Objective. To assess Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs') level of potentially harmful drug pr... more Objective. To assess Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs') level of potentially harmful drug prescribing for elderly patients. Design. Prescription data for 12 months were retrospectively retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD). Data were assessed in relation to 13 prescription quality indicators. Setting. General practice. Subjects. A total of 454 GPs attending continuous medical education (CME) groups in Southern Norway, 85 836 patients ]70 years who received any prescription from the GPs during the study period. Main outcome measures. Number of prescriptions assessed in relation to pharmacological inappropriateness based on a list of 13 explicit prescription quality indicators. Results. Some 18.4% of the patients (66% females with mean age 79.8 years, 34% males with mean age 78.7 years) received one or more inappropriate prescriptions from their GP. An NSAID in a potentially harmful combination with another drug (7%) and a long-acting benzodiazepine (4.6%) were the most frequent inappropriate prescriptions made. Doctor characteristics associated with more inappropriate prescribing practice were old age and working single-handed with many elderly patients. Conclusion. The study reveals areas where GPs' prescribing practice for elderly patients can be improved and which can be targeted in educational interventions.
To establish a clinically relevant list with explicit criteria for pharmacologically inappropriat... more To establish a clinically relevant list with explicit criteria for pharmacologically inappropriate prescriptions in general practice for elderly people > or =70 years. A three-round Delphi process for validating the clinical relevance of suggested criteria (n = 37) for inappropriate prescriptions to elderly patients. A postal consensus process undertaken by a panel of specialists in general practice, clinical pharmacology, and geriatrics. Main outcome measures. The Norwegian General Practice (NORGEP) criteria, a relevance-validated list of drugs, drug dosages, and drug combinations to be avoided in the elderly (< or =70 years) patients. Of the 140 invited panellists, 57 accepted to participate and 47 completed all three rounds of the Delphi process. The panellists reached consensus that 36 of the 37 suggested criteria were clinically relevant for general practice. Relevance of three of the criteria was rated significantly higher in Round 3 than in Round 1. At the end of the Delphi process, a significant difference between the different specialist groups' scores was seen for only one of the 36 criteria. The NORGEP criteria may serve as rules of thumb for general practitioners (GPs) related to their prescribing practice for elderly patients, and as a tool for evaluating the quality of GPs' prescribing in settings where access to clinical information for individual patients is limited, e.g. in prescription databases and quality improvement interventions.
Objective. To investigate the spectrum of diagnoses made by general practitioners (GPs) seeing pa... more Objective. To investigate the spectrum of diagnoses made by general practitioners (GPs) seeing patients with acute abdominal pain, as well as GPs' handling of these patients. To investigate factors predictive of acute admission to hospital. Design. Descriptive study. Setting. General practices in southern Norway, autumn 2007 and spring 2008. Subjects. A total of 134 patients who were offered an acute appointment with a GP because of abdominal pain. Main outcome measures. Tentative diagnosis made and handling of the patient by the GP. Explanatory factors: pain duration, findings on clinical examination. Results. The most frequent diagnosis was non-specific pain (20%), followed by gastroenteritis (13%), appendicitis (12%), ulcer disease (11%), gynaecological disease (9%), and urinary tract problems (7%). One-quarter of patients were sent home after clinical examination without any specific action taken. One-quarter were acutely admitted to hospital, and one-quarter were treated with medication. The rest was either referred for further investigations on a nonacute basis (14%) or given a follow-up appointment with the GP (10%). Suspected appendicitis was the strongest predictor for acute admission. Rebound tenderness on clinical examination as well as pain duration for 24 hours or less also independently predicted acute hospital admission. Conclusion. GPs face the challenge of meeting a wide and inhomogeneous spectre of complaints when dealing with patients with acute abdominal pain. Three-quarters of patients are taken care of in primary care.
To assess level of cardiovascular risk factors in a non-selected, middle-aged population. To esti... more To assess level of cardiovascular risk factors in a non-selected, middle-aged population. To estimate the proportion target for risk intervention according to present guidelines and according to different cut-off levels for two risk algorithms. Population survey, modelling study. The Norwegian Hordaland Health Study (HUSK) 1997-99. A total of 22 289 persons born in 1950-57. Own and relatives' cardiovascular morbidity, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering treatment, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol. Framingham and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithms. The European guidelines on CVD prevention in clinical practice were applied to estimate size of risk groups. Some 9.7% of men and 7.6% of women had CVD, diabetes mellitus, a high level of one specific risk factor, or received lipid-lowering or antihypertensive treatment. Applying a SCORE (60 years) cut-off level at 5% to the rest of the population selected 52.4% of men and 0.8% of women into a primary prevention group, while a cut-off level at 8% included 22.0% and 0.06% respectively. A cut-off level for the Framingham score (60 years) of 20% selected 43.6% of men and 4.7% of women, while a cut-off level of 25% selected 25.6% of men and 1.8% of women. The findings illustrate how choices regarding risk estimation highly affect the size of the target population. Modelling studies are important when preparing guidelines, to address implications for resource allocation and risk of medicalization. The population share to be targeted for primary prevention ought to be estimated, including the impact of various cut-off points for risk algorithms on the size of the risk population.
