| 1. |
- Biagio, L., et al.
(författare)
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Paediatric otitis media at a primary healthcare clinic in South Africa
- 2014
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Ingår i: SAMJ South African Medical Journal. - 0256-9574 .- 2078-5135. ; 104:6, s. 431-435
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: No published studies on the prevalence of paediatric otitis media at primary healthcare clinics (PHCs) in South Africa (SA) are available. OBJECTIVE: To examine the point prevalence of otitis media in a paediatric population in a PHC in Johannesburg, SA, using otomicroscopy. METHODS: A sample of 140 children aged 2 - 16 years (mean 6.4; 44.1% females) were recruited from patients attending the PHC. Otomicroscopy was completed for each of the participants' ears by a specialist otologist using a surgical microscope. RESULTS: Cerumen removal was necessary in 36.0% of participants (23.5% of ears). Otitis media with effusion was the most frequent diagnosis (16.5%). Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) was diagnosed in 6.6% of children and was the most common type of otitis media in participants aged 6 - 15 years. Acute otitis media was only diagnosed in the younger 2 - 5-year age group (1.7%). Otitis media was significantly more prevalent among younger (31.4%) than older children (16.7%). CONCLUSION: CSOM prevalence, as classified by the World Health Organization, was high. Consequently diagnosis, treatment and subsequent referral protocols may need to be reviewed to prevent CSOM complications.
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| 2. |
- Biagio, Leigh, et al.
(författare)
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Video-otoscopy recordings for diagnosis of childhood ear disease using telehealth at primary health care level
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. - 1357-633X .- 1758-1109. ; 20:6, s. 300-306
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We studied the diagnoses made by an otologist and general practitioner (GP) from video-otoscopy recordings on children made by a telehealth facilitator. The gold standard was otomicroscopy by an experienced otologist. A total of 140 children (mean age 6.4 years; 44% female) were recruited from a primary health care clinic. Otomicroscopic examination was performed by an otologist. Video-otoscopy recordings were assigned random numbers and stored on a server. Four and eight weeks later, an otologist and a GP independently graded and made a diagnosis from each video recording. The otologist rated the quality of the video-otoscopy recordings as acceptable or better in 87% of cases. A diagnosis could not be made from the video-otoscopy recordings in 18% of ears in which successful onsite otomicroscopy was conducted. There was substantial agreement between diagnoses made from video-otoscopy recordings and those from onsite otomicroscopy (first review: otologist κ = 0.70 and GP κ = 0.68; second review: otologist κ = 0.74 and GP κ = 0.75). There was also substantial inter-rater agreement (κ = 0.74 and 0.74 at the two reviews) and intra-rater agreement (κ = 0.77 and 0.74 for otologist and GP, respectively). A telehealth facilitator, with limited training, can acquire video-otoscopy recordings in children for asynchronous diagnosis. Remote diagnosis was similar to face-to-face diagnosis in inter- and intra-rater variability.
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| 3. |
- Ekbäck, Erik, 1988-
(författare)
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Depression in teenagers and young adults : foundational studies of the new treatment paradigm TARA: Training for Awareness, Resilience, and Action
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Depression in adolescents and young adults is an increasing global health concern and available treatments are not convincingly effective. It is therefore important to develop and test novel treatments to improve treatment outcomes. This dissertation lays the foundation for the evaluation of a Swedish version of the treatment program Training for Awareness, Resilience, and Action (TARA), and tests the psychometric properties of the primary outcome measure for that evaluation.Objectives: This dissertation aims to 1. Translate and pilot test TARA in Swedish medical students, 2. Evaluate the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale second edition (RADS-2) in a clinical sample, 3. Perform a single arm multicenter clinical pilot study of the feasibility and safety of TARA and 4. Design a randomized controlled trial to test the clinical effectiveness of TARA.Methods: The TARA manual was translated into Swedish and 23 self-selected medical students, with or without mental disorders, received TARA. Self-rating as well as qualitative evaluation was performed. Patients (N = 536 individuals) with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses completed RADS-2 and other questionnaires for psychometric evaluation of RADS- 2. Thirty-five adolescents and young adults with depression received TARA either face-to-face or online, with data collection before, during, and after the treatment. The study design and statistical analysis plan for the randomized controlled trial was conceived and developed.Results: It was feasible and acceptable to give TARA to Swedish medical students and they described the program as an uncommon meeting ground for personal empowerment. Support was found for the four-factor structure of RADS-2, and the scale demonstrated good validity and acceptable to good reliability. The clinical pilot study further supported the feasibility and clinical safety of TARA, and preliminary signs of effectiveness were seen. A detailed description of the pragmatic, multicenter, randomized controlled superiority trial that will evaluate the clinical effectiveness of TARA compared to standard treatment for depression was outlined, peer reviewed, and published in a study protocol with a statistical analysis plan.Conclusions: The present results indicate that TARA is feasible and safe in Swedish clinical and non-clinical contexts. RADS-2 is a suitable outcome measure to use in routine clinical practice as well as in the present and future trials of depression. The initiated randomized controlled trial will be an important next step logically following the studies and results presented in this dissertation.
