Swedish Health Research Articles

Risk factors and outcomes of chronic opioid use following trauma.

The growing problem of opioid misuse has become a serious crisis in many countries. The role of trauma as a gateway to opioid use is currently not determined. The study was undertaken to assess whether traumatic injury might be associated with chronic opioid use and accompanying increased long-term mortality. Injured patients and controls from Sweden were matched for age, sex and municipality. After linkage to Swedish health registers, opioid consumption was assessed before and after trauma. Among injured patients, logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with chronic opioid use, assessed by at least one written and dispensed prescription in the second quarter after trauma. Cox regression was employed to study excess risk of mortality. In addition, causes of death for postinjury opioid users were explored. Some 13 309 injured patients and 70 621 controls were analysed. Exposure to trauma was independently associated with chronic opioid use (odds ratio 3·28, 95 per cent c.i. 3·02 to 3·55); this use was associated with age, low level of education, somatic co-morbidity, psychiatric co-morbidity, pretrauma opioid use and severe injury. The adjusted hazard ratio for death from any cause 6-18 months after trauma for chronic opioid users was 1·82 (95 per cent c.i. 1·34 to 2·48). Findings were similar in a subset of injured patients with no pretrauma opioid exposure. Traumatic injury was associated with chronic opioid use. These patients have an excess risk of death in the 6-18 months after trauma.

Analiza rezultata Europskoga zdravstvenoga potrošačkog indeksa od 2014. do 2017. – s posebnim osvrtom na pokazatelje preventive

U radu su, na temelju analize istraživanja koje je pod nazivom Europski zdravstveni potrošački indeks (Euro Health Consumer Index – EHCI) provela renomirana švedska tvrtka Health Consumer Powerhouse, uspoređeni mjerljivi pokazatelji kvalitete i učinkovitosti zdravstvene skrbi u Republici Hrvatskoj s ostalim zemljama Europe. Spomenuta tvrtka svake godine objavljuje novu ediciju EHCI-ja kojom prati kretanja pojedinih pokazatelja ili cjelina pokazatelja u svakoj zemlji. S obzirom na tekovinu Andrije Štampara i njegovih istomišljenika, Hrvatska je u europskim i svjetskim okvirima prepoznata kao pionir postojećega europskog modela primarne zdravstvene zaštite i preventivnih aktivnosti. Zbog nedovoljnih financijskih ulaganja te nesustavnoga pristupa edukaciji populacije, Hrvatska je u spomenutoj analizi najlošije pokazatelje zdravstvene zaštite ostvarila upravo u području preventive. Istaknuti su kao važni i farmakoekonomski učinci ulaganja u prevenciju i primarnu zdravstvenu zaštitu jer je općepoznato kako je jedna kuna uložena u preventivu ekvivalentna iznosu od deset kuna uloženih u kurativu.

Use of the World Health Organization Checklist—Swedish Health Care Professionals' Experience: A Mixed-Method Study

The purpose was to describe health care professionals' experience of using the World Health Organization (WHO) surgical safety checklist. A descriptive cross-sectional mixed-method study, including health care professionals from two clinics at the same university hospital in the western part of Sweden was conducted. Data were collected from one hundred ninety-six health care professionals using a self-administered questionnaire that contained 12 questions. The Mantel-Haenszel and Pearson χ2 tests were used for ordered and unordered categorical variables. The text analysis was inspired by Malterud. The most statistically significant difference between the clinics related to the responsibility for administering the checklist (P=.0010) and always using the checklist in all emergency situations (P=.045). Among the health care professionals who were educated and trained in using checklists, 63% and 65.5% stated that the checklist was adapted to the department. Sixty four percent stated that the assistant nurses were responsible for implementing the checklist. The health care professionals also mentioned a large number of positive and negative aspects of using the WHO checklist. The health care professionals had difficulties using the WHO checklist in the Swedish health care system. More research is needed to determine why specific items are overlooked and whether these items could form the basis of the further elaboration of a modified checklist. An increased understanding of why the checklist is important, as well as updated knowledge on the content could produce greater compliance and thereby increase patient safety.

