Dutch experiences in new partnerships between science and practice in health promotion: toward a fourth-generation university.

For a long time already, attempts have been made to bridge the gap between research and practice. In this respect, society demands that universities should have a bigger social impact. University and society/societal organizations should work together (co-create) during the entire research process, from the articulation of the research question until the implementation of the results.

Experienced and anticipated discrimination reported by individuals in treatment for substance use disorders within the Netherlands.

Experiences and expectations of discrimination (anticipated discrimination) may delay treatment seeking among people with substance use disorders. In addition, experienced and anticipated discrimination can be a barrier to successful recovery and rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to study the level of experienced and anticipated (the expectation to be rejected) discrimination among individuals in treatment for substance use disorders as well as the association between both concepts of discrimination.

Comparing stigmatising attitudes towards people with substance use disorders between the general public, GPs, mental health and addiction specialists and clients.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are among the most severely stigmatised conditions; however, little is known about the nature of these stigmatising attitudes.

Aims: To assess and compare stigmatising attitudes towards persons with SUDs among different stakeholders: general public, general practitioners (GPs), mental health and addiction specialists, and clients in treatment for substance abuse.

Methods: Cross-sectional study (N = 3,326) in which stereotypical beliefs, attribution beliefs (e.

Alcohol segment-specific associations between the quality of the parent-child relationship and adolescent alcohol use.

Background: There is much evidence that parents have an influence on the alcohol use of their children. However, in general the relationship is rather weak. A reason for this small association may be due to the fact that adolescents are a heterogeneous group and that, consequently, the association between the quality of the parent-child relationship and alcohol use varies for diverse subgroups, resulting in an overall small effect.

Predicting initial client engagement with community mental health services by routinely measured data.

Engagement is a determinant of how well a person will respond to professional input. This study investigates whether, in practice, routinely measured data predict initial client engagement with community mental health services. Engagement, problem severity, client characteristics, and duration before the first contact were measured at team entrance with clients (n = 529) of three community mental health teams.

A qualitative exploration of attitudes towards alcohol, and the role of parents and peers of two alcohol-attitude-based segments of the adolescent population.

Background: An earlier study using social marketing and audience segmentation distinguished five segments of Dutch adolescents aged 12-18 years based on their attitudes towards alcohol. The present, qualitative study focuses on two of these five segments ('ordinaries' and 'ordinary sobers') and explores the attitudes of these two segments towards alcohol, and the role of parents and peers in their alcohol use in more detail.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in the province of North-Brabant, the Netherlands.

Effects of interferential care: a community-based care program for persons with severe problems on several life areas.

Background And Aims: Interferential care differs from the current community-based care programs in that it targets a larger, heterogeneous group and combines brokerage and full service elements in a multi-organizational care team. The team provides all the services itself, but with the aim to prepare clients within a few months for referral to regular (ambulant) healthcare services. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of interferential care.

Healthcare professionals' regard towards working with patients with substance use disorders: comparison of primary care, general psychiatry and specialist addiction services.

Background: Healthcare professionals are crucial in access to treatment for patients with substance use disorders. However, healthcare professionals often have negative attitudes towards this patient group. Healthcare professionals' regard for working with patients with substance use disorders was examined and three sectors in which professionals are working were compared.

Effectiveness of alcohol prevention interventions based on the principles of social marketing: a systematic review.

Background: Alcohol education aims to increase knowledge on the harm related to alcohol, and to change attitudes and drinking behaviour. However, little (lasting) evidence has been found for alcohol education, in changing alcohol-related attitudes and behaviour. Social marketing uses marketing techniques to achieve a social or healthy goal, and can be used in alcohol education.

Public opinion on imposing restrictions to people with an alcohol- or drug addiction: a cross-sectional survey.

Purpose: Alcohol- and drug addiction tends to evoke disapproval and rejection among people. This study provides insight into the origin of people's negative attitudes towards these people. Corrigan's attribution model is used to examine intentions of the Dutch public to impose restrictions to people who are addicted to alcohol or illicit drugs.

Stigma among health professionals towards patients with substance use disorders and its consequences for healthcare delivery: systematic review.

Background: Healthcare professionals are crucial in the identification and accessibility to treatment for people with substance use disorders. Our objective was to assess health professionals' attitudes towards patients with substance use disorders and examine the consequences of these attitudes on healthcare delivery for these patients in Western countries.

Methods: Pubmed, PsycINFO and Embase were systematically searched for articles published between 2000 and 2011.

The reach of a hepatitis B vaccination programme among men who have sex with men.

Background: Homosexual contact is a major risk factor for acute hepatitis B infection. This study explores how many and which men who have sex with men (MSM) are reached by the ongoing hepatitis B vaccination programme in The Netherlands (started in 2002), and investigate reasons for non-participation and non-compliance.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, on the basis of ethnographic mapping and targeted sampling, 320 MSM were interviewed at different venues in three regions in The Netherlands.

Psychosocial child adjustment and family functioning in families reached with an assertive outreach intervention.

