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Background: Research and white papers highlight the possibility for patients in the palliative phase to stay at home despite a high level of symptom burden. Purpose: This study describes the experiences in relatives when cancer patients want to spend the last days of their lives at home. Methods: The study has a qualitative design and in-depth interviews were performed to gather data. Results: The sample consists of seven individual interviews with family caregivers representing different positions in the family. Four main themes emerged: (i) valuable time at home for the parties involved, (ii) being available all day and night, (iii) relief of the patients' symptoms and fulfilment of their desires, (iv) experiences and follow-up from the health care system. A synthesis reveals the concepts responsibility and dependence. Conclusion: relatives dealing with palliative care at home have a strong engagement and need stamina to handle complex physical and psychological demands and suffering. Additionally, relatives in this study describe a high level of responsibility as well as being dependent on support from the health care system.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the risk of being involved in road traffic accidents as drivers among persons using prescribed medicines by utilizing data from population-based registries. The aim of the present paper was to focus on the methodology used in the study. Methods: All Norwegians aged 18-69 in April 2004 to September 2006 (3.1 million), were included in the study. Information on prescriptions, road accidents and emigrations/deaths was obtained from three different population-based registries. A total of 22,000 accidents were observed. The incidence of accidents in exposed and unexposed person-time was compared, by the standardized incidence ratio (SIR). Results: The risk of being involved in an accident was increased in persons exposed for prescribed medicines. The risk was markedly increased in persons exposed for natural opium alkaloids, benzodiazepine tranquillizers, benzodiazepine hypnotics and carisoprodol. A marginal increase or unchanged SIRs were found for NSAIDs, selective beta-2-adrenoreceptor agonists (anti-asthmatics), calcium receptor antagonists and penicillin. Conclusions: We have tested a method using different reference groups and different exposure periods to explore the association between drug use and involvement in traffic accidents. Using these methods, we have shown that exposure for prescribed opiates, benzodiazepines and carisoprodol increased the risk of being involved in an accident as driver. The findings confirm results from other studies. Further steps should be taken to reduce car driving under the influence of these drugs. Bakgrunn: Eksperimentelle undersøkelser har vist at legemidler kan redusere viktige ferdigheter hos bilførere. Det har vært utført få epidemiologiske undersøkelser om sammenhengen mellom medikamentbruk og kjøreferdigheter. I denne undersøkelsen ønsket vi å studere risikoen for å bli involvert i en trafikkulykke etter forskrivning av medikamenter ved hjelp av data fra tre forskjellige registre. Denne artikkelen fokuserer hovedsakelig på metoden brukt i undersøkelsene. Material og metode: Alle innbyggere i Norge i alderen 18-69 år i perioden april 2004 - september 2006 (3,1 millioner personer) ble identifisert via Folkeregisteret og inkludert i studien. Informasjonen om legemiddelforskrivninger og innblanding i trafikkulykke med personskade ble hentet fra henholdsvis Reseptregisteret og Veitrafikkulykkesregisteret. I datamaterialet var det ca. 22 000 veitrafikkulykker med personskade. Forekomsten av ulykker i periodene hvor personene var eksponert for et legemiddel ble sammenlignet med forekomsten av ulykker i ueksponerte perioder ved utregning av standardisert insidensratio (SIR). Resultater: Totalt sett hadde de som var eksponert for medikamenter en litt større risiko for å bli involvert i en trafikkulykke enn de som ikke var eksponert. Det var en markert økt risiko for personer som hadde blitt forskrevet opiater, benzodiazepiner anxiolytika, benzodiazepiner hypnotika og karisoprodol. Risikoen var svakt forhøyet for brukere som var eksponert for NSAID, mens risikoen var ubetydelig eller ikke økt for personer som var eksponert for antiastmatika, visse hjerte- og blodtrykksmedisiner (selektive kalsiumantagonister) og penicillin. Konklusjon: Vi har testet ut og brukt en metode for å se på sammenhenger mellom legemiddelbruk og involvering i trafikkulykker, ved å bruke ulike referansegrupper og ulike eksponeringstider. Ved hjelp av metodene har vi vist at eksponering for opiater, benzodiazepiner og karisoprodol øker risikoen for trafikkulykker. Man bør derfor prøve å redusere bilkjøring ved eksponering for disse stoffene. publishedVersion