Building antimicrobial stewardship through massive open online courses: a pilot study in Macedonia.

Background: The global struggle against antibiotic resistance requires antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Massive open online courses (MOOCs) offer health professionals unprecedented access to high-quality instructional material on AMS; the question is how apprehensible it is to non-native English speakers. Furthermore, to better understand how education interventions promote change towards rational antibiotic prescribing, leading institutions call for studies integrating behavioural science.

Standardized Map of Iodine Status in Europe.

Knowledge about the population's iodine status is important, because it allows adjustment of iodine supply and prevention of iodine deficiency. The validity and comparability of iodine-related population studies can be improved by standardization, which was one of the goals of the EUthyroid project. The aim of this study was to establish the first standardized map of iodine status in Europe by using standardized urinary iodine concentration (UIC) data.

Changes in disease burden in Poland between 1990-2017 in comparison with other Central European countries: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

Background: Systematic collection of mortality/morbidity data over time is crucial for monitoring trends in population health, developing health policies, assessing the impact of health programs. In Poland, a comprehensive analysis describing trends in disease burden for major conditions has never been published. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides data on the burden of over 300 diseases in 195 countries since 1990.

Schoolchildren thyroid volume in North Macedonia: data from a national survey in an iodine-sufficient country.

Purpose: North Macedonia is historically iodine deficient, but due to the longstanding and effective preventive measures, it has been considered iodine replete since 2003. The aim of the recent national survey was to re-evaluate iodine status and to measure thyroid volume (TVol) by ultrasound in schoolchildren as a representative of the general population.

Methods: A stratified probability proportionate to size cluster sampling was used to obtain a representative national sample of school children aged 7-10 years between the 28th of March and 4th of October 2016.

Remission of Late-Onset Post-Liver Transplantation Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

We describe the clinical course of a patient who developed high-grade lymphoma during immunosuppression treatment with cyclosporine A, following liver transplantation. After anti-neoplastic polychemotherapy treatment, the remission of lymphoma was confirmed and maintained for over four years. The patient, a 27 year old female had liver transplantation at the age of 17, due to acute liver failure, caused by non-diagnosed Wilson disease.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Health System Review.

This analysis of the health system of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia reviews recent developments in organization and governance, health financing, health care provision, health reforms and health system performance. The country has made important progress during its transition from a socialist system to a market-based system, particularly in reforming the organization, financing and delivery of health care and establishing a mix of private and public providers. Though total health care expenditure has risen in absolute terms in recent decades, it has consistently fallen as share of GDP, and high levels of private health expenditure remain.

An Assessment of Romani Women's Autonomy and Timing of Pregnancy in Serbia and Macedonia.

Background Roma are Europe's largest minority population. Serbia and Macedonia have the greatest proportion of Roma outside of the European Union. Our objective was to examine women's agency and how it related to desired timing of pregnancy among Romani women in Macedonia and Serbia.

Predictors of prenatal smoking and attempted smoking cessation during pregnancy: a community-based study of Romani women in Southeastern Europe.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine predictors of prenatal smoking, and attempted smoking cessation during pregnancy among Romani women.

Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study (November 2012 to February 2013) of 410 Romani women in Roma settlements in Serbia and Macedonia was conducted. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of prenatal smoking and attempted smoking cessation during pregnancy.

Ensuring Effective Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders.

Background: Programs initiated to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) may not remain effective due to changes in government policies, commercial factors, and human behavior that may affect the efficacy of IDD prevention programs in unpredictable directions. Monitoring and outcome studies are needed to optimize the effectiveness of IDD prevention.

Summary: Although the need for monitoring is compelling, the current reality in Europe is less than optimal.

Implementation of patients' rights legislation in the Republic of Macedonia: gaps and disparities.

Background: Since its formation after the breakup of Yugoslavia, Macedonia has made major strides in formulating a framework for protecting patient rights through extensive legal reform. The impact of this reform had not been assessed before the work of this project.

Methods/objectives: Within the context of a larger project on improving human rights in patient care, this paper provides an overview of patients' rights legislation in Macedonia and uses research, case reports, and other empirical information to highlight the gaps in the implementation of patients' rights legislation on the ground.

Compliance with international standards on patients' rights and implementation of the Law on the Protection of Patients' Rights in the Republic of Macedonia.

In 2008, Macedonia adopted the Law on the Protection of Patients' Rights. This was a big step forward in the field of health care and regulation of patients' rights and responsibilities, as well as the rights and responsibilities of the health care providers. The Law introduces some new patients' rights (for example, right to second expert opinion) and new mechanisms for protection of patients' rights (Councilors for protection of patients' rights, Commissions for promotion of patients' rights).