A counselling intervention for individual strategies to prevent complications and strengthen resources during pregnancy in gynaecological care (AOK-Family +): study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Lifestyle-related risk factors can increase complications during pregnancy and negatively impact the health of a mother and her child. Knowledge about these compliances among many pregnant women and women of childbearing age is lacking. In the study AOK-Family + , we propose the evaluation of a newly developed counselling intervention.

Measuring continuity of ambulatory cardiovascular care: a cross-sectional study on the applicability of the Nijmegen Continuity Questionnaire in Germany.

Background: Chronic cardiovascular diseases demand continuous care from general practitioners and medical specialists. Especially in fragmented healthcare systems, such as in Germany, a large body of research is devoted to the improvement of care continuity. Meanwhile, measuring continuity of care itself has been a challenge due to the absence of validated instruments.

Building resilience in German primary care practices: a qualitative study.

Background: In recent years, healthcare has faced many different crises around the world such as HIV-, Ebola- or H1N1-outbrakes, opioid addiction, natural disasters and terrorism attacks). In particular, the current pandemic of Covid-19 has challenged the resilience of health systems. In many healthcare systems, primary care practices play a crucial role in the management of crises as they are often the first point of contact and main health care provider for patients.

[Long COVID: Care and support needs from the perspective of "long-haul" patients and primary care practitioners - a mixed-methods study from Baden-Wuerttemberg].

Introduction: The approaches to cope with the challenges of providing medical care to patients with symptoms of long COVID are multidisciplinary and involve primary care worldwide. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and ideas for continued development of medical care of long COVID from the patients' (PAT) and primary care practitioners' (PCP) perspective.

Methods: Between the third and fourth COVID-19 wave in Germany (July to September 2021), a mixed methods study was conducted by inviting patients and PCPs in two neighboring districts (urban and rural) in Baden-Wuerttemberg to a paper-based questionnaire with both closed and open questions.

The Effect of an Additional Structured Methods Presentation on Decision-Makers' Reading Time and Opinions on the Helpfulness of the Methods in a Quantitative Report: Nonrandomized Trial.

Background: Although decision-makers in health care settings need to read and understand the validity of quantitative reports, they do not always carefully read information on research methods. Presenting the methods in a more structured way could improve the time spent reading the methods and increase the perceived relevance of this important report section.

Objective: To test the effect of a structured summary of the methods used in a quantitative data report on reading behavior with eye-tracking and measure the effect on the perceived importance of this section.

Perceived Support for Recovery and Level of Functioning Among People With Severe Mental Illness in Central and Eastern Europe: An Observational Study.

Many people with severe mental illness experience limitations in personal and social functioning. Care delivered in a person's community that addresses needs and preferences and focuses on clinical and personal recovery can contribute to addressing the adverse impacts of severe mental illness. In Central and Eastern Europe, mental health care systems are transitioning from institutional-based care toward community-based care.

Influence of physician networks on prescribing a new ingredient combination in heart failure: a longitudinal claim data-based study.

Background: Since 2016, the combination of sacubitril/valsartan, which combines an angiotensin receptor and neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), has been recommended in the guidelines for the treatment of heart failure. The adoption of new drugs may be influenced by collaboration and exchange between physicians. We aimed to determine whether characteristics of the professional networks of prescribing physicians were associated with the prescribing of ARNI in Germany.

[Chronic low back pain-user types of ambulatory care : Cluster analysis of the utilization of ambulatory health care resources with administrative data of the AOK Baden-Württemberg].

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Ambulatory care currently does not provide a structured multimodal approach, even though multimodal therapy is recommended.

Objectives: The goal was to explore utilization of ambulatory health care resources concerning a multimodal therapy approach in the first year of CLBP and determine user types.

Healthcare planning across healthcare sectors in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany: a stakeholder online survey to identify indicators.

Background: Stakeholders in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg agreed upon the central aims for healthcare planning. These include a focus on geographical districts; a comprehensive, cross-sectoral perspective on healthcare needs and services; and use of regional data for healthcare planning. Therefore, healthcare data at district level is needed.

[Potentially Inappropriate Medication of Nursing Home Residents: An Analysis of Risk Factors Based on National Claims Data (AOK) for 2017].

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for prescription of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) to nursing home residents using the PRISCUS list in 2017.

Methods: Using claims data (AOK) we analysed insured nursing home residents aged 65 or older in 2017. The PRISCUS list was used to identify PIMs.

Lung cancer patients' comorbidities and attendance of German ambulatory physicians in a 5-year cross-sectional study.

The majority of lung cancer patients are diagnosed with an advanced stage IV, which has short survival time. Many lung cancer patients have comorbidities, which influence treatment and patients' quality of life. The aim of the study is to describe comorbidities in incident lung cancer patients and explore their attendance of ambulatory care physicians in Germany.

