Dietary guidance from GPs - what do patients report? / Kostholdsveiledning hos fastlegen ­ hva rapporterer pasientene?

Background: Diet can have a major impact on health. In this study, we surveyed the extent to which the subject of diet was raised by patients in general practice and which patients desired such discussions. Material and method: We conducted a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of patients ≥ 18 years of age at GP practices in Western Norway in 2022. The questionnaire consisted of nine questions about dietary knowledge, the desire to receive dietary guidance and lose weight, and medication use. Logistic regression was used to identify groups more likely to report a desire to receive guidance on how diet affects health. Results: A total of 2105 of the 2531 (83 %) invited patients ≥ 18 years of age completed the questionnaire, and 2075 of these were included in the analysis. One in three had raised the subject of diet with their GP. A total of 96 % reported having the knowledge they needed about diet, 56 % wanted advice or guidance on how diet affects health, 62 % wanted to lose weight and 40 % reported being confused by diet/dietary advice. Younger patients, men, patients with lower levels of education, patients who wanted to lose weight and patients taking medication for chronic conditions more frequently wanted advice/guidance on how diet affects health. Interpretation: Over half of the patients in the GP practices wanted advice/guidance on how diet affects health. Knowing who is more likely to want guidance can be useful for prioritising which consultations are appropriate for providing guidance on diet and health impacts.

The association of psychological distress and economic and health worries with tobacco smoking behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: a two-year longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and other life events may trigger worries and psychological distress. These impacts may lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as tobacco smoking, but the degree of such associations is unclear. The current three-wave longitudinal study examines changes in tobacco smoking in Norway between 2020 and 2022 and their associations with psychological distress as well as health- and economy-related worries. METHODS: Data were collected in April 2020 (baseline), January 2021, and January 2022 in Bergen, Norway, from an online longitudinal population-based survey. Smoking tobacco (the outcome variable) was dichotomized based on the responses to the question of whether participants smoked cigarettes or not. Tobacco smoking and its associations with psychological distress were assessed among 24,914 participants (response rate 36%) in a mixed model regression presented with coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for COVID-19-related worries, home office/study, occupational situation, age, gender, education, having children below 18 years living at home, living alone, and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: A total of 10% of the study sample were current smokers at baseline. At baseline, smoking tobacco was associated with high levels of psychological distress (absolute difference 13%, 95% CI 10%; 15%), advanced age (50-59 years: 11%, CI 10%; 13%), and hazardous alcohol use (4%, CI 3%; 5%) compared to their counterparts. Higher education (-5%, CI -6%; -4%), working from home (-4%, CI -5%; -4%), and higher physical activity levels (-4%, CI -5%; -3%) were associated with non-smoking. The prevalence of smoking among individuals experiencing severe psychological distress decreased slightly over time (-2% per year, CI -3%; -1%). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking was associated with severe psychological distress, advanced age, and hazardous alcohol use at baseline; non-smoking was associated with high education, working from home, and high physical activity. Nevertheless, the smoking rate among individuals experiencing severe psychological distress slightly decreased over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of integrated hepatitis C virus treatment on psychological distress in people with substance use disorders.

People with substance use disorders (SUD) have a high prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and mental health disorders. We aimed to assess the impact of integrated HCV treatment on psychological distress measured by Hopkins-symptom-checklist-10 (SCL-10). This multi-center randomized controlled trial evaluated psychological distress as a secondary outcome of integrated HCV treatment (INTRO-HCV trial). From 2017 to 2019, 289 participants were randomly assigned to receive either integrated or standard HCV treatment with direct-acting antiviral therapy. Integrated HCV treatment was delivered in eight decentralized outpatient opioid agonist therapy clinics and two community care centers; standard treatment was delivered in internal medicine outpatient clinics at centralized hospitals. Participants in the integrated treatment arm had a sustained virologic response of 93% compared to 73% for those in standard treatment arm. Psychological distress was assessed using SCL-10 prior to initiation of HCV treatment and 12 weeks after treatment completion. The mean SCL-10 score prior to HCV treatment was 2.2 (standard deviation [SD]: 0.7) for patients receiving integrated HCV treatment and 2.2 (SD: 0.8) for those receiving standard HCV treatment. Twelve weeks after the end of treatment, the mean SCL-10 score change was - 0.1 (- 0.3;0.0) in the integrated compared to the standard arm. Psychological distress did not substantially change during the treatment period and was not significantly different between the treatment arms.

