https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/119134 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:03 GMT 2026-04-10T06:00:03Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/116844 Title: Journal of the Malta College of Family Doctors : volume 12 : issue 1 Editors: Sammut, Mario R. Abstract: Table of contents:; 1/ SAMMUT, M. R. - The first ten years of the Journal of the Malta College of Family Doctors 2012-2022 : a review; 2/ MIFSUD, D., ABELA, J. C., URSINO, G. & ZAHRA, J. - A quantitative analysis of patients’ use of government health centres in Malta during 2020-2022; 3/ GATT, C., GATT, E., & GRECH, M. - Communication between primary health care and the emergency department during transfer of care of patients in Malta; 4/ DEBONO, M., & GRECH, M. - A narrative review of anaemia in the elderly in a primary care setting; 5/ SANTUCCI, S., BALDACCHINO, I., MICALLEF, Z., BONELLO, A. M., BALDACCHINO, L., ABELA, G., & SOLER, D. - Preparing an interdisciplinary guidance for the management of generalised paediatric status epilepticus; 6/ BALDACCHINO, I. - Updates in the prevention of fractures Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/116844 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/116843 Title: The first ten years of the Journal of the Malta College of Family Doctors 2012-2022 : a review Authors: Sammut, Mario R. Abstract: BACKGROUND: Since 1990 the Malta College of Family Doctors (MCFD) has regularly published a journal under different names: ‘It-Tabib tal-Familja’ (1990-2000), ‘The Family Physician - It-Tabib tal-Familja’ (2000- 2004), ‘Maltese Family Doctor’ (2005-2010) and the ‘Journal of the Malta College of Family Doctors (JMCFD)’ (since 2012).; OBJECTIVE: This review of the issues published of the JMCFD during 2012-2022 was undertaken to study not only the dates and numbers of issues but also issue themes, article types and topics and author specialities/grades.; METHOD: Information regarding all JMCFD issues published between 2012 and 2022 was gathered and inserted into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to enable scrutiny of the content by quantitative and qualitative analysis.; RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-eight articles were published in the twenty-four issues of the JMCFD that came out during 2012-22. While the themes of all issues were related to family medicine, several of them also focused on certain topics, with one third tackling education. Research articles made up 29% of all articles, while family medicine was the most popular topic (46%). Most of the 235 authors were males (62%) and family doctors (54%).; CONCLUSION: The JMCFD prioritises publication of submitted / peer-reviewed articles to focus on quality over quantity, while maintaining its focus on family medicine in general and education in particular. Besides serving as a source of information useful for family doctors in their practices, the journal provides the opportunity to family doctors, other specialists and trainee doctors to submit their research for consideration towards publication in a peer-reviewed family medicine journal. Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/116843 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/116842 Title: A quantitative analysis of patients’ use of government health centres in Malta during 2020-2022 Authors: Mifsud, Daniela; Abela, Jurgen C.; Ursino, Gianluca; Zahra, Julia Abstract: BACKGROUND: At present in Malta, primary health care is delivered via the publicly funded health service - Primary HealthCare - and a parallel running private health system. The Electronic Patient Record (EPR) started to be utilized in Primary HealthCare in 2020.; OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to analyze patients’ use of health centres between January 2020 (which coincides with the start of use of EPR) until August 2022.; METHOD: Data was collected from the Electronic Patient Record which is the database used by Primary HealthCare in Malta which was then analyzed using Excel 2010. Variables collected included patient’s age, gender, number of patients visiting the health centre, patient’s locality, and whether it was a telephone or face-to-face consultation.; RESULTS: The results clearly demonstrated a rise in patients making use of health centres over the period 2020-2022. Mosta Health Centre was observed to be the busiest health centre. Health centre patients’ use in summer was significantly different from use in winter. Furthermore, the female population seemed to be attending these clinics more than their male counterparts.; CONCLUSION: Over the years a trend was noted where telephone consultations were not popular in 2020 but as the pandemic went on patients became more aware and made use of telemedicine. The majority of patients using telemedicine were aged 70+. However, as the social distancing measures of COVID-19 were eased in 2022, the majority of patients opted for face-to-face GP consultations once again. Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/116842 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/116619 Title: Communication between primary health care and the emergency department during transfer of care of patients in Malta Authors: Gatt, Chanelle; Gatt, Emanuel; Grech, Marco Abstract: BACKGROUND: Communication is important within the healthcare system. Communication failure can have negative effects on patients as it can result in adverse events.; OBJECTIVE: To investigate the communication between the emergency department and primary health care in Malta using qualitative methods.; METHOD: The data for this study was collected via semistructured interviews conducted in 2021- 2022. The interviews were carried out online for convenience and safety measures due to COVID-19. The data collected was qualitative in nature. Twelve participants were involved in the study: four from the emergency department, four from private general practice and four from public general practice. The data collected was transcribed. The transcripts were confirmed with the participants, and analysed using the thematic analysis method to elicit common themes.; RESULTS: The themes elicited were introduction to roles and similarities between them; frequency of communication; reasons for communication; the current methods of communication and opinions; recommendations; nurturing relationships and respect; and the physician’s perception of the patient’s experience.; CONCLUSION: Participants shared different ideas on how to improve communication and inter-personal relationships. The consensus was that, over the years, there has been an improvement in communication. However, there was still room for improvement. Several participants were in favour of improving direct contact, mainly by calling. Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/116619 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z