Siri Jensen

• Lenander, Cecilia; Persson, Amelie; Hassani, Hajer Al; Hedin, Katarina; Høye, Sigurd & Jensen, Siri [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2026). Import of antibiotics by air travellers – an observational study at airports in Sweden and Norway. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control. 15. doi: 10.1186/s13756-026-01816-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Overuse and misuse of antibiotics are two of the main drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In some countries antibiotics can be purchased over the counter, whereas in Scandinavia and most of Europe, antibiotics require a prescription. It is permitted to bring medicines for personal use to Scandinavia. This raises concerns about whether antibiotics are being imported into low-prescribing countries, such as Scandinavia, via international airports. We aimed to investigate the quantity and types of antibiotics imported by air travellers entering Norway and Sweden, based on routine customs inspections at international airports. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted during daytime over five weekdays at three international airports in Sweden and Norway. Anonymous data including the presence, type, and quantity of antibiotics, were registered alongside routine customs inspections. Defined daily doses (DDDs) were calculated for oral antibiotics. Substances were categorised according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) AWaRe classification (Access, Watch and Reserve). Results Out of around 137,500 travellers arriving from abroad, 406 (0.30%) were inspected at routine customs inspections, of whom 57 (14%) carried antibiotics, corresponding to 643 DDDs. Inspected travellers from outside the EEA more often carried antibiotics than those within EEA ( p  < 0.001). More than one-third of the antibiotics were classified as ‘Watch’ according to the AWaRe classification. Conclusion We found that 14% of inspected international air travellers carried antibiotics. These antibiotics may be used without medical guidance, raising health risks and the risk of AMR. The findings highlight a potential need for public education and/or strengthened regulatory measures.

• Domen, Julie; Aabenhus, Rune; Balan, Anca; Bongard, Emily; Böhmer, Femke & Lang, Valerija Bralić [Show all 24 contributors for this article] (2025). The effect of a GP’s perception of a patient request for antibiotics on antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections: secondary analysis of a point-prevalence audit survey in 18 European countries. British Journal of General Practice Open. 9(2), p. 0166–0166. doi: 10.3399/bjgpo.2024.0166. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Illness severity, comorbidity, fever, age, and symptom duration influence antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections (RTI). Non-medical determinants, such as patient expectations, also impact prescribing. Aim To quantify the effect of a GP’s perception of a patient request for antibiotics on antibiotic prescribing for RTI and investigate effect modification by medical determinants and country. Design & setting Prospective audit of general practices in 18 European countries. Method Consultation data were registered of 4982 patients presenting with acute cough and/or sore throat. A mixed-effect logistic regression model analysed the effect of GPs’ perceptions of a patient request for antibiotics. Two-way interaction terms assessed effect modification. Relevant clinical findings were added to subgroups of lower RTI (LRTI), throat infection, and influenza-like-illness (ILI). Results A GP’s perception of a request for antibiotics meant they were four times more likely to prescribe antibiotics (odds ratio [OR] 4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.4 to 5.5). This effect varied by country: lower in Spain (OR 0.06), Ukraine (OR 0.15), and Greece (OR 0.22) compared with the lowest prescribing country. The effect was higher for ILI (OR 13.86, 95% CI = 5.5 to 35) and throat infection (OR 5.1, 95% CI = 3.1 to 8.4) than for LRTI (OR 2.9, 95% CI = 1.9 to 4.3). For ILI and LRTI, GPs were more likely to prescribe antibiotics with abnormal lung auscultation and/or increased or purulent sputum and for throat infection, with tonsillar exudate and/or swollen tonsils. Conclusion GPs’ perceptions of an antibiotic request and specific clinical findings influence antibiotic prescribing. Incorporating exploration of patient expectations, point-of-care testing, and discussing watchful waiting into the decision-making process will benefit appropriate prescribing of antibiotics.