Update of statistical analysis plan for: Integration of smoking cessation into standard treatment for patients receiving opioid agonist therapy who are smoking tobacco: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (ATLAS4LAR).

This protocol paper presents an updated statistical analysis plan of the protocol of a randomised controlled trial. The randomised controlled trial investigates the effect of integrating smoking cessation interventions at outpatient opioid agonist therapy (OAT) clinics for persons with opioid dependency receiving OAT medication. The intervention group receives weekly follow-up including a short behavioural intervention and provision of nicotine replacement products. The control group receives standard treatment. The duration of the intervention is 16 weeks and the follow-up was completed by the end of October 2023. The primary outcome is defined as the proportion of participants reducing the number of cigarettes smoked by at least a 50% at week 16 of the intervention period. The primary outcome will be analysed according to intention-to-treat principles. Missing outcome data will be set equal to the baseline values. Development and reporting of the statistical analysis plan follow the Guidelines for the Content of Statistical Analysis Plans in Clinical Trials.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05290025. Registered on 22 March 2022.

Methadone pharmacokinetics in opioid agonist treatment: Influencing factors and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: A considerable inter-individual variability has been reported in the relationship between methadone doses applied and serum concentrations achieved in methadone maintenance treatment. However, the underlying causes for this variability are not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the influence of genetic, pathophysiological and pharmacological factors on serum methadone concentration-to-dose ratio (CDR) and discussed the clinical implications of the findings. METHODS: We used data from two retrospective laboratory databases and a prospective cohort study to investigate the impact on methadone CDR of hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme system (CYP) genetic polymorphisms, age, sex, concomitant medication, liver fibrosis and body mass index through linear mixed model analyses. FINDINGS: A positive association was found between CDR and the homozygous CYP2B6*6 genotype, concurrent treatment with CYP3A4 inhibitors and body mass index. CDR was lower among women and during concomitant use of CYP inducers. CDR was not associated with age or the degree of liver fibrosis in our investigations. CONCLUSIONS: This research work supports the need for individually tailored dosage considering the various factors that influence methadone CDR. The gained knowledge can contribute to reducing the risks associated with the treatment and optimizing the desired outcomes.

Needs for help and received help for those bereaved by a drug-related death: a cross-sectional study.

Background and aims: Individuals bereaved after sudden and unexpected deaths can benefit from professional help to cope after the loss, and the bereaved call for proactive, early and flexible help from professional services. Most drug-related deaths (DRDs) happen suddenly and unexpectedly. DRDs are a significant public health issue, yet few studies have examined DRD-bereaved people's needs and experiences with professional help. This article investigates the needs for help and received help reported by DRD-bereaved family members and friends, and suggests improvements in services based on the findings. Data and method: A heterogeneous convenience sample of DRD-bereaved family members and close friends (n = 255) were recruited for a survey from February to December 2018. Descriptive analyses were conducted for experiences with professional help, chi-square analyses to find predictors for help needs and received help, and logistic regression analysis to find predictors for satisfaction with the help provided. Results: Most DRD-bereaved individuals reported a need for professional help after the death regardless of family relation to the deceased, and about half of the participants received help. Nearly half of them were satisfied with the help. Our results indicated higher satisfaction with help among older bereaved, and the participants who received help from a crisis team or psychotherapist. The latter was particularly stated for younger participants. Few participants with children in the family reported that the children had received help, and less than one-third were satisfied with this help. Conclusion: The study shows that younger age groups and children need particular recognition, and a family perspective from services is essential. When assessing the help needs of the DRD-bereaved, relations of both psychological and biological closeness should be recognised. Help efforts should be tailored according to established knowledge of the provided help that bereaved populations deem effective.

