Guideline evaluation and implementation mechanisms in school health services (GuideMe): protocol for a hybrid randomized factorial trial.

BACKGROUND: Norwegian school health services received a national best-practice guideline in 2017. To promote healthy life skills and identify adolescents needing support, the guideline includes strong recommendations for individual consultations with all 8th graders and increased collaboration with schools. To help implement the recommendations, a blended implementation strategy (SchoolHealth) was co-created with school nurses, students, and stakeholders. SchoolHealth consists of three implementation elements: Digital dialog and administration tool (audit and feedback +), Dialog support (external consultation), and Collaboration materials (targeted dissemination). This hybrid study will test the main and combined effects of the elements on guideline fidelity and effectiveness. METHODS: The GuideMe study is a factorial cluster randomized controlled trial examining SchoolHealth's effectiveness on guideline fidelity and guideline effectiveness goals. Forty Norwegian secondary schools will be randomized to eight different combinations of the elements in SchoolHealth. Participants will include school nurses and school personnel from these schools, and 8th grade students (n = 1200). Primary outcomes are school nurses' fidelity to the guidelines and student's ability to cope with their life (i.e., health literacy, positive health behaviors and self-efficacy). Quantitative methods will be used to test effects and mechanisms, while mixed- and qualitative methods will be used to explore mechanisms, experiences, and other phenomena in depth. Participants will complete digital questionnaires at the start and end of the schoolyear, and after the consultation during the schoolyear. The study will run in two waves, each lasting for one school year. The multifactorial design allows testing of interactions and main effects due to equal distribution of all factors within each main effect. Sustainment and scale-up of optimized SchoolHealth elements using national infrastructure are simultaneously prepared. DISCUSSION: The study will investigate possible effects of the implementation elements in isolation and in combination, and hypothesized implementation mechanisms. In-depth study of user experiences will inform improvements to elements in SchoolHealth. The results will yield causal knowledge about implementation strategies and the mechanisms through which they assert effects. Mixed-methods will provide insights into how and when the elements work. Optimizing guideline implementation elements can support adolescents in a crucial life phase. TRAIL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN24173836. Registration date 8 August 2022.

Labour market participation after spinal cord injury. A register-based cohort study.

STUDY DESIGN: A register based cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To investigate labour market participation following spinal cord injury (SCI) and to describe the impact of personal and SCI characteristics. SETTING: Norway. METHODS: Persons registered with SCI in the Norwegian SCI registry 2011-2017, and matched reference individuals without SCI from the general population (named controls) were followed for up to six years after injury using national registry data on employment, education, income, and social security benefits. Main measures of labour market participation were: (1) Receiving any amount of pay for work, and (2) Receiving sickness and disability benefits. RESULTS: Among the 451 persons with SCI (aged 16-66 years and working before injury), the estimated percentages receiving pay for work and sickness and disability benefits in the sixth years after injury were 63% (95% CI 57-69) and 67% (95% CI 61-72). Corresponding percentages for the controls (n = 1791) were 91% (95% CI 90-93) for receiving pay for work and 13% (95% CI 12-15) for receiving sickness and disability benefits. Among persons with SCI, less severe neurological outcome, higher level of education, younger age at injury, and a stronger pre-injury attachment to employment (higher employment income, having an employer, less receipt of benefits), were associated with higher labour market participation. CONCLUSION: SCI substantially decreased labour market participation up to six years after injury compared to matched controls. Even if a relatively large proportion of persons with SCI remained in some degree of work activity, more than half did so in combination with receiving benefits.

