A mixed-methods study of patient and healthcare professional perceptions of care pathways for knee osteoarthritis.

Background: This study aimed to address research gap concerning the perception of the care pathway for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients, focusing on both the patient and health professional perspectives in countries with inefficient health systems, such as Slovenia, by examining patient satisfaction with conservative treatment, assessing the perceptions of both patients and health professionals regarding the latter's involvement, and justifying the chosen KOA treatment approaches.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with KOA patients (n = 82) and healthcare professionals (n = 68).

Results: The care pathway for conservative KOA treatment in Slovenia begins with general practitioners (GPs), who conduct initial examinations, prescribe analgesics, and refer patients to radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons.

Factors Influencing Use of Medicinal Herbs.

In countries with a long tradition of folk herbal medicine that is not integrated into the health system, consumer interest in medicinal herbs has increased. Considering the lack of knowledge about the factors influencing the use of medicinal herbs, the aim of this study was to identify the most important factors of herbal use in Slovenia. Factors were assessed in June 2023 using a nationwide sample ( = 508).

Influence of Sociodemographic, Organizational, and Social Factors on Turnover Consideration Among Eldercare Workers: A Quantitative Survey.

Staff turnover in long-term care (LTC) is considered one of the main causes of staff shortages and a key problem for LTC systems in the developed world. Factors affecting staff turnover in LTC facilities are poorly understood due to a fragmented approach. The aim of this study was to use multivariate analysis to identify the factors at the macro-, meso-, and micro-level that influence LTC workers' turnover in Slovenia, a typical Central and Eastern European country.