Perceptions and Practices of Primary Care Providers in Europe and the US in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Multinational Survey.

Background: The knowledge and proficiency of primary care practitioners (PCPs) in diagnosing and managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remain generally low and variable internationally. This variability is partly due to a lack of familiarity with the Rome Foundation diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for this condition.

Methods: We conducted an electronic survey of PCPs in the United States and nine European countries to assess their understanding of IBS pathophysiology; the use of Rome IV criteria in diagnosis, knowledge of and frequency in prescribing various recommended treatments; and the likelihood of referring patients with suspected IBS to subspecialists.

Chronic gastritis.

Prevalence of chronic gastritis has markedly declined in developed populations during the past decades. However, chronic gastritis is still one of the most common serious pandemic infections with such severe killing sequelae as peptic ulcer or gastric cancer. Globally, on average, even more than half of people may have a chronic gastritis at present.

[Development of an algorithm to predict the incidence of major depression among primary care consultants].

Background: The reduction of major depression incidence is a public health challenge.

Aim: To develop an algorithm to estimate the risk of occurrence of major depression in patients attending primary health centers (PHC).

Material And Methods: Prospective cohort study of a random sample of 2832 patients attending PHC centers in Concepción, Chile, with evaluations at baseline, six and twelve months.

Spiritual and religious beliefs as risk factors for the onset of major depression: an international cohort study.

Background: Several studies have reported weak associations between religious or spiritual belief and psychological health. However, most have been cross-sectional surveys in the U.S.

Patients' experience with cancer care: a qualitative study in family practice.

Background: Continuity is an important aspect of cancer care that is often a challenge owing to the movement of patients between family practice, cancer clinics, and hospitals.

Objectives: To investigate the experiences of cancer patients in relation to continuity of care.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in a family practice setting.

Physical activity and exercise counselling: a cross-sectional study of family practice patients in Estonia.

Background: Low levels of physical activity are common in developed countries. Therefore, regular exercise counselling in family practice is potentially important.

Aims: To assess the physical activity of consecutive patients in family practice settings and to find out whether patients seek advice from their family doctors (FDs) regarding physical activity.

Differential impact of risk factors for women and men on the risk of major depressive disorder.

Purpose: Our aim is to examine which risk factors have a greater impact in women than in men on the risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) and whether factors differ between a possible recurrent MDD and a first onset of MDD.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of general practice attendees in seven countries, who were followed up at 6 and 12 months (predictD). Absolute risk differences (interaction contrast) across sex for onset of DSM-IV MDD after 6 or 12 months of follow-up were estimated for 35 risk factors from 7101 participants without MDD at baseline.

Recent life events pose greatest risk for onset of major depressive disorder during mid-life.

Background: The authors examined an additive model for the association of life events and age with onset of major depressive disorder (MDD) and whether the combination of life events and age posed greater risk than the sum of their independent effects.

Methods: Data were used from a prospective cohort study of 10,045 general practice attendees (PredictD). We included those without MDD at baseline (N=8293).

A 10-year serological follow-up of celiac disease in an Estonian population.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is induced by wheat gluten and related prolamines. Its prevalence may be underestimated in many geographic regions and populations, and has recently increased in several countries. In 1998 and 1999, a random sample of Estonian schoolchildren was screened with IgA-type tissue transglutaminase antibodies (IgA-tTG) for CD.

Development and validation of a risk model for prediction of hazardous alcohol consumption in general practice attendees: the predictAL study.

Background: Little is known about the risk of progression to hazardous alcohol use in people currently drinking at safe limits. We aimed to develop a prediction model (predictAL) for the development of hazardous drinking in safe drinkers.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of adult general practice attendees in six European countries and Chile followed up over 6 months.

Predicting the onset of major depression in primary care: international validation of a risk prediction algorithm from Spain.

