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- Andersson, Karolina, 1978, et al.
(author)
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Do physicians agree with generic substitution?
- 2004
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In: International Society of Pharmacoepidemiology, Bordeaux, August 2004..
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Physicians often have a key role when implementing pharmaceutical benefits reforms as their opinions may influence their prescribing and thus affect the outcome of the reform. The knowledge about physicians’ attitudes to pharmaceutical benefits reforms is limited. Objective: To investigate opinions about the new Pharmaceutical Benefits Reform, introduced in October 2002, among doctors in the Region Västra Götaland, Sweden. Methods: A questionnaire survey was performed in April 2003. All private practitioners that had contracts with Region Västra Götaland (n=320) and a random sample consisting of 25% of the doctors employed by the region (n=1,068) were included. The questionnaire aimed to answer if the doctors had received enough information about the Pharmaceutical Benefits Reform and their sources of information. Furthermore, doctors' opinions on the introduction of generic substitution at the pharmacy, work place codes, individual prescriber codes and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Board were explored. Results: The response rate was 66%. A majority (76%) of the doctors reported that they had received enough information about the reform; most often from the employer, followed by the Drug and Therapeutics Committees and authorities. Half of the respondents, 56%, were mainly positive to the introduction of generic substitution, this varied between different age groups and types of employer. Most of the doctors (70%) thought that generic substitution would lower society’s costs for medicines; doctors in public employment were most optimistic. One third reported that generic substitution had caused problems for their patients during the month before the study, with a higher proportion among private practitioners compared to others. A higher proportion of the older doctors (35%) compared to the younger doctors (9%) were mainly positive to the newly introduced Pharmaceutical Benefits Board. Conclusions: The participating doctors were in general positive to the recently introduced Pharmaceutical Benefits Reform. Age and type of employer seemed to influence the opinions on certain issues.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Karolina, 1978, et al.
(author)
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Swedish physicians’ views on responsibility of prescribing costs related to dispensed prescriptions.
- 2007
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In: 23rd International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management, Quebec, augusti 2007..
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. Discrepancies between what physician’s reports on cost awareness in prescribing and actual prescribing has been reported. Objectives. To investigate how physicians’ opinions on budget responsibility for prescribed drugs relates to economizing goals of prescribing and how prescribing develops over time. Methods. Data on physicians’ opinions in Region Västra Götaland, RVG, was retrieved from a questionnaire about a pharmaceutical benefit reform, undertaken in April 2003. Associations between views and employer, type of workplace, age and gender were analysed with logistic regression. Data on dispensed prescriptions on workplace level for RVG for the year 2003 and 2006 was obtained from Apoteket AB. Workplaces were categorized according to ownership. Five prescribing indicators reflecting the county council’s goals for cost containing prescribing were calculated. Differences in level of the indicators between private practitioners and prescribers employed by the county councils and changes over time were analyzed with student’s t-tests considered as statistically significant if p<0.05. Results. Private practitioners reported to a lower degree that the economical responsibility for prescribed drugs had increased after the introduction of workplace codes compared to publicly employed physicians. In 2003, physicians working at public workplaces had a more appropriate prescribing for two of the prescribing indicators compared to private practitioners. In 2006 two prescribing indicators differed between private and public workplaces. One indicator was significantly higher for private than public workplaces which were an undesirable outcome for that indicator. Three of the prescribing indicators of dispensed prescriptions changed significantly between 2003 and 2006 for both private practitioners and physicians working at public workplaces. The changes were considerable for all indicators and changed in the preferred direction both for private practitioners and public workplaces. Conclusion. Adherence to most of the prescribing indicators increased over time irrespective of employer or type of workplace. Public workplaces had a higher adherence to the prescribing indicators than private workplaces which is in accordance with the views on economic responsibility for prescribed drugs.