Background: Family Medicine/General Practice (FM/GP) has not developed in a similar way worldwide... more Background: Family Medicine/General Practice (FM/GP) has not developed in a similar way worldwide. In countries that are not primary care oriented, the discipline of FM/GP may be less developed because this is not a career option for medical graduates. In such a situation, FM/GP will not be regarded as a required clinical experience during medical school. Objectives: To defi ne the ' minimal requirements ' or ' minimal core content ' for a clerkship in FM/GP of very short duration, i.e. a basic curriculum for a clinical rotation in FM/GP, taking into account that in some European countries the time allocated for this rotation may not exceed one week. Method: The Delphi method was used. The study group was composed of 40 family physicians and medical educators who act as national representatives of all European countries -plus Israelin the Council of the European Academy of Teachers in General Practice and Family Medicine (EURACT). The representatives are elected among the EURACT members in their country. Results: After three Delphi rounds we obtained a consensual list of 15 themes regarded by the respondents as the most important to be included in a minimal core curriculum for FM/GP in undergraduate medical education.
Traditional methods for dissemination of knowledge, such as lecture-based courses and distributio... more Traditional methods for dissemination of knowledge, such as lecture-based courses and distribution of guidelines, have shown only modest effect on improving the quality of GPs' prescription practice. We aimed at assessing GPs' own views on various sources of knowledge within pharmacotherapy, and their attitudes to a potentially effective educational method: audit and feedback. A questionnaire regarding the use of and views on various sources of knowledge concerning pharmacotherapy was sent to GPs in continuing medical education (CME) groups participating in an intervention study on quality improvement of prescription practice. 302 of 479 GPs (63 %) responded. The Norwegian Pharmaceutical Catalogue was the most widely used source of information on drugs. Industry- based sources were generally regarded as less useful and without great influence on prescription practice, but were nevertheless often mentioned as a source of information in specific prescribing situations. The GPs...
Age-related alterations in metabolism and excretion of medications increase the risk of adverse d... more Age-related alterations in metabolism and excretion of medications increase the risk of adverse drug events in the elderly. Inappropriate polypharmacy and prescription practice entails increased burdens of impaired quality of life and drug related morbidity and mortality. The main objective of this trial is to evaluate effects of a tailored educational intervention towards general practitioners (GPs) aimed at supporting the implementation of a safer drug prescribing practice for elderly patients > or = 70 years. Approximately 80 peer continuing medical education (CME) groups (about 600 GPs) in southern Norway will be recruited to a cluster randomized trial. Participating groups will be randomized either to an intervention- or a control group. The control group will not receive any intervention towards prescription patterns in elderly, but will be the target of an educational intervention for prescription of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections. A multifaceted intervention...
Despite the suggested role of vitamin D in the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease ... more Despite the suggested role of vitamin D in the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease or its risk factors, the evidence is not consistent and there is a paucity of randomized controlled trials in this field. We aimed to investigate the effect of 16-week daily vitamin D3 supplementation on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fructosamine, body mass index (BMI), and serum lipids. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Immigrant community centers in Oslo, Norway. 251 healthy adults aged 18-50 years with a non-Western immigrant background. All participants performed the baseline test and 215 (86%) returned to the follow-up test. 16 weeks of daily oral supplementation with either 10 μg vitamin D3, 25 μg vitamin D3, or placebo. Difference in absolute change during the 16-week intervention between the intervention groups combined (10 or 25 μg of vitamin D3/day) and placebo, in HbA1c, fructosamine, serum lipids (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-d...
Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række, Jan 20, 2011
It is critical to communicate properly about drug use across health care levels, to avoid adverse... more It is critical to communicate properly about drug use across health care levels, to avoid adverse drug effects and medication errors. We have investigated communication about drug use between a hospital and the primary health care services through an assessment of referrals and discharge letters. At Innlandet Hospital Trust Gjøvik, all elective referrals to the medical outpatient clinic and discharge letters from the medical department during two periods (in 2009) were copied and anonymised. The documents were searched for information about drug use and for completeness of that information. We also assessed whether admission letters for acute admissions to the medical department included a medication list. 92 (47%) of 194 of elective referrals, and 167 (91%) of 184 of discharge letters, contained complete information about drug use. In 61 (49%) of 125 of discharge letters that contained information about altered drug use, these changes were not discussed in the medication list. Amon...
