| 1. |
- Brusselaers, Nele, et al.
(författare)
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Education level and survival after esophageal cancer surgery : a prospective population-based cohort study
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Molecular Medicine and Surgery. - 2044-6055.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether a higher education level is associated with an improved long-term survival after oesophagectomy for cancer. Design: A prospective, population-based cohort study. Setting: Sweden—nationwide. Participants: 90% of all patients with oesophageal and cardia cancer who underwent a resection in Sweden in 2001–2005 were enrolled in this study (N=600; 80.3% male) and followed up until death or the end of the study period (2012). The study exposure was level of education, defined as compulsory (≤9 years), moderate (10–12 years) or high (≥13 years). Outcome measures The main outcome measure was overall 5-year survival after oesophagectomy. Cox regression was used to estimate the associations between education level and mortality, expressed as HRs with 95% CIs, with adjustment for sex, age, tumour stage, histological type, complications, comorbidities and annual surgeon volume. The patient group with highest education was used as the reference category. Results: Among the 600 included patients, 281 (46.8%) had compulsory education, 238 (39.7%) had moderate education and 81 (13.5%) had high education. The overall 5-year survival rate was 23.1%, 24.4% and 32.1% among patients with compulsory, moderate and high education, respectively. After adjustment for confounders, a slightly higher, yet not statistically significantly increased point HR was found among the compulsory educated patients (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.47). In patients with tumour stage IV, increased adjusted HRs were found for compulsory (HR 2.88, 95% CI 1.07 to 7.73) and moderately (HR 2.83, 95% CI 1.15 to 6.95) educated patients. No statistically significant associations were found for the other tumour stages. Conclusions: This study provides limited evidence of an association between lower education and worse long-term survival after oesophagectomy for cancer.
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| 2. |
- Brusselaers, Nele, et al.
(författare)
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Education level influences long-term survival after esophageal cancer surgery in a nationwide Swedish cohort study
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Molecular Medicine and Surgery. - 2044-6055.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether a higher education level is associated with an improved long-term survival after oesophagectomy for cancer. Design: A prospective, population-based cohort study. Setting: Sweden—nationwide. Participants: 90% of all patients with oesophageal and cardia cancer who underwent a resection in Sweden in 2001–2005 were enrolled in this study (N=600; 80.3% male) and followed up until death or the end of the study period (2012). The study exposure was level of education, defined as compulsory (≤9 years), moderate (10–12 years) or high (≥13 years). Outcome measures: The main outcome measure was overall 5-year survival after oesophagectomy. Cox regression was used to estimate the associations between education level and mortality, expressed as HRs with 95% CIs, with adjustment for sex, age, tumour stage, histological type, complications, comorbidities and annual surgeon volume. The patient group with highest education was used as the reference category. Results: Among the 600 included patients, 281 (46.8%) had compulsory education, 238 (39.7%) had moderate education and 81 (13.5%) had high education. The overall 5-year survival rate was 23.1%, 24.4% and 32.1% among patients with compulsory, moderate and high education, respectively. After adjustment for confounders, a slightly higher, yet not statistically significantly increased point HR was found among the compulsory educated patients (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.47). In patients with tumour stage IV, increased adjusted HRs were found for compulsory (HR 2.88, 95% CI 1.07 to 7.73) and moderately (HR 2.83, 95% CI 1.15 to 6.95) educated patients. No statistically significant associations were found for the other tumour stages. Conclusions: This study provides limited evidence of an association between lower education and worse longterm survival after oesophagectomy for cancer.
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| 3. |
- Brusselaers, Nele, et al.