Background: The different incidence rates of, and risk factors for, depression in different countries argue for the need to have a specific risk algorithm for each country or a supranational risk algorithm. We aimed to develop and validate a predictD-Spain risk algorithm (PSRA) for the onset of major depression and to compare the performance of the PSRA with the predictD-Europe risk algorithm (PERA) in Spanish primary care.

Method: A prospective cohort study with evaluations at baseline, 6 and 12 months.

Iron deficiency and Helicobacter pylori infection in children.

Aim: To examine the relationship between iron deficiency (ID) and Helicobacter pylori infection in school-aged children.

Methods: Altogether 363 children from ambulatory admission were consecutively enrolled in the study. Haemoglobin (Hb), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), IgG against H.

An international risk prediction algorithm for the onset of generalized anxiety and panic syndromes in general practice attendees: predictA.

Background: There are no risk models for the prediction of anxiety that may help in prevention. We aimed to develop a risk algorithm for the onset of generalized anxiety and panic syndromes.

Method: Family practice attendees were recruited between April 2003 and February 2005 and followed over 24 months in the UK, Spain, Portugal and Slovenia (Europe4 countries) and over 6 months in The Netherlands, Estonia and Chile.

Factors associated with recurrent depression: a prospective study in family practice.

Background: Depression has a high rate of recurrence. Finding the variables that predict which patients are at higher risk of experiencing a recurrent episode of depression would benefit an individual patient.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with recurrent depression >12 months.

Physical activity of Estonian family doctors and their counselling for a healthy lifestyle: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Physical activity offers major health benefits and counselling for it should be integrated into the medical consultation. Based on the literature, the personal health behaviour of the physician (including physical activity) is associated with his/her approach to counselling patients. Our hypothesis is that family doctors (FD) in Estonia are physically active and their recommendation to counsel patients with chronic diseases to use physical activity is high.

Comparison of risk factors for the onset and maintenance of depression.

Background: Factors associated with depression are usually identified from cross-sectional studies.

Aims: We explore the relative roles of onset and recovery in determining these associations.

Method: Hazard ratios for onset and recovery were estimated for 39 risk factors from a cohort study of 10,045 general practice attendees whose depression status was assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months.

Risk factors associated with rosacea.

Background: Although rosacea is a common disease, the cause of disease is still a mystery -Helicobacter pylori infection, genetic predisposition, climatic factors, and detrimental habits are implicated as triggers of rosacea.

Objective: The aim of current study is to evaluate several suspected risk factors coincidently.

Methods: Patients with rosacea from a dermatology clinic and skin-healthy controls from an randomly selected employees' population enrolled the study.

Subjective disease perception and symptoms of depression in relation to healthcare-seeking behaviour in patients with rosacea.

Many patients with rosacea do not seek medical care. The aim of this study was to find predictors for healthcare-seeking behaviour among patients with rosacea. The study subjects were 70 consecutive patients attending a dermatologist (seekers) and 56 subjects with rosacea symptoms selected randomly from among the working population (non-seekers).

Patients with depressive disorder, their co-morbidity, visiting rate and disability in relation to self-evaluation of physical and mental health: a cross-sectional study in family practice.

Background: High prevalence of depression among primary care patients has increased the need for more research in this field. The objectives of our study were to analyse how depressed patients evaluate their health; which co-morbid diseases are associated with depression; how depression influences the patients' consultation rate in family practice (FP); how disability is associated with depression; and how depression influences the patients' working ability.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, part of the PREDICT study.

Co-morbid condition as an important factor influencing depression treatment.

There are different factors influencing the treatment of depression. An important factor is co-morbidity. We made an analysis of depression treatment within general practice in Estonia as part of the PREDICT study in 2003-2005.

Physical activity of depressed patients and their motivation to exercise: Nordic Walking in family practice.

The objectives of this study were to find out how motivated depressed patients are to exercise regularly, to measure the physical activity of depressed patients and to find out how regular Nordic Walking affects the mood and physical fitness of depressed patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out. Three years after the Prediction of Primary Episodes of Depression in Primary Medical Care study, telephone calls were made to 178 patients who had had depression during that study.