Publications by authors named "Diekmann A"

Objective: To identify a) interruptions (secondary activities disrupting the workflow of the main task) occurring during case discussions in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTCs) with patient participation, and b) observable reactions among patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Methods: Within the non-interventional mixed-methods study PINTU, we video-recorded five case discussions during MTCs with patient participation at one breast and gynecological cancer center. A qualitative sequential video interaction analysis was used to identify interruptions and related interactions.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study examined how patients felt about their shared decision-making (SDM) experiences after participating or not participating in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTCs) over a 4-week period.
  • It included feedback from 317 patients, comparing those who attended the MTCs (82 patients) versus those who did not (145 patients), using surveys and audio transcripts.
  • Findings revealed that while SDM experiences improved after 4 weeks (p<0.001), patients who participated in MTCs reported lower satisfaction directly after the conference, suggesting that changes in MTC organization, like using a round table seating, could enhance these experiences.
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The article investigates how socioeconomic background affects noise annoyance caused by residential road traffic in urban areas. It is argued that the effects of socioeconomic variables (migration background, education, and income) on noise annoyance tend to be underestimated because these effects are mainly indirect. We specify three indirect pathways.

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Background: In some breast and gynaecologic cancer centres in Germany, patients participate in their own case discussion in multidisciplinary tumour conferences (MTCs), where treatment recommendations are discussed and finalized. However, the extent to which patients in MTCs are involved in decision-making on treatment recommendations remains largely unexplored. Hence, this study investigates how recommendations are communicated to patients and the extent to which the interactions with patients in MTCs are in line with shared decision-making (SDM).

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Environmental microplastic (MP) is ubiquitous in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems providing artificial habitats for microbes. Mechanisms of MP colonization, MP polymer impacts, and effects on soil microbiomes are largely unknown in terrestrial systems. Therefore, we experimentally tested the hypothesis that MP polymer type is an important deterministic factor affecting MP community assembly by incubating common MP polymer types in situ in landfill soil for 14 months.

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Objective: Patients' participation is part of patient-centeredness, but it is so far unclear whether providers in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTCs) with patient participation communicate in a patient-centered way. Our aim is to explore (a) to what extent providers ask questions to breast and gynecological cancer patients during case discussion in MTCs, (b) how providers respond to patients' expressions of emotions during case discussions, and (c) which patient- and context-related characteristics and responses are associated with patients' trust in the treatment team after the case discussion.

Methods: This observational study included survey data and audio recordings of MTCs with patient participation at three breast and gynecological cancer centers.

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Objective: To investigate (a) how many questions and negative emotions (cues/concerns) breast and/or gynecologic cancer patients and companions express during their case discussion in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTCs), (b) with which topics the emotions are linked, and (c) which patient- and context-related characteristics determine patients' communicative behavior.

Methods: This observational study included audio/video recordings of MTCs with patient participation in three breast and gynecological cancer centers. Using the Verona Coding Definitions of Emotional Sequences, patients' and companions' questions and negative emotions expressed were analyzed.

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Health data bear great promises for a healthier and happier life, but they also make us vulnerable. Making use of millions or billions of data points, Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are now creating new benefits. For sure, harvesting Big Data can have great potentials for the health system, too.

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Based on a study in two European cities, Mainz in Germany and Zurich in Switzerland, the article investigates both acoustical and non-acoustical factors affecting indoor annoyance due to residential road traffic and aircraft noise. We specifically focus on three factors: (1) the role of windows as a feature of the building where people live; (2) the role of individual environmental concern as a general attitude; and (3) the role of household income as an indicator of socioeconomic resources. Empirical results show that closed windows in general and closed high-quality windows in particular are an important barrier against outdoor road traffic and aircraft noise, as well as a helpful subjective coping tool against corresponding annoyances.

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Why do people adorn themselves with elaborate body piercings or tattoos, wear obstructing garbs, engage in life-threatening competitions and other wasteful and harmful but socially stipulated practices? Norms of cooperation and coordination, which promote the efficient attainment of collective benefits, can be explained by theories of collective action. However, social norms prescribing wasteful and harmful behaviours have eluded such explanations. We argue that signalling theory constitutes the basis for the understanding of the emergence of such norms, which we call signalling norms.

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Objectives: To determine the association between participation of patients with breast cancer and patients with gynaecological cancer in their own multidisciplinary tumour conference (MTC) and their information needs with regard to their disease and treatment options.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study that took place at six breast cancer and gynaecological cancer centres in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Patient inclusion criteria included a minimum age of 18 years and at least one diagnosis of breast cancer or gynaecological cancer.

