For people with a mild intellectual disability (ID), their general practitioner (GP) plays a pivotal role as this are often the first point of contact in care. They experience higher rates of mental and chronic health problems, and often have different care needs and visit their GP more often than patients from the general population. GPs on the other hand struggle to provide and organize appropriate care for this patient group.Improving accessibility and quality of primary care requires insight into needs and expectations of both patients with ID and GPs providing care to this vulnerable group. In this presentation we identify overarching needs and expectations from both perspectives within the Dutch primary care context, as well as opportunities for improvement.This presentation synthesizes findings from multiple qualitative studies exploring the perspectives of patients with ID, as well as primary healthcare providers. Data sources include semi-structured interviews with patients with MID and mental health problems (n=11), focus groups with GPs and mental health nurse practitioners (n=19), and interviews with patients (n=14) and providers (n=32) on chronic disease management.Findings indicate that the combination of ID and co-occurring mental or chronic health conditions increase demands on primary care: patients often feel (extra) vulnerable and GPs experience consultations as particularly complex. This complexity brings specific needs that emerged across this studies: (1) building a strong, trust-based relationship supported by adapted communication; (2) involving formal and informal networks, which play pivotal yet inconsistent roles in care access and follow-up; (3) coordinating care across various providers and (fragmented) settings; and (4) providing practical support and accessible information to enable self-management while safeguarding autonomy.These findings highlight opportunities to improve quality and equity in primary care, which require investments in GP training and care organisation as well.Patients with mild intellectual disability face complex health needs, requiring trustful communication, network involvement, and coordinated care. Strengthening GP training, continuity, and integrated pathways is essential to improve equity and quality in primary care.

Health literacy (HL) is considered an important determinant of dietary behaviors, influencing fruit and vegetable intake among young adults. However, the evidence on the association between HL and dietary behaviors remains scarce in the Western Balkans.We assessed the association of HL with fruit and vegetable consumption among university students in Kosovo.A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2024, including 470 students of health sciences (≈86% females; mean age: 20.7±2.7 years; response rate: 70%). HL was measured by using the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q). HL scores ranged from 0 (lowest general HL level) to 50 (highest general HL level), which in the analysis were dichotomized into “inadequate and/or problematic HL” (scores: 0-33) to “sufficient and/or excellent HL” (scores: 34-50), according to the recommendations of developers of the instrument[1]. Additionally, information on fruit and vegetable consumption and sociodemographic factors was collected. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association of HL with fruit and vegetable consumption.   [1] Holt KA, et al. Health literacy, digital literacy and eHealth literacy in Danish nursing students at entry and graduate level: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nurs. 2020;19:22.Daily consumption of fruit was ≈47% among students with “sufficient and/or excellent HL” levels compared with ≈33% in those with “inadequate and/or problematic HL” levels. Similarly, daily consumption of vegetables was higher among students with “sufficient and/or excellent HL” levels than in those with “inadequate and/or problematic HL” levels (≈45% vs. 36%, respectively). In logistic regression models adjusted for gender, age and family income of participants, the odds of non-daily consumption were 56% higher for fruits and 32% higher for vegetables among students with “inadequate and/or problematic HL” compared with their counterparts with “sufficient and/or excellent HL” levels.HL was positively associated with daily fruit and vegetable consumption, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to strengthen HL and promote healthier dietary behaviors in the region.Strengthening health literacy may have both immediate benefits for individual health behaviors and longer-term implications for public health practice. Integrating health literacy–oriented nutrition education within university settings could support healthier eating habits and contribute to non-communicable disease prevention.