Use of general practitioner services among youth and young adults in Norway from 2006 to 2021.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency and content of contacts with general practitioners (GPs) among youth and young adults by sex, age and time, emphasizing mental health, sexual health and respiratory tract infections. DESIGN: Registry-based population-wide cohort study. SETTING: General practice in Norway 2006-2021. SUBJECTS: Norwegian residents aged 13-25 within the study period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Contacts with GPs and out-of-hours services, including type of contact, specific procedures and diagnoses. RESULTS: Average number of GP consultations increased over the study period for all age groups. Conversation therapy and time-consuming consultations increased over time, while chlamydia testing and contraceptive guidance decreased among young women. Consultations with mental health diagnoses increased substantially over the study period for all age groups. Use of GP and out-of-hours services increased with age, with a peak at the end of upper secondary school. Youth more often met their own regular GP when consulting for mental health diagnoses than for respiratory tract infections. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the continuing trend of increasing use of general practice services among youth, with an increase in conversation therapy and consultations with mental health diagnoses. Procedures related to sexual health became less common. Youth usually meet their regular GP for consultations, in particular those whose diagnosis indicates the highest need of continuity.

Youth are a healthy group with relatively low GP use. However, consultation rates have been increasing in later years.We found that consultation rates increased more over time than can likely be attributed to known policy changes.Consultations with mental diagnoses and conversational therapy increased substantially among youth aged 13­25, while family planning consultations and related procedures decreased.The youth usually meet their own regular GP, particularly if they have diagnoses indicating higher need for follow-up.

Effects of GP characteristics on unplanned hospital admissions and patient safety. A 9-year follow-up of all Norwegian out-of-hours contacts.

BACKGROUND: There are substantial differences in hospital referrals between general practitioners (GPs); however, there is little research on the consequences for patient safety and further healthcare use. OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between out-of-hours GP characteristics, unplanned hospital admissions, and patient safety. METHODS: This cohort study included all Norwegian out-of-hours services contacts from 2008 to 2016, linked to registry data on patient characteristics, healthcare use and death, and GP age, sex, specialist status, out-of-hours service experience, and prior admission proportion. We estimated the impact from GP characteristics on (i) immediate unplanned hospital admissions for "all conditions," (ii) immediate unplanned hospital admissions for "critical conditions," (iii) 30-day unplanned hospital admissions, (iv) 30-day hospital costs, and (v) 30-day risk of death. To limit confounding, we matched patients in groups by age, time, and location, with an assumption of random assignment of GPs to patients with this design. RESULTS: Patients under the care of older and male GPs had fewer immediate unplanned hospital admissions, but the effects on cumulative 30-day unplanned hospital admissions and costs were small. The GPs' prior admission proportion was strongly associated with both immediate and 30-day unplanned hospital admissions. Higher prior admission proportion was also associated with admitting more patients with critical conditions. There was little evidence of any associations between GP characteristics and 30-day risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: GPs' prior admission proportion was strongly associated with unplanned hospital admissions. We found little effects on 30-day mortality, but more restrictive referral practices may threaten patient safety through missing out on critical cases.

Referral for specialized health services is a key part of the general practitioner (GP) role. Differences in referrals between primary care physicians have been widely studied, as they represent a target for reducing the use of specialized health services. However, the potential consequences beyond the actual referral have received little attention. Studying associations between physician characteristics and clinical decisions are difficult because physicians often systematically see different patient populations with different morbidity. Previous findings showing large differences in clinical decisions regarding referrals and hospital admissions may suffer from confounding. With our carefully matched study design, we could assume that the assignment of physicians to patients was random. We found substantial differences in referrals associated with GP characteristics. Seeing older and male GPs and specialists in family medicine were associated with fewer immediate unplanned hospital admissions but did not substantially influence unplanned hospital costs within 30 days. However, GPs with a history of admitting many of their recent patients had a substantial higher tendency to admit their future patients and represented a higher use of health services and costs. These GPs also referred more critically ill patients, an essential aspect of patient safety. The differences in referrals had minor impact on the patients' 30-day risk of death.

Changes in General Practitioners' consultation frequency over time for patients with hypertension or anxiety/depression symptoms: a 10-year follow-up of the Norwegian HUNT study.