Use of a quantitative data report in a hypothetical decision scenario for health policymaking: a computer-assisted laboratory study.

Background: Quantitative data reports are widely produced to inform health policy decisions. Policymakers are expected to critically assess provided information in order to incorporate the best available evidence into the decision-making process. Many other factors are known to influence this process, but little is known about how quantitative data reports are actually read.

Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Utility of a Home-Based Exercise Program in Geriatric Patients with Cognitive Impairment.

Introduction: There is a substantial lack of home-based exercise programs in the highly vulnerable group of geriatric patients with cognitive impairment (CI) after discharge from ward rehabilitation. Beyond clinical effectiveness, the cost-effectiveness of intervention programs to enhance physical performance is not well investigated in this target group.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of a 12-week home-based exercise intervention following discharge from ward rehabilitation compared to unspecified flexibility training for geriatric patients with CI from a societal perspective.

Cooperation networks of ambulatory health care providers: exploration of mechanisms that influence coordination and uptake of recommended cardiovascular care (ExKoCare): a mixed-methods study protocol.

Background: As the number of elderly and multimorbid patients increases, healthcare has become more complex. This requires good coordination of treatment and care given the various  health care professionals involved (e.g.

Claims data-based analysis of the influence of individual and regional characteristics on the utilisation of long-term care by people with dementia in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

Background: Challenges of future dementia care include increasing shortage of qualified healthcare providers and decreasing potential of informal care by relatives. In order to meet those challenges, changes in dementia care are needed. These changes should be based on data of both care utilisation and care supply.

Patient cardiovascular risk self-management: results from a randomized trial of motivational interviewing delivered by practice nurses.

Background: To enhance cardiovascular risk management and patients' self-management, a tailored programme to improve cardiovascular risk management was tested in a randomized trial. The presented study concerned secondary analysis.

Objectives: To explore the correlations of practice nurses' counselling skills at baseline on chronic illness care (measured with Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care questionnaire) and patients' self-management (assessed with Patient Activation Measure) at follow-up and to examine the effect of the tailored implementation programme on chronic illness care and patients' self-management.

Patient-reported health outcomes after total hip and knee surgery in a Dutch University Hospital Setting: results of twenty years clinical registry.

Background: Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) measurement is a method for measuring perceptions of patients on their health and quality of life. The aim of this paper is to present the results of PRO measurements in total hip and knee replacement as routinely collected during 20 years of surgery in a university hospital setting.

Methods: Data of consecutive patients between 1993 and 2014 were collected.

Use of social network analysis in maternity care to identify the profession most suited for case manager role.

Objective: To improve Dutch maternity care, professionals start working in interdisciplinary patient-centred networks, which includes the patients as a member. The introduction of the case manager is expected to work positively on both the individual and the network level. However, case management is new in Dutch maternity care.

Social Network Type and Long-Term Condition Management Support: A Cross-Sectional Study in Six European Countries.

Background: Network types and characteristics have been linked to the capacity of inter-personal environments to mobilise and share resources. The aim of this paper is to examine personal network types in relation to long-term condition management in order to identify the properties of network types most likely to provide support for those with a long-term condition.

Method: A cross-sectional observational survey of people with type 2 diabetes using interviews and questionnaires was conducted between April and October 2013 in six European countries: Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Norway, United Kingdom, and Netherlands.

Tailored implementation of cardiovascular risk management in general practice: a cluster randomized trial.

Background: Counselling on health-related lifestyles is key to the prevention and management of chronic diseases. After comprehensive study of determinants of its delivery in general practice and strategies to improve, we composed a tailored improvement program, which included communication skills training, online patient information, and a clinical protocol for managing depressive symptoms. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of this program on professional performance and outcomes in cardiovascular patients.

Local networks of community and healthcare organisations: a mixed methods study.

Background: Local collaboration of community organisations and healthcare organisations is seen as relevant for the efficiency and efficacy of health and social care because of their potential role in providing social involvement which may reduce the need for the utilisation of formal services. Care organisations connect to each other in different ways, thus comprising an organisational network. This study aimed to describe and explore organisational networks with respect to their activities for people with diabetes mellitus type 2 and potential mechanisms of effective collaboration.

Social support and self-management capabilities in diabetes patients: An international observational study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore which aspects of social networks are related to self-management capabilities and if these networks have the potential to reduce the adverse health effects of deprivation.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study we recruited type 2 diabetes patients in six European countries. Data on self-management capabilities was gathered through written questionnaires and data on social networks characteristics and social support through subsequent personal/telephone interviews.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Professional Networks for PD A Mixed-Method Analysis.

Background: ParkinsonNet, a nationwide organization with regionally oriented professional health networks in TheNetherlands, aims to improve the quality of Parkinson care. Facilitation of multidisciplinary collaboration is a key objective of ParkinsonNet.

Objectives: This study examined whether the concept enhances multidisciplinary collaboration between healthcare professionals involved in Parkinson care.