Rapid primary-care screening for sleep apnoea with a chest-worn smartphone-based screening device and secure referral to sleep specialists

Primary care must quickly identify patients with obstructive or central sleep apnoea and organise a secure, guideline-aligned referral pathway. A chest-worn, smartphone-based screening device (class IIa medical device) coupled with a fully digital prescriber web-platform returns validated AHI metrics (overall and by type), positional analysis, event timeline and signal-quality flags, together with integrated onboarding questionnaires.…

Cultivating positive mental attitude to protect against depression in medical trainees: implications for holistic care and education

Depression is highly prevalent among medical students and residents and poses a significant threat to well-being, learning, and the future quality of primary care. While traditional approaches emphasize risk factors and lifestyle behaviors, humanistic and holistic models of care highlight the importance of cognitive–emotional resources that enable individuals to cope with sustained stress. Positive Mental…

Implementing a Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) teaching program in the General Practice residency curriculum

Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is expanding in primary care. In June 2023, WONCA Europe issued a position statement on POCUS, emphasizing its utility in diagnosing or ruling out medical emergencies, managing low-to-moderate complexity conditions, and monitoring acute and chronic diseases, regardless of hospital infrastructure. In many European countries, ultrasound is already integrated into initial…

Understanding Vulnerability to Homicides of Adolescent Females from the Perspective of Virtual Violence and Intersectionality

An intersectional approach highlights that adolescent females are at risk not solely due to their gender, but also due to the combination of gender, race, class, and territory. The overlapping of these factors increases exposure to lethal violence, particularly in peripheral neighborhoods controlled by criminal factions, where state protective presence is limited. Rather than analyzing…

Family medicine capacity and ambulance demand: a 13-year equity analysis using linked administrative data

Uneven access to primary care can widen health inequities and shift demand towards emergency medical services, particularly outside office hours and in rural areas. Quantifying these patterns can support equity-focused planning in family medicine. The study setting includes dispersed rural communities and a culturally and linguistically diverse population.To assess whether family medicine service availability is…

Cerebral venous thrombosis complicated by refractory status epilepticus and malignant cardiac arrhythmia: a case report

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of stroke that can lead to cerebral edema, intracranial hemorrhage, and severe neurological complications. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction following acute brain injury may trigger life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.This case report is based on retrospective analysis of clinical data, imaging studies, laboratory findings, electrocardiographic monitoring, and neurological investigations collected…

COPD–bronchiectasis overlap syndrome: a distinct clinical phenotype – a case report

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic respiratory condition. Bronchiectasis frequently coexists with COPD and defines a distinct overlap syndrome associated with worse clinical outcomes.Clinical, biological, radiological, and arterial blood gas data were retrospectively analyzed from hospital records to describe disease progression and outcomes.This case illustrates the severe clinical course of COPD–bronchiectasis overlap…

How artificial intelligence is reshaping continuing professional development in general practice ?

Continuing professional development (CPD) is a core component of quality and safety in general practice, enabling general practitioners (GPs) to maintain clinical competence and respond to evolving healthcare systems. Across Europe, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare and CPD is advancing, yet remains limited, fragmented, and uneven between countries and medical specialties. This…

Interactive ECG presentation of Brugada syndrome case report

Introduction Until 2009 general practitioners in Slovakia performed ECG examinations only occasionally, because this service was not covered beyond the capitation payment. When Slovak general practitioners were given the opportunity to perform ECG as a procedure covered by health insurance, interest in performing it increased and there was a need to train general practitioners in…