A named GP increases self-reported access to health care services.

Background: Continuity of care strengthens health promotion and decreases mortality, although the mechanisms of these effects are still unclear. In recent decades, continuity of care and accessibility of health care services have both decreased in Finland.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate whether a named and assigned GP representing continuity of care is associated with the use of primary and hospital health care services and to create knowledge on the state of continuity of care in a changing health care system in Finland.

Stroke and cardiovascular risk factors among working-aged Finnish migraineurs.

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the risk for comorbid cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases in the working-aged migraine population of Finland.

Methods: A total of 1505 cases who reported diagnosed migraine and 3010 controls from a cohort of 11,596 cases in the Finnish Health and Social Support Study were included. The study material was linked with two registers.

Research orientation among general practitioners compared to other specialties.

Objective: The volume of research work done by general practitioners (GP) is modest compared to other specialties. In order to find out reasons for this we examined the current situation concerning research orientation and factors relating to them among Finnish GPs compared to other specialists.

Design And Setting: Data from The Physician 2018 Study were used for our research.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and comorbidity: A 44-year follow-up study.

Introduction: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a reversible liver disorder occurring during pregnancy. It has a typical genetic background with known genetic mutations and can be considered an expression of this genetic predisposition. The objective of this study was to determine whether ICP is associated with specific long-term comorbidity.

Long-term survival after intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: A follow-up of 571 mothers.

Objective: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver disorder during pregnancy. ICP has been associated with morbidity but little is known about women's long-term survival. Our aim was to determine whether ICP is associated with mothers' long-term survival.

The association between bullying victimization in childhood and fibromyalgia. Data from the nationwide Finnish health and social support (HeSSup) study based on a sample of 64,797 individuals.

Background: Fibromyalgia is a functional pain syndrome presenting with various psychological symptoms. Several studies have shown that adverse life events are associated with fibromyalgia. The aim of the current study is to explore the association between self-reported bullying victimization in childhood and self-reported fibromyalgia in adulthood.

Primary health care in transition: Variations in service profiles of general practitioners in Estonia and in Finland between 1993 and 2012.

Introduction: Since the early 1990s, the Estonian and Finnish health systems have undergone various changes which are expected to have impacted the type and range of services provided by general practitioners (GPs).

Objective: To compare GP services between Estonia and Finland in 1993 and 2012 and draw a parallel with transformations occurred in the health systems of both countries during these two decades.

Methods: Data were collected through surveys among 129 and 288 GPs from Estonia and Finland in 2012 and 139 Estonian and 239 Finnish GPs in 1993.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and associated causes of death: a cohort study with follow-up of 27-46 years.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with causes of death during on average 35 years follow-up after the delivery.

Methods: The study population comprised 571 women with ICP in at least one pregnancy seen at Tampere University Hospital, Finland, between 1969 and 1988. ICP was verified from patient records.

Analysis of factors associated with waiting times for GP appointments in Finnish health centres: a QUALICOPC study.

Objective: Access to care is a multidimensional concept, considered as a structural aspect of health care quality; it reflects the functioning of a health care organization. The aim of this study was to investigate patients' experiences of access to care and to analyse factors associated with waiting times to GP appointments at Finnish health centres. A questionnaire survey was addressed to Finnish GPs within the Quality and Costs of Primary Care in Europe study framework.

The relationship between childhood adversities and fibromyalgia in the general population.

Background: Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by widespread pain and a variety of somatic symptoms. The international prevalence of fibromyalgia is 2-5%, but its current prevalence in Finland is unclear. Various adversities are linked to the onset of fibromyalgia.

What predicts doctors' satisfaction with their chosen medical specialty? A Finnish national study.

Background: In Finland the number of medical specialists varies between specialties and regions. More regulation of the post-graduate medical training is planned. Therefore, it is important to clarify what predicts doctors' satisfaction with their chosen specialty.

Factors important in the choice of a medical career: a Finnish national study.

