Effect of integrated medicines management on quality of discharge medication information-a secondary endpoint in a randomized controlled trial.

Background: High-quality discharge information is important to promote patient safety when patients are transferred from hospital to primary care. Patients with multiple long-term conditions are especially vulnerable to insufficient transfer of medication information, as they use many medications and have complex interactions with the healthcare services. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of integrated medicines management provided to hospitalized multimorbid patients on the quality of the discharge medication information.

Development and external validation of a prognostic model for time to readmission or death in multimorbid patients.

Objective: To develop and externally validate a prognostic model built on important factors predisposing multimorbid patients to all-cause readmission and/or death. In addition to identify patients who may benefit most from a comprehensive clinical pharmacist intervention.

Methods: A multivariable prognostic model was developed based on data from a randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of pharmacist-led medicines management on readmission rate in multimorbid, hospitalised patients.

Effect of integrated medicines management on the quality of drug treatment in hospitalised multimorbid patients - a secondary endpoint analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of integrated medicines management provided to hospitalised multimorbid patients on the quality of drug treatment at discharge measured as the mean number of potential prescribing omissions and potentially inappropriate medicines.

Methods: Multimorbid patients ≥18 years, using a minimum of four regular drugs from a minimum of two therapeutic drug classes, were recruited from the Internal Medicine ward, Oslo University Hospital, Norway, from August 2014 to March 2016 and randomly assigned, 1:1, to the intervention or control group. Intervention patients received integrated medicines management throughout the hospital stay.

The Norwegian Directorate of Health recommends malnutrition screening tool (MST) for all adults.

Background & Aims: Malnutrition is underdiagnosed and undertreated in Norway. In a revision of a national guideline on malnutrition, the Norwegian Directorate of Health aimed for a harmonization and standardization of the malnutrition screening practice, including a recommendation of one malnutrition screening tool to be used among all adults in Norwegian health and care services.

Methods: A working group was appointed by the Norwegian Directorate of Health.

Health literacy in medication communication during hospital discharge: a qualitative study at an internal medicines ward in Norway.

Objective: When discharged from hospital patients are often assumed to have sufficient health literacy (HL) to participate in their medical treatment and manage medical self-care after discharge. However, limited HL is a widespread concern and patient participation during discharge is lacking. In this study, we explore how HL influences medication communication during hospital discharge.

Empowering the patient? Medication communication during hospital discharge: a qualitative study at an internal medicines ward in Norway.

Objective: Effective communication and patient empowerment before hospital discharge are important steps to ensure medication safety. Patients discharged from hospitals are often expected to assume self-management, frequently without healthcare personnel (HCP) having ensured patients' knowledge, motivation and/or skills. In this substudy of a larger study, we explore how patients experience medication communication during encounters with HCPs and how they are empowered at hospital discharge.

Discharge processes and medicines communication from the patient perspective: A qualitative study at an internal medicines ward in Norway.

Background: Patients are expected to participate in the hospital discharge process, assume self-management after discharge and communicate relevant information to their general practitioner; however, patients report that they are not being sufficiently empowered to take on these responsibilities. The aim of this study was to explore and understand the discharge process with a focus on medicines communication, from the patient perspective.

Methods: Patients were included at a hospital ward, observed during health-care personnel encounters on the day of discharge and interviewed 1-2 weeks after discharge.

Effect of medicines management versus standard care on readmissions in multimorbid patients: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of pharmacist-led medicines management in multimorbid, hospitalised patients on long-term hospital readmissions and survival.

Design: Parallel-group, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Recruitment from an internal medicine hospital ward in Oslo, Norway.

Prevalence and risk factors of drug-related hospitalizations in multimorbid patients admitted to an internal medicine ward.

Background: Knowledge of risk factors for drug-related hospitalizations (DRHs) is limited.

Aim: To examine the prevalence of DRHs and the relationships between DRHs and various variables in multimorbid patients admitted to an internal medicine ward.

Methods: Multimorbid patients ≥ 18 years, using minimum of four regular drugs from minimum two therapeutic classes, were included from the Internal Medicine ward, Oslo University Hospital, Norway, from August 2014 to March 2016.

Effects of nutritional intervention upon bone turnover in elderly hip fracture patients. Randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aim: Hip fracture patients are at great risk of malnutrition, but documentation of the effect of nutrition supplementation in this group is sparse and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to examine if personalized nutrition advice combined with vitamin K1, Ca and vitamin D could improve bone turnover 4 months after hip fracture.

Design: This is a preplanned sub study of a randomized controlled trial of orthogeriatric care.

Changes in nutritional care after implementing national guidelines-a 10-year follow-up study.

Background/objectives: In 2004, a survey conducted in Scandinavia documented insufficient knowledge in nutrition care among doctors and nurses. The survey also revealed a significant discrepancy in nutritional practice, where Norway ranked lowest, thus leading to several actions including elaboration of national guidelines. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential changes in nutritional practice, as well as assessing barriers to nutrition therapy, 10 years after the former study.

A 1-year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial with focus on manual and electric toothbrushes' effect on dental hygiene in nursing homes.

