A Structured Social Media Health Support Program after Bariatric Surgery.

Background:  Social media networks have been found to provide emotional, instrumental, and social support, which may contribute to improved adherence to postbariatric surgery care recommendations.

Objectives:  This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an online social media-based, health care professional-led, educational and support program on patients' long-term engagement with and adherence to follow-up guidelines, self-care recommendations, and weight management after bariatric surgery.

Methods:  An observational cohort study, employing mixed methods, accompanied a 12-week interactive, structured, social media psychoeducational intervention program delivered on Facebook.

Glycemic outcomes and patient satisfaction and self-management improves in transition from standard to virtual multidisciplinary care.

Aims: With advances in cloud-based technologies, there has been a rise in remote T1D care. We hypothesized that transitioning T1DM care to a virtual, multidisciplinary clinic could improve measures beyond HbA1c.

Methods: To assess the impact of transitioning from standard to virtual T1DM care, we evaluated glycemic measures and patient reported outcomes.

Subcutaneous Semaglutide Use for Weight Management: Practice and Attitudes of Physicians in Israel.

Background: In 2019, 1 mg subcutaneous semaglutide was registered for the treatment of diabetes in Israel. Recognition of its effect on weight has led to its use as a treatment for obesity.

Objectives: To explore physicians' pre-therapy considerations, therapy practices, and attitudes regarding subcutaneous semaglutide for weight loss.

Attitudes and perceived knowledge of health professionals on the food labelling reform in Israel.

Objectives: To assess the attitudes and perceived knowledge of health professionals regarding the food product judgemental-labelling reform that began in January 2020 in Israel.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Settings: An online survey among health professionals working in the Israeli health system.

Establishing priorities for diabetes action goals according to key opinion leaders and health professionals.

Background: The ever-increasing burden of diabetes and the limited resources highlight the need for prioritization of national action goals for diabetes management. The Israeli National Diabetes Council (INDC) initiated a prioritization process aiming to set a top list of diabetes related goals, as suggested by decision makers and health professionals.

Methods: A 2-step prioritization process, including a small (n = 32) circle of key opinion leaders of the INDC and a larger (n = 195) nationwide circle of diabetes health professionals consisting of physicians, nurses, and dieticians working in diabetes care centers, hospitals and family practice clinics, was established.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among adults with diabetes and in the general population in Israel: A cross-sectional study.

Aims: To explore and compare key determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and willingness to get vaccinated among people with diabetes and the general population.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study of 807 Israeli adults with and without diabetes was conducted prior to the first vaccination campaign in Israel in December 2020. Data was analyzed by population group and gender.

[PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE DESIGN OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICES IN HEALTHCARE].

The integration and involvement of patients in shaping research, processes and policies in the health care system is a new trend, which is gaining momentum in many countries around the world. Although participatory processes have existed for many years, systematic and organized mechanisms have only begun maturing in recent years. The first expression of this trend is in aspects related to research, including: accessibility to information about experiments; patient participation in research as research subjects; participation in the design and management of research.

[NATIONAL DIABETES PROGRAM IN ISRAEL AND IN SELECTED COUNTRIES - CURRENT STATE AND FUTURE TRENDS].

The Israel National Program for Diabetes Prevention and Care was established in 2014 and endorsed by the Minister of Health in 2016. The ultimate goal of the program is to ensure that all people with diabetes, or at high risk of developing diabetes, will live well and have access to high-quality services that meet their individual needs. The aim of this paper is to describe the program's scope, main components and foremost achievements.

[INFODEMIOLOGY OF DIABETES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: ANALYSIS OF DISCOURSE IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE FORUMS].

Introduction: Coping with COVID-19, as well as with measures taken to prevent its spread, poses many challenges for people with diabetes, who seek information and support on the web. Understanding the issues and needs expressed in online discussions can be valuable for improving the support provided in times of crisis.

Aims: To map and characterize online Hebrew discourse about diabetes during the first period of the COVID-19 outbreak and the preceding period.

Effect of a primary-care-team focused diabetes educational program project on diabetes care quality indicators in a large health maintenance organization.

Aims: In 2011 the central district of Leumit Health Services (LHS) (a health maintenance organization in Israel) implemented a chronic care program to improve diabetes care in general practice: MESSAGE program (Motivation, Education, Skills and Supervision to Achieve better diabetes care in General practice Environment), included training phase and ongoing time allocation for diabetes care.

Methods: A population-based retrospective analysis of LHS Electronic Medical Records of all patients with diabetes in LHS between 1 June 2015 and 31 May 2018. Data was processed according to the definitions of the Israeli national program for quality indicators in community healthcare.

Five years into the Israeli National Diabetes Program - are we on the right track?

