/library/oar/handle/123456789/88486 2025-12-25T10:55:41Z 2025-12-25T10:55:41Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/88675 2022-02-09T14:26:39Z 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Journal of the Malta College of Family Doctors : volume 10 : issue 1 Editors: Sammut, Mario R.; Bugeja, Anton Abstract: Table of contents:; 1/ ZAMMIT, E. - A new normal for family doctors; 2/ PIZZUTO, M., FORMOSA, M., HARNEY, M., & ELLUL, G. - An analysis of mental health referrals from public health centres to the Emergency Department of Mater Dei Hospital, Malta; 3/ SAMMUT, M. R., ABELA, G., & ABELA, S. - Comparing GP trainees’ evaluations of placements within Malta’s Specialist Training Programme in Family Medicine before and after a COVID-19 pandemic related break in training; 4/ BLUNDELL, R., VELLA, S. N., OKROPIRIDZE, T., AZZOPARDI, J. I., & MALLIA, P. - Trends in public perception towards euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the Maltese Islands

2021-12-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/88674 2022-02-09T14:26:08Z 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A new normal for family doctors Abstract: We have now entered the second year of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and life is slowly returning to normal, or to the oft quoted ‘new normal’. Pandemic fatigue and a host of related health and social issues - including economic and psychological problems - are pushing society back towards some semblance of pre-pandemic normality. There is no doubt that family doctors are going through a similar transition, yearning for a return to a life where a simple cough and sore throat do not trigger a chain of stress and anguish every time a patient steps into our clinics. Having said that, there is no doubt that this pandemic has made us acutely aware how our workplace infection control and occupational health policies require a serious overhaul. There is also no doubt that ‘standard infection’ control practices during the years are obsolete at best, and family doctors have been taking their risk exposures for granted. In our waiting rooms, we get teenagers with meningitis mingling with elderly people with arthritis, and children with slapped cheek syndrome sitting beside pregnant women. The new normal for family doctors would do well to include risk assessment for practices and clinics and the adoption of infection control measures. [excerpt]

2021-12-01T00:00:00Z Pizzuto, Matthew Formosa, Matthew Harney, Marilyn Ellul, Gabriel /library/oar/handle/123456789/88602 2022-02-08T13:39:27Z 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: An analysis of mental health referrals from public health centres to the Emergency Department of Mater Dei Hospital, Malta Authors: Pizzuto, Matthew; Formosa, Matthew; Harney, Marilyn; Ellul, Gabriel Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Fifty per cent of the population experiences at least one mental disorder in their lifetime with 25% suffering one in the previous year. Recognition, diagnosis, treatment and referral depend on general practitioners (GPs). Prevalence of psychiatric problems in local primary care was 8% in 2017.; AIM: To evaluate the number of patients with a psychiatric complaint referred to the Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital (MDH), Malta, the reason for referral and whether these referrals were associated with certain factors, including time of day.; METHOD: Data of all patients with a psychiatric complaint referred to the Emergency Department from one of the primary health care centres in Malta was collected retrospectively using Excel. Referrals during the months of November and December 2019 were considered.; RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients inputted were equally distributed between November and December. Forty-two percent were females, the commonest age group was 19-30 years and most were triaged as Emergency Severity Index-2 upon arrival to the Emergency Department. Most patients were referred from the South region (Kirkop, Paola and Bormla). Most patients were referred between 09:01 and 17:00 hours. Twenty-seven point per cent were referred due to suicidal ideation closely followed by severe anxiety (21.7%). Forty-three percent were discharged on the same day with an urgent psychiatric appointment being given, 20% were kept at MDH, 7.2% required care at Psychiatric Unit and 5% admitted to the psychiatric Mount Carmel Hospital (MCH).; CONCLUSION: Suicidal ideation and severe anxiety are common complaints from government primary care to the Emergency Department. The majority of patients referred were given urgent psychiatric follow-up appointments in the community. The role of an onsite community psychiatrist would be twofold; immediate review for certain patients (such as a walk-in system) and further follow up by the same person in the community to improve the continuity of care.

2021-12-01T00:00:00Z Sammut, Mario R. Abela, Gunther Abela, Sonia /library/oar/handle/123456789/88601 2022-02-08T13:38:36Z 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Comparing GP trainees’ evaluations of placements within Malta’s Specialist Training Programme in Family Medicine before and after a COVID-19 pandemic related break in training Authors: Sammut, Mario R.; Abela, Gunther; Abela, Sonia Abstract: BACKGROUND: Malta’s Specialist Training Programme in Family Medicine lasts for three years, made up of three six-month training posts in family medicine interspersed with other-speciality placements lasting eighteen months in all. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all training was suspended from 23 March to 5 July 2020.; OBJECTIVE: A comparison of GP trainees’ evaluations of their training placements during the six-month periods before and after the training break was carried out to identify if and how training was affected by the pandemic and what corrective measures or improvements were needed.; METHOD: Training placements are evaluated by GP trainees through online forms on their ePortfolio. The information from these forms was transcribed into Microsoft Excel to enable quantitative and qualitative analysis. Feedback given for posts during October 2019 to March 2020 (i.e. prior to the COVID-19 enforced break in training) was compared with that given during July-December 2020.; RESULTS: GP trainees were satisfied overall with the teaching provided during the family practice and other-speciality posts. Post-break satisfaction ratings in government health centres rose while those for private general practice declined, both as a consequence of the pandemic. While a post-break drop in satisfaction ratings for Paediatrics was attributed to the pandemic, similar declines for Taster and Orthopaedics posts were unrelated.; CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic affected teaching in government practice positively through reducing patient numbers, which allowed a better training environment. Private practice was affected negatively by the pandemic, namely through limited clinical scenarios for teaching. The post-break drop in ratings for Paediatrics also was attributed to the pandemic which reduced outpatient attendance, doctor-patient interaction and consultation dynamics.; RECOMMENDATION: Training during placements within the STPFM can be improved and safeguarded from negative factors such as a pandemic if administrators endeavour to enhance the educational environment.

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