Prevalence and predictors of post-COVID-19 symptoms in general practice - a registry-based nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: With Norwegian national registry data, we assessed the prevalence of post-COVID-19 symptoms at least 3 months after confirmed infection, and whether sociodemographic factors and pre-pandemic health problems were risk factors for these symptoms. METHODS: All persons with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test from February 2020 to February 2021 (exposed) were compared to a group without a positive test (unexposed) matched on age, sex, and country of origin. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for 18 outcome symptoms commonly described as post-COVID-19 related, registered by GPs. We compared relative risks (RR) for fatigue, memory disturbance, or shortness of breath among exposed and unexposed using Poisson regression models, assessing sex, age, education, country of origin, and pre-pandemic presence of the same symptom and comorbidity as possible risk factors, with additional analyses to assess hospitalisation for COVID-19 as a risk factor among exposed. RESULTS: The exposed group (N = 53 846) had a higher prevalence of most outcome symptoms compared to the unexposed (N = 485 757), with the highest risk for shortness of breath (HR 2.75; 95%CI 2.59-2.93), fatigue (2.08; 2.00-2.16) and memory disturbance (1.41;1.26-1.59). High HRs were also found for disturbance of smell/taste and hair loss, but frequencies were low. Concerning risk factors, sociodemographic factors were at large similarly associated with outcome symptoms in both groups. Registration of the outcome symptom before the pandemic increased the risk for fatigue, memory disturbance and shortness of breath after COVID-19, but these associations were weaker among exposed. Comorbidity was not associated with fatigue and shortness of breath in the COVID-19 group. For memory disturbance, the RR was slightly increased with the higher comorbidity score both among exposed and unexposed. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 was associated with a range of symptoms lasting more than three months after the infection.

Addressing health inequity during the COVID-19 pandemic through primary health care and public health collaboration: a multiple case study analysis in eight high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic substantially magnified the inequity gaps among vulnerable populations. Both public health (PH) and primary health care (PHC) have been crucial in addressing the challenges posed by the pandemic, especially in the area of vulnerable populations. However, little is known about the intersection between PH and PHC as a strategy to mitigate the inequity gap. This study aims to assess the collaboration between PHC and PH with a focus on addressing the health needs of vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic across jurisdictions. METHODS: We analyzed and compared data from jurisdictional reports of COVID-19 pandemic responses in PHC and PH in Belgium, Canada (Ontario), Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain from 2020 to 2021. RESULTS: Four themes emerge from the analysis: (1) the majority of the countries implemented outreach strategies targeting vulnerable groups as a means to ensure continued access to PHC; (2) digital assessment in PHC was found to be present across all the countries; (3) PHC was insufficiently represented at the decision-making level; (4) there is a lack of clear communication channels between PH and PHC in all the countries. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified opportunities for collaboration between PHC and PH to reduce inequity gaps and to improve population health, focusing on vulnerable populations. The COVID-19 response in these eight countries has demonstrated the importance of an integrated PHC system. Consequently, the development of effective strategies for responding to and planning for pandemics should take into account the social determinants of health in order to mitigate the unequal impact of COVID-19. Careful, intentional coordination between PH and PHC should be established in normal times as a basis for effective response during future public health emergencies. The pandemic has provided significant insights on how to strengthen health systems and provide universal access to healthcare by fostering stronger connections between PH and PHC.