Long-term risk of ischemic heart disease after adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer: results from a large population-based cohort

BackgroundAdjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for breast cancer (BC) has been associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). We examined the incidence of IHD in a large population-based cohort of women with BC.MethodsThe Breast Cancer DataBase Sweden (BCBaSe) includes all women diagnosed with BC from 1992 to 2012 (n = 60,217) and age-matched women without a history of BC (n = 300,791) in three Swedish health care regions. Information on comorbidity, educational level, and incidence of IHD was obtained through linkage with population-based registries. The risk of IHD was estimated by Cox proportional hazard regression analyses and cumulative incidence by the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsWomen with BC had a lower risk of IHD compared to women without BC with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.91 (95% CI 0.88–0.95). When women with left-sided BC were compared to right-sided BC, an increased HR for IHD of 1.09 (95% CI 1.01–1.17) was seen. In women receiving RT, a HR of 1.18 (95% CI 1.06–1.31) was seen in left-sided compared to right-sided BC, and the HRs increased with more extensive lymph node involvement and with the addition of systemic therapy. The cumulative IHD incidence was increased in women receiving left-sided RT compared to right-sided RT, starting from the first years after RT and sustained with longer follow-up.ConclusionsWomen given RT for left-sided BC during 1992 to 2012 had an increased risk of IHD compared to women treated for right-sided BC. These women were treated in the era of three-dimensional conformal RT (3DCRT), and the results emphasize the importance of further developing and implementing RT techniques that lower the cardiac doses, without compromising the beneficial effects of RT.

Dietary non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity and risk of stroke: The Swedish Women's Lifestyle and Health Cohort.

Consumption of antioxidant-rich foods has been associated with a reduced risk for stroke. However, antioxidant supplementation is not recommended owing to controversial findings reported in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to better understand the effect of dietary antioxidants by investigating the effect of dietary non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (NEAC), reflecting the antioxidant potential of the whole diet, on the risk for stroke. In the Women's Lifestyle and Health Cohort, 45 882 women 30 to 49 y of age and free from cardiovascular diseases were followed through record linkages from 1991 to 2012. Dietary NEAC was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire collected at baseline and categorized into quintiles. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were fitted to estimate hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals for overall stroke and ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke separately. During a mean follow-up time of 20.2 y, we detected 871 incidence cases of stroke (516 ischemic, 296 hemorrhagic, and 59 unspecified strokes). After adjusting for potential confounders, we did not find any association between dietary NEAC and stroke, either overall, or ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (Ptrend > 0.05). Higher dietary NEAC was not associated with any type of stroke in young and middle-aged Swedish women.

Incidence of myeloproliferative neoplasms - trends by subgroup and age in a population-based study in Sweden.

The reported incidence of Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) differs substantially between previous reports, likely due to true regional differences in incidence and/or variations in the quality and coverage of the cancer registers. We therefore assessed MPN incidence in Sweden during recent years using prospectively collected information captured in Swedish health registers. Patients with MPNs were identified through the Swedish Cancer Register and Swedish Blood Cancer Register between 2000 and 2014. Information on the Swedish population was obtained from the Human Mortality Database. Crude and age-standardized incidence rates of MPNs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. A total of 6281 MPN cases were reported to the Swedish Cancer Register and Swedish Blood Cancer Register during 2000-2014. The age-standardized, to the Swedish population in 2000, incidence for all MPNs was 4.45 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.34-4.56)/100000 person-years. The age-standardized incidence for polycythemia vera was 1.48 (1.42-1.54), for essential thrombocythemia 1.60 (1.53-1.66) and for primary myelofibrosis 0.52 (0.48-0.56)/100000 person-years, respectively. The incidence rate of MPNs was substantially higher in the older compared to the younger age groups. The incidence increased during the study period, likely to do better reporting and increasing age of the general population. The reported MPN incidences in our study, which were in the higher interval of previously published studies, are likely more accurate compared to previous reports due to the population-based setting and high level of coverage in the Swedish Cancer and Blood Cancer Registers.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 in the Swedish population: Depression, anxiety, and insomnia and their associations to risk and vulnerability factors.

