Scandinavian journal of primary health care
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2016
No association between level of vitamin D and chronic low back pain in Swedish primary care: a cross-sectional case-control study.
Assessment of vitamin D levels and deficiency status in individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP) in a Swedish general population, compared with controls matched for sex and age. ⋯ No difference in vitamin D levels between participants with CLBP and matched controls could be demonstrated in the present sample. Assessment of vitamin D level and deficiency status may be of questionable value in the management of CLBP in primary care settings at similar latitudes, unless there are additional risk factors for deficiency or specific indicators of osteomalacia. Key points Vitamin D deficiency is common and reported in many chronic pain conditions, including chronic low back pain (CLBP), but evidence for an association and causality is insufficient. • The present study found no association between vitamin D levels and CLBP in a case-control sample of 44 + 44 individuals from the Swedish general population. • Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was low and comparable in individuals with CLBP and controls without chronic pain, matched for sex and age. • Assessment of vitamin D status, for the purpose of finding and treating an underlying cause of pain, may be of limited value in the management of CLBP in primary care settings at similar latitudes.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2016
Comparative StudyPeer academic detailing on use of antibiotics in acute respiratory tract infections. A controlled study in an urban Norwegian out-of-hours service.
To analyse if peer academic detailing by experienced general practitioners (GPs) could be a useful way to change Medical Doctors, (MDs) prescription of antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in out-of-hours service. ⋯ Using trained GPs to give peer academic detailing to colleagues in combination with open discussion on prescription, showed a significant change in prescription of antibiotics towards national guidelines. Key points Phenoxymethylpenicillin is the first choice for the most of respiratory tract infections when indicated. Despite the guidelines for the choice of antibiotics in Norway, general practitioners' choice often differs from these. We showed that a session of three times 45 min of peer academic detailing changed significantly the choice of antibiotics towards the National Guidelines in an urban Norwegian out-of-hours service.