Risk of relapse to non-opioid addictive substances among opioid dependent patients treated with an opioid receptor antagonist or a partial agonist: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: First study to assess any compensatory increase in use of non-opioid illicit substances and alcohol in opioid dependent patients randomized to treatment with extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) or buprenorphine-naloxone (BP-NLX) and in longer term treatment with extended-release naltrexone. METHOD: A multicenter, outpatient, open-label randomized clinical trial where patients received intramuscular extended-release naltrexone hydrochloride, 380 mg/month, or daily sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone 8-24/2-6 mg for 12 weeks, and an option to continue with extended-release naltrexone for an additional 36 week follow-up. The study was conducted at five urban addiction clinics and detoxification units in Norway between November 2012, and July 2016. RESULTS: Among the 143 patients, 106 men and 37 women, there were no significant differences between those randomized to XR-NTX or BP-NLX in the risk of first relapse to alcohol (HR 1.31; 0.68-2.53), amphetamines (HR 0.88; 0.43-1.80), benzodiazepines (HR 1.24; 0.74-2.09) or cannabis (HR 1.55; 0.83-2.89). Also in the 36-week (12-48 weeks) follow-up period we found no significant differences between patients continuing with XR-NTX compared to those switching to XR-NTX after the randomized period in risk of first relapse to any non-opioid substance. In both study periods, the mean time in the study were longer among those relapsing to non-opioid addictive substances than those who did not. There was no significant association between first relapse to illicit opioids and first relapse to non-opioid addictive substances. CONCLUSION: There was no increase in the risk of relapse to non-opioid addictive substances neither in short term nor longer-term treatment with extended-release naltrexone. Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01717963.

Changes in Body Mass Index and Their Associations with Psychological Distress, Worries, and Emotional Eating during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Norwegian Cohort Study.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted obesity's long-term rise. Some of the impacts of the pandemic were increased psychological distress, emotional eating, higher consumption of high-sugar foods and drinks, and a more sedentary lifestyle. This study examined BMI changes over time and their associations with psychological distress and lifestyle changes. This population-based cohort study had 24,968 baseline participants and 15,904 and 9442 one- and two-year follow-ups, respectively. Weight, height, psychological distress, high-sugar foods and drinks, physical activity, and emotional eating were assessed. These factors and BMI were examined at baseline and over time. We used mediation analyses and structural equation modeling to determine how psychological distress affects BMI. The mean BMI was 25.7 kg/m2 at baseline and 26.2 kg/m2 at two years. High psychological distress, daily emotional eating, and low physical activity were associated with higher BMI at baseline and higher yearly increases in BMI compared to reference levels. Emotional eating mediated 33% of the psychological distress BMI effect. Overall, BMI increased during the pandemic. Psychological distress during the pandemic was linked to weight gain partly through emotional eating. This association remained strong over time during different stages of the pandemic.

The association between psychological distress and alcohol consumption and physical activity: a population-based cohort study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and infection control measures caused changes to daily life for most people. Heavy alcohol consumption and physical inactivity are two important behavioral risk factors for noncommunicable diseases worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its social distancing measures, home office policies, isolation, and quarantine requirements may have an impact on these factors. This three-wave longitudinal study aims to investigate if psychological distress and worries related to health and economy were associated with levels and changes in alcohol consumption and physical activity during the two first years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway. Methods: We used data collected in April 2020, January 2021, and January 2022 from an online longitudinal population-based survey. Alcohol consumption and physical activity status were assessed at all three measuring points via the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-C) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). COVID-19-related worries, home office/study, occupational situation, age, gender, children below 18 years living at home, and psychological distress (measured with the Symptom Checklist (SCL-10)) were included as independent variables in the model. A mixed model regression was used and presented with coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Analysis of data from 25,708 participants demonstrates that participants with substantial symptoms of psychological distress more often reported higher alcohol consumption (1.86 units/week, CI 1.48-2.24) and lower levels of physical activity [-1,043 Metabolic Equivalents of Task (METs) per week, CI -1,257;-828] at baseline. Working/studying from home (0.37 units/week, CI 0.24-0.50) and being male (1.57 units/week, CI 1.45-1.69) were associated with higher alcohol consumption. Working/studying from home (-536 METs/week, CI -609;-463), and being older than 70 years (-503 METs/week, CI -650;-355) were related to lower levels of physical activity. The differences in activity levels between those with the highest and lowest levels of psychological distress reduced over time (239 METs/week, CI 67;412), and similarly the differences in alcohol intake reduced over time among those having and not having children < 18 years (0.10 units/week, CI 0.01-0.19). Conclusion: These findings highlight the substantial increases in risks related to inactivity and alcohol consumption among those with high levels of psychological distress symptoms, and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and increase the understanding of factors associated with worries and health behavior.

