The Role of the Psychosocial Dimension in the Improvement of Quality of Care: A Systematic Review.

The aim of our systematic review was to analyse the published literature on the psychosocial dimension of care in family medicine and its relationship with quality of care. We wanted to find out whether there is any evidence on the psychosocial approach in (family) medicine. The recommended bio-psycho-social approach, besides the biomedical model of illness, takes into account several co-influencing psychological, sociological and existential factors.

Screening and Registering Patients with Asthma and Copd in Slovenian Primary Care: First Results.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate a new project of the Slovene Ministry of Health - the Family Medicine Model Practices (MPs) Project in Slovenia, and to show its effectiveness in the management of asthma and COPD by family medicine practice teams, consisting of a family physician, a nurse practitioner and a practice nurse.

Methods: A total of 107 family practices with 203122 patients joined the project during the first year of its initiation. The effectiveness of the program in disease management was analysed in two phases according to the registration of family practices.

Why does teaching research skills to family medicine trainees make sense?

There are only a few countries in Europe that have incorporated research skills training in specialty training programmes. In the eyes of most practising family physicians, research traditionally is a field reserved for colleagues with academic ambitions; an activity that often is not associated with the clinical practice of family medicine. However, residents became aware that research is essential to improving healthcare provision.

Role of nurse practitioners in reducing cardiovascular risk factors: a retrospective cohort study.

Aims And Objectives: To determine the impact of nurse practitioners' counselling on reducing cardiovascular risk factors in patients participating in routine preventive check-ups.

Background: A new model of 'renewed' family practice was introduced in Slovenia as a pilot project in 2011, in which nurse practitioners are included in a team carrying out preventive activities and managing patients with stable chronic diseases.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Determinants of self-rated health in elderly populations in urban areas in Slovenia, Lithuania and UK: findings of the EURO-URHIS 2 survey.

Ageing imposes extra financial burdens on social and health services in developed countries. Self-rated health (SRH) is considered to be both a reliable measurement of overall health status including morbidity and mortality and an important predictor of hospitalization, functional impairment and greater demand for health-care services in the elderly. Our aim was to identify factors associated with poor SRH in elderly populations and investigate possible differences between urban areas in Slovenia, Lithuania and UK.

Development and validation of a questionnaire for evaluation of students' attitudes towards family medicine.

The development of the EURACT (European Academy of Teachers in General Practice) Educational Agenda helped many family medicine departments in development of clerkship and the aims and objectives of family medicine teaching. Our aims were to develop and validate a tool for assessment of students' attitudes towards family medicine and to evaluate the impact of the clerkship on students' attitudes regarding the competences of family doctor. In the pilot study, experienced family doctors were asked to describe their attitudes towards family medicine by using the Educational Agenda as a template for brainstorming.

Focus points in prevention actions against legal substances' abuse.

Aim: To determine the factors associated with alcohol and tobacco abuse in Slovenian general population.

Material And Methods: We performed an observational cross-sectional study in a representative sample of 1002 Slovenian inhabitants in June 2011. It was performed using a method of computer-assisted telephone interview.

Prevention of post-herpetic neuralgia using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Background: Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of herpes zoster (HZ) and is difficult to treat. The role of antiviral agents and nonpharmacologic procedures in preventing PHN is not entirely clear. Recent retrospective study showed that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may completely prevent PHN.

Predictors of high prescribing rates in family practice during actual consultation: a cross-sectional study from Slovenia.

With a cross-sectional survey wich was held on in Slovenia we would like to define the predictors of high prescribing rates in family practice. 42 involved family doctors reported 300 office contacts, i.e.

Validation of the Slovenian version of patient assessment of chronic illness care (PACIC) in patients with coronary heart disease.

The Chronic Care Model (CCM) is a conceptual framework that supports the evidence-based proactive and planned care of chronic diseases. Our aim was to validate a Slovenian translation of Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC)--a self-reported instrument designed to measure the extent to which patients with chronic illnesses receive care congruent with CCM--on a sample of patients with coronary heart disease. Secondary analysis of patients' evaluation of general practice care (EPA Cardio study) was done in patients with coronary heart disease in Slovenia.

Deficiency areas in decision making in undergraduate medical students.

Background: In family medicine, decisions can be difficult due to the early presentation of often poorly developed symptoms or the presentation of undifferentiated conditions that require competencies unique to family medicine, such as; primary care management, specific problem-solving skills, and a comprehensive and holistic approach to be taught to medical students.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the decision-making process covering all theoretical aspects of family practice consultation and to recognize possible areas of deficiency in undergraduate medical students.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study performed at the Medical School of the University of Maribor in Slovenia.

Health seeking behaviour in general population with psychological symptoms.

Background: Health seeking behaviour is a complex construct in patients with psychological symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine a one-month prevalence of psychological symptoms in Slovenian general population and to identify correlates of health seeking behaviour.

Subjects And Methods: This study was conducted in a representative sample of 1,002 randomly selected Slovenian citizens, stratified according to sex and age.

