Aim To examine the prevalence of undiagnosed depression among primary care elderly patients in the entity of the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) as well as the sociodemographic and clinical risk factors associated with depression. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2019 in nine towns of the Republic of Srpska. The study sample included 1,198 primary care patients older than 65 years of age. Research instruments included a sociodemographic questionnaire and Geriatric Depression Scale - Short Form (GDS-SF). Results Positive screening test (GDS-SF score > 5), which indicates depression was found in 484 (40.4%) participants. Multivariate regression analysis showed that lower education levels [OR = 1.565, 95% CI (1.13-2.17)], divorced and widowed [OR = 1.366, 95% CI (1.16-1.62)], poor financial situation [OR = 1.690 , 95% CI (1.25-2.29)], non-home residents [OR = 2.200, 95% CI (1.41- 3.44)], non-hobby patients [OR = 2.115, 95% CI (1.54-2.91) ], non-friends [OR = 3.881, 95% CI (2.70-5.57)], patients suffering from chronic pain [OR = 2.414, 95% CI (1.72-3.39)], patients with daily life limitation activities [OR = 1.415, 95% CI (1.03-1.95)], patients with three or more chronic diseases [OR = 1.593, 95% CI (1.12-2.27)], patients using five or more drugs [OR = 1.425. 95% CI (1.00-2.03)], and patients with history of previous depression [OR = 2.858, 95% CI (1.94-4.21)] were at higher risk for depression. Conclusion The prevalence of undiagnosed depression in the elderly in Republic of Srpska is high. Future strategies are needed to strengthen screening of geriatric depression in primary health care.

OBJECTIVES Interprofessional teamwork is best attained through education that promotes mutual trust and effective communication. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of interprofessional learning on knowledge about diabetes. METHODS The cross-sectional study included students of medicine, dentistry and nursing at the Faculty of Medicine Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The students were randomly allocated into one of two groups. Group 1 attended an interprofessional course on diabetes while group 2 was divided into three subgroups and each of the subgroups attended an uniprofessional diabetes course. The measuring instrument used in the course in order to assess the participants' knowledge about diabetic care was a test containing multiple-choice questions about diabetes. The Interprofessional Questionnaire was used to explore the attitudes, views, values and beliefs of students regarding interprofessional education (IPE). RESULTS No statistically significant difference in total score on the test was found between the groups at baseline, but at follow-up the difference was highly statistically significant (F=10.87; p=0.002). The students from Group 1 had better results (21.82 points), compared to Group 2 (18.77 points). The statistically significant difference was observed in mean values (t=-3.997; p=0.001), between Groups 1 and 2; the students from Group 1 obtained 20.42 points, which is considered to indicate a respectively positive self-assessment of communication and teamwork skills. However, Group 2 indicated a negative self-assessment of communication and teamwork skills. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that IPE activities may provide health profession students with valuable collaborative learning opportunities.

Background During the transition processes, the Western Balkan countries were affected by conflicts and transition-related changes. Life expectancy in these countries is lower, while the mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is higher in comparison with western and northern parts of Europe. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the treatment possibilities for the most common NCDs in the Western Balkan countries. The secondary aim was to understand and compare the policies regarding prescribing-related competencies of family physicians. Methods In June and July 2017, a document analysis was performed of national positive medicines lists, strategic documents, and clinical guidelines for the treatment of the most frequent NCDs; arterial hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). All text phrases that referred to medicines prescribing were extracted and sorted into following domains: medicine availability, prescribing policy, and medication prescribing-related competencies. Results Possibilities for treatment of arterial hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, asthma, and COPD vary across the Western Balkan countries. This variance is reflected in the number of registered medicines, number of parallels, and number of different combinations, as well as restrictions placed on family physicians in prescribing insulin, inhaled corticosteroids, statins and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), without consultant’s recommendation. Conclusion Western Balkan countries are capable of providing essential medicines for the treatment of NCDs, with full or partial reimbursement. There are some exceptions, related to statins, newer generation of oral antidiabetic agents and some of the antihypertensive combinations. Prescribing-related competences of family physicians are limited. However, this practice is not compliant to the practices of family medicine, its principles and primary care structures, and may potentially result in increased health-care financial ramifications to both the system and patients due to frequent referrals to the specialists.

