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Biomedical subjects

Steinar Hunskår

Publications and source records attributed to Steinar Hunskår.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Earth rays--a concept with no scientific basis].

Earth rays are claimed to cause several types of illness and shielding against earth rays to have a therapeutic effect. There have been many reports in the media of the dangers of earth rays and the usefulness of protective shielding. As with several other alternative therapies, the theory of earth rays and its effects is incompatible with modern medicine, chemistry and physical science. We have earlier shown that earth rays can not be consistently detected, and that children sleeping on earth rays are no more ill than other children are. Recently, a randomised, controlled trial has convincingly though hardly surprisingly shown no effect of TX-disc shielding against earth rays. TX-discs are of plastic with rings of copper. Eighty patients with longstanding muscular-skeletal complaints were enrolled. Patients were, after a few weeks, substantially better (20-40%) whether they had received real TX-discs or not. The concept of earth rays lacks any scientific verification. We advocate prudence in taking success stories, whether published or from one's own clinical experience, as proof of any treatment's effectiveness before having it confirmed by research.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Occupation and drug consumption--results from a survey in Hordaland county].

BACKGROUND: There is little systematized knowledge about drug use and its association to occupation. We studied how drug use varied between different occupational groups, with particular emphasis on those that impair awareness and psychomotor performance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study data stemmed from the Hordaland county health survey (Norway) performed in 1997 - 99. 34,249 persons 40 - 49 years of age were included in the study and 66 % responded. The participants were classified into 10 different occupational categories according to national standards. Information about drug use and occupation was analysed and corrected for age and gender. RESULTS: 21.1 % of working men and 36.1 % of working women reported that they had used at least one registered drug the day before they answered the questionnaire. The pattern of drug use varied between occupational groups. Individuals with a military occupation had the lowest rate of use (12.8 %), while employees within sales, service and care reported the highest one (35.7 %). The variation between groups in terms of drugs that impair awareness and psychomotor performance, was small and non significant INTERPRETATION: Drug use varied between occupational groups, even after control for age and gender. This may either be due to differences between the occupations, to differences between the individuals who choose certain occupations, or a combination of the two. The main conclusion is, however, that the study uncovered no association between hazardous or unfortunate drug use and any single kind of occupation.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Medico-legal assessments of complaints against general practitioners].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the predictability in the processing of complaints from patients against general practitioners. We also wanted to identify medical issues and situations prone to elicit complaints and possible reactions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study includes cases received by the Norwegian Board of Health from county governors during two years (n = 107). One half of the cases consists of complaints that were remitted due to the complainants' objection to county governors' rejections. The other half is cases remitted when county governors assumed that the GP should be given a reaction. In the medico-legal assessment of the cases it was checked whether the guidelines for such cases had been observed. RESULTS: The guidelines had been observed in all but two cases. The relation between indefensible action and insufficient clinical judgment is highly significant (p < 0.001). This also holds for the relation between reactions following an on call-situation and the general practitioner not having Norwegian as his or hers first language. The handling of female patients leads to significantly less reactions than those of male patients. The county governors' assessments coincided to a limited degree with the assessments made by the Norwegian Board of Health. INTERPRETATIONS: The assessments of complaints made against GPs are coherent and predictable and may be a source of learning from mistakes. The relation between reaction following an on call-situation and the GP not having Norwegian as his/hers first language should elicit actions on several levels. The lack of conformity between the county governors and the Norwegian Board of Health in assessing these cases indicates that a two-step processing is not appropriate.

Family Practice↗
PubMed2005

[Legal competence problems among general practitioners].

BACKGROUND: We wanted to investigate to what extent Norwegian general practitioners (GPs) working within a patient list system have patients who they are legally incompetent to treat, what services they offer these patients, and what attitudes a representative sample of the GPs has towards situations where one is asked to offer services to such patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 622 randomly chosen GPs. We registered sex, age, list size, size of the local community and health region for every practice. For eight hypothetical situations, we recorded whether the doctor clearly, probably or hardly would offer services. RESULTS: About one quarter of the doctors had their spouses and own children below 18 on their list. Many had secretaries or colleagues on the list. From 18% to 31% of the doctors confirmed that they have prescribed reimbursable prescription drugs to one such patient. There were great variations in views on legal competence to treat in these hypothetical situations. INTERPRETATION: GPs encounter problems of legal competence to treat. Many were of the view that a pragmatic approach is needed in day-to-day general practice. GPs should be aware of their own practice and aware of both legal competence problems and other challenges induced by having family, close friends and co-workers on the list.

Family Practice↗
PubMed2005

[Telephone accessibility in general practices].

BACKGROUND: We wanted to chart telephone accessibility in 100 randomly selected general practices in Norway and to define a standard against which others could compare themselves. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During one week, the telephone company recorded all calls to each practice and how many were answered, unanswered, or blocked. Mean waiting time for answer and mean conversation time were also registered. Each practice received a report, comparing its own results to those of other practices. An accessibility index was calculated by dividing the percentage of answered calls with mean holding time on the line (waiting time plus conversation time). Background variables about the practices were collected by questionnaires. RESULTS: There were 266 calls (95 % confidence interval 219 - 312) per week per 1000 patients on the list. 66 % (61 - 71) were answered. Mean waiting time was 25 seconds (20 - 30), conversation time 119 seconds (111 - 127). It is estimated that 7.0 calls (6.4 - 7.5) are answered per patient on a list per year. The accessibility index showed large variations, mostly independent of background variables. INTERPRETATION: Compared with earlier registrations, telephone accessibility has improved despite a strong increase in traffic. Structural aspects of the practices do not explain the variation in telephone accessibility; interest and attitudes are probably just as important.

Family Practice↗
PubMed2004

[The length of the patient list, waiting lists, workload and job satisfaction among general practitioners in Bergen].

BACKGROUND: A list patient system was established in Norway in June 2001. Among general practitioners (GPs) there were much concern about workload according to list length, and about uneven distribution of workload among GPs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In February 2003 a questionnaire about working hours, waiting time for appointments and job satisfaction was sent to all GPs in Bergen. RESULTS: 160 out of 185 (85%) GPs replied. Working hours were closely related to list length, waiting time was not. 79% had a waiting time of less than eight "days in practice". 46% rated their job satisfaction within the list system as "good/very good", 37% were moderately satisfied. We found lower scores among GPs with long waiting time and a full list. No relevant differences between male and female GPs were found. INTERPRETATION: GPs adjust their working hours in order to cope with waiting time. Job satisfaction is lower when the GP has a waiting time of more than three weeks and a full list, factors that could indicate a heavy workload.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[The new list patient system and emergency service in Bergen].

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes of patients seeking emergency care, with special emphasis on the role of the recently introduced list patient system. MATERIAL AND METHOD: During a twelve-day period in January 2003, patients seeking emergency care in Bergen, Norway were asked to fill in a questionnaire that explored whether they knew the name of the physician on whose list they were, their assessment of the accessibility of this physician, whether they had tried to contact him or her prior to coming in for emergency care, why they had contacted emergency care, and if they were willing to wait one or several days for a consultation if they were certain to get an appointment with their own physician. RESULTS: 1504 questionnaires were analyzed (72% of the study population). Most patients knew the name of their physician (84%) and were reasonably satisfied with his or her accessibility. Nevertheless, three in four patients had not tried to contact their physician prior to coming in to the emergency centre. Half of them were willing to wait until the next day to see their personal physician. INTERPRETATION: There is a considerable potential for change of patient behaviour in primary care emergencies.

Adolescent↗