Increasing Dutch adolescents' willingness to register their organ donation preference: the effectiveness of an education programme delivered by kidney transplantation patients.

Background: This study assessed the effects of an educational programme about organ donation delivered by (ex-)patients with a successfully transplanted donor kidney on the willingness of adolescents to register their organ donation preference.

Methods: A total of 319 secondary school students were randomly assigned to a control group who received no specific educational information about organ donation or to an experimental group who received a 45-min lesson provided by an (ex-)patient. The lesson consisted of a presentation of basic facts about organ donation, the patient's own experiences with organ donation and a discussion with the students about organ donation and related issues.

Sick leave in workers with asthma and COPD: the role of attitudes, perceived social norms and self efficacy.

We investigated associations of sick leave in 165 workers with asthma and COPD with three components of the Model of Planned Behavior (MPB): attitudes, social norms towards sick leave, and perceived control over sick leave and over health complaints. All participants underwent lung-function tests and completed questionnaires on sick leave, and on the MPB-components. Differences were calculated between high and low sick leave (frequency and duration) for the total group of asthma and COPD and separately for asthma and COPD.

Noncompliance with ocular hypotensive treatment in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension an evidence-based review.

Objective: To summarize the available scientific evidence to support clinical decisions on how to deal with noncompliance in glaucoma patients.

Clinical Relevance: Insufficient reduction of intraocular pressure and progression of visual field (VF) loss in glaucoma patients due to noncompliance with topical treatment may result in unnecessary therapy, with additional risks and costs.

Methods/literature Reviewed: We conducted a literature search in the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychInfo, and Cochrane and reference lists.

Bilateral profound hearing loss due to meningeal carcinomatosis.

Meningeal carcinomatosis (MC) is an uncommon form of metastasis of solid tumors. Hearing loss as the presenting symptom of MC is very uncommon. A patient with an esophageal signet ring cell carcinoma 3 years previously presented with sudden onset of profound hearing loss affecting both ears.

The effects of a systematically developed photo-novella on knowledge, attitudes, communication and behavioural intentions with respect to sexually transmitted infections among secondary school learners in South Africa.

A pre-post test follow-up design was used to test the effects of a systematically developed photo-novella (Laduma) on knowledge, attitudes, communication and behavioural intentions with respect to sexually transmitted infections, after a single reading by 1168 secondary school learners in South Africa. The reading resulted in an increase in knowledge on the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), change in attitude to condom use and towards people with STIs and/or HIV/AIDS, as well as increased intention to practice safe sex. Laduma did not influence communication about sexually transmitted infections and reported sexual behaviour and condom use.

Knowledge base and preferred methods of obtaining knowledge of glaucoma patients.

Purpose: To gather information regarding patient's understanding of glaucoma and the manner in which patients wish to learn about the disease with the intent of improving patient education.

Methods: Forty-four of sixty randomly selected ophthalmologists (73%) asked four of their patients consecutively to complete a questionnaire about glaucoma. The selection of questions was based on focus group interviews and suggestions from several experts.

Long-term efficacy of a checklist to improve patient education in cardiology.

In a randomised controlled trial a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) checklist intended to prepare coronary artery disease (CAD) outpatients for a medical check-up visit at the cardiologist was evaluated. The checklist was mailed to patients in preparation to their visits after 1, 4 and 10 months following patients' discharge from hospitalisation for CAD. It was hypothesised that the intervention would result in lower state anxiety, better patient-doctor communication, more knowledge of CAD and greater patient satisfaction, while it would not result in longer visits.

Effectiveness of multifocal intraocular lenses to correct presbyopia after cataract surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Although monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) are effective in improving vision after cataract surgery, the loss of accommodation is not restored by implantation of these IOLs. Because multifocal IOLs may improve uncorrected distance and near vision, we compared the clinical outcome and patient satisfaction after implantation of monofocal and multifocal IOLs. Sociodemographics, eagerness for spectacle independence (ESI), and neuroticism were tested as predictors of satisfaction.

Cost effectiveness of foldable multifocal intraocular lenses compared to foldable monofocal intraocular lenses for cataract surgery.

Aim: To analyse the cost effectiveness of foldable monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) compared to foldable multifocal IOLs in cataract surgery alongside a prospective, multicentre randomised clinical trial (RCT).

Methods: Patients underwent cataract surgery with bilateral monofocal (n = 97) or multifocal (n = 93) IOL implantation. Cost data and patient preferences, using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the time trade-off (TTO), and the standard gamble (SG) technique were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively by structured interviews.

The association between stressful life events and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women in Western societies. Studies examining the relationship between stressful life events and breast cancer risk have produced conflicting results. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to identify studies on this relationship, between 1966 and December 2002, to summarize and quantify the association and to explain the inconsistency in previous results.

Predictors of long-term adherence to pelvic floor muscle exercise therapy among women with urinary incontinence.

This study assessed predictors of long-term adherence to pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) therapy including a health education programme among women with urinary incontinence. Sequential multiple regression analyses revealed several significant predictors that predicted 50% of variance in long-term adherence behavior. Short-term adherence significantly predicted long-term adherence.

18FDG-Positron emission tomography for the early prediction of response in advanced soft tissue sarcoma treated with imatinib mesylate (Glivec).

