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Biomedical subjects

A Forsdahl

Publications and source records attributed to A Forsdahl.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Lack of doctors in rural districts--situation in Northern Norway, national challenge].

BACKGROUND: Recruitment of general practitioners to Northern Norway has failed during the last few years, especially in municipalities with a population of less than 4,000, though some small municipalities have maintained a stable medical service. What are the differences between municipalities with stable and unstable services? MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to the medical officers of the 89 municipalities in Northern Norway, with questions on the structure and organisation of the medical service, and factors influencing doctors' professional life and quality of life in general. RESULTS: Answers from 62 municipalities were included. Municipalities with unstable services had longer distances to the nearest hospital, and doctors in these municipalities reported heavier work-load and professional isolation. INTERPRETATION: A combination of factors concerning the structure and organisation of the primary health care seem to cause the increased difficulties in the unstable communities, hence they should have a potential for improvement.

Cold Climate↗
PubMed2001

[Erik Gerhard Schytte--Dioceseos Nordlandiae Aesculapius--city medical officer].

Erik Gerhard Schytte (1728-1808) was born in Vega in Northern Norway. He read theology at the University of Copenhagen, but like other Norwegian theological students at the time, he also took an interest in medicine and attended lectures in the field. During some periods, Schytte substituted for the city medical officer in Bergen. In 1754 he graduated in theology in Copenhagen and went on to become a vicar in various parishes in Northern Norway, working partly as a vicar and partly as a medical practitioner and turning his vicarage into a kind of hospital. He was the first person with a medical education who practiced medicine in Northern Norway. For his contribution to the medical services in that region, he was appointed honorary professor by the government in Copenhagen. Schytte was widely known as the Aesculap of Northern Norway.

Family Practice↗
PubMed2000

[A physician from Finnmark who pointed out the significance of heredity in congenital hip dysplasia].

In 1918 A.B. Wessel, district physician in Sør-Varanger, Northern Norway, published an article titled Limping families in the county of Finnmark. Based on his own investigations, he concluded that the congenital dislocation of the hip joint was a hereditary disease, and that the prevalence of the disease was high in the Sami population, especially among Sami women. Dr. Wessel observed an association between tuberculosis and the poverty of the population. The miserable hygienic conditions in small and overcrowded houses were a serious risk factor for the development of tuberculosis. Wessel was active in politics and tried to improve the living conditions of poor people. Dr. Wessel was interested in the history of the county of Finnmark as well as in ornitology and entomology.

Ethnicity↗
PubMed1999

[Physicians in primary health care in Northern Norway 1995-97].

Recruiting general practitioners to Northern Norway is increasingly difficult. In 1997, 28% of all positions in primary health care in the counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark were vacant. Problems were worst in the small municipalities with a population of less than 4,000 with 37% of all positions vacant. The insufficient coverage of curative and acute health services is in part compensated for by a great number of short stay physicians. A cross-sectional study in the three northern countries in october 1998 showed that 68% of all general practitioners had Norwegian as their native language. In the small municipalities less than half the physicians were Norwegians.

Cold Climate↗
PubMed1997

[Shortage of physicians, leave of absence because of pregnancy and child care. A survey of physicians 1993].

The shortage of physicians is still a problem in Norway. In 1992, 344 (3.1%) physician full time equivalents (FTE) were "lost" because of family leave. Maternity leave averaged 34.7 weeks. 26% of the physicians who became a father in 1992 took an average of three weeks paternity leave. Leaves related to other family responsibilities seem to be increasing among male physicians. Our estimates show that interruption of career, along with female physicians who choose to work shorter hours, will represent a discount of 452 (3.3%) physician FTEs in year 2002. If Norwegian physicians increase their leaves of absence in line with the possibilities provided by government regulations, this number will be even larger (4.5%). Changes in the pattern of career interruption should be considered when projecting the supply of physicians.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Pregnancy related changes in some cardiovascular risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Certain risk factors for development of ischemic heart disease are influenced by pregnancy related changes of female sex hormone levels. METHODS: As a part of the cardiovascular risk factor studies in Finnmark county, Norway, 1974-75 and 1977-78, cross-sectional clinical and non-fasting laboratory data were obtained prior to conception (n = 463), during pregnancy (n = 335), and following delivery (n = 451). RESULTS: Compared with prepregnancy values, total cholesterol was on average 7% lower in the first trimester (p < 0.001), and 30% higher at the end of gestation (p < 0.001). High density lipoprotein cholesterol was 38% higher at mid-pregnancy (p < 0.001), but only 14% higher in the last trimester (p < 0.01). Serum triglycerides were 18% lower in the first (p < 0.001) and 123% higher in the third trimester (p < 0.001). Blood glucose was 5% lower than baseline in mid-pregnancy (p < 0.001). Except for the second trimester, when only 27% of women smoked, more than 40% of the women examined were smokers. Postpartum values were similar to prepregnancy levels, except serum triglycerides which remained 35% higher (p < 0.001) and blood glucose (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The major serum lipid fractions, and blood glucose, were significantly different during pregnancy and postpartum, which may influence the risk of cardiovascular disease development in women.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Crib death and infant mortality in Scandinavia 1988-1993].

During the years 1970-1989 there was a marked increase in cot death in the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Since 1990 cot death has decreased dramatically, especially in Norway and Denmark. Mortality rates have decreased by 74 per cent between 1989 and 1993 in Norway and by 69 per cent between 1991 and 1993 in Denmark. Investigations in Norway during the same period have shown a change in the sleeping positions of infants, from prone positions to supine/side positions. Infant mortality rates have decreased in all the Nordic countries and in 1993 varied from 5.45 per thousand live births in Denmark to 4.40 in Finland.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

[Crib death and infant mortality in the Nordic countries 1988-93].

