In order to achieve a high standard in training programmes for future family medicine specialists, it is essential to have good tutors with well-organised family medicine practices. Proper working ...conditions for young doctors are essential for their satisfaction and future professional development. The aim of our study was to check the current working conditions of family medicine trainees in the practical modular part of the training programme in Slovenia, and to determine their satisfaction with working conditions.
A cross-sectional study was conducted. The data was collected through a questionnaire distributed to 105 family medicine trainees undergoing the practical modular part of their training programme.
The study showed that the following 7 out of 25 organisational and labour law factors are significantly associated with a trainee's general satisfaction with working conditions: the location where work with patients takes place, the privacy of the premises, the accessibility of the main tutor, a constant patient population, suitable places for rest, paid out-of-hours substitutions, and appropriate pay grade.
The results we obtained can be used to address certain aspects of trainees' working conditions in Slovenia that need improvement. By determining which working conditions significantly affect a trainee's satisfaction, we have the opportunity to modify these conditions and thereby improve the training programme. This could result in a less stressful and more efficient residency programme.
Primary care physicians use various tools and methods to identify medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). The main purpose of our study is to determine the views of Slovenian family medicine trainees ...(FMT) about using the "Careful Assessment" tool for managing patients with MUS.
A qualitative study using open survey questions focused on the experience of family medicine trainees in managing patients with MUS. The sample consisted of surveys from 184 family medicine trainees. These trainees analysed a total of 702 patients with MUS. Manual coding was used for quantitative content analysis.
In the coding process, 49 codes were developed that included broader research fields about using the "Careful Assessment" tool for managing patients with MUS. The codes were grouped into four theoretically grounded, logical categories in accordance with the elaborated theoretical concept: multi-purpose utility; improved patient management; in-depth knowledge and new skills; and patient response.
The study demonstrated that, in the view of Slovenian FMT, the "Careful Assessment" tool has multi-purpose utility. The study showed that FMT felt that this tool helps them in systematic patient management. Their opinion is that it helps them establish a trusting relationship with patients, which is a precondition for providing further treatment.
Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are very common in family medicine, despite being a poorly-defined clinical entity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention (EI) on ...self-rated quality of life, treatment satisfaction, and the family physician-patient relationship in patients with MUS.
In a multi-centre longitudinal intervention study, which was performed between 2012 and 2014, patients were asked to rate their quality of life, assess their depression, anxiety, stress and somatisation, complete the Hypochondriasis Index, the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale and the Patient Enablement Instrument for assessing the physician-patient relationship, before and after the EI.
The mean values before and after the intervention showed that after the EI, patients with MUS gave a lower (total) mean rating of their health issues and a higher rating of their quality of life, and they also had a more positive opinion of their relationship with the physician (p<0.05). However, there were no differences in the (total) rating of treatment satisfaction before and after the EI (p=0.423). Significant differences in the symptoms in patients with MUS before and after the intervention were confirmed for stress, somatisation and hypochondriasis (p<0.05).
It could be beneficial to equip family physicians with the knowledge, skills and tools to reduce hypochondriasis and somatisation in MUS patients, which would improve patients' self-rated health status.
Objectives
To determine the views of Slovenian family physicians on medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and learn more about potential types of treatment for such patients.
Methods
Five focus ...groups, comprising 24 family medicine physicians (FMPs) from two Slovenian University centres, were convened. Conversations were led towards the research objectives by professionally trained researchers and followed a preliminarily established protocol. Qualitative content analysis of audio and transcripts of the discussions was performed using ATLAS.ti software to establish categories (‘codes’) relevant to issues regarding MUS.
Results
Slovenian FMPs emphasized the importance of good communication and trust between physicians and patients with MUS. Systemic barriers to effective management of MUS arising from the Slovenian health system were highlighted. FMPs stressed the need for more education in the recognition and treatment of MUS in primary care. From the discussions, 64 codes comprising broader research fields of MUS were developed, then grouped into a further eight categories: communication; doctor–patient relationship; causes of MUS; patient characteristics; physician characteristics; courses of action so far; positive relationship with patients; proposals for treatment.
Conclusions
The results are valuable in terms of investigating the treatment of patients with MUS in Slovenia, thereby opening new avenues of research on the subject of MUS.
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