Cost-effectiveness of integrated treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs in Norway: An economic evaluation of the INTRO-HCV trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The INTRO-HCV randomized controlled trial conducted in Norway over 2017-2019 found that integrated treatment, compared with standard-of-care hospital treatment, for hepatitis C virus (HCV) with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) improved treatment outcomes among people who inject drugs (PWID). We evaluated cost-effectiveness of the INTRO-HCV intervention. DESIGN: A Markov health state transition model of HCV disease progression and treatment with cost-effectiveness analysis from the health-provider perspective. Primary cost, utility, and health outcome data were derived from the trial. Costs and health benefits (quality-adjusted life-years, QALYs) were tracked over 50 years. Probabilistic and univariate sensitivity analyses investigated DAA price reductions and variations in HCV treatment and disease care cost assumptions, using costs from different countries (Norway, United Kingdom, United States, France, Australia). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: PWID attending community-based drug treatment centers for people with opioid dependence in Norway. MEASUREMENTS: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in terms of cost per QALY gained, compared against a conventional (€70 000/QALY) willingness-to-pay threshold for Norway and lower (€20 000/QALY) threshold common among high-income countries. FINDINGS: Integrated treatment resulted in an ICER of €13 300/QALY gained, with 99% and 71% probability of being cost-effective against conventional and lower willingness-to-pay thresholds, respectively. A 30% lower DAA price reduced the ICER to €6 900/QALY gained, with 91% probability of being cost-effective at the lower willingness-to-pay threshold. A 60% and 90% lower DAA price had 36% and >99% probability of being cost-saving, respectively. Sensitivity analyses suggest integrated treatment was cost-effective at the lower willingness-to-pay threshold (>60% probability) across different assumptions on HCV treatment and disease care costs with 30% DAA price reduction, and became cost-saving with 60%-90% price reductions. CONCLUSIONS: Integrated hepatitis C virus treatment for people who inject drugs in community settings is likely cost-effective compared with standard-of-care referral pathways in Norway and may be cost-saving in settings with particular characteristics.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and their relation to diagnosed ADHD, sociodemographic characteristics, and substance use among patients receiving opioid agonist therapy: a Norwegian cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms may challenge sufficient treatment of substance use and mental disorders. The literature on the extent of such symptoms among patients receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is scarce. This study examined ADHD symptoms using the ADHD self-report scale (ASRS) and the association between the 'ASRS-memory' and 'ASRS-attention' scores and substance use and sociodemographic characteristics among patients receiving OAT. METHODS: We used data from assessment visits of a cohort of patients in Norway. In total, 701 patients were included from May 2017 to March 2022. All patients responded at least once to two ASRS questions assessing memory and attention, respectively. Ordinal regression analyses were performed to investigate whether the two obtained scores were associated with age, sex, frequent substance use, injecting use, housing status, and educational attainment at baseline, i.e., the first assessment, and over time. The results are presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Additionally, a subsample of 225 patients completed an extended interview, including the ASRS-screener and collection of registered mental disorder diagnoses from the medical records. Standard cutoffs were used to define the presence of each ASRS symptom or a positive ASRS-screener ('ASRS-positive'). RESULTS: At baseline, 428 (61%) and 307 (53%) patients scored over the cutoffs on the 'ASRS-memory' and 'ASRS-attention,' respectively. Frequent cannabis use was associated with higher 'ASRS-memory' (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.6) and 'ASRS-attention' (1.7, 1.1-2.5) scores compared with less or no use at baseline, though reduced score on the 'ASRS-memory' over time (0.7, 0.6-1.0). At baseline, frequent stimulant use (1.8, 1.0-3.2) and low educational attainment (0.1, 0.0-0.8) were associated with higher 'ASRS-memory' scores. In the subsample fulfilling the ASRS-screener, 45% of the patients were 'ASRS-positive,' of whom 13% with a registered ADHD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate a relationship between the ASRS-memory and -attention scores and frequent cannabis and stimulant use. Furthermore, nearly half of the subsample was 'ASRS-positive.' Patients receiving OAT might benefit from being further assessed for ADHD, but improved diagnostic methods are required.

