Two-stage screening for obstructive sleep apnea in the primary practice setting.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a two-stage screening model for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in primary care that combines the STOP-BANG questionnaire (SBQ) with an automated home sleep apnea test (HSAT).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2018 to August 2022 in four Slovenian primary care practices. It included 153 randomly selected patients aged 18 to 70 years who visited the practice for any reason.

Managing cardiovascular risk factors with telemedicine in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis of patients with arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: To review the effect of telemedicine interventions on cardiovascular risk factors control in people with arterial hypertension (AH), type 2 diabetes (T2D), or both in primary care.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review in February 2024 using PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases. We included randomised controlled trials from 2010 onwards, lasting ≥3 months, comparing telemedicine to standard care for managing cardiovascular risk factors in adults with AH, T2D, or both.

Assessing the reliability and validity of the Slovenian version of the Appraisal of Diabetes Scale (ADS-S) in type 2 diabetes patients.

Managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) effectively is a considerable challenge. The Appraisal of Diabetes Scale (ADS) has proven valuable in understanding how individuals perceive and cope with their condition. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Slovenian version of ADS (ADS-S).

Bottom-Up Analysis of Telemonitoring Costs: A Case Study in Slovenian Primary Care.

Introduction: Telemonitoring improves clinical outcomes in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), however, cost structure analyses are lacking. This study seeks to explore the cost structure of telemonitoring for the elderly with AH and T2D in primary care and identify factors influencing costs for potential future expansions.

Methods: Infrastructure, operational, patient participation, and out-of-pocket costs were determined using a bottom-up approach.

Validation of the Slovene Version of the Stop-Bang Questionnaire in a Primary Practice Setting.

Aim: The aim of our study was to validate the Slovene translation of the STOP-BANG (SBQ) questionnaire for use in the primary practice setting.

Methods: We recruited 158 randomly selected visitors at four primary practice clinics who came to the practice for any reason. Participants completed the Slovene SBQ and underwent type 3 respiratory polygraphy, which was analysed by an experienced somnologist.

STIGMA AND LOW SENSE OF COHERENCE AS LONG-TERM PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSIVE AND ANXIETY SYMPTOMS IN THE POPULATION AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Background: The COVID-19 has had a profound negative impact on the population's mental health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in the general population during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify risk factors associated with these symptoms after implementing initial prevention strategies.

Subjects And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 visitors to five general practices in February 2021 in Slovenia.

A remote care model for patients at high risk of hospital admission due to COVID-19 deterioration: who makes it at home? - a multicenter follow-up case from Slovenia.

Aim: To assess the feasibility of a remote care model for high-risk COVID-19 patients, identify risk factors for hospital admission, and propose modifications to the tested model.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter observational study of 225 patients (55.1% male) treated at three primary care centers between October 2020 and February 2022.

Telemonitoring of Elderly with Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes at the Primary Care Level: Protocol for a Multicentric Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Introduction: Arterial hypertension (AH) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) represent a significant burden for the public health system, with an exceptionally high prevalence in patients aged ≥65 years. This study aims to test the acceptability, clinical effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of telemonitoring in elderly patients with AH and T2D at the primary care level.

Methods: A m ulti-centre, prospective, randomized, controlled t rial w ill be conducted.

Primary Care System Factors and Clinical Decision-making in Patients that Could Have Lung Cancer: a Vignette Study in Five Balkan Region Countries.

Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, with wide variations in national survival rates. This study compares primary care system factors and primary care practitioners' (PCPs') clinical decision-making for a vignette of a patient that could have lung cancer in five Balkan region countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania).

Methods: PCPs participated in an online questionnaire that asked for demographic data, practice characteristics, and information on health system factors.

Translation and validation of the STOP-Bang questionnaire into Slovene.

Purpose: To translate, culturally adapt and evaluate the Slovene version of the STOP-Bang questionnaire (SBQ) for use in the sleep clinic.

Methods: Standard forward-backward translation and harmonisation of the Slovene translation of the SBQ were performed. Test-retest reliability was performed on a sample of healthy subjects.

General practitioners' deprescribing decisions in older adults with polypharmacy: a case vignette study in 31 countries.

Background: General practitioners (GPs) should regularly review patients' medications and, if necessary, deprescribe, as inappropriate polypharmacy may harm patients' health. However, deprescribing can be challenging for physicians. This study investigates GPs' deprescribing decisions in 31 countries.

Attitudes of medical students to general practice: a multinational cross-sectional survey.

