Åsa Vernby

Diagnosis-prescribing surveys in 2000, 2002 and 2005 in Swedish general practice: Consultations, diagnosis, diagnostics and treatment choices

The aim of this study is to present diagnostic patterns, diagnostics used and antibiotic treatment in relation to guidelines in 3 repeated diagnosis-prescription studies conducted simultaneously in general practice in 5 Swedish counties, during 1 week in November 2000, 2002 and 2005. General practitioners (GPs) at the participating health centres were asked to complete a form for all patients with symptoms of an infectious disease. During the studied periods a total of 15,371 consultations was registered. Consultations with GPs diagnosed as respiratory tract infection (RTI), especially consultations for sore throat, decreased considerably between y 2000 and 2005. The percentage of patients allocated an RTI diagnosis and prescribed an antibiotic declined significantly from 54% to 49% and the decline was most pronounced among children. Penicillin V remained the dominant antibiotic prescribed throughout the study periods. For lower urinary tract infections there was a significant change in choice of prescribed antibiotics with an increase for pivmecillinam and nitrofurantoin and a decrease for trimethoprim, in accordance with recommendations. The results indicate a quite close adherence to current guidelines, with changes in the pattern of consultations as well as in the management of infectious diseases in general practice in Sweden.

Infections and antibiotic prescribing in Swedish nursing homes: A cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to present and assess the treatment of infections in Swedish nursing homes. It included 58 nursing homes with 3002 residents. During 3 months, nurses in the nursing homes recorded all infections requiring a physicians opinion. Of the 889 infectious episodes, 84% were treated with antibiotics. Many of the antibiotics were issued after indirect contact with the physician (38%). Indications for antibiotics were in 55% of the cases urinary tract infections (UTI), in 17% skin and soft-tissue infections and in 15% respiratory tract infections (RTI). The most common antibiotics were penicillins (38%), followed by quinolones (23%) and trimethoprim (18%). For the major indication, lower UTI in women, half of the cases were not treated according to the recommendations. The main concerns were length of treatment and overprescribing of quinolones. For the second major diagnosis, pneumonia, the high use of doxycycline could be questioned. Continuing education on infections and their treatment in nursing homes is needed. Training should preferably include both physicians and nurses as a high proportion of antibiotics is issued without direct contact with the physician.

Health information, an area for competition in Swedish pharmacies

Objective To investigate the views and expectations of a selected group of customers regarding health information in Swedish pharmacies. Methods A repeated cross sectional, questionnaire study carried out in 2004 and 2005. Customers buying calcium products answered questions on osteoporosis and general questions on health promotion and information. Results Respondents had a positive attitude towards receiving health information from the pharmacies and towards the pharmacies’ future role in health promotion. However, only 30% of the respondents expected to get information on general health issues from the pharmacy. In spite of this, 76% (2004) and 72% (2005) of the respondents believed that the pharmacies could influence people’s willingness to improve their health. Conclusion There is a gap between the respondents’ positive attitudes towards the Swedish pharmacies and their low expectations as regards the pharmacies’ ability to provide health information. In the light of the upcoming change to the state monopoly on medicine sales, this gap could be an important area for competition between the actors in the new situation for medicine sales in Sweden.