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| 4. |
- Frey Esgård, Veronica, et al.
(författare)
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Diagnostic methods and written advice for acute otitis media in primary health care
- 2024
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Otomicroscopy and pneumatic methods are superior to otoscopy alone in diagnosing acute otitis media (AOM). There is a lack of knowledge regarding the use of different diagnostic methods for AOM in primary health care in Sweden and Norway.Methods: This cross-sectional study included a questionnaire completed by general practitioners (GPs) and specialist trainees (STs/residents/registrars) working in primary care in Sweden and Norway. Multivariable binary logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the use of diagnostic methods and written advice adjusted for educational level, sex and country.Results: Otoscopy was the most frequently used method. Sweden had greater access to the more accurate diagnostic methods. In Norway, the following methods were used to a lesser extent: pneumatic otoscopy, adjusted OR 0.15 (95% CI 0.10–0.23; p < .001), otomicroscopy, adjusted OR 0.013 (95% CI 0.070–0.027; p < .001), pneumatic otomicroscopy, adjusted OR 0.028 (95% CI 0.010–0.078; p < .001) and tympanometry, adjusted OR 0.31 (95% CI 0.21–0.45; p < .001). Written advice was used to a greater extent in Norway, adjusted OR 4.5 (95% CI 3.1–6.7; p < .001). The STs used pneumatic otoscopy and pneumatic otomicroscopy to a lesser extent, adjusted OR 0.65 (95% CI 0.45–0.93; p = .019) and 0.63 (95% CI 0.43–0.92; p = .016).Conclusions: Swedish physicians both used and had greater access to the significantly better diagnostic methods compared with Norwegian physicians while the opposite applied to the use of written information. The GPs used pneumatic otoscopy and pneumatic otomicroscopy to a greater extent than STs. Compared with 2012, the Swedish physicians now more frequently used pneumatic otoscopy.
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| 5. |
- Hansen, Thorbjörn, et al.
(författare)
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The concept of the liquid sampling and hot rolling method for determination of macro inclusion characteristics in steel
- 2006
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Ingår i: Steel Research International. - Düsseldorf : Verlag Stahleisen. - 1611-3683 .- 1869-344X. ; 77:3, s. 177-185
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A novel method for determination of semi-macro and macro size distributions of inclusions in steel from samples in ladle, tundish and mould has been developed. The samples are worked and surface treated before inspection. Mainly immersed ultrasonic scanning is performed to determine the semi-macro and macro inclusion content. The LSHR method has been tested in several different steel plants and for different steel grades. It is concluded that new information regarding large inclusions during steelmaking can be obtained using the method.