Pandemic preparedness and management in European out-of-hours primary care services - a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Primary care is the first point of contact for all acute health problems. As such, primary care was at the frontline in the COVID-19 pandemic, playing a significant role in clinical responses and information to the public. This study aimed to describe the variations in patient management strategies used in the out-of-hours services in different European countries during the first phase of the pandemic. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey in August 2020, selecting key informants from European countries using European networks. The questionnaire was developed in collaboration with researchers in the field of out-of-hours primary care. We performed descriptive analyses per region, structuring results into themes. RESULTS: Key informants from 38 regions in 20 European countries responded. Seven regions reported that their out-of-hours services had a pandemic preparedness plan, three had trained on the plan, and two had stockpiles of personal protection equipment before the outbreak. Extension of telephone triage lines and establishment of local infection-control teams and clinics were the main patient management strategies. Other strategies for patient contacts were also used in the regions, such as video-consultations (13 regions), electronic consultations (21 regions), patient's car as alternative waiting room (19 regions), outside tents for testing (24 regions), "drive-through" testing (26 regions), and separate departments for infected patients (14 regions). CONCLUSION: Few out-of-hours services were well prepared for a pandemic, but all expanded and reorganized rapidly, adopting new strategies for patient management and treatment. The results could be useful for planning of organization preparedness of out-of-hours primary care service for future pandemics.

Symptoms, symptom severity, and contact with primary health care among nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients: a Norwegian web-based survey.

OBJECTIVE: Dependent on clinical setting, geography and timing during the pandemic, variable symptoms of COVID-19 have been reported. Our aim was to describe self-reported symptom intensity and contact with primary health care among nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients. DESIGN: Web-based survey. SETTING: Norway between March 2020 and July 2021. SUBJECTS: Adults in home isolation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants reported possible COVID-19 symptoms, duration of symptoms, score of symptom severity (Likert scale 0-3), risk factors, comorbidity, and questions regarding follow-up and information from primary health care. RESULTS: Of 477 participants, 379 (79%) had PCR-confirmed COVID-19, 324 (68%) were females, and 90% were younger than 60 years. Most common symptoms were "fatigue and/or muscle ache" (80%), nasal symptoms (79%), and headache (73%). The mean severity of symptoms was generally low. Symptoms with the highest mean scores were "fatigue and/or muscle ache" (1.51, SD 1.02) and headache (1.27 (SD 1.00). Mean scores for severity ranged from 0.28 (nausea) to 1.51 (fatigue and/or muscle ache). Women reported higher symptom scores than men. For "affected sense of smell and/or taste", patients either reported a high symptom score (24%) or no affliction at all (49%). A third of the participants (32%) were followed-up by primary care health personnel, and almost 40% had sought or received information about COVID-19 from general practitioners. CONCLUSION: The mean severity of symptoms among nonhospitalized adult COVID-19 patients was generally low. We found large variations in the occurrence and severity of symptoms between patients.

Dependent on clinical setting, geography and timing during the pandemic, variable symptoms, and follow-up of COVID-19 have been reported.The most common symptoms were fatigue and/or muscle ache, nasal symptoms, and headache, and the overall mean symptom score was low.The symptom where most patients were severely afflicted was a reduced sense of smell and/or taste.Patients with a higher symptom severity were more likely to receive information about COVID-19 from their GP.

Antibiotics for gastroenteritis in general practice and out-of-hour services in Norway 2006-15.

BACKGROUND: When patients with gastroenteritis (GE) seek health care, they are generally managed in primary care. Little is known about the use of antibiotic treatment in these cases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate time trends and patient characteristics associated with antibiotic treatment for GE in Norwegian primary care in a 10-year period. METHODS: We linked data from two nationwide registries, reimbursement claims data from Norwegian primary care (the KUHR database) and The Norwegian Prescription Database, for the period 2006-15. GE consultations were extracted, and courses of systemic antibiotics dispensed within 1 day were included for further analyses. RESULTS: Antibiotic treatment was linked to 1.8% (n = 23 663) of the 1 279 867 consultations for GE in Norwegian primary care in the period 2006-15. The proportion of GE consultations with antibiotic treatment increased from 1.4% in 2006 to 2.2% in 2012 and then decreased to 1.8% in 2015. Fluoroquinolones (28.9%) and metronidazole (26.8%) were most frequently used. Whereas the number of fluoroquinolones courses decreased after 2012, the number of metronidazole courses continued to increase until year 2015. The antibiotic treatment proportion of GE consultations was lowest in young children and increased with increasing age. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic treatment is infrequently used in GE consultations in Norwegian primary care. Although there was an overall increase in use during the study period, we observed a reduction in overall use after year 2012. Young children were treated with antibiotics in GE consultations less frequent than older patients.