(författare)
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Marital status and survival after oesophageal cancer surgery : a population-based nationwide cohort study in Sweden
- 2014
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Molecular Medicine and Surgery. - 2044-6055.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives A beneficial effect of being married on survival has been shown for several cancer types, but is unclear for oesophageal cancer. The objective of this study was to clarify the potential influence of the marital status on the overall and disease-specific survival after curatively intended treatment of oesophageal cancer using a nationwide population-based design, taking into account the known major prognostic variables. Design Prospective, population-based cohort. Setting All Swedish hospitals performing surgery for oesophageal cancer during 2001–2005. Participants This study included 90% of all patients with oesophageal or junctional cancer who underwent surgical resection in Sweden in 2001–2005, with follow-up until death or the end of the study period (2012). Primary and secondary outcome measures Cox regression was used to estimate associations between the marital status and the 5-year overall and disease-specific mortality, expressed as HRs with 95% CIs, with adjustment for sex, age, tumour stage, histological type, complications, comorbidities and annual surgeon volume. Results Of all 606 included patients (80.4% men), 55.1% were married, 9.2% were remarried, 22.6% were previously married and 13% were never married. Compared with the married patients, the never married (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.35), previously married (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.15) and remarried patients (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.13) had no increased overall 5-year mortality. The corresponding HRs for disease-specific survival, and after excluding the initial 90 days of surgery, were similar to the HRs for the overall survival. Conclusions This study showed no evidence of a better 5-year survival in married patients compared with non-married patients undergoing surgery for oesophageal cancer.
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| 4. |
- Lagergren, Jesper, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical implementation of a new antibiotic prophylaxis regimen for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Molecular Medicine and Surgery. - 2044-6055.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to test the extent to which a new antibiotic prophylaxis regimen for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), identified as a justified and simpler alternative to conventional regimen in a randomised clinical trial, has been adopted in clinical practice. DESIGN: A Swedish nationwide implementation survey, conducted in February 2013, assessed the level of clinical implementation of a 20 ml dose of oral solution of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim deposited in the PEG catheter immediately after insertion. All hospitals inserting at least five PEGs annually were identified from the Swedish Patient Registry. A clinician involved in the PEG insertions at each hospital participated in a structured telephone interview addressing their routine use of antibiotic prophylaxis. SETTING: All Swedish hospitals inserting PEGs (n=60). PARTICIPANTS: Representatives of PEG insertions at each of the 60 eligible hospitals participated (100% participation). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Use of routine antibiotic prophylaxis for PEG. RESULTS: A total of 32 (53%) of the 60 hospitals had adopted the new regimen. It was more frequently adopted in university hospitals (67%) than in community hospitals (41%). An annual total of 1813 (70%) of 2573 patients received the new regimen. Higher annual hospital volume was associated with a higher level of adoption of the new regimen (80% in the highest vs 31% in the lowest). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical implementation of the new antibiotic prophylaxis regimen for PEG was high and rapid (70% of all patients within 3 years), particularly in large hospitals.
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| 5. |
- Lagergren, Jesper, et al.
(författare)
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Weekday of oesophageal cancer surgery in relation to early postoperative outcomes in a nationwide Swedish cohort study
- 2016
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Molecular Medicine and Surgery. - 2044-6055.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Later weekday of surgery for oesophageal cancer seems to increase 5-year mortality, but the mechanisms are unclear. We hypothesised that early postoperative reoperations and mortality might explain this association, since reoperation after oesophagectomy decreases long-term prognosis, and later weekday of elective surgery increases 30-day mortality. Design: This was a population-based cohort study during the study period 1987–2014. Setting: All Swedish hospitals conducting elective surgery for oesophageal cancer in Sweden. Participants: Included were 1748 patients, representing almost all (98%) patients who underwent elective surgery for oesophageal cancer in Sweden during 1987–2010, with follow-up until 2014. Primary and secondary outcome measures: The risk of reoperation or mortality within 30 days of oesophageal cancer surgery was assessed in relation to weekday of surgery by calculating ORs with 95% CIs using multivariable logistic regression. ORs were adjusted for age, comorbidity, tumour stage, histology, neoadjuvant therapy and surgeon volume. Results: Surgery Wednesday to Friday did not increase the risk of reoperation or mortality compared with surgery Monday to Tuesday (OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.31). A decreased point estimate of reoperation (OR=0.88, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.21) was counteracted by an increased point estimate of mortality (OR=1.28, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.99). ORs did not increase from Monday to Friday when each weekday was analysed separately. There was no association between weekday of surgery and reoperation specifically for anastomotic leak, laparotomy or wound infection. Stratification for surgeon volume did not reveal any clear associations between weekday of surgery and risk of 30-day reoperation or mortality. Conclusions: Weekday of oesophageal cancer surgery does not seem to influence the risk of reoperation or mortality within 30 days of surgery, and thus cannot explain the association between weekday of surgery and long-term prognosis.