Objective: A 2-month randomized clinical trial (RCT) study comparing electric and manual toothbrushes used by residents in nursing homes showed significant reduction in plaque score for both groups. The aim of this follow up study was to study if the effect sustained in a longer perspective when toothbrushes were used according to resident's own preference.

Materials And Methods: One year after baseline of the RCT-study, 100 participants were re-examined.

Dental hygiene registration: development, and reliability and validity testing of an assessment scale designed for nurses in institutions.

Aims And Objectives: To develop and test the dental hygiene registration, a dental hygiene assessment scale for nurses working in institutions.

Background: Removal of dental plaque is a key factor in preventing oral health-related diseases. A simple, but reliable dental hygiene assessment scale that enables nurses to monitor residents' dental hygiene on a daily basis, will improve monitoring oral hygiene status and quality of dental health care.

Micronutrients and the risk of hip fracture: Case-control study.

Background: Vitamin D, and possibly vitamin K, has an established association to fracture risk. Other vitamins are, however, less studied.

Aim: To determine whether specific micronutrients other than 25(OH)D and vitamin K play a role in risk of hip fracture and bone turnover.

Effect of teaching and checklist implementation on accuracy of medication history recording at hospital admission.

Background: Medication discrepancies at hospital admission is an extensive problem and knowledge is limited regarding improvement strategies.

Objective: To investigate the effect of teaching and checklist implementation on accuracy of medication history recording during hospitalization.

Method: Patients admitted to an internal medicine ward were prospectively included in two consecutive periods.

Vitamin K1 and 25(OH)D are independently and synergistically associated with a risk for hip fracture in an elderly population: a case control study.

Background & Aims: The incidence of hip fractures in Oslo is among the highest in the world. Vitamin D, as well as vitamin K, may play an important role in bone metabolism. We examined if vitamin K1 and 25(OH)D were associated with an increased risk of hip fracture, and whether the possible synergistic effect of these two micronutrients is mediated through bone turnover markers.

Impaired taste and increased mortality in acutely hospitalized older people.

Taste ability is known to be impaired in elderly and even more so in acutely hospitalized elderly people. To our knowledge, no study has investigated the association between taste impairment and mortality. Our aim was to examine this association in acutely hospitalized older people.

Effect of electric toothbrush on residents' oral hygiene: a randomized clinical trial in nursing homes.

A single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial was performed to investigate the effect of electric toothbrushes (ET) compared with manual toothbrushes (MT) on residents in nursing homes and to evaluate the caregiver's opinion on ET. A sample of 180 nursing-home residents were given either a new ET or a new MT. Oral examinations were performed to measure dental hygiene, using the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S).

Association between health-related quality of life, physical fitness, and physical activity in older adults recently discharged from hospital.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among health-related quality of life (HRQOL), physical fitness, and physical activity in older patients after recent discharge from hospital. One hundred fifteen independent-living older adults (ages 70-92 years) were included. HRQOL (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey), physical activity (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly), and physical fitness (Senior Fitness Test) were measured 2-4 weeks after discharge.

Nutritional screening and risk factors in elderly hospitalized patients: association to clinical outcome?

The aim of this study was to test the intervalidity of three different nutrition screening tools towards a broad population of elderly hospitalized patients. The association with risk factors and mortality was investigated. This is a prospective cohort study in three medical, surgical and geriatric settings, in Denmark and Sweden.

Taste ability in hospitalised older people compared with healthy, age-matched controls.

Objective: To investigate whether taste ability is reduced in acutely hospitalised older people compared with healthy, age-matched, non- hospitalised controls.

Background: Proper gustatory function in older people is important for quality of life and enjoyment of food. Impaired taste may contribute to weight loss in elderly.

The impact of oral health on taste ability in acutely hospitalized elderly.

Objective: To investigate to what extent various oral health variables are associated with taste ability in acutely hospitalized elderly.

Background: Impaired taste may contribute to weight loss in elderly. Many frail elderly have poor oral health characterized by caries, poor oral hygiene, and dry mouth.

The association between lung function and fatal stroke in a community followed for 4 decades.

Background: Previous studies, all of <20 years of follow-up, have suggested an association between lung function and the risk of fatal stroke. This study investigates the stability of this association in a cohort followed for 4 decades.

Methods: The Bergen Clinical Blood Pressure Survey was conducted in Norway in 1964-1971.

Restrictive pulmonary function is more prevalent in patients with ankylosing spondylitis than in matched population controls and is associated with impaired spinal mobility: a comparative study.

Introduction: Pulmonary involvement is a known manifestation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, previous studies have been based on small samples and the reported prevalence and associations with typical clinical features vary. The purpose of this study was to compare pulmonary function (PF) in patients with AS and population controls, and to study associations between PF and disease related variables, cardio-respiratory fitness and demographic variables in patients with AS.

Ageing, physical activity and mortality--a 42-year follow-up study.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is inversely associated with mortality in the general population. We wanted to quantify the association of self-reported PA with mortality from all causes, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, and compare it with other known risk factors in different age segments.

Methods: The Bergen Clinical Blood Pressure Survey examined a sample of 6811 Norwegian men and women in 1965-71 with follow-up until 2005-07.