PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B O Hoftvedt

Publications and source records attributed to B O Hoftvedt.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Specialists without qualification. An interview study among general practitioners].

50 Norwegian doctors selected at random from the population of general practitioners who were neither recognized specialists nor enrolled in the specialist training programme, were interviewed by telephone about their own postgraduate training and their attitude towards the system of specialist training for general practitioners. Their educational activities and needs differed very little from those described in previous surveys among Norwegian practitioners. All the younger doctors were determined to enroll in the specialist training programme, but many thought that this might be difficult for family reasons. Most of the doctors above the age of 40 lacked the motivation for specialist training. The doctors expressed a variety of different attitudes towards the system of specialist training, including certain conflicts of loyalties and values.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Standards as basis for medical audit].

Medical audit usually implies evaluation of medical practice in order to control whether certain standards are complied with. Research on decision making has disclosed, however, that standards for clinical problem solving are not always easy to establish. It has been difficult to influence doctors to adhere to standards defined by experts. We therefore propose that medical audit should focus more on education than on control. If standards are to be used, the doctors participating in medical audit projects should also help to define the standards. We suggest the following procedure for medical audit projects: observe practice--reflect on it--identify changes--formulate standards--implement changes--evaluate changes--give feedback to the group about the outcome. Standards defined by experts working remote from medical practice, must be replaced by standards based on practical knowledge acquired by doctors with common experience.

Decision Making↗
PubMed1991

Fever: knowledge, perception and attitudes. Results from a Norwegian population study.

To investigate the layman's knowledge, perception and attitudes regarding normal body temperature, fever, infections and the effect of penicillin on virus infections a representative sample of the Norwegian population (619 women and 592 men over the age of 15) was interviewed in 1988 as part of a monthly national opinion poll. One-third thought body temperatures up to 40.5 degrees C to be life-threatening, but the results do not justify the application of the term 'fever phobia' as described in other studies based on non-representative samples. More respondents were afraid of viral infections (48%) than bacterial infections (9%), which may be due to the media focus upon the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Thirty-five per cent believed penicillin to be effective against virus infections. Educational programmes on fever should also include information about virus infections and their treatment.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1991

Fever: management and self-medication. Results from a Norwegian population study.

A representative sample of the Norwegian population was interviewed in 1988 as part of a monthly national opinion poll to investigate lay management and self-medication of fever. Six hundred and nineteen women and 592 men over the age of 15 were interviewed in their homes. Approximately one-fifth reported inappropriate measuring of body temperature. A variety of management and self-medication was found. In cases of common cold or influenza with fever, 35% would use antipyretics. Forty per cent would start to use antipyretics at a temperature below 39.0 degrees C. Forty-four per cent did not know any antipyretic brand names at all. The results indicate a need for more definite and consistent information to make fever management and self-medication more rational. Such information should be discussed and given by general practitioners, nurses at child welfare centers and pharmacists.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Cholesterol measurement in general practice--Norwegian general practitioners' attitudes and estimation of their own practice].

In 1988 a group of Norwegian experts published a programme for treatment of patients with increased cholesterol. The programme recommended dietary counselling when plasma cholesterol exceeded 5 mmol/l. In the autumn 1988 the Norwegian National Health Association started a campaign on cholesterol for health personnel. In order to find out to what extent general practitioners adhered to the recommendations of the programme, a random sample of 100 general practitioners were sent a questionnaire before and after the campaign. The results showed no significant differences in the doctors' attitudes towards diagnosis and treatment of patients with increased plasma cholesterol. Both before and after the campaign the plasma cholesterol levels at which they would initiate follow-up, dietary counselling or drug therapy were 1-2 mmol/l above the levels recommended by the expert group. The attitude of the general practitioners was more conservative than the recommendations of the programme. The interval between the information meeting and the post study was only six months. It is a complicated process to change attitudes and practice routines, and the time required may be longer than six months. Furthermore, the recommendations of the programme were questioned by other doctors, which reduced its impact.

Adult↗