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Biomedical subjects

B Gardell

Publications and source records attributed to B Gardell.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Guidelines and reported practice for the treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia.

OBJECTIVE: To monitor changes in family physicians' reported practice on hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. DESIGN: Random samples of physicians were selected for telephone interviews on their practice regarding cut-off levels and pharmacological treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia, related to a case scenario of a 48-year-old man, in 1989, 1991 and 1993. SETTING: Primary care facilities in southern Sweden. SUBJECTS: Specialists in family medicine, employed in public primary health care. Participation rates were in 187/201 (93%) in 1989, 236/264 (89%) in 1991 and 257/298 (86%) in 1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cut-off levels and drug treatment preferences for hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. RESULTS: During the period 1989-1993, decreasing mean cut-off levels for pharmacological treatment of hypertension (P < 0.001) were reported, below the levels of the guidelines. Although betablockers were first choice drug in all three surveys, the proportion preferring this has diminished (P < 0.001), whilst the proportions preferring ACE-inhibitors and calcium channel blockers have increased (P < 0.001 and P = 0.02, respectively). For drug treatment of hypercholesterolaemia, the mean cut-off level remained close to guidelines in all three surveys. The proportion of physicians suggesting resins and nicotinic acid as first choice drug had decreased (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively), whilst the proportion preferring statins and fibrates had increased (P < 0.001 and P = 0.048, respectively). CONCLUSION: Practice guidelines on hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia have not had the desired impact on physicians' reported practice. The reason for this might be that physicians did not value the guidelines as adequate tools for practice, or that the methods for dissemination, implementation, and maintenance of guidelines were not appropriate.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed1982

Worker participation and autonomy: a multilevel approach to democracy at the workplace.

The article describes a process toward democracy at the workplace in a Swedish middle-sized manufacturing company producing for the export market. The change process was initiated and engineered by the trade union local in close cooperation with management. Within an overall strategy for increased worker control, the democratized work organization combines co-determination for the local trade union board in strategic management decisions with a system of autonomous production groups, where supervisors have been replaced by "contact people" elected by and responsible to the groups. Through the autonomous groups, all workers participate in decisions about production. The groups decide on all matters related to work performance and take collective responsibility for production results. As an introduction to the case, the paper puts this trade union model for democracy at the workplace in the perspective of a 50-year development of productivity and worker participation in Scandinavia. The case report deals both with the change process (why and how it came about) and with the outcome of the new work organization for the workers, the union, and the company. It is shown that the new work organization has meant a richer job content, increased dignity for workers, increased solidarity among workers, increased trade union activity and strength, as well as a more effective use of productive resources in the company. Despite local peculiarities, it is concluded that the experiences gained from this case can be transferred to other workplaces where workers are interested in having more say, more security, and a more meaningful work situation.

Democracy↗
PubMed1982

Scandinavian research on stress in working life.

This paper discusses research strategies and summarizes pertinent knowledge that has influenced Scandinavian legislation and trade union policies in the field of stress at the workplace. Work stress is shown to be problematic in two ways. First, there may be a direct relation between certain objective working conditions, physiological and psychological stress, and ill health. Second, certain stress conditions may create fatigue and/or passivity and thus make it more difficult for individuals to actively involve themselves in changing those working conditions-including physical and chemical risk factors-that may be detrimental to health. This latter aspect is especially relevant for prevention on the systems level, where one has to rely on collective means for changes in technology and the organization of work.

Employment↗
PubMed1976

Underload and overload in working life: outline of a multidisciplinary approach.

A research project is outlined in which concepts and methods from social psychology and psychophysiology are integrated in the study of human adaptation to underload and overload related to technically advanced work processes. Attempts are made to identify aversive factors in the work process by studying acute stress reactions, e.g., catecholamine excretion, in the course of work and relating these to long term, negative effects on well-being, job satisfaction and health. Data from a pilot study of sawmill workers support the view that machine-paced work characterized by a short work cycle and lack of control over the work process constitutes a threat to health and well being.

Adult↗