Åsa Thurfjell
About me
My doctoral project aims to increase knowledge about whether the blood test Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a useful way to identify hazardous alcohol use, in connection with treatment of hypertension in primary health care.
I am a specialist in general medicine. In my work at the health care centre, I support patients in adopting healthy lifestyles. In my role for the Stockholm region as an expert in health promotion, I have the opportunity to work on how interventions for healthy lifestyle habits can become even more integrated into healthcare.
Research
My doctoral project focuses on identifying hazardous alcohol use in primary health care. Unfortunately, hazardous alcohol use is often not identified, and therefore, patients may not be offered support to reduce their alcohol consumption. The focus of my doctoral project is the blood test PEth, which mirrors the alcohol consumption over the past few weeks. PEth has started to be used more and more in Swedish primary health care, but studies in this context are few.
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In a qualitative study, we have examined general practitioners’ experiences with PEth in hypertension. General practitioners have found that PEth facilitates obtaining a reliable picture of alcohol and that PEth improves the dialogue about alcohol. In an ongoing qualitative study, we are studying patients’ perspectives on PEth in treatment of their hypertension. We have also mapped alcohol consumption using the AUDIT questionnaire and the PEth blood test in a cross-sectional study.
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Effective routines for identifying hazardous alcohol use can increase the use of interventions supporting patients to reduce their alcohol consumption.
Articles
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Article: LAKARTIDNINGEN. 2024;121:23121
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Article: BJGP OPEN. 2023;7(4):BJGPO.2023.0037
Employments
- Phd Student, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2025
Degrees and Education
- University Medical Degree, Karolinska Institutet, 1996