BACKGROUND: General Practitioners' (GPs') workload has been suggested to increase in many countries; how does this impact patient follow-up? OBJECTIVE: To investigate trends in GP consultation patterns for adults according to baseline hypertension and anxiety/depression symptoms and attribution of the GP to trend differences. METHODS: Prospective cohort study, linking survey data and clinical measurements from the Norwegian HUNT3 study (2006-08) with national administrative data on GP list assignment and consultations with GP services. We grouped participants aged 40-59 years according to sex and their baseline status regarding hypertension and anxiety/depression symptoms. We registered GP consultations in 2007-16 and used general estimation equation models to estimate the level of GP consultations per month per year during follow-up. We used multilevel models with participants nested in their assigned regular GP to calculate GP-level intra-class correlation coefficients, reflecting to what extent patients' consultation patterns could be attributed to the individual GP. RESULTS: In total, 47 550 HUNT3 participants were registered with 102 different GPs in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway, in 2007. Adjusted for age, we observed an overall increase in GP consultations in 2007-16, particularly in those with a better health status at baseline. About 2% of the variance of patient consultations could be attributed to differences between GPs and 10% to the use of lengthy consultations. Out-of-hours consultations did not change much in the study period 2007-16. CONCLUSION: Increased use of GP consultations, mainly among the healthiest participants, encourage further research into whether these patients displace patients with heavier and more complex needs.

Increasing workload in Norwegian general practice - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in securing and coordinating appropriate use of healthcare services, by providing primary and preventive healthcare and by acting as gatekeepers for secondary healthcare services. Historically, European GPs have reported high job satisfaction, attributed to high autonomy and good compatibility with family life. However, a trend of increasing workload in general practice has been seen in several European countries, including Norway, leading to recruitment problems and concerns about the well-being of both GPs and patients. This qualitative interview study with GPs and their co-workers aims to explore how they perceive and tackle their workload, and their experiences and reflections regarding explanations for and consequences of increased workload in Norwegian general practice. METHODS: We conducted seven focus groups and four individual interviews with GPs and their co-workers in seven GPs' offices in Mid-Norway: three in rural locations and four in urban locations. Our study population consisted of 21 female and 12 male participants; 23 were GPs and 10 were co-workers. The interviews were analysed using systematic text condensation. RESULTS: The analysis identified three main themes: (1) Heavy and increasing workload - more trend than fluctuation?; (2) Explanations for high workload; (3) Consequences of high workload. Our findings show that both GPs and their co-workers experience heavy and increasing workload. The suggested explanations varied considerably among the GPs, but the most commonly cited reasons were legislative changes, increased bureaucracy related to documentation and management of a practice, and changes in patients' expectations and help-seeking behaviour. Potential consequences were also perceived as varying, especially regarding consequences for patients and the healthcare system. The participants expressed concerns for the future, particularly in regards to GPs' health and motivation, as well as the recruitment of new GPs. CONCLUSIONS: This study found heavy and increasing workload in general practice in Norway. The explanations appear to be multi-faceted and many are difficult to reverse. The GPs expressed worries that they will not be able to provide the population with the expected care and services in the future.

Contact with primary health care physicians before an acute hospitalisation.