• Velden, Alike van der; Pol, Alma C van der; Bongard, Emily; Cainci, Daniela; Aabenhus, Rune & Balan, Anca [Show all 28 contributors for this article] (2021). Point-of care testing, antibiotic prescribing, and prescribing confidence for respiratory tract infections in primary care: a prospective audit in 18 European countries. British Journal of General Practice Open. 6(2). doi: 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0212. Full text in Research Archive
• Eig, Ruth Davey; Harbin, Nicolay Jonassen; Gjelstad, Svein; Høye, Sigurd; Jensen, Siri & Lindbæk, Morten [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). RASK – Promoting appropriate use of antibiotics in municipal healthcare institutions. In Simonsen, Gunnar Skov; Blix, Hege Salvesen; Grave, Kari & Urdahl, Anne Margrete (Ed.), NORM/NORM-vet 2019. Usage of Antimicrobial Agents and Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Norway. NORM/NORM-VET. p. 42–43. Full text in Research Archive
• Harbin, Nicolay Jonassen; Eig, Ruth Davey; Høye, Sigurd; Gjelstad, Svein; Jensen, Siri & Lindbæk, Morten [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Antibiotic use in nursing homes. In Simonsen, Gunnar Skov; Blix, Hege Salvesen; Grave, Kari & Urdahl, Anne Margrete (Ed.), NORM/NORM-vet 2019. Usage of Antimicrobial Agents and Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Norway. NORM/NORM-VET. p. 42–42. Full text in Research Archive
• Touboule-Lundgren, Pia; Jensen, Siri; Drai, Johan & Lindbæk, Morten (2015). Identification of cultural determinants of antibiotic use cited in primary care in Europe: A mixed research synthesis study of integrated design "culture is all around us" Health behavior, health promotion and society. BMC Public Health. 15:908. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2254-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  BACKGROUND: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, particularly for respiratory tract infections (RTI) in ambulatory care, has become a worldwide public health threat due to resulting antibiotic resistance. In spite of various interventions and campaigns, wide variations in antibiotic use persist between European countries. Cultural determinants are often referred to as a potential cause, but are rarely defined. To our knowledge, so far no systematic literature review has focused on cultural determinants of antibiotic use. The aim of this study was to identify cultural determinants, on a country-specific level in ambulatory care in Europe, and to describe the influence of culture on antibiotic use, using a framework of cultural dimensions. METHOD: A computer-based systematic literature review was conducted by two research teams, in France and in Norway. Eligible publications included studies exploring antibiotic use in primary care in at least two European countries based on primary study results, featuring a description of cultural determinants, and published between 1997 and 2015. Quality assessment was conducted independently by two researchers, one in each team, using appropriate checklists according to study design. Each included paper was characterized according to method, countries involved, sampling and main results, and cultural determinants mentioned in each selected paper were extracted, described and categorized. Finally, the influence of Hofstede's cultural dimensions associated with antibiotic consumption within a primary care setting was described. RESULTS: Among 24 eligible papers, 11 were rejected according to exclusion criteria. Overall, 13 papers meeting the quality assessment criteria were included, of which 11 used quantitative methods and two qualitative or mixed methods. The study participants were patients (nine studies) and general practitioners (two studies). This literature review identified various cultural determinants either patient-related (illness perception/behaviour, health-seeking behaviour, previous experience, antibiotic awareness, drug perception, diagnosis labelling, work ethos, perception of practitioner) or practitioner-related (RTI management, initial training, antibiotic awareness, legal issues, practice context) or both (antibiotic awareness). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Cultural factors should be considered as exerting an ubiquitous influence on all the consecutive stages of the disease process and seem closely linked to education. Interactions between determinant categories, cultural dimensions and antibiotic use in primary care are multiple, complex and require further investigation within overlapping disciplines. The context of European projects seems particularly

• Jensen, Siri; Lie, Anne Kveim; Eliassen, Knut Eirik; Lindbæk, Morten & Gradmann, Christoph (2012). Antibiotikaresistens i Norge-aktørseminar 16.01.2008. Michael Quarterly. ISSN 1504-0658. 9(1), p. 13–79. Full text in Research Archive
• Jensen, Siri; Lie, Anne Kveim; Eliassen, Knut Eirik; Lindbæk, Morten & Gradmann, Christoph (2012). Erindringer om resistens- Et aktørseminar om antibiotikaresistensens historie. Michael Quarterly. ISSN 1504-0658. 9(1), p. 7–12. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.10.0283. Full text in Research Archive
• Jensen, Siri; Lindbæk, Morten; Gradmann, Christoph & Lie, Anne Kveim (2010). Erindringer om antibiotikaresistensens historie. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 24(130), p. 2494–2498. Full text in Research Archive

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• Høye, Sigurd; Jensen, Siri; Sundseth, Anne Cathrine & Rosvold, Elin Olaug (2011). Allsangmedisin. Allmennmedisinsk sangbok og festskrift til Jørund Straand og Morten Lindbæk 60 år. Universitetet i Oslo. ISBN 9788230317365. 125 p. Full text in Research Archive

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• Jensen, Siri (2017). Antibiotikaresistens nasjonalt og globalt. Full text in Research Archive
• Jensen, Siri (2017). Hva påvirker utviklingen av resistens og hva kan vi gjøre? Full text in Research Archive
• Jensen, Siri (2017). Antibiotikaresistens – hva påvirker utviklingen av resistens og hva kan vi gjøre? Full text in Research Archive
• Jensen, Siri (2017). Patient expectation in consultations with RTI’s in a GP setting in Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Jensen, Siri (2017). Patient expectations in consultations with RTI's in a GP setting in Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Lindbæk, Morten; Jensen, Siri; Eliassen, Knut Eirik; Fetveit, Arne; Grude, Nils & Berild, Dag [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2013). New guidelines for use of antibiotics in the primary health care service. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. Full text in Research Archive

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