Families who experience a chronic complex of socio-economic and psychosocial problems are hard to reach with mainstream care. Evidence exists that the core of this problem is a problematic interaction between this type of family and current systems of care and services. To improve access to problem families, an assertive outreach intervention was implemented into the field of preventive child health care, The Netherlands.

The opinion of adolescents and adults on Dutch restrictive and educational alcohol policy measures.

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to explore the opinion of 16-22-year olds on alcohol policy measures compared to the opinion of adults older than 22 years.

Methods: Data was collected in 2008 by using a Dutch panel. This panel was based on a representative probability of households with 8280 members of 16 years and older.

Evaluation of an assertive outreach intervention for problem families: intervention methods and early outcomes.

Families who experience a chronic complex of socio-economic and psycho-social problems are hard to reach with mainstream care. Evidence exists that the core of this problem lies in a problematic interaction between this type of family and current systems of care. The adults and children involved have needs in multiple domains, while the care system is fragmented and highlights well-defined requests for help.

Implementation of evidence-based practice in nursing using action research: a review.

Background: As is often reported in the literature exploring the research-practice gap, applying the principles of evidence-based practice is easier said than done. Action research is a methodology with an explicit intent of linking the worlds of research and practice. This review attempts to answer the question: What is known about implementing evidence-based practice in nursing through action research?

Approach: A total of 21 action research studies have been used to answer this question.

The reach of a free hepatitis B vaccination programme: results of a Dutch study among drug users.

Background: The objective of the study was to explore the reach of an ongoing hepatitis B vaccination programme in terms of awareness of the programme among drug users (DUs), vaccination uptake and compliance, as well as to investigate reasons for non-participation.

Methods: Ethnographic mapping and targeted sampling were used to recruit 309 DUs in three regions in the Netherlands. Results were based on univariate statistics (Chi-square and t-tests) and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Drug users' participation in a free hepatitis B vaccination program: demographic, behavioral, and social-cognitive determinants.

The present study was conducted as an evaluation of a two-year pilot program started in 1998 in the Netherlands to provide free hepatitis B vaccination targeted at drug users (DUs). In order to identify which demographic and social-cognitive factors predict vaccination uptake, written questionnaires were distributed in three pilot regions (Amsterdam, Tiel, and Maastricht) amongst all DUs that were invited to participate in the program during a 2-month period. Vaccination behavior 2 years later was anonymously and prospectively linked to the questionnaire data, which allowed us to investigate which factors predict vaccination behavior.

Vaccination uptake and awareness of a free hepatitis B vaccination program among female commercial sex workers.

Objectives: We sought to explore the reach of a free hepatitis B vaccination program among female commercial sex workers (CSWs) within a legalized prostitution setting in the Netherlands. We also investigated the reasons for nonparticipation and noncompliance.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study based on ethnographic mapping and targeted sampling, 259 CSWs were interviewed at their work in 3 regions in the Netherlands.

Effectiveness of an outreach treatment program for inner city crack abusers: compliance, outcome, and client satisfaction.

In a randomized controlled trial the effectiveness of an outreach treatment program (OTP) was compared with standard addiction care services for hard-drug addicts in Rotterdam (The Netherlands). The study aimed at chronic, high-risk crack abusers who were insufficiently engaged in standard addiction treatment services. Data were collected from February 2000 to December 2001.

Measuring the year consumption of alcohol: the development of a questionnaire.

Most general alcohol consumption population surveys are meant to represent the year consumption, although they actually ask only for habitual drinking and/or frequencies and quantities of binge drinking in the past months. These surveys typically cover about half of the alcohol sales figures. In order to enhance sales coverage and to reduce seasonal bias, we developed a year consumption questionnaire on the basis of daily and weekly drinking adding 13 categories of less-than-weekly drinking occasions over the year.

Towards structural quality indicators for intensive community-based care programmes for substance abusers.

Although the importance of structure for the quality of intensive community-based care was already acknowledged in the 1980s, the subject has not received much attention since. The object of this study was to identify the perceived structural quality indicators for intensive community-based care for substance abusers and expand a classification system in order to enable meaningful effect studies and to substantiate structure--outcome links. Using concept mapping based on a purposive sample of experts, seven clusters of structural quality indicators were identified.

Reflections on demand-oriented and demand-driven care within the current health care system.

The authors describe models for the approach to demand-orientated and demand-driven health care as experienced in the Netherlands. The practical operation of the scheme is discussed including implications for financing and other aspects of regulation. The paper concludes that at present a demand-orientated system is feasible, but changes of a fundamental nature would be necessary to institute a successful operation of demand-driven health care, at least in the country the subject of this study.

Ranked motives of long-term care providing family caregivers.

Family caregivers provide long-term care to their chronically ill loved ones and as a consequence they experience physical, relational and financial problems. This study investigates how long-term family caregivers rank 12 motives for caregiving. Motives are derived from the views of four philosophical anthropologists and are related to self-reported stress and joy and to several different background characteristics of respondents.