Björn Wettermark gives the answers in SVT's Fråga Doktorn

Fråga Doktorn (“Ask the doctor”) attracts more than 500,000 viewers, how does that feel?
It's a new territory for me, so exciting and different are the first words that come to my mind. We taped the program last week, and with Fråga Doktorn being one of Sweden's most watched shows, it is perhaps inevitable that I now wonder what I actually said and whether it really came out right.

How did you end up in the Fråga Doktorn studio?
Swedish Television invited me to a digital meeting to discuss adverse drug reactions. At the end of the conversation, I was asked to participate in the show, and my basic principle is to accept assignments that fall within the universitys' third mission. Sometimes it brings me far beyond my comfort zone, but science outreach is and must remain a central part of our work.

How was the recording of Fråga Doktorn made?
We filmed everything in one take, so it felt really intense. In this particular program, in addition to host Sofia Rågenklint and doctor Jens Persson, Sara Norberg, a clinical pharmacist in rural Storuman and alumnus from Uppsala University's Master's Programme in Clinical Pharmacy, also participates. We had not met before, and it was very interesting to learn about her professional experiences.

Which questions from the public do you address in the program?
Despite 44 minutes going quickly, we managed to discuss quite a few important issues. Among them is the nocebo effect, which is the opposite of the placebo effect and means that patients with negative expectations of a treatment can experience side effects even though they do not exist. A modern example was observed in the clinical trials of the Covid vaccine, when several people described side effects despite receiving placebo.

Anything you would have liked to address a bit more?
We only had time to touch on how to do scientific studies of side effects, and here, I would gladly have spent a few more minutes on our Swedish registers and the amazing sources they provide for research and new knowledge on the effects and safety of drugs in real life. But again, we had a lot to discuss and time was limited.

What do you wish viewers will take home after watching the show?
I fully understand that people can experience concerns about side effects, but the fact is that drugs are fantastic creations and without them many of us would not be alive today. The best effect is achieved if you, in dialogue with your prescribing physician, follow the treatment plan as intended. However, it is also important to listen to your body, to be curious and act if something feels strange. There are many opportunites to maximise the benefit and minimise the risks through choosing the right drug and individualizing the dose.

Finally, when will we see you on the screen again?
I probably need to watch the program and see the reactions before I start planning for new adventures in TV-land. But the host Sofia Rågenklint was a true professional in creating a nice and comprehensible frame for the conversation, so hopefully I will land comfortably enough when I see myself to dare to say yes to any future offers.

text: Magnus Alsne, photo: SVT, Mikael Wallerstedt a o