Diabetes mellitus poses major public health and economic challenges which necessitate national-level intervention. The ultimate goal of the Israel National Diabetes Program is to ensure that all people with diabetes, or at high risk of developing diabetes, will live well and have access to high-quality services that meet their individual needs. The integrated National Diabetes Program in Israel was established in 2014.

Comparing assessment of diabetes-related quality of life between patients and their physicians.

Background: Health-related quality of life (QoL) is a comprehensive, multidimensional construct encompassing physical and psychosocial wellbeing. Physicians frequently assess QoL as part of their decision making process without specifically asking their patients. This study examined the degree and predictors of concordance between physician and patient assessments of QoL among patients with diabetes in primary care and in multi-disciplinary diabetes clinics.

Taxation of sugar sweetened beverages and unhealthy foods: a qualitative study of key opinion leaders' views.

Background: Fiscal policies to fight obesity such as taxation of unhealthy foods or sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have gained considerable attention in recent years. Many studies modelling the impact of various magnitudes of taxes on SSB purchasing and their potential effects on various health outcomes have been published; however, legislation and implementation of such taxes have encountered many obstacles in the countries that have implemented them to date. We investigated the perceptions and views of key opinion leaders, policy makers and various other Israeli stakeholders on taxation of SSBs and unhealthy snacks.

Are quality improvement collaboratives effective? A systematic review.

Background: Quality improvement collaboratives (QIC) have proliferated internationally, but there is little empirical evidence for their effectiveness.

Method: We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library databases from January 1995 to December 2014. Studies were included if they met the criteria for a QIC intervention and the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) minimum study design characteristics for inclusion in a review.

Patients' and Care Partners' Perspectives on Dignity and Respect During Acute Care Hospitalization.

Background: Delivering patient-centered care (PCC) is essential to our healthcare system. Patient dignity and respect are foundational elements of PCC. Understanding patients' and their care partner's perspectives on the meaning of dignity and respect within a clinical care environment is critical to achieving our goal of PCC.

Health care-associated infections: a meta-analysis of costs and financial impact on the US health care system.

Importance: Health care-associated infections (HAIs) account for a large proportion of the harms caused by health care and are associated with high costs. Better evaluation of the costs of these infections could help providers and payers to justify investing in prevention.

Objective: To estimate costs associated with the most significant and targetable HAIs.

Quality of life and patient-perceived difficulties in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Background: Clinical evidence points to patient-perceived difficulties and compliance problems in implementing early insulin therapy. Therefore, individual treatment aims are necessary to optimize diabetes therapy, as currently acknowledged by the new ADA/EASD guidelines. Better characterization of patient-perceived difficulties in the implementation of early insulin treatment may contribute to improved compliance and optimal tailoring of treatment regimens for the individual patient.

The patient-perceived difficulty in diabetes treatment (PDDT) scale identifies barriers to care.

Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the design and validation of a newly developed brief, treatment-focused scale for use with type 1 and type 2-diabetes, exploring patient-perceived difficulties that are associated with treatment.

Methods: The content of the construct was derived from consultation with experts, from existing instruments and the literature, as well as from diabetic patients. The original draft was comprised of 11 attributes.

[Lifestyle modification--a behavioral and educational challenge].

Lifestyle modification in the treatment of obesity is difficult to achieve and maintain over time. However, simple inexpensive interventions in special populations show promise.

[Counterfeit drugs in Israel and worldwide. Part II: distribution profile and anti-counterfeiting strategies and actions].

Counterfeit drugs are a major threat to public health and safety around the world. This review describes the various distribution methods and channels of counterfeit drugs, including the growing use of the internet. National, regional and international efforts to confront this problem are presented, as well as a wide range of technologies that may assist in detection and enforcement.

[Counterfeit drugs in Israel and worldwide. Part I: the extent of occurrence and impending threats].

A counterfeit drug is one which is deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identity and/or source. Counterfeit drugs can be found worldwide, both in deveLoped and developing countries, and their dissemination is a major threat to public health and safety, and has major economic effects on the consumers, the pharmaceutical industry, and society at Large. One of the first measures in confronting this problem is bringing it to the awareness of medical staff and public.

Health technology management in Israel: HTA in action.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the history and present situation with health technology assessment (HTA) in Israel.

Methods: The method used in this study was a historical analysis based mainly on the knowledge of the authors, but supplemented by the published literature.

Results: HTA originated in Israel as a centralized function conducted under the auspice of research, developing into an active multidisciplinary center.

A decade to the Israeli Center for Technology Assessment in Health Care.

The Israeli Center for Technology Assessment in Health Care (ICTAHC) was established in 1998 at the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, on foundations set in 1992 by the Medical Technology Assessment Unit. The Center is defined as an independent multidisciplinary research center, whose main aims are to assist in developing processes for the adoption of new technologies, identify and propose health priorities, and serve as an educational center for all stakeholders. Moreover, the Center promotes working relations with overseas counterparts as an essential component for expansion and advancement of the field of health technology assessment.