During the years 1970-89 there was a marked increase in cot deaths in the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Since 1990 cot death has decreased dramatically, especially in Norway and Denmark. Mortality rates have decreased by 74% between 1989 and 1993 in Norway and by 69% between 1991 and 1993 in Denmark. Investigations in Norway during the same period have shown a change in the sleeping positions of infants, from prone positions to supine/side positions. Infant mortality rates have decreased in all the Nordic countries and in 1993 varied from 5.45 per thousand live births in Denmark to 4.40 in Finland.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

[Change in infants' sleeping position and incidence of crib death in Northern Norway].

Several investigations have reported a prone sleeping position to be a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). We investigated whether changes in sleeping position among infants in Northern Norway were associated with changes in SIDS rates. The prevalence of prone sleeping position was 54% among infants born in the years 1976-1989 and 5% among infants surveyed in May 1994. During the same period the SIDS rate declined from 2.75/1000 to 1.57/1000. These findings are consistent with other research in the field, and indicate that a prone sleeping position is a risk factor for SIDS.

Child↗
PubMed1991

[A deficit in women--a contributory reason for an imbalance in society].

The author has carried out a comparison between the female/male ratio (x 100) in different age groups in the Nordic countries and Greenland. The ratio was much the same, about 95, up to the age 45-50 years. But there were two exceptions, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Here the excess of males aged 20-49 years was much higher than in the other countries. In Greenland for this was mainly due to an immigration of adult males, and the female/male ratio was 75.4. Some possible influences on the society are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Sudden infant death and crib death in Scandinavia during the period 1970-1987].

Compared with other countries, infant mortality in the Nordic countries is low. However, the decrease in infant mortality since 1970 has been slower in Denmark and Norway than in Finland and Sweden. The post-neonatal death rate since 1970 has increased in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but not in Finland. During the same period of time there has been a large increase in cot death in all the four countries, but the incidence has been higher in Denmark and Norway. This may explain much of the difference in today's infant mortality in the different countries. The authors think that the Nordic countries are faced with a serious epidemic situation and propose to appoint a Nordic expert group to follow the trend and find possible pathways for further investigations.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

[What do patients think of primary health care? A questionnaire study among patients in Northern Norway in 1987].

Doctors and professional health administrators have been the principal decision-makers and the patients have hardly had any direct influence on the planning and organization of primary health care in Norway. In 1987, in order to draw attention to patient opinions, the Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, conducted a questionnaire survey among patients attending general practices in North Norway. The question were selected to cover issues in the contemporary debate on the ideology, organization and standards of services of general practitioners. 36 teaching practices in the region were included in the survey. Altogether 3,739 questionnaires were returned, a response rate of over 60%. The respondents reported more than 16,000 consultations during the last year. This paper presents the methods used and the main findings concerning the representativeness of the results and the potential for generalization. Subsequent publications will present detailed results from the study within the framework of patient experiences, preferences and expectations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Accessibility and waiting time in general practice. A patient study in Northern Norway in 1987].

In the opinion of the public, accessibility is probably one of the most important features of general practice. More than 3,500 patients in North Norway answered a questionnaire asking for their opinions on waiting time for consultation, the time spent in consultation and the possibility of the doctor visiting them at home. 80% thought that a waiting time of more than one week was too long. The actual waiting times differ considerably, but only a few practices serving less than 900 inhabitants per physician managed to satisfy their patients. On the other hand, about 80% found the time allocated for the consultation to be adequate. Almost half the patients who expressed an opinion thought it too difficult to get a doctor to visit them at home. Less than 10% considered a long distance to travel to a doctor to be an obstacle. Not surprisingly, young people were most demanding as regards quick service. Men were somewhat more satisfied than women, as were patients in rural areas compared with patients in the towns. In our opinion, some of the patients' causes of dissatisfaction can be removed by better routines. However, it seems that the resources available within general practice, are inadequate to meet all the patients' wishes, either now or in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[The Bugöynes study. Population of Finnish ethnic background in Sör-Varanger. IV. A follow-up based on the cardiovascular study done in the county of Finnmark in 1987].

An investigation conducted in 1972 among adult males in the fishing village of Bugøynes, where the majority of the population is of Finnish ethnic background, showed very high serum cholesterol values. This led to a recommendation that the population should modify its dietary habits. 1-1.5 years later the cholesterol values were reduced on average by 17.8%. Part of the adult population was reinvestigated in 1974 and 1977. At the last screening, in 1987, the whole adult population was invited to the investigation. In the age group 20-49 years the age adjusted serum cholesterol values in males were 16.8% lower in 1987 than in 1972. In females in the same age group the values had dropped by 5.4% from 1974 to 1987. Compared with neighbouring villages, the population in Bugøynes has changed its dietary habits. The prevalence of atherosclerotic heart disease in males aged 40-59 years, has declined from 18.9% in 1972 to 8.3% in 1987.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1990

[How often are twins born?].

The frequency of twin births has declined over the last 50 years in Norway. The probability of a twin birth varies with the age of the mother, and the rates increase regularly up to the age of 35-39 years and afterwards decline. The age distribution of the mothers has changed, and a larger proportion of the children are born by younger mothers. But this alone does not explain the decline in the frequency of twin births. The probability of twin births also varies with the number of births, and the rate increases with each birth. The mean number of children from one woman has also declined during the same period.

Adolescent↗