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P Schioldborg

Publications and source records attributed to P Schioldborg.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Students' attitudes toward active euthanasia, assisted suicide and proposed amendments to the penal code].

BACKGROUND: Attitude surveys in the Norwegian population show a majority supporting active euthanasia for patients with terminal disease, while among physicians, only a minority do so. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Attitudes towards active euthanasia, assisted suicide and proposed alteration of section 235 (to no penalty for manslaughter on compassionate grounds) and repeal of section 236 (assisted suicide) were surveyed among students of medicine, law and psychology at the University of Oslo (n = 520, response rate 59%). The issue was a patient suffering from a painful, incurable and fatal or non-fatal disease, asking for help to die. RESULTS: 61% of the law students, 59% of the psychology students and 24% of the medical students supported active euthanasia in cases of terminal disease. For assisted suicide, the corresponding percentages were 69%, 64% and 35%, respectively. For alteration of section 235, 72%, 57% and 35% agreed; for repeal of section 236, 52%, 46% and 28%. Among students with a Christian faith, 30% supported active euthanasia in terminal disease and 39% did so for assisted suicide. For students of another faith or without a definable faith, the corresponding percentages were 57% and 65%, respectively. No significant gender difference was observed. Compared to a similar student survey made three years earlier, the results showed a significant decrease in support of active euthanasia of ten percentage points among students of medicine and law, but no change for students of psychology. INTERPRETATION: The study indicates stable and differentiated attitudes towards euthanasia with significantly greater (nearly ten percentage points) support of assisted suicide compared to active euthanasia for both terminal and non-terminal disease. This probably reflects a view of the patient's own right to participate in making decisions in a critical situation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Students' attitudes to active euthanasia].

Attitude surveys in the Norwegian population show that an increasing majority support active euthanasia for patients with terminal disease. Among physicians, only a minority supports active euthanasia. Attitudes towards euthanasia were surveyed among students of medicine, law and psychology (n = 588, response rate 66%) with regard to a patient suffering from a painful, incurable and deadly or non-deadly disease, asking the doctor for help to die. To assess the strength of the students' attitude, the questions were presented either in a Christian context disapproving of euthanasia, in a humanistic context in favour, or in a neutral context-free form. 125 of 176 law students (71%), 134 of 216 psychology students (62%) and 71 of 196 medical students (36%) supported active euthanasia in cases of terminal disease. In cases of non-terminal disease, the corresponding percentages were 45%, 29% and 11%. 38% of the students with a Christian belief supported euthanasia in terminal disease while 79% of the humanists, 70% of those of another faith, and 65% of those without a definable faith did so. No significant gender difference was observed. 17% of the students stated that they were willing to perform euthanasia. No effect of context was observed. The results indicate stable and differentiated attitudes to the question of active euthanasia. One third of the medical students supported active euthanasia, which is twice as many as for physicians in general. Two thirds of the law and psychology students did so, which is similar to comparable age groups in the population.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Smoking cessation in pregnancy. Mode of intervention and effect.

Three groups (n = 50 each) of pregnant smokers wanting to quit the habit were assigned to three different intervention programs around their 18th week in pregnancy. Group 1 participated in a smoking cessation program offering several self-help methods; group 2 attended a doctor's information meeting at the hospital; and group 3 received a pamphlet on the deleterious effects of smoking in pregnancy. For Group 4, the control group, there was no intervention. In all three intervention groups, more than one-third reduced their smoking to almost half, while 38% quit altogether in group 1, compared with less than 10% in groups 2 and 3. Twelve months later, 16%, 6% and 8% respectively, remained abstinent in the three groups. In groups 2 and 3, abstinence proved to be of the same magnitude as in the control group. We conclude that smoking in pregnancy, being one of the few amenable to risk factors affecting the perinatal death statistics, demands an active smoking cessation program during pregnancy led by specially trained health professionals.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Smoking cessation using nicotine gum].

Smoking cessation in matched groups with (n = 54) versus without (n = 63) nicotine gum took place in order to test the gum with regard to abstinence rate and experienced value. In all, 71% quit smoking, 23% reduced consumption to half, while in 6% there was no change. The frequency was approximately even in the two groups. One month later, 79% of the quitters in the nicotine gum group still remained abstinent, compared with 54% in the control group (p less than 0.05). Six months later these frequencies were reduced to 34% and 20% respectively. Side effects were reported among one third of the users (aching of the jaw, sore throat), while two thirds found the gum useful. These persons found it hard to be without the gum, and that it reduced the craving for tobacco. In other words, it renders smoking cessation more certain.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking in pregnancy: a follow-up study of women unwilling to quit.

During a smoking intervention trial at Buskerud Central Hospital in Norway in 1988-1989, 79 out of 279 smoking pregnant women refused any form of intervention. Thirty-five of the women (44%) expressed a negative attitude to quit smoking and insisted on continuing their smoking habits. Forty-four (56%) indicated a positive interest in quitting, but refused advice and assistance from the health service. The smoking pattern of the 79 women was followed during 12 months. In spite of their stated unwillingness to change their smoking habits, or their refusal of advice, no difference was observed in their quitting or reduction rate during pregnancy compared to a control group of women with a positive interest in quitting. In addition, significantly more women in the latter group actually increased their smoking. The quitting rate of the negatively motivated women also proved similar to that obtained in a stop-smoking intervention used among positively motivated women who also had received additional information. Hence, the negatively motivated do not appear to represent a graver risk group than other pregnant women.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

International comparison of awareness and attitudes towards coronary risk factor reduction: the HELP study. Heart European Leaders Panel.

BACKGROUND: An international survey was conducted to assess public awareness and attitudes to coronary heart disease and to establish the frequency with which certain health-related behaviours are practised in five European countries. METHODS: Members of the general public (n=5013), individuals at increased risk of coronary disease (n=2500), patients who had suffered a myocardial infarction (n=1256) and members of their families (n=1249) were interviewed in a study conducted in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the UK. Questions were asked about respondents' attitudes to their health and about their current health practices. RESULTS: The survey revealed a considerable degree of indifference to coronary heart disease, despite the possession of a reasonable level of knowledge of the risks involved, even among patients who had suffered a myocardial infarction. At the same time, respondents declared themselves satisfied with the quality of advice about coronary health that they obtained from the medical profession and regarded these sources of information as highly credible. Media health campaigns, by contrast, had comparatively little impact. CONCLUSION: A survey of five European countries shows that individuals possess reasonable levels of knowledge about coronary heart disease. They also have access to sources of heart health information that are perceived as highly credible. Nonetheless, such information has a very limited impact on their practice of health-related behaviours.

Adult↗