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Objectives Sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies occur at high rates among youth. Understanding sexual behaviour is essential for planning and implementing future effective preventive interventions. The present study examines the sexual behaviour in the general Danish population aged 15-29 years using the core indicators recommended by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in Denmark among a random sample of 20 000 men and women in 2012. Respondents completed a web-based sexual behaviour questionnaire and data were linked to a nationally held demographic database. Core indicators for sexual behaviour frequency stratified by gender are presented as unweighted and weighted data after consideration of sociodemographic differences between respondents and non-respondents. Results Response rate was 20.4%. Condoms were used at sexual debut by 69.9% of women and 62.3% of men, while 14.3% of women and 15.1% of men used no contraceptives at sexual debut. Half of the respondents used condom alone at the latest sexual encounter with a steady partner (women 51.8%, men 55.2%), while 10% used no contraceptives. Having a sexual encounter with a casual partner decreased the likelihood of using condoms (women 43.7%, men 49.5%) and increased the likelihood of using no contraceptives (women 14.8%, men 20.9%). Data on sexual behaviour characteristics showed only minor changes when weighted for non-response. Conclusions The findings call for interventions addressing the use of appropriate contraception at sexual debut and at last sexual encounter; this seems particularly important when the sexual partner is a casual partner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Most terminally ill patients and relatives prefer care and death to occur at home. However, in many cases patients die in hospital and the question arises whether social inequity in palliative care exists. The aim of this study was to analyse associations between dying at home and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics adjusted for healthcare utilisation among Danish cancer patients. Method Population-based, cross-sectional register study in Aarhus County, Denmark. 599 deceased adults who died from cancer from 1 March to 30 November 2006 in a well-defined geographical area were identified. Based on unique personal identifier numbers, socioeconomic data and healthcare utilisation from different registers were retrieved and analysed. Results Multivariate analysis showed that dying at home was negatively associated with, first, being either 50-59 (prevalence ratio (PR): 0.67 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.99)) or 70-79 years of age (PR: 0.83 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.99)) compared with being 80 years or above; second, a middle personal income compared with a high income (PR: 0.86 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.00)); and, third, being employed or having a leadership position compared with being unemployed/student/receiving social security (PR: 0.72 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.98)). Conclusion The found socioeconomic differences in whether death occurred at home or at institutions indicate that age, income and social class must be taken into account when palliative care services engage in fulfilling preferences of dying at home. This may lead to more equality in the possibility of dying at home, despite differences in socioeconomic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background DNA amplification assays are increasingly being used to facilitate the testing of asymptomatic individuals for urogenital . The long-term clinical benefit in terms of avoided infertility and ectopic pregnancy is unknown. Methods In 1997, 15 459 women and 14 980 men aged 21–23 years were living in Aarhus County, Denmark. A random sample of 4000 women and 5000 men was contacted by mail and offered the opportunity to be tested for by means of a sample obtained at home and mailed directly to the laboratory. The remaining 11 459 women and 9980 men received usual care and constituted the control population. All men and women were subsequently followed for 9 years by the use of Danish health registers. Data were collected on pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy (EP), infertility diagnoses, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment and births in women, and on epididymitis in men. The intervention and control groups were compared using Cox regression analyses and the intention-to-screen principle. Results Among women, no differences were found between the intervention group and the control group: HR (95% CI) for PID 1.12 (0.70 to 1.79); EP 0.97 (0.63 to 1.51); infertility 0.87 (0.71 to 1.07); IVF treatment 0.88 (0.62 to 1.26) and births 1.02 (0.95 to 1.10). In men, the HR for epididymitis was 1.25 (0.70 to 2.24). Conclusions A population-based offer to be tested for urogenital infection by the use of non-invasive samples and DNA amplification did not reduce the long-term risk of reproductive complications in women or of epididymitis in men. Trial registration number in www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT 00827970. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Mycoplasma genitalium has been shown to cause urethritis in men and cervicitis in women and may also be a causative agent in female infertility. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of urogenital M genitalium infection and identify sexual behavioural risk factors in the general population. Methods: Participating individuals were 731 men and 921 women aged 21-23 years and not seeking the healthcare system because of symptoms. They answered questionnaires on sexual behaviour and provided samples for M genitalium testing. Results: In women aged 21-23 years, the prevalence of infection was 2.3% (21/921) and in men of the same age it was 1.1% (8/731). For both sexes, an increasing number of partners was associated with a greater chance of being infected. Among women a shorter duration of a steady relationship and having a partner with symptoms was associated with being infected, and for men younger age at first intercourse was associated with M genitalium infection. Conclusions: We conclude that the prevalence of infection in the general population is too low for population-based screening. However, the development of test algorithms based on behavioural risk factors is a promising alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talks about the creation of a definition for general practice of medicine for the 21st century. Old definitions of general practice; Criteria and content that must be considered when creating a definition of general practice; Importance of defining the discipline; Suggested definition of general practice.

Evaluates the 1992 reform in the out of hours service by medical practioners in Denmark, five years after its introduction. Comparison between the before and after reform; Details on the three types of out of hours service; How data was collected; Information on the distribution of services.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured information campaign aiming to recruit young adults for a Chlamydia trachomatis test by use of a non-invasive, home obtained and mailed sample. Methods: All individuals aged 21-23 living in Aarhus county, Denmark (30 000 young adults) were offered a mailed home sampling test for C trachomatis as part of a structured 14 week information campaign on chlamydia. The kit for home sampling could be requested by leaving a message on an answering machine or through a website on the Internet. Results: During the campaign 119 of 15000 women (0.8%) and 64 of 15 000 men (0.4%) were tested. Prevalence of infection was 8.4% (10/119) and 7.8% (5/64) in females and males, respectively. Four infections in women (4/10=40%) and three infections in men (3/5=60%) were asymptomatic. Conclusions: The mass media campaign had only a limited effect, and there is a need for more effective outreach programmes to recruit young asymptomatic individuals for C trachomatis testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports the provision of out of hours care by general practitioners in Denmark. Increase of demand for medical services by the public; Complaints of heavy workload and low remuneration by the rural doctors; Replacement of negotiated rota systems with county based services.

In this article the author discuses on a report entitled, Implementation of Medical Research in Clinical Practice, published by the European Medical Research Council and European Science Foundation. He states about the three main strength that are strategy for improving the quality of clinical research, imply good research and special attention should be given to the problems encountered in general practice.

Comments on techniques of managing medically unexplained symptoms, or, functional somatic symptoms, which lack an obvious organic basis. Reasons why medically unexplained symptoms represent a clinical problem that must be taken seriously; Significance of communication between doctors and patients, which may need to be adjusted in patients with medically unexplained symptoms; Consideration of research which determined the need for physicians to offer the same professional management and quality of care to the many patients with unexplained symptoms.

Presents information on a study conducted to assess the workability of home sampling for the screening of Chlamydia trachomatis, aimed at improving screening rates. Effects of Chlamdia trachomatis; Benefits of screening; Methods of the study; Results of the study.

Investigates whether home sampling as opposed to conventional contract tracing for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis is a more effective way of increasing the test rate in men. Methodology used; Findings and analysis of results.

The authors comment a research by Van den Broek and colleagues to determine the effectiveness of population based screening for asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis infection. They found the study results disappointing, which indicated that screening strategy needs to be re-evaluated. They suggest that continuous efforts should be made to improve screening interventions and information about safe sex and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases should be provided.

Editorial. Examines reports from the Medical Research Council and National Health Service working group on research in general practice. Focus of the reports; Implications of the reports.