The impact of self-perceived limitations, stigma and sense of coherence on quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients: results of a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To examine the impact of perceived limitations, stigma and sense of coherence on quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands.

[Education within the Dutch National Care for the Elderly Programme].

The Netherlands Organisation of Health Research and Development started in 2008 the Dutch National Care for the Elderly Programme (in Dutch abbreviated as NPO) with the aim to improve the quality of life for the frail older people through better quality of care (health, social, community) which is tailored to the needs and wants of older people. The delivery of good care is related with competent professional behaviour which is inextricably linked to the education of professionals. This article presents an overview of 32 educational programmes developed within the NPO.

Essential competencies for the education of nursing assistants and care helpers in elderly care.

Background: The Dutch health care system faces huge challenges with regard to the demand on elderly care and the competencies of professionals required to meet this demand. However, a recent study showed that the curricula in vocational education for nursing assistants and care helpers remains inadequate to prepare them for the social and healthcare needs of the elderly.

Objective: To determine the essential competencies for the initial education of nursing assistants and care helpers in elderly care.

Interprofessional education in primary care for the elderly: a pilot study.

Background: The Dutch health care system faces huge challenges with regard to the demand on elderly care and the competencies of nurses and physicians required to meet this demand.At present, the main focus of health care in the Netherlands lies on illness and treatment. However, (frail) elderly need care and support that takes their daily functioning and well-being into consideration as well.

Prevalence of chronic health conditions in children with intellectual disability: a systematic literature review.

A systematic review of the prevalence rates of chronic health conditions in populations of children with intellectual disability was provided. We identified 2,994 relevant studies by searching Medline, Cinahl, and PsycINFO databases from 1996 to 2008. We included the 31 studies that had sufficient methodological quality.

Effects of case management for frail older people or those with chronic illness: a systematic review.

Background: Financial constraints and quality requirements demand that interventions selected are most effective. A previous systematic review of the effectiveness of the patient advocacy case management model was not found.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of patient advocacy case management on service use and healthcare costs for impaired older people or adults with a chronic somatic disease living in the community.

The quality of caring relationships.

In health care, relationships between patients or disabled persons and professionals are at least co-constitutive for the quality of care. Many patients complain about the contacts and communication with caregivers and other professionals. From a care-ethical perspective a good patient-professional relationship requires a process of negotiation and shared understanding about mutual normative expectations.

What is it to be a daughter? Identities under pressure in dementia care.

This article concentrates on the care for people who suffer from progressive dementia. Dementia has a great impact on a person's well-being as well as on his or her social environment. Dealing with dementia raises moral issues and challenges for participants, especially for family members.

Results of a multidisciplinary program for patients with fibromyalgia implemented in the primary care.

Purpose: Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of unknown origin with a high prevalence. Multimodal approaches seem to be the treatment of choice in fibromyalgia. A multidisciplinary program was developed and implemented for patients with fibromyalgia in the primary care setting.

Care as a mutual endeavour: experiences of a multiple sclerosis patient and her healthcare professionals.

In Dutch healthcare policy patients are seen as informed, autonomous experts and active decision makers with control over their illness and care. Healthcare professionals are expected to operate as providers of information. The purpose of this article is to argue that the consumerist approach of the patient-professional relationship is not a productive way to envision the patient-professional relationship.

Two women with multiple sclerosis and their caregivers: conflicting normative expectations.

It is not uncommon that nurses are unable to meet the normative expectations of chronically ill patients. The purpose of this article is to describe and illustrate Walker's expressive-collaborative view of morality to interpret the normative expectations of two women with multiple sclerosis. Both women present themselves as autonomous persons who make their own choices, but who also have to rely on others for many aspects of their lives, for example, to find a new balance between work and social contacts or to find work.

Reducing discrepancies between MS patients' needs and use of healthcare services by applying a transmural care model.

The Dutch healthcare system is effective for patients with acute, uncomplicated health problems but ineffective for patients with complex, chronic health problems such as multiple sclerosis (MS). To tackle these deficits, special working parties and the Dutch Ministry of Health concluded that healthcare professionals from primary and hospital settings should, by mutual agreement, cooperation, and shared responsibility, better coordinate their care and tailor care to meet patients' individual needs. In the Netherlands this approach is called transmural care.