Family practice
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Provoked Vulvodynia (PVD) is the most common cause of vulvar pain. General practitioners (GPs) are insufficiently familiar with it, causing a delay in many women receiving correct diagnosis and treatment. Besides patients factors, this delay can partly be explained by the reluctance of GPs to explore the sexual context of PVD and by their negative emotional reactions such as helplessness and frustration when consulted by patients with medically unexplained symptoms like PVD. ⋯ Women with PVD prefer a patient-centred approach and want GPs to acknowledge their autonomy and to address sexuality proactively.
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It can be challenging for general practitioners to support their oldest old patients through the complex process of relocation. ⋯ Most of the sample moved into residential care. This study highlights the importance of connections to locality, people and place along with good family relationships as the key facilitators of a healthy transition into care for the oldest old. The proposed checklist may have clinical utility.
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Ovarian cancer (OC) survival rates are lower in Denmark than in countries with similar health care. Prolonged time to diagnosis could be a contributing factor. The Danish cancer patient pathway (CPP) for OC was introduced in 2009. It provides GPs with fast access to diagnostic work-up. ⋯ Nine in ten patients attended general practice with symptoms before diagnosis. Two-thirds initially presented with vague non-specific symptoms were less likely to be referred to a CPP and had longer DIs than women suspected of cancer. These findings underline the importance of supplementing the CPP with additional accelerated diagnostic routes.
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The culture at a medical school and the positive experiences in primary care clerkships influence student specialty choice. This choice is significant if the demand for primary care physicians is to be met. The aim of this study was to examine family medicine clerkship directors' perceptions of the medical school environment. ⋯ Family medicine clerkship directors often perceived negativity towards family medicine, a finding that may limit the effectiveness of academic health centres in their mission to better serve their community and profession.
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In Germany, almost 50% of prescriptions for benzodiazepines and drugs as Zolpidem and Zopiclone are as out-of-pocket (OOP) prescriptions-requiring patients to buy the drug at their own expense-although almost 90% of the population has statutory health insurance covering medication costs. ⋯ Current regulations do not provide guidance to GPs regarding hypnotics and sedatives. A clear regulatory framework and guidelines could possibly reduce physicians' defensive attitudes about these drugs and their use of OOP prescriptions. The approach to use OOP prescriptions as a barrier to reduce patients' medication use lacks evidence regarding effectiveness.