Validation of the Croatian version of CIVIQ quality of life questionnaire in patients with chronic venous disorders.

AIM: To test the psychometric properties of the Croatian version of the Chronic Venous Insufficiency Quality of Life (CIVIQ) Questionnaire and to assess the quality of life in patients with chronic venous disorders of all stages. METHODS: This cross-sectional study performed between 2014 and 2015 in a private family practice assessed the factorial validity, cross-sectional validity, and reliability of the Croatian CIVIQ 20-item questionnaire completed by 428 adult patients (78% women) with chronic venous disorders classified according to the Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic-Pathophysiologic (CEAP) C classification as stages C1-C6. RESULTS: Median patient age was 52 years (5th-95th percentile, 30-77). The distribution according to the clinical stages of chronic venous disorders was as follows: C1 (n=78, 18%), C2 (n=192, 45%), C3 (n=53, 12%), C4 (n=44, 10%), C5 (n=13, 3%), and C6 (n=48, 11%). The CIVIQ-20 factorial structure was unstable, and six items were excluded from the analysis to test the psychometric properties of the shortened version (CIVIQ-14). CIVIQ-14 has three dimensions (physical, psychological, and pain). Internal consistency reliability is high for the entire CIVIQ-14 (Cronbach α=0.92) and for all CIVIQ-14 dimensions (α≥0.80). The median quality of life significantly decreased with higher CEAP C stages as follows: C1/C2 (86, 50-100); C3/C4 (75, 36-98); C5/C6 (67, 31-95) (P<0.001). Post-hoc analysis showed a higher quality of life in C1/C2 than in other groups (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The shortened CIVIQ-14 version is useful for assessing the quality of life in patients with chronic venous disorders in everyday clinical practice. To achieve a stable validated instrument, we recommend a cross-cultural validation of items that have loadings on more than one factor.

Influenza vaccination prevalence and demographic factors of patients and GPs in primary care in Austria and Croatia: a cross-sectional comparative study in the framework of the APRES project.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare influenza vaccination coverage rates in Austria and Croatia, countries with missing data in the Eurosurveillance and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports. In addition, we assessed demographic factors of GPs and patients and calculated associations regarding vaccination rates. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted within the context of thethe appropriateness of prescribing antibiotics in primary health care in Europe with respect to antibiotic resistance (APRES) project. Between November 2010 and July 2011, 40 GP practices attempted to recruit 200 patients to complete questionnaires about their influenza vaccination status and demographics. Statistical analyses included subgroup analyses and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Data from 7269 patient questionnaires could be analyzed (3309 Austria and 3960 Croatia). The vaccination coverage rates were low (2009/2010: A 18.2 vs. C 20.9%, P < 0.001; 2010/2011: A 13.7 vs. C 18.6%; P < 0.001). The rates were found to be highest in persons aged 65 years and older (2009/2010: A 35.1 vs. C 49.5%, P < 0.001; 2010/2011: A 31.1 vs. C 45.7%, P < 0.001) and lowest in children (2009/2010: A 8.5 vs. C 2.0%, P < 0.001; 2010/2011: A 4.3 vs. C 1.6%, P = 0.002). Besides, demographics in the adjusted regression model for Austria being vaccinated was associated with consulting a female GP (OR, 4.20; P < 0.001) and in Croatia with five or more GP consultations per year (OR, 4.41; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The vaccination coverage rates for Austria and Croatia were low, with the highest rates found in persons aged 65 years and older, showing that public coverage of the vaccination costs might increase vaccination rates. However, other factors seem to be relevant, including the engagement of GPs.

Say it in Croatian--Croatian translation of the EGPRN definition of multimorbidity using a Delphi consensus technique.

