Scandinavian journal of primary health care
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2022
Healthcare use in the year preceding a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: a register-based cohort study in Denmark.
To describe the use of healthcare prior to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in Denmark. ⋯ The pattern of increasing healthcare contacts before a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer may represent a window of opportunity to diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier. The increased use of blood glucose test in general practice may represent an important sign of an underlying disease. Key pointsPancreatic cancer is a rapidly progressing and highly lethal disease. Focus on early diagnosis is essential to improve the prognosis.Patients with pancreatic cancer had increased number of healthcare contacts from 7 months before the diagnosis.Patients with pancreatic cancer had increased number of blood glucose tests taken throughout almost the entire year before the diagnosis.The results may indicate that a window of opportunity exists to diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2022
The Norwegian PraksisNett: a nationwide practice-based research network with a novel IT infrastructure.
Clinical research in primary care is relatively scarce. Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are research infrastructures to overcome hurdles associated with conducting studies in primary care. In Norway, almost all 5.4 million inhabitants have access to a general practitioner (GP) through a patient-list system. This gives opportunity for a PBRN with reliable information about the general population. The aim of the current paper is to describe the establishment, organization and function of PraksisNett (the Norwegian Primary Care Research Network). ⋯ Norway has established a nationwide PBRN to reduce hurdles for conducting clinical studies in primary care. Improved infrastructure for clinical studies in primary care is expected to increase the attractiveness for studies on the management of disorders and diseases in primary care and facilitate international research collaboration. This will benefit both patients, GPs and society in terms of improved quality of care.Key pointsPractice-based research networks (PBRNs) are research infrastructures to overcome hurdles associated with conducting studies in primary careImproved infrastructure for clinical studies in primary care is expected to increase the attractiveness for studies on the management of disorders and diseases in primary care and facilitate international research collaborationWe describe PraksisNett, a Norwegian PBRN consisting of 92 general practices including 492 GPs, serving almost 520,000 patientsAn advanced and secure IT infrastructure connects the general practices to PraksisNett and makes it possible to identify and recruit patients in a novel way, as well as reuse clinical dataPraksisNett will benefit both patients, GPs and society in terms of improved quality of careThis paper may inform and inspire initiatives to establish PBRNs elsewhere.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2022
Experiences with a structured conversation tool: a qualitative study on feasibility in general practice in Norway.
To study the feasibility of a structured conversation tool (ICIT) in Norwegian general practice. ⋯ The GPs in this study reported that the ICIT was helpful in consultations with patients due to unspecific medical conditions and facilitated a sense of competence for the physician. KEY POINTSGPs need communication skill training for integrated treatment and sick leave assessment for patients with Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms (MUPS).•The GPs experienced that the structured conversation tool was beneficial in structuring, clarifying, and substantiating the patient's problems.•The GPs experienced a greater insight into their patients and their issues, opening new treatment options and aiding in recovery.•The GPs experienced patients' quicker recovery and returns to work by starting immediate treatment using the conversation tool.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2022
Construction and validation of a morbidity index based on the International Classification of Primary Care.
In epidemiological studies it is often necessary to describe morbidity. The aim of the present study is to construct and validate a morbidity index based on the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2). ⋯ The ICPC morbidity index performs equal to the Charlson index and can be recommended for use in data materials collected in primary health care.Key pointsThis is the first morbidity index based on the International Classification of Primary Care, 2nd edition (ICPC-2)It predicted mortality equal to the Charlson index and validated acceptably in a different populationThe ICPC morbidity index can be used as an adjustment variable in epidemiological research in primary care databases.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2022
How often do nurses suspect violence and domestic violence in local emergency medical communication centre? A cross-sectional study.
To assess the extent of violence that is revealed by screening at first contact with a local out-of-hours emergency medical communication centre (LEMC; Norwegian 'Legevaktsentral'). ⋯ This study indicates violence may be revealed in three of 1000 first encounters to an LEMC when nurses screen systematically for domestic or other violence.Key points Violence as underlying reason for encounter with primary care emergency health services is probably often not discovered by health personnel. • We examined how often nurses reveal violence upon first contact when systematically asking all patients. • Violence was suspected in 0.3% of cases, and domestic violence in 0.1%. • Among patients with disclosed domestic violence, 79% were female.