Ulricehamn

Researchers are evaluating if changing how patients with a sore throat are managed can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. This study compares care by medical practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists following the current Swedish guidelines. It also investigates how often the sore throat is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, considering its shift to a milder, more common infection since the COVID-19 pandemic has become endemic. Patients with sore throat symptoms will be assessed by one of three groups: physicians, nurses, or pharmacists. Each group follows the same Swedish guideline, which recommends no antibiotics or testing for patients with 0-2 Centor criteria and testing plus antibiotics only if Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is present for patients with 3-4 criteria. Pharmacists may provide advice or refer patients to primary health care centers as part of the study. Participants will be involved during their visit to a primary health care center or pharmacy with sore throat symptoms. The study measures adherence to guidelines immediately after each consultation. Researchers will collect data on patient management and test for SARS-CoV-2 presence. The study includes consent procedures and ensures participants understand and agree to join. Patients can withdraw at any time, and those with complicated illness or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in pharmacist-assessed clusters are excluded.

Researchers are evaluating a new contactless camera-based system called RIA-VS to measure vital signs including pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and body temperature. The study aims to assess the accuracy and reliability of this device compared to conventional methods that require physical contact, which carry a risk of infection transmission. The study also investigates if skin type affects the device's performance. The study is organized into three parts: one focusing on body temperature measurement, another on all vital signs except body temperature, and a third comparing device performance between different skin types. Participants are patients aged 18 and older attending primary or secondary healthcare settings. The new device is tested alongside standard reference methods, with a short time delay of about 5 minutes between measurements. Participants will give informed consent and undergo measurements using both the new device and conventional techniques during a 15-20 minute period. Researchers will evaluate agreement between the methods and monitor safety. The study includes translation support for multiple languages and excludes patients in severe medical conditions where study delays may be harmful. Participants can withdraw at any time, especially if consciousness levels decrease during assessment.