Subject(s)
Anxiety Disorders , Touch , Anxiety , Female , Humans , Morals , Pregnancy , Prenatal DiagnosisABSTRACT
During the second half of 2009 the Norwegian people experienced the first pandemic influenza since the Hong-Kong disease in 1968. The pandemic was initially believed to be severe, but it soon became evident that the disease was milder than anticipated. In spite of this the health authorities increased the level of threat and recommended general vaccination and exempt of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) from prescription requirements. In the paper we critically evaluate the evidence-base and consequences of these recommendations.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage , Disease Outbreaks/history , Evidence-Based Medicine , History, 21st Century , Humans , Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype , Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage , Influenza, Human/history , Influenza, Human/prevention & control , Mass Vaccination , Norway/epidemiology , Oseltamivir/administration & dosageABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The evidence base for hormone replacement therapy of women during and after menopause has been strengthened in recent years. The aim of the study was to investigate Norwegian GPs' attitude to hormone replacement treatment in menopause, their knowledge of effects and indications, the risk of side effects, and the personal use of hormone treatment by female GPs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 400 Norwegian GPs, randomly drawn from the membership list of GPs in the Norwegian Medical Association, in May 2004. RESULTS: We received answers from 72%. The answers imply that most Norwegian GPs know the current evidence base regarding the effects and side effects of hormone replacement therapy. Most of them indicate that they follow the Norwegian recommendations about indications and contra-indications, but that they continue the treatment longer than recommended. A large majority of the respondents agreed to the statements that hormone treatment increases the risk of breast cancer, that it does not prevent heart infarction and that the most important reason to prescribe hormone treatment is bothersome hot flushes. Female GPs seem to be better updated on some aspects of the treatment than men. 14 out of 17 peri- and postmenopausal female GPs were using or had used such treatment. INTERPRETATION: Norwegian GPs are generally well updated regarding new evidence in this field. The proportion of menopausal female GPs who take hormone treatment themselves has remained quite stable and is substantially higher than that for the average for the population. This finding may imply that menopausal female GPs regard the risks of treatment as low, and that most of them find the benefits of treatment greater than the risks.
Subject(s)
Estrogen Replacement Therapy , Adult , Aged , Attitude of Health Personnel , Breast Neoplasms/chemically induced , Evidence-Based Medicine , Female , Humans , Male , Menopause , Middle Aged , Norway , Physicians, Family/psychology , Physicians, Women/psychology , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Risk Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
The Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association is a peer review-based general medical journal in Norwegian. Peer review is a hallmark of scientific medical journals. The purpose of a peer review system is to evaluate and secure that only high-quality, up-dated and relevant articles are offered to readers. Peer review has been criticised as being subjective, time-consuming and hindering new hypotheses and thinking. During the last years, peer review has been evaluated scientifically. Increased attention is being given to editorial work and to scientific writing and reading.