The efficacy of integrated hepatitis C virus treatment in relieving fatigue in people who inject drugs: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Most people who inject drugs (PWIDs) suffer from severe fatigue, and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may play a role in this. However, there is scarce evidence about interventions that alleviate fatigue among PWIDs. The present study investigated the effect of integrated HCV treatment on fatigue in this population compared to the effect of standard HCV treatment, adjusted for sustained virological response of the HCV treatment. METHODS: This multi-center, randomized controlled trial evaluated fatigue as a secondary outcome of integrated HCV treatment (the INTRO-HCV trial). From May 2017 to June 2019, 276 participants in Bergen and Stavanger, Norway, were randomly assigned to receive integrated and standard HCV treatment. Integrated treatment was delivered in eight decentralized outpatient opioid agonist therapy clinics and two community care centers; standard treatment was delivered in specialized infectious disease outpatient clinics at referral hospitals. Fatigue was assessed prior to treatment and 12 weeks after treatment using the nine-item Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS-9). We applied a linear mixed model to evaluate the impact of integrated HCV treatment on changes in FSS-9 (ΔFSS-9) sum scores. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean FSS-9 sum score was 46 (standard deviation (SD): 15) for participants on integrated HCV treatment and 41 (SD: 16) for those on standard treatment. Twelve weeks after completed HCV treatment, the mean FSS-9 sum score for participants receiving integrated HCV treatment was 42 (SD: 15) and 40 (SD: 14) for those receiving standard HCV treatment. Integrated HCV treatment did not reduce the FSS-9 scores compared to standard HCV treatment (ΔFSS-9: -3.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): -6.4;0.4). CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue is a common symptom among PWIDs. Integrated HCV treatment is at least equal to standard HCV treatment in improving fatigue. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov.no NCT03155906, 16/05/2017.

Emotional Eating and Changes in High-Sugar Food and Drink Consumption Linked to Psychological Distress and Worries: A Cohort Study from Norway.

Psychological distress is linked to unhealthy eating behaviors such as emotional eating and consumption of high-sugar food and drinks. Cross-sectional studies from early in the COVID-19 pandemic showed a high occurrence of worries and psychological distress, and this was associated with emotional eating. Few larger studies have examined how this coping pattern develops over time. This cohort study with 24,968 participants assessed changes over time in emotional eating, consumption of sugary foods as an example of unhealthy food choices, and consumption of fruits and vegetables as an example of healthy food choices. Further, associations between these and psychological distress, worries, and socio-demographic factors were assessed. Data were collected at three time points (April 2020, initially in the COVID-19 pandemic, then one and two years later). Emotional eating and intake of sugary foods and drinks were high at the start of the pandemic, followed by a reduction over time. High psychological distress was strongly associated with higher levels of emotional eating and high-sugar food intake, and lower levels of healthy eating habits. The strength of this association reduced over time. Our findings indicate the high frequency in unhealthy food choices seen early in the COVID-19 pandemic improved over time.

Impact of liver fibrosis and clinical characteristics on dose-adjusted serum methadone concentrations.

BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge on the causes of large variations in serum methadone concentrations and dose requirements. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the impact of the degree of liver fibrosis on dose-adjusted steady-state serum methadone concentrations. METHODS: We assessed the clinical and laboratory data of 155 Norwegian patients with opioid use disorder undergoing methadone maintenance treatment in outpatient clinics in the period 2016-2020. A possible association between the degree of liver fibrosis and dose-adjusted serum methadone concentration was explored using a linear mixed-model analysis. RESULTS: When adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, and genotypes of CYP2B6 and CYP3A5, the concentration-to-dose ratio of methadone did not increase among the participants with liver fibrosis (Coefficient: 0.70; 95% CI: -2.16, 3.57; P: 0.631), even among those with advanced cirrhosis (-0.50; -4.59, 3.59; 0.810). CONCLUSIONS: Although no correlation was found between the degree of liver stiffness and dose-adjusted serum methadone concentration, close clinical monitoring should be considered, especially among patients with advanced cirrhosis. Still, serum methadone measurements can be considered a supplement to clinical assessments, taking into account intra-individual variations.

Association between oral and general health related quality of life among Norwegian patients with substance use disorders in opioid agonist therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the association between oral and general health related quality of life using oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) and the quality of life tool EQ-5D-5L from EuroQoL among patients with substance use disorder (SUD) who receive opioid agonist therapy. METHOD: 609 patients with SUD completed the EQ-5D-5L. A dental sub-study of 167 patients completed OIDP and an oral examination when attending outpatient clinics in Western Norway for their opioid agonist therapy. The merged analytical sample consisted of 165 patients. The association between OIDP and EQ-5D-5L was assessed by Spearman's rho and a linear multiple variable regression analysis. A line graph and a Pen's parade displayed the distributions of OIDP sum scores and EQ-5D-5L index values. RESULTS: Overall mean summary- and index EQ-5D-5L scores were 9.97 (sd 3.25) and 0.69 (sd 0.22). Mean score for OIDP was 9.75 (sd 9.59). Spearman's rho was 0.34 (p < .01) between OIDP and EQ-5D-5L summary scores. Linear regression revealed an association adjusted for sex and age of 0.12 (95% CI 0.07-0.17) and a coefficient of determination of 0.1460. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a strong association between OIDP and EQ-5D-5L reflecting the importance of oral health to general health for patients with SUD. Health care professionals should pay attention to oral health. Effective interventions might improve patients' oral and health related quality of life.

The social health domain of people bereaved by a drug-related death and associations with professional help: A cross-sectional study.

People bereaved by traumatic deaths are vulnerable to long-lasting impairments in social health, including the quality of social relationships and the capacity to manage their social lives. In this Norwegian study involving 255 participants bereaved by a drug-related death, we aimed to investigate their social health and associations with professional help. The results of a cross-sectional survey showed that participants on average rated their social health as poor, though with large variations within the group. Participants who reported high satisfaction with professional help reported significantly higher scores on most social health-related variables. More research is needed on professional help focusing on the social health of traumatically bereaved people.

Experiences of Hope after Treatment of Hepatitis C Infection-A Qualitative Study.

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of hope people had after undergoing treatment for a hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). Between October 2019 and May 2020, 19 one-on-one interviews were conducted with people who inject drugs and had undergone HCV treatment. All participants had completed treatment and were documented as being virus-free. Data were audio recorded and then transcribed verbatim and analysed; a method inspired by reflexive thematic analysis. Those interviewed conveyed rich and nuanced descriptions of experiences of a life with HCV. Through the course of the analysis we developed four themes. The themes were formulated as metaphors aimed at capturing commonalities about how the participants seemed to "turn their gaze" after receiving HCV treatment: (1) turning their gaze backward; (2) turning their gaze inwards; (3) turning their gaze toward others and (4) turning their gaze forward. Participants' descriptions of their experiences relating to HCV were somewhat gloomy, and HCV treatment seemed to inspire hope and a brighter outlook on several areas of life.

Integration of smoking cessation into standard treatment for patients receiving opioid agonist therapy who are smoking tobacco: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (ATLAS4LAR).

