Impact on accuracy in elderly patients’ medication list, introducing pharmacy-led medical reconciliation at the Emergency department in a Swedish hospital. Background and objective: Discrepancies in patients‘ medication list is a well-known problem and contribute to preventable medication errors. Medication errors could increase morbidity and mortality and are cost-driving to the Health Care System. The primary objective was to investigate if a pharmacist-led medical reconciliation at the Emergency department could increase the accuracy in medication lists for patients at the age of 75 years and older, with five or more drugs in their initial medication list. The second objective was to categorize the discrepancies and the drugs causing them. Study design: Intervention study with retrospective control group. In the intervention group, patients received a medical reconciliation at the Emergency department. In conformity with the retrospective control group, the intervention group also received a medical reconciliation at the hospital ward. All medical reconciliations where pharmacy-led. Discrepancies identified at the medical reconciliation at the ward, were quantified and categorized. Drugs causing discrepancies were categorized by the ATC-index. Descriptive statistics, Chi2-tests and T-tests were performed.  Setting: The Emergency department at the hospital of Kristianstad, four wards at the larger emergency hospital in Kristianstad and two wards at the smaller local hospital in Hässleholm in Sweden Main outcome measures: Numbers of discrepancies in patients ‘medication list identified at medical reconciliation at hospital ward after having an initial medical reconciliation at the Emergency department (intervention) or not (control). Category of discrepancy and ATC-index of the substance causing the discrepancy. Results: In control group (n=65), 170 discrepancies were identified, on average 2,6 discrepancies/medication list. In intervention group (n=65), corresponding figures were 44 and 0,7 respectively. The difference between the groups was significant (p <0,0001).  The main category of discrepancy was “commission of a medication” in the control group and “route of administration” in the intervention group. Paracetamol was the most common drug to cause discrepancies in the control group, zopiklon and furosemid in intervention group. Conclusion: Pharmacy-led medical reconciliation at the Emergency department significantly reduced the number of discrepancies in patients´medication list.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that initially manifests itself primarily as impaired short-term memory and impaired language ability. The course of the disease is mainly due to an atrophy in the brain that can be attributed to the protein amyloid B and tau. Monoclonal antibodies that target Alzheimer's disease often have a high rate of cerebral edema, where proteinaceous fluid leaks into the extracellular space of the brain and creates edema. Some of the most common symptoms for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA-E) are headache, dizziness, and blurred vision. In a few cases, patients with ARIA-E need to be hospitalized for observation, but most show a decline in ARIA-E within one to two months. Objective: To investigate the frequency of ARIA-E in clinical studies of monoclonal antibodies to patients with Alzhiemer's disease and to investigate the role of the ApoE4 allele in the development of ARIA-E. Method: Literature review of five RCT studies based on four different monoclonal antibodies. PubMed was used to search for the RCT-studies. Results: ARIA-E varies between different types of antibodies. ARIA-E usually occurs early in treatment when the degree of amyloid b is highest in the brain. Most cases are asymptomatic and treatment resumes within 1-2 months. Conclusion: Aria-E frequency correlates strongly with dose strength as well as APOE4 -status and most of the incidences are asymptomatic. With the right titration and individually selected drugs as well as individual dosages a safe care can be established for patients with Alzheimer's disease. If treatment is initiated at an early stage, the risk of side effects is reduced and more neurons can be saved from atrophy. The combination of several different types of medicine will further reduce the risk of ARIA-E.

