Factors influencing medical students career intentions in Flanders, Estonia and Hungary: a multivariable analysis.

Background: The career decisions of medical students are pivotal in shaping the future healthcare workforce. In many countries, the number of medical students who choose general practice (GP) as their career is insufficient to meet the needs of the healthcare system.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the factors influencing medical students' career intentions and their preference for a career in GP.

Early-career general practitioners' career intentions in Estonia: A qualitative study.

Background: The shortage of general practitioners (GPs) is a worsening problem in many countries and poses a threat to the services provided by primary care and by extension for the entire healthcare system. Issues with GP workforce recruitment and retention can be reasons for this shortage.

Objectives: To describe GP trainees and newly qualified GPs experiences and perceptions on how their training and early experiences of work influence their career intentions in primary care in Estonia.

COVID-19 and nurses' ethical issues: Comparisons between two European countries.

Background: The global pandemic raised ethical issues for nurses about caring for all patients, not just those with COVID-19. Italy was the first European country to be seriously affected by the first wave, while Estonia's infection and death rates were among the lowest in Europe. Did this raise different ethical issues for nurses in these two countries as well?

Aim: The aim was to describe and compare ethical issues between nurses working during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Estonia and Italy.

Changes in nurses' work: A comparative study during the waves of COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: The aim of this study is to describe and evaluate how nurses caring for COVID and non-COVID patients assess changes in their work and in nursing activities during the two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted for Estonian nurses working during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, using The impact of COVID-19 emergency on nursing care questionnaire. Based on convenience sampling, the data were collected among the members of professional organizations, unions and associations.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization in individuals with natural, vaccine-induced and hybrid immunity: a retrospective population-based cohort study from Estonia.

A large proportion of the world's population has some form of immunity against SARS-CoV-2, through either infection ('natural'), vaccination or both ('hybrid'). This retrospective cohort study used data on SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, and hospitalization from national health system from February 2020 to June 2022 and Cox regression modelling to compare those with natural immunity to those with no (Cohort1, n = 94,982), hybrid (Cohort2, n = 47,342), and vaccine (Cohort3, n = 254,920) immunity. In Cohort 1, those with natural immunity were at lower risk for infection during the Delta (aHR 0.

The use of prescription drugs and health care services during the 6-month post-COVID-19 period.

COVID-19 and other acute respiratory viruses can have a long-term impact on health. We aimed to assess the common features and differences in the post-acute phase of COVID-19 compared with other non-chronic respiratory infections (RESP) using population-based electronic health data. We applied the self-controlled case series method where prescription drugs and health care utilisation were used as indicators of health outcomes during the six-month-long post-acute period.

Fear of COVID-19 among patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection: A cross-sectional study in Estonian family practices.

Background: Fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been associated with significant health effects.

Objectives: To assess COVID-19 fear and investigate factors associated with higher fear among COVID-19 survivors over 6 months after infection.

Methods: Cross-sectional study using multistage sampling (family practices within the highest 5th percentile of numbers of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients and random sample of patients within these practices) performed from March 15 to 17 July 2021.

A retrospective cohort study of incidence and risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection among fully vaccinated people.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is currently the mainstay in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are still people among vaccinated individuals suffering from severe forms of the disease. We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on data from nationwide e-health databases.

Parental Participation in Their Infants' Procedural Pain Alleviation with Nonpharmacologic Methods in Estonia.

Background: Aim: To describe parent's participation in their infants' procedural pain alleviation using nonpharmacologic methods in neonatal and neonatal intensive care units.

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional survey study was carried out in four Estonian hospitals between 2019 and 2020. Data were collected by using a validated questionnaire comprised of three sections: (1) background information of parents and infants; (2) nonpharmacologic methods used by parents; and (3) parental guidance by nurses on the methods.

Driving forces of GPs' migration in Europe: an exploratory qualitative study.

Background: The shortage of GPs is a worldwide phenomenon, which encourages the migration of GPs and consequently exacerbates the GP shortage. This shortage imposes a threat for the entire healthcare system.

Aim: To explore the driving forces of GPs' migration in Europe and their reasons to stay in the new country, to migrate further, or to return to their home country.

Effectiveness and feasibility of cardiovascular disease personalized prevention on high polygenic risk score subjects: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the intervention by proactively sharing a patient's high polygenic risk score (PRS) for coronary artery disease (CAD). Outcomes included: (i) reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors over 12 months; (ii) difference in purchased prescriptions of lipid-lowering and anti-hypertensive drugs between intervention group and control group subjects; and (iii) opinion of the participating physicians and subjects on PRS usefulness.

