Telephone-based peer support intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in women with coronary heart disease, a randomized controlled trial in Germany.

Depressive symptoms in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) predict adverse outcomes regarding e.g. cardiovascular complications.

Effectiveness of a Web-Based Intervention in Reducing Depression and Sickness Absence: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Depression is highly prevalent in the working population and is associated with significant loss of workdays; however, access to evidence-based treatment is limited.

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Web-based intervention in reducing mild to moderate depression and sickness absence.

Methods: In an open-label randomized controlled trial, participants were recruited from a large-scale statutory health insurance and were assigned to two groups.

Effectiveness of Telephone-Based Health Coaching for Patients with Chronic Conditions: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: Chronic diseases, like diabetes mellitus, heart disease and cancer are leading causes of death and disability. These conditions are at least partially preventable or modifiable, e.g.

Self-testing of vaginal pH to prevent preterm delivery: a controlled trial.

Background: From 2004 to 2006, in a model project carried out by four German health insurers, expectant mothers were offered self-testing of vaginal pH in order to prevent preterm delivery. They were given pH test gloves on request so that they could measure their vaginal pH twice a week from the 12(th) to the 32(nd) week of gestation. They were instructed to consult with a gynecologist after any positive result.

[Attitudes of chronically-ill patients to telephone health coaching].

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the general attitudes of health insurants with chronic conditions towards a health coaching and their reasons for participation in or refusal of the telephone health coaching provided by their sickness fund.

Method: The survey was designed as a cross-sectional study on insurants who had either participated in the coaching (n=834), declined participation (n=530) or were members of a control group (n=544). Furthermore, we investigated whether the reasons and attitudes differed with regard to socio-demographic variables of the participants (age, sex, primary condition).

[Impact of telemetric management on overall treatment costs and mortality rate among patients with chronic heart failure].

Background And Objective: The rising prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) has led to an increase in total treatment expenditures. A medical care programme of telemetry was developed to reduce the number of patients with decompensated CHF, hospital admissions and overall treatment cost.

Patients And Methods: As part of a prospective controlled study the body weight of 251 patients with CHF was monitored over one year.

[Early diagnosis of arthritis and spondyloarthritis within the framework of integrated health care in Lower Saxony].

In September 2005, the Collaborative Arthritis Center in Hannover, the Hannover Medical School, general practitioners, rheumatologists in private practice, the League against Rheumatism in Lower Saxony (Rheuma-Liga Niedersachsen, a regional patient self-help organization), the State Pension Authority (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Braunschweig-Hannover) and a health insurance fund (Kaufmännische Krankenkasse), in collaboration with the Physician's Association of Lower Saxony, entered a contract for integrated health care in rheumatology in Lower Saxony. The agreement aims at patients with early arthritis or spondyloarthritis. Through close collaboration between primary health care physicians and rheumatologists, the diagnosis of arthritis or spondyloarthritis should be made soon after disease manifestation and an adequate therapy initiated.