The development of integrated diabetes care in the Netherlands: a multiplayer self-assessment analysis.

Background: Since recent years Dutch diabetes care has increasingly focused on improving the quality of care by introducing the concept of care groups (in Dutch: 'zorggroepen'), care pathways and improving cooperation with involved care professionals and patients. This study examined how participating actors in care groups assess the development of their diabetes services and the differences and similarities between different stakeholder groups.

Methods: A self-evaluation study was performed within 36 diabetes care groups in the Netherlands.

Do trained practice nurses apply motivational interviewing techniques in primary care consultations?

Background: Reducing the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviour could positively influence health. Motivational interviewing (MI) is used to promote change in unhealthy lifestyle behaviour as part of primary or secondary prevention. Whether MI is actually applied as taught is unknown.

Implementation of a shared care guideline for back pain: effect on unnecessary referrals.

Objective: To determine the effect of the implementation of a shared care guideline for the lumbosacral radicular syndrome (LRS) on unnecessary early referrals and the duration of the total diagnostic procedure.

Design: Introduction of shared care guideline in November 2005. Pre-test in 2005 (April to October), a first post-test in 2006 (April to October) and a second post-test in 2007 (April to October).

Quality of routine spirometry tests in Dutch general practices.

Background: Spirometry is an indispensable tool for diagnosis and monitoring of chronic airways disease in primary care.

Aim: To establish the quality of routine spirometry tests in general practice, and explore associations between test quality and patient characteristics.

Design Of Study: Analysis of routine spirometry test records.