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, with its associated restrictions on daily life, is like a perfect storm for poor mental health and wellbeing. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health and wellbeing during the ongoing pandemic in Sweden. Standardized measures of depression, anxiety, and insomnia as well as measures of risk and vulnerability factors known to be associated with poor mental health outcomes were administered through a national, online, cross-sectional survey (n=1,212; mean age 36.1years; 73% women). Our findings show significant levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia in Sweden, at rates of 30%, 24.2%, and 38%, respectively. The strongest predictors of these outcomes included poor self-rated overall health and a history of mental health problems. The presence of COVID-19 symptoms and specific health and financial worries related to the pandemic also appeared important. The impacts of COVID-19 on mental health in Sweden are comparable to impacts shown in previous studies in Italy and China. Importantly, the pandemic seems to impose most on the mental health of those already burdened with the impacts of mental health problems. These results provide a basis for providing more support for vulnerable groups, and for developing psychological interventions suited to the ongoing pandemic and for similar events in the future.

Community pharmacy and primary health care in Sweden - at a crossroads.

The overall goal of Swedish health care is good health and equitable care for the whole population. The responsibility for health is shared by the central government, the regions, and the municipalities. Primary care accounts for approximately 20 percent of all expenditures on health care. About 16% of all physicians work in primary health. The regions have also employed a large number of clinical pharmacists, usually hospital-based, but many perform a variety of different primary care services, the most common of which is patient medication reviews. Swedish primary health care is at a crossroads facing extensive challenges, due to changes in demography and demanding financial conditions. These changes necessitate large transformations in health services and delivery. Current Government inquiries have primarily focused on two ways to meet the challenges; a shift towards more local care requiring a transfer of resources from hospital care, and a further development of structured digi-physical care, that is both digital (“online doctors”) and physical accessibility of care. While primary care at present is undergoing processes of change, community pharmacy has done so during the past decade since the re-regulation of the Swedish pharmacy market. A monopoly was replaced by a competitive system, where five pharmacy chains now share most of the market, a competition that has made community pharmacy very commercialized. A number of different, promising primary care services are being offered, but they are usually delivered on a small scale due to a lack of remuneration and philosophy of providers. Priority is given to sales and fast dispensing of prescriptions, often with a minimum of counseling. Reflecting primary health care, community pharmacy in Sweden is at a crossroads but currently has a golden opportunity to choose a route of collaboration with primary health care in its current transformation into more local and digi-physical care. A major challenge is that primary health care inquires, strategic plans, and national policy documents usually do not include community pharmacy as a partner. Hence, community pharmacy have to be proactive and seize this chance of changes in primary health policy and organization in order to become an important link in the chain of health care delivery, or there is a significant risk that it will predominantly remain a retail business.

Beta-Blocker Use and Lung Cancer Mortality in a Nationwide Cohort Study of Patients with Primary Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

β-Adrenergic receptor blockers have been associated with improved survival among patients with different types of malignancies, but available data for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are contradictory and limited to small hospital-based studies. We therefore aimed to investigate whether β-blocker use at the time of cancer diagnosis is associated with lung cancer mortality in the largest general population-based cohort of patients with NSCLC to date. For this retrospectively defined nationwide cohort study, we used prospectively collected data from Swedish population and health registers. Through the Swedish Cancer Register, we identified 18,429 patients diagnosed with a primary NSCLC between 2006 and 2014 with follow-up to 2015. Cox regression was used to estimate the association between β-blocker use at time of cancer diagnosis ascertained from the Prescribed Drug Register and cancer-specific mortality identified from the Cause of Death Register. Over a median follow-up of 10.2 months, 14,994 patients died (including 13,398 from lung cancer). Compared with nonuse, β-blocker use (predominantly prevalent use, 93%) was not associated with lung cancer mortality [HR (95% confidence interval): 1.01 (0.97-1.06)]. However, the possibility that diverging associations for specific β-blockers and some histopathologic subtypes exist cannot be excluded. In this nationwide cohort of patients with NSCLC, β-blocker use was not associated with lung cancer mortality when assessed in aggregate in the total cohort, but evidence for some β-blockers is less conclusive. Our results do not indicate that β-blocker use at lung cancer diagnosis reduces the cancer-specific mortality rate in patients with NSCLC.

