Cardiac alterations following an electric shock

Post-electric shock cardiothoracic symptoms in a 25-year-old female with normal cardiac evaluation.A 25-year-old woman, with no significant medical history, presented to Primary Healthcare following an occupational electric shock two days prior. Since the incident, she has experienced chest oppression, asthenia and bradykinesia. On physical examination, cardiopulmonary auscultation was rhythmic without murmurs or additional sounds; transient…

Integrated telemedicine for chronic care in an Italian university hospital: experiences from a Primary Care–Community Medicine pathway

Chronic diseases require continuous, patient-centred care, yet access to follow-up is often limited by organisational and social barriers. Telemedicine is promoted as a tool to improve continuity and equity of care, but real-life evidence from pathways involving community and primary care physicians is limited. At the AOU Policlinico Umberto I (Rome), a Day Service of…

Chronic Pain, Social Vulnerability and Opioid Dependence in Primary Care

In primary care, family physicians often face patients whose physical illnesses are deeply influenced by social determinants of health. Managing chronic pain becomes particularly challenging when combined with domestic violence, alcohol misuse, and social vulnerability. This case illustrates how social adversity can shape clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses, creating new challenges for healthcare systems.We present…

Is Specialization compromising the Core Competencies of a family doctor?

Primary Health Care is essential to sustainable health systems, and Family Medicine is its central provider. Defined by WONCA Europe as both a clinical specialty and an academic discipline, it is guided by universal principles despite national variations. The Wonca Tree illustrates this framework by linking the specialty’s six core competencies to twelve key attributes.This…

Embedding CAREMELO-Driven Digital Engagement to Transform Long-Term Condition Management and Reduce Rural Health Inequalities in Primary Care Across England

This work applies the CAREMELO principles to strengthen digital, person-centred long-term condition care in a rural English practice. Co-design with patients ensured that digital questionnaires, monitoring tools, and educational modules reflected local needs and priorities. Relevance was embedded through tailoring content to common multimorbidity profiles—including diabetes, hypertension, COPD, asthma and cardiovascular disease—while empowering patients to…

Sleep Medication – which one for which patient?

Insomnia is a common condition in primary care, significantly impacting patients' quality of life and presenting with a multitude of associated comorbidities. Effective management requires a thorough understanding of its etiology, assessment methods, and non-pharmacological treatment strategies as well as pharmaceutical treatment options. This workshop will introduce general principles for treating insomnia in adults, emphasizing…

Family-Centred Approaches to Familial Dyslipidaemia in General Practice: A Narrative Literature Review

Familial dyslipidaemia is a significant cause of premature cardiovascular disease but remains frequently underdiagnosed in general practice. The principles of family medicine, including continuity, holistic care, and attention to family systems, create favourable conditions for early recognition of hereditary lipid disorders. Understanding family structures, shared behaviours, and intergenerational patterns enhances risk identification. The genogram, in…

Compassion in the Clinical Interview: The Key to Meaningful Care

A 48-year-old man came very often to the clinic requesting high-dose benzodiazepines for anxiety and insomnia. He showed clear signs of dependence and initially behaved in a rude, evasive, and verbally aggressive way, making it difficult to assess issues beyond his physical symptoms.Despite his rude behavior, I stayed calm and tried to understand his distress…