Factors influencing antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections in primary care - a comparison of physicians with different antibiotic prescribing rates.

Background: There has been a notable decrease in antibiotic prescribing in the last thirty years in Sweden. Little is known about factors influencing antibiotic prescribing over several years.

Objective: To compare primary care physicians who, over time, reduced their antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections with those who remained either high or low prescribers regarding potentially influencing factors.

Antibiotic Treatment for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Care: A Register-Based Study Examining the Role of Radiographic Imaging.

When imaging (i.e., chest-x-ray or computed tomography) is used to differentiate between acute bronchitis and pneumonia, many patients are being prescribed antibiotics despite the absence of radiographic pneumonia signs.

Use of faecal immunochemical tests common in patients with suspected colorectal cancer but unrelated to travel distance to secondary care: a population-based study from Swedish primary care.

Background: Evidence is increasing for the use of faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for occult blood as diagnostic tools when colorectal cancer can be suspected. FITs have been used for this purpose in Swedish primary care since around 2005 despite absence of supporting guidelines. To our knowledge, the extent of this use has not been studied.

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on primary care utilization: evidence from Sweden using national register data.

Objective: To analyze changes in primary care utilization as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Swedish national register data from 2019 to 2020 on utilization of services were used to compare overall utilization levels and across types of contacts and patient groups. A specific objective was to assess the extent to which remote types of patient consultations were able to compensate for any observed fall in on-site visits.

Seasonal variations in use and outcome of rapid antigen detection tests and cultures in pharyngotonsillitis: a register study in primary care.

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of pharyngotonsillitis are commonly focused on group A streptococci (GAS), although the disease is often associated with other pathogens. While the incidence of pharyngotonsillitis is known to vary with season, seasonal variations in the prevalence of potential pathogens are sparsely explored. The aim of this study was to explore any seasonal variations in the use and outcome of rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) for GAS and throat cultures among patients diagnosed with pharyngotonsillitis in primary care.

Diagnosing colorectal cancer in primary care: cohort study in Sweden of qualitative faecal immunochemical tests, haemoglobin levels, and platelet counts.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnostics are challenging in primary care and reliable diagnostic aids are desired. Qualitative faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) have been used for suspected CRC in Sweden since the mid-2000s, but evidence regarding their effectiveness is scarce. Anaemia and thrombocytosis are both associated with CRC.

Diagnosis-linked antibiotic prescribing in Swedish primary care - a comparison between in-hours and out-of-hours.

Background: The rise in antibiotic resistance is a global public health concern, and antibiotic overuse needs to be reduced. Earlier studies of out-of-hours care have indicated that antibiotic prescribing is less appropriate than that of in-hours care. However, no study has compared the out-of-hours treatment of infections to in-hours treatment within the same population.

Different antibiotic regimes in men diagnosed with lower urinary tract infection - a retrospective register-based study.

Objective: To compare the proportion of therapy failure, recurrence and complications within 30 days after consultation between men diagnosed with lower urinary tract infection (UTI) treated with narrow-spectrum antibiotics (nitrofurantoin or pivmecillinam) and broad-spectrum antibiotics (fluoroquinolones or trimethoprim or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole).

Design: A retrospective cohort study based on data derived from electronic medical records between January 2012 and December 2015.

Setting: Primary health care and hospital care in five different counties in Sweden.

Qualitative faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients with histories of rectal bleeding in primary care: a cohort study.

Background: Rectal bleeding is considered an alarm symptom for colorectal cancer (CRC) but it is common and mostly caused by benign conditions. Qualitative faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for occult blood have been used as diagnostic aids for many years in Sweden when CRC is suspected. The study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of FITs requested by primary care physicians for patients with and without histories of rectal bleeding, in the diagnosis of CRC.

Change in the use of diagnostic tests in the management of lower respiratory tract infections: a register-based study in primary care.

Background: Differentiating between pneumonia and acute bronchitis is often difficult in primary care. There is no consensus regarding clinical decision rules for pneumonia, and guidelines differ between countries. Use of diagnostic tests and change of management over time is not known.

Utilization of digital primary care in Sweden: Descriptive analysis of claims data on demographics, socioeconomics, and diagnoses.

Objective: As digital technologies for health continue to develop, the ability to provide primary care services to patients with new symptoms will grow. In Sweden, two providers of digital primary care have expanded rapidly over the past years giving rise to a heated debate with clear policy implications. The purpose of the study is to present a descriptive review of digital primary care as currently under development in Sweden.