Is new drug prescribing in primary care specialist induced?

Background: Medical specialists are often seen as the first prescribers of new drugs. However, the extent to which specialists influence new drug prescribing in primary care is largely unknown.

Methods: This study estimates the influence of medical specialists on new drug prescribing in primary care shortly after market introduction.

Patient risk profiles and practice variation in nonadherence to antidepressants, antihypertensives and oral hypoglycemics.

Background: Many patients experience difficulties in following treatment recommendations. This study's objective is to identify nonadherence risk profiles regarding medication (antidepressants, antihypertensives, and oral hypoglycemics) from a combination of patients' socio-demographic characteristics, morbidity presented within general practice and medication characteristics. An additional objective is to explore differences in nonadherence among patients from different general practices.

The effect of pharmacotherapy audit meetings on early new drug prescribing by general practitioners.

Background: New drugs are cornerstones of clinical practice. However, when included in practice in an erratic fashion, there is valid concern about uncertain risk-benefit for patients and increased healthcare expenditures. In several countries, general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists work closely together to ensure proper use of new drugs in clinical practice.

The influence of depressive state features on trait measurement.

Background: Certain personality characteristics may change during depression, reflecting temporary states, while others remain stable. This study investigates the stability of personality during depression. Identification of depression-sensitive personality traits may help to elucidate the mechanisms that influence course and outcome of depression.

A 3.5-year naturalistic follow-up study of depressed out-patients.

Outcome studies of patients suffering from depression indicate high relapse rates and a tendency towards chronicity. The present study describes the long-term outcome of 95 depressed outpatients in a third-level referral centre. and examines the relationship between baseline-variables (age, sex, level of psychopathology, age at onset of first psychiatric disorder, duration of illness at baseline, diagnosis) and outcome variables.

Exploring the nursing minimum data set for The Netherlands using multidimensional scaling techniques.

Rationale: To fulfil the need for a systematic collection of nursing data that give insight in nursing care and its benefits and costs, a nursing minimum data set (NMDS) has been developed and validated for Dutch general hospitals. A NMDS provides data describing the diversity in patient populations and variability in nursing activities that can be analysed in various ways.

Aim Of The Study: To explore and compare the fundamental underlying dimensions describing patient problems and nursing interventions in Dutch general hospital wards.