Patients coming to their family physician (FP) usually have more than one condition or problem. Multimorbidity as well as dealing with it, is challenging for FPs even as a mere concept. The World Health Organization (WHO) has simply defined multimorbidity as two or more chronic conditions existing in one patient. However, this definition seems inadequate for a holistic approach to patient care within Family Medicine. Using systematic literature review the European General Practitioners Research Network (EGPRN) developed a comprehensive definition of multimorbidity. For practical and wider use, this definition had to be translated into other languages, including Croatian. Here presented is the Croatian translation of this comprehensive definition using a Delphi consensus procedure for forward/backward translation. 23 expert FPs fluent in English were asked to rank the translation from 1 (absolutely disagreeable) to 9 (fully agreeable) and to explain each score under 7. It was previously defined that consensus would be reached when 70% of the scores are above 6. Finally, a backward translation from Croatian into English was undertaken and approved by the authors of the English definition. Consensus was reached after the first Delphi round with 100% of the scores above 6; therefore the Croatian translation was immediately accepted. The authors of the English definition accepted the backward translation. A comprehensive definition of multimorbidity is now available in English and Croatian, as well as other European languages which will surely make further implications for clinicians, researchers or policy makers.

Association between hyperuricemia, prediabetes, and prehypertension in the Croatian adult population--a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The association between hyperuricemia, hypertension, and diabetes has been proved to have strong association with the risk for cardiovascular diseases, but it is not clear whether hyperuricemia is related to the early stages of hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, in this study we investigated the association between hyperuricemia, prediabetes, and prehypertension in Croatian adults, as well as that between purine-rich diet and hyperuricemia, prediabetes, or prehypertension. METHODS: A stratified random representative sample of 64 general practitioners (GP) was selected. Each GP systematically chose participants aged ≥ 40 year (up to 55 subjects) . Recruitment occurred between May and September 2008. The medical history, anthropometric, and laboratory measures were obtained for each participant. RESULTS: 59 physicians agreed to participate and recruited 2485 subjects (response rate 77%; average age (± standard deviation) 59.2 ± 10.6; 61.9% women. In bivariate analysis we found a positive association between hyperuricemia and prediabetes (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.09-2.53), but not for prehypertension (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.76-3.72). After controlling for known confounders for cardiovascular disease (age, gender, body mass index, alcohol intake, diet, physical activity, waist to hip ratio, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and triglycerides), in multivariate analysis HU ceased to be an independent predictor(OR 1.33, CI 0.98-1.82, p = 0.069) for PreDM. An association between purine-rich food and hyperuricemia was found (p<0.001) and also for prediabetes (p=0.002), but not for prehypertension (p=0.41). The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 10.7% (15.4% male, 7.8% female), 32.5% for prediabetes (35.4% male, 30.8% female), and 26.6% for prehypertension (27.2% male, 26.2% female). CONCLUSION: Hyperuricemia seems to be associated with prediabetes but not with prehypertension. Both, hyperuricemia and prediabetes were associated with purine-rich food and patients need to be advised on appropriate diet. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN31857696.

How well do anthropometric indices correlate with cardiovascular risk factors? A cross-sectional study in Croati.

BACKGROUND: Usefulness of anthropometric indices (AI) as predictors of CV risk is unclear and remains controversial. MATERIAL/METHODS: To evaluate the correlation between AI and CV risk factors in the Croatian adult population and to observe possible differences between coastal and inland regions and urban and rural settlements. CRISIC-fm (ISRCTN31857696) is a prospective, randomized cohort study conducted in GP (general practitioner) practices in Croatia. Between May and July 2008, 59 GPs each recruited 55 participants aged ≥ 40 years, who visited a practice for any reason. Height, weight, waist and hip circumference and blood pressure were measured. Blood samples were analyzed in accredited laboratories. RESULTS: Out of 2467 participants (61.9% women, 38.1% men), 36.3% were obese, with fewer in coastal than inland areas. More obese people were in rural areas. Logistic regression showed BMI was the most important predictor of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia in both regions (except for diabetes in the coastal area), and for urban and rural settlements (except for diabetes in rural areas). WtHR was a significant predictor for hypertension and dyslipidemia in the coastal (but only for hypertension in the inland area), and in urban settlements (in rural only for hypertension). None of the AI showed significant correlation with total CV risk, but WC and BMI did with stroke risk. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses showed that WtHR was a better predictor than all other AI for hypertension and dyslipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: Results encourage the use of BMI and WtHR as important tools in predicting CV risk in GP's practice.

