Impact of a multifaceted intervention programme on antibiotic prescribing and dispensing in four patient-centred settings in five European countries. The HAPPY PATIENT project.

Background: The primary cause of antimicrobial resistance is excessive and non-indicated antibiotic use.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of a multifaceted intervention aimed at various healthcare professionals (HCPs) on antibiotic prescribing and dispensing for common infections.

Design And Setting: Before-and-after study set in general practice, out-of-hours services, nursing homes, and community pharmacies in France, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, and Spain.

Implementation of a tailored multifaceted antibiotic stewardship intervention to improve antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections in frail older adults (ImpresU) in four European countries: a process evaluation alongside a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: We previously performed a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) in general practices and older adult care organizations in Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. We found that a multifaceted antibiotic stewardship intervention (ASI) substantially reduced antibiotic use for suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs) in frail older adults compared with usual care. We aimed to evaluate the implementation process of the ASI to provide recommendations for clinical practice.

Point-of-care testing, antibiotic prescribing, and prescribing confidence for respiratory tract infections in primary care: a prospective audit in 18 European countries.

Background: Between-country differences have been described in antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infection (RTI) in primary care, but not yet for diagnostic testing procedures and prescribing confidence.

Aim: To describe between-country differences in RTI management, particularly diagnostic testing and antibiotic prescribing, and investigate which factors relate to antibiotic prescribing and GPs' prescribing confidence.

Design & Setting: Prospective audit in 18 European countries.

Structural equation modeling for identification of patient safety antecedents in primary care.

Background: Patient safety is defined as an activity that minimizes and removes possible errors and injuries to patients. A number of factors have been found to influence patient safety management, including the facilities available in the practice, communication and collaboration, education regarding patient safety and generic conditions. This study tested a theoretical model of patient safety interventions based on safety antecedents.

The Perception of Patient Safety Strategies by Primary Health Professionals.

Almost all European citizens rank patient safety as very or fairly important in their country. However, few patient safety initiatives have been undertaken or implemented in Poland. The aim was to identify patient safety strategies perceived as important in Poland and compare them with those identified in an earlier Dutch study.

An 89-year-old patient with acquired murmur associated with pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cause of death in hospitalized patients. Diagnosis is often missed because of a non-homogeneous clinical picture. We present a case of an 89-year-old patient with an acquired murmur associated with pulmonary embolism.

Prevalence of cigarette smoking among adult population in eastern Poland.

Cigarette smoking is the strongest modifiable factor, which shortens the life span and deteriorates the quality of life. It increases the risk of development of cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory system diseases. The objective of the study was evaluation of the prevalence of cigarette smoking among the adult population of the Lublin Region, and investigation of the relationship between nicotinism and respondents? place of residence, and other selected socio-economic factors.