Preparedness and management during the first phase of the COVID-19 outbreak - a survey among emergency primary care services in Norway.

BACKGROUND: The emergency primary care (EPC) services in Norway have been at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge about the EPC services' management of the COVID-19 outbreak can be used to prepare for future outbreaks and improve patient management. The objectives of this study were to identify pandemic preparedness and management strategies in EPC centres in Norway during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: Questions regarding patient management of the COVID-19 outbreak were included in data collection for the National Out-Of-Hours Services Registry. The data collection was web-based, and an invitation was sent by email to the managers of all EPC services in Norway in June 2020. The EPC services were asked questions about pre-pandemic preparedness, access to personal protective equipment (PPE), organizational measures taken, and how staffing was organized during the onset of the pandemic. RESULTS: There were 169 municipal and inter-municipal EPC services in Norway in 2020, and all responded to the questionnaire. Among the EPC services, 66.7% (n = 112) had a pandemic plan, but only 4.2% had performed training for pandemic preparedness. Further, fewer than half of the EPC centres (47.5%) had access to supplies of PPE, and 92.8% answered that they needed extra supplies of PPE. 75.3% of the EPC services established one or more respiratory clinics. Staffing with other personnel than usual was done in 44.6% (n = 74) of the EPC services. All EPC services except one implemented new strategies for assessing patients, while about half of the wards implemented new strategies for responding to emergency calls. None of the largest EPC services experienced that their pandemic plan was adequate, while 13.3% of the medium-sized EPC services and 48.9% of the small EPC services reported having an adequate pandemic plan. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the EPC services lacked well-tested plans and had insufficient supplies of PPE at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, most services adapted to the pandemic by altering the ways they worked and by hiring health care professionals from other disciplines. These observations may help decision makers plan for future pandemics.

Respiratory tract infections in Norwegian primary care 2006-2015: a registry-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Examine characteristics and time trends of respiratory tract infection (RTI) consultations in Norwegian primary care and compare consultations in daytime general practice and out-of-hours (OOH) services. DESIGN: Registry-based study using reimbursement claims data. SETTING: All in-person primary care consultations during 2006-2015. PATIENTS: All patients visiting primary care during the study period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome variable was RTI consultations. Differences regarding service type (general practice or OOH services) and changes over time were investigated. We report associations with patient age and sex, season, point-of-care C-reactive protein (CRP) test use, and sickness certificate issuing. RESULTS: RTI consultations (n = 16 304 777) represented 11.6% of all consultations (N = 140 199 637) in primary care over the ten-year period. The annual number of RTI consultations per 1000 inhabitants decreased from 335 to 314, while the number of consultations for any reason increased. Of RTI consultations, 83.2% occurred in general practice. OOH services had a higher proportion of RTI consultations (21.4%) compared with general practice (10.6%). Young children (0-4 years) represented 18.9% of all patients in RTI consultations. CRP testing was used in 56.2% of RTI consultations, and use increased over time. Sickness certificates were issued in 31.9% of RTI consultations with patients of working age (20-67 years). CONCLUSION: Most RTI consultations occurred in general practice, although the proportion was higher in OOH services. Laboratory testing and/or issuing of sickness certificates were part of most consultations. This could be an important reason for seeking health care. Key PointsPatients with a respiratory tract infection (RTI) are mostly managed in primary care, where they represent much of the workload.Most consultations for RTIs took place in daytime general practice, but out-of-hours services had a higher proportion of RTI consultations.RTIs were the dominating reason for encounter among young children both in out-of-hours services and daytime general practice.CRP tests were used in over half of RTI consultations, and their use expanded over time.

The Norwegian PraksisNett: a nationwide practice-based research network with a novel IT infrastructure.