Continental-Mediterranean and rural-urban differences in cardiovascular risk factors in Croatian population.

AIM: To compare the distribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) factors between continental and Mediterranean areas and urban and rural areas of Croatia, as well as to investigate the differences in achieving treatment goals by the general practitioners (GP) in different settings. METHODS: A multicenter prospective study was performed on 2467 participants of both sexes ≥40 years old, who visited for any reason 59 general practices covering the whole area of Croatia (May-July 2008). The study was a part of the Cardiovascular Risk and Intervention Study in Croatia-family medicine (CRISIC-fm) study. Patients were interviewed using a 140-item questionnaire on socio-demographics and CVD risk factors. We measured body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference and determined biochemical variables including blood pressure, total, high-density lipoprotein-, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia, and uric acid. RESULTS: Participants from continental rural areas had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P<0.001), obesity (P=0.001), increased waist circumference (P<0.001), and more intense physical activity (P=0.020). Participants from coastal rural areas had higher HDL-cholesterol, participants from continental rural and coastal urban areas had higher LDL-cholesterol, and participants from rural continental had significantly higher BMI and waist circumference. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of CVD risk factors in Croatian population is high. Greater burden of risk factors in continental region and rural areas may be partly explained by lifestyle differences.

Comparison of depression treatment among different age groups in primary care setting.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the association between age and care of patients with depression in primary care setting. A comparison was made among the groups of elderly patients, middle aged patients and younger patients with diagnosis of depressive episode (F32). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients (17.290) from ten GP offices in the city of Zagreb formed the representative sample for this study according to the estimated depression prevalence in Europe of 5%. A group of 231 (60%) patients with diagnosis Depressive episode (F32), out of 383 patients with Depression diagnosis according to ICD-10, were reviewed and extracted from GPs' standardized medical files. They were divided in three age groups: <45 years (n=58), 45-65 years (n=97) and >65 years (n=76). Data were tracked longitudinally and obtained retrospectively for one-year period from 1st January to 31th December 2009. Pharmacotherapy was classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification index. RESULTS: The youngest and the oldest age group mainly used only one drug in their therapy (47% vs 64%), but middle age group almost equally used one or two drugs (42 vs 45%). About 50% of all patients used SSRIs. Benzodiazepines were used most frequently in middle and in the oldest age group (71% vs 60%). The most frequent combinations of antidepressants in the youngest age group were SSRIs and combination of SSRIs and benzodiazepines; in middle age group it was combination of SSRIs and benzodiazepines and benzodiazepines; and in the oldest benzodiazepines, and SSRIs. Benzodiazepines were used mainly discontinuously in oppose to significant continuous usage in middle age group (P 0.043). In the oldest age groupe, depression diagnose was mostly given by GP and the most frequent therapy was combination of pharmacotherapy and GP's support. Unaided clinical assessment of depression outcome by GP did not differ significantly between age groups although some differences existed. CONCLUSION: Number and sort of antidepressants as well as sort of physician: GP or psychiatrist differed between age groups of depressed patients. Further investigation of specifical depression treatment compared with outcome measures should give answer whether those differences are justified.

[Diet as a cardiovascular risk factor in family medicine]. / Prehrana kao rizicni cimbenik kardiovaskularnih bolesti u obiteljskoj medicini.

Although Mediterranean country by its geographic position, according to cardiovascular mortality (CVM) rate, Croatia belongs to Central-East European countries with high CV mortality. Prevention by changing nutritional habits is population (public health programmes) or individually targeted. General practitioner (GP) provides care for whole person in its environment and GP's team plays a key role in achieving lifestyle changes. GPs intervention is individually/group/family targeted by counselling or using printed leaflets (individual manner, organized programmes). Adherence to lifestyle changes is not an easy task; it is higher when recommendations are simple and part of individually tailored programme with follow- ups included. Motivation is essential, but obstacles to implementation (by patient and GPs) are also important. Nutritional intervention influences most important CV risk factors: cholesterol level, blood pressure (BP), diabetes. Restriction in total energy intake with additional nutritional interventions is recommended. Lower animal fat intake causes CVM reduction by 12%, taking additional serving of fruit/day by 7% and vegetables by 4%. Restriction of dietary salt intake (3 g/day) lowers BP by 2-8 mm Hg, CVM by 16%. Nutritional intervention gains CHD and stroke redact in healthy adults (12%, 11% respectively). Respecting individual lifestyle and nutrition, GP should suggest both home cooking and careful food declaration reading and discourage salt adding. Recommended daily salt intake is < or =6 g. In BP lowering, salt intake restriction (10-12 to 5-6 g/day) is as efficient as taking one antihypertensive drug. Lifestyle intervention targeting nutritional habits and pharmacotherapy is the most efficient combination in CV risk factors control.