Imatinib mesylate (Glivec, formerly STI571) is the first effective systemic treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs). Major changes in tumour volume, however, tend to occur late after the start of treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate if [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) can be used for the early evaluation of response to imatinib mesylate treatment in soft-tissue sarcomas (STS).

Effective methods to change sex-risk among drug users: a review of psychosocial interventions.

This review examines the current state of knowledge on the effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions with respect to sexual behavior among the population of drug users. The review focuses specifically on the relation between intervention methods found to be effective and the underlying theory. Electronic searches were conducted and supplemented by publications gathered through other channels.

Provider-patient interaction in diabetes care: effects on patient self-care and outcomes. A systematic review.

A systematic review of the research literature using Medline, Embase, Psyclit/Psycinfo and the Cochrane Library files 1980 through 2001, identified only eight publications based on well-designed studies involving randomised controlled trials (RCTs)--testing the effects of modification of provider-patient interaction and provider consulting style on patient diabetes self-care and diabetes outcomes, in general practice or hospital outpatient settings. Review of these publications leads to the tentative conclusion that focusing on patient behaviour--directly enhancing patient participation i.e.

Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise therapy supplemented with a health education program to promote long-term adherence among women with urinary incontinence.

Aims: A longitudinal randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapeutic pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) therapy supplemented with a health education program to promote long-term adherence among women with stress, mixed, and urge urinary incontinence (UI).

Methods: Women (n = 129) were evaluated by their general practitioner (GP) and randomized in either the control group (PFME therapy alone) or one of the three experimental groups (PFME therapy with one of the three health education program versions). Therapy consisted of 9-18 individual 30 min sessions with a specialized physiotherapist, over 14-22 weeks.

Quality of care from the perspective of the cataract patient. QUOTE cataract questionnaire.

Purpose: To examine the potential of a questionnaire (QUOTE Cataract) to measure quality of care from the perspective of cataract patients in quality-assurance or improvement programs.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, and Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Methods: Cataract patients (N = 540) who had cataract surgery 2 to 8 months previously rated 31 quality-of-care aspects in terms of importance (range 0, not important, to 10, extremely important) and performance (0 = yes, 1 = no).

Program development for promoting adherence during and after exercise therapy for urinary incontinence.

This paper presents the development process of a health education program to promote adherence to a pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) therapy for women with urinary incontinence (UI). The development process started with a needs assessment phase in which the health problem, health-related quality of life, and behavioral and environmental determinants were assessed. Guided by the intervention mapping (IM) approach, program objectives were formulated and, on the basis of both empirical and theoretical data, intervention methods for influencing determinants of adherence to PFME therapy were chosen and translated into practical strategies.

Quality of care from the perspective of the cataract patient: the reliability and validity of the QUOTE-cataract.

Background/aims: To assess reliability and validity of the QUOTE-cataract, a questionnaire that measures the quality of care from the perspective of cataract patients.

Methods: The QUOTE-cataract was tested in a multicentre study among 540 cataract patients in three different hospitals. Reliability was represented by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and repeatability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)).

Factors related to fear in patients undergoing cataract surgery: a qualitative study focusing on factors associated with fear and reassurance among patients who need to undergo cataract surgery.

The aim was to identify factors that are related to fear among patients who need to undergo cataract surgery. The data were collected by focus group interviews (n=27). The doctor-patient relationship, patient education, the wait, hospital organization, social support, sensations, previous experience, outcome of surgery, and coping strategies were identified as the main factors that contribute to feelings of fear related to cataract surgery.

Implementing a surgery-patient education program as a routine practice: a study conducted in two Dutch hospitals.

Evaluation of existing patient education practices has shown a lack of sufficient preoperative training, despite evidence that such training benefits facing surgery. In close cooperation with their respective medical and nursing staffs, a surgery-patient education program was developed and implemented in two Dutch hospitals. The program was based on empirical findings regarding the effectiveness of various methods used to prepare patients for surgery and, on theory, comparing differences in patients' desires to exert personal control.

1,3,5-Triazine templated self-assembly of a hexameric copper(I) chloride triphenyl phosphite core.

The reaction of CuCl, P(OPh)(3), and 1,3,5-triazine (Trz) in CHCl(3) produces [(CuCl)(6)(P(OPh)(3))(6)(Trz)(2)] via molecular self-assembly. An X-ray structural study has revealed a D(3d) symmetry hexamer containing an oblate spheroid core. The core consists of a Cu(6)Cl(6) macrocycle, which is capped by two mu(3)-Trz ligands.

Patient satisfaction after corneal transplantation.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between objective and subjective outcome measures and patient satisfaction after corneal transplantation.

Methods: Data were collected for 184 patients who underwent a corneal transplantation between 1 and 5 years ago. Only patients with the diagnosis of bullous keratopathy, endothelial decompensation (or Fuchs dystrophy), nonherpetic keratitis, and keratoconus were included.

Predictors of organ donation registration among Dutch adolescents.

Background: In 1998, a new organ donor registration scheme was implemented in the Netherlands in order to increase the number of potential donors and to facilitate decisions and procedures concerning organ donation. However, registration rate and registration choices failed to meet the expectations.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey among a random sample of 1,731 Dutch adolescents of 18 and 19 years was conducted to study potential determinants of organ donor registration choices.