Trends in maternal use of snus and smoking tobacco in pregnancy. A register study in southern Norway.

Background: The use of tobacco products including Swedish snus (moist snuff) in pregnancy may cause adverse health outcomes. While smoking prevalence has decreased among fertile women in Norway, snus use has increased during the last years. We investigated whether these trends were reflected also during pregnancy in a population of women in Southern Norway.

General practitioners' use of ICPC diagnoses and their correspondence with patient record notes.

Background: The quality of the general practitioners' setting of diagnoses using codes from the International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC) is important, because these codes are used for purposes of quality development, research and public health statistics. It is uncertain, however, to what extent these diagnoses present a correct picture of the content of and reasons for the consultations and the prevalence of illness in the population. The objective of this study was to identify the extent to which the general practitioners' use of diagnostic codes correlates with the content of the patient record notes.

Use of snus and smoking tobacco among pregnant women in the Agder counties.

Background: The use of snus during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirths, premature delivery and reduced birthweight. People have been warned against smoking during pregnancy, but less so against the use of snus. We have investigated the use of snus and smoking tobacco among pregnant women in the Agder counties.

A qualitative description of telemedicine for acute stroke care in Norway: technology is not the issue.

Background: To assist small hospitals in providing advanced stroke treatment, the Norwegian Directorate of Health has recommended telemedicine services. Telestroke enables specialists to examine patients via videoconferencing supplemented by teleradiology and to provide decision support to local health care personnel. There is evidence that telestroke increases thrombolysis rates.

Choosing to live with home dialysis-patients' experiences and potential for telemedicine support: a qualitative study.

Background: This study examines the patients' need for information and guidance in the selection of dialysis modality, and in establishing and practicing home dialysis. The study focuses on patients' experiences living with home dialysis, how they master the treatment, and their views on how to optimize communication with health services and the potential of telemedicine.

Methods: We used an inductive research strategy and conducted semi-structured interviews with eleven patients established in home dialysis.

[Insufficient communication and information regarding patient medication in the primary healthcare].

Background: Medicine management in primary health care involves several participants: the prescribing physicians, various health care personnel involved in drug administration and patients with varying degrees of will and competence to be compliant. Many things can go wrong in this process, resulting in medication errors. This qualitative survey focuses on how information is transferred within primary healthcare and how prescription and administration of medicines are documented.

[Elevated serum ferritin and hemochromatosis in general practice].

Background: We wanted to examine how many of our patients with elevated serum ferritin had undetected haemochromatosis.

Material And Methods: Searches in our patient files showed that 519 persons aged 20-70 had tested positively for elevated serum ferritin over the five-year period 1996-2000. 379 of these (73%) were found suitable for follow up and were offered examination for serum ferritin and transferrin saturation.