Despite dental subsidies and widespread screening services, disparities in dental care use and oral health persist. National data indicate that over one-third of residents have untreated dental caries, with a disproportionate burden among lower socioeconomic status groups. Socio-economic barriers and engagement with medical primary care may shape oral health behaviours, yet evidence in XXX is limited.To examine how socio-economic access and healthcare engagement influence self-perceived oral health, oral function, and dental care utilisation in a rental flat community in XXX.A cross-sectional survey of rental flat residents aged ≥40 was conducted at a health screening. Participants reported self-perceived oral health and function, dental visit frequencies, and socio-demographic data. We used ordinal logistic regression to examine the associations between social factors and survey outcomes.Among 116 participants (50.8% female; mean age 64±10.7), 21.6% reported poor/very poor oral health, while 19.6% faced significant-to-extreme difficulty chewing. 37.5% visit the dentist at least once a year, whereas 19.0% couldn’t recall their last visit and 31.0% only sought care after experiencing problems. Commonly cited reasons include: lack of perceived need (44.6%), money (21.4%), or time (11.6%). After adjustment for age, gender, and ethnicity, participating in screening programmes (OR=3.91, 95%CI 1.18-13.68) and awareness of income-based subsidies (OR=2.5, 95%CI 1.10-5.82) predicted better oral health. Better financial coping ability was associated with increased eating rate (OR=3.2, 95%CI 1.41-7.46) and decreased chewing difficulty (OR=0.30, 95%CI 0.13-0.69). Having a regular general practitioner lowered odds of chewing difficulty (OR=0.46, 95%CI 0.22-0.94). Increased dental visit frequency was predicted by enrolment with a general practitioner (OR=2.42, 95%CI 1.09-5.47), and use of income-based (OR=2.70, 95%CI 1.36-5.47) or age-based (OR=2.9, 95%CI 1.36-6.33) subsidies.Participants experienced substantial oral health and functional burden. The frequency of dental visits was lower than national averages, possibly due to greater socio-economic barriers or lack of oral health literacy. Mediators explaining the link between financial capacity and oral function should be explored. Better oral health, function and care-seeking were linked to broader health-seeking behaviours and healthcare system engagement.Oral health equity and dental care utilisation may be improved by reducing financial barriers, education and preventive frameworks enabling sustained healthcare engagement.

Social health inequalities (SHIs) in France, among the highest in Europe and continue to widen, contributing to a marked social gradient in health. Nutrition, understood as both dietary intake and physical activity, is a major determinant in health and a central target of public health policies. Despite national strategies such as the French National Nutrition and Health Programm (PNNS), nutritional inequalities persist.This study aimed to describe the impact of SHIs on the nutritional status of the French population and to identify key determinants and barriers to improvement.A narrative literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Bibliographic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Cairn, LiSSa, and CISMeF) and grey literature were searched up to May 2024. Articles focusing on the French population were included. Nutritional status was assessed through dietary quality, prevalence of overweight and obesity, and levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour.A total of 45 articles were included, most based on large national surveys (INCA3, ESTEBAN, ObEpi-Roche 2020, and ABENA). A lower socioeconomic position was consistently associated with poorer dietary quality, higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, and increased food insecurity. These populations also showed higher prevalences of overweight and obesity, lower levels of physical activity, and more sedentary behaviour. Educational level emerged as a strong determinant of nutritional outcomes, often more influential than income or occupational status.The findings indicate that nutritional inequalities result from multiple, interconnected determinants. Economic constraints remain central, with food expenditure frequently acting as an adjustment variable, favouring low-cost and ultra-processed foods. Limited geographic access to healthy foods, physical activity facilities, and preventive healthcare, further exacerbate disparities. Cultural norms, nutrition transition, food acculturation, and targeted marketing of unhealthy foods disproportionately affect socially vulnerable populations. This review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of a topic that remains underexplored in the French context. However, the analysis relies largely on a limited number of national surveys, with heterogeneous methodologies and populations.SHIs have multifactorial impact on nutritional status in France. In primary care, therapeutic patient education and structured individual or group-based support programmes appear particularly relevant to support sustainable lifestyle changes among socially vulnerable populations.