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| 5. |
- Compagno Strandberg, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Validation of the Swedish version of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, based on people with epilepsy
- 2021
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In: Epilepsy and Behavior. - : Elsevier BV. - 1525-5050 .- 1525-5069. ; 115
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Title: Validation of the Swedish version of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, based on people with epilepsy. Purpose: The aims of the study were to explore the latent structure of the Swedish Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), to investigate its reliability and to identify the extent to which individual factors among people with epilepsy (PWE), as well as their general beliefs about medication, predict their beliefs about their specific anti-seizure drugs (ASDs). Methods: One-hundred and fifty six included study participants diagnosed with epilepsy and with a well-established neurological follow-up completed an array of rating scales. Included were the Swedish BMQ, which captures beliefs about medicines, scales for symptoms of anxiety and depression and sense of self-efficacy, as well as a general questionnaire regarding their social situation in general. Statistical analysis included Principal Component Analyses (PCA) and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: The PCA revealed a two-factor structure for each of the BMQ-subscales with acceptable (BMQ-G) to high (BMQ-S) internal consistency. The only individual factor that predicted variance in beliefs about medication was patient gender, where levels of both anxiety and depression were elevated in women. Conclusion: The Swedish BMQ exhibits psychometric features indicating its reliable use in adult PWE. Our results suggest that the BMQ provides information about the patients’ view of their medication regardless of their general mood and that women hold stronger beliefs of concern beyond influence from their levels of depression and anxiety.
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| 6. |
- Hange, Dominique, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Increased use of analgesics in midlife women but no association with mental stress: observations from the Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg.
- 2022
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In: BMC Women's health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1472-6874. ; 22:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The study is part of the ongoing Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden, initiated in 1968-1969 with the aim of characterising a total population of women who were representative of middle-aged females. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of actual analgesic use (prescribed and self-medication) and the possible association with perceived mental stress among women aged 38 and 50years, respectively, in the Population Study of Women.Two different cohorts of population-based samples of 38- and 50-year-old women examined in 2004-2005 and 2016-2017, respectively, were eligible participants. The women were representative for their age cohort at the time of the examinations. Use of medicines and especially analgesics, as well as perceived mental stress, was registered. Changes in medicine use among 38- and 50-year-old women between 2004 and 2005 and 38- and 50-year-old women in 2016-2017 were studied. Data were analysed using logistic regression. Use of analgesics and mental stress were analysed controlling for lifestyle factors, use of other medicines and pain.The overall sample size across the time periods was 1,073 individuals. The frequency of analgesic use in 38- and 50-year-old women was about 26% in 2004-2005 and 58% in 2016-2017. 28% of women who reported high mental stress in 2004-2005 used analgesics, compared to 60% in 2016-2017. There were no associations between self-perceived mental stress and the use of analgesics.The higher use of analgesics among midlife women in 2016-2017 is in line with global findings and could be due to increased availability in Sweden of over the counter medicines. The impact of mental stress on analgesic use found previously by other researchers was not confirmed. However, medicine use as a potential coping strategy is an important public health issue that needs to be further explored.
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| 7. |
- Hedenrud, Tove, 1967, et al.
(author)
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Attitudes towards sales and use of over-the-counter drugs in Sweden in a reregulated pharmacy market: A population-based study
- 2019
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In: International Journal of Pharmacy Practice. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0961-7671 .- 2042-7174. ; 27:1, s. 17-24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2018 Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Objectives: To analyse attitudes towards sales and use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in the Swedish adult population. Methods: Data were collected through the web-based Citizen Panel comprising 21 000 Swedes. A stratified sample of 4058 participants was emailed a survey invitation. Questions concerned use of OTC drugs, and attitudes towards sales and use of OTC drugs. Correlations between the attitudinal statements were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation. Associations between attitudes and participant characteristics were analysed using multinomial logistic regression. Key findings: Participation rate was 64%. Altogether 87% reported use of OTC drugs in the last 6 months. Approximately 10% of participants stated that they used OTC drugs at the first sign of illness, and 9% stated that they used more OTC drugs compared with previously, due to increased availability. The statement on use of OTC drugs at first sign of illness correlated with the statement about using more OTC drugs with increased availability. Socio-demographic factors (age, sex and education) and frequent use of OTC drugs were associated with attitudes to sales and use of OTC drugs. Conclusions: Increased use due to greater availability, in combination with OTC drug use at first sign of illness illustrates the need for continuous education of the population about self-care with OTC drugs. Increased awareness of the incautious views on OTC drugs in part of the population is important. Swedish policy-makers may use such knowledge in their continuous evaluation of the 2009 pharmacy reform to review the impact of sales of OTC drugs in retail outlets on patient safety and public health. Pharmacy and healthcare staff could be more proactive in asking customers and patients about their use of OTC drugs and offering them advice.