To examine the level and patterns of self-reported medication use (prescription and non-prescript... more To examine the level and patterns of self-reported medication use (prescription and non-prescription drugs) among 70-74 year old individuals living in the community, and to explore self-reported indications for use, and factors possibly predictive of drug use. A health survey carried out in 1997-99 in the county of Hordaland (Western Norway) in the setting of a population study. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 4338 persons born in 1925-27, and a health check-up was offered. Drug use the previous day was reported (point prevalence). 3341 (77.0%) persons who responded, comprise the material for the analyses. Between one third (males) and one quarter (females) did not take any drug the previous day. Mean number of drugs among users was 2.8 (men and women). 32% used three or more drugs and 11.5% five or more. Hypertension and other cardiovascular problems were by far the most common reasons for drug use, followed by respiratory, musculoskeletal and mental health problems...
International journal for equity in health, Oct 19, 2004
BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to compare the prevalence and severity of musculo-skel... more BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to compare the prevalence and severity of musculo-skeletal pain between two socioeconomically contrasting areas in Oslo, Norway, and to explore possible explanatory factors. METHODS: Questionnaire survey, carried out as part of The Oslo Health Study in 2000-2001. Data from 821 persons (40 and 45 year old) living in a less affluent inner city area (called east) were compared with 854 persons living in an affluent area of the city (called west). Bivariate comparisons (chi square test) and multiple regression analyses were performed to investigate differences between the samples. RESULTS: 61 % in east and 56 % in west (p < 0.05) reported pain/stiffness in muscles/joints during the last four weeks. 30 % in east versus 19 % in west (p < 0.001) reported extensive pain. The between area difference in extensive pain was partially explained by physical inactivity, mental health problems and being of non-Western origin. CONCLUSION: Musculo-skel...
Drug-assisted rehabilitation programmes reduce mortality and improve somatic and mental health am... more Drug-assisted rehabilitation programmes reduce mortality and improve somatic and mental health among opioid abusers. We have explored changes in patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; perception of their QoL (quality of life) after enrollment in such a programme, and their explanations for these changes. 26 patients, enrolled a drug-assisted rehabilitation programme, were interviewed according to a semi-structured guide. Changes in QoL were recorded on a five-point scale; from much worse to much better. Answers to the question &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;What are your two main explanations for improved/reduced QoL?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; were recorded literally and analysed by systematic text condensation. The informants made 42 statements on reasons for improved QoL and six for reduced QoL. Important explanations for improved QoL were that life is no longer ruled by addiction, fewer social problems, and improved relationships to family and friends. Improved physical and psychological health was rarely mentioned. Loneliness and isolation, as well as the control imposed on them by the programme were explanations for reduced QoL. A large majority of patients experienced improved QoL, and having regained control of their life was the most important explanation. Some felt the treatment dominated their life too much, and therefore expressed a poorer QoL.
Immigrants from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa living in Northern Europe frequently have... more Immigrants from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa living in Northern Europe frequently have low vitamin D levels and more pain compared to the native Western population. The aim of this study was to examine whether daily vitamin D3 (25 μg/d or 10 μg/d) supplementation for 16 weeks would improve musculoskeletal pain or headache compared to placebo. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial recruited 251 participants aged 18 to 50 years, and 215 (86%) attended the follow-up visit. The pain measures were occurrence, anatomical localization, and degree of musculoskeletal pain, as measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) score during the past 2 weeks. Headache was measured with VAS and the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) questionnaire. At baseline, females reported more pain sites (4.7) than males (3.4), and only 7% reported no pain in the past 2 weeks. During the past 4 weeks, 63% reported headache with a high mean HIT-6 score of 60 (SD 7). At follow-up, vitamin D level, measured as serum 25(OH)D3, increased from 27 nmol/L to 52 nmol/L and from 27 nmol/L to 43 nmol/L in the 25-μg and 10-μg supplementation groups, respectively, whereas serum 25(OH)D3 did not change in the placebo group. Pain scores and headache scores were improved at follow-up compared with baseline. The use of vitamin D supplements, however, showed no significant effect on the occurrence, anatomical localization, and degree of pain or headache compared to placebo.
The aim of this study was to investigate possible dierences in measures on disease process, joint... more The aim of this study was to investigate possible dierences in measures on disease process, joint damage, health status and self-ecacy between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) living in an auent and in a less auent area in the same city. We analyzed data collected on patients enrolled in a community-based register of patients with RA in Oslo, Norway. 246 patients were examined by questionnaire in 1994 and 133 patients were examined clinically in 1997. Measures on disease process, joint damage, health status and self-ecacy were compared between patients from two residential areas.