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Article Synopsis
  • The PINTU study investigates how patients participate in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTCs) at breast cancer centers in Germany, focusing on the implementation, role, and experiences of patients.
  • The study includes observational data from case discussions of 317 patients and surveys completed by 242 patients, revealing that 89% of participants felt they could express their opinion, while 61% were involved in decision-making.
  • Despite overall positive feedback on MTC participation, varying experiences highlight the need for standardized practices, as some patients reported negative feelings and regrets about their involvement.
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The Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) have a key role to play in understanding which factors and policies would motivate, encourage and enable different actors to adopt a wide range of sustainable energy behaviours and support the required system changes and policies. The SSH can provide critical insights into how consumers could be empowered to consistently engage in sustainable energy behaviour, support and adopt new technologies, and support policies and changes in energy systems. Furthermore, they can increase our understanding of how organisations such as private and public institutions, and groups and associations of people can play a key role in the sustainable energy transition.

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Purpose: Healthcare providers decide on recommendations for further treatment of patients with cancer in multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs). As such, communicative processes during MTBs are assumed to influence decision-making and, thereby, treatment planning. The aim of this exploratory study is to gain insights into decision-making during MTBs.

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  • This study investigates the psychological effects of breast cancer patients' participation in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTC), focusing on their fear of progression (FoP).
  • Conducted in six cancer centers in Germany, the research analyzed data from 201 patients to compare FoP levels between those who attended MTCs and those who did not.
  • Results indicated that both groups saw a decrease in FoP over time, and participation in MTCs did not significantly impact patients' fear of cancer progression.
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  • * The study found that pre-dispersing CNTs in solvents like THF, acetone, and chloroform improved electrical conductivity, with THF yielding the best results. The ideal pre-dispersion method involved using an ultrasonic finger for 60 minutes, achieving a notable conductivity level.
  • * Despite the conductivity gains, the presence of solvent residues softened the composite, negatively affecting its mechanical strength; furthermore, using surfactants for CNT pretreatment didn’t yield better results, and while chemical functionalization improved compatibility,
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Non-monetary incentives that encourage pro-environmental behaviour can contribute to combating climate change. Here, we investigated the effect of green energy defaults in the household and business sectors. In two large-scale field studies in Switzerland of over 200,000 households and 8,000 enterprises, we found that presenting renewable energy to existing customers as the standard option led to around 80% of the household and business sector customers staying with the green default, and the effects were largely stable over a time span of at least four years.

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Objective: Recent studies from Germany show that a small amount of breast and gynecological cancer patients participate in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTCs) at some cancer centers. One reason for the variation by center might be the providers' attitudes about and experiences with MTC patient participation (MTCpp), which has not been analyzed before. Therefore, it is the aim of this study to analyze the providers' expected or experienced feasibility concerning MTCpp at breast and gynecological cancer centers in Germany.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to explore how and when shared decision making (SDM) can happen in tumor conferences that include patients, specifically in breast and gynecological cancer centers from the providers' point of view.
  • Providers were interviewed to understand their experiences with SDM and found that while it can be implemented in some ways, it often depends on specific conditions during patient participation.
  • The research highlights that although SDM is challenging in current settings, it allows patients to engage more by asking questions and sharing their preferences, indicating a need for further studies to enhance this process.
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  • * Through semi-structured interviews with 30 providers in six centers, findings revealed a mix of positive and negative emotional reactions from patients, indicating that providers from both groups noticed unmet needs.
  • * The study concluded that patient participation in MTCs has both benefits and drawbacks, prompting the need for further research to understand the implications and feasibility for patients and providers in the PINTU project.
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Introduction: A central instrument of multidisciplinary care is the multidisciplinary tumour conference (MTC). In MTCs, diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients are discussed, and therapy recommendations are worked out. As we found previously, patients participate in MTCs in some breast cancer centres in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

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  • Decisions in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTC) lead to better patient outcomes, but participation varies based on health literacy and sociodemographic factors.
  • A study surveyed 863 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients to analyze their participation in MTCs at different stages, revealing only 6.8% took part.
  • Results indicate that patients with inadequate health literacy are significantly less likely to participate in MTCs, and participation varies by breast cancer center.
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Vast amounts of rubber waste are produced every year, where end-of-life tires (ELT) mount up the largest share with several million tonnes in the EU each year. This points up the necessity for reusing end-of-life rubber material. The recycled material shows nearly the same advantages like the origin materials.

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Objectives: Aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of breast cancer patients who participated in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTCs).

Study Design: Data from two consecutive years of an annual postal survey of patients with primary breast cancer were combined. Data was collected between February and July 2015 (response rate 72%) and 2016 (response rate 73%) from N = 8893 patients (ICD-10 C50) after hospital discharge from 86 breast cancer center hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

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Social norms promote cooperation in everyday life because many people are willing to negatively sanction norm breakers at a cost to themselves. However, a norm violation may persist if only one person is required to sanction the norm breaker and everyone expects someone else to do it. Here we employ the volunteer's dilemma game (VOD) to model this diffusion of responsibility in social norm enforcement.

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