Lars E. A. Haugom, general practitioner.
PhD-candidate at Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen (UiB), Norway
Web of Science ResearcherID: LUY-4620-2024
ORCiD:
Twitter/X: @LarsHaugom
Urinary tract infections; health care utilization and antibiotic treatment during an airborne pandemic (PANDUVI)
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced an unprecedented and enduring increase in the use of remote consultations in Norwegian primary care with unknown implications for the antibiotic treatment of UTIs.
This PhD-project will provide new knowledge about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected health care seeking behavior, antibiotic use and clinical outcomes of cystitis.
We have planned three studies:
The first study examined consultations for UTI (cystitis and pyelonephritis) and antibiotic treatment before the COVID-19 pandemic.
To examine if remote consultations for acute cystitis, compared to in-person consultations, lead to differences in antibiotic treatment or repeat contacts.
To investigate hospital admissions for pyelonephritis and correlation with preceding remote consultations for cystitis.
Disclosures
Financing provided by:
A.The Norwegian Research Fund for General Practice (AMFF), Norwegian Medical Association, stipend, 50%
B. Norwegian Surveillance System for Antimicrobial Drug Resistance (NORM), grant.
Consultation types in Norwegian primary care 2013 - 2022.
Blue line represents physical consultations, orange digital.
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a massive and sustained shift from in-person to electronic consultations. Before the pandemic, 2% of consultations were electronic. Now it is 1 in 3 consultations.
Source: Norwegian Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements Database (KUHR)
Supervisors
Main supervisor: Knut Eirik Ringheim Eliassen, Associate Professor
Assisting supervisors: Knut Erik Emberland, Associate Professor & Ingrid Keilegavlen Rebnord, Associate Professor
Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway
Publications
Remote vs. in-person consultations for acute cystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic; antibiotic treatment and clinical outcomes, a retrospective cohort study*
Remote consultations and pyelonephritis at the intersection between primary and secondary care, a case-control study*
*Tentative titles
Consultations and antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections in Norwegian primary care 2006–2015, a registry-based study
Findings include a marked increase year-by-year in the proportion of physical consultations resulting in antibiotic treatment.
Nordic congress of General practice (NGCP) 2019, Aalborg, Denmark
Presenting findings from the first study.
Remote vs. in-person consultations for acute cystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic; antibiotic treatment and clinical outcomes, a retrospective cohort study
Findings not yet published
Pictured above, participation at GRIN 2024. Lars Haugom first row in green shirt.
Midway evaluation 06.11.24
Midway evaluation at the University of Bergen.