Can a multifaceted educational intervention targeting both nurses and physicians change the prescribing of antibiotics to nursing home residents? A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess the impact of a multifaceted educational intervention concerning treatment of infections in the nursing home setting.

Methods: We used a cluster randomized controlled trial. Fifty-eight nursing homes in Sweden were randomly assigned either to educational intervention or control.

A survey of public knowledge and awareness related to antibiotic use and resistance in Sweden.

Objectives: To examine the level of knowledge about antibiotic treatment and awareness of antibiotic resistance among the general public in Sweden.

Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional interview study based on a structured questionnaire used during telephone interviews. The sample comprised 1000 randomly selected individuals aged 21-80 years throughout Sweden.

Can incentives undermine intrinsic motivation to participate in epidemiologic surveys?

Response rates to surveys are decreasing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of lottery tickets as incentives in an epidemiologic control group. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to parents in the municipality of Stockholm, Sweden, who were to be used as a control group in a study addressing stress in parents of children with cancer.

Diagnosis-prescribing surveys in 2000, 2002 and 2005 in Swedish general practice: consultations, diagnosis, diagnostics and treatment choices.

The aim of this study is to present diagnostic patterns, diagnostics used and antibiotic treatment in relation to guidelines in 3 repeated diagnosis-prescription studies conducted simultaneously in general practice in 5 Swedish counties, during 1 week in November 2000, 2002 and 2005. General practitioners (GPs) at the participating health centres were asked to complete a form for all patients with symptoms of an infectious disease. During the studied periods a total of 15,371 consultations was registered.

mRNAs of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopa decarboxylase but not of GD2 synthase are specific for neuroblastoma minimal disease and predicts outcome for children with high-risk disease when measured at diagnosis.

Several transcripts have been claimed to be clinically valuable for detecting minimal disease in neuroblastoma, but they have not been prospectively compared in a standardized manner. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopa decarboxylase (DDC) and GD2 synthase (GD2S) mRNAs were analyzed in 554 blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples from 58 children with neuroblastoma. Samples from 44 children with other diseases served as controls.

Infections and antibiotic prescribing in Swedish nursing homes: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to present and assess the treatment of infections in Swedish nursing homes. It included 58 nursing homes with 3002 residents. During 3 months, nurses in the nursing homes recorded all infections requiring a physician's opinion.

Health information, an area for competition in Swedish pharmacies.

Objective: To investigate the views and expectations of a selected group of customers regarding health information in Swedish pharmacies.

Methods: A repeated cross sectional, questionnaire study carried out in 2004 and 2005. Customers buying calcium products answered questions on osteoporosis and general questions on health promotion and information.

Parvovirus B19 infection in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is associated with cytopenia resulting in prolonged interruptions of chemotherapy.

Background: Parvovirus B19 infection causes severe cytopenia and can mimic a leukemic relapse or therapy-induced cytopenia in patients with hematologic malignancies. We evaluated the complications of parvovirus B19 infection, including delays in the scheduled course of chemotherapy, in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: Consecutive bone marrow samples were collected from 117 children with ALL and were analyzed for parvovirus B19 DNA by polymerase chain reaction.

Health providers' competence in the management of reproductive tract infections in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess health providers' reported knowledge and practice competence regarding management of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Vientiane, Laos. All 272 health providers (medical doctors/assistants, midwives/nurses and drug sellers) working with RTI/STI patients in one urban and one rural district were invited to fill in a self-completed questionnaire including four written simulated case scenarios, and 93% participated in the study. Of 252 respondents, 34% scored below 50% regarding both the case scenarios and reported knowledge, and 87% gave inadequate advice regarding health education.

Quality of interaction between primary health-care providers and patients with type 2 diabetes in Muscat, Oman: an observational study.

Background: A good patient-physician interaction is particularly important in chronic diseases like diabetes. There are so far no published data regarding the interaction between the primary health-care providers and patients with type 2 diabetes in Oman, where diabetes is a major and growing health problem. This study aimed at exploring how health-care providers interact with patients with type 2 diabetes at primary health-care level in Muscat, Oman, focusing on the consultation environment, and some aspects of care and information.