1. |
- Berglund, Johan
(author)
-
Association of diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus and heart failure with cognitive function in the elderly population.
- 2006
-
In: European Journal of General Practice. - 1381-4788 .- 1751-1402. ; 12:3, s. 114-119
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the association between ischaemic heart disease (IHD), diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF) and the prevalence of cognitive impairment. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, community-based study in Karlskrona, Sweden, 1402 participants of the Swedish National Study on Ageing and Care (60-96 y) underwent a medical examination and psychological testing including the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Of these, 58% stated that they were treated for hypertension, IHD, DM or HF, or had ECG abnormalities (positive screen). RESULTS: The prevalence of cognitive impairment (MMSE score < 24) in patients treated for IHD, DM or HF was 28.5% compared to 16.1% in the population with a negative screen without cardiovascular disease or DM. After stratification by age, the difference was seen to be due to a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment in the age group 70-79 y, where 68.8% of the cognitively impaired came from the group treated for IHD, DM or HF. The odds ratio for cognitive impairment in this age group was 4.4 (95% CI 1.7-11.4), when compared to those with a negative screen as baseline. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the patient group treated for IHD, DM or HF has a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment and a higher risk of developing early cognitive impairment between the ages of 70 and 79 y. Although this study has not provided conclusive evidence that cardiovascular disease and DM are associated with the early development of cognitive impairment, it provides incentive for further studies.
|
|
2. |
- Ahlbeck, Lars, 1964-, et al.
(author)
-
Differences in patient perception of appropriate level of care
- 1996
-
In: European Journal of General Practice. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1381-4788 .- 1751-1402. ; 2:3, s. 109-112
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: The principle of achieving the most cost-effective level of care in relation to needs is an essential aim for all health care systems. However, it is not certain that the corresponding knowledge and attitudes with respect to the appropriate level of care for different symptoms can be found in the general population. There may be age-related differences in illness behaviour that manifest in âoverutilisationâ of the system. We studied illness behaviour with regard to attitudes and inclination to seek care for different symptoms at various levels in the health care system.Methods: The study group consisted of a random selection of 296 persons, born in the 1940s, â²50s and â²60s, and living in a defined region in Sweden. In a questionnaire they had to choose between different levels of care for twelve symptom descriptions with varying degrees of severity. The answers were scored according to the level of care, adequacy and overutilisation.Results: The vast majority of participants chose an adequate level of care. However, overutilisation was found, particularly among women born in the 1960s and to some extent among men born in the 1940s. These two groups together constituted about 70% of all the individuals who tended to overutilise the health care in their expressed preferences.Conclusions: These individuals do not receive cost-effective care, or the most adequate care with regard to their needs. The results indicate, however, that the problem was more a question of attitude rather than a lack of knowledge and information.
|
|
3. |
- Andén, Annika, et al.
(author)
-
What happened? GPs' perceptions of consultation outcomes and a comparison with the experiences of their patients
- 2010
-
In: European Journal of General Practice. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1381-4788 .- 1751-1402. ; 16:2, s. 80-84
-
Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Objective: To investigate GPs’ perceptions of consultation outcomes and to investigate the associations between these and outcomes perceived by the patients. Design: 25 GPs and 10 patients for each GP filled in a questionnaire about the outcome of the same consultation. The questions in the questionnaires were formulated from concepts found in preceding qualitative studies. Their answers were analysed and compared. Setting: GPs and patients from 16 group practices in Norrbotten, Sweden. Results: The GPs had the apprehension that their consultations would lead to cure/symptom relief in half of their consultations. They believed that their patients were satisfied up to 90% and that up to 75% had been reassured, understood more or could cope better. The GPs were satisfied themselves with up to 95% of the consultations, they enhanced their relationship to their patient up to 70%. Their affirmative concordance with their patients was high regarding satisfaction, intermediate regarding patient reassurance and patient understanding and lowest regarding cure/symptom relief. Conclusion: The GPs’ were lacking in their ability to assess the patients’ increased understanding and the concordance between their own and the patients’ expectation of cure/symptom relief was low.
|
|
4. |
- Anderson, Peter, et al.
(author)
-
Impact of practice, provider and patient characteristics on delivering screening and brief advice for heavy drinking in primary healthcare: Secondary analyses of data from the ODHIN five-country cluster randomized factorial trial
- 2017
-
In: European Journal of General Practice. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1381-4788 .- 1751-1402. ; 23:1, s. 241-245
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The implementation of primary healthcare-based screening and advice that is effective in reducing heavy drinking can be enhanced with training. Objectives: Undertaking secondary analysis of the five-country ODHIN study, we test: the extent to which practice, provider and patient characteristics affect the likelihood of patients being screened and advised; the extent to which such characteristics moderate the impact of training in increasing screening and advice; and the extent to which training mitigates any differences due to such characteristics found at baseline. Methods: A cluster randomized factorial trial involving 120 practices, 746 providers and 46 546 screened patients from Catalonia, England, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Practices were randomized to receive training or not to receive training. The primary outcome measures were the proportion of adult patients screened, and the proportion of screen-positive patients advised. Results: Nurses tended to screen more patients than doctors (OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.9, 4.9). Screenpositive patients were more likely to be advised by doctors than by nurses (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.4, 4.1), and more liable to be advised the higher their risk status (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.7). Training increased screening and advice giving, with its impact largely unrelated to practice, provider or patient characteristics. Training diminished the differences between doctors and nurses and between patients with low or high-risk status. Conclusions: Training primary healthcare providers diminishes the negative impacts that some practice, provider and patient characteristics have on the likelihood of patients being screened and advised.
|
|
5. |
- Ares-Blanco, S., et al.