[Preventive work in family medicine--proactive approach]. / Proaktivni pristup preventivnom radu u obiteljskoj medicini.

The role of general practitioner/family physician (GP/FP) in disease prevention and health promotion is strongly supported by research and health policies. The position of GPs/FPs in the health care system and their close, sustained contact with their patients and local community makes preventive care an integral part of GP/FP routine work. The spectrum of caring for patients in general practice/family medicine is actually very large, going from intervention on health care determinants to palliative care. The prevention-related activities are more or less present at each step of this "healthcare continuum". The significant gaps between GP/FP knowledge and practices persist in the use of evidence-based recommendations for health promotion and disease prevention. We describe the role of GP/FP in preventive care and report data on preventive care activities in the Croatian Family Medicine Service. More objective evidence is needed to see what GPs/FPs actually do in practice. For this reason, it is critical that GPs/FPs systematically record the most relevant preventive and health promotion activities that they perform. Furthermore, their performance of the preventive program should be regularly monitored, evaluated and professionally and financially validated. We present the preventive program based on these principles in Family Medicine Service proposed by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Working Group on Reform of Primary Health Care.

Unaided general practitioners' clinical diagnosis in evaluation of depressive patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: In this study we wished to determine the diagnostic accuracy of unaided general practitioners' (GPs') clinical diagnosis in the evaluation of depression in depressed patients under their care compared with the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From 17,000 patients in 10 GPs' offices as representative sample in the city of Zagreb, 5100 patients from three GPs' offices were selected. The sample consisted of 53 out of 76 depressed patients with a diagnosis of Depressive episode (F32) or Recurrent depressive disorder (F33) classified according to ICD-10 and assessed by review of the GP's standardized medical records. Cross-sectional investigation was performed during February 2008. GPs classified depressed patients as either nondepressed without therapy, nondepressed with therapy or depressed with therapy. Within a two-week period, the unaided GPs' diagnosis was compared with BDI-II performed by psychologists unfamiliar with the GPs' assessment. Based on the GP vs. BDI-II comparison, patients were classified as either positive, false positive, false negative or negative. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV associated with physician identification of depression were calculated by standard methods. RESULTS: Depressiveness was found by BD-II in the group 'depressed with therapy' (24.39±10.91). ANOVA found a significant difference in BDI-II means between the outcome groups (P<0.001). Scheffe's procedure found a significant difference in BDI-II in patients with therapy (nondepressed vs. depressed) (P<0.001) and nondepressed without therapy vs. depressed with therapy (P<0.001). There were 16 depressed patients, 27 nondepressed, 2 false positive, and 8 false negative. Unaided GPs' clinical diagnosis showed 66% sensitivity, 93%, specificity, 88% PPV, and 77% NPV. CONCLUSION: Unaided GPs' clinical diagnosis with 88% PPV outperforms other measures of patient depression and is easier to implement when compared to the psychiatric model of caseness, which is based on screening instruments.

The safety attitudes questionnaire for out-of-hours service in primary healthcare-Psychometric properties of the Croatian version.

