PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Tone Smith-Sivertsen

Publications and source records attributed to Tone Smith-Sivertsen.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Allergic contact sensitization in the general adult population: a population-based study from Northern Norway.

Few studies have so far addressed the prevalence and risk factors for contact sensitization in the general adult population; however, many such studies have been conducted in hospitals. We present the prevalence of contact sensitization in a general adult population and its relationship to potential risk factors like smoking, ear piercing and atopic diseases. 1236 adults (44.2% men and 55.8% women) were randomly selected from a cross-section of the population in Sør-Varanger municipality, Norway, and patch tested with TRUE Test (Pharmacia, Hillerød, Denmark). Contact sensitivity to at least 1 out of 24 allergens was found in 35.4% of the women and in 14.8% of the men. The most common allergens were nickel (17.6%), cobalt (2.8%), thiomersal (1.9%), fragrance mix (1.8%) and colophony (1.2%). All other allergens were observed in 1.0% or less. In women, ear piercing was an important risk factor for nickel sensitization. No such significant correlation was seen in men [in women relative risk (RR) = 3.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.01-5.43, and in men RR = 1.82, 95% CI = 0.66-5.00], and contact sensitivity was associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.04-2.40] and smoking (adjusted OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.01-1.99) in women but not in men. The prevalence of contact sensitivity was common in this general population, especially in women. Smoking and AD might be a risk factor for contact sensitization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Eye discomfort, headache and back pain among Mayan Guatemalan women taking part in a randomised stove intervention trial.

BACKGROUND: Indoor air pollution (IAP) from combustion of biomass fuels represents a global health problem, estimated to cause 1.6 million premature deaths annually. AIMS: RESPIRE (Randomised Exposure Study of Pollution Indoors and Respiratory Effects) Guatemala is the first randomised controlled trial ever performed on health effects from solid fuel use. Its goal is to assess the effect of improved stoves (planchas) on exposure and health outcomes in a rural population reliant on wood fuel. METHODS: Questions about symptoms were asked at baseline and periodically after the intervention, to an initial group of 504 women (259 randomly assigned to planchas (mean (standard deviation) age 27.4 (7.2) years) and 245 using traditional open fires (28.1 (7.1) years)). Levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaled breath, a biomarker of recent exposure to air pollution from biomass combustion, were measured at each visit. In addition to reducing IAP levels, the plancha may also have a positive health effect by changing the working posture to an upright position. RESULTS: A high prevalence of eye discomfort, headache and backache was found. The odds of having sore eyes and headache were substantially reduced in the plancha group relative to the group using open fires for the follow-up period (odds ratio (OR) 0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11 to 0.29 and (OR) 0.63, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.94, respectively). Median CO in breath among women in the intervention trial was significantly lower than controls. CONCLUSION: In addition to reducing discomfort for women, tangible improvements in symptoms experienced by a substantial proportion of women may help to gain acceptance and wider use of planchas.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Use of actors to train medical students in communication skills].

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to investigate how medical students perceive the use of actors in the communication and consultation training at the University of Bergen, Norway. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to third year medical students attending the communication course the autumn 2004 and sixth year students attending the consultation course spring 2005. The students were asked to respond to statements related to how they had benefited from training with an actor. Further, they were asked to describe advantages and disadvantages with this teaching method. Quantitative data were presented descriptively as percentages. Qualitative data were analysed with a phenomenological method, as described by Giorgi and modified by Malterud. A total of 188 out of 215 students (87 %) answered the questionnaire. RESULTS: Nearly all students (97 %) expressed that the teaching sessions with an actor had been valuable. The role-plays were described as credible and realistic. However, the students pointed at the risk of exaggerating the patient roles and lack of nuancing. Many students expressed the benefit of observing and practicing communication skills in role-plays based on theoretical models that had been taught in the lectures. Teaching with an actor was regarded as entertaining, engaging and beneficial. INTERPRETATION: The students expressed that the use of an actor in the communication and consultation training was beneficial. However, it remains to investigate whether this teaching method contributes to educating doctors with improved communication skills.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2004

Should general practitioners screen smokers for COPD?

OBJECTIVE: To discuss whether screening for early chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) is justifiable. BACKGROUND: The COPD diagnosis can usually be made by means of spirometry before symptoms appear. General practitioners are these days encouraged, from several quarters, to screen their smoking patients for early COPD. Smoking cessation is still the only available treatment that indisputably improves the long-term prognosis of this disease. The argument for screening is that people will be more easily motivated to stop smoking if they know their lung function results. There is, however, no documentation that this is the case. DATA SOURCES: Pub Med using the search terms "mass screening", "COPD" and "spirometry". RESULTS: There is no evidence today that spirometry screening aids smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: A large randomized study is needed, in which the independent effect of spirometry as part of a smoking cessation programme is studied. Until such a study has shown convincing results, and has been followed by a cost-benefit analysis in favour of screening, screening for pre-clinical COPD in general practice should not be recommended. However, it is important to diagnose people who may benefit from symptom-relieving treatment, and therefore patients with smoking-related symptoms should be offered spirometry. Finally, the general practitioner should strive to offer smoking cessation counselling to all smokers, regardless of their lung function.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2002

Environmental nickel pollution: does it protect against nickel allergy?

The Norwegian-Russian border area is polluted because of emissions from two local Russian nickel refineries. We patch tested the general adult population on both sides of the border. Only 7.2% of the Russian women were sensitized to nickel, compared with 27.5% of the Norwegian women. We suggest that long-term exposure to nickel may have induced immunologic tolerance in the Russian population.

Adult↗