PURPOSE: Clinical research in primary care is relatively scarce. Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are research infrastructures to overcome hurdles associated with conducting studies in primary care. In Norway, almost all 5.4 million inhabitants have access to a general practitioner (GP) through a patient-list system. This gives opportunity for a PBRN with reliable information about the general population. The aim of the current paper is to describe the establishment, organization and function of PraksisNett (the Norwegian Primary Care Research Network). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We describe the development, funding and logistics of PraksisNett as a nationwide PBRN. RESULTS: PraksisNett received funding from the Research Council of Norway for an establishment period of five years (2018-2022). It is comprised of two parts; a human infrastructure (employees, including academic GPs) organized as four regional nodes and a coordinating node and an IT infrastructure comprised by the Snow system in conjunction with the Medrave M4 system. The core of the infrastructure is the 92 general practices that are contractually linked to PraksisNett. These include 492 GPs, serving almost 520,000 patients. Practices were recruited during 2019-2020 and comprise a representative mix of rural and urban settings spread throughout all regions of Norway. CONCLUSION: Norway has established a nationwide PBRN to reduce hurdles for conducting clinical studies in primary care. Improved infrastructure for clinical studies in primary care is expected to increase the attractiveness for studies on the management of disorders and diseases in primary care and facilitate international research collaboration. This will benefit both patients, GPs and society in terms of improved quality of care.Key pointsPractice-based research networks (PBRNs) are research infrastructures to overcome hurdles associated with conducting studies in primary careImproved infrastructure for clinical studies in primary care is expected to increase the attractiveness for studies on the management of disorders and diseases in primary care and facilitate international research collaborationWe describe PraksisNett, a Norwegian PBRN consisting of 92 general practices including 492 GPs, serving almost 520,000 patientsAn advanced and secure IT infrastructure connects the general practices to PraksisNett and makes it possible to identify and recruit patients in a novel way, as well as reuse clinical dataPraksisNett will benefit both patients, GPs and society in terms of improved quality of careThis paper may inform and inspire initiatives to establish PBRNs elsewhere.

Pelvic organ prolapse surgery and health-related quality of life: a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic prolapse impairs quality of life. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is considered an important outcome of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery. However, it is rarely reported, and measures are inadequately used. Thus, studies reporting patient-reported surgical outcomes in low-income contexts are needed. This study aims to evaluate the effect of prolapse surgery on patient HRQoL and determine the predictive factors for change in HRQoL. METHODS: A total of 215 patients who had prolapse stage III or IV were enrolled. Patients underwent vaginal native tissue repair, and their HRQoL was evaluated at baseline, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Effect of surgery on subjective outcomes were measured using validated Prolapse Quality of Life (P-QoL-20), Prolapse Symptom Score (POP-SS), Body Image in Prolapse (BIPOP), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Patient Global Index of Improvement (PGI-I) tools. A linear mixed-effect model was used to compare pre- and postoperative P-QoL scores and investigate potential predictors of the changes in P-QoL scores. RESULTS: In total, 193 (89.7%) patients were eligible for analysis at 3 months, and 185 (86.0%) at 6 months. Participant's mean age was 49.3 ± 9.4 years. The majority of patients had prolapse stage III (81.9%) and underwent vaginal hysterectomy (55.3%). All domains of P-QoL improved significantly after surgery. Altogether more than 72% of patients reported clinically meaningful improvement in condition-specific quality of life measured with P-QoL-20 at 6 months. An improvement in POP-SS, BIPOP, and the PHQ-9 scores were also observed during both follow-up assessments. At 6 months after surgery, only 2.7% of patients reported the presence of bulge symptoms. A total of 97.8% of patients had reported improvement in comparison to the preoperative state, according to PGI-I. The change in P-QoL score after surgery was associated with the change in POP-SS, PHQ, BIPOP scores and marital status (p < 0.001). However, age, type of surgery, and prolapse stage were not associated with the improvement of P-QoL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical repair for prolapse effectively improves patient's HRQoL, and patient satisfaction is high. The result could be useful for patient counselling on the expected HRQoL outcomes of surgical treatment. Surgical service should be accessible for patients suffering from POP to improve HRQoL.

