Background: Health seeking behaviour is a complex construct in patients with psychological symptoms. The aim of this study
was to determine a one-month prevalence of psychological symptoms in ...Slovenian general population and to identify correlates of
health seeking behaviour.
Subjects and methods: This study was conducted in a representative sample of 1,002 randomly selected Slovenian citizens,
stratified according to sex and age. We used a method of computer assisted telephone interview (CATI). The questionnaire consisted
of demographic questions, questions about the prevalence and duration of preselected symptoms in the past month (irritability,
nervousness), questions about the presence of chronic diseases, EQ-5D questionnaire and the questions on health seeking behaviour
(self-treatment, lay advice seeking and medical advice seeking).
Results: The self-reported prevalence of psychological symptoms in the past month was 38.0% (381/1,002). Multivariate analysis
for the presence of self-reported psychological symptoms revealed that female sex, higher age, the presence of chronic disease,
primary education, lay-advice seeking, pain and the presence of anxiety/depression on EQ-5D questionnaire were independently
associated with psychological symptoms.
Conclusions: Psychological symptoms are a major public health problem in Slovenian general adult population and the selfreported
utilization of professional health care services by Slovenian population is high. Other patterns such as lay referral system
might have a crucial influence on the final decision to seek medical help.
Background. In the region of Koroška, there are more and more public spaces equipped with automated external defibrillators
which can be used by a witnessed bystander. The aim of this study was to ...gain insight into the skills required for
using automated external defibrillators.
Methods. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted in two family medicine practices. We included volunteers who visited
their family doctor during a period of four days. Skills were assessed in a virtual setting using a plastic manikin.
Results. There were 107 participants in the sample, 60.0% were women. Average age of the sample was 47.6±16.8 years.
In the practical part (skills testing), the participants earned 2.7 points from a total of 5 points. Younger participants and those
who attended a course in basic life support, in the past 10 years, had a significantly higher score.
Conclusion. Lay people need more education regarding skills for using automated external defibrillators.
Aim. To determine the effect of several factors, that are a part of cardiac arrest and resuscitation, on the incidence of neardeath experiences (NDEs). Methods. We conducted a prospective ...observational study in the three largest hospitals in Slovenia in a consecutive sample of patients after out-of-hospital primary cardiac arrest. The presence of NDE was assessed with the self-administered Greyson’s near-death experiences scale. The electrocardiogram pattern at the beginning of resuscitation was recorded. Main outcome measure was the presence of near-death experiences. Univariate analysis was used. Results. The study included 52 patients. There were 42 (80.8%) males in the sample; median age ± standard deviation of the patients was 53.1 ± 14.5 years. Near-death experiences were reported by 11 (21.2%) patients. Patients with ventricular fibrillation had significantly less NDEs than other patients (12.2% vs. 54.5%, P = 0.006). Patients with pulseless electrical activity had significantly more NDEs than others (60.0% vs. 11.9%, P = 0.003). Patients with asystole and pulseless electrical fibrillation had significantly more NDEs than patients who had ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia (60.0% vs. 11.9%, P = 0.003). Patients with at least one defibrillation attempt had significantly less near-death experiences than others (62.5% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.007). Conclusion. Our study found a possible correlation between electrocardiogram pattern in cardiac arrest patients and the incidence of near-death experiences. Further studies should address this problem in larger samples.
Aim To assess patients’ attitudes toward changing unhealthy lifestyle, confidence in the success, and desired
involvement of their family physicians in facilitating this
change.
Methods We conducted ...a cross-sectional study in 15 family physicians’ practices on a consecutive sample of 472
patients (44.9% men, mean age (± standard deviation)
49.3 ± 10.9 years) from October 2007 to May 2008. Patients
were given a self-administered questionnaire on attitudes
toward changing unhealthy diet, increasing physical activity, and reducing body weight. It also included questions
on confidence in the success, planning lifestyle changes,
and advice from family physicians.
Results Nearly 20% of patients planned to change their
eating habits, increase physical activity, and reach normal
body weight. Approximately 30% of patients (more men
than women) said that they wanted to receive advice on
this issue from their family physicians. Younger patients
and patients with higher education were more confident that they could improve their lifestyle. Patients who
planned to change their lifestyle and were more confident
in the success wanted to receive advice from their family
physicians.
Conclusion Family physicians should regularly ask the patients about the intention of changing their lifestyle and
offer them help in carrying out this intention.
Introduction. One of the basic premises of sonographic lung imaging is the concept of lung sliding. Identification of clear lung sliding excludes pneumothorax (PTx) at that specific local point. ...Methods. Fifty-seven 4th year medical students were given a 20-minute lecture on sonographic identification of lung sliding and exclusion of PTx. After the lecture, students were asked to correctly position the probe, identify shown structures and on each attempt (six attempts in a row) state whether lung sliding is present or not. Results. There were 57 students in the sample. Fifty students (87.7%) successfully positioned the probe (all 4 positions) for PTx identification. All but five students (91.2%) recognized the anatomic structures of the thorax. Mean number of correctly identified cases per student was 5.1 ± 1.1. In 292 (85.4%) cases, the answer was correct. In 298 (87.1%) cases, students were confident in the correct answer. Students who were confident in the right answer gave the right answer significantly more often when compared to others (90.3% vs. 52.3%, p < 0.001). Sensitivity of this method for 4th year medical students was 82.6% and its specificity was 87.9%. For correct identification of lung sliding in the sixth attempt, students on average needed 4.5 correct attempts. Conclusion. Our study suggests that 4th year medical students with no prior experience in lung ultrasonography can easily acquire knowledge and skills needed to detect thoracic wall structures and identify lung sliding with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity.
