What keeps family physicians busy in Portugal? A multicentre observational study of work other than direct patient contacts.

Objectives: To quantify the time spent by family physicians (FP) on tasks other than direct patient contact, to evaluate job satisfaction, to analyse the association between time spent on tasks and physician characteristics, the association between the number of tasks performed and physician characteristics and the association between time spent on tasks and job satisfaction.

Design: Cross-sectional, using time-and-motion techniques. Two workdays were documented by direct observation.

[The primary care frequent attender profile].

Introduction: Frequent attenders are believed to represent a problem in Primary Care, with human, economic and social impact. The present study aimed to describe these patients' sociodemographic and pathological characteristics.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study with analytical component was conducted in the population of frequent attenders in a Portuguese Primary Health Care Practice, between January 2007 and December 2009, allocated to six General Practitioners.

[Management of adult secondary insomnia in primary health care].

Introduction: Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in adults, with secondary insomnia being the most prevalent. This sleep disorder is associated with important medical and social consequences. The General Practitioner (GP) plays a key role in the diagnosis of insomnia, which may affect about 69% of their patients in the PHC (Primary Health Care).

Political borders as scientific barriers in general practice. Portugal and Spain as a case study.

Introduction: Borders do not only mean the existence of limits, but also of barriers. For example, despite the cultural and geographic proximity, there seems to be a considerable lack of awareness and ignorance among Portuguese and Spanish GP's of their Iberian neighbour's scientific production, particularly among the Spanish side, which is biased towards the work and publications of authors from Anglo-Saxon and Northern European countries.

Methods: The authors thus carried out an analysis of the last 12 issues of both the Portuguese and Spanish General Practice flagship journals, counting back from the last issue of 2008.

[Management of menopause in primary health care].

Introduction: Menopause is a biological process that occurs as part of aging in women. The increase in average life expectancy and the decline in mortality have caused the aging of global population and, currently, women live about a third of their life in postmenopausal. The General Physician (GP) is usually the first health professional whom women rely on to relieve their menopause symptoms.