Registered Nurses’ Perceptions of Factors Contributing to Trust-Based Public Management

Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate registered nurses’ (RNs) perceptions of Trust-Based Public Management (TBPM) in Swedish health care. Design: This study follows a phenomenografic approach guided by Ference Marton’s philosophy. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were used to identify variations in RNs’ perceptions of TBPM. Between February and April 2019, 24 RNs from five Swedish public healthcare departments participated in the study. Results: The results show that none of the participants had previously heard about the work of the Swedish Delegation for TBPM. The study revealed perceptions those politicians and managers were absent from the workplace, that power had been displaced to HR, and that perceptions of trust in the leadership and of working to guidelines varied. Perceptions varied between RNs employed by the municipalities and by the hospitals concerning administration, the time allotted for work, cooperation, and education.

Lifestyle and Long-Term Smoking Cessation.

Background:Since smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, discouraging smoking initiation, encouraging smoking cessation, and exploring factors that help individuals to stay smoke free are immensely important. One such relevant factor may be the impact of lifestyle for long-term smoking cessation.Method:A representative sample of successful quitters was recruited for a study about smoking cessation. These respondents are now part of a 7-year follow-up with the overall aim of revealing factors affecting long-term smoking cessation. Descriptive analyses were carried out at baseline and at follow-up, as well as a further two-step cluster analysis to explore profiles of long-term smoke-free individuals.Results:A majority did not make any particular lifestyle changes, but among those who did, most adopted a healthier lifestyle and/or increased their quota of physical training, where permanent changes in this direction seem to promote a more enduring smoke-free life.Conclusions:Individuals who want to quit smoking should be encouraged to increase their level of physical activity. Swedish health care institutions should be able to provide support for this both initially and over time to promote the long-term maintenance of a smoke-free lifestyle.

Costs of Inpatient Rehabilitation for Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Dementia: A Cohort Swedish Register-Based Study.

Background:Stroke and dementia are frequent comorbidities. Dementia possibly increases total costs of stroke care, especially cost of institutionalization and informal medical care. However, stroke rehabilitation costs in dementia patients are understudied.Objective:To estimate inpatient stroke rehabilitation costs for Swedish dementia patients in comparison with non-dementia patients.Methods:A longitudinal cohort study with linked data from the Swedish Dementia Register and the Swedish Stroke Register was conducted. Patients diagnosed with dementia who suffered a first ischemic stroke between 2010 and 2014 (n = 138) were compared with non-dementia patients (n = 935). Cost analyses were conducted from a Swedish health care perspective. The difference of rehabilitation costs between the two groups was examined via simple linear regression (before and after matching by propensity scores of dementia) and multiple linear regression.Results:Mean inpatient rehabilitation costs for dementia and non-dementia patients were SEK 103,693/$11,932 and SEK 130,057/$14,966, respectively (median SEK 92,183/$10,607 and SEK 106,365/$12,239) (p = 0.001). Dementia patients suffered from more comorbidities and experienced lower functioning, compared to non-dementia patients. The inpatient rehabilitation cost for patients with known dementia was 0.84 times the cost in non-dementia individuals.Conclusion:Dementia diagnosis was significantly associated with lower inpatient stroke rehabilitation costs. This might be explained by physicians’ beliefs on the limited effectiveness of rehabilitation in dementia patients. Further research on cost-effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation and patients’ satisfaction with stroke rehabilitation is necessary.