Consultations and antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections in Norwegian primary care 2006-2015, a registry-based study.

BACKGROUND: Extensive use of antibiotics and the resulting emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a major health concern globally. In Norway, 82% of antibiotics is prescribed in primary care and one in four prescriptions are issued for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI). The aim of this study was to investigate time trends in antibiotic treatment following a consultation for UTI in primary care. METHODS: For the period 2006-2015 we linked data from the Norwegian Registry for Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements on all patient consultations for cystitis and pyelonephritis in general practice and out-of-hours (OOH) services, and data from the Norwegian Prescription Database on all dispensed prescriptions of antibiotics. RESULTS: Altogether 2,426,643 consultations by attendance for UTI took place in the study period, of these 94.5% for cystitis and 5.5% for pyelonephritis. Of all UTI consultations, 79.4% were conducted in general practice and 20.6% in OOH services. From 2006 to 2015, annual numbers of cystitis and pyelonephritis consultations increased by 33.9 and 14.0%, respectively. The proportion of UTI consultations resulting in an antibiotic prescription increased from 36.6 to 65.7% for cystitis, and from 35.3 to 50.7% for pyelonephritis. These observed changes occurred gradually over the years. Cystitis was mainly treated with pivmecillinam (53.9%), followed by trimethoprim (20.8%). For pyelonephritis, pivmecillinam was most frequently used (43.0%), followed by ciprofloxacin (20.5%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (16.3%). For cystitis, the use of pivmecillinam increased the most during the study period (from 46.1 to 56.6%), and for pyelonephritis, the use of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (from 11.4 to 25.5%) followed by ciprofloxacin (from 18.2 to 23.1%). CONCLUSIONS: During the 10-year study period there was a considerable increase in the proportion of UTI consultations resulting in antibiotic treatment. Cystitis was most often treated with pivmecillinam, and this proportion increased during the study period. Treatment of pyelonephritis was characterized by more use of broader-spectrum antibiotics, use of both sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin increased during the study period. These trends, indicative of enduring changes in consultation and treatment patterns for UTIs, will have implications for future antibiotic stewardship measures and policy.

Restless legs syndrome - a study from general practice. / Rastløse bein ­ en studie fra allmennpraksis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) among adults in the general population is around 5-10 %. Few studies have been conducted on the prevalence among patients who consult their general practitioner. There are also few studies on associations between RLS and other common complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue (CF) and chronic muscle and back pain (CMBP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study was conducted as a questionnaire survey at medical offices in Southern and Western Norway in the autumn of 2017 and spring of 2018, when patients waiting to see their general practitioner (GP) were invited to participate. A total of 2 634 people took part (62.2 % women, average age 49.6 years). The response rate was 86.8 %. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) was defined on the basis of international criteria. Associations between RLS and IBS, CF and CMBP were analysed by means of chi-squared tests and logistic regression. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: The proportion of patients with RLS was 14.3 %. Of the patients with RLS, 44.8 % reported that their symptoms were moderately to very distressing, and 85.8 % that they did not use medication for it. The proportion of patients with RLS was significantly higher among patients with IBS (21.8 % versus 13.6 %, p = 0.009), CF (18.2 % versus 13.1 %, p = 0.003) and CMBP (23.2 % versus 12.2 %, p < 0.0005). GPs should be aware that many patients have RLS and that the condition is associated with other common complaints.

