General Practice

The importance of microalbuminuria screening in persons with hypertension and with or without diabetes

2025-10-22T21:28:02+02:00

Introduction. Albumin is a protein produced in the
liver, playing a crucial role in maintaining osmotic pressure
and transporting molecules. Microalbuminuria, which is the
presence of small amounts of albumin in urine, often depicts
the damage to kidney function as well as the risk of developing
cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Objective. We aimed to establish the prevalence of microalbuminuria
in patients with hypertension and diabetes,
and to estimate the prevalence in the difference between these
groups and the control group.
Method. The study encompassed 139 patients, separated
into the exposed group (patients with hypertension and
diabetes) and the control group. Microalbuminuria testing
was performed using qualitative test strips. These strips detect
albumin in urine. For statistical analysis, we used Chisquare
- χ2 test to evaluate the difference between the groups.
Results. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in the exposed
group was 33,09%. Statistically significant difference
in the prevalence of microalbuminuria between the exposed
and the control group was confirmed with p-values below
0,05. There were no significant differences in distribution according
to gender and age.
Conclusion. Microalbuminuria was registered in significant
percentages in patients with hypertension and diabetes,
which necessitates the need for regular screening in order
to timely detect changes in kidney function and calculate the
risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Comparative analysis of the journal General Medicine and regional scientific publications: Bibliometric indicators, publication trends, and impact factors (1995–2024)

2025-10-22T21:28:02+02:00

Introduction. The Journal General Practice (JGP), founded in 1995 as the official journal of Section of General Practice of Serbian Medical Society, is dedicated to topics from primary health care (PHC), clinical practice and preventive medicine.

Objective. The aim of this article was to, after analyzing the structure and thematic areas of the JGP, make a comparison with leading academic journals in the field of general/family medicine in Western and Eastern Europe and Balkans.

Method. Comparative bibliometrics was applied comparing bibliometric indicators, publicational trends and influencing factors of the JGP with the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP), Family Medicine & Primary Care Review and Croatian Medical Journal (CMJ).

Results. In the structure of articles in JGP dominates original scientific articles (30%), review papers (25%), case reports (15%), while educational articles, announcements, polemics and historical articles participate with 10% each. Major subject areas include PHC, clinical medicine, epidemiology, preventive medicine and health policy. Most of the authors are from Serbia with a small participation of foreign authors (1.5%). The journal does not have an official Journal Citation Report (JCR) impact factor, while compared journals have JCR factors 5.3 (BJGP), 0.5 (Family Medicine & PCR) and 1.3 (CMJ). The average number of published articles is 15–20, which is lower in comparison with the aforementioned journales.

Conclusion. The Journal General Practice showed a continuated development, following modern challenges in medicine, especially in PHC. Its diversity of content and educational character make it an important resource for experts in the health system.

The digital era and communication competencies of healthcare professionals

2025-10-22T21:28:03+02:00

Introduction: Communication skills are the cornerstone of effective general practice, influencing the quality of diagnosis, therapy, and the establishment of trust with patients. The rapid development of digital technologies in recent years has transformed the way information is exchanged within healthcare systems, creating new opportunities while raising challenges in maintaining empathy, ethical standards, and continuity of communication.

Aim: To present modern approaches and challenges in communication between physicians and patients in the digital era, with a focus on the use of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and other technological solutions to enhance healthcare professionals’ communication skills.

Methods: This study is a narrative literature review. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for the period January 2018 – July 2025, using the keywords: communication skills, digital health, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, telemedicine, patient–doctor communication. The analysis included publications in Serbian and English, as well as the author’s personal experience in clinical practice and teaching.

Results: Communication skills are essential for high-quality medical practice [1–3]. Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, telemedicine, VR, and AR offer new possibilities but also pose challenges related to ethics, empathy, and data protection [4–9]. ChatGPT can facilitate the transfer of complex information to patients, while immersive technologies improve healthcare professionals’ training [7,8,10–12]. Live streaming accelerates communication in emergency situations but requires clear and precise information exchange [5,6].
Conclusion: Technological advancements can improve physician–patient communication, but only when applied with preserved empathy, adherence to ethical principles, and continuous

professional development of healthcare workers.

Differental diagnosis of painless lymphadenopathy: challenges in everyday clinical practice with case report and literature overview

2025-10-22T21:28:03+02:00

Introduction. Lymphadenopathy is defined as an abnormal
finding during a physical examination, indicating
that the lymph nodes are abnormal in size, consistency, and
number. A thorough personal history and detailed physical
examination allow the physician to formulate an appropriate
diagnostic strategy. It is important to approach differential
diagnoses with caution, as there is a wide range of potential
causes and often nonspecific clinical presentations. Painless
lymphadenopathy, in particular, presents a significant clinical
challenge, especially in primary healthcare settings.
Case report 1. A 54-year-old female patient presented
with a lump that she had noticed in her left groin. A detailed
physical examination revealed a painless lump measuring
25 mm in diameter. An ultrasound of the groin showed an
enlarged lymph node with peripheral vascularization. A biopsy
of the lymph node confirmed the presence of metastatic
cervical carcinoma. A PET-CT scan indicated a solitary lump
along the upper uterine margin, along with liver metastases.
The oncology team recommended three weeks of chemotherapy.
The patient has since undergone six cycles of chemotherapy.
Case report 2. A 76-year-old male patient presented
with a lump in his right armpit that had been present for several
months, but he reported no other symptoms. A physical
examination revealed a lump the size of an apple located under
the right armpit, which was painless to the touch. A biopsy
confirmed that it was a metastatic melanoma. An abdominal
ultrasound showed the presence of liver metastases. A dermatological
examination revealed a suspicious skin tumor in the
lumbar area, measuring 1 cm in diameter, also highly suggestive
of melanoma. After excising the lesion, the pathological
findings confirmed the diagnosis.
Conclusion. Painless lymphadenopathy is a common
finding that presents diagnostic challenges, with a broad
range of causes that can vary from benign to malignant.
Timely recognition and appropriate interventions are crucial
for treatment outcomes.