Objective. To assess Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs') level of potentially harmful drug pr... more Objective. To assess Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs') level of potentially harmful drug prescribing for elderly patients. Design. Prescription data for 12 months were retrospectively retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD). Data were assessed in relation to 13 prescription quality indicators. Setting. General practice. Subjects. A total of 454 GPs attending continuous medical education (CME) groups in Southern Norway, 85 836 patients ]70 years who received any prescription from the GPs during the study period. Main outcome measures. Number of prescriptions assessed in relation to pharmacological inappropriateness based on a list of 13 explicit prescription quality indicators. Results. Some 18.4% of the patients (66% females with mean age 79.8 years, 34% males with mean age 78.7 years) received one or more inappropriate prescriptions from their GP. An NSAID in a potentially harmful combination with another drug (7%) and a long-acting benzodiazepine (4.6%) were the most frequent inappropriate prescriptions made. Doctor characteristics associated with more inappropriate prescribing practice were old age and working single-handed with many elderly patients. Conclusion. The study reveals areas where GPs' prescribing practice for elderly patients can be improved and which can be targeted in educational interventions.
To establish a clinically relevant list with explicit criteria for pharmacologically inappropriat... more To establish a clinically relevant list with explicit criteria for pharmacologically inappropriate prescriptions in general practice for elderly people &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; or =70 years. A three-round Delphi process for validating the clinical relevance of suggested criteria (n = 37) for inappropriate prescriptions to elderly patients. A postal consensus process undertaken by a panel of specialists in general practice, clinical pharmacology, and geriatrics. Main outcome measures. The Norwegian General Practice (NORGEP) criteria, a relevance-validated list of drugs, drug dosages, and drug combinations to be avoided in the elderly (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; or =70 years) patients. Of the 140 invited panellists, 57 accepted to participate and 47 completed all three rounds of the Delphi process. The panellists reached consensus that 36 of the 37 suggested criteria were clinically relevant for general practice. Relevance of three of the criteria was rated significantly higher in Round 3 than in Round 1. At the end of the Delphi process, a significant difference between the different specialist groups&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; scores was seen for only one of the 36 criteria. The NORGEP criteria may serve as rules of thumb for general practitioners (GPs) related to their prescribing practice for elderly patients, and as a tool for evaluating the quality of GPs&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; prescribing in settings where access to clinical information for individual patients is limited, e.g. in prescription databases and quality improvement interventions.
To investigate vitamin D levels in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, and... more To investigate vitamin D levels in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, and fatigue. A cross-sectional descriptive study. A health center in Oslo, Norway, with a multi-ethnic population. A total of 572 patients referred by a general practitioner (GP) for an examination of hypovitaminosis D who reported musculoskeletal pain, headache, or fatigue. The patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; native countries were: Norway (n = 249), Europe, America, and South-East Asia (n = 83), and the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (n = 240). Both genders and all ages were included. Vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D) in nmol/L. Hypovitaminosis D (25-hydroxyvitamin D &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 50 nmol/L) was found in 58% of patients. One-third of ethnic Norwegians had hypovitaminosis D, while 83% of patients from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia had hypovitaminosis D with minimal seasonal variation of levels. One in two women from these countries had a vitamin D level below 25 nmol/L. Mean vitamin D level was lower in patients with headaches compared with patients with other symptoms. Some 15% of patients with low (&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 50 nmol/L) vitamin D levels reported headaches, compared with 5% of those with normal vitamin D levels. Our study shows a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, or fatigue for whom the GP had suspected a low vitamin D level. Hypovitaminosis D was not restricted to immigrant patients. These results indicate that GPs should maintain awareness of hypovitaminosis D and refer patients who report headaches, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain with minimal sun exposure and a low dietary vitamin D intake for assessment.
To assess level of cardiovascular risk factors in a non-selected, middle-aged population. To esti... more To assess level of cardiovascular risk factors in a non-selected, middle-aged population. To estimate the proportion target for risk intervention according to present guidelines and according to different cut-off levels for two risk algorithms. Population survey, modelling study. The Norwegian Hordaland Health Study (HUSK) 1997-99. A total of 22 289 persons born in 1950-57. Own and relatives&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; cardiovascular morbidity, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering treatment, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol. Framingham and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithms. The European guidelines on CVD prevention in clinical practice were applied to estimate size of risk groups. Some 9.7% of men and 7.6% of women had CVD, diabetes mellitus, a high level of one specific risk factor, or received lipid-lowering or antihypertensive treatment. Applying a SCORE (60 years) cut-off level at 5% to the rest of the population selected 52.4% of men and 0.8% of women into a primary prevention group, while a cut-off level at 8% included 22.0% and 0.06% respectively. A cut-off level for the Framingham score (60 years) of 20% selected 43.6% of men and 4.7% of women, while a cut-off level of 25% selected 25.6% of men and 1.8% of women. The findings illustrate how choices regarding risk estimation highly affect the size of the target population. Modelling studies are important when preparing guidelines, to address implications for resource allocation and risk of medicalization. The population share to be targeted for primary prevention ought to be estimated, including the impact of various cut-off points for risk algorithms on the size of the risk population.
