Apart from the Medical Complaints, Why do Patients Use Emergency Medical Services? Results of a Patient Survey.

Introduction: Many countries face an increased use of emergency medical services (EMS) with a decreasing percentage of life-threatening complaints. Though there is a broad discussion among experts about the cause, patients' self-perceived, non-medical reasons for using EMS remain largely unknown.

Methods: The written survey included EMS patients who had≥1 case of prehospital emergency care in 2016.

A qualitative study on older primary care patients' perspectives on depression and its treatments - potential barriers to and opportunities for managing depression.

Background: Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in old age and is associated with various negative health consequences for the affected individual. Studies suggest that patients' views on depression have an impact on help-seeking behaviour and treatment. It is thus important to investigate the patient's perspective in order to ascertain optimum management of depression in late life.

Psychological correlates of fear of falling: Findings from the German Aging Survey.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to identify general psychological factors related to fear of falling.

Methods: Data drawn from national probability sampling of the German population aged ≥40 years were used (German Aging Survey; n = 7779). The fear of falling and the psychological factors of loneliness, life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, optimism, self-efficacy, self-esteem, self-regulation and perceived stress were collected in self-administered questionnaires.

Frailty and healthcare costs-longitudinal results of a prospective cohort study.

Objective: to investigate how frailty and frailty symptoms affect healthcare costs in older age longitudinally.

Methods: data were gathered from a prospective cohort study in Saarland, Germany (two waves with 3-year interval, n = 1,636 aged 57-84 years at baseline). Frailty was assessed by the five Fried frailty criteria.

The role of general psychosocial factors for the use of cancer screening-Findings of a population-based observational study among older adults in Germany.

Within the framework of the health-belief model, some studies exist investigating the association between illness-specific psychosocial factors and the use of cancer screenings. However, studies investigating the association between general psychosocial factors and the use of cancer screenings are missing. Thus, this study aimed at examining the association between well-established general psychosocial factors and the use of cancer screenings.

Psychosocial correlates of unintentional weight loss in the second half of life in the German general population.

Background: Unintentional weight loss (UWL) is common in older age and associated with adverse outcomes including mortality. The aim of the present study was to determine psychosocial correlates of UWL.

Methods: Data were derived from a large, nationally representative study of community-dwelling individuals in the second half of life (40 years and over) in Germany in 2014 (n = 7,933).

Association of informal caregiving with body mass index and frequency of sporting activities: evidence of a population-based study in Germany.

Background: While most studies focused solely on the comparison between informal caregivers and non-caregivers, little is known about the relation between caregiving time or caregiving activities and lifestyle factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether informal caregiving time and type of caregiving activities are associated with body mass index (BMI) and the frequency of sporting activities among informal caregivers.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were gathered from the German Ageing Survey, a nationally representative study among community-dwelling individuals aged ≥40 that includes a total of n = 1380 people who provide informal care services.

Categorical and dimensional perspectives on depression in elderly primary care patients - Results of the AgeMooDe study.

An accurate diagnosis is essential for the management of late-life depression in primary care. This study aims to (1) provide information on the agreement on depression diagnoses between general practitioners (GPs), dimensional tools (Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS], Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]) and a categorical tool (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV criteria [SCID]) and (2) identify factors associated with different diagnoses. As part of the multicenter study "Late-life depression in primary care: needs, health care utilization and costs (AgeMooDe)" a sample of 1113 primary care patients aged 75 years and older was assessed.

Correlates of alcohol consumption among Germans in the second half of life. Results of a population-based observational study.

Background: Several studies have investigated the predictors of alcohol consumption behavior among adolescents and young adults. However, the body of evidence about the relationship between in particular psychological factors and alcohol consumption among individuals in the second half of life is still limited. Hence, we aimed at identifying factors associated with alcohol consumption among individuals aged 40 and above, especially focusing on psychological correlates.

Psychological determinants of influenza vaccination.

Background: Previous studies investigated the determinants of individuals' decision to vaccinate against influenza primarily focusing on social as well as certain proximal determinants, for example, behavioral beliefs. Thus, so far, the analysis of psychological factors as determinants of influenza vaccination was mainly limited to beliefs, attitudes or perceptions that were directly related to influenza vaccination and its perceived impact. However, considering general psychological factors, like general self-efficacy, optimism or subjective well-being, might further enhance the understanding of why certain people vaccinate while others do not.

The role of personality in health care use: Results of a population-based longitudinal study in Germany.

Objective: To determine the role of personality in health care use longitudinally.

Methods: Data were derived from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP), a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of German households starting in 1984. Concentrating on the role of personality, we used data from the years 2005, 2009 and 2013.

Unmet needs in the depressed primary care elderly and their relation to severity of depression: results from the AgeMooDe study.

Objectives: This study aims at examining the distribution of unmet environmental, physical, social and psychological care needs in a sample of the oldest old primary care patients with different levels of depression severity. Furthermore, the objective of this study was to analyze the association between specific unmet care needs and severity of depression.

