Health of refugees on the move in Europe is jeopardized by their bad living circumstances and barriers in access to healthcare. To address their needs, healthcare workers have to be trained in providing integrated, compassionate and cultural competent healthcare.

Background The population of developed countries is aging, leading to an increase in the use of medication in daily practice, which can lead to serious treatment costs and irrational polypharmacy. A collaborative care approach, such as providing medication review service provided by a clinical pharmacist (CP), is a possible way to reduce drug-related problems and irrational polypharmacy. The aim of this study was to determinate whether a CP’s medication review service can improve the quality of drug prescribing in elderly patients treated with polypharmacy in primary care. Methods In a retrospective observational medical chart review study, patients aged 65 years or more in the period 2012–2014 who received 10 or more medications concomitantly and who were screened by a CP were included. Data on pharmacotherapy and CPs’ interventions were obtained from the patients’ medical records (non-electronic chart review). Potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) were determined with Lexicomp Online™ 3.0.2. Only potential X-type DDIs (pXDDIs) were included. Potentially inappropriate medications in the elderly (PIMs) were identified using the PRICUS list. Results Ninety-one patients were included. The CPs suggested 625 interventions, of which 304 (48.6%) were accepted by the general practitioners (GPs). After adopting the CPs’ interventions, the number of total medications decreased by 11.2% ( p <  0.05) and the number of pXDDIs decreased by 42% ( p <  0.05). The number of clinically important pXDDIs decreased by 50% (3 cases). The number of prescribed PIMs decreased by 20% ( p = 0.069). The acceptance of CP’s recommendations reduced the number of pXDDIs ( p < 0.05) and improved the adherence to heart failure treatment guidelines. Conclusions A collaborative care approach offering a CP medication review service significantly improved the quality of pharmacotherapy by reducing the total number of medications and pXDDIs. The results support the implementation of this service in the Slovenian healthcare system.

Background:We wanted to systematically review the available evidence to evaluate the drug adherence in elderly with polypharmacy living at home.Methods:We performed a literature search using MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, ProQuest, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Springer Link, Sage Journals and CINAHL. We used the following terms: Medication Adherence, Medication Compliance, Polypharmacy, and Elderly. The search was limited to English-language articles. We included only clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and cross-sectional studies.Results:A total of seven articles were included in this systematic review after applying the search strategy. Six studies dealt with the prevalence of medication adherence and its correlates in patients aged 65 years or more with polypharmacy. Two studies dealt with the effect of various interventions on medication adherence in patients aged 65 years or more with polypharmacy.Conclusion:The available literature on the polypharmacy and drug adherence in elderly living at home is scarce and further studies are needed.

Introduction Family history (FH) is an important part of the patients’ medical history during preventive management at model family medicine practices (MFMP). It currently includes a one (or two) generational inquiry, predominately in terms of cardiovascular diseases, arterial hypertension, and diabetes, but not of other diseases with a probable genetic aetiology. Beside family history, no application-based algorithm is available to determine the risk level for specific chronic diseases in Slovenia. Methods A web application-based algorithm aimed at determining the risk level for selected monogenic and polygenic diseases will be developed. The data will be collected in MFMP; approximately 40 overall with a sample including healthy preventive examination attendees (approximately 1,000). Demographic data, a three-generational FH, a medical history of acquired and congenital risk factors for the selected diseases, and other important clinical factors will be documented. Results The results will be validated by a clinical genetic approach based on family pedigrees and the next-generation genetic sequencing method. After the risk of genetic diseases in the Slovenian population has been determined, clinical pathways for acting according to the assessed risk level will be prepared. Conclusion By means of a public health tool providing an assessment of family predisposition, a contribution to the effective identification of people at increased risk of the selected monogenic and polygenic diseases is expected, lessening a significant public health burden.