Scandinavian journal of public health
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Scand J Public Health · Jan 2004
Changes in knowledge and attitudes of folate, and use of dietary supplements among women of reproductive age in Norway 1998-2000.
From March 1998, Norwegian nutrition authorities have recommended that women consume a folic acid supplement before and early in pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. The authors wished to establish Norwegian data on knowledge of, use of, and attitudes to folic acid supplement and dietary supplements before and after implementing national information campaigns on folate and pregnancy. ⋯ Knowledge and use of folate among Norwegian women increased from 1998 to 2000. Future information strategies on folate and pregnancy should in particular aim at increasing women's knowledge on the critical period for folic acid supplementation, as well as reducing socio-demographic differences in use and knowledge of folate.
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Scand J Public Health · Jan 2004
Health professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences in relation to immigrant patients: a questionnaire study at a Danish hospital.
A study was undertaken to identify variations in knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and communication among different categories of hospital staff with regard to immigrant patients in order to identify potential barriers for effective diagnosis, treatment, and care of immigrant patients. ⋯ The study provides a foundation for new interventions and priorities within the healthcare system regarding immigrant patients.
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Scand J Public Health · Jan 2004
The importance of a minimum age law for the possibility of purchase of tobacco by adolescents: a study based on Swedish experiences.
The purpose of the study is partly to compare the possibility of adolescents purchasing tobacco before and after the introduction of the minimum age law of 18 years, respectively, and partly to examine the factors that characterize the situations in which adolescents may or may not purchase tobacco, respectively. ⋯ The study shows that the introduction of a minimum-age law apparently has had a certain effect on the possibility of adolescent purchasing tobacco but that there are obvious shortcomings in the enforcement of the minimum age. The most apparent shortcoming concerns the lack of age controls. This article discusses measures for strengthening age controls in the sale of tobacco to adolescents.
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Scand J Public Health · Jan 2003
Cost of dementia: impact of disease progression estimated in longitudinal data.
Several studies have shown that health care costs are higher for demented than for non-demented persons and that health care costs are higher for more severe demented persons than less severe demented persons. However, most studies report on cross-sectional study designs, and thus fail to examine the influence of disease progression on changes in health care costs to individual persons. The objective of this study was, using longitudinal data, to examine changes in total health care costs with disease progression in demented persons. ⋯ The results of this longitudinal study confirmed that health care costs increased over time for non-demented as well as for demented persons and that health care costs increased with disease progression. In particular, the health care costs increased when the disease had progressed into the severe state of the dementia. Also, decline in functional abilities was an important factor for explaining changes in health care costs.
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Scand J Public Health · Jan 2003
Duration of employment is not a predictor of disability of cleaners: a longitudinal study.
Cleaning is a high-risk occupation for developing musculoskeletal disorders. Sickness absence is twice as high as in other occupations. Disability pensions for musculoskeletal disorders are twice as high in cleaners as in other employed women. However, a result from Norwegian and Danish studies shows that female cleaners do not report higher morbidity of musculoskeletal disorders than other women. The objective was to analyse whether female cleaners have a higher risk of obtaining a disability pension than women in other unskilled occupations and whether the length of employment influences the risk. ⋯ The cleaning occupation has high disability rates compared with other unskilled occupations. A contribution factor to these high rates is a selection of women with poor health into the occupation.