Pelvic organ prolapse in Northwest Ethiopia: a population-based study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Epidemiological studies aimed at pelvic organ prolapse and its risk factors can help to identify women at a higher risk and therefore promote prevention strategies. We aimed to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with symptomatic prolapse. METHODS: A community-based study was conducted in Dabat district, Northwest Ethiopia. Initially, women were interviewed on their prolapse symptoms using validated questionnaires at their home. Subsequently, they were invited for pelvic examination and examined by gynecologists using the simplified pelvic organ prolapse quantification. Symptomatic prolapse was assessed by pelvic examination findings and patient-reported symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with symptomatic prolapse. RESULTS: A total of 880 women were interviewed and invited for pelvic examination, of whom 824 (93.6%) showed up for examination. Of the 824 women examined, 464 (56.3%) had POP stages II-IV and 145 (17.6%) had POP stages III-IV. The overall prevalence of symptomatic prolapse was 46.7% (217 out of 464). Of these, 41.0%, 42.8%, and 3.2% accounted for stage II, III, and IV respectively. Increasing age, multiparity, and heavy lifting/carrying significantly increased the odds of developing symptomatic prolapse. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic prolapse affects a substantial proportion of women in the study area and increased with age. Multiparity and carrying heavy objects are associated with prolapse, all of which have the potential to be modified. More attention is needed to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services to mitigate the health burden of these at-risk women.

Long-term risks of stress and urgency urinary incontinence after different vaginal delivery modes.

BACKGROUND: Although operative delivery increases the risk of immediate pelvic floor trauma, no previous studies have adequately compared directly the effects of different kinds of instrumental vaginal deliveries on stress urinary incontinence and/or urgency urinary incontinence. OBJECTIVE(S): The objectives of the study were to estimate and compare the impact of different kinds of vaginal deliveries, including spontaneous, vacuum, and forceps, on stress and urgency urinary incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: All women aged 20 years or older, living in 1 county in Norway were invited to participate in 2 surveys addressing stress and urgency urinary incontinence using validated questions, "Do you leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or lift something heavy?" and "Do you have involuntary loss of urine in connection with sudden and strong urge to void?" with response options yes or no. Incontinence data were linked to the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. For this study, we included only women who had a history of vaginal birth(s). Case definitions for stress and urgency urinary incontinence were moderate to severe based on Sandvik Severity Index (slight, moderate, severe). We adjusted analyses for age, parity, body mass index, and time since last delivery and addressed effect modification, including an age threshold of 50 years. RESULTS: The final analysis included 13,694 women of whom 12.7% reported stress urinary incontinence and 8.4% urgency urinary incontinence. Among women aged younger than 50 years, there was a statistically significant difference in the risk of stress urinary incontinence for forceps delivery (odds ratio, 1.42, 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.86, absolute difference 5.0%) but not for vacuum (odds ratio, 0.80, 95% confidence interval, 0.59-1.09) when compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery. Among women aged younger than 50 years, forceps also had increased risk for stress urinary incontinence (odds ratio, 1.76, 95% confidence interval, 1.20-2.60) when compared with vacuum. There was no association of stress or urgency urinary incontinence with mode of delivery in women aged 50 years or older. CONCLUSION: For women aged younger than 50 years, forceps delivery is associated with significant increased long-term risk of stress urinary incontinence compared with other vaginal deliveries.

Translation, transcultural adaptation, reliability and validation of the pelvic organ prolapse quality of life (P-QoL) in Amharic.

BACKGROUND: The Prolapse Quality of Life (P-QoL) is a disease-specific instrument designed to measure the health-related quality of life in women with prolapse; however, there is no Amharic version of the instrument. The aim of this study were to translate the P-QoL into Amharic and evaluate its psychometric properties among adult women. METHODS: We followed an intercultural adaptation procedure to translate and adapt the P-QoL. A forward-backward translation, face validity interviews with experts and cognitive debriefing of the translated version with ten adults from the target group were performed. The Amharic version was then completed by 230 adult women with and without POP symptoms. All women were examined using a simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (SPOP-Q) system. We examined internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = ICC). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted and model fit was discussed. We extracted a new factor structure by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Criterion validity was also assessed against the SPOP-Q stage. RESULTS: The translated measure was found acceptable by the experts and target group, with only minor adaptations required for the Amharic context. It had high internal consistency (α = 0.96) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.87; p <  0.001). In CFA results, the model fit indices were unacceptable (CFI = 0.69, RMSEA = 0.17, SRMR = 0.43, TLI = 0.65, and PCLOSE = 0.00). EFA extracted three-factor with satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. The P-QoL median scores were significantly higher in symptomatic women (Mann-Whitney U Test; p <  0.001). The score was also significantly correlated with stage of prolapse (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.42 to 0.64, p <  0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The P-QoL scale was successfully translated to Amharic and appears feasible, reliable and valid for Amharic-speaking women. Factor analysis confirmed a three-factor structure, inconsistent with the original English version. Further studies are needed to evaluate responsiveness of the Amharic P-QoL score.

