https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/18823 2026-04-11T11:33:37Z 2026-04-11T11:33:37Z Mallia, Pierre https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/19019 2025-05-08T08:52:47Z 2016-11-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Journal of the Malta College of Family Doctors : volume 5 : issue 3 Authors: Mallia, Pierre Abstract: MALLIA, P. - Graduation, specialisation and future initiatives -- GRECH, A., AXIAK, S., & GERADA, C. - The interphase between family medicine and mental health -- PULLICINO, G., PAVIA, J., ZINTILIS, S., FRANCALANZA, S., SCIORTINO, P., & SCIORTINO, P. - Imaging of low back pain in a public health centre : a study of test request behaviour of doctors -- SCHEMBRI, K. - Patient satisfaction in Maltese public health centres -- SAMMUT, M. R. - Evidence-based smoking cessation and the family doctor -- GALEA, K., GALEA, M., SCIBERRAS, C., & SCIBERRAS, C. - Thumb sucking and transitional objects.

2016-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/19018 2021-02-19T11:27:56Z 2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Graduation, specialisation and future initiatives Abstract: During November we had our annual graduation ceremony. As time goes on this is becoming a main event every year. It is a time for celebrating several things. First and foremost of course a celebration for the graduands, who, after three years of training and an intense assessment have graduated. But more importantly it is a reminder of where we are coming from. More than a decade ago we opted to put Family Medicine on the Specialist Register and soon afterwards we decided that specialisation should come with a well-recognised specialized programme which is externally reviewed. It was natural, as I usually point out, following our ‘Royal college’ culture, that we should follow the path of the MRCGP(INT). We now have more than fifty members with this qualification and the qualification process for existing members is in process. This is certainly a cause for celebration. Being called a speciality, for us, is not merely a term which is deserving of the speciality; it also follows a path of appropriate specialisation. As some of the graduates, who had done also the MRCP, realise, this exam is of an equivalent standard.

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/19005 2019-10-18T08:37:00Z 2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The interphase between family medicine and mental health Abstract: DeGruy (1996) stated that “it is fundamentally wrong to speak of mental health as if it is distinct from physical health or health in general”. Generally speaking, and across the world, primary care clinicians deal with mental symptoms as part of a larger more general problem and conversely mentally distressed patients often present with increased physical symptoms. However, and more so within Malta, whilst most patients with common mental illnesses (depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, alcohol dependence) attend their general practitioner (GP) for help, the more severe and enduring end of the psychiatric spectrum is largely addressed by specialist services, with GPs acting largely only as conduits for referral (McDaid, 2013).

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z Pullicino, Glorianne Pavia, Jessica Zintilis, Stuart Francalanza, Sean Sciortino, Paul Sciortino, Philip https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/19004 2019-10-18T08:38:06Z 2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Imaging of low back pain in a public health centre : a study of test request behaviour of doctors Authors: Pullicino, Glorianne; Pavia, Jessica; Zintilis, Stuart; Francalanza, Sean; Sciortino, Paul; Sciortino, Philip Abstract: Background Lumbosacral spine radiography is a proven and valuable procedure for evaluating the vertebrae, disk spaces, facet and uncovertebral joints, neural foramina and paravertebral soft tissues. The purpose of radiographic examinations is to identify or exclude anatomic abnormalities or disease processes of the spine and related tissues. The written or electronic requests should provide the necessary information to show the medical need for the examination and allow for its appropriate performance and interpretation. Objective Our study was conducted to evaluate the appropriateness of lumbar spine radiography requests for low back pain in a public health centre. The benchmarks used were the 2009 NICE guidelines on the management of persistent non-specific low back pain and the 2011 Royal College of Radiologists’ referral guidance. Method A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study design was applied. A random sample of 100 lumbosacral spine radiographs was analyzed as recommended by the Royal College of Radiologists guideline tool and the 2009 NICE guidelines. Data was obtained from the Radiology Information System (RIS) and the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). Results Sixty-four percent (n=64) of lumbar radiographs performed for low back pain were indicated and judged as appropriate as per existing guidelines. One radiograph (1%) was performed for non-specific low back pain. Conclusion This study reached its objectives of evaluating the appropriateness of lumbar spine radiography requests for low back pain. It was noted that there is a need to increase awareness of the Royal College of Radiologists guidelines to enhance appropriate use of lumbosacral spine radiography to ensure more efficient resource utilisation

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z