Robust parametric indirect estimates of the expected cost of a hospital stay with covariates and censored data.

We consider the problem of estimating the mean hospital cost of stays of a class of patients (e.g., a diagnosis-related group) as a function of patient characteristics.

Clonal heterogeneity and chromosomal instability at disease presentation in high hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Although aneuploidy has many possible causes, it often results from underlying chromosomal instability (CIN) leading to an unstable karyotype with cell-to-cell variation and multiple subclones. To test for the presence of CIN in high hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HeH ALL) at diagnosis, we investigated 20 patients (10 HeH ALL and 10 non-HeH ALL), using automated four-color interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) with centromeric probes for chromosomes 4, 6, 10, and 17. In HeH ALL, the proportion of abnormal cells ranged from 36.

Impact of job insecurity on sexual desire: an exploratory analysis.

Principles: To explore, for the first time, the impact of job insecurity on sexual desire.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample of 7247 individuals aged 20-64 years working as full or part-time employees in Switzerland.

Results: The logistic regression analysis showed that workers aged 20-49 years perceiving high levels of job insecurity are exposed to a significantly higher risk of decrease of sexual desire compared to the reference group.

New approaches to reimbursement schemes based on patient classification systems and their comparison.

We propose reimbursement schemes based on patient classification systems (PCSs) that include adjustments for length of stay (LOS) and exceptional costs and are designed to minimize undesirable effects of economic incentives. In addition, a statistical approach to compare the schemes and the underlying PCSs is proposed, where costs and LOSs for two successive years are used. The first year data provides estimates of the class cost means and the next year's reimbursements which are compared with the second year's costs.

Validation of the potentially avoidable hospital readmission rate as a routine indicator of the quality of hospital care.

Background: The hospital readmission rate has been proposed as an important outcome indicator computable from routine statistics. However, most commonly used measures raise conceptual issues.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the usefulness of the computerized algorithm for identifying avoidable readmissions on the basis of minimum bias, criterion validity, and measurement precision.

[Evaluation of satisfaction of nurses: development and validation of a new analysis tool].

A new device for the analyses of nurses' satisfaction has been developed and validated on two types of general and intensive treatments at the University Hospital in Vaudois, Switzerland. A questionnaire has been elaborated for identifying the variables linked with characteristics of the nurse's work, as well as personal variables of the employer which could have an influence on the level of satisfaction. In identifying the sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, it has been possible to propose recommendations and corrective measures in order to improve the level of global satisfaction of the nursing team.