Knowledge and attitudes of GP mentors towards EBM can be improved by involving medical students as academic detailers. Further studies should explore the effectiveness of this method among GPs that are not mentors, and who do not have a specialization or research degree.

Although theoretically very effective and apparently quite straightforward, cardiovascular prevention leaves much to be desired in practice. Several reasons, including ethical, conceptual, psychological, and Klju~ne besede: sr~no-`ilne bolezni, prepre~evanje, dru`inska medicina Zdrav Var 20; 50: 75-8 doi 0.2478/v052-00-0030-9 Medical research has markedly improved the knowledge of etiology and prevention of cardiovascular conditions, particularly coronary heart disease (CHD), so that these disorders could virtually be eliminated. Indeed, several years ago, the global community was seemingly approaching the eradication of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, in reality the expectations had not been met: nowadays the decrease in CHD in economically developed countries is stagnant (), the prevalence of CDH is probably increasing (2), while in developing and transitional countries it is escalating (3). This gloom picture is often attributed to unavailability of or to a delay in using modern invasive procedures and new medications, particularly in patients with heart attack or stroke.Although this segment of management should not be neglected (e.g. prompt and accurate diagnosis, early initiation of treatment in family practice, faster transportation, better organization and distribution of adequately staffed and well equipped interventional units), the bulk of the problem lies at the other end of the clinical spectrum -in unsatisfactory prevention. The EURASPIRE III results (4) show that during the past decade the prevalence of obesity among coronary patients in Europe has increased from 25% to 38%, and that of diabetes from 7.4% to 28%, while smoking and hypertension rates remained unchanged, i.e. approx. 20 % and 60%, respectively. Which are the obstacles on the path to effective primary prevention of CHD, i.e. to adequate protection of apparently healthy, younger people against adverse Unauthenticated Download Date | 5/12/18 4:48 AM

Research in family medicine contributes to the increase of knowledge, and its practical application improves the work of family physicians. Although research in family medicine in the Republic of Croatia has a long tradition, no sustainable research network exists as yet. Enhancing such a network is essential to efficaciously conduct research that is specific and important for family practice. This article describes the experiences of other countries and offers a proposal for a conceptual model for the development of a permanent research network in family medicine through three key elements: recognition of research as an indicator of quality of care that is specifically funded, introducing a continuing cycle of education for family physicians/researchers in the field of scientific research and building the capacity of academic family medicine and the success of their applications for domestic and international projects and funding sources. Conclusion. The application of the conceptual model from Australian primary health care research, adjusted to our circumstances, could further enhance research capacity building in Croatian family medicine.

DBT is a reliable, inexpensive and fast test for the detection of WCH in primary care.

Although there have been several cooperative efforts, these activities can and should be intensified. While there is much work to be done, there are many opportunities for improvement.