BACKGROUND: About 85% of patients receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT) for opioid dependence are smoking tobacco. Although smoke-related pulmonary diseases are significant contributors to morbidity and mortality, few smoking cessation interventions are evaluated within this group, and few OAT patients are offered smoking cessation as an integrated part of their addiction treatment. This study protocol describes an integrated smoking cessation intervention aimed at patients receiving OAT and smoking tobacco. METHODS: This is a multicentre, randomised controlled clinical trial that will recruit 266 daily tobacco smoking patients receiving OAT in OAT outpatient clinics in Bergen and Stavanger, Norway. The patients randomised for the intervention arm will be offered smoking cessation therapy consisting of weekly brief behavioural interventions and prescription-free nicotine replacement products. In the control arm, patients will receive standard care without any added interventions related to smoking cessation. The smoking cessation intervention includes psychoeducational techniques with components from motivational interviewing, and nicotine replacement products such as nicotine lozenges, patches, and chewing gum. The duration of the intervention is 16 weeks, with the option of extending it by a further 8 weeks. The main outcomes are measured at 16 weeks after initiation of the intervention, and sustained effects are evaluated 1 year after intervention initiation. The primary outcome is smoking cessation verified by carbon monoxide (CO) levels or at least a 50% reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked. Secondary outcomes are changes in psychological well-being, biochemical inflammation markers, changes in physical health, quality of life, and fatigue. DISCUSSION: Integration of other treatments to standard OAT care improves adherence and completion rates providing another rationale for integrated smoking cessation treatment. Thus, if integrated smoking cessation treatment is superior to standard care, this trial provides important information on further scale-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05290025. Registered on 22 March 2022.

Vitamin D status and associations with substance use patterns among people with severe substance use disorders in Western Norway.

Chronic and harmful substance use is associated with a cluster of harms to health, including micronutrient deficiencies. Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D is important for musculoskeletal and other aspects of health. In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, 666 participants drawn from outpatient opioid agonist therapy (OAT) clinics and community care clinics for substance use disorder in Western Norway were assessed annually for determination of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [s-25(OH)D] levels. Fifty-seven percent were deficient at baseline (s-25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l), and 19% were severely deficient (s-25(OH)D < 25 nmol/l). Among those deficient/severely deficient at baseline, 70% remained deficient/severely deficient at the last measurement (mean duration 714 days). Substance use patterns and dosage of opioids for OAT were not associated with vitamin D levels. One exception was found for cannabis, where consumption on a minimum weekly basis was associated with lower levels at baseline (mean difference: -5.2 nmol/l, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -9.1, - 1.3), but without clear time trends (mean change per year: 1.4 nmol/l, CI: - 0.86, 3.7). The high prevalence of sustained vitamin D deficiency in this cohort highlights the need for targeted monitoring and supplementation for this and similar at-risk populations.

The Role of Physical Activity in Opioid Substitution Therapy: A Systematic Review of Interventional and Observational Studies.

Background: Use of physical activity in the treatment and follow-up of people receiving opioid substitution therapy is an understudied area of research. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the currently available research on the role of physical activity in opioid substitution therapy and proper adaptions for the group. Methods: A systematic search was performed on PsycINFO, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science until September 2021 (PROSPERO-reg.no: CRD42020109873). The inclusion criteria were studies involving physical activity interventions for opioid substitution patients. Reference lists of relevant studies were screened to identify additional relevant studies. Data extracted were compiled into tables and descriptively presented. Results: The search yielded 2105 unique records. A total of 10 studies were included, whose methodological quality ranged from satisfactory to very good. Study quality was assessed using a 7-/8-point quality score. The agreement between the reviewers, assessed with Cohen's kappa, was 0.91. Overall, the results suggest that physical activity increases physical fitness of patients in opioid substitution therapy and decreases substance use. The minority of studies in this field are of high quality with sufficient power. Conclusions: The findings of this systematic review suggest beneficial effects of physical activity on physical fitness, substance use, and mental health for patients in opioid substitution therapy. Although the findings are quite consistent across studies, high-quality studies and sufficiently powered clinical trials are needed to confirm and validate the findings and to conclude on the degree of impact.