Overweight and obesity are enormous problems, causing both reduced life expectancy as well as socioeconomic consequences. In 2016, almost 40 % of the global population was classified as obese. Obesity is a major risk factor to numerous serious health issues, including high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and it is connected to an increased risk of certain types of cancer.    Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) approved by the European Union in 2022 for treatment of obesity and some types of overweight. Semaglutide supports the regulation of blood sugar, hunger and satiety, similar to the hormone glucagon-like peptid-1 (GLP-1).   This review examined research related to expected length of treatment for weight loss with semaglutide. Specifically, it considered whether it is an option to end treatment with semaglutide once the patient reached the target weight and improved health, or if continuous treatment with semaglutide is necessary to prevent weight regain.    The studies reviewed were connected to the clinical trials “Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity” (STEP), that studied change of weight. The basic design of these trials combined once weekly injections of Semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo with 150 minutes weekly exercise, 500 calories reduction in daily intake and ongoing supportive counselling. The trial objective, length and population varied, still all trials resulted in about 15 % mean weight loss with semaglutide treatment compared to 2-6 % with placebo treatment.    Investigation in changes in weight and cardiometabolic endpoints up to one year after discontinued 68 weeks of treatment, found that only -5% weight loss from base line remained, even with on-going lifestyle changes. Neither intensive behavioural therapy and 8 weeks of initial low-carb diet nor a prolonged 104 weeks study showed additional weight loss.    A questionnaire regarding the control of food cravings, hunger and satiety found that the semaglutide group had in average less cravings for savoury food and an increased control of general food craving than placebo.    It is not possible, based on examined trials of subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg, to conclude that ending treatment will result in a permanent stable weight loss, even with continued lifestyle changes and supportive follow ups. Additional research, especially on long-term treatment with semaglutide 2.4 mg, is needed to investigate results as weight loss, other improved parameters and reported side effects. Still the reported side effects have not raised any alarm and parameters connected to some of the serious risk factors that are increased when obese or over-weight were indicated as improved compared to placebo.    Despite the need for more research, the absence of severe adverse effects, above positive indications related to reduced risk factors, and the fact that nearly 70 % of participants in average lost at least -10 % of their weight at base line, and closer to 35 % lost at least 20 %, all support a positive view of semaglutide 2.4 mg as a potential lifelong treatment option. / Fetma är ett globalt hälsoproblem, med flera allvarliga följdsjukdomar som kan leda till både förkortad förväntad livslängd och socioekonomiska konsekvenser. Semaglutid är en glukagonliknande peptid-1 receptoragonist (GLP-1RA) som godkändes för behandling av fetma och viss övervikt av Europeiska unionen år 2022. Precis som kroppsegen glukagonliknande peptid-1 (GLP-1) stödjer semaglutid glukoshomeostas genom att både stimulera insulinproduktionen och hämma glukagonutsöndring. Semaglutid bidrar även till minskade hungerkänslor och ökad mättnadskänsla. Denna litteraturstudie har undersökt forskningsresultat gällande förväntad behandlingstid vid behandling av övervikt och fetma med veckovis subkutan semaglutid 2,4 mg; en kortare kur med semaglutid som följs av fortsatta livsstilsförändringar för att bibehålla önskad vikt, eller livslång farmakologisk behandling. Utvalda studier har varit kopplade till de randomiserade, dubbelblinda kliniska studierna ”Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity” (STEP) som undersökte procentuell viktnedgång och där livsstilsförändring i form av 150 min rörelse per vecka, 500 kalorier minskat dagligt kaloriintag samt uppföljningssamtal kombinerades med behandling med veckovis subkutan 2,4 mg semaglutid.  Samtliga studier, som undersökte förändring av vikt, gav trots skillnader i studiernas längd och andra parametrar likvärdiga effektkurvor som planade ut runt 15 % jämfört med omkring 2-6 % genomsnittlig viktreduktion för placebo. Efter 20 veckor sågs 10,6 % genomsnittlig viktnedgång, efter 68 veckor cirka 15 % och 104 veckors behandling med semaglutid gav inte ytterligare procentuell viktnedgång. Inte heller intensiv beteendeterapi eller inledande lågkalorikost bidrog till ökad viktnedgång. Däremot visade en av studierna en statistiskt signifikant förbättrad upplevd kontroll av begär efter mat och begär efter salta livsmedel för den grupp som behandlades med semaglutid.  Vid avbruten behandling återgick vikten till ungefär – 5% av ursprungsvikten efter 48-52 veckor utan semaglutid, oavsett om livsstilsförändringar bibehölls eller ej. Utifrån undersökta studier av subkutan semaglutid 2,4 mg går det inte att dra slutsatsen att en kortare behandlingskur åtföljs av en bestående viktminskning, inte ens i de fall där semaglutid ersätts med fortsatt icke-farmakologisk behandling i form av ökad rörelse, minskat kaloriintag samt kontinuerliga stödsamtal.  Fler långtidsstudier kring effekt och biverkan behövs, men rapporterad biverkan är framför allt lindrig och övergående, kardiometabola parametrar indikerar en förbättring jämfört med placebo men försämring vid avbruten behandling. Detta och en bibehållen viktnedgång där det för nästan 70 % leder det till minst 10 % viktminskning och närmare 35 % får minst 20 % bestående viktminskning är en anledning till att se positivt till möjlig livslång behandling med subkutan semaglutid 2.4 mg.