Introduction: Alcoholism is the third most common psychiatric disorder among the elderly, yet it often goes undiagnosed in primary care setting. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of alcohol use disorders among elderly primary care patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to determine the presence of different health problems related to alcohol consumption. Method: The study was conducted in 10 family medicine practices. Family physicians randomly selected a group of 40 patients over 60 years of age registered with their practice. As a part of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, patients were asked to complete Alcohol Consumption Screening Questionnaire, Functional Status Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Mini mental screening examination (MMSE), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Screening results were followed by additional clinical evaluation. To estimate the feasibility of Alcohol Consumption Screening Questionnaire, one family member or a caregiver of each patient was questioned about patient's habits and health problems. Results: Eighty-nine (22%) patients were current drinkers. Of those, 59% were harmful drinkers, 26% hazardous and 15% nonhazardous drinkers. Women accounted for 27% of current drinkers. MMSE revealed dementia symptoms in 37%, and symptoms of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in 25% of current drinkers. Depression symptoms were found in 38% and anxiety symptoms in 6% of current drinkers. Functional status was decreased in hazardous and harmful drinkers. Conclusion: High percentage of older adults in Bosnia and Herzegovina is regular users of alcohol. Hazardous and harmful drinking is associated with significant morbidity. These findings demonstrate the usefulness and importance of the excess alcohol use screening in all primary care settings serving adults over age 60.

Uvod. Analizirati elemente interakcije koji doprinose uspostavljanju kvalitetau komunikaciji između ljekara i bolesnika sa dijabetesom na nivou primarnezdravstvene zastite. Analizirati uticaj odnosa ljekar - bolesnik na ishodelijecenja dijabetesa.Metode. Studijom je obuhvaceno osam ljekara i sezdeset bolesnika oboljelihod dijabetes mellitus-a tip 2, izabranih prema specificnim kriterijumima.Ljekari su podijeljeni u dvije grupe. Eksperimentalnu grupu su cinili ljekarisa zavrsenom obukom iz komunikologije. Kontrolnu grupu su cinila cetiriljekara opste prakse bez obuke iz medicinske komunikologije. Svaki ljekar jepratio grupu od sedam ili osam bolesnika sa dijabetesom.Interakcija između ljekara i bolesnika je procjenjivana primjenom Bales-oveanalize interakcijskog procesa. Tokom devet mjeseci praceni su funkcionalniishodi tretmana, vrijednosti glikemije i HbA1c, saradnja i zadovoljstvo bolesnika.Rezultati. Razlike u ponasanja ljekara eksperimentalne i kontrolne grupe subile visoko znacajne po svim kategorijama Bales-ove analize. Kontrola vrijednostiglikemije i Hb1Ac je bila bolja kod ispitanika koji su: imali kontrolunad konsultacijom, aktivno ucestvovali u lijecenju, pokazivali emocije, tražiliinformacije i razmjenjivali misljenje sa ljekarom. Ispitanici eksperimentalnegrupe su imali statisticki znacajna poboljsanja funkcionalnih parametara imanje funkcionalnih ogranicenja nakon devet mjeseci, te su bili statistickiznacajno zadovoljniji njegom i karakteristikama ljekara.Zakljucak. Dobra komunikacija sa bolesnikom znacajno utice na poboljsanjeishoda lijecenja bolesnika sa dijabetesom. Praktikovanje modela njege usmjereneka bolesniku dovodi do potpunije razmjene informacija između bolesnika iljekara, vece zdravstvene aktivnosti i odgovornosti bolesnika, te uspostavljanjaefikasnije saradnje i zadovoljstva bolesnika. Obuku iz medicinske komunikologijetreba sprovoditi na svim nivoima studija medicine.