The aim of the study was to assess the reliability and construct validity of the Croatian translation of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire-Ambulatory version (SAQ-AV) in the out-of-hours (OOH) primary care setting. A cross-sectional observational study using anonymous web-survey was carried out targeting a convenience sample of 358 health professionals working in the Croatian OOH primary care service. The final sample consisted of 185 questionnaires (response rate 51.7%). Psychometric properties were assessed using exploratory hierarchical factor analysis with Schmid-Leiman rotation to bifactor solution, McDonald's ω, and Cronbach's α. Five group factors were identified: Organization climate, Teamwork climate, Stress recognition, Ambulatory process of care, and Perceptions of workload. Items loading on the Stress recognition and Perceptions of workload factor had low loadings on the general factor. Cronbach's α ranged between 0.79 and 0.93. All items had corrected item-total correlation above 0.5. McDonalds' ω total for group factors ranged between 0.76 and 0.91. Values of ω general for factors Organization climate, Teamwork climate, and Ambulatory process of care ranged between 0.41 and 0.56. McDonalds' ω general for Stress recognition and Perceptions of workload were 0.13 and 0.16, respectively. Even though SAQ-AV may not be a reliable tool for international comparisons, subsets of items may be reliable tools in several national settings, including Croatia. Results confirmed that Stress recognition is not a dimension of patient safety culture, while Ambulatory process of care might be. Future studies should investigate the relationship of patient safety culture to treatment outcome.

[Referring process in family medicine--contribution assessment]. / Upucivanje iz ordinacije obiteljskog lijecnika--procjena doprinosa.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to follow and analyze patient referrals from general practice (GP) to diagnostic procedures and specialist consultations. Data on the kinds of diagnostic procedures, specialist consultations and requests for referrals were collected. Specific aim was to assess the contribution of referring for definitive diagnosis and to compare the frequency and contribution of first and repeat consultations. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in the course of one month at six GP practices (three urban and one rural practice in inland area, and one urban and one rural practice in coastal area of Croatia). Patient sociodemographic data (age and sex), referral request (by patient, GP, GP and specialist in agreement, specialist only) and kind of visit (first, follow-up) were collected. The contribution of referrals was assessed by GPs using modified Likert's scale (1-markedly significant, 2-significant, 3-undetermined, 4-small and 5-insignificant). On comparison of frequencies chi square test was used. Statistical analyses were done by use of licensed software (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC, USA). RESULTS: During one month, 1815 patients were referred, 979 for diagnostic procedures and 836 for specialist consultation (mean age 55.25 +/- 19.70; male 56.30 +/- 19.10, female 54.50 +/- 20.30). Most frequent diagnostic procedures requested were biochemical laboratory in primary health care setting (n = 331; 33.41%) and secondary care (n =1 18; 12.05%), basic radiology (n=106; 10.83%), ultrasonography (n=87; 8.80%) and microbiological laboratory (n = 68; 6.95%). The contribution of diagnostic procedures was mostly assessed as significant (54.84%). When GP and specialist indicated diagnostic procedure concordantly, its contribution was mostly assessed as significant (61.90%) and markedly significant (10.12%). Specialist consultations were used as follows: physical medicine in 131 (19%), surgeon in 90 (13%) and psychiatrist in 69 (10%) patients from inland area, cardiologist in 53 (37%), psychiatrist in 17 (12%) and oncologist in 12 (8%) patients from coastal area. Both in rural and urban practices in inland and coastal area surgeon consultations were assessed as markedly significant. Urban GPs assessed the contribution of first and follow-up check ups as undetermined or small more often than rural GPs (first check ups Xchi =21.66; P<0.0001; follow-up check ups chi2 = 196.38; P < 0.0001). Rural GPs assessed the contribution of first check ups more often as undetermined or small than significant (chi2 = 12.02; P = 0.0005), with the same tendency recorded for follow-up check ups (Xchi =32.01; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: GP should maintain the gatekeeping role to assure good quality of care and rationality in using available resources. Cooperation between GPs and specialists is essential to achieve good quality of care. GPs should restore role in indicating follow-up check ups.

