Several ongoing international multidisciplinary projects have examined linkages between environmental chemicals and health. In contrast to Arctic regions, information for the Southern Hemisphere is scarce. Because of the inherent practice of pesticide utilisation and mismanagement, food security is potentially threatened. The most vulnerable period in human life occurs during pregnancy and early ...

Background: The medical internship as a way of exposing young doctors to training in a rural context is regarded as a useful tool to recruit and retain doctors in rural areas. Norwegian health authorities tested an arrangement of early sign-up for medical internships in the Finnmark County in Norway.<p> Objective: To report on the effects of the early sign-up for medical internship.<p> Design: ...

Hepcidin is the main regulator of iron homeostasis and dysregulation of proteins involved in iron metabolism has been associated with tumorogenesis. However, to date, no epidemiological study has researched the association between hepcidin levels and gastric cancer risk. To further investigate the relationship between hepcidin levels and gastric cancer risk, we conducted a nested case-control study ...

Objectives: <br> With the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between menopausal hormone therapy (HT) and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). <br> Setting: <br> Cohort study based on the linkage of Norwegian population-based registries. <br> Participants: <br> We selected 466822 Norwegian women, aged 55–79, alive and residing in Norway as of 1 January 2004, and we followed ...

Background: A universal coverage characterises Scandinavian healthcare systems. The system is financed through taxation. Immigrants with legal residence in Norway, Sweden or Denmark are entitled to the same health coverage as the native population. However, research has shown that despite legal residency, immigrants’ utilization of regular healthcare services is low compared to the native population, ...

Background: Cost utility analysis evaluates health care interventions in terms of their cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained. The EQ-5D, SF-6D, 15D and HUI3 are the most common health state utility (HSU) instruments used to put the ‘quality adjustment weight’ into the QALY. However, HSU instruments are not always available or appropriate for every health conditions. For measuring the ...

Background:<br> In recent years, an increasing number of countries have introduced outpatient commitment orders (OC), which imply that patients can be subject to compulsory follow-up and treatment while living in the community. However, few studies on how OC is practised have been published. <br> Method: <br> Retrospective case register study based on medical files of all patients receiving an ...

Background: <br> This prospective study from end of medical school through internship investigates the course and possible change of self- reported self-efficacy in communication skills compared with observers’ ratings of such skills in consultations with simulated patients. <br> Methods: <br> Sixty-two medical students (43 females) from four Norwegian universities performed a videotaped consultation ...

<p><i>Background - </i>The assessment of quality of care is an integral part of modern medicine. The referral represents the handing over of care from the general practitioner to the specialist. This study aimed to assess whether an improved referral could lead to improved quality of care. <p><i>Methods - </i> A cluster randomized trial with the general practitioner surgery as the clustering unit ...

Background:<br>Prenatal exposure to lead (Pb) has been shown to have negative and irreversible health impacts on foetal and early childhood development, affecting morbidity and mortality in adulthood. This study aimed to assess in utero Pb exposure, examine birth outcomes, and identify confounding factors in the large cohort of South African population, following the legislated removal of Pb from ...