Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Causes according to autopsy and electrocardiography - Analysis of 781 patients with neither hospital care nor prescribed medication during the preceding two years.

Background: There is a knowledge gap regarding aetiology of and potential for predicting out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) among individuals who are healthy before the event.

Aim: To describe causes of OHCA and the potential for predicting OHCA in apparently healthy patients.

Methods: Patients were recruited from the Swedish Register of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation from November 2007 to January 2011.

Predicting Agent Behaviour and State for Applications in a Roundabout-Scenario Autonomous Driving.

As human drivers, we instinctively employ our understanding of other road users' behaviour for enhanced efficiency of our drive and safety of the traffic. In recent years, different aspects of assisted and autonomous driving have gotten a lot of attention from the research and industrial community, including the aspects of behaviour modelling and prediction of future state. In this paper, we address the problem of modelling and predicting agent behaviour and state in a roundabout traffic scenario.

Intention Estimation Using Set of Reference Trajectories as Behaviour Model.

Autonomous robotic systems operating in the vicinity of other agents, such as humans, manually driven vehicles and other robots, can model the behaviour and estimate intentions of the other agents to enhance efficiency of their operation, while preserving safety. We propose a data-driven approach to model the behaviour of other agents, which is based on a set of trajectories navigated by other agents. Then, to evaluate the proposed behaviour modelling approach, we propose and compare two methods for agent intention estimation based on: (i) particle filtering; and (ii) decision trees.

Changes in medication preceding out-of-hospital cardiac arrest where resuscitation was attempted.

Objective: To describe recent changes in medication preceding out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) where resuscitation was attempted.

Methods: OHCA victims were identified by the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Register and linked by means of their unique 10-digit personal identification numbers to the Prescribed Drug Register. We identified new claimed prescriptions during a 6-month period before the OHCA compared with those claimed in the period 12 to 18 months before.

Improving Interoperability in ePrescribing.

Background: The increased application of eServices in health care, in general, and ePrescribing (electronic prescribing) in particular, have brought quality and interoperability to the forefront. The application of standards has been put forward as one important factor in improving interoperability. However, less focus has been placed on other factors, such as stakeholders' involvement and the measurement of interoperability.

Acquisition cost of dispensed drugs in individuals with multiple medications--a register-based study in Sweden.

Objectives: To analyse the acquisition cost of dispensed prescription drugs for individuals with multiple medications in a national population.

Methods: We collected and analysed individual based data regarding the acquisition cost of dispensed prescription drugs for all individuals with five or more dispensed drugs (DP≥5) in Sweden 2006 (2.2 million).

Increasing polypharmacy - an individual-based study of the Swedish population 2005-2008.

Background: An increase in the use of drugs and polypharmacy have been displayed over time in spite of the fact that polypharmacy represents a well known risk factor as regards patients' health due to the adverse drug reactions, drug-drug interactions, and low adherence to drug therapy arising from polypharmacy. For policymakers, as well as for clinicians, it is important to follow the developing trends in drug use and polypharmacy over time. We wanted to study if the prevalence of polypharmacy in an entire national population has changed during a 4-year period.

Physicians' attitudes towards eprescribing: a comparative web survey in Austria and Sweden.

Background: The eHealth Action Plan required the member states of the European Union (EU) to provide online services such as eprescribing of pharmaceuticals by the end of 2008. So far, implementation activities and efforts of the member states have been uneven. While in Austria pilot projects and feasibility studies have been conducted, Sweden has always been one of the leading countries in the field of eprescribing.

Assessment of regional variation in polypharmacy.

Purpose: To assess polypharmacy in a population with emphasis on regions.

Methods: We studied the individual-based data of all dispensed prescription drugs (DP) during a 3-month study period in Sweden 2006. As an indicator of polypharmacy, five or more (DP > or = 5) different drugs (substances) dispensed were applied.

Physicians' attitudes towards ePrescribing--evaluation of a Swedish full-scale implementation.

Background: The penetration rate of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems in health care is increasing. However, many different EHR-systems are used with varying ePrescription designs and functionalities. The aim of the present study was to evaluate experienced ePrescribers' attitudes towards ePrescribing for suggesting improvements.

Reimbursement for drugs -- a register study comparing economic outcome for five healthcare centres in areas with different socioeconomic conditions.

Aims: Previous studies have indicated the negative effects of socioeconomic deprivation on health status and morbidity. Nevertheless, the economic assignment systems for pharmaceutical benefits in Sweden do not take socioeconomic status (SES) into account. The aim of the study was, therefore, to compare reimbursement for subsidized drugs at primary healthcare centres (HCCs) with differing socioeconomic conditions in relation to real costs.

Dispensed drugs and multiple medications in the Swedish population: an individual-based register study.

Background: Multiple medications is a well-known potential risk factor in terms of patient's health. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of dispensed drugs and multiple medications in an entire national population, by using individual based data on dispensed drugs.

Methods: Analyses of all dispensed out-patient prescriptions in 2006 from the Swedish prescribed drug register.

Avoiding drug-drug interactions.

Background: Drugs may be prescribed in combinations causing drug-drug interactions (DDI) and adverse drug reactions (ADR), resulting in hospital care.

Methods: To provide prescribers of drug therapy with a better knowledge of individuals' current drug therapy, governments have started to collect prescribing data.

Results: The data on individuals' dispensed drugs is available for prescribers, pharmacists, and the registered individuals in Sweden and Denmark.

Assessment of ePrescription quality: an observational study at three mail-order pharmacies.

Background: The introduction of electronic transfer of prescriptions (ETP) or ePrescriptions in ambulatory health care has been suggested to have a positive impact on the prescribing and dispensing processes. Thereby, implying that ePrescribing can improve safety, quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. In December 2007, 68% of all new prescriptions were transferred electronically in Sweden.

Individuals appreciate having their medication record on the web: a survey of attitudes to a national pharmacy register.

Background: Many patients receive health care in different settings. Thus, a limitation of clinical care may be inaccurate medication lists, since data exchange between settings is often lacking and patients do not regularly self-report on changes in their medication. Health care professionals and patients are both interested in utilizing electronic health information.

The Swedish National Pharmacy Register.

To achieve a safer future prescribing, the Swedish government has introduced a mandatory registration of all drugs dispensed at pharmacies. The medication history in the register may be accessed online by registered individuals, prescribers and pharmacists. After 15 months of action, the prevalence of individuals with dispensed drugs in the Swedish population was 71.

Potential drug interactions during a three-decade study period: a cross-sectional study of a prescription register.

Objectives: The increased risk of adverse events in patients receiving potentially interacting drugs has long been recognized. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the change in the risk of receiving potentially interacting drugs during a period covering three decades and to examine the relative risk of actual drug combinations.

Methods: The prescriptions from all individuals (about 8,000) with two or more prescriptions during three periods of 15 months, October to December 1983-1984, 1993-1994 and 2003-2004, were collected from an ongoing cohort study in the county of Jämtland, Sweden.

Detection of potential drug interactions - a model for a national pharmacy register.

Objective: The widespread use of pharmaceuticals prescribed by different physicians has caused the Swedish government to propose a new legislation with registration of all prescriptions dispensed at the Swedish pharmacies. In the present study, we wanted to examine the frequency, distribution and determinants of potential drug interactions.

Methods: The prescriptions from all individuals (n=8,214) with two or more prescriptions during October 2003 to December 2004 were collected from the ongoing Jämtland cohort study of a total of about 11,000 individuals.