Variations in the Referral Pattern for Genetic Counseling of Patients with Early-Onset Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Study in Southern Sweden

Swedish national breast cancer guidelines recommend that all women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) at the age of 35 years or younger should be referred to their regional oncogenetic clinic for genetic counseling and testing, regardless of family history of cancer. The main objective of this study was to evaluate whether place of residence at BC diagnosis and treating hospital were associated with the fact that not all BC patients diagnosed at ≤35 years in the southern part of Sweden have attended genetic counseling and testing. Between 2000 and 2013, 279 women in the South Swedish Health Care Region were diagnosed with BC at ≤35 years. Information regarding place of residence at BC diagnosis, treating hospital, time of registration and first meeting at the Oncogenetic Clinic in Lund, and genetic testing was collected. With a follow-up period until August 2018, 64% were registered at the clinic (60% underwent genetic testing) and 36% were not. BC patients from 2 counties and from rural settings with a population of <10,000 inhabitants were significantly less likely to be registered at the clinic. Our results suggest that place of residence at BC diagnosis and treating hospital were associated with the probability of referral for genetic counseling and testing for women diagnosed with BC at ≤35 years in the South Swedish Health Care Region. We propose, as a generalizable finding, that further educational and outreach activities within the health care system and the community may be needed to ensure that all women diagnosed with early-onset BC receive proper genetic counseling.

PERson-centredness in hypertension management using information technology (PERHIT): a protocol for a randomised controlled trial in primary health care

Purpose: For primary health care (PHC), hypertension is the number one diagnosis for planned health care visits. The treatment of high blood pressure (BP) and its consequences constitutes a substantial economic burden. In spite of efficient antihypertensive medications, a low percentage of patients reach a well-controlled BP. The PERson-centredness in Hypertension management using Information Technology (PERHIT) Study is a multicentre randomised controlled trial. PERHIT is designed to evaluate the effect of supporting self-management on systolic blood pressure by the use of information technology in Swedish primary health care.Materials and Methods: After inclusion, 900 patients from 36 PHC centres are randomised to two groups. In the intervention group, patients are provided with a self-management support system including a home-BP monitor and further requested to perform self-reports and measure BP every evening for eight consecutive weeks. In the control group, patients receive treatment as usual.Results: The primary outcome will be the change in systolic blood pressure in patients with hypertension. In addition, person-centredness, daily life activities, awareness of risk and health care costs will also be evaluated.Conclusion: The results of this randomised controlled trial with assessment of blood pressure and same-day self-reports will provide patients a tool to understand the interplay between blood pressure and lifestyle applicable to primary health care. The self-management support system may be of importance for improved adherence to treatment and persistence to treatment recommendations.

Translation and Validation of the Swedish Venous Health Questionnaire in Patients with Venous Insufficiency

Introduction: When assessing the treatment of Chronic venous disease (CVD), both treatment outcomes and quality of life are recommended. In a recent study our group translated into Swedish and validated the first disease specific instrument for CVD in Sweden, VEnous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study on Quality of Life/Symptoms (VEINES-QOL/Sym-Swe). This 26-item instrument even though thorough is tedious in the clinical setting. The VVSymQ instrument is a five-item patient-reported outcome (PRO) that assesses symptoms most important to patients with varicose veins (VV), heaviness, achiness, swelling, throbbing and itching. The instrument is based on the symptom domain of the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire and has been thoroughly validated in English and is used in the Vascular Quality Registry for Varicose veins with two added questions about activity and appearance.The aim of this study was to create a Swedish version of the seven-item VV questionnaire and validate it in a Swedish cohort of patients with venous disease. Methods: The original questionnaire was translated into Swedish and administered to 257 patients consecutively recruited with varying degrees of chronic venous disease. Patients from three private clinics were asked to complete both the VEINES-QOL/Sym-Swe and the VV questionnaire (VVQ) at the first consultation, 1 week later and 8 weeks after surgery. Results: In total 257 patients were included. The mean age was 58.1 ± 15.1 years (range 20 - 93) and 60% of the participants were female. The results showed excellent internal consistency for the VVQ (Cronbach's alpha (α) = 0.87). VEINES-QOL/Sym-Swe and the VVQ correlated well as regards to the item question on appearance as well as when the symptom domain from both questionnaires was compared, demonstrating good construct validity. When the preoperative and postoperative VVQ was compared in the specific domains of heaviness, achiness, throbbing, swelling, itching, appearance, and work impact, improvements were seen (total score change, 9.06 ± 6.17; n = 36; P < .001) from a mean preoperative VVQ score of 14.00 ± 7.18 to a mean postoperative VV questionnaire score of 4.94 ± 4.85.The C-class of the CEAP-classification had no significant correlation with the Swedish VVQ. Conclusion: The Swedish version of the short VV questionnaire is reliable and can be used for Swedish patients treated for varicose veins. Disclosure: Nothing to disclose

