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Background. General Practice/Family Medicine includes approaches to the biological, technological, behavioural, sociological and anthropological domains. Objectives. To document the domains addressed in the final assignments of the Integrated Master's Degree in Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, in the area of GP/FM. Material and methods. Observational study of the titles of final assignments, between 2008 and 2017, granted by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra. A domain analysis using as codes the International Classification in Primary Care-2 and the Q-Codes, a context classification in Primary Care, year of elaboration and gender of author was carried out for each title of final assignment. A descriptive and inferential analysis was performed through parametric and nonparametric tests. Results. 169 papers were analysed, 23.1% written by male students, with a positive overall growth dynamics (Δ = +7) between 2008 and 2017. Q-Codes were registered 276 times, while the ICPC-2 codes were used 133 times. Under the Q-Codes, "doctor's issues" is the most frequently addressed (n = 112; 67.2%), and under the International Classification in Primary Care-2 classifications, the chapter "Psychological" was predominant (n = 35; 21%). Under the Q-Codes, subcategories "primary care setting" (n = 26; 15.6%), "health issue management" (n = 23; 13.8%) and "unable to code, unclear" (22; 13.2%) were dominant. Within the International Classification in Primary Care-2, the subcategories "diabetes noninsulin dependent" (n = 22; 13.2%), "depressive disorder" (8, 4.8%) and "hypertension uncomplicated" (8; 4.8%) were predominantly focused on. Conclusions. The 3CGP may become a professional tool, allowing for more precise identification of final works, for a better communication method in medical activity and for avoiding the loss of previously developed works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This paper assesses both patients' perspectives on the differences in primary care quality between traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) hospitals and western medicine (WM) hospitals and the efficacy of the government's investment in these two Prefecture-level primary care structures in Tibet. Method: A validated Tibetan version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT-T) was used to collect data on 692 patients aged over 18 years old, who reported the sampling site was their regular source of health care. T-tests were performed to compare the separate and total primary care attributes between WM hospitals and TTM hospitals. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the association of the health care setting with primary care attributes while controlling for socio-demographic, health service use and health status characteristics. Results: Compared to WM hospitals, the results showed that TTM hospitals had patients who were older (15.8 % versus 8.4 % over 60 years); with lower education levels (66.0 % versus 35.8 % with below junior high school ) and income levels (46.9 % versus 26.5 % with annual household income below 30,000RMB); more likely to be married (79.2 % versus 60.5 %); made less frequent health care visits; and had higher self-rated health status. Overall, patients assessed the primary care performance in TTM hospitals significantly higher (80.0) than WM hospitals (74.63). There were no differences in health care assessment by patient gender, age, income, education, marital status and occupation. Conclusions: TTM patients reported better primary care experiences than patients using WM hospitals, which validated the government's investment in traditional Tibetan medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Contemporary approaches to rural generalist medicine training and models of care are developing internationally as part of an integrated response to common challenges faced by rural and remote health services and policymakers (addressing health inequities, workforce shortages, service sustainability concerns). The aim of this study was to review the literature relevant to rural generalist medicine.Methods: A scoping review was undertaken to answer the broad question 'What is documented on rural generalist medicine?' Literature from January 1988 to April 2017 was searched and, after final eligibility filtering (according to established inclusion and exclusion criteria), 102 articles in English language were included for final analysis.Results: Included papers were analysed and categorised by geographic region, study design and subject themes. The majority of articles (80%) came from Australia/New Zealand and North America, reflecting the relative maturity of programmes supporting rural generalist medicine in those countries. The most common publication type was descriptive opinion pieces (37%), highlighting both a need and an opportunity to undertake and publish more systematic research in this area. Important themes emerging from the review were: Definition Existing pathways and programmes Scope of practice and service models Enablers and barriers to recruitment and retention Reform recommendations There were some variations to, or criticisms of, the definition of rural generalist medicine as applied to this review, although this was only true of a small number of included articles. Across remaining themes, there were many similarities and consistent approaches to rural generalist medicine between countries, with some variations reflecting environmental context and programme maturity. This review identified recent literature from countries with emerging interest in rural generalist medicine in response to problematic rural health service delivery.Conclusions: Supported, coordinated rural generalist medicine programmes are being established or developed in a number of countries as part of an integrated response to rural health and workforce concerns. Findings of this review highlight an opportunity to better share the development and evaluation of best practice models in rural generalist medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several medical related issues in Great Britain. Reports on the blue paper related to primary health care; Association of road accidents with drunk drivers; Retirement of director Gordon McLachlan of Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust.

Comments on the publication of agenda for discussion on primary health care by the government in Great Britain. Variety of headlines on health care; Proposals of the government for health care; Interpretation of different papers on the agenda of the government for health care.