The overall aim of this thesis was to explore aspects of the subjective views and experiences of doctors as prescribers, focusing on responsibility for and factors of importance in achieving appropriate prescribing. To provide insights into the prescriber’s perspective the study designs were qualitative. In the first studies secondary care doctors’ perceptions of appropriate prescribing and influences in prescribing were investigated in interviews. The doctors perceived that appropriate prescribing needed continuous revision. From the perspective of the prescribers the definition of prescribing could be rephrased as: “the outcome of the recurring processes of decision making that maximises net individual health gains within society’s available resources”. Among the influences in prescribing were guidelines, colleagues and therapeutic traditions. In the subsequent studies the experiences of exchanging information regarding a patient’s drugs in an electronic patient medical record (e-PMR) shared between primary and secondary care and views of responsibility was explored, using focus groups with both primary and secondary care doctors. Considering the gap between health care levels, doctors’ views of responsibility in prescribing and exchange of information are of concern. The doctors expressed how they assume information to be in the e-PMR and active information transfer has decreased. On the other hand, they experienced an information overload in the e-PMR system. There is a need for improved and structured communication between health-care givers. Taking responsibility to review all the patient’s medications was perceived as important, but described as still not done. Lack of responsibility taken was often due to acts of omission, i.e. that doctors did not make needed changes to the list of medications due to different barriers. The barriers rested both with individual doctors and the system, but to ensure solutions that are realisable in practise, perspectives of the doctors need to be taken into consideration when overcoming those barriers.

Background: There is a widespread and increasing use of psychoactive prescription drugs, such as opioid analgesics, anxiolytics, hypnotics and anti-epileptics, but their use is associated with a risk of drug use disorder, misuse and abuse. Today, these are globally recognized and emerging public health concerns. Aim: The aim of this thesis is to estimate the prevalence of psychoactive prescription drug (PPD) use disorders, misuse and abuse, and to investigate the association with some potential risk factors. Methods: A study using register data from forensic cause of death investigations investigated and described cases of fatal unintentional intoxication with tramadol (Study I). Based on register data on spontaneously reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported cases of tramadol dependence were investigated and summarised (Study II). In a study in suspected drug-impaired drivers with a toxicology analysis confirming the intake of one out of five pre-specified PPDs, the prevalence of non-prescribed use was assessed and associated factors were investigated (Study III). From a cohort of patients initiating prescribed treatment with pregabalin, using data on prescription fills, a study investigated longitudinal utilisation patterns during five years with regards to use of the drug above the maximum approved daily dose (MAD), and factors associated with the utilisation patterns (Study IV). Results: In the first study, 17 cases of unintentional intoxications were identified, of which more concerned men, the median age was 44 years and the majority used multiple psychoactive substances (alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription drugs). The second study identified 104 spontaneously reported cases of tramadol dependence, in which more concerned women, the median age was 45 years, and a third reported a history of substance abuse and 40% of past psychoactive medication use. In the third study, more than half of the individuals suspected of drug-impaired driving used the drug without a recent prescription. Non prescribed use was most frequent in users of benzodiazepines and tramadol, and was more likely in younger individuals and in multiple-substance users. In the last paper five longitudinal utilisation patterns were found in pregabalin users, with two patterns associated with a particularly high risk of doses above the maximum approved dosing recommendation. This pattern of use was associated with male sex, younger age, non-urban residency and a recent prescribed treatment with an antiepileptic or opioid analgesic drug. Conclusions: This thesis shows that psychoactive prescription drug use disorders, misuse and abuse occur and may have serious and even fatal consequences. The prevalence varies between different drugs and populations. Abuse and misuse seem to be more common in young people. Fatal intoxications and misuse of prescribed drugs may be more common in men, while drug use disorders following prescribed treatment may be more common in women and non-prescribed use equally distributed between women and men. Individuals with a history of mental illness, substance use disorder or abuse, or of past use of psychoactive medications are likely important risk groups. In summary, the findings suggest a potential for improvements in the utilisation of psychoactive prescription drugs. The results may be useful in the planning of clinical and regulatory preventive interventions to promote the rational, individualised and safe use of such drugs.

