Implementation and evaluation of a navigation program for people with cancer in old age and their family caregivers: study protocol for the EU NAVIGATE International Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Cancer navigation programs aim to support, educate, and empower patients and families, addressing barriers to diagnostics, treatment, and care. Navigators engage with people to ensure timely access to services and resources. While promising for older people with cancer, these programs are scarce in Europe, and research on their effectiveness and implementation is limited.

Prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors - a scoping review.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic exerted significant mental burden on healthcare workers (HCWs) operating in the frontline of the COVID-19 care as they experienced high levels of stress and burnout. The aim of this scoping review was to identify prevalence and factors associated with burnout among HCWs during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL.

Measuring relatives' perceptions of end-of-life communication with physicians in five countries: a psychometric analysis.

Unlabelled: (FPPFC) was developed to assess quality of physician-family end-of-life communication in nursing homes. However, its validity has been tested only in the USA and the Netherlands. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the FPPFC construct validity and its reliability, as well as the psychometric characteristics of the items comprising the scale.

Nonpharmacological interventions in patients with cognitive impairment: a comparison of residential and nursing homes in Poland.

Introduction: Availability of nonpharmacological interventions to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms is important to reduce the use of psychotropic drugs in residents with dementia in long‑term care facilities (LTCFs).

Objectives: We aimed to assess prevalence of nonpharmacological interventions in residents with cognitive impairment in LTCFs, and to find factors associated with their participation in cognitive therapy (CT).

Patients And Methods: A cross‑sectional analysis of a country‑representative sample of 23 LTCFs in Poland was conducted between 2015 and 2016.

Associations between Length of Stay in Long Term Care Facilities and End of Life Care. Analysis of the PACE Cross-Sectional Study.

Long term care facilities (LTCFs) are increasingly a place of care at end of life in Europe. Longer residence in an LTCF prior to death has been associated with higher indicators of end of life care; however, the relationship has not been fully explored. The purpose of this analysis is to explore associations between length of stay and end of life care.

Health, functional, psychological and nutritional status of cognitively impaired long-term care residents in Poland.

Purpose: To find if there are differences in health, functional, nutritional and psychological status among residents with cognitive impairment (CI) depending on where they stay, in nursing homes (NH) or residential homes (RH), and depending on the level of CI. To find factors increasing the probability that the resident with CI stays in the NH compared to RH.

Design: A cross-sectional survey of a country-representative sample of 23 LTCIs randomly selected from all six regions in Poland was conducted in 2015-2016.

Evaluating the implementation of the PACE Steps to Success Programme in long-term care facilities in seven countries according to the RE-AIM framework.

Background: The PACE 'Steps to Success' programme is a complex educational and development intervention for staff to improve palliative care in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). In a cluster randomized controlled trial, this programme has been implemented in 37 LTCFs in 7 European countries. Alongside an effectiveness study, a process evaluation study was conducted.

Factors Associated with Perception of the Quality of Physicians' End-of-life Communication in Long-Term Care Facilities: PACE Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: To examine factors associated with perceived quality of communication with physicians by relatives of dying residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Design: A cross-sectional retrospective study in a representative sample of LTCFs conducted in 2015. In each LTCF, deaths of residents during the 3 months before the researcher's visit were reported.

Perception of the Quality of Communication With Physicians Among Relatives of Dying Residents of Long-term Care Facilities in 6 European Countries: PACE Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: To examine how relatives evaluate the quality of communication with the treating physician of a dying resident in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and to assess its differences between countries.

Design: A cross-sectional retrospective study in a representative sample of LTCFs conducted in 2015. Relatives of residents who died during the previous 3 months were sent a questionnaire.

Advance directives in European long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: End-of-life care practices in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are the focus of growing attention in Europe, due to rapidly increasing number of older persons living in LTCFs. The knowledge about end-of-life discussions or existence of written advance directives in the European LTCFs is scarce. This study's aim is to investigate the prevalence of written advance directives and their sociodemographic associates, among recently deceased LTCF residents, in six European countries.

Prevalence of cognitive impairment among long-term care residents: a comparison between nursing homes and residential homes in Poland.

Purpose: Large-scale nationwide comparative studies of older adults with cognitive impairment (CI) in long-term care institutions (LTCI) hardly exist in Poland. This paper compares the prevalence of CI and its symptoms in residents of nursing homes (NHs) and residential homes (RHs) in Poland.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of a country-representative sample of 23 LTCIs was conducted in the years 2015-2016.

The systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE) for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Does evidence exist for its effectiveness? A systematic review.

Objectives: The SCORE model predicts the ten-year risk of cardiovascular mortality but it is still unknown whether applying the SCORE in clinical practice subsequently improves cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of total cardiovascular risk estimation using the SCORE in preventing serious cardiovascular events in European adults without prior CVD.

Methods And Results: Data sources: eight bibliographical databases (2003 - August 2015), other internet sources and reference lists of articles were checked.

[The prevalence of chronic diseases and geriatric problems - a comparison of nursing home residents in the skilled and nonskilled long-term care facilities in Poland].

Unlabelled: In Poland long-term care services are provided by skilled care and treatment facilities (ZOL) and nursing and care facilities (ZPO) both functioning within the health sector as well as by non-skilled nursing homes (DPS) situated in social care sector. Determinants of medical and nursing care provided by both sectors vary considerably in terms of organization (availability) and economic issues (costs of care).

Aim: The aim of the study is to compare characteristics of residents in two types of long term care facilities (LTCFs) in Poland with a special focus on geriatric issues.

Comparing Palliative Care in Care Homes Across Europe (PACE): Protocol of a Cross-sectional Study of Deceased Residents in 6 EU Countries.

Objectives: Although a growing number of older people are dying in care homes, palliative care has developed in these settings only recently. Cross-country representative comparative research hardly exists in this area. As part of a large EU-funded project, we aim to undertake representative comparative research in care homes in Europe, to describe and compare 6 countries in terms of (1) resident outcomes, quality and costs of palliative and end-of-life care; and (2) palliative care structures and staff knowledge and attitudes toward palliative care.

Quality improvement competency gaps in primary care in Albanian, polish and slovenian contexts: a study protocol.

Background: Nowadays, general practitioners (GPs) and family doctors (FDs) face increasing demands, as a consequence of complex patients' expectations, developments in science and technology, and limitations within healthcare systems which can result in competency gaps. Therefore, there is a need to identify which competencies in quality improvement (QI) are most important for GPs and FDs to possess in order to meet the demands of contemporary health care practice. To date, however, little information is available on the self-assessment of competencies related to QI among GPs and FDs.

Lipid-lowering pharmacotherapy in Central and Eastern European countries in cardiovascular prevention: self-reported prescription patterns of primary care physicians.

Aims: The aims of this study were (1) to explore physicians' self-reported treatment of patients with dyslipidemia and (2) to identify intercountry differences and associations between physicians' characteristics and treatment patterns.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in primary health care in 9 Central and Eastern European countries. An anonymous questionnaire, which included questions devoted to dyslipidemia treatment, was distributed.

Cross-cultural Adaptation of a Questionnaire on Self-perceived Level of Skills, Abilities and Competencies of Family Physicians in Albania.

Objective: Our aim was to validate an international instrument measuring self-perceived competency level of family physicians in Albania.

Methods: A representative sample of 57 family physicians operating in primary health care services was interviewed twice in March-April 2012 in Tirana (26 men and 31 women; median age: 46 years, inter-quartile range: 38-56 years). A structured questionnaire was administered [and subsequently re-administered after two weeks (test-retest)] to all family physicians aiming to self-assess physicians' level of abilities, skills and competencies regarding different domains of quality of health care.