Institute for General-, Family- and Preventive Medicine
Research

The aim of this project is to establish a teledermatology consultation process between general practitioners and the University Hospital for Dermatology and Allergology, providing better and faster local care for patients with dermatological concerns in underserved regions of Salzburg.

This process is being piloted with two general practices and will be evaluated by the Institute of General Practice, Family Medicine, and Preventive Medicine at the Paracelsus Medical Private University.

Partners: SAGES and the University Hospital for Dermatology and Allergology, SALK

Project Duration: 2023-2024

OBMAN is an interdisciplinary project focused on obesity and associated diseases across different age groups (children, adults, and the elderly). The project involves a structured evaluation of existing data from various age groups in Salzburg. This analysis aims to provide deeper insights into the current state of obesity and overweight in the region.

In addition to the clinical findings, the project will explore the economic impact of obesity and related diseases. It will also include interviews with key stakeholders to identify barriers and needs in the care of individuals with obesity. The insights gained are expected to be relevant for other federal states as well. The ultimate goal is to develop a framework for integrated care for people with obesity in Salzburg.

This project is conducted by the Institute of General Practice in collaboration with the University Clinics for Geriatrics, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine I in Salzburg.

Funding: PMU-Invest in Future

Project Duration: 2024-2027

Climate change affects health in numerous ways and poses significant challenges to global health systems. According to the WHO, climate-resilient health systems can anticipate, respond to, manage, recover from, and adapt to climate-related shocks, ultimately improving population health despite an unstable climate (WHO 2023). This interdisciplinary research brief aims to adapt international recommendations on the role of primary care in climate resilience to the Austrian context. Additionally, it will align these recommendations with the actual needs of health professionals working in Austrian primary care.

Project Partners: FH Kärnten - Department of Health and Social Affairs, Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) – Competence Center for Climate Change and Health

Project Start: January 2024

In 2009, a Lancet Commission identified climate change as "the biggest threat to health in the 21st century" and added in 2015 that "it could be the biggest chance, too." Health professionals play a crucial role in identifying and communicating the synergies between planetary and personal health. However, little is known about the attitudes of Austrian healthcare workers toward the climate crisis, especially in the primary care sector. This interdisciplinary research project aims to establish a foundation for systematically assessing attitudes towards climate protection and adaptation within Austrian primary care.

Project Partner: FH Kärnten - Department of Health and Social Affairs

Project Start: September 2023

Since 2015, all healthcare providers in Austria have been gradually integrated into the ELGA infrastructure. Following the inclusion of general practitioners, hospitals, and pharmacies, the next step in Salzburg is to connect nursing facilities. Initially, two pilot projects will link nursing homes in the Lungau region and five nursing homes in the city of Salzburg to ELGA. The Lungau pilot region will be scientifically evaluated by the Institute for General-, Family-, and Preventive Medicine of the Paracelsus Medical Private University Salzburg.

Project partner: Land Salzburg

Project duration: April to December 2023

Evidence analysis of a MEL regarding safety and efficacy using the EUnetHTA Core Models, i.e. development of the PICO question, abstract screening, and primary authorship of the evidence analysis.

Project partner: AIHTA

Project duration: November 2022 - March 2023

Die chronische Stoffwechselerkrankung Diabetes Typ 2 stellt weltweit eine große Herausforderung für die Gesundheitssysteme dar. Im Zuge der Diabetesprävention wurde von der Österreichischen Gesundheitskasse Salzburg ein Projekt mit Schwerpunkt Lebensstilintervention für Menschen mit Prädiabetes erstellt. Basierend auf diesem Präventionsprojekt und dessen Implementierung in der Region Stadt Salzburg und Umgebung, erfolgt die wissenschaftliche Begleitevaluation des Projektes durch das Institut für Allgemein-, Familien- und Präventivmedizin der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversität Salzburg.

Projektpartner: Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) Salzburg, Abteilung Gesundheit; Institut für Allgemein-, Familien- und Präventivmedizin, PMU Salzburg

Laufzeit: 2021-2024

The chronic metabolic disease Type 2 Diabetes poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. As part of its diabetes prevention efforts, the Österreichischen Gesundheitskasse Salzburg initiated a project focused on lifestyle interventions for individuals with prediabetes. Based on this prevention project and its implementation in the city of Salzburg and surrounding areas, the Institute for General-, Family-, and Preventive Medicine at Paracelsus Medical Private University Salzburg is conducting a scientific evaluation of the project.

Project partners: Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) Salzburg, Department of Health; Institute for General-, Family-, and Preventive Medicine, PMU Salzburg

Project duration: 2021-2024

The COVID-19 pandemic poses significant challenges to the health of the entire population, including both amateur and elite athletes. This collaborative project aims to collect and analyze specific data using monitoring tools (e.g., health diaries, geotracking, etc.) regarding the risk factors and prevalence of COVID-19 infections among professional football players in Austria. The findings will support the development of a preventive measures plan by the Bundesliga to help prevent COVID-19 infections.

