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Biomedical subjects

D Bruusgaard

Publications and source records attributed to D Bruusgaard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Antenatal care in general practice. 1: A questionnaire as a clinical tool for collection of information on psychosocial conditions.

In pregnancy the woman's emotional sensitivity and also her receptiveness of emotional support increase. Antenatal care that is exclusively focused on somatic conditions may lead to ignorance of pregnant women's psychosocial problems, thus missing a chance of intervention. A psychosocial questionnaire, used as a clinical tool in history taking during the first two antenatal consultations, is described and evaluated. The purpose of the questionnaire was to elucidate the pregnant woman's psychosocial assets as well as problems. The information collected by means of this questionnaire is compared with the information on psychosocial conditions collected by means of the traditional antenatal care form. Screening for psychosocial conditions in pregnant women may reveal information about important life aspects that are not detected in the antenatal care form.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Uric acid and chronic musculoskeletal complaints.

The relation between chronic musculoskeletal complaints and serum uric acid was examined in 737 men and 771 women (40-42 years old). The study is cross-sectional and part of the National Health Screening Service county studies in Norway. Both men and women with chronic musculoskeletal complaints had significantly higher s-urate means than persons without such complaints. Moreover, the prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal complaints (gout excluded) changed significantly across increasing s-urate levels also within the normal distribution of s-urate. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the s-urate odds ratio for chronic complaints rose in a linear manner across these s-urate levels (adjusted for 12 other independent variables that may interfere with uric acid). Such a relation has not to our knowledge been previously described.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Occupational factors in sickness certification.

Physical work load was assessed by doctors and patients to have contributed to the health problems leading to sickness certification in 48.4% of 1413 patients certified sick by 118 general practitioners in Buskerud county, Norway (1986). Correspondingly, psychological factors were considered contributory in 32.1%. The potential for prevention of health problems underlying sickness certificates was reported in 37.1%. As expected, the frequency of sickness certification in which physical work load and psychological factors were considered to have contributed varied with the patients' occupation, type of work, and health problem. Physical work load was assessed as contributory particularly in patients with musculoskeletal/connective tissue diseases whose work involved much walking and lifting (93.2%) or was physically strenuous (94.0%). Psychological factors were assessed as contributory in a high percentage of cases whose work was mostly sedentary. The findings indicate that the potentials for prevention as assessed by doctors and patients were highest when the health problems underlying sickness certification were associated with musculoskeletal/connective tissue diseases. The results indicate a potential for prevention and limitation of sickness certification which may be utilized by a better collaboration between community medicine and occupational health services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Chronic disease and sexuality. An interview study on sexual dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis].

Many patients with a chronic disease experience that this condition in some way influences their sexual life. In this paper we present the results from an interview survey of ten patients with multiple sclerosis. The aim of the survey was to assess sexual dysfunctions in patients with chronic disease, the patients' opinion about these matters, and the role of the health services. We found the extent of the sexual problems of these patients to be comparable with the findings presented in earlier studies. The majority of patients considered it a problem that the topic was never raised by their medical practitioner. The patients clearly indicate that it is important for them that this subject be discussed, and that they receive counselling. This task should predominantly be the responsibility of the general practitioner, since she/he is normally the one who ensures continuity in the care of the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Incidence of sickness certification. Proposal for use as a health status indicator.

Cause-, sex-, and age-specific incidences of sickness certification in a total population are reported. The population at risk of having a sickness certificate issued was 106,019 employed persons 16-69 years of age. The annual incidence of sickness certification was estimated at 580 per 1,000 employed persons per year (females 596, males 568). The most frequent causes of sickness certification, according to diagnostic groups, were diseases of the respiratory system, musculoskeletal/connective tissue diseases, mental disorders, and injuries. Adjusted for age, injuries were found to be less frequent causes of sickness certification among females than males (p less than 0.001), while the reverse was true for mental disorders (p less than 0.01). Among single diagnoses, "other nonarticular rheumatism" (including myalgia) was more frequent among females than males, while the opposite was true for "backpain without radiating symptoms" (p less than 0.001). Comparisons with morbidity studies indicate that diagnoses stated on initial certificates, issued to employed persons in the total population, give a reflection of a population's health problems. This suggests that sickness certification may provide a basis for a health status indicator which may prove useful in planning and evaluation of occupational health, general practice, and community health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Clinical examination of medical students in general practice.

As a trial a group of medical students underwent an oral examination in general practice. The results from the trial period are discussed, and the conclusion is that oral examination in a general practice setting is feasible and valid, but also time-consuming. It is suitable for testing the students' skills in communication and problem-solving, but also allows the testing of attitudes and knowledge.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMed1988

The psychological aspects of the doctor-patient interaction in the healing process. General practitioners' attitudes and beliefs.

The present study had three main objectives. To survey: 1) General practitioners' views on the possibility of influencing different diseases by psychological means. 2) GPs' views on the doctor/patient relationship. 3) GPs' general interest in psychosomatic issues. Altogether 180 GPs completed the questionnaire. GPs found chronic disorders to be more easily influenced by psychological means that acute disorders, and they prefer the counsellor aspects of the doctor role to the caretaker aspects. They think psychosomatic issues are very relevant to their daily work.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

The general practitioner and the family. A study of the use of general practitioners' services by families with children.

The extent of the GP's contact with families with children, and the influence of family characteristics upon the utilization of health care have been registered. Seventy-one families in a rural district in Norway were followed for two and a half years. On average, the GP had approximately one contact per month with one member of each family. Demographic family data, such as age or number of children, were not found to be of great significance for the number of contacts. Children's encounters with the GPs correlated with those of the mothers, but not with those of the fathers. The most important factors influencing the families' use of health services were the prevalence of chronic illness, psychological stability in parents, and the occurrence of changes in family composition. The gains from approaching the family as a unit are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Symptomatic and non-symptomatic reasons for encounter in general practice.

A total of 10,278 consecutive doctor-patient contacts in general practice were classified as either caused by a symptom or complaint (symptomatic) or caused by other reasons (non-symptomatic) according to the Reason for Encounter Classification system (RFEC). Of all consultations and of all house-calls 61.5% and 91.7% respectively were classified as "symptomatic". Significant differences according to sex and type of problem were found between "symptomatic" and "non-symptomatic" consultations. Patients seeking advice for non-symptomatic reasons have other expectations and represent other challenges to the doctor than patients with symptoms and complaints. Knowledge of the distribution of "symptomatic" and "non-symptomatic" consultations is important for the understanding of the workload and utilization of general practice.

Family Practice↗