Ongoing measles outbreak in Wallonia, Belgium, December 2016 to March 2017: characteristics and challenges.

We describe characteristics of an ongoing measles outbreak in Wallonia, Belgium, and difficulties in control measures implementation. As at 12 March 2017, 177 measles cases were notified, of which 50% were 15 years and older, 49% female. Atypical clinical presentation and severe complications, mainly among adults, in combination with late notification, low or unknown vaccination coverage of contacts, infected healthcare workers and increased workload due to contact tracing, are the main concerns for outbreak management.

Impact of the medical home model on the quality of primary care: the Belgian experience.

Background: The Belgium medical home (MH) model, which has been garnering support of late, resembles its US counterpart in that it aims at improving the quality of health care while containing costs.

Objectives: To compare the quality of care offered by MHs with that offered by traditional individual practices (IPs) in Belgium in terms of the extent of their adherence to clinical practice guidelines in antibiotherapy, cervical-cancer screening, influenza vaccination, and the management of diabetes.

Research Design: This is a retrospective study using public insurance claims data.

[Cost evaluation of hospital inpatient stays induced by injuries due to falls for elderly people].

Thirty percent of people aged 65 and older, living at home fall at least once a year. Few economic data are available in Belgium on this issue. We evaluated the cost borne by social security.

[Analysis of factors influencing self-rated health among older persons: synthesis of the biomedical literature].

Self-rated health is a frequently used measure, notably in the field of gerontology. Different authors have studied factors that can influence self-rated health among older persons and, according to studies, the factors taken into account and their influence vary. This article aims at synthesising the biomedical literature, published since 1993, on factors that influence self-rated health of non-institutionalised older persons aged 65 years and over, with a focus on cross-sectional quantitative studies.

Fear of falling and associated activity restriction in older people. results of a cross-sectional study conducted in a Belgian town.

Objectives: This article aims at describing, in a Belgian town, the frequency of the fear of falling and of subsequent activity restriction among non-institutionalised people aged 65 years and over, and at identifying persons affected by these two issues.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey conducted in Fontaine l'Evêque (Belgium) in 2006, using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: The participants could fill in the questionnaire on their own or with the help of a third party if needed.