Objectives: To assess contacts with general practitioners (GPs), both regular GPs and out-of-hours GP services (OOH) during the year before an emergency hospital admission. Design: Longitudinal design with register-based information on somatic health care contacts and use of municipality health care services. Setting: Four municipalities in central Norway, 2012-2013. Subjects: Inhabitants aged 50 and older admitted to hospital for acute myocardial infarction, hip fracture, stroke, heart failure, or pneumonia. Main outcome measures: GP contact during the year and month before an emergency hospital admission. Results: Among 66,952 identified participants, 720 were admitted to hospital for acute myocardial infarction, 645 for hip fracture, 740 for stroke, 399 for heart failure, and 853 for pneumonia in the two-year study period. The majority of these acutely admitted patients had contact with general practitioners each month before the emergency hospital admission, especially contacts with a regular GP. A general increase in GP contact was observed towards the time of hospital admission, but development differed between the patient groups. Patients admitted with heart failure had the steepest increase of monthly GP contact. A sizable percentage did not contact the regular GP or OOH services the last month before admission, in particular men aged 50-64 admitted with myocardial infarction or stroke. Conclusion: The majority of patients acutely admitted to hospital for different common severe emergency diagnoses have been in contact with GPs during the month and year before the admission. This points towards general practitioners having an important role in these patients' health care. KEY MESSAGES There is scarce knowledge about primary health care contact before an emergency hospital admission. The percentage of patients with contacts differed between patient groups, and increased towards hospital admission for most diagnoses, particularly heart failure. More than 50% having monthly general practitioner contact before admission underscores the general practitioners' role in these patients' health care. Our results underscore the need to consider medical diagnosis when talking about the role of general practitioners in preventing emergency hospital admissions.

Improved Expectations About Length of Sick Leave During Occupational Rehabilitation Is Associated with Increased Work Participation.

Objectives To assess changes in participants' expectations about length of sick leave during Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based occupational rehabilitation, and whether the change in expectations was associated with future work participation. Methods Cohort study with 9 months follow-up including sick listed workers who took part in one of two randomized controlled trials. The change in expectations about length of sick leave were assessed using a test of marginal homogeneity. Furthermore, linear and logistic regression evaluated associations between changes in expectations and sustainable return to work (RTW) and work participation days. Results During rehabilitation, there was a statistically significant improvement in participants' (n = 168) expectations about length of sick leave. During 9 months follow-up, participants with consistently positive expectations had the highest probability of RTW (0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.95) and the most work participation days (159, 95% CI 139-180). Participants with improved expectations had higher probability of sustainable RTW (0.68, 95% CI 0.50-0.87) and more work participation days (133, 95% CI 110-156) compared to those with reduced (probability of RTW: 0.50, 95% CI 0.22-0.77; workdays: 116, 95% CI 85-148), or consistently negative expectations (probability of RTW: 0.23, 95% CI 0.15-0.31; workdays: 93, 95% CI 82-103). Conclusions During ACT-based occupational rehabilitation, 33% improved, 48% remained unaltered, and 19% of the participants reduced their expectations about RTW. Expectations about RTW can be useful to evaluate in the clinic, and as an intermediary outcome in clinical trials. The changes were associated with future work outcomes, suggesting that RTW expectations is a strong predictor for RTW.

Associations Between the Readiness for Return to Work Scale and Return to Work: A Prospective Study.

Purpose To explore the usefulness of the Readiness for return to work scale in individuals participating in occupational rehabilitation, by assessing the association between the scale and return to work (RTW), and comparing the scale to a question assessing individuals' expectations about length of sick leave. Method Prospective cohort study with 9 months follow-up. Participants took part in one of two randomized clinical trials. Associations between the Readiness for RTW scale and RTW was analyzed using linear and logistic regression, with adjustment for age, gender and education. The Readiness for RTW scale was compared to a self-reported question assessing participants' expectations about length of sick leave using adjusted/pseudo R2. Results For participants not working (n = 96), high scores on two dimensions (Prepared for action-self-evaluative and Prepared for action-behavioral) were associated with a higher probability of sustainable RTW and more working days. For those working (n = 121), high scores on the Uncertain maintenance dimension was associated with a lower probability of sustainable RTW and less working days. Generally, models including the Readiness for RTW dimensions were not as good at explaining work outcomes as models including a single expectation question. Stage allocation, allocating participants to the dimension with the highest score, was problematic due to several tied scores between (not necessarily adjacent) dimensions. Conclusions Three of the Readiness for RTW dimensions were associated with RTW. However, several weaknesses with the Readiness for RTW scale were established and we particularly do not recommend the stage allocation approach for clinical use in its current form.