Implementation of the Swedish Guideline for Prevention of Mental ill-health at the Workplace: study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial, using multifaceted implementation strategies in schools

BackgroundGiven today’s high prevalence of common mental disorders and related sick leave among teachers, an urgent need exists for a more systematic approach to the management of social and organizational risk factors within schools. In 2015, we launched the first Swedish occupational health guideline to support a structured prevention of these risks at the workplace. The existence of guidelines does however not guarantee their usage, as studies show that guidelines are often underused. Knowledge is therefore needed on effective implementation strategies that can facilitate the translation of guidelines into practice. The primary aim of the randomized waiting list-controlled trial described in this study protocol is to compare the effectiveness of a multifaceted implementation strategy versus a single implementation strategy for implementing the Guideline for the prevention of mental ill-health at the workplace within schools. The effectiveness will be compared regarding the extent to which the recommendations are implemented (implementation effectiveness) and with regard to social and organisational risk factors for mental ill-health, absenteeism and presenteeism (intervention effectiveness).MethodsThe trial is conducted among primary schools of two municipalities in Sweden. The single implementation strategy is an educational strategy (an educational meeting). The multifaceted strategy consists of the educational meeting, an implementation team and a series of workshops. The outcome measure of implementation effectiveness is guideline adherence. The primary outcome of intervention effectiveness is exhaustion. Secondary outcomes include demands at work, work organization and job contents, interpersonal relations and leadership, presenteeism, work performance, recovery, work-life balance, work-engagement, self-reported stress, self-perceived health, sickness absence and psychosocial safety climate. Process outcomes as well as barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation process are assessed. Data will be collected at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months by mixed methods (i.e. survey, focus-group interviews, observation).DiscussionThe study described in this protocol will provide valuable knowledge on the effectiveness of implementation strategies for implementing a guideline for the prevention of common mental disorders within schools. We hypothesize that successful implementation will result in reductions in school personnel’s perceived social and organizational risk factors, mental ill-health and sick-leave.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03322839 (trial registration: 09/19/2017).

Swedish Mental Health Nurses’ Experiences of Portrayals of Mental Illness in Public Media

News reporting about mental illness lack perspectives of the mentally ill themselves and it is almost exclusively psychiatrists who are accessed when healthcare staff is consulted. The perspective of mental health nurses might contribute to the public understanding of mental illness. The purpose of this study was to describe mental health nurses’ experiences of how mental illness is portrayed in media. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with qualified mental health nurses. A qualitative content analysis resulted in three categories: Negative portrayals of mental illness, Inconclusive images of mental illness and Biased dissemination of different perspectives. The conclusion of this study is that mental health nurses experience media portrayals of mental illness as negative and misleading with too much emphasis on the medical perspective while a holistic mental health nursing perspective is heavily obscured. Mental health nurses need to take a more prominent role in public reporting on mental health to resolve the current lack of relevant facts regarding mental illness. Further research is needed regarding portrayals of mental illness in social media and how the current lack of perspectives affects public perceptions of mental illness. In addition, further studies regarding the viewpoints of journalists reporting on mental illness are required.