Sammanfattning Sedan sjukdomen Covid-19s uppdykande i början av 2020 har forskning pågått för att karaktärisera sjukdomen ur alla tänkbara vinklar för att på kortast möjliga tid bereda väg för ett fungerande botemedel. Effektiva läkemedel som kan minska risken för allvarligt sjuka patienter att avlida i sjukdomen behövs; många preparat har föreslagits och testats och i Sverige har hittills två läkemedel godkänts för Covid-19. Ett av dessa är kortikosteroiden dexametason som godkänts för Covid-19-patienter i behov av syrgas eller respirator. Syftet med detta arbete var att undersöka hur effektiv kortikosteroidbehandling av svårt sjuka Covid-19-patienter var i jämförelse med standardbehandling utan kortikosteroider. En litteratursökning gjordes i PubMed och i covid-nma efter randomiserade kliniska studier av kortikosteroider jämfört med standardbehandling till patienter med Covid-19. Ur resultatet som inkluderade 7 kontrollerade studier med 7784 svårt sjuka patienter från 11 länder och fem kontinenter, gjordes en sammanvägning av den primära utfallsvariabeln mortalitet 28 dagar efter randomisering varpå relativ risk (RR) räknades ut individuellt per studie och sammanvägt för alla studier. Analysen gjordes också med den mest dominanta studien borträknad. Vidare utforskades möjliga samband mellan sjukdomsgrad och effektstorlek, dels genom ett försök till metaregression av studiemortalitet och andningshjälpsnivå mot RR som var inkonklusivt, men också genom att leta efter speciellt sjuka undergrupper i studierna. 3 studier rapporterade mortalitet efter 28 dagar, 1 studie rapporterade mortalitet efter 21 dagar, 2 studier rapporterade död på sjukhus och en studie rapporterade död efter 15 dagar. Testade preparat var dexametason, hydrokortison och metylprednisolon. Av 2885 patienter som randomiserats till någon kortikosteroid, dog 739, medan det av de 4899 som randomiserats till standardbehandling dog 1347 patienter vilket gav en icke signifikant RR på 0,93 (95% CI 0,86–1,01). Vid borträkning av den största studien som bestod av relativt friskare patienter erhölls en starkare och signifikant effekt med RR 0,80 (95% CI 0,70–0,92) baserat på 257 av 781 döda i steroidgrupperna jämfört med 237av 578 döda i någon kontrollgrupp med standardbehandling. Resultatet var även i linje med analysen av olika sjuka undergrupper från största studien som visade bäst effekt hos de med invasiv mekanisk andningshjälp (absolut riskreduktion 12,1%) samt en icke signifikant försämring hos de friskaste patienterna utan syrgasbehov. Sammantaget tyder dessa resultat på att behandling av svårt sjuka Covid-19-patienter med kortikosteroider minskar mortaliteten efter 28 dagar. Dessutom ger studien en stark indikation på att bästa effekten fås om kortikosteroiderna ges till patienter där den systemiska inflammationen i lungorna nått en gasutbyteshämmande nivå / ABSTRACT Since the emergence of the new corona virus disease, Covid-19, much research effort has gone into characterising every possible angle of the disease to pave the way for a possible cure in the shortest possible time. Effective therapies are needed that will reduce the risk of dying for severely to critically ill Covid-19 patients. Many existing therapies have been suggested, tested and repurposed for the treatment of Covid-19 but so far only two drugs have been approved in Sweden for this indication, namely the antiviral drug remdesivir and the corticosteroid dexamethasone. Corticosteroids are both immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory and when they were administered previously for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) and influenza they were found to increase the time to rid the body of virus. The purpose of this study was to investigate evidence found in the research literature of how effective corticosteroids are in reducing the risk of dying as compared to standard treatment with no corticosteroids when administered to hospitalised patients with severe Covid-19. A literature search was made in the PubMed and covid-nma databases for randomized clinical studies of corticosteroids versus standard treatment to patients with