Background: A shortage of general practitioners (GPs) is common to many European countries. To counteract this, it is essential to understand the factors that encourage or discourage medical students from choosing to become a GP.

Objective: To evaluate medical students' attitudes towards general practice and to identify factors that discourage them from considering a career as a GP.

Primary care practitioners' diagnostic action when the patient may have cancer: an exploratory vignette study in 20 European countries.

Objectives: Cancer survival rates vary widely between European countries, with differences in timeliness of diagnosis thought to be one key reason. There is little evidence on the way in which different healthcare systems influence primary care practitioners' (PCPs) referral decisions in patients who could have cancer.This study aimed to explore PCPs' diagnostic actions (whether or not they perform a key diagnostic test and/or refer to a specialist) in patients with symptoms that could be due to cancer and how they vary across European countries.

May Measurement Month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Slovenia.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, contributing to over 10 million deaths each year. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative organized by the International Society of Hypertension aimed to raise awareness of high BP. In May 2018, we carried out an opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers from different parts of the country aged ≥18 years.

Adherence of Female Health Care Workers to the Use a Web-Based Tool for Improving and Modifying Lifestyle: Prospective Target Group Pilot Study.

Background: Health care professionals are exposed to the psychological and physiological effects of stress, which is a well-known risk factor for various mental and physical health problems.

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the adherence of female health care workers to use a web-based tool for improving and modifying lifestyle and to identify the potential factors influencing their adherence.

Methods: A prospective, observational study was performed.

Potential drug interactions with antibacterials in long-term care facilities analyzed by two interaction checkers.

Background Residents in long-term care facilities take many medications concomitantly, including antibacterials, which increases the risk of drug-drug interactions. Objectives The aims of the study were to investigate the prevalence of severe potential interactions between antibacterials and other medications in Slovenian long-term care facilities and to compare the performance of two different drug-drug interaction checkers in these settings. Setting Residents in long-term care facilities in Slovenia.

Patient Characteristics and General Practitioners' Advice to Stop Statins in Oldest-Old Patients: a Survey Study Across 30 Countries.

Background: Statins are widely used to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). With advancing age, the risks of statins might outweigh the potential benefits. It is unclear which factors influence general practitioners' (GPs) advice to stop statins in oldest-old patients.

Antimicrobial prescribing in long-term care facilities: a nationwide point-prevalence study, Slovenia, 2016.

Residents in long-term care are at high risk of infections because of their old age and many related health problems that lead to frequent antibiotic prescribing. The aim of the study was to assess antibiotic use in Slovenian long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The point-prevalence study was conducted between April and June 2016.

Identifying important health system factors that influence primary care practitioners' referrals for cancer suspicion: a European cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: Cancer survival and stage of disease at diagnosis and treatment vary widely across Europe. These differences may be partly due to variations in access to investigations and specialists. However, evidence to explain how different national health systems influence primary care practitioners' (PCPs') referral decisions is lacking.

Anticholinergic Burden and Most Common Anticholinergic-acting Medicines in Older General Practice Patients.

Introduction: Anticholinergic burden in older adults has been correlated with cognitive decline, delirium, dizziness and confusion, falls and hospitalisations. Nevertheless, anticholinergic-acting medications remain commonly prescribed in up to a third of older adults in primary care population. Our aim was to study the anticholinergic burden in older adults in Slovenian ambulatory setting and explore the most commonly involved medications which could be avoided by the physicians.

Specialty Training in Family Medicine in Montenegro - an Evaluation of The Programme By the First Generation of Trainees.

Introduction: One of the aims of health care reform in Montenegro is to strengthen primary care. An important step forward is the implementation of specialty training in family medicine (FM). The aim of this article is to evaluate the implementation of specialty training in family medicine in Montenegro, regarding the content, structure and methods, by the first generation of trainees and the coordinator of the training.

Health Behavior and Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with a High Risk of Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is measuring a patient's experience of his health status and represents an outcome of medical interventions. Existing data proves that a healthy lifestyle is positively associated with HRQoL in all age groups. Patients with a high risk for cardiovascular disease typically led an unhealthy lifestyle combined with risk diseases.

Burden of cardiovascular disease across 29 countries and GPs' decision to treat hypertension in oldest-old.

Objectives: We previously found large variations in general practitioner (GP) hypertension treatment probability in oldest-old (>80 years) between countries. We wanted to explore whether differences in country-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden and life expectancy could explain the differences.

Design: This is a survey study using case-vignettes of oldest-old patients with different comorbidities and blood pressure levels.