Scandinavian journal of primary health care
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Sep 2024
Using online health information for unknown symptoms common among young adults: a qualitative analysis of health-related web pages illustrating the need for numeracy skills, the ability to deal with uncertainty, and the risk of ruling out self-care.
Young adults experiencing unfamiliar symptoms commonly seek health information online. This study's aim was to explore how health information websites express and communicate health information about symptoms common among young adults and guide readers in regard to health, illness, and care. Symptoms commonly searched for by young adults were used as search terms. ⋯ For readers inexperienced with health care, forming a decisive conclusion about diffuse symptoms on the sole basis of online health information could be challenging. The necessity of numeracy skills and the ability to deal with uncertainty are highlighted. There is a discrepancy between health advice given online and readers' accessibility to health care that needs to be addressed in future policy and research.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Sep 2024
Diagnostic accuracy of signs and symptoms in acute coronary syndrome and acute myocardial infarction.
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) account for a large portion of cardiovascular deaths. Signs and symptoms for these syndromes, such as chest pain, are non-specific and can be caused by a variety of non-cardiac conditions, especially in low-prevalence settings such as general practice. The diagnostic value of these signs and symptoms can be assessed using diagnostic meta-analyses, but the last one dates from 2012. ⋯ We report the accuracy of thirteen signs and symptoms in the diagnosis of AMI and ACS. These can be useful to calibrate general practitioners' diagnostic assessment of chest pain in primary care settings.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Sep 2024
Is general practitioner involvement in the initiation of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain associated with opioid dose and concurrent drug use?
Objective Is the involvement of the regular general practitioner (GP) in the decision to initiate opioid treatment for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) associated with two main risk factors for serious adverse events: increased opioid dose and the concomitant use of prescribed benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine-related medications? Design and setting An anonymous web-based survey was conducted in the county of Rogaland, Norway, during the spring of 2021. Subjects GPs who self-reported applying at least once for reimbursement of opioids prescribed to treat CNCP. They were asked to answer the survey based on the last patient for whom they recalled submitting a reimbursement application. ⋯ For concurrent use of benzodiazepine or benzodiazepine-related drugs, no significant difference was found (33%, n = 9 with GP involvement vs. 47%, n = 16, p = 0.279 with no GP involvement). Conclusions GP involvement in the initiation of opioid medication for CNCP was associated with a lower opioid dose being prescribed. Implications GP involvement in the initiation of opioid prescriptions may facilitate safer prescribing.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Sep 2024
The in- and outpatient health care use of patients with COPD before and after initiation of home care: a registry study from Norway.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common condition associated with age, multimorbidity and frequently involves the use of health care across levels. Understanding the factors associated with the initiation of long-term care is important when planning the future need for services. We describe healthcare use before and after the reception of any home care. We further studied the associations between healthcare use and first registered home care service and from first registered home care service to nursing home admission or death. ⋯ Including data on prior outpatient care when predicting future need for home care is beneficial. A high frequency (top 10%) of yearly GP, in- or outpatient hospital contacts can imply that the patient may be in need of home care in the near future.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Sep 2024
Self-injurious thoughts and behaviours as the reason for contact to Norwegian emergency primary care centres: an observational study.
To describe and compare contacts regarding self-injurious thoughts and behaviours to other contacts to emergency primary care. ⋯ The infrequency and severity of these encounters might necessitate training, decision support and procedures to compensate for the health care personnel's limited exposure.