Burnout in European family doctors: the EGPRN study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout, and of associated factors, amongst family doctors (FDs) in European countries. Methodology. A cross-sectional survey of FDs was conducted using a custom-designed and validated questionnaire which incorporated the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) as well as questions about demographic factors, working experience, health, lifestyle and job satisfaction. MBI-HSS scores were analysed in the three dimensions of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA). RESULTS: Almost 3500 questionnaires were distributed in 12 European countries, and 1393 were returned to give a response rate of 41%. In terms of burnout, 43% of respondents scored high for EE burnout, 35% for DP and 32% for PA, with 12% scoring high burnout in all three dimensions. Just over one-third of doctors did not score high for burnout in any dimension. High burnout was found to be strongly associated with several of the variables under study, especially those relative to respondents' country of residence and European region, job satisfaction, intention to change job, sick leave utilization, the (ab)use of alcohol, tobacco and psychotropic medication, younger age and male sex. CONCLUSIONS: Burnout seems to be a common problem in FDs across Europe and is associated with personal and workload indicators, and especially job satisfaction, intention to change job and the (ab)use of alcohol, tobacco and medication. The study questionnaire appears to be a valid tool to measure burnout in FDs. Recommendations for employment conditions of FDs and future research are made, and suggestions for improving the instrument are listed.

Patient, physician, and practice characteristics related to patient enablement in general practice in Croatia: cross-sectional survey study.

AIM: To investigate the quality of general practice care in Croatia by using patient enablement as a consultation outcome measure and its association with patient, physician, and practice characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study performed from November 2003 to March 2004 included a national stratified random sample of 350 general practitioners, who were asked to collect data on 50 consecutive consultations with their patients aged > or =18 years. Patients provided data on patient enablement (Patient Enablement Instrument, score range 0-12), consultation length, sociodemographic data, how well they knew the physician, health self-assessment, quality of life, and reason for the visit. Physicians provided data on age, sex, vocational training, working experience, educational work, average number of patients per day, and type of practice. RESULTS: In 5527 patients, the mean score (+/-standard deviation) for enablement at consultation was 6.6+/-3.3 and the mean consultation length was 11.5+/-5.5 minutes. Logistic regression analysis showed that lack of continuity of care (men: OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.47-0.67; women: OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.45-0.61), poor self-perceived health (men: OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.49-2.07; women: OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.53-2.04), low educational level, low quality of life for both sexes and older age in male patients predicted low enablement (P<0.05 for each). Physician age, sex, and average number of patients per day were significantly correlated with enablement for male patients and physician working experience with enablement for female patients (P<0.05 for each). CONCLUSION: Patient enablement score in Croatia is high in comparison with countries such as the UK and Poland. Enablement at consultations was related to the continuity of care and patient health status, and other patient, physician, and practice characteristics, suggesting that these parameters should be considered when assessing quality of care in general practice.

[Guidelines for diagnostics and treatment of arterial hypertension. Practical recommendations of the Croatian Working Group for Hypertension. Consideration on the ESH-ESC 2007 guidelines]. / Smjernice za dijagnosticiranje i lijecenje arterijske hipertenzije. Prakticne preporuke hrvatske radne skupine i osvrt na smjernice ESH/ESC 2007.

ESH/ECS guidelines for diagnostics and treatment of arterial hypertension 2007 is a basic paper for all physicians who treat hypertensive patients. Since publishing, this article has been the most cited medical paper. According to ESH/ECS guidelines some local peculiarities in each country should be considered when diagnosing and treating hypertensive patients. Practical recommendations of the Croatian working group for the diagnostics and treatment of hypertension are in agreement with ESH/ECS guidelines. However, few additional issues are added and further discussed in this paper (hypertensive crisis, treatment of hypertension in patients undergoing dialysis and in renal transplanted patients, role of family physicians, role of nurse). We believe that this paper will contribute better control of hypertension in Croatia. All medical societies and institutions that took part in writing this document, have to consider this paper as an official statement.

UK and Croatia: family practice, its medical records and computerisation in the context of an enlarged Europe.

