Improving drug prescription in general practice using a novel quality improvement model.

Introduction: Quality improvement (QI) clusters have been established in many countries to improve healthcare using the Breakthrough Series' collaboration model. We investigated the effect of a novel QI approach based on this model of performed medication reviews and drug prescription in a Norwegian municipality.

Methods: All 27 General Practitioners (GPs) in a mid-size Norwegian municipality were invited to join the intervention, consisting of three peer group meetings during a period of 7-8 months.

Associations between night work and BMI, alcohol, smoking, caffeine and exercise--a cross-sectional study.

Background: Shift work is associated with negative health effects. Increased prevalence of several cardiovascular risk factors among shift workers/night workers compared with day workers have been shown resulting in increased risk of cardiovascular events among shift workers and night workers. Previous studies have taken a dichotomous approach to the comparison between day and night workers.

Associations between night work and anxiety, depression, insomnia, sleepiness and fatigue in a sample of Norwegian nurses.

Background: Night work has been reported to be associated with various mental disorders and complaints. We investigated relationships between night work and anxiety, depression, insomnia, sleepiness and fatigue among Norwegian nurses.

Methods: The study design was cross-sectional, based on validated self-assessment questionnaires.

Seasonality is associated with anxiety and depression: the Hordaland health study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess how seasonal changes in mood and behaviour were associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in a sample from a general population, and to investigate how prevalence figures were affected by month of questionnaire completion.

Methods: The target population included all individuals in the Hordaland county (Norway) born 1953-57 (N=29,400). In total, 8598 men (57% response rate) and 9983 women (70% response rate) attended the screening station.

Seasonal variations in mood and behaviour associated with gender, annual income and education: the Hordaland Health Study.

Objective: To explore the relationship between demographic factors and seasonal changes in mood and behaviour.

Method: A health survey was conducted among 40-45 year old inhabitants in Hordaland County, Norway. The Global Seasonality Score, investigating seasonal symptoms, was given to 4299 men and 9983 women.

Sleep disturbances in adolescents and young adults with autism and Asperger syndrome.

Sleep problems are commonly reported in children with autistic disorders. Most studies are based on sleep questionnaires and sleep diaries, but polysomnographic and actigraphic data have also been used. In this study we investigated sleep in older individuals (aged 15-25 years) with autism and Asperger syndrome, using sleep questionnaires, sleep diaries and actigraphy.