Covid-19. The result included 7 studies with 7784 patients from 11 countries and 5 continents which all reported death as an outcome in groups that were receiving corticosteroids compared to groups that were receiving standard care. The studies used one of the following corticosteroids as intervention: dexamethasone, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone in different doses. In the groups receiving standard care, 1347 patients out of 4899 died while in the corticosteroid groups 739 of 2885 patients died. When doing a statistical calculation these figures indicated that the risk of dying when getting corticosteroids was 93% of the risk when not getting corticosteroids, however the difference was not statistically significant. After omitting the largest study from the material, that contributed the absolute majority of total participants, who were deemed relatively healthy or well taken care of, the results were instead that 257 out of 781 died in the steroid groups and 237 of 578 died in the control groups. This later comparison among supposedly sicker patients, gave a statistically significant 8,1% lower absolute risk of dying in the corticosteroid groups; an effect that could also be expressed as for every 25 patients treated, 2 more lives would be saved. A further control of a more severely sick subgroup of patients from the largest study, in need of invasive mechanical ventilation, revealed an absolute reduction of the risk of dying when given corticosteroids of 12,1%. This group showed the most effectful response to the administered corticosteroids in this study which could also be expressed as 1 more life saved for every 8 patients treated. Another sub group analysis of the patients from the largest study that were not in need of any type of oxygen support, indicated on the other hand a possible harm of corticosteroids. This potentially harmful effect was however not statistically significant. In summary, the results of this study imply that administration of corticosteroids to patients with severe Covid-19 will reduce the risk of dying. The greatest effect is seen in those patients that has reached a level of illness were the gas exchange in the lungs is impaired by the inflammation. Furthermore, caution must be taken not to introduce harm by giving corticosteroids to patients with milder disease in which the immunosuppressive properties of the drug could lead to unintended worsening of the illness.

Introduction: Incident reporting systems have been implemented in health care for over a decade and contain reports of critical incidents (CI). These must be analyzed in order to suggest, implement and evaluate solutions for minimizing the risk of future CIs to occur, thereby increasing patient safety. Drug-related CIs (DRCI) are one type of CI which may represent up to 1/3rd of all CIs, therefore this CI-type is characterized in this study. Aim: To categorize and characterize DRCIs reported in the Critical Incident Reporting System North Rhine-Westphalia (CIRS-NRW). Materials & Methods: In this explorative, retrospective, descriptive study, 553 reports from the CIRS-NRW, reported between the 1st of January 2019 and the 15th of September 2021, were analyzed. These were categorized by setting, medication use process stage, ATC-code, patient age and look-alike, sound-alike (LASA), and then analyzed via descriptive statistics. Various subgroup analyses were also conducted. Results: DRCIs occurred mostly in the hospital (48,5%) and pharmacy (40,7%) settings, during the prescribing (33,8%) and administration (33,5%) of drugs and the ATC-codes N02 (9,4%), B01 (6,9%) and N05 (5,4%) were commonly involved. Patient age contained >50% missing data and LASA was involved in 16,5% of DRCIs. Subgroups were often small, likely resulting in low statistical power. Conclusion: By successfully characterizing the DRCIs, some potential areas of improvement for reducing future DRCIs were highlighted, however there are many more variables of relevance for patient safety than those analyzed in this study, underlining the need for further studies characterizing more DRCIs including additional variables.