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| 6. |
- Maret-Ouda, John, et al.
(författare)
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Cohort profile : the Nordic antireflux surgery cohort (NordASCo)
- 2017
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Molecular Medicine and Surgery. - 2044-6055.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: To describe a newly created all-Nordic cohort of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), entitled the Nordic Antireflux Surgery Cohort (NordASCo), which will be used to compare participants having undergone antireflux surgery with those who have not regarding risk of cancers, other diseases and mortality. PARTICIPANTS: Included were individuals with a GORD diagnosis recorded in any of the nationwide patient registries in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) in 1964-2014 (with various start and end years in different countries). Data regarding cancer, other diseases and mortality were retrieved from the nationwide registries for cancer, patients and causes of death, respectively. FINDINGS TO DATE: The NordASCo includes 945 153 individuals with a diagnosis of GORD. Of these, 48 433 (5.1%) have undergone primary antireflux surgery. Median age at primary antireflux surgery ranged from 47 to 52 years in the different countries. The coding practices of GORD seem to have differed between the Nordic countries. FUTURE PLANS: The NordASCo will initially be used to analyse the risk of developing known or potential GORD-related cancers, that is, tumours of the oesophagus, stomach, larynx, pharynx and lung, and to evaluate the mortality in the short-term and long-term perspectives. Additionally, the cohort will be used to evaluate the risk of non-malignant respiratory conditions that might be caused by aspiration of gastric contents.
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| 7. |
- Aas, CF, et al.
(författare)
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On the path towards universal coverage of hepatitis C treatment among people receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in Norway: a prospective cohort study from 2013 to 2017
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMJ open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 10:8, s. e036355-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We aimed to calculate cumulative hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment coverage among individuals enrolled in opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in Norway between 2013 and 2017 and to document the treatment transition to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents. Moreover, we aimed to describe adherence to DAAs in the same cohort.DesignProspective cohort, registry data.SettingSpecialist healthcare service (secondary)Participants and outcomesThis observational study was based on data from The Norwegian Prescription Database. We studied dispensed OAT and HCV treatment annually to calculate the cumulative frequency, and employed secondary sources to calculate prevalence, incidence and HCV treatment coverage from 2013 to 2017, among the OAT population. Factors associated with adherence to DAAs were identified a priori and subject to logistic regression.Results10 371 individuals were identified with dispensed OAT, 1475 individuals of these were identified with dispensed HCV treatment. Annual HCV treatment coverage increased from 3.5% (95% CI: 3.2 to 4.4) in 2013 to 17% (95% CI: 17 to 20) in 2017, giving a cumulative HCV coverage among OAT patients in Norway of 38.5%. A complete shift to interferon-free treatment regimens occurred, where DAAs accounting for 32% of HCV treatments in 2013 and 99% in 2017. About two-thirds of OAT patients were considered adherent to their DAA regimens across all genotypes. High level of OAT continuity was associated with improved adherence to DAAs (adjusted OR 1.4, 95% CI: 1 to 2, p=0.035).ConclusionsA large increase in HCV treatment coverage attributed by a complete shift to interferon-free regimens among the Norwegian OAT population has been demonstrated. However, treatment coverage is inadmissibly too low and a further substantial scale-up in HCV treatment is required to reach the universal targets of controlling and eliminating the HCV endemic.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Abejirinde, IOO, et al.
