerland and France.

Feasibility and acceptability of a primary care mentoring programme for undergraduate students.

Mentoring plays a crucial role in increasing the attractiveness of primary care careers for medical students. Based on a literature review and structured group discussions, the authors developed a primary care mentoring platform centred on undergraduate medical students' needs. All second- to sixth-year students were invited to enrol into the programme by choosing a mentor from an online platform, which was pilot tested during one academic year (2021-2022) with 16 mentors.

Dynamics of Students' Career Choice: a Conceptual Framework-Based Qualitative Analysis Focusing on Primary Care.

Background: Increasing primary care's attractiveness as a career choice is an important task of socially accountable medical schools. Research has broadly studied influences on medical students' career choice. However, a deeper understanding of the processes behind career decision-making could support medical schools in their efforts to promote primary care careers.

Nonpharmacological home remedies for upper respiratory tract infections: a cross-sectional study of primary care patients in Switzerland and France.

Background: Many patients might be tempted to use nonpharmacological home remedies (NPHRs) to relieve upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms. However, primary care physicians (PCPs) rarely recommend NPHRs due to a lack of knowledge in this field. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey among primary care patients in Switzerland and France to explore which NPHRs they use and consider effective for 3 common URTI symptoms: sore throat/cough/common cold.

[Pilot project for a Medical Home in Geneva].

The aging of the population and the increase in chronic diseases are overloading our healthcare system, with complex patients requiring more care. To meet their needs and keep them at home, interprofessional team management is necessary. The Directorate of Health of the Canton of Geneva issued a call for tenders to set up Medical Homes.

Use and perceived effectiveness of non-pharmacological home remedies for digestive symptoms: a questionnaire-based survey among primary care patients.

Background: Patients frequently visit their primary care physician (PCP) for digestive symptoms. We aimed to compile a list of non-pharmacological home remedies (NPHRs) that patients frequently use and find effective so that PCPs can then propose them to their patients with various digestive symptoms.

Methods: In this questionnaire-based survey on the use and perceived effectiveness of NPHRs for digestive symptoms, 50 randomly selected Swiss or French PCPs consecutively recruited 20-25 patients between March 2020 and July 2021.

Multimorbidity and statin prescription for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases: A cross-sectional study in general practice in France.

Background: Statins are a first line, evidence-based yet underprescribed treatment for cardiovascular primary prevention. In primary care settings, multimorbidity is a complex situation which makes it difficult to apply prevention guidelines.

Aim: To assess the associations between multimorbidity and prescription of statins in accordance with the 2016 ESC recommendations ("appropriate prescription"), and to identify the factors and conditions associated with these prescriptions.

Heterogeneity of definitions and measurements of binge drinking in research on adolescents and young adults.

Introduction: Binge drinking is a widespread health compromising behaviour among adolescents and young adults and is one of the leading causes of mortality and injuries among this population. The definitions and measurement methods of binge drinking are heterogeneous but constitute a crucial component in the literature on associated factors related to binge drinking. This study focused on how binge drinking is defined and measured in the literature exploring its associated risk factors among adolescents and young adults.

Management of injuries in Swiss primary care practices: a cross-sectional study within the Sentinella surveillance system.

Introduction: Injuries are amongst the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Our aim was to describe the frequency, type of injury and care provided in primary care in Switzerland.

Methods: We used anonymous data from 14,307 injury-related consultations of all ages, with a representative sample of 160 primary care physicians from the Sentinella network throughout the year 2017.

[COPD: Guidelines for primary care physicians].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common and should be suspected in any patient with chronic dyspnea, cough, or sputum with a history of exposure to tobacco or harmful particles. Spirometry is used for diagnosis. Full evaluation includes the severity of obstruction and clinical data, following the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines.

Perceived Effectiveness and Overall Satisfaction of Using a Toilet Stool to Prevent or Treat Constipation: An Analysis of Online Comments.

Introduction: Constipation is a common complaint in the general population. Squatting (using a toilet stool) is associated with faster and more complete bowel emptying, and could therefore help prevent or treat constipation. We analyzed the reviews of online buyers of a toilet stool to assess perceived effectiveness, overall satisfaction and potential side effects.

[Use of non-pharmacological home remedies in ENT: research informs our practices and those of our patients].

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are a common presenting condition in family medicine. The vast majority of URTIs are treated symptomatically with pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatments. This article presents some of the results of our research projects to compile a list of non-pharmacological home remedies to relieve symptoms such as sore throat, coughs and colds.

Primary care patients' perspectives on the use of non-pharmacological home remedies in Geneva: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Home remedies are anchored in patients' everyday life, but their use in Western cultures remains scarcely explored. Our objectives were to investigate primary care patients' perspectives and use of non-pharmacological home remedies in Geneva (Switzerland).

Methods: In spring 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among adult primary care patients in randomly selected general practices (N = 15).

Talking about Climate Change and Environmental Degradation with Patients in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge, Potential Domains of Action and Points of View of General Practitioners.

Purpose: General practitioners (GPs) could play a role in mitigating climate change by raising awareness of its impact on human health and implementing changes to improve population health and decreasing environmental footprints. The aim of this study was to assess GPs' knowledge and perspectives about the health impacts of climate change.

Method: A questionnaire was sent to 1972 GPs in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

Health status and healthcare services utilisation among unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors settled in Switzerland: a protocol for a retrospective cohort study from a hospital-based youth outpatient clinic.

Introduction: Unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors (UASMs) represent a population group with complex healthcare needs. Initial and ongoing healthcare is challenging for host countries but considered essential. This publication describes the protocol concerning a large cohort of UASMs settled in Switzerland in 2015-2016.

[New approaches to risk and the use of electronic tools in primary care medicine in 2021].

Our selection of articles published in 2021 sheds light on topics related to risk, and to the use of electronic tools in primary care medicine. They cover blood pressure targets, telemonitoring, and the omega-3 fatty acid diet in the elderly and/or in patients with high cardiovascular risk. They present the role of primary care physicians in the management of patients with NAFLD, and in screening for domestic violence in all couples.

Geneva medical students increasingly identify primary care physicians as role models after introduction of a compulsory clerkship.

Background: Role modelling is recognised as an important element in career choice. In strongly hospital-based medical education settings, students identify few primary care physicians as positive role models, which might impact their career plans and potentially contribute to primary care workforce shortage. At Geneva Faculty of Medicine (Switzerland), a compulsory final-year clerkship in primary care practices was introduced to strengthen primary care teaching in the curriculum.

Three monthly doses of 150,000 IU of oral cholecalciferol correct vitamin D deficiency in adolescents: A pragmatic study.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of an oral high-dose cholecalciferol regimen in correcting vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in adolescents and to explore potential predictive factors on the response to treatment.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review conducted in the Adolescent Outpatient Clinic, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland. One hundred-three otherwise healthy vitamin D deficient [serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D, level <50 nmol/L] adolescents (mean age 16.