Self-reported oral and general health related to xerostomia, hyposalivation, and quality of life among caries active younger adults

Objective: The aim was to study prevalence of xerostomia, hyposalivation and quality of life among caries active younger adults.Materials and methods: A questionnaire regarding oral and general health, xerostomia and quality of life was mailed to 134 caries active (CA) and 40 caries inactive (CI) patients, 25–50 years of age (mean age 39.9 ± 6.2 years) treated at a Swedish Public Dental Service clinic, regarding oral and general health, xerostomia and quality of life. Caries data and unstimulated whole salivary flow rates were obtained from dental records.Results: The overall response rate was 69%. Dental records confirmed that CA patients had more decayed teeth over time than CI patients (p < .001). The CA group reported worse oral health (p < .001) and general health (p < .01), more xerostomia (p < .001) and lower salivary flow rate (p < .01) compared to CI patients. Xerostomia was inversely related to unstimulated whole salivary flow rates as well as to oral and general health (p < .01). There were no differences between groups in quality of life.Conclusion: Younger caries active adult patients reported significantly more xerostomia and hyposalivation compared to caries inactive patients. Xerostomia and hyposalivation were inversely related to perceptions of oral and general health, but not to quality of life.

The role of psychologists in multi-disciplinary teams for intersex/diverse sex development: interviews with British and Swedish clinical specialists

ABSTRACT This is an interview study with 32 British and Swedish health professionals who worked in multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) that delivered care for children and adults with intersex variations, otherwise referenced in biomedicine as disorders of sex development (DSD). The present qualitative analysis focuses, first, on the health professionals’ talk about their team and, second, on their talk about contributions of the psychologist in the team. Although all of the interviewees referred to their team as a MDT, their talk reflected an overwhelmingly unidisciplinary, medicalised knowing and talking of intersex variations. This understanding prefigures service priorities and dictates clinical processes. Psychologists were said to be important, but their contributions were typically considered more relevant after medical interventions and, however valuable, were understood as optional. Above all, psychological contributions were conceptualised in such a way as to preclude strategic applications of psychological theories and research to re-think variations of physical sex development and the care process. The present analysis suggests a need to substantially re-work relationships between team members and reflect on the overall care ethos in order to engage patients and families psychologically. Until then, DSD specialists may be more accurately described as working in a multi-professional service than providing integrated MDT care.

Impact of a national guideline on use of knee arthroscopy: An interrupted time-series analysis.

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of the Swedish health authority recommendation against the use of knee arthroscopy in patients aged ≥40 years with knee osteoarthritis (OA).DesignInterrupted time series analysis.SettingPublic health care in Skåne region.ParticipantsPatients aged ≥40 years who underwent knee arthroscopy from January 2010 to December 2015.Intervention(s)National guideline’s recommendation against the use of knee arthroscopy in patients with knee OA.Main Outcome Measure(s)1) proportion of patients aged ≥40 years with a main diagnosis of Knee OA and/or degenerative meniscal lesions (DML) who underwent knee arthroscopy, and 2) overall knee arthroscopy rate per 100,000 Skåne population aged ≥40 years.ResultsA total of 6,155 knee arthroscopy were performed among people aged ≥40 years during study period. Of 42,044 patients with Knee OA/DML, 3,728 had knee arthroscopy. The recommendation was associated with reductions in the use of knee arthroscopy and two years after the recommendation, there was a reduction of 28.6% (95% CI: 9.3, 47.8) and 34.7% (23.9, 45.4) in proportion of Knee OA/DML patients with knee arthroscopy and the overall knee arthroscopy rate, respectively, relative to that expected if pre-recommendation trend continued. Our sensitivity analysis showed that the use of total knee replacement was stable over the study period.ConclusionThe national recommendation was associated with reduction in use of knee arthroscopy in public health care in southern Sweden. However, still 4.5% of these patients underwent knee arthroscopy in 2015 implying that more efforts are required to achieve the recommended target.