Method: The sample of patients aged 75 years (n = 202) and more was derived from the multicenter prospective cohort study AgeMooDe ('Late-life depression in primary care: Needs, health care utilization and costs').

Association of general psychological factors with frequent attendance in primary care: a population-based cross-sectional observational study.

Background: Whereas several studies have examined the association between frequent attendance in primary care and illness-specific psychological factors, little is known about the relation between frequent attendance and general psychological factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between being a frequent attender in primary care and general psychological factors.

Methods: Data were used from a large, population-based sample of community-dwelling individuals aged 40 and above in Germany in 2014 (n = 7,446).

The Longitudinal Association between Psychological Factors and Health Care Use.

Objective: Little attention has been given to psychological factors as correlates of health care use, which could be an important key to manage it. We analyzed the association of psychological factors with health care use.

Data Sources: Primary data were obtained from three follow-ups (2002, 2008, and 2011) of a large population-based study with participants aged 40+.

[Health Insurance in Old Age and Differences in Cognition, Depressive Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life].

Objective: We aimed at identifying differences regarding cognition, depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life between members of private and statutory health insurance (SHI) in very old age in Germany.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were gathered from the multicenter prospective "Study on Needs, health service use, costs and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (85+)" (AgeQualiDe), covering primary care patients aged ≥ 85 years (n = 854; with 773 members of SHI). The Global Deterioration Scale measured cognition, the Geriatric Depression Scale assessed depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life was measured by using a Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS).

Which factors affect health care use among older Germans? Results of the German ageing survey.

Background: It remains an open question how changes in predisposing, enabling, and need factors affect health care use. Consequently, we aimed to investigate how changes in these variables affect health care use in community-dwelling older persons longitudinally.

Methods: Data from two waves of the German Ageing Survey (DEAS), a representative sample of the community-dwelling German population aged ≥40 years, was used.

The Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Healthcare Costs in Late Life: Longitudinal Findings From the AgeMooDe Study.

Objective: To examine whether depressive symptoms affect healthcare costs in old age longitudinally.

Design: Multicenter prospective observational cohort study (two waves with n = 1,195 and n = 951) in Germany.

Setting: Community.

Treatment preferences for depression in the elderly.

Background: If patients are treated according to their personal preferences, depression treatment success is higher. It is not known which treatment options for late-life depression are preferred by patients aged 75 years and over and whether there are determinants of these preferences.

Methods: The data were derived from the German "Late-life depression in primary care: needs, health care utilization, and costs (AgeMooDe)" study.

The impact of depressive symptoms on utilization of home care by the elderly: Longitudinal results from the AgeMooDe study.

Background: Depression is the most common psychiatric disease in older people, often accompanied by co-morbidities and functional limitations. In cross-sectional studies, depression is associated with an increased use of health care resources, including informal care and home care. Longitudinal data are needed to better understand the causal links between depression, functional impairments, and health care utilization.

Unmet care needs of the oldest old with late-life depression: A comparison of patient, caring relative and general practitioner perceptions - Results of the AgeMooDe study.

Background: Research showed that the perception of unmet needs may differ between patients, caregivers and professionals. Lacking agreement with regard to unmet needs between raters involved may have a negative impact on treatment of late-life depression.

Methods: As part of the multicenter German study "Late-life depression in primary care: needs, health care utilization and costs" (AgeMooDe), n=1188 primary care patients aged 75-98 with and without depression, relatives (n=366) and general practitioners (GPs, n=1152) were assessed using the German version of the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) in order to identify patients' unmet needs from different perspectives.

A Longitudinal Investigation of Willingness to Pay for Health Insurance in Germany.

Objective: To investigate factors affecting willingness to pay (WTP) for health insurance of older adults in a longitudinal setting in Germany.

Data Sources: Survey data from a cohort study in Saarland, Germany, from 2008-2010 and 2011-2014 (n  = 3,124; n  = 2,761) were used.

Study Design: Panel data were taken at two points from an observational, prospective cohort study.

Excess health care costs of late-life depression - Results of the AgeMooDe study.

Introduction: The study aimed at determining excess costs of late-life depression from a societal perspective. Moreover, the impact of recognition of depression by GPs on costs was investigated.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from a large multicenter observational cohort study (AgeMooDe).

Associations of frailty with health care costs--results of the ESTHER cohort study.

Background: The concept of frailty is rapidly gaining attention as an independent syndrome with high prevalence in older adults. Thereby, frailty is often related to certain adverse outcomes like mortality or disability. Another adverse outcome discussed is increased health care utilization.

The assessment of met and unmet care needs in the oldest old with and without depression using the Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE): Results of the AgeMooDe study.

Background: Depression belongs to the most common mental disorders in late life and will lead to a significant increase of treatment and health care needs in the future. The Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) evaluates met and unmet care needs in older individuals. Reports on needs of the elderly with depression are currently lacking.

[Cost-Effectiveness of the Treatment of Depression in Old Age].

Objective: To conduct a systematic literature review of cost-effectiveness studies evaluating the treatment of depression in old age.

Methods: Systematic literature search in electronic databases in March 2014.

Results: Nine studies were included in the review.