Client satisfaction, safety, and insights from a three-season survey on influenza vaccinations delivered at community pharmacies in Germany.

To address the challenges posed by influenza, its associated complications, and economic burden, the World Health Organization recommends a vaccination rate exceeding 75 % for populations at elevated risk of severe diseases. Presently, vaccination rates in Germany severely lag behind. To augment these rates, pilot projects have been initiated, allowing community pharmacists to administer vaccines.

Provision of hospice and palliative care and implementation of advance care planning for residents in German nursing homes - a cross-sectional study.

Background: Demographic changes are leading to a rise in the demand for care services, with nursing homes (NHs) playing an increasingly important role in end-of-life care. Evidence suggests that NH residents at the end of life significantly benefit from hospice and palliative care and the implementation of advance care planning (ACP). In 2018, Germany passed a law to promote the implementation of ACP in NHs and to enable the refinancing of ACP services by the statutory health insurance funds.

[Feasibility study and analyses of the service records for advance care planning (ACP according to sect. 132g SGB V) in nursing homes - Results of the 'Gut-Leben' project].

Background: With the entry into force of sect. 132g of the Social Code Book [SGB] V in 2018, nursing homes and homes for persons with disabilities providing integration support in Germany can get reimbursed by the statutory health insurance funds for advance care planning (ACP) services. The aim of this feasibility study was to evaluate the number of service records to be submitted, examine the containing information about the consultation process, and assess their potential for research.

The relationship between physical and psychosocial workplace exposures and life expectancy free of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disease in working life - an analysis based on German health insurance data.

Background: Against the backdrop of the debate on extending working life, it is important to identify vulnerable occupational groups by analysing inequalities in healthy life years. The aim of the study is to analyse partial life expectancy (age 30-65) [1] free of musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) and [2] free of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in occupational groups with different levels of physical and psychosocial exposures.

Methods: The study is based on German health insurance claims data from 2015 to 2018.

Subgroup analyses and patterns of multiple sclerosis health service utilisation: A cluster analysis.

Background: Previous investigations of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related healthcare have focused on utilisation of specific individual health services (e.g. hospital care, office-based neurologists) by people with MS (PwMS).

Intended and Actual Participation in the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program.

Background: The public generally has a positive view of colorectal cancer screening, but there is still room for improvement in participation rates. The aim of this study was to identify factors that are associated with intended and actual participation.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of a random sample of insurees of the AOK (a statutory health insurance carrier) in the German federal state of Lower Saxony.

Consensus-based recommendations for the development and expansion of palliative day care clinics in Germany: results of a Delphi study.

Background: Needs-based, patient-oriented palliative care includes palliative day care clinics as a specialized semi-inpatient care offer. However, the establishment and development of these facilities has been unsystematic. Research is needed to strengthen their transparency and ensure their accessibility, quality, and structural adequacy.

The development of working life expectancy without musculoskeletal diseases against the backdrop of extended working lives.

Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) are a major predictor of early retirement. Against the backdrop of the extension of working life, we investigated time trends and educational inequalities in years spent in the labour market free of MSD. Based on German statutory health insurance data (N = 3,405,673), total life years free of MSD (Healthy Life Expectancy, HLE) and years spent in the labour force free of MSD (Healthy Working Life Expectancy, HWLE) were estimated for three periods (2006-2008, 2011-2013, 2016-2018) using multistate analyses.

[Empirically derived recommendations for the development and expansion of day hospices in Germany - Results of a Delphi expert panel].

Introduction: A needs-based and patient-oriented hospice and palliative care also includes day hospices as a specialised semi-inpatient care offer. The establishment and development of these facilities in Germany has been rather unsystematic. In order to ensure quality and adequacy of these structures, research is needed.

Decreasing COPD-related incidences and hospital admissions in a German health insurance population.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with smoking and work-related health hazards. Most studies have reported prevalences, and the number of studies examining incidences and social inequalities is small. We analyzed the development of social inequalities of COPD-incidences in terms of income and exacerbations in terms of hospital admissions.

Lifestyle interventions for patients with non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis-Design, rationale and protocol of the study "target group-specific optimisation of lifestyle interventions for behavior change in non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (OPTI-NASH)".