Objective. To assess Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs') level of potentially harmful drug pr... more Objective. To assess Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs') level of potentially harmful drug prescribing for elderly patients. Design. Prescription data for 12 months were retrospectively retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD). Data were assessed in relation to 13 prescription quality indicators. Setting. General practice. Subjects. A total of 454 GPs attending continuous medical education (CME) groups in Southern Norway, 85 836 patients ]70 years who received any prescription from the GPs during the study period. Main outcome measures. Number of prescriptions assessed in relation to pharmacological inappropriateness based on a list of 13 explicit prescription quality indicators. Results. Some 18.4% of the patients (66% females with mean age 79.8 years, 34% males with mean age 78.7 years) received one or more inappropriate prescriptions from their GP. An NSAID in a potentially harmful combination with another drug (7%) and a long-acting benzodiazepine (4.6%) were the most frequent inappropriate prescriptions made. Doctor characteristics associated with more inappropriate prescribing practice were old age and working single-handed with many elderly patients. Conclusion. The study reveals areas where GPs' prescribing practice for elderly patients can be improved and which can be targeted in educational interventions.
To establish a clinically relevant list with explicit criteria for pharmacologically inappropriat... more To establish a clinically relevant list with explicit criteria for pharmacologically inappropriate prescriptions in general practice for elderly people &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; or =70 years. A three-round Delphi process for validating the clinical relevance of suggested criteria (n = 37) for inappropriate prescriptions to elderly patients. A postal consensus process undertaken by a panel of specialists in general practice, clinical pharmacology, and geriatrics. Main outcome measures. The Norwegian General Practice (NORGEP) criteria, a relevance-validated list of drugs, drug dosages, and drug combinations to be avoided in the elderly (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; or =70 years) patients. Of the 140 invited panellists, 57 accepted to participate and 47 completed all three rounds of the Delphi process. The panellists reached consensus that 36 of the 37 suggested criteria were clinically relevant for general practice. Relevance of three of the criteria was rated significantly higher in Round 3 than in Round 1. At the end of the Delphi process, a significant difference between the different specialist groups&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; scores was seen for only one of the 36 criteria. The NORGEP criteria may serve as rules of thumb for general practitioners (GPs) related to their prescribing practice for elderly patients, and as a tool for evaluating the quality of GPs&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; prescribing in settings where access to clinical information for individual patients is limited, e.g. in prescription databases and quality improvement interventions.
Objective. To investigate the spectrum of diagnoses made by general practitioners (GPs) seeing pa... more Objective. To investigate the spectrum of diagnoses made by general practitioners (GPs) seeing patients with acute abdominal pain, as well as GPs' handling of these patients. To investigate factors predictive of acute admission to hospital. Design. Descriptive study. Setting. General practices in southern Norway, autumn 2007 and spring 2008. Subjects. A total of 134 patients who were offered an acute appointment with a GP because of abdominal pain. Main outcome measures. Tentative diagnosis made and handling of the patient by the GP. Explanatory factors: pain duration, findings on clinical examination. Results. The most frequent diagnosis was non-specific pain (20%), followed by gastroenteritis (13%), appendicitis (12%), ulcer disease (11%), gynaecological disease (9%), and urinary tract problems (7%). One-quarter of patients were sent home after clinical examination without any specific action taken. One-quarter were acutely admitted to hospital, and one-quarter were treated with medication. The rest was either referred for further investigations on a nonacute basis (14%) or given a follow-up appointment with the GP (10%). Suspected appendicitis was the strongest predictor for acute admission. Rebound tenderness on clinical examination as well as pain duration for 24 hours or less also independently predicted acute hospital admission. Conclusion. GPs face the challenge of meeting a wide and inhomogeneous spectre of complaints when dealing with patients with acute abdominal pain. Three-quarters of patients are taken care of in primary care.
To assess level of cardiovascular risk factors in a non-selected, middle-aged population. To esti... more To assess level of cardiovascular risk factors in a non-selected, middle-aged population. To estimate the proportion target for risk intervention according to present guidelines and according to different cut-off levels for two risk algorithms. Population survey, modelling study. The Norwegian Hordaland Health Study (HUSK) 1997-99. A total of 22 289 persons born in 1950-57. Own and relatives&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; cardiovascular morbidity, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering treatment, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol. Framingham and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithms. The European guidelines on CVD prevention in clinical practice were applied to estimate size of risk groups. Some 9.7% of men and 7.6% of women had CVD, diabetes mellitus, a high level of one specific risk factor, or received lipid-lowering or antihypertensive treatment. Applying a SCORE (60 years) cut-off level at 5% to the rest of the population selected 52.4% of men and 0.8% of women into a primary prevention group, while a cut-off level at 8% included 22.0% and 0.06% respectively. A cut-off level for the Framingham score (60 years) of 20% selected 43.6% of men and 4.7% of women, while a cut-off level of 25% selected 25.6% of men and 1.8% of women. The findings illustrate how choices regarding risk estimation highly affect the size of the target population. Modelling studies are important when preparing guidelines, to address implications for resource allocation and risk of medicalization. The population share to be targeted for primary prevention ought to be estimated, including the impact of various cut-off points for risk algorithms on the size of the risk population.