Project partners: Center for Public Health and Health Services Research; Institute for General-, Family-, and Preventive Medicine; Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, PMU Salzburg; Red Bull Athlete Performance Center (APC), Salzburg; Electronic Caregiver (ECG) Inc., NM USA; Paris Lodron University, Salzburg; Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany

Project duration: May 2020 – July 2020, Austria (scientific monitoring and evaluation of relevant parameters)

This cross-border collaborative project aims to capture and analyze the challenges faced by general practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they are being addressed. Data is collected through an initial baseline survey and followed by weekly brief reports, allowing for consideration of the dynamic nature of the situation.

Project Partners: Institute of General Practice and Evidence-Based Health Services Research (IAMEV), Medical University of Graz; Institute of Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz; Institute of General Practice, Goethe University Frankfurt.

Project funding: Provided by the internal resources of the participating scientific institutions.

Project leadership: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Maria Flamm, MPH, and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andrea Siebenhofer-Kroitzsch

Project duration: March 2020 to June 2020

Evaluation of neuropathic symptoms and the improvement of subjective quality of life (CIPN-20, QLQ-C30) through the application of high-frequency and TENS therapy.

This study is funded by the PMU Research Fund (PMU FFF, Project Number: T18/03/144-SAS).

Project duration: 2019-2020

Project partners: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Department of Internal Medicine III, specializing in Hematology, Internal Oncology, Hemostasis, Infectiology, Rheumatology, and the Oncology Center, University Hospital of Paracelsus Medical Private University Salzburg, 

The purpose of this clinical study was to compare various interventions for the treatment of osteopenia in postmenopausal women.

The preparation of the T-Bone data for publication is funded by the PMU Research Fund (PMU FFF: Time Table call).

Project duration: May 2017 – May 2018

Project partner (Project Lead): Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Prof. Dr. A Wicker), University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University

In an aging society, multimorbidity and the associated challenges of polypharmacy, inappropriate prescriptions, and medication errors are becoming increasingly significant issues.

PRIO-PC is a project focused on developing and pilot-testing a prioritization table to assist general practitioners in identifying potentially unnecessary medications and in determining the goals and values of their patients. The project primarily aims to assess the feasibility, practicality, and potential support of the shared decision-making process.

PRIO-PC is funded by the PMU Research Fund (PMU FFF).

Project Duration: 2017-2018

The care of elderly individuals in long-term residential care faces numerous challenges due to the increasing complexity of medical and nursing tasks. A particular challenge is ensuring the safety of medication therapy, especially in the context of multimorbidity and polypharmacy.

SiMbA is a collaborative project between Paracelsus Medical Private University Salzburg and SeneCura Kliniken- und HeimebetriebsgmbH. The project aims to enhance cooperation among the involved professional groups (general practitioners, pharmacists, and nursing staff). This will be achieved by developing an online training program focused on the specific aspects of medication management in residential elderly care, as well as through the structured review of medications.

Project Duration: 2016-2018

Project Partner: Institute of Nursing Science and Practice

This project examines the burden experienced by caregivers of people with dementia in rural areas of Salzburg, as well as the availability and utilization of support services. The project and its findings aim to directly help caregivers avoid overburdening and achieve a sustainable improvement in regional care.

Project duration: 2016-2018

Project partners: Institute of Nursing Science and Practice; Faculty of Health (Department of Nursing Science), Dementia Dialogue and Transfer Center, University of Witten/Herdecke

Homepage: http://www.pais-studie.at/studie.php

The project aims to improve medication therapy safety in nursing homes by optimizing interprofessional collaboration and communication among the involved healthcare professionals, and by establishing structured documentation and reflection on the medication of nursing home residents.

Conducted in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, the study involves participation from residential care facilities, general practitioners, and pharmacies.

As part of the project, capacity building in medication therapy (and its safety) for doctors, pharmacists, and nurses is being implemented, along with a comprehensive analysis of the current medication regimens of participating residents through the InTherACT online platform.

Project Duration: 2014-2017

Project Partners: Institute of Nursing Science and Practice; Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Münster

Website: www.intherakt.de

Polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications) is a common phenomenon among elderly, chronically ill patients, and it can lead to drug interactions and adverse drug reactions. The PRIMA-eDS project aims to develop an online decision support tool (electronic decision support = eDS) that will provide evidence-based recommendations for medication reduction upon input of patient-specific data, which physicians can then consider when treating patients.

The effectiveness and functionality of the eDS tool will be evaluated through a cluster-randomized controlled trial at the physician level. The study will be conducted in more than 300 general practice clinics across four European study centers (Austria, Germany, Italy, and England). Patient data will be collected using an electronic case report form. The primary endpoint is a composite of hospitalization and death, while secondary endpoints include adverse drug reactions, cognitive function, quality of life, and the reduction of the number of medications taken.

The international PRIMA-eDS study is funded by the 7th EU Framework Programme (FP7-Health-2012-Innovation-1-2.2.2.-2 grant agreement no. 305388-2).

Project Duration: 2012-2017

Project Partners: Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany (Lead Partner); Institute of General Practice, University Medicine Rostock, Germany; Duodecim Medical Publications Ltd. (DMP), Finland; South Tyrolean Academy of General Practice Foundation (SAKAM), Italy; University of Manchester, England

Website: www.prima-eds.eu