(författare)
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Strengthening capacity in hospitals to reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality through a codesigned intervention package: protocol for a realist evaluation as part of a stepped-wedge trial of the Action Leveraging Evidence to Reduce perinatal morTality and morbidity (ALERT) in sub-Saharan Africa project
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMJ open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 12:4, s. e057414-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite a strong evidence base for developing interventions to reduce child mortality and morbidity related to pregnancy and delivery, major knowledge–implementation gaps remain. The Action Leveraging Evidence to Reduce perinatal morTality and morbidity (ALERT) in sub-Saharan Africa project aims to overcome these gaps through strengthening the capacity of multidisciplinary teams that provide maternity care. The intervention includes competency-based midwife training, community engagement for study design, mentoring and quality improvement cycles. The realist process evaluation of ALERT aims at identifying and testing the causal pathway through which the intervention achieves its impact.Methods and analysisThis realist process evaluation complements the effectiveness evaluation and the economic evaluation of the ALERT intervention. Following the realist evaluation cycle, we will first elicit the initial programme theory on the basis of the ALERT theory of change, a review of the evidence on adoption and diffusion of innovations and the perspectives of the stakeholders. Second, we will use a multiple embedded case study design to empirically test the initial programme theory in two hospitals in each of the four intervention countries. Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected, using in-depth interviews with hospital staff and mothers, observations, patient exit interviews and (hospital) document reviews. Analysis will be guided by the Intervention-Actors-Context-Mechanism-Outcome configuration heuristic. We will use thematic coding to analyse the qualitative data. The quantitative data will be analysed descriptively and integrated in the analysis using a retroductive approach. Each case study will end with a refined programme theory (in-case analysis). Third, we will carry out a cross-case comparison within and between the four countries. Comparison between study countries should enable identifying relevant context factors that influence effectiveness and implementation, leading to a mid-range theory that may inform the scaling up the intervention.Ethics and disseminationIn developing this protocol, we paid specific attention to cultural sensitivity, the do no harm principle, confidentiality and non-attribution. We received ethical approval from the local and national institutional review boards in Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Benin, Sweden and Belgium. Written or verbal consent of respondents will be secured after explaining the purpose, potential benefits and potential harms of the study using an information sheet. The results will be disseminated through workshops with the hospital staff and national policymakers, and scientific publications and conferences.Trial registration numberPACTR202006793783148.
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| 10. |
- Abrams, AL, et al.
(författare)
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Legislative landscape for traditional health practitioners in Southern African development community countries: a scoping review
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMJ open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 10:1, s. e029958-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Globally, contemporary legislation surrounding traditional health practitioners (THPs) is limited. This is also true for the member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The main aim of this study is to map and review THP-related legislation among SADC countries. In order to limit the scope of the review, the emphasis is on defining THPs in terms of legal documents.MethodsThis scoping review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews methods. Two independent reviewers reviewed applicable legal definitions of THPs by searching the Southern African Legal Information Institute (SAFLII) database in April 2018 for legislation and bills. To identify additional legislation applicable in countries not listed on SAFLII and/or further relevant SADC legislation, the search engines, Google and PubMed, were used in August 2018 and results were reviewed by two independent reviewers. Full texts of available policy and legal documents were screened to identify policies and legislation relating to the regulation of THPs. Legislation was deemed relevant if it was a draft of or promulgated legislation relating to THPs.ResultsFour of 14 Southern African countries have legislation relating to THPs. Three countries, namely South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, have acknowledged the roles and importance of THPs in healthcare delivery by creating a council to register and formalise practices, although they have not operationalised nor registered and defined THPs. In contrast, Tanzania has established a definition couched in terms that acknowledge the context-specific and situational knowledge of THPs, while also outlining methods and the importance of local recognition. Tanzanian legislation; thus, provides a definition of THP that specifically operationalises THPs, whereas legislation in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe allocates the power to a council to decide or recognise who a THP is; this council can prescribe procedures to be followed for the registration of a THP.ConclusionsThis review highlights the differences and similarities between the various policies and legislation pertaining to THPs in SADC countries. Legislation regarding THPs is available in four of the 14 SADC countries. While South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia and Zimbabwe have legislation that provides guidance as to THP recognition, registration and practices, THPs continue to be loosely defined in most of these countries. Not having an exact definition for THPs may hamper the promotion and inclusion of THPs in national health systems, but it may also be something that is unavoidable given the tensions between lived practices and rigid legalistic frameworks.
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