A systematic review of the psychometric properties of the cross-cultural adaptations and translations of the Prolapse Quality of Life (P-QoL) questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Due to linguistic and cultural differences, there is a need to test the psychometrics of the translated versions of any patient-reported outcome measures. We investigated the psychometric properties of the Prolapse Quality of Life (P-QoL) questionnaire for non-English-speaking populations by conducting a systematic review of studies that examined the psychometric properties of non-English versions. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information Center (LILACS), and Science Direct databases for articles published in English up to February 2018. Methodological quality and quality of psychometric properties were assessed by two independent reviewers using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist and validated quality assessment criteria. The two assessments were combined to produce the best level of evidence per language/translation. RESULTS: Sixteen articles in 13 languages were retrieved. Most (n = 9; 56.3%) were not rigorously translated or reported, and there was poor evidence for structural validity. Internal consistency was reported in all studies, and all studies had good methodological quality. There was fair evidence for construct and good to fair for criterion validity. Evidence for responsiveness was good, although this was evaluated only in three studies. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited evidence supporting the psychometric robustness of the original validation and translated versions of P-QoL. Cross-cultural adaptations are insufficient. Given this variability, the individual psychometrics of a translation must be considered prior to use. Responsiveness, measurement error, and cutoff values should also be assessed to increase the clinical utility and psychometric robustness of the translated versions.

Validation of the Amharic version of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptom Score (POP-SS).

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptom Score (POP-SS) into Amharic and evaluate its psychometric properties. METHODS: We followed an intercultural adaptation procedure to translate and adapt the POP-SS. One hundred and eighty-six women with POP symptoms completed the Amharic POP-SS and Prolapse Quality of Life (P-QoL) questionnaires. All women were examined using a simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (SPOP-Q) system and were divided into four groups based on the POP-Q scores as stage 1, 2, 3, and 4. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were determined using Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Criterion validity was assessed against the SPOP-Q stage and the P-QoL scale. Furthermore, we tested construct validity using exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: The POP-SS score was successfully translated and achieved good content validity. It had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.81; p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference among four groups of stages in POP-SS score. and women with stage 3 had the highest median score (Kruskal-Wallis test; p < 0.05). The POP-SS score was also significantly correlated with the P-QoL score (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.28, p < 0.001). The exploratory factor analysis identified two factors, namely, physical symptoms and evacuation symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The POP-SS scale was successfully translated to Amharic and appears reliable and valid for women with symptoms of POP. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its responsiveness.

Consultations for gastroenteritis in general practice and out-of-hours services in Norway 2006-15.