Effect of Inpatient Multicomponent Occupational Rehabilitation Versus Less Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation on Sickness Absence in Persons with Musculoskeletal- or Mental Health Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose To assess effects of an inpatient multicomponent occupational rehabilitation program compared to less comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation on sickness absence in persons with musculoskeletal- or mental health disorders. Methods Randomized clinical trial with parallel groups. Participants were individuals 18-60 years old on sick-leave for 2-12 months with a sick-leave diagnosis within the musculoskeletal, psychological or general and unspecified chapters of ICPC-2, identified in a national register. The inpatient program (4 + 4 days) consisted of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), physical training and work-related problem-solving including creating a return to work plan and a workplace visit if considered relevant. The outpatient program consisted primarily of ACT (6 sessions during 6 weeks). Both programs were group based. Primary outcome was cumulated number of sickness absence days at 6 and 12 months follow-up. Secondary outcome was time until sustainable return to work. Results 168 individuals were randomized to the inpatient program (n = 92) or the outpatient program (n = 76). We found no statistically significant difference between the programs in median number of sickness absence days at 6 and 12 months follow-up. In the outpatient program 57% of the participants achieved sustainable return to work (median time 7 months), in the inpatient program 49% (log rank, p = 0.167). The hazard ratio for sustainable return to work was 0.74 (95% CI 0.48-1.32, p = 0.165), in favor of the outpatient program. Conclusions This study provided no support that the more comprehensive 4 + 4 days inpatient multicomponent occupational rehabilitation program reduced sickness absence compared to the outpatient rehabilitation program.

Anxiety and depression symptoms and alcohol use among adolescents - a cross sectional study of Norwegian secondary school students.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the associations between symptoms of anxiety and depression and alcohol drinking behavior among adolescents, by focusing on the importance of symptom load, as well as gender differences. METHODS: Data was derived from a cross-sectional school based survey among adolescents in upper secondary schools in Norway. Among other variables adolescents reported on symptoms of anxiety and depression, time of onset and extent of alcohol use. The sample consisted of 6238 adolescents aged 16-18 years. We estimated prevalence of alcohol drinking behaviors in relation to severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: Higher levels of depression symptoms were associated with earlier onset of alcohol use, more frequent consumption and intoxications. The associations between anxiety and depression symptoms and early drinking onset were stronger for girls than for boys. Higher levels of anxiety symptoms were only associated with alcohol consumption among girls. CONCLUSIONS: Boys and girls with depressive symptoms and girls with anxiety symptoms are more likely to have unhealthy patterns of alcohol drinking. Preventive strategies at all levels could possibly profit from a common approach to mental health and alcohol use, in particular for girls in mid-adolescence.

Temporal changes in health within 5 years before and after disability pension-the HUNT Study.

Background: Health status has been reported to change before, during and after disability pension receipt. These associations might be subject to temporal changes according to changes in policy, incidence of disability pensions and other contextual factors. We compared the perceived health around time of disability retirement among persons receiving disability pension in the 1990 s and 2000 s in Norway. Methods: We linked data from two consecutive cross-sectional population based Norwegian health surveys, HUNT2 (1995-97) and HUNT3 (2006-08), to national registries, identifying those who received disability pension within 5 years before or after participation in the survey (HUNT2: n = 5362, HUNT3: n = 4649). We used logistic regression to assess associations of time from receiving a disability pension with self-rated health, insomnia, depression and anxiety symptoms and subsequently estimated adjusted prevalence over time. Results: Prevalence of poor self-rated health peaked around time of receiving disability pension in both decades. For those aged 50+, prevalence the year before disability pension was slightly lower in 2006-08 (74%, 95% CI 70-79%) than in 1995-97 (83%, 95% CI 79-87%), whereas peak prevalence was similar between surveys for those younger than 50. Depression symptoms peaked more pronouncedly in 1995-97 than in 2006-08, whereas prevalence of anxiety symptoms was similar at time of receiving disability pension between surveys. Conclusions: We found no strong evidence of differences in health selection to disability pension in the 2000 s compared to the 1990 s. However, we found indication of less depression symptoms around time of disability pension in the 2000 s compared to the 1990 s.