(author)
-
Clinical pathway of COVID-19 patients in primary health care in 30 European countries: Eurodata study
- 2023
-
In: European Journal of General Practice. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1381-4788 .- 1751-1402. ; 29:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundMost COVID-19 patients were treated in primary health care (PHC) in Europe.ObjectivesTo demonstrate the scope of PHC workflow during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasising similarities and differences of patient's clinical pathways in Europe.MethodsDescriptive, cross-sectional study with data acquired through a semi-structured questionnaire in PHC in 30 European countries, created ad hoc and agreed upon among all researchers who participated in the study. GPs from each country answered the approved questionnaire. Main variable: PHC COVID-19 acute clinical pathway. All variables were collected from each country as of September 2020.ResultsCOVID-19 clinics in PHC facilities were organised in 8/30. Case detection and testing were performed in PHC in 27/30 countries. RT-PCR and lateral flow tests were performed in PHC in 23/30, free of charge with a medical prescription. Contact tracing was performed mainly by public health authorities. Mandatory isolation ranged from 5 to 14 days. Sick leave certification was given exclusively by GPs in 21/30 countries. Patient hotels or other resources to isolate patients were available in 12/30. Follow-up to monitor the symptoms and/or new complementary tests was made mainly by phone call (27/30). Chest X-ray and phlebotomy were performed in PHC in 18/30 and 23/30 countries, respectively. Oxygen and low-molecular-weight heparin were available in PHC (21/30).ConclusionIn Europe PHC participated in many steps to diagnose, treat and monitor COVID-19 patients. Differences among countries might be addressed at European level for the management of future pandemics.
|
|
6. |
- Bengtsson, Calle, 1934
(author)
-
An old GP's view on modern time.
- 2009
-
In: The European journal of general practice. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1751-1402 .- 1381-4788. ; 15:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)
|
|
7. |
- Falk, Magnus, et al.
(author)
-
Prevention of skin cancer in primary health care : an evaluation of three different prevention effort levels and the applicability of a phototest
- 2008
-
In: European Journal of General Practice. - London, UK : Informa Healthcare. - 1381-4788 .- 1751-1402. ; 14:2, s. 68-75
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background/objective: The high skin cancer incidence in western society, and its known association with sun exposure habits, makes the area an important target for prevention. We investigated, in a primary healthcare setting, differentiated levels of prevention efforts directed at the propensity of the patient to change his/her sun habits, sun protection behaviour, and attitudes, after information intervention. Additionally, the impact of the performance of a phototest to determine individual sun sensitivity was evaluated. Methods: 308 patients visiting a primary healthcare centre in southern Sweden completed a questionnaire concerning sun habits, sun protection behaviour, and attitudes, and were randomized into one of three groups, representing increasing levels of prevention effort in terms of resources. Feedback on their questionnaire and general preventive sun protection advice was given, in the first group by means of a letter, and in the second and third groups by a doctor's consultation. Group 3 also underwent a phototest, with a self-reading assessment and a written follow-up of the phototest result. Change of sun habits, behaviour, and attitudes, based on the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change and on Likert scale scorings, was evaluated after 6 months, by a repeated questionnaire. Results: Prevention mediated by a doctor's consultation had a clearly better impact on the subjects. The addition of a phototest did not further reinforce this effect in the group as a whole, but it did for a subgroup of individuals with high ultraviolet (UV) sensitivity, as determined by the phototest itself, suggesting that this might actually be a tool to improve outcome in this high-risk group. Conclusion: A personal doctor's consultation is a valuable tool in the effective delivery of preventive information in the general practice setting. In individuals with high UV-sensitivity and thus high risk for skin cancer the performance of a photo-test reinforces a positive outcome in habits, behaviour and attitudes.
|
|
8. |
|
|
9. |
- Faresjö, Tomas, et al.
(author)
-
Sense of coherence in Crete and Sweden : key findings and messages from a comparative study.
- 2009
-
In: The European journal of general practice. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1751-1402 .- 1381-4788. ; 15:2, s. 95-98
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The concept of ''sense of coherence'' (SOC) was introduced in 1987 by Aaron Antonovsky to describe a dispositional orientation, ''a way of seeing the world'', which is presumed to enhance health. This study reports on the results of the first implementation of SOC in rural Crete and discusses the findings, with a view to the potential impact on primary care delivery in rural Crete. METHODS: This study forms part of a follow-up project initially established in 1988 in the rural area of Spili, Crete. All participants of the initial study still living in the area (n = 248) were eligible. Data were obtained from 200 subjects (91 males and 109 females) aged 28-92 years, resulting in a second-phase participation rate of 80.7%. The SOC scales (both the SOC-29 and SOC-13 forms) were recorded for 175 (87.1%) of the participants. RESULTS: Comparing the SOC scores among Cretan males and females, there is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001), with men reporting a higher sense of coherence than women, regardless of the form of the questionnaire used. Cretan women seem to score significantly lower than their Swedish counterparts (p < 0.0001), while Cretan men tend to report a higher SOC compared to their matched Swedish reference population (p = 0.07). DISCUSSION: The study introduces other issues worthy of additional research, particularly with regard to the significantly lower SOC scores obtained by Cretan women, compared to Cretan men. These low SOC scores raise the issue of a potential increase of psychiatric morbidity in the area, leading to a high impact on primary care services. Future investigation into the health impact of SOC factors could be of value to primary care physicians located in rural Crete.
|
|
10. |
|
|