Inledning: Sjuka barn behöver anpassad vård och säkra, effektiva och väldokumenterade läkemedel. Förskrivning och uttag av preparat för pediatriska populationen ökar, men en tydlig uppskattning på problematik finns inte. Problem kan uppstå, när en lämplig beredning saknas, när redan registrerade läkemedel saknar avdelade doser för barn eller är tillgängliga enbart som en tablett med vuxen dos. Varje barn sägs vara en individ med unika läkemedelsomsättning, metabolism och biverkningspanorama, vilket komplicerar behandling. Lösningen på detta är i många fall ett extemporeläkemedel eller ett licenspreparat, men långa ledtider och dålig tillgänglighet kan medföra svårigheter att kunna ge rätt terapi. Syftet med denna studie är att i) kartlägga behov och befintliga lösningar, ii) testa handhållna pulverdispenser (HPD) Quantos, som en lämplig metod för fasta beredningar för att tillhandahålla individuella läkemedelsdoser till barn i de fall godkända läkemedel inte räcker.  Metod: Databassökning, intervjuer av hälso-sjukvårdspersonal, samt laborativt arbete för att omformulera registrerade läkemedel i tablettformer till individanpassade doser i hårdgelatin-kapslar med hjälp av Mettler-Toledos handhållna pulverdoseringsinstrument HPD Quantos. Resultat: Litteraturstudien och intervjuer överensstämmer med varandra: behov av barnanpassade läkemedel finns. HPD Quantos kan vara en alternativ metod för fasta beredningar för att tillhandahålla mängderför uppdosering med en femte- och/ eller en sjättedel av en tablett. Slutsats: För att ombesörja behoven för barnanpassade doser på ett sjukhus, måste HPD Quantos automatiseras till en inbyggd doseringsstation. Detta kommer att säkerställa dosering, dölja obehaglig smak, samt minska arbetsmiljörisken vid exponering av toxiska läkemedel.

In healthcare, vulnerable populations that are using medications with a narrow therapeutic index and wide interpatient PK/PD (pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling) variability are increasing. As such, variable dosage regimens may result in severe therapeutic failures or adverse drug reactions (ADR). Improved monitoring of patient response to medication and personalization of treatment is therefore warranted. Precision dosing aims to individualize drug regimens for each patient based on independent factors obtained from a patient’s clinical records. Personalization of dosing increases the accuracy and efficiency of medication delivery. This can be achieved through utilizing the wide range of Electronic Health Records (EHR) contain the patients’ medical history, diagnoses, laboratory test results, demographics, treatment plans, biomarker data; information that can be exploited to generate a patient-specific treatment regimen. For example, Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is an existing healthcare standard that provides a framework on which semantic exchange of meaningful clinical information can be developed such as using an ontology as a decision support tool to achieve precision medicine. The purpose of this thesis is to make an investigation of the feasibility of interoperability in EHR and propose an ontology framework for precision dosing using currently existing health standards. The methodology involved carrying out of semi-structured interviews from professionals in relevant areas of expertise and document analysis of already existent literature, a precision dosing ontology framework is developed. Results show key tenants for an ontology framework and drugs and their covariates. The thesis therefore advances to investigate how data requirements in EHR systems, IT platforms, implementation, and integration of Model Imposed Precision Dosing (MIPD) and recommendations have been evaluated to cater to interoperability. With modern healthcare striving for personalized healthcare, precision medicine would offer an improved therapeutic experience for a patient.

Syfte: Syftet med examensarbetet var att undersöka individers kunskap om symboler för godkända apotek samt hur en sådan märkning och andra faktorer påverkar deras val av apotek ur ett säkerhetsperspektiv. Introduktion: I en kartläggning av Läkemedelsverket från 2008 hittades 51 illegala webbsidor som riktade sig till svenska apotekskunder. Dessa webbsidor sålde illegalt receptbelagda läkemedel utan krav på något recept från sina kunder. Att handla på illegala internetapotek kan utgöra risker såsom kontaminerade läkemedel, bristande information om läkemedlet eller att läkemedlet inte levereras. För att minska risken för att apotekskunder ska råka handla på illegala internetapotek finns det två symboler som används för att kontrollera internetapotek, en skapad av Läkemedelsverket (figur 1) och en skapad av Europeiska kommissionen (figur 2). Tanken är att kunden ska trycka på en av symbolerna på apotekets hemsida som sedan tar apotekskunden till Läkemedelsverkets lista på godkända internetapotek. Finns apotekets namn och webbadress i listan så är apoteket godkänt, gör det inte det så finns det en risk att webbsidan