Background: Non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) is the inflammatory, progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A delayed diagnose interval is typical for the majority of the patients because of the asymptomatic natural course. However, serious sequelae may develop such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

[M2Q or Something else? The Impact of Varying Case Selection Criteria on the Prevalence Estimation of Chronic Diseases Based on Outpatient Diagnoses in German Claims Data].

Background: To determine the prevalence of chronic disease conditions based on outpatient health insurance data, we often rely on repeated occurrence of a diagnosis over the course of a year, usually in two or more quarters (M2Q). It remains unclear whether prevalence estimates change after adapting repeated occurrence of a diagnosis in different quarters of a year compared to a single occurrence or to some other case selection criteria. This study applies different case selection criteria and analyses their impact on the prevalence estimation based on outpatient diagnoses.

[Advancement of an intermediate level of outpatient palliative care - A Delphi study].

Introduction: In the course of the further development of palliative care in Germany, an agreement on an intermediate level of outpatient palliative care, the so-called BQKPMV (specially qualified and coordinated palliative homecare) was realised in 2017. Family physicians play a central role in the BQKPMV; among other things, they are responsible for the coordination of care. There are indications that barriers exist in the practical implementation of the BQKPMV and that an adjustment may be necessary.

[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome : Analysis based on routine statutory health insurance data].

Background: The metabolic syndrome is a decisive risk factor for the manifestation of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Metabolic syndrome is the term used to describe the joint presence of specific diseases (obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, disorders of fat metabolism). A classification is made more difficult by inconsistent definition criteria and a missing International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) code.

[Informal care and occupation: Factors influencing the willingness to provide care].

Introduction: The proportion of people in need of care will continue to rise in Germany. In 2019, the majority of people in need of care was cared for at home. Reconciling caregiving and work poses a heavy burden for many caregivers.

Management of Children and Adolescents with Chest Trauma in Pediatric and Non-Pediatric Departments-A Claims Data Analysis.

Background: To investigate the management of children and adolescents with isolated and combined chest trauma in pediatric (PD) and non-pediatric departments (non-PD).

Methods: Anonymized claims data were provided by two large German statutory health insurance funds, covering 6.3 million clients over a 10-year period (2010-2019).

Heterogeneous Preferences for Colorectal Cancer Screening in Germany: Results of a Discrete Choice Experiment.

Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests differ in benefits, harms, and processes, making individual informed decisions preference based. The objective was to analyze the preferences of insurees in Germany for characteristics of CRC screening modalities.

Methods: A generic discrete choice experiment with 2-alternative choice sets and 6 attributes (CRC mortality, CRC incidence, complications, preparation, need for transportation, and follow-up; 3 levels each) depicting characteristics of fecal testing, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy was generated.

Real-world experience for the outcomes and costs of treating hepatitis C patients: Results from the German Hepatitis C-Registry (DHC-R).

Background & Aims: With long-term consequences like the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a significant health burden. Information on HCV treatment outcomes and costs in routine care is still rare, especially for subgroups. The aim of this study was to analyse the treatment outcomes and costs of subgroups in routine care and to compare them over time with previous analyses.

Willingness to provide informal care to older adults in Germany: a discrete choice experiment.

As the German population is continually aging and the majority of older adults still wish to 'age in place', the need for informal care provided by family and friends will correspondingly continue to increase. In addition, while the need for formal (professional) care services is also likely to increase, the supply already does not meet the demand in Germany today. The aim of our study is the elicitation of people's willingness to provide informal care by means of a discrete choice experiment.

The State of Care for Persons With a Diagnosis of Depression.

Background: Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. There are well-known deficiencies in the care of patients with depression, particularly at the interfaces between health service areas or sectors. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics and state of care of persons with a diagnosis of depression.

The use intention of hospital report cards among patients in the presence or absence of patient-reported outcomes.

Background: So far, the adoption of hospital report cards (HRCs) falls short of expectations. One promising strategy is to modify the content of HRCs by presenting patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Objective: To identify the key determinants influencing patients to use HRCs for hospital decision making and determine the effect of presenting PROs on HRCs on their use intention.