Background: Family Medicine/General Practice (FM/GP) has not developed in a similar way worldwide... more Background: Family Medicine/General Practice (FM/GP) has not developed in a similar way worldwide. In countries that are not primary care oriented, the discipline of FM/GP may be less developed because this is not a career option for medical graduates. In such a situation, FM/GP will not be regarded as a required clinical experience during medical school. Objectives: To defi ne the ' minimal requirements ' or ' minimal core content ' for a clerkship in FM/GP of very short duration, i.e. a basic curriculum for a clinical rotation in FM/GP, taking into account that in some European countries the time allocated for this rotation may not exceed one week. Method: The Delphi method was used. The study group was composed of 40 family physicians and medical educators who act as national representatives of all European countries -plus Israelin the Council of the European Academy of Teachers in General Practice and Family Medicine (EURACT). The representatives are elected among the EURACT members in their country. Results: After three Delphi rounds we obtained a consensual list of 15 themes regarded by the respondents as the most important to be included in a minimal core curriculum for FM/GP in undergraduate medical education.
Traditional methods for dissemination of knowledge, such as lecture-based courses and distributio... more Traditional methods for dissemination of knowledge, such as lecture-based courses and distribution of guidelines, have shown only modest effect on improving the quality of GPs' prescription practice. We aimed at assessing GPs' own views on various sources of knowledge within pharmacotherapy, and their attitudes to a potentially effective educational method: audit and feedback. A questionnaire regarding the use of and views on various sources of knowledge concerning pharmacotherapy was sent to GPs in continuing medical education (CME) groups participating in an intervention study on quality improvement of prescription practice. 302 of 479 GPs (63 %) responded. The Norwegian Pharmaceutical Catalogue was the most widely used source of information on drugs. Industry- based sources were generally regarded as less useful and without great influence on prescription practice, but were nevertheless often mentioned as a source of information in specific prescribing situations. The GPs...
Age-related alterations in metabolism and excretion of medications increase the risk of adverse d... more Age-related alterations in metabolism and excretion of medications increase the risk of adverse drug events in the elderly. Inappropriate polypharmacy and prescription practice entails increased burdens of impaired quality of life and drug related morbidity and mortality. The main objective of this trial is to evaluate effects of a tailored educational intervention towards general practitioners (GPs) aimed at supporting the implementation of a safer drug prescribing practice for elderly patients > or = 70 years. Approximately 80 peer continuing medical education (CME) groups (about 600 GPs) in southern Norway will be recruited to a cluster randomized trial. Participating groups will be randomized either to an intervention- or a control group. The control group will not receive any intervention towards prescription patterns in elderly, but will be the target of an educational intervention for prescription of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections. A multifaceted intervention...
Despite the suggested role of vitamin D in the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease ... more Despite the suggested role of vitamin D in the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease or its risk factors, the evidence is not consistent and there is a paucity of randomized controlled trials in this field. We aimed to investigate the effect of 16-week daily vitamin D3 supplementation on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fructosamine, body mass index (BMI), and serum lipids. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Immigrant community centers in Oslo, Norway. 251 healthy adults aged 18-50 years with a non-Western immigrant background. All participants performed the baseline test and 215 (86%) returned to the follow-up test. 16 weeks of daily oral supplementation with either 10 μg vitamin D3, 25 μg vitamin D3, or placebo. Difference in absolute change during the 16-week intervention between the intervention groups combined (10 or 25 μg of vitamin D3/day) and placebo, in HbA1c, fructosamine, serum lipids (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-d...
Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række, Jan 20, 2011
It is critical to communicate properly about drug use across health care levels, to avoid adverse... more It is critical to communicate properly about drug use across health care levels, to avoid adverse drug effects and medication errors. We have investigated communication about drug use between a hospital and the primary health care services through an assessment of referrals and discharge letters. At Innlandet Hospital Trust Gjøvik, all elective referrals to the medical outpatient clinic and discharge letters from the medical department during two periods (in 2009) were copied and anonymised. The documents were searched for information about drug use and for completeness of that information. We also assessed whether admission letters for acute admissions to the medical department included a medication list. 92 (47%) of 194 of elective referrals, and 167 (91%) of 184 of discharge letters, contained complete information about drug use. In 61 (49%) of 125 of discharge letters that contained information about altered drug use, these changes were not discussed in the medication list. Amon...