Research on LGBT health in Turkey has expanded over the past two decades within a culturally conservative context shaped by policy shifts, including withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. Most studies focus on healthcare professionals’ attitudes towards LGBT patients, while experiences of LGBT healthcare professionals remain largely absent, contrasting with international evidence that sexual and gender minority clinicians face more discrimination and adverse career outcomes. This scoping review assessed the visibility of LGBT healthcare professionals in Turkish medical literature. Specifically, it aimed to examine the balance between studies of providers’ attitudes towards LGBT patients and those addressing healthcare workers’ professional experience by exploring evidence regarding recruitment, retention, wellbeing or career trajectories.A scoping review of PubMed-indexed literature published between 2000 and 2025 was conducted. Searches combined Turkey-related terms, healthcare professional roles, and LGBT-related keywords. Eligible studies involved healthcare professionals or students, assessing LGBT-related attitudes, education, knowledge, or workplace issues. Of 65 full-text articles screened, 19 met inclusion criteria and intended to be categorised into three domains: attitudes towards LGBT patients, educational curricula and interventions, and healthcare workforce experiences.No study explicitly investigated the LGBT healthcare workforce. Four studies incidentally included LGBT-identified participants, representing 4.4% of a combined sample of ~2,358 individuals, and analysed them only in relation to patient care attitudes. Literature was dominated by attitude assessments (N = 8,400). A pooled analysis of six studies (n = 4,486) using the Hudson and Ricketts Homophobia Scale (standardised to 1–6) yielded a mean of 3.69, indicating moderately homophobic attitudes, higher among men. Other instruments indicated moderately positive attitudes or professionals being “on the verge of homophobia.” Studies consistently reported a lack of standardised LGBT health curricula.Turkish medical literature is hyper-focused on the ideology of LGBT health but blind to the professionals providing it. The incidental presence of LGBT participants demonstrates that the workforce exists, yet these professionals remain “research ghosts” present in data but ignored by researchers. This silence enforces structurally imbalanced heteronormative assumptions.Future studies must shift from repeated attitudinal assessments to workforce-centred research, addressing both patient care and the organizational conditions that support equitable practice for LGBT healthcare professionals.

Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects socioeconomically disadvantaged and migrant populations, where disease management is complicated by social vulnerability, cultural beliefs, low health literacy and limited access to resources. In culturally diverse primary care settings, glycaemic control cannot be addressed uniquely through biomedical targets. Humanistic, person-centered and community-oriented family medicine is essential to empower patients, support self-management and promote equitable chronic care, reflecting the values of liberty and fraternity.This practice-based case presents a reflective analysis of routine type 2 diabetes appointments in a Family Health Unit located in an economically deprived area with a high proportion of patients of low socioeconomic status and African migrants. The appointments focused on communication strategies, cultural sensitivity, exploration of patients’ illness narratives, identification of psychosocial barriers to diabetes control, and articulation with community and social resources. Informal patient feedback and multidisciplinary team discussions supported the intervetion.Active listening and culturally sensitive communication enhance trust, engagement, and adherence to diabetes care plans. Recognizing social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, employment instability, and housing challenges, enables family physicians to act as care coordinators, linking patients to community resources.Person-centered care and sensitivity to the culture of people with diabetes strengthen therapeutic relationships and continuity of care in socially complex contexts. Family physicians can integrate biomedical management with psychosocial and community dimensions. However, maintaining this approach requires time, institutional support, and interprofessional collaboration.Listening beyond glycaemia is fundamental to empowering vulnerable patients with type 2 diabetes, supporting self-management, improving adherence, and reducing health inequalities. Humanistic, person-centered, and community-oriented family medicine fosters meaningful care, trust, and equity, embodying the principles of liberty and fraternity central to family medicine.

Migrants in Europe are known to experience poorer health as they age compared to native populations. They are more likely to develop chronic diseases, such as dementia and type 2 diabetes, and at a younger age compared to non-migrants. These conditions require long-term (medical care), which in the Netherlands is primarily provided by general practitioners (GPs). However, barriers to access and quality of care persist for migrant groups. We previously identified differences in primary care for older adults with dementia or diabetes between migrants and non-migrants in the Netherlands, specifically in fewer GP home visits and more use of out-of-hours GP services. The reasons for these differences remain unclear.This study aims to explain the previously observed differences and to identify opportunities to improve GP care for older migrants with dementia or diabetes in the Netherlands, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.We are conducting an exploratory qualitative study using focus group discussions with informal caregivers, patient representatives, and GPs. During the focus groups, we present the observed differences and invite participants to share possible explanations based on their personal experiences. Additionally, we explore suggestions for improving GP care. The discussions will be analysed using thematic analysis, without a pre-existing coding framework.Preliminary results The first focus group was held with eight informal caregivers of older adults with dementia or diabetes of Moroccan origin. Important topics that emerged included Language & communication barriers, Navigating the (healthcare) system, Dignity & autonomy, Expectations of care, and (Felt) stigma. Further focus groups are planned to be conducted in the near future.Although this is an exploratory study with a small sample size, it addresses a previously under-researched topic. The combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches strengthens this study.We expect the findings of this study to help design interventions to improve the GP care for older migrants with dementia or diabetes.