The Management of Chronic Kidney Disease not Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy in General Practice.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in the German adult population, with a prevalence of 10%. This guideline, updated on the basis of current scientific evidence, contains recommendations for the management of CKD in general practice.

Methods: The updated guideline is based on a review and assessment of source guidelines and systematic reviews concerning individual questions.

Effect evaluation of a tele-neurologic intervention in primary care in a rural area in Germany-the NeTKoH study protocol of a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial.

Background: Neurological disorders account for a large and increasing proportion of the global burden of disease. Therefore, it is important to strengthen the management of neurologic care, particularly in rural areas. The use of tele-neurology in primary care in rural areas is internationally considered to have the potential to increase access to health care services and improve the quality of care in these underserved areas.

[Development of quality indicators for the care of patients with chronic kidney disease : Results of a structured consensus process using the Delphi technique].

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common condition, especially in the elderly. In order to prevent progression and complications of the disease, guideline-adherent outpatient care of patients with CKD should be prioritized. Quality indicators (QIs) can be used to measure and evaluate the quality of ambulatory care for patients with CKD.

Association of Anemia with Clinical Symptoms Commonly Attributed to Anemia-Analysis of Two Population-Based Cohorts.

Background: Fatigue, dyspnea, and lack of energy and concentration are commonly interpreted as indicative of symptomatic anemia and may thus play a role in diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.

Objective: To investigate the association between symptoms commonly attributed to anemia and the actual presence of anemia.

Methods: Data from two independent cohorts of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) were analyzed.

Concordance of Patient Expectations Regarding Guideline Recommendations for Management of Psychosocial Factors in Low Back Pain: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Guidelines for low back pain (LBP) management recommend addressing psychosocial risk factors such as stress and depression, which have been shown to play a prognostic role in nonspecific LBP. LBP management has been found to diverge from published recommendations. The reasons why remain unclear and may be related to patient views and expectations regarding the causes and treatment of LBP.

Referral criteria for chronic kidney disease: implications for disease management and healthcare expenditure-analysis of a population-based sample.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines recommend specialist referral according to different criteria. The aim was to assess recommended and observed referral rate and health care expenditure according to recommendations from: • Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO,2012) • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE,2014) • German Society of Nephrology/German Society of Internal Medicine (DGfN/DGIM,2015) • German College of General Practitioners and Family Physicians (DEGAM,2019) • Kidney