To examine the level and patterns of self-reported medication use (prescription and non-prescript... more To examine the level and patterns of self-reported medication use (prescription and non-prescription drugs) among 70-74 year old individuals living in the community, and to explore self-reported indications for use, and factors possibly predictive of drug use. A health survey carried out in 1997-99 in the county of Hordaland (Western Norway) in the setting of a population study. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 4338 persons born in 1925-27, and a health check-up was offered. Drug use the previous day was reported (point prevalence). 3341 (77.0%) persons who responded, comprise the material for the analyses. Between one third (males) and one quarter (females) did not take any drug the previous day. Mean number of drugs among users was 2.8 (men and women). 32% used three or more drugs and 11.5% five or more. Hypertension and other cardiovascular problems were by far the most common reasons for drug use, followed by respiratory, musculoskeletal and mental health problems...
International journal for equity in health, Oct 19, 2004
BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to compare the prevalence and severity of musculo-skel... more BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to compare the prevalence and severity of musculo-skeletal pain between two socioeconomically contrasting areas in Oslo, Norway, and to explore possible explanatory factors. METHODS: Questionnaire survey, carried out as part of The Oslo Health Study in 2000-2001. Data from 821 persons (40 and 45 year old) living in a less affluent inner city area (called east) were compared with 854 persons living in an affluent area of the city (called west). Bivariate comparisons (chi square test) and multiple regression analyses were performed to investigate differences between the samples. RESULTS: 61 % in east and 56 % in west (p < 0.05) reported pain/stiffness in muscles/joints during the last four weeks. 30 % in east versus 19 % in west (p < 0.001) reported extensive pain. The between area difference in extensive pain was partially explained by physical inactivity, mental health problems and being of non-Western origin. CONCLUSION: Musculo-skel...
Drug-assisted rehabilitation programmes reduce mortality and improve somatic and mental health am... more Drug-assisted rehabilitation programmes reduce mortality and improve somatic and mental health among opioid abusers. We have explored changes in patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; perception of their QoL (quality of life) after enrollment in such a programme, and their explanations for these changes. 26 patients, enrolled a drug-assisted rehabilitation programme, were interviewed according to a semi-structured guide. Changes in QoL were recorded on a five-point scale; from much worse to much better. Answers to the question &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;What are your two main explanations for improved/reduced QoL?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; were recorded literally and analysed by systematic text condensation. The informants made 42 statements on reasons for improved QoL and six for reduced QoL. Important explanations for improved QoL were that life is no longer ruled by addiction, fewer social problems, and improved relationships to family and friends. Improved physical and psychological health was rarely mentioned. Loneliness and isolation, as well as the control imposed on them by the programme were explanations for reduced QoL. A large majority of patients experienced improved QoL, and having regained control of their life was the most important explanation. Some felt the treatment dominated their life too much, and therefore expressed a poorer QoL.
Immigrants from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa living in Northern Europe frequently have... more Immigrants from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa living in Northern Europe frequently have low vitamin D levels and more pain compared to the native Western population. The aim of this study was to examine whether daily vitamin D3 (25 μg/d or 10 μg/d) supplementation for 16 weeks would improve musculoskeletal pain or headache compared to placebo. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial recruited 251 participants aged 18 to 50 years, and 215 (86%) attended the follow-up visit. The pain measures were occurrence, anatomical localization, and degree of musculoskeletal pain, as measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) score during the past 2 weeks. Headache was measured with VAS and the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) questionnaire. At baseline, females reported more pain sites (4.7) than males (3.4), and only 7% reported no pain in the past 2 weeks. During the past 4 weeks, 63% reported headache with a high mean HIT-6 score of 60 (SD 7). At follow-up, vitamin D level, measured as serum 25(OH)D3, increased from 27 nmol/L to 52 nmol/L and from 27 nmol/L to 43 nmol/L in the 25-μg and 10-μg supplementation groups, respectively, whereas serum 25(OH)D3 did not change in the placebo group. Pain scores and headache scores were improved at follow-up compared with baseline. The use of vitamin D supplements, however, showed no significant effect on the occurrence, anatomical localization, and degree of pain or headache compared to placebo.
The aim of this study was to investigate possible dierences in measures on disease process, joint... more The aim of this study was to investigate possible dierences in measures on disease process, joint damage, health status and self-ecacy between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) living in an auent and in a less auent area in the same city. We analyzed data collected on patients enrolled in a community-based register of patients with RA in Oslo, Norway. 246 patients were examined by questionnaire in 1994 and 133 patients were examined clinically in 1997. Measures on disease process, joint damage, health status and self-ecacy were compared between patients from two residential areas.