Importance of international networking in academic family medicine.

Unlabelled: European family medicine/general practice (FM/GP) has travelled the long and successful journey of profiling the discipline and has produced valuable position papers on education and research. Nowadays, academic medicine is one of the pillars in the future development of FM/GP in Europe. A common European curriculum on undergraduate and postgraduate family medicine is needed.

Which pharmaceutical sales representatives' features do slovenian family physicians value?

Introduction: One of the key strategies for marketing new drugs to physicians is personal selling by pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSRs).

Goal: The aim of this study was to determine which features of PSR's are most valued by Slovenian family physicians (FPs).

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional observational postal survey in FPs.

Treatment targets in patients with type 2 diabetes set by primary care physicians from Central and Eastern Europe.

Background: Primary care physicians have an important role in the care of patients with Type 2 diabetes but little is known about this issue in Central and Eastern European countries.

Objectives: To investigate the treatment goals of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) set by primary care physicians in Central and Eastern European countries and illustrate inter-country variation.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of primary care physicians randomly chosen in nine countries.

Age- and gender-specific prevalence of self-reported symptoms in adults.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the age- and gender-specific prevalence of predefined symptoms in adults.

Methods: Cross-sectional study using a method of computer assisted telephone interview.

Results: At least one of the symptoms was experienced by 71.

Did past economic prosperity affect the health related quality of life predictors? A longitudinal study on a representative sample of Slovenian family medicine patients.

Background: Health related quality of life (HRQOL) as an important measure of medical outcomes has been shown to be associated with demographic factors and the most common mental and chronic somatic diseases. This study's aim was to identify factors predicting changes in HRQOL over a follow-up period in a representative sample of Slovenian family medicine patients.

Methods: In a longitudinal multi-centred study between 2003 and 2005, data were collected from 1118 consecutive attendees from 60 family medicine practices in Slovenia on quality of life, socio-demographic factors and the presence of mental disorders, with follow-up after 6 and 24 months.

New virtual case-based assessment method for decision making in undergraduate students: a scale development and validation.

Background: There are many Internet forums where patients can ask medical question and get an answer from doctors. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the rating scale for the assessment of decision-making skills in undergraduate medical students based on such Internet questions.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study carried out in Medical School of University of Maribor in Slovenia during the family medicine teaching course in the fourth study year.

New tool for patient evaluation of nurse practitioner in primary care settings.

Aims And Objectives: To validate a tool for patient evaluation of nurse practitioners.

Background: The roles of nurse practitioners in family practice settings are health promotion and routine follow-up of patients with chronic diseases. So far, several tools for patient evaluation of nurse practitioners have been developed.

Do family physicians advise younger people on cardiovascular disease prevention? A cross-sectional study from Slovenia.

Background: One of the main family practice interventions in the younger healthy population is advice on how to keep or develop a healthy lifestyle. In this study we explored the level of counselling regarding healthy lifestyle by family physicians and the factors associated with it.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with a random sample of 36 family practices, stratified by size and location.

Slovenian adaptation of the original AUDIT-C questionnaire.

Background: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT-C) questionnaire as a screening instrument for identification of hazardous and harmful drinkers give some false-positive and negative results. Changes of answers decrease the number of false results.

Methods: Changes in second and third questions with theoretical simulation of possible answers' combinations was made; cutoff scores have to be changed.

Opinions of Slovenian family physicians on medically unexplained symptoms: a qualitative study.

Objectives: To determine the views of Slovenian family physicians on medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and learn more about potential types of treatment for such patients.

Methods: Five focus groups, comprising 24 family medicine physicians (FMPs) from two Slovenian University centres, were convened. Conversations were led towards the research objectives by professionally trained researchers and followed a preliminarily established protocol.

Seeking health advice on the Internet in patients with health problems: a cross-sectional population study in Slovenia.

Aim: To determine the one-month prevalence of the seeking of web-based health information in the general adult population and to identify the symptoms associated with more frequent searching for information online.

Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study in a representative sample of 1,002 randomly selected Slovenian inhabitants. We used the method of computer-assisted telephone interviews.

The role of the European Academy of Teachers in General Practice and Family Medicine in family medicine education in Europe--the experience of the University of Maribor.

Primary health care is important item of political agendas since Alma Ata conference in 1978. West Balkans share common history in development of primary care since 1920s when Andrija Stampar introduced social and community based primary care concepts. The first known specialist training in general practice in the world started in former Yugoslavia in the early 1960s.

Lipid-lowering pharmacotherapy in Central and Eastern European countries in cardiovascular prevention: self-reported prescription patterns of primary care physicians.

Aims: The aims of this study were (1) to explore physicians' self-reported treatment of patients with dyslipidemia and (2) to identify intercountry differences and associations between physicians' characteristics and treatment patterns.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in primary health care in 9 Central and Eastern European countries. An anonymous questionnaire, which included questions devoted to dyslipidemia treatment, was distributed.