Abrahamsen, Jenny Foss http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3245-9700
Monsen, Anne-Lise Bjorke
Ranhoff, Anette Hylen
Nilsen, Roy M.
Engtrø, Einar
Rekdal, Magne
Kruger, Kjell
Funding for this research was provided by:
Helse Vest Regionalt Helseføretak (911926)
Article History
Received: 6 September 2019
Accepted: 18 November 2019
First Online: 28 November 2019
Compliance with ethical standards
:
: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
: The study protocol of the PAC patients that were enrolled in a prospective study was approved by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REC), (2011/1893/REK Vest). For the LTC patients, retrieval of anonymous data (blood samples, age and information on B12 supplements) from electronic patient records for quality surveillance purposes, was approved and performed as regularly by Department of Nursing Home Medicine in the Municipality of Bergen.
: Written informed consent was obtained from the PAC patients, and in case of moderate/major cognitive impairment leading to a decline in judgement, from their closest proxy. For the LTC patients, no written informed consent was asked for since the limited dataset was truly anonymous, could not stigmatize any group, and blood sampling were performed routinely as part of half-yearly drug surveillance demanded by national authorities. This is in accordance with national legislation on anonymous data handling (ExternalRef removed). All patients, (or in the majority of cases their nearest proxy) had accepted that blood tests were taken to get information that would aid a critical medication review.