Background: Applying for medical school is the first and also one of the most important career choices a physician makes. It is important to understand the reasons behind this decision if we are to choose the best applicants for medical schools and enable them to pursue satisfying careers.

Methods: Respondents to the Finnish Junior Physician 88, Physician 1998 and Physician 2008 studies were asked: "To what extent did the following factors influence your decision to apply for medical school?" In 1998 and 2008 the respondents were also asked: "If you were starting your studies now, would you start studying medicine?" and had to answer "Yes" or "No".

Weaker Self-Esteem in Adolescence Predicts Smoking.

Background: To study whether weaker self-esteem in adolescence is connected with smoking behavior in adulthood.

Methods: An age cohort born in 1979 responded to the Lawrence Self-Esteem Questionnaire (LAWSEQ) at the age of 16 (n = 1,072). Respondents' smoking behavior was monitored annually during adolescence and 75.

[Finnish language proficiency of immigrant physicians in medical licensure examinations].

Background: Physicians immigrating to Finland from countries outside the EU/EEA must pass a language test and three medical licensure examinations (MLE) in Finnish. Failing rates are high and remarkably variable.

Material And Methods: MLE examination papers were analyzed with linguistic criteria: writing skills and word frequency.

Men's Health Is Not Affected by Their Mothers' Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy.

Little is known about the effects of mother's intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) on the health of sons born to these mothers. The purpose of the present study was to explore the health of sons born to mothers with ICP. The study design was a retrospective study of ICP mothers' sons.

Flawed oral health of a non-smoking adolescent suggests smoking in adulthood.

Background: Smokers often have oral health problems. We studied whether poor oral health among non-smoking adolescents is connected to smoking behaviour in adulthood.

Methods: We used an age cohort born in 1979 (n = 2582) taking part in annual oral health check-ups between the ages of 13 and 15.

Patients' assessments of the continuity of primary care in Finland: a 15-year follow-up questionnaire survey.

Background: Continuity of care is an essential aspect of quality in general practice. This study is the first systematic follow-up of Finnish primary care patients' assessments with regard to personal continuity of care.

Aim: To ascertain whether patient-reported longitudinal personal continuity of care is related to patient characteristics and their consultation experiences, and how this had changed over the study period.

Factors associated with general practice specialty training satisfaction - results from the Finnish Physician Study.

In Finland, achieving licensure as a specialist in general practice takes six years, with four years of training in primary care. Usually training arrangements are evaluated by trainees and their trainers. In this study the opinions of licensed GPs with experience of working in practice were specifically addressed.

Effects of Alzheimer's disease-associated risk loci on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and disease progression: a polygenic risk score approach.

Background: Several risk loci for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been identified during recent years in large-scale genome-wide association studies. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which these loci influence AD pathogenesis.

Objective: To investigate the individual and combined risk effects of the newly identified AD loci.

Decreasing trends in patient satisfaction, accessibility and continuity of care in Finnish primary health care - a 14-year follow-up questionnaire study.

Background: The aim here was to explore trends in patient satisfaction with primary health care and its accessibility and continuity, and to explore whether through reforms and improvements some of the essential goals had been achieved over a 14-year period of time in Finland.

Methods: Nine questionnaire surveys were conducted over a period of 14 years among patients attending within one week in the 65 health centres in the Tampere University Hospital catchment area. A total of 147,394 responded out of a sample of 333,648 patients.

Childhood Adversities are Associated with Diabetes Management in Working Age in Finland.

Backgrounds. Research findings suggest that the mind can cause physical disease. To plan the best quality of care, general practitioner needs to understand an individual's health problems in physical, social, and psychological dimensions.

Reactions and attitudes to postpartal mental symptoms in a rural community.

We examined the reactions of population, social and health care professionals and local politicians in the context of a narrative case of a newborn and her mother evincing postpartal mental symptoms. The results of this postal questionnaire study indicated that in assessing the urgent need for support, a significant positive association prevailed in the resident cohort with female gender, age over 50 years or being a parent. Professionals and politicians estimated that appropriate care and access to care would be obtained in the maternity and child health clinic in the local health centre.