Objective. To assess Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs') level of potentially harmful drug pr... more Objective. To assess Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs') level of potentially harmful drug prescribing for elderly patients. Design. Prescription data for 12 months were retrospectively retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD). Data were assessed in relation to 13 prescription quality indicators. Setting. General practice. Subjects. A total of 454 GPs attending continuous medical education (CME) groups in Southern Norway, 85 836 patients ]70 years who received any prescription from the GPs during the study period. Main outcome measures. Number of prescriptions assessed in relation to pharmacological inappropriateness based on a list of 13 explicit prescription quality indicators. Results. Some 18.4% of the patients (66% females with mean age 79.8 years, 34% males with mean age 78.7 years) received one or more inappropriate prescriptions from their GP. An NSAID in a potentially harmful combination with another drug (7%) and a long-acting benzodiazepine (4.6%) were the most frequent inappropriate prescriptions made. Doctor characteristics associated with more inappropriate prescribing practice were old age and working single-handed with many elderly patients. Conclusion. The study reveals areas where GPs' prescribing practice for elderly patients can be improved and which can be targeted in educational interventions.
To establish a clinically relevant list with explicit criteria for pharmacologically inappropriat... more To establish a clinically relevant list with explicit criteria for pharmacologically inappropriate prescriptions in general practice for elderly people &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; or =70 years. A three-round Delphi process for validating the clinical relevance of suggested criteria (n = 37) for inappropriate prescriptions to elderly patients. A postal consensus process undertaken by a panel of specialists in general practice, clinical pharmacology, and geriatrics. Main outcome measures. The Norwegian General Practice (NORGEP) criteria, a relevance-validated list of drugs, drug dosages, and drug combinations to be avoided in the elderly (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; or =70 years) patients. Of the 140 invited panellists, 57 accepted to participate and 47 completed all three rounds of the Delphi process. The panellists reached consensus that 36 of the 37 suggested criteria were clinically relevant for general practice. Relevance of three of the criteria was rated significantly higher in Round 3 than in Round 1. At the end of the Delphi process, a significant difference between the different specialist groups&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; scores was seen for only one of the 36 criteria. The NORGEP criteria may serve as rules of thumb for general practitioners (GPs) related to their prescribing practice for elderly patients, and as a tool for evaluating the quality of GPs&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; prescribing in settings where access to clinical information for individual patients is limited, e.g. in prescription databases and quality improvement interventions.
To investigate vitamin D levels in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, and... more To investigate vitamin D levels in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, and fatigue. A cross-sectional descriptive study. A health center in Oslo, Norway, with a multi-ethnic population. A total of 572 patients referred by a general practitioner (GP) for an examination of hypovitaminosis D who reported musculoskeletal pain, headache, or fatigue. The patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; native countries were: Norway (n = 249), Europe, America, and South-East Asia (n = 83), and the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (n = 240). Both genders and all ages were included. Vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D) in nmol/L. Hypovitaminosis D (25-hydroxyvitamin D &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 50 nmol/L) was found in 58% of patients. One-third of ethnic Norwegians had hypovitaminosis D, while 83% of patients from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia had hypovitaminosis D with minimal seasonal variation of levels. One in two women from these countries had a vitamin D level below 25 nmol/L. Mean vitamin D level was lower in patients with headaches compared with patients with other symptoms. Some 15% of patients with low (&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 50 nmol/L) vitamin D levels reported headaches, compared with 5% of those with normal vitamin D levels. Our study shows a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, or fatigue for whom the GP had suspected a low vitamin D level. Hypovitaminosis D was not restricted to immigrant patients. These results indicate that GPs should maintain awareness of hypovitaminosis D and refer patients who report headaches, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain with minimal sun exposure and a low dietary vitamin D intake for assessment.
To assess level of cardiovascular risk factors in a non-selected, middle-aged population. To esti... more To assess level of cardiovascular risk factors in a non-selected, middle-aged population. To estimate the proportion target for risk intervention according to present guidelines and according to different cut-off levels for two risk algorithms. Population survey, modelling study. The Norwegian Hordaland Health Study (HUSK) 1997-99. A total of 22 289 persons born in 1950-57. Own and relatives&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; cardiovascular morbidity, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering treatment, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol. Framingham and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithms. The European guidelines on CVD prevention in clinical practice were applied to estimate size of risk groups. Some 9.7% of men and 7.6% of women had CVD, diabetes mellitus, a high level of one specific risk factor, or received lipid-lowering or antihypertensive treatment. Applying a SCORE (60 years) cut-off level at 5% to the rest of the population selected 52.4% of men and 0.8% of women into a primary prevention group, while a cut-off level at 8% included 22.0% and 0.06% respectively. A cut-off level for the Framingham score (60 years) of 20% selected 43.6% of men and 4.7% of women, while a cut-off level of 25% selected 25.6% of men and 1.8% of women. The findings illustrate how choices regarding risk estimation highly affect the size of the target population. Modelling studies are important when preparing guidelines, to address implications for resource allocation and risk of medicalization. The population share to be targeted for primary prevention ought to be estimated, including the impact of various cut-off points for risk algorithms on the size of the risk population.
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Papers by Mette Brekke