Methods And Results: This randomized controlled trial was conducted among middle-aged subjects with a top 20% CAD PRS in a family medicine setting.

Experiences and expectation with the use of health data: a qualitative interview study in primary care.

Background: Health data is important, however, not always well managed. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of patients and primary care physicians, their expectations and the obstacles encountered when using health data - both patient-generated as well as physician-generated.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative interview study.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for COVID-19 infection and disease severity: A nationwide observational study in Estonia.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has led to overloading of health systems all over the world. For reliable risk stratification, knowledge on factors predisposing to SARS-CoV-2 infection and to severe COVID-19 disease course is needed for decision-making at the individual, provider, and government levels. Data to identify these factors should be easily obtainable.

Long-term mortality following SARS-CoV-2 infection: A national cohort study from Estonia.

Background: The objective of this study was to describe 12-month mortality following SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with a reference population with no history of SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: Nationwide cohort study using electronic health care data on SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive cases (n= 66,287) and reference group subjects (n=254,969) with linkage to SARS-CoV-2 testing and death records.

Findings: People infected with SARS-COV-2 had more than three times the risk of dying over the following year compared with those who remained uninfected (aHR 3·1, 95%CI 2·9-3·3).

The 1 year of the COVID-19 epidemic in Estonia: a population-based nationwide sequential/consecutive cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the population prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and changes in the prevalence in the adult general population in Estonia during the 1 year of COVID-19 epidemic.

Study Design: This was a population-based nationwide sequential/consecutive cross-sectional study.

Methods: Using standardised methodology (population-based, random stratified sampling), 11 cross-sectional studies were conducted from April 2020 to February 2021.

Physical-mental health comorbidity: A population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Multimorbidity is associated with physical-mental health comorbidity (PMHC). However, the scope of overlap between physical and mental conditions, associated factors, as well as types of mental illness involved are not well described in Eastern Europe. This study aims to assess the PMHC burden in the Estonian population.

Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors among young men with hypertension using an interactive decision aid: cluster-randomized control trial.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality among young men is very high and the prevention methods usable in family practice (FP) settings are limited (1,2). The objectives of this study were to investigate the cardiovascular risk profile among young males (18-50) visiting their family doctor (FD) and to find out if using an interactive computer-based decision aid (DA) has advantages in reducing cardiovascular risk factors compared to usual counselling at the FD's office.

Methods: The study was a cluster-randomized controlled trial including hypertensive male patients aged 18-50 recruited by their FD in 2015-2016.

Nurses' perceptions of infants' procedural pain assessment and alleviation with non-pharmacological methods in Estonia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe nurses perceptions of infants' procedural pain assessment and alleviation with non-pharmacological methods including parental guidance in departments of neonatal and infant medicine and Neonatal Intensive Care (NICUs).

Design And Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out among all nurses (n= 149) who were working in neonatal and infant departments or NICUs in Estonian hospitals. Altogether, 128 questionnaires were returned and 111 respondents were eligible (75% response rate).

COVID-19 Vaccines Safety Tracking (CoVaST): Protocol of a Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study for Active Surveillance of COVID-19 Vaccines' Side Effects.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine-related side effects have a determinant role in the public decision regarding vaccination. Therefore, this study has been designed to actively monitor the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines globally.

Methods: A multi-country, three-phase study including a cross-sectional survey to test for the short-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccines among target population groups.

Diabetes-related quality of life in six European countries measured with the DOQ-30.

Background: The quantification of diabetes-related quality of life (DR-QoL) is an essential step in making Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) self-management arrangements. The European General Practitioners Research Network (EGPRN) initiated the EUROBSTACLE study to develop a broadly conceptualised DR-QoL instrument for diverse cultural and ethnic groups; high and low-income countries. In 2016 the Diabetes Obstacles Questionnaire-30 (DOQ-30) was introduced.

Physical and Sedentary Activities in Association with Reproductive Outcomes among Couples Seeking Infertility Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of physical activity (PA) with assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment and pregnancy outcomes among couples seeking infertility treatment.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was carried out among 128 infertile individuals (64 couples), entering the infertility clinic for ART procedures. Baseline PA (before entering any treatment) was assessed using accelerometry for both women and men.

Preferred modalities for delivering continuing education to the public health workforce: a scoping review.

Introduction: Continuing education (CE) can help public health professionals maintain and further develop their knowledge and skills to adapt to the changing public health landscape. This scoping review aims to identify the preferred modalities for delivering CE to public health professionals and to determine how equity has been incorporated into public health training.

Methods: Using the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews as a guide, we searched four databases for peer-reviewed primary research studies that evaluated public health workforce CE modalities.