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| 6. |
- Lundberg, Thorbjörn, 1965-
(författare)
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Assessment of tympanic membrane : a study of children with otitis media in general practice
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common disease in children and is causing great discomfort and disability worldwide but many areas are underserved regarding skilled professional. Tele-otology offers a promising technique to provide ear health globally. Diagnostic accuracy of AOM has regardless of method been found to be low. Grading the severity of AOM my offer a guide in decision on antibiotic treatment, however grading systems need improvement.Aim To describe and evaluate imaging of the tympanic membrane (TM), develop an image based grading scale for AOM and to study the characteristics and the course of acute otitis media (AOM) episodes in children with the use of telemedicine techniques.Method This thesis is based on two study populations, 63 children attending with othalgia at four primary health care centers in rural Sweden (papers I, II, IV) and 140 children attending a health clinic from a township in Johannesburg, South Africa, (paper III).Paper I: Image quality of endoscopic imaging of TM´s, from the Swedish study was assessed by an otologist and two general practitioners together with an evaluation of important characteristics of assessing TM appearance.Paper II: In development and validation of an image-based grading scale of AOM two expert panels of otologist’s evaluated the proposed grading scale stepwise and in a test and retest validation process.Paper III: A test of the scale in a clinical situation was set up, an otologist oto-microscopically examined children and used the grading scale, and his diagnoses were set as gold standard. A specially trained ear and hearing facilitator then recorded videos of the TM using video-otoscopy. Videos were remotely assessed by the same otologist and by a general practitioner twice; 4 and 8 weeks after the otologist’s on-site grading.Paper IV: Children with othalgia were followed with assessments of their symptoms and signs over a period of 3 months. An assessment group of two general practitioners and one otologist evaluated TM images, tympanograms and recorded symptoms and make a diagnose.Results The results from paper I show that image quality was good and the position and transparency of the TM was found to be the most important characteristics when assessing TM. In paper II the new grading scale (OMGRADE) was developed and validated. The image-based scale focuses on the position and transparency of the TM. The results from paper III showed that the OMGRADE scale could discriminate the normal ear as well as ears with otitis media with effusion (OME) in an unselected pediatric population. Paper IV showed that the bilateral AOM had more severe symptoms. The children with chagrinated TM’s took the longest time to resolve regarding TM appearance and tympanograms. Furthermore, symptoms resolved quicker than TM changes and tympanograms during the first week.Conclusions TM images or video recordings taken by a trained nurse or facilitator are sufficient for remote evaluation. The new grading scale of TM appearance is valid and reliable and may function as a diagnostic guide together with evaluation of middle ear effusion. TM appearance may be of importance in grading the severity of an AOM episode.
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| 7. |
- Lundberg, Thorbjörn, et al.
(författare)
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Development and Validation of a New Grading Scale for Otitis Media
- 2013
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Ingår i: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. - 0891-3668 .- 1532-0987. ; 32:4, s. 341-345
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Grading of acute otitis media (AOM) is important in clinical situations as well as in research. Current grading scales for AOM have used a 6 to 9 point scoring system primarily based on variation of redness and bulging of the tympanic membrane (TM). This study aimed to develop and validate a new scale for grading AOM. Method: The scale was developed in 3 stages based on 32 patients with images taken of the TM when a child attended healthcare centre with othalgia and at follow-up visits. Content validity was used as the method for the first 2 stages. An expert panel reviewed the scale and repeated the process on a revised scale. Reliability was tested with a different expert panel that used the final scale on a sample of TM images in a test-retest and inter-rater and intra-rater agreements were calculated. Results: The scale was developed in 3 steps using expert committees. During the process the description of vascularization was judged to be of insufficient importance for our scale. Inter-rater agreement was moderate (kappa = 0.52) and intra-rater agreement was good (kappa = 0.66 to 0.89) in the test-retest of the final scale. Conclusions: The developed AOM image-based grading scale demonstrates substantial inter- and intra-rater reliability with potential use in clinical research and telemedicine applications. Furthermore, the parameter "redness of TM" is of less importance in our scale as compared with other available grading systems.
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| 8. |
- Lundberg, Thorbjörn, et al.
