General Practice (GP), Primary Care Settings

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pain education and clinical hypnosis delivered via a mobile app compared to a guideline-informed factsheet for reducing pain and disability in people experiencing chronic low back pain attending general practice.

Multimorbidity, the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions, is a growing challenge in primary care, significantly impacting healthcare systems worldwide. Its prevalence is rising, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, leading to increased healthcare utilization, polypharmacy, and fragmented care. Current clinical guidelines primarily address single-disease management, failing to provide comprehensive strategies for multimorbid patients. Although multimorbidity has been extensively studied in Western Europe and North America, data on its burden in Romania and other Eastern European countries remain scarce. There is limited knowledge on how primary care physicians (PCPs) in Romania perceive and manage multimorbidity, particularly regarding clinical decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and adherence to treatment guidelines. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the impact of multimorbidity on Romanian PCPs, assessing their challenges in managing complex patients, their clinical and therapeutic approaches, and their level of comfort with deprescription and guideline adaptation. We will conduct a nationwide survey among primary care physicians and ambulatory specialists to evaluate the prevalence of multimorbidity in their practice, the difficulties they encounter, and potential strategies to improve care delivery. Key outcomes include the identification of multimorbidity prevalence in ambulatory settings, challenges related to consultation time and treatment complexity, barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration, and the balance between defensive and proactive medicine. Findings will provide valuable insights to guide policy changes, enhance clinical training, and promote patient-centered approaches in primary care