är ett illegalt internetapotek och bör därför inte handlas från. Material och metod: Ett elektroniskt frågeformulär med 10 frågor (bilaga A) togs fram utifrån syftet och skickades ut genom den sociala plattformen ”Facebook” genom studentens Facebook-konto. Formuläret innefattade frågor om vilka faktorer som får respondenter att välja internetapotek ur ett säkerhetsperspektiv och respondenternas kännedom om de två symbolerna för kontroll av internetapotek. Resultatet analyserades på gruppnivå så att ingen enskild kunde identifieras. Resultat och diskussion: Undersökningen visade att en majoritet av respondenterna (n=44, 59 %) hade sett den svenska symbolen för godkänt apotek (figur 1) från Läkemedelsverket. Dock var det en majoritet som inte visste vad den betydde (n=57, 77 %). När det gäller EU-symbolen för godkänt internetapotek (figur 2), visade sig att en majoritet av respondenterna varken hade sett den (n=58, 78 %) och ännu fler visste inte vad den betydde (n=62, 84 %). Respondenterna i studien kontrollerar apotek på lite olika sätt såsom att göra en egen bedömning om internetapoteket verkar säkert (n=21, 51 %) eller att de har sett apoteket i någon form av reklam (n=17, 41 %) (tabell II). För vissa var det dock inget de tänker på (n=10, 24 %) (tabell II). Slutsats: Examensarbetets slutsats är att majoriteten av respondenterna hade sett den svenska symbolen för godkända apotek men visste inte vad den innebär. EU-symbolen för godkända apotek hade få av respondenterna sett och ännu färre som visste vad den innebär. De vanligaste faktorerna för att välja internetapotek från ett säkerhetsperspektiv hos respondenterna var genom att de själva bedömde ifall ett internetapotek verkar säkert eller att de valde apotek som de tidigare sett från reklam. För vissa respondenter var det inte något de hade tänkt på direkt. / Aim: The aim of the degree project is to examine individual’s knowledge about symbols for approved pharmacy and how such a marking and other factors affect their choice of pharmacy from a safety perspective. Introduction: In a survey made by the Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA) from 2008, 51 illegal websites targeting Swedish pharmacy customers were found. These websites illegally sold prescription pharmaceuticals without the requirement of a prescription from their customers. Shopping on illegal internet pharmacies can have great risks like contaminated drugs, lack of information about the drugs or that the drugs never gets delivered. To lower the risk that pharmacy customers accidently buys medications from the illegal online pharmacies, two symbols have been created for Swedish pharmacy customers, one by the MPA (figure 1) and one by the European Commission (figure 2). The idea is that the customer is supposed to click on one of the symbols on an online pharmacy’s website which is linked to a list for approved online pharmacies at the website of the MPA. If the customer finds the name and web address of the pharmacy on that list, the customer will know that the pharmacy is approved. But if the name and address isn’t found on the list, the pharmacy can be illegal, and the customer should avoid from shopping from the pharmacy. Material and methods: An electronic questionnaire with 10 question (Appendix A) was created in regard of the aim and sent out via the social platform “Facebook” through the students Facebook account. The survey included questions about which factors, from a security perspective, that influence the respondents to choose an online pharmacy and the respondents’ knowledge about the two symbols for controlling if an online pharmacy is approved. The results were analysed at a group level so that no individuals could be identified. Results and Discussion: The survey showed that a majority of the respondents had seen the Swedish symbol for approved pharmacy (figure 1) from the MPA (n=44, 59 %). However, a majority did not know what it means (n=57 or 77 %). Regarding the EU-symbol for approved pharmacy (figure 2), it turned out that most of the respondents had not seen it (n=58, 78 %) and even more didn’t know what it means (n=62, 84 %). The respondents in the study controlled pharmacies in different ways, for example making their own assessment if an online pharmacy seems safe (n=21, 51 %) or that they choose an online pharmacy that they have seen on some sort of commercial (n=17, 41 %) (Table II). For some it wasn’t something they thought about (n=10, 24 %) (Table II). Conclusions: The conclusion is that most of the respondents had seen the Swedish symbol for approved pharmacy but did not know what it means. Few respondents had seen the EU-symbol for approved pharmacy and even fewer knew what it means. The most common factors influencing the respondents’ choice of a pharmacy, from a security perspective, was by making their own assessment if the online pharmacy seems safe or choose a pharmacy which they have seen from a commercial. For some of the respondents, it wasn’t something they considered when choosing pharmacy.