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| 8. |
- Hedenrud, Tove, 1967, et al.
(author)
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Beliefs about medicines among Swedish pharmacy employees
- 2006
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In: International Conference on Behavioral Medicine, Bangkok, November 2006..
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim was to describe beliefs about medicines among pharmacy employees. A further aim was to analyse whether these beliefs were associated with any background characteristics, such as age, professional category or medication use. The study was performed among pharmacy employees at 24 community pharmacies in Göteborg, Sweden. A majority of the 292 respondents were dispensing pharmacists. More than half of the respondents were aged 45 years or older and had worked in a pharmacy for 20 years or more. The respondents had a mean score for General Benefit of 4.31, 1.81 for General Harm and 3.49 for General Overuse. Each scale score ranged from 1 to 5. Compared to dispensing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians viewed medicines as more harmful; and compared to pharmacy technicians, pharmacists and dispensing pharmacists regarded medicines as more beneficial. Pharmacy employees with 30-34 years experience regarded medicines as less harmful compared to those who had worked 0-4 years. Compared to non-users, current users of prescription drugs regarded medicines as more beneficial. No confounders were detected for the three subscales. Pharmacy personnel expressed positive beliefs about medicines which may effect the communication with clients and, eventually, clients’ adherence to medicines. The reason for the difference between dispensing pharmacists and technicians remain unclear. Health professionals hold both professional and personal health beliefs, which could have an impact, not only on the type of information one considers important to communicate, but also the way it is communicated. With knowledge about potential differences in beliefs about medicines among pharmacy clients, pharmacy employees, doctors and nurses, we may be able to suggest measures in order to enhance adherence among users of medication.
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| 9. |
- Hedenrud, Tove, 1967, et al.
(author)
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Beliefs about medicines and adherence among Swedish migraineurs.
- 2007
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In: The 13th Congress of the International Headache Society, Stockholm, juni 2007..
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective The aim was to analyze whether beliefs about medicines are associated with adherence to prophylactic medication among Swedish migraineurs. Methods A questionnaire was distributed consecutively to migraineurs attending a tertiary clinic. All participants were prescribed prophylactic medication. The questionnaire comprised e.g. background questions, beliefs about medicines (BMQ), and self-reported adherence (MARS). The General BMQ comprises three subparts: General Harm, General Overuse, and General Benefit. The specific part of the BMQ has two subparts: Specific Necessity and Specific Concerns. For the BMQ Specific, a necessity–concerns differential was calculated for each participant. A logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between beliefs about medicines and adherence to prophylactic medication. Results Of the 175 participants, 15% were male and more than half of the participants were aged 45 years and over. Fifty percent had a university degree. Sixty-four percent were considered adherent. There was no significant difference in adherence between gender, age groups, or by educational level. Respondents with only compulsory school were less concerned about the long-term effects of medications and had a higher necessity–concern differential. In the logistic regression analysis, no variable was significantly associated with adherence. Conclusions The present study showed no association between beliefs about medication and adherence. We recommend that lack of adherence to migraine prophylactic drugs should be considered more often, looked for, and addressed in order to identify sufferers with an unnecessarily high migraine-associated disability. This assumes greater attention to the problem amongst both physicians and researchers in all countries.
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| 10. |
- Hedenrud, Tove, 1967, et al.
(author)
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Frequent Headache and Work Ability A Population-Based Study in Sweden
- 2014
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In: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1076-2752. ; 56:5, s. 472-476
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between frequent headache and self-reported mental and physical work ability in a general population sample in Sweden. Methods: The study was conducted in western Sweden in 2008. Frequent headache was analyzed in relation to mental and physical work ability. Covariates included demographics and socioeconomic variables, work-related variables, and a symptom index. Self-reported and register-based sickness absence data were also analyzed. Results: Sixteen per cent of those who answered the question about headache (n = 2590) had frequent headache (at least once a week). Regression analyses showed that frequent headache sufferers were twice more likely to have poor mental and physical work ability than those having infrequent headache. Conclusions: Frequent headache was associated with poor mental and physical work ability but not with sickness absence.
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