BACKGROUND: Croatia and the UK have list-based general practice systems: patients register with a single practice. They are also progressively computerising family practice. We set out to identify and report where these countries might learn from each other's experience. METHOD: Experiences, similarities and differences were derived from a literature review and visits to practices in Croatia and the UK. RESULTS: Both countries had developed unique but sophisticated paper-based primary care record systems. They have now moved to promote the computerisation of primary care; both countries see this as integral to patient safety, quality improvement and derivation of data for health service management. However, the development of primary care computing has been an organic process with small suppliers producing trial systems with natural selection of the more effective system. CONCLUSIONS: IT has the potential to improve patient safety and the quality and efficiency of primary care. The lack of a theoretical framework for the comparison of systems hampers the development and selection of an optimum system.

Computerisation of general practice in the Republic of Croatia: experience gained in general practice use.

Well-organised medical records are the prerequisite for achieving a high level of performance in primary healthcare settings. Recording balanced structured and coded data as well as free text can improve both quality and organisation of work in the office. It provides a more substantiated support of financial transactions and accountancy, allows better communication with other facilities and institutions, and is a source of valuable scientific research material. This article is the result of an individual experience gained in general practice use of various programs/systems employed within the family medicine frame, and the frame of evaluation of available and commonly-exploited program solutions. The use of various programs allows for systematic adjustments as to the increasingly complex requirements imposed on electronic medical records (EMRs). The experience of a general practitioner, presented in this paper, confirms the assumption that an adequate program to be employed with EMRs should be developed, provided that family medicine practitioners, that is, the final users, have been involved in each and every stage of its development, adjustment, implementation and evaluation.

Information systems and the electronic health record in primary health care.

The implementation of information systems into primary health care opened the possibilities of providing integrated and co-ordinated health care, improved in quality and focused on the healthcare user. The healthcare system, researchers, physicians, and patients have recognised the benefits offered by informatics, but also raised questions that have yet to be answered.

Chronic patients--persons with diabetes frequent attenders in Croatian family practice.

Chronic diseases cause high frequency visits and generate the long-term frequent attenders (FAs). The connection between frequent attendance and specific morbidities in the health care systems in transitional Europe has been underestimated. We investigated whether frequent visits of chronic patients in primary care are related to characteristic of chronic disease (diabetes mellitus) and whether this is influenced by the family practice in the transitional health care. We analyzed the number of visits a day time work for 490 persons with diabetes in the period 1997 to 2000. As the cut-off points between frequent attenders and non frequent attenders (NFAs) we used the value of the third quartile (Q3) of visits determined for the sex and age groups in the parallel study in the whole population. The analysis was performed for 23 variables: demographic characteristics of patients, disease characteristic and variables of physician. Logistic regressions were employed to identify the predictors of FAs/NFAs. 56.9% (in 1997) to 62.4% (in 2000) persons with diabetes were FAs, compared to 22.4% to 24.3% FAs patients in the whole population. Logistic regression analysis significantly differentiated the two group of visits with 68% accuracy. 4 variables are significant predictors for FAs/NFAs: diabetes as the main disease (p = 0.0005), diet-only-treatment (p = 0.0062), treatment by secondary care (p = 0.0116), and if glycated hemoglobin test (HbA1c) is determined (p = 0.0272). Understanding the similarities and differences of FAs/NFAs persons with diabetes may be important in improving the care and management of chronic diseases in family medicine in transitional health care systems.

[Ten years after "privatization" in primary health care]. / Deset godina nakon "privatizacije" primarne zdravstvene zastite.

Ten years after the privatization in primary health care its disadvantages have been noticed making it less quality and consequently increasing the costs of total health care of the patient. Current organization makes family practitioners inaccessible to the patient during a part of the day. Emergency health care and hospital emergency services are ever more burdened with the work that should be done by family practitioners, thus becoming hardly accessible in emergencies. Medical nurses are mostly occupied with administrative work, family practitioners are partly doing the work that should be done by nurses, while clinical specialists are doing the job of family practitioners. They all work a lot but they do the jobs that should not be in their domain and that are much under the level of their education. Health care becomes ineffective, below-quality and expensive. It is necessary to redefine the tasks of all health care participants starting from family practitioners, and to redefine the role of medical center. Solving the legal position of family practitioners working in "lease", introduction of the combined form of payment in family practice, and the possibility of interacting association of physicians could help eliminate the problems and promote the quality of health care.