https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/33340 2026-04-12T06:32:53Z 2026-04-12T06:32:53Z Bugeja, Anton https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/4423 2017-11-15T11:25:10Z 2012-08-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Documentary sources for the history of the Maltese general practitioner Authors: Bugeja, Anton Abstract: The history of the Maltese General Practitioner (GP) remains to be written. Such history will enhance the identity of the family doctor and prove indispensable to characterise the Maltese context of practice. To list some of the resources available for the study of the history of the Maltese GP and use it to provide an overview of relevant material for the pre-seventeenth- century period. Over the past ten years, note was made of the material and literature encountered that could be of relevance to Maltese medical history in general and that of the Maltese GP in particular. Further information was obtained by consulting the references and other information provided by these works. These sources were categorized. As a case study, information on community medical services preceding 1600 AD was collected to come up with an account that goes beyond a strictly chronological overview, giving particular attention to other details such as training, remuneration, political involvement as well as gender and social issues. Evidence has been presented for fifteenth century community health services in Gozo and Mdina. In the following century, such service spread to a number of villages in Malta, financed by institutions or private individuals.

2012-08-01T00:00:00Z Pace, Odette https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/4415 2015-08-05T07:25:12Z 2012-08-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Complementary and alternative medicine : facts and figures (part I) Authors: Pace, Odette Abstract: Complementary and alternative medical practices are flourishing despite the current fast pace of scientific research and discovery. Traditional practices combine with newer philosophies to make up the vast spectrum that constitute this phenomenon. To describe homeopathy and acupuncture, proposed mechanisms of action, present scientific research to prove or disprove their efficacy and discuss safety issues. Studies, reviews and meta-analyses dealing with this subject were researched from various publications to present evidence for or against the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine. Recent rigorous studies on acupuncture and homeopathy show no results beyond what is attributable to placebo effect. Complementary and alternative medical practices should be researched for efficacy and safety by the same standards used in conventional medicine.

2012-08-01T00:00:00Z Sammut, Mario R. Bombagi, Mariella Cachia Fearne, Rebecca https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/4408 2018-04-05T08:21:20Z 2012-08-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A training needs analysis of health care providers within Malta’s Primary Health Department : a boon or a bane? Authors: Sammut, Mario R.; Bombagi, Mariella; Cachia Fearne, Rebecca Abstract: In 2009, the Practice Development Unit and the Specialist Training Programme in Family Medicine within Malta’s Primary Health Department carried out a training needs analysis of health care providers working in government primary health centres and clinics so as to investigate their educational requirements. Method: After a questionnaire was developed as a tool, a pilot study was conducted in a particular health centre to test its validity. The amended version of the questionnaire was then mailed individually to all health providers working at that time in the various health centres and peripheral clinics. Out of the 498 questionnaires sent, 215 were completed and returned, with a resulting response rate of 43%. One main finding was that, irrespective of one’s discipline, the programme topic and the lecturer were the important decisive factors of whether one attended a training course or not. On the other hand, specific obstacles to training emerged that are directly related to one’s profession: these included shortage of staff, lack of time and other commitments. From the information revealed by the training needs analysis, the department revamped its training strategy to consist of three-monthly Saturday seminars dealing with topics relevant to primary health care, with such activities being oversubscribed and well-received. In this manner a thriving continuing professional development programme was designed and delivered for health care professionals within Malta’s Primary Health Department

2012-08-01T00:00:00Z Sammut, Daniel https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/4407 2015-08-05T07:26:09Z 2012-08-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A concept analysis of ‘GP trainer’ : a misnomer? Authors: Sammut, Daniel Abstract: This article analyses the concept of the GP trainer. The framework developed by Walker and Avant (2005) is used. The aims were: 1) to clarify the concept and its fundamental qualities; and 2) to question whether the term trainer is apposite to the concept it represents. A literature search was performed in three databases and a search engine for the keywords [GP OR general practitioner] AND [trainer OR educational supervisor]. An online dictionary was used to define the noun trainer and the verb train. In addition, three colleagues were interviewed about how they conceptualised the GP trainer. Only six articles were found that address the desirable characteristics of the GP trainer. However, a large list of qualities was obtained from these studies and the other methods mentioned. The characteristics of the GP trainer were grouped using phenomenological tools into the three main categories of personal, professional and teaching attributes. Each category was further subdivided into the domains of knowledge, skills and attitudes. The GP trainer incorporates the three facets of ‘wise person’, ‘accomplished GP’ and ‘gifted teacher’. It is shown that the term educational supervisor describes the complex educational role of a teacher of GPs better than trainer.

2012-08-01T00:00:00Z