Effects of Inpatient Multicomponent Occupational Rehabilitation versus Less Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation on Somatic and Mental Health: Secondary Outcomes of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose To evaluate effects on somatic and mental health of a multicomponent inpatient occupational rehabilitation program compared to a less comprehensive outpatient program in individuals on sick leave for musculoskeletal complaints or mental health disorders. Methods A randomized clinical trial with parallel groups. Participants were individuals on sick-leave for 2-12 months with a sick-leave diagnosis within the musculoskeletal, psychological or general and unspecified chapters of ICPC-2. Potential participants were identified in the Social Security System Registry. The multicomponent inpatient program (4 + 4 days) consisted of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, physical training and work-related problem-solving including creating a return to work plan and a workplace visit if considered relevant. The comparative outpatient program consisted primarily of ACT (6 sessions during 6 weeks). Self-reported health-related quality of life, subjective health complaints, pain and anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed up to 12 months after the program. Results 168 individuals were randomized to the multicomponent inpatient program (n = 92) or the outpatient program (n = 76). Linear mixed models showed no statistically significant differences between the programs, except for slightly more reduced pain after the outpatient program. Conclusions This study presents no support that a 4 + 4 days multicomponent inpatient rehabilitation program is superior to a less comprehensive outpatient program, in improving health outcomes.

Unemployment and initiation of psychotropic medication: a case-crossover study of 2†348†552 Norwegian employees.

OBJECTIVES: The study investigated initiation of psychotropic medication in relation to unemployment in the months before, during and after job loss, to detect the period of greatest risk. METHODS: The Norwegian working population in 2004 (N=2 348 552) was observed from 2005 to 2010 through administrative registries linked to the Norwegian Prescription Database. A case-crossover design was used to analyse within-person relative risk of incident purchases of prescribed psychotropic drugs in relation to timing of unemployment. Control periods were defined 12, 24 and 36 months before the drug purchase. Supplementary analyses were performed on medication for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorder, pain and musculoskeletal conditions. RESULTS: Purchases of all psychotropic drugs increased 1-3 months before job loss. Antidepressants had the highest estimate in the month before job loss (OR 2.68, 95% CIs 2.39 to 3.01), followed by hypnotics/sedatives (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.97 to 2.48), anxiolytics (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.91 to 2.48) and antipsychotics (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.76 to 2.48). Rises were greatest in men. Risk of starting psychotropic medication remained raised during a spell of unemployment, but returned to close-to-baseline levels following re-employment. Drugs used to treat somatic and pain conditions showed similar trends but with weaker associations. CONCLUSIONS: Concerns about impending unemployment may influence mental health several months prior to job loss, especially around the time of notification. The clinical implications of this might be a strengthening of preventive health initiatives early in the unemployment process.

Health and unemployment: 14 years of follow-up on job loss in the Norwegian HUNT Study.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have investigated how unemployment influences health, less attention has been paid to the reverse causal direction; how health may influence the risk of becoming unemployed. We prospectively investigated a wide range of health measures and subsequent risk of unemployment during 14 years of follow-up. METHODS: Self-reported health data from 36 249 participants in the Norwegian HUNT2 Study (1995-1997) was linked by a personal identification number to the National Insurance Database (1992-2008). Exact dates of unemployment were available. Cox's proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for the association of unemployment with several health measures. Adjustment variables were age, gender, education, marital status, occupation, lifestyle and previous unemployment. RESULTS: Compared to reporting no conditions/symptoms, having ≥3 chronic somatic conditions (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.46-2.17) or high symptom levels of anxiety and depression (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.35-1.83) increased the risk of subsequent unemployment substantially. Poor self-rated health (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.24-1.51), insomnia (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09-1.32), gastrointestinal symptoms (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08-1.26), high alcohol consumption (HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.95-1.44) and problematic use of alcohol measured by the CAGE questionnaire (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.17-1.48) were also associated with increased risk of unemployment. CONCLUSION: People with poor mental and physical health are at increased risk of job loss. This contributes to poor health amongst the unemployed and highlights the need for policy focus on the health and welfare of out of work individuals, including support preparing them for re-employment.

