The Swedish study on improved contraceptive counselling for immigrant women postpartum

Contraceptive choices postpartum have not previously been studied in Sweden. Being foreign born is a risk factor for induced abortion. Improving postpartum contraceptive counseling could potentially fulfill unmet needs for contraception.

This is an organizational case study using a Quality Improvement Collaborative (QIC) within the regular healthcare setting at 3 maternal health clinics in Stockholm. The active phase of the study was Sep2018-Sep2019. Quantitative and qualitative methods were combined. Routine registration of choice of postpartum contraception was introduced at the clinics and analyzed focusing on Swedish born and foreign-born women. Midwives and researchers met continuously, and during the active phase every 2-3 months in learning seminars with around 20 participants. During the learning seminars PDSA-cycles were used and areas of improvements for continuous performance measures were chosen. The midwives decided on and tested multiple evidence-based changes in contraceptive counselling and services during action periods. Goals were set and competency building in areas chosen by the midwifes were held. In addition, both foreign- and Swedish born women gave their input to the improvement areas. Qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis from field notes and verbatim transcripts.

Preliminary results show that the proportion of women choosing an effective contraceptive method (SARC or LARC) among immigrant women increased from 40% to 55% when comparing the start and the end of the project. The midwives reported how they had changed their approach when counselling women who were skeptical about contraception and tried to find a new way to meet women's needs.

As much as the QIC showed positive results, it was a small-scale study in 3 clinics in one geographical area. A larger study to determine and explain the effectiveness of QIC on the proportion of immigrant women choosing an effective contraceptive method postpartum is planned for 2021-2024.

Exploration of clinical preferences in treatment planning of radiotherapy for prostate cancer using Pareto fronts and clinical grading analysis

INTRODUCTION

Radiotherapy treatment planning is a multi-criteria problem. Any optimization of the process produces a set of mathematically optimal solutions. These optimal plans are considered mathematically equal, but they differ in terms of the trade-offs involved. Since the various objectives are conflicting, the choice of the best plan for treatment is dependent on the preferences of the radiation oncologists or the medical physicists (decision makers).We defined a clinically relevant area on a prostate Pareto front which better represented clinical preferences and determined if there were differences among radiation oncologists and medical physicists.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Pareto fronts of five localized prostate cancer patients were used to analyze and visualize the trade-off between the rectum sparing and the PTV under-dosage. Clinical preferences were evaluated with Clinical Grading Analysis by asking nine radiation oncologists and ten medical physicists to rate pairs of plans presented side by side. A choice of the optimal plan on the Pareto front was made by all decision makers.

RESULTS

The plans in the central region of the Pareto front (1-4% PTV under-dosage) received the best evaluations. Radiation oncologists preferred the organ at risk (OAR) sparing region (2.5-4% PTV under-dosage) while medical physicists preferred better PTV coverage (1-2.5% PTV under-dosage). When the Pareto fronts were additionally presented to the decisions makers they systematically chose the plan in the trade-off region (0.5-1% PTV under-dosage).

CONCLUSION

We determined a specific region on the Pareto front preferred by the radiation oncologists and medical physicists and found a difference between them.

Twenty-year follow-up of root filled teeth in a Swedish population receiving high-cost dental care

AIM

To study the 20-year survival rate and periapical status of root filled teeth in a Swedish population requiring high-cost dental care and to identify factors related to survival and normal periapical status at follow-up.

METHODOLOGY

The study population comprised 104 patients selected from four local health insurance districts with treatment plans including radiographs submitted for approval for reimbursement from the Swedish National Dental Insurance in 1977. In 1998, a clinical and radiographic follow-up examination was conducted, to register the status of 449 teeth identified as root filled at baseline. Differences in tooth survival and periapical status at follow-up, with reference to periapical status and quality of root filling at baseline, were analysed by chi-square tests. Multiple regression analysis was used to describe tooth survival and normal periapical status at follow-up, with the explanatory baseline variables: tooth type, type of restoration, type of post, quality of root filling, periapical status, marginal bone loss and caries. Differences were considered significant at a 5% level.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ninety (65%) of the root filled teeth survived at follow-up. Baseline variables associated with low odds for tooth survival were mandibular molar, maxillary premolar, prefabricated posts other than screw posts, severe marginal bone loss, caries and apical periodontitis (AP). Normal periapical status at follow-up was registered in 49% of the root filled teeth. Baseline variables associated with low odds for normal periapical status (high risk for AP) at follow-up were mandibular molar, maxillary premolar, AP, severe marginal bone loss and inadequate root filling quality. Of the root filled teeth with AP at baseline, 42% had been left untreated during the observation period, and at follow-up, the AP persisted in 57% of these teeth.

CONCLUSIONS

After 20 years, 65% of the root filled teeth had survived and one-third remained with a sound periapical condition, without any further treatment. Almost half of the APs registered at baseline were left without treatment, and more than half of them persisted after 20 years.

Effect of education intervention on the quality and long-term outcomes of root canal treatment in general practice

AIM

To compare the technical quality and long-term outcomes of root canal treatment by general practitioners of a Swedish Public Dental Service, before and after an endodontic education including Ni-Ti rotary technique (NiTiR).

METHODOLOGY

A random sample was compiled, comprising one root filled tooth from each of 830 patients, treated by 69 general practitioners participating in the education: 414 teeth root filled in 2002, pre-education, using primarily stainless steel instrumentation and filling by lateral compaction, and 416 teeth root filled post-education (2005), using mainly NiTiR and single-cone obturation. Follow-up radiographs taken in 2009 were evaluated alongside immediate post-filling radiographs from 2002 to 2005. The density and length of the root fillings were registered. Periapical status was assessed by the Periapical Index (PAI), using two definitions of disease: apical periodontitis (AP) (PAI 3 + 4 + 5) and definite AP (PAI 4 + 5). Tooth survival was registered. Root fillings pre- and post-education were compared using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Crude extraction rates per 100 years were calculated for comparison of tooth survival. Explanatory variables (type of tooth, root filling quality, periapical status, marginal bone loss, type and quality of coronal restoration) in relation to the dependent variable (AP at follow-up) were analysed by multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Follow-up data were available for 229 (55%) of teeth treated pre- and 288 (69%) treated post-education: both tooth survival (P < 0.001) and root filling quality were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the latter. However, there was no corresponding improvement in periapical status. Both pre- and post-education, root fillings with definite AP on completion of treatment had significantly higher odds of AP or definite AP at follow-up. For teeth treated post-education, inadequate root filling quality was significantly associated with AP at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a higher tooth survival rate and a significant improvement in technical quality of root fillings after the education, there was no corresponding improvement in periapical status.