BACKGROUND: Most of the patients with gastroenteritis seeking health care services are managed in primary care; yet, little is known about these consultations. Syndromic-based surveillance of gastrointestinal infections is used in several countries, including Norway. AIM: To investigate the extent of, and explore characteristics associated with, consultations for gastroenteritis in primary care and to compare consultations in daytime general practice and out-of-hours (OOH) services in Norway. DESIGN AND SETTING: Registry-based study using reimbursement claims data from all consultations in general practice and OOH services in Norway over the 10-year period, 2006-15. METHODS: The main outcome variable was whether the consultation took place in general practice or OOH services. Possible associations with patient age and sex, time and use of point-of-care C-reactive protein (CRP) testing and sickness certificate issuing were investigated. RESULTS: Gastroenteritis consultations (n = 1 281 048) represented 0.9% of all consultations in primary care (n = 140 199 637), of which 84.4% were conducted in general practice and 15.6% in OOH services. Young children and young adults dominated among the patients. Point-of-care CRP testing was used in 36.1% of the consultations. Sickness certificates were issued in 43.6% of consultations with patients in working age. Age-specific time variations in consultation frequencies peaking in winter months were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of gastroenteritis consultations was higher in the OOH services when compared with daytime general practice. Young children and young adults dominated among the patients. The seasonal variation in consultation frequency is similar to that shown for gastroenteritis caused by norovirus.

Burdened parents sharing their concerns for their children with the doctor. The impact of trust in general practice: a qualitative study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to recognise the preconditions experienced by general practitioners (GPs) in addressing the children's needs when ill and substance abusing parents consult for their own health problems. Design: Qualitative analysis of 38 case stories told by GPs in focus group interviews. Setting: Focus group interviews of four continuing medical education groups for GPs in western Norway. Subjects: 27 GPs (nine females) with at least 5 years' experiences in general practice. Results: Different aspects of the GPs' perceived mandate of trust from the parents was a precondition for the children's situation to be addressed. In some case stories the participants took an open mandate from the parent for granted, while in others they assumed that the parent did not want to discuss their family situation. Sometimes the participants had faith that by continuing with their ordinary GP tasks, they might obtain a more open mandate of trust. Their evaluation of the mandate of trust seemed to impact on how the GP could adopt a mediating role between the parents and various support agencies, thus supporting children who were at risk. Discussion/conclusion: The children most at risk may remain invisible in GPs' encounters with their parents, possibly because their parent's health problems and overall situation overshadow the children's situation. The mandate of trust from burdened parents to GPs can be a fruitful concept in understanding the interaction regarding the welfare of the parent's children. Negotiating the mandate of trust with parents by explicitly addressing trust and having an ongoing discussion about the mandate and its limits might be an option to secure the children support if necessary. KEY POINTS Offering children of burdened parents information and support can be crucial for health promotion and illness prevention. A general practitioner's (GP's) evaluation of the trust parents have in them can determine the extent of support children receive. Depending on the parents' level of trust, GPs may take a mediating role between support services and parents for the benefit of the children. A negotiation concerning the trust parents have in the GP may open up possibilities for GPs to offer children necessary support.

The when and how of the gynaecological examination: a survey among Norwegian general practitioners.

Introduction: Little is known about the indications general practitioners (GPs) perceive as relevant for performing gynaecological examinations (GEs), how GPs master the GE and associated procedures, and how they handle the sensitive nature of GEs. Methods: In 2015, 70 medical students at the University of Bergen distributed a questionnaire to all 175 GPs in the practices they visited. The questions covered practical routines related to GEs, insertion of intrauterine device, frequency of GEs in different clinical settings and use of assisting personnel. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and multiple logistic regressions adjusting for age, gender, specialization and localization. Results: Ninety male and 61 female GPs (87% of invited GPs) responded to the questionnaire. A minority (8%) usually had other staff present during GEs. Compared with female colleagues, male GPs performed bimanual palpation significantly less often in connection with routine Pap smear (AOR 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.6)). Twenty-eight percent of the GPs stated that they often/always omitted the GE if the patient was anxious about GE and 35% when the patient asked for referral to a gynaecologist. Omission was more frequent among male GPs. When the GP decided to refer to a gynaecologist based on the patient's symptoms, more male than female GPs omitted GE (AOR 2.5 (95% CI 1.1-5.4)). Conclusion: Male gender of the GP may be associated with barriers to medical evaluation of pelvic symptoms in women, potentially leading to substandard care. Possibly, however, male GPs' reluctance to perform the GE may also limit unnecessary bimanual palpation in asymptomatic women.