title: Controversies Around Vitamin B12 in Sweden.
abstract: Over a five-year period, 1991-1995, the vitamin B12 market in Sweden increased three-fold, from approximately 2 million U.S. dollars to approximately 6 million U.S. dollars. Most prescriptions, approximately 60%, originated from primary health care. The attitudes, values and knowledge of the family physicians/general practitioners were elucidated by a questionnaire study with visuo-analogue opinion scales, evaluating 24 basic statements on problems associated with the management of vitamin B12 deficiency. The questionnaire was sent to a representative sample of 506 family physicians/general practitioners. Response rate was 74%. Dropout analysis supported the view that responders provided a representative sample of Swedish FP/GPs. Analysis of the answers was compatible with the hypothesis that the mentioned increase in Swedish B12 market reflected increased awareness in primary health care about the biochemical, pathophysiological and social problems associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Geriatric Medicine , Huddinge Hospital/Karolinska Institute , SE-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lökk
authors.affiliation: b Department of Community Health , County Council of Västerbotten , SE-901 89 Umeå , Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: c Department of Internal Medicine , Norrland University Hospital , SE-901 85 Umeå , Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Norberg
authors.affiliation: d Department of Clinical Chemistry , Norrland University Hospital , SE-901 85 Umeå , Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rudolphi
authors.affiliation: e Department of Family Medicine , Norrland University Hospital , SE-901 85 Umedå , Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sandström
authors.affiliation: f Department of Family Medicine , Norrland University Hospital , SE-901 85 Umeå , Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Westman
keywords: Vitamin B12(deficiency of, management of, attitudes towards, in primary health care); clinical decision-making; drug epidemiology; health care economics; paradigm anomaly