(författare)
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Diagnostic accuracy of a general practitioner with video-otoscopy collected by a health care facilitator compared to traditional otoscopy
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. - : ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD. - 0165-5876 .- 1872-8464. ; 99, s. 49-53
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Video-otoscopy is rapidly developing as a new method to diagnose common ear disease and can be performed by trained health care facilitators as well as by clinicians. This study aimed to compare remote asynchronous assessments of video-otoscopy with otoscopy performed by a general practitioner. Method: Children, aged 2-16 years, attending a health center in Johannesburg, South Africa, were examined. An otologist performed otomicroscopy and a general practitioner performed otoscopy. Video-otoscopy was performed by a health care facilitator and video sequences were stored on a server for assessment by the same general practitioner 4 and 8 weeks later. At all examinations, a diagnosis was set and the tympanic membrane appearance was graded using the OMgrade-scale. The otologist's otomicroscopic diagnosis was set as reference standard to compare the accuracy of the two otoscopic methods. Results: Diagnostic agreement between otologist's otomicroscopic examination and the general practitioner's otoscopic examination was substantial (kappa 0.66). Agreement between onsite otomicroscopy and the general practitioners asynchronous video assessments were also substantial (kappa 0.70 and 0.80). Conclusion: Video-otoscopy performed by a health care facilitator and assessed asynchronously by a general practitioner had similar or better accuracy compared to face-to-face otoscopy performed by a general practitioner.
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| 9. |
- Lundberg, Thorbjörn, et al.
(författare)
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Digital imaging and telemedicine as a tool for studying inflammatory conditions in the middle ear : evaluation of image quality and agreement between examiners
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-5876 .- 1872-8464. ; 72:1, s. 73-79
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objective: To evaluate digital imaging of the tympanic membrane by telemedicine technology and study interpersonal agreement in assessing image quality.Methods: In an open consecutive study, 64 children aged 2-16 years who attended three rural health care centres in Northern Sweden with otalgia were examined with video endoscopic photography of their tympanic membrane in a telemedical environment. One hundred and twenty-four images were stored in a central database and Later assessed independently regarding image quality by an ENT specialist, a general practitioner and a registrar in general practice. The overall image quality was graded (0-2) regarding assessment of signs of tympanic membrane inflammation. ALL images were also assessed regarding 8 different components, four image-related components and four anatomically related components.Results: Overall image quality was good, with 82.3% of acceptable or excellent quality. The position and thickness of the TM were found to be the most important factors of the images to be able to assess inflammatory disease. Image quality tended to be higher later in the study as a sign of improved skills of examiners. Interpersonal agreement between examiners was acceptable. Overall grade showed k 0.56, 0.49 and 0.66 respectively, and focus, light and existence of obscuring objects were the components with the highest agreement.Conclusions: The image quality of video endoscopy of the tympanic membrane was good overall. Interpersonal agreement in evaluating image quality was acceptable but not excellent. The use of digital imaging of good quality in clinical studies can offer an objective clinical evaluation of the TM in retrospect by independent reviewers using strict criteria.
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| 10. |
- Lundberg, Thorbjörn, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Remote evaluation of video-otoscopy recordings in an unselected pediatric population with an otitis media scale
- 2014
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Ingår i: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-5876 .- 1872-8464. ; 78:9, s. 1489-1495
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: A recently validated image-based grading scale for acute otitis media (OMGRADE) can be used to assess tympanic membrane (TM) status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of this scale for remote assessments of TM status using video-otoscopy recordings in an unselected pediatric population.Method: Children 2-16 years attending a South African primary health clinic were offered an ear examination by an otologist using otomicroscopy. An ear and hearing telehealth facilitator then made video-otoscopy recordings (9 – 33 seconds) of the ears and uptakes were uploaded to a secure server for remote assessments in Sweden by an otologist and general practitioner at four- and eight-weeks post onsite assessment. TM appearance was judged according to the OMGRADE scale. Concordance between onsite otomicroscopy and asynchronous assessments of video-otoscopy recordings was calculated together with intra- and inter-rater agreements.Results: One hundred and eighty ears were included. Concordance of TM classifications using the OMGRADE scale was found to be substantial (weighted kappa range 0,66-0,79). Intra- and inter-rater agreement (test-retest) was found to be substantial to almost perfect (weighted kappa range 0,85-0,88 and 0,69-0,72, respectively).Conclusion: The OMGRADE scale can be used to accurately assess the normal TM and secretory otitis media (SOM) remotely using video-otoscopy recordings in an unselected pediatric population.
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