Scandinavian journal of primary health care
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Dec 2024
Predictive modeling for identification of older adults with high utilization of health and social services.
Machine learning techniques have demonstrated success in predictive modeling across various clinical cases. However, few studies have considered predicting the use of multisectoral health and social services among older adults. This research aims to utilize machine learning models to detect high-risk groups of excessive health and social services utilization at early stage, facilitating the implementation of preventive interventions. ⋯ Predictive models offer potential for predicting future high service utilization in the older adult population. Achieving high classification performance remains challenging due to diverse contributing factors. We anticipate that classification performance could be increased by including features based on additional data categories such as socio-economic data.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Dec 2024
Norwegian general practitioners' and radiologists' perspectives on the referral, justification, and unnecessary imaging-a survey.
This study aimed to survey general practitioners' (GPs) and radiologists' perspectives on referrals, imaging justification, and unnecessary imaging in Norway. ⋯ This study adds to our understanding of radiologists' and GPs' perspectives on unnecessary imaging and referrals. Better guidelines and, even more importantly, better communication between the referrer and the radiologist are needed. Addressing these issues can reduce unnecessary imaging and improve the quality and safety of care.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Dec 2024
How do patients experience and use home blood pressure monitoring? A qualitative analysis with UTAUT 2.
Background: Hypertension is an important cardiovascular risk factor with potentially harmful consequences. Home blood pressure monitoring is a promising method for following the effect of hypertension treatment. The use of technology-enabled care and increased patient involvement might contribute to more effective treatment methods. ⋯ The patients emphasised that the quality of the blood pressure monitor was more important than the price. Patients reported home monitoring of blood pressure as a feasible method to follow-up care of their hypertension. Discussion: This study indicates that among motivated patients, home blood pressure measurement entails minimal effort, increases security, and leads to better communication about blood pressure between healthcare personnel and patients.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Dec 2024
General practitioners' knowledge and practice in consultations with (potential) torture victims: a qualitative pilot study from Norway.
According to the UN Committee Against Torture, all state parties to the Torture Convention have a responsibility to meet the rehabilitation needs of torture victims who have sought asylum within their borders. General practitioners (GPs) can play a crucial role in identifying torture victims and securing rehabilitation when needed. There is a pressing knowledge gap on the knowledge and practices of GPs vis-à-vis potentially tortured patients, and an urgent need for research that investigates GPs' practices of identification, referral, and rehabilitation - in Norway and beyond. This article presents an exploratory qualitative pilot study that investigates the experiences of GPs in Oslo vis-à-vis this patient group. ⋯ This study indicates that GPs are important actors in terms of identifying torture victims after resettlement, but that there are shortcomings in their training and knowledge, in the overall organization of the healthcare system, and in specialized healthcare, that limit prospects for rehabilitation.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Dec 2024
Primary healthcare professionals' attitudes toward patients with current or previous drug use.
People with current or previous drug use (PCPDU) often lack long-term healthcare contacts in primary healthcare (PHC). While international research has shown negative attitudes toward PCPDU in healthcare, PHC professionals' attitudes toward PCPDU have not been assessed in Sweden. The aim of this study was to investigate PHC professionals' attitudes to PCPDU, and to compare attitudes toward people who actively use illicit drugs with those toward patients in opioid assisted treatment (OAT). ⋯ The results indicate widespread negative attitudes to PCPDU, with implications for health equity in the clinic. Further studies are needed to see if the results reflect attitudes in Swedish PHC in general.Key PointsPeople with current or previous drug use (PCPDU) often lack necessary primary healthcare (PHC) and are commonly subject to prejudice.Swedish PHC professionals held more negative attitudes toward PCPDU than toward patients with depression.Attitudes toward patients with active drug use and patients in opioid assisted treatment (OAT) were almost identical.Study findings have potential implications for the health of PCPDU as well as health equity in the clinic.Widespread negative attitudes to PCPDU in our sample indicate the need of larger-scale studies of attitudes toward PCPDU in Swedish PHC.