Health care contact following a new incident neck or low back pain episode in the general population; the HUNT study.

BACKGROUND: Low back and neck pain are commonly reported in the general population and represent frequent causes for health care consultations. The main aim of this study was to describe the determinants of health care contact during a 1-year period in a general population with recent onset spinal pain. METHODS: From 9056 participants in a general health survey in Norway we identified 219 persons reporting a recent onset (<1 month) of low back or neck pain. Questionnaires were given at 1 (baseline), 2, 3, 6 and 12 months after pain debut. The main outcome was self-reported health care contact due to spinal pain. Associations between health care contact and pain-related factors, other somatic and mental health factors, pain-related work limitations, physical activity and sociodemographic factors were explored. RESULTS: Conventional health care was sought by 93 persons (43 %) at least once throughout the year following the onset of pain. 18 persons (8 %) sought alternative health care only and 108 persons (49 %) sought no kind of health care. Baseline reports of coexisting low back and neck pain of equal intensity, poor self-reported health, symptoms of anxiety or depression, obesity and smoking were all associated with an increased tendency to seek conventional health care. Pain intensity and pain-related work limitations at each occasion were strongly associated with concurrent health care contact throughout the year. Higher education was associated with a reduced tendency to contact health care and no association was found for physical activity. CONCLUSION: The main finding in this study was that people from the general population who seek health-care for a new incident of neck or low back pain report more symptoms of mental distress, poorer self-reported health and more intense pain with stronger work limitations compared to those who do not. The findings suggest that identification of complementary symptoms is highly relevant in the examination of spinal pain patients, even for those with recent onset of symptoms.

Health in adolescence and subsequent receipt of social insurance benefits ­ The HUNT Study.

BACKGROUND: Long-term illness and work incapacity in young adulthood has consequences for both the individual and for society. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between adolescent health and receipt of long-term sickness and disability benefits for young adults in their twenties. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An adolescent population of 8949 school students (aged 13-21 years) assessed their own health in the Young-HUNT1 Study (1995-1997). Health was measured by means of a questionnaire enquiring about chronic somatic illnesses, somatic symptoms, symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep disturbance, poor concentration, self-reported health and smoking, and by measuring height and weight. Information about receipt of long-term benefits was retrieved from the FD-Trygd registry for the period 1998-2008 and defined as receipt of sickness benefit (>180 days/year), medical/vocational rehabilitation benefit and disability pension in the age group 20-29 years. We investigated the relationship between adolescent health and long-term social insurance benefits with logistic regression, adjusted for sex, age, follow-up time, mother's education and family composition. Siblings with different exposure and outcome were investigated to adjust for all familial factors shared by siblings. RESULTS: Each of the health measures was associated with an increased risk of long-term benefit. For example, adolescents who reported one or more somatic illnesses or poor concentration had a 5.4 and 3.4 percentage point higher risk, respectively, of receiving long-term benefits at the age of 20-29 years than adolescents who did not report somatic illness or poor concentration. Moreover the risk increased with an increase in the number of health problems. Sibling analyses supported these associations. INTERPRETATION: Health in adolescence is an indicator of increased vulnerability in the transition to the labour market. Preventing health selection during this transition should be a priority for welfare policy.

Medical benefits in young Norwegians and their parents, and the contribution of family health and socioeconomic status. The HUNT Study, Norway.

AIMS: Family and intergenerational perspectives might contribute to a better understanding of why young people in many European countries experience work impairment and end up being dependent on public benefits for life sustenance. The aim of this cohort study was to explore the relationship between the receipt of medical benefits in parents and their young adult offspring and the contributions of family health and family socioeconomic status. METHODS: Baseline information on the health of 7597 adolescents and their parents who participated in the HUNT Study 1995-1997 was linked to national registers to identify long-term receipt of medical benefits for parents (1992-1997) and adolescents as they entered adulthood (1998-2008). We used logistic regression to explore the association between parent and offspring receipt of medical benefits, adjusting for family health and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Among adolescents, 13% received medical benefits from age 20-29. Adolescents whose parents had received medical benefits (26%) were more likely to receive such benefits themselves from age 20-29 compared with adolescents without benefit-receiving parents (age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.16, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.86-2.49). Adjustment for family health reduced this estimate considerably (to OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.38-1.99), whereas adjustment for family socioeconomic status had less impact. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents whose parents receive medical benefits enter adult working life with an elevated risk of health-related work exclusion. Family health vulnerability appears to be a key to understanding this association, suggesting that more attention to intergenerational continuities of health could be a way to prevent welfare dependence in future generations.

Work environment and disability pension-- an 18-year follow-up study in a Norwegian working population.

AIMS: To investigate the associations between work environment indicators and health- related work disability. METHODS: A health survey of 5,749 working 40-42-year-old Norwegians from Nordland County were linked to a national register for disability pension during a follow-up of over 18 years. The risk for disability pension following various self-reported physical and psychosocial work environmental exposures (individual and cumulative) were estimated using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Both cumulative physical and psychosocial work environmental exposures were associated with an increased risk for disability pension, although this association was attenuated for most variables after adjusting for health and education. An increase in five poor psychosocial work environmental exposures was associated with a 22% increased risk for disability (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR, 1.22, 95% CI 1.04-1.44), whereas a similar increase in five poor physical work environmental exposures was associated with a 29% increased risk (aHR, 1.29, 95% CI 1.16-1.44). There were no indications of statistical interaction between either sex or education and work exposures. CONCLUSIONS: People who report a poor work environment are at a higher risk for subsequent work disability. This finding suggests that improving working conditions may be an area of intervention in order to reduce the number of people who leave the labour market with a disability pension.

High school dropout and long-term sickness and disability in young adulthood: a prospective propensity score stratified cohort study (the Young-HUNT study).

BACKGROUND: High school dropout and long-term sickness absence/disability pension in young adulthood are strongly associated. We investigated whether common risk factors in adolescence may confound this association. METHODS: Data from 6612 school-attending adolescents (13-20 years old) participating in the Norwegian Young-HUNT1 Survey (1995-1997) was linked to long-term sickness absence or disability pension from age 24-29 years old, recorded in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation registers (1998-2008). We used logistic regression to estimate risk differences of sickness or disability for school dropouts versus completers, adjusting for health, health-related behaviours, psychosocial factors, school problems, and parental socioeconomic position. In addition, we stratified the regression models of sickness and disability following dropout across the quintiles of the propensity score for high school dropout. RESULTS: The crude absolute risk difference for long-term sickness or disability for a school dropout compared to a completer was 0.21% or 21% points (95% confidence interval (CI), 17 to 24). The adjusted risk difference was reduced to 15% points (95% CI, 12 to 19). Overall, high school dropout increased the risk for sickness or disability regardless of the risk factor level present for high school dropout. CONCLUSION: High school dropouts have a strongly increased risk for sickness and disability in young adulthood across all quintiles of the propensity score for dropout, i.e. independent of own health, family and socioeconomic factors in adolescence. These findings reveal the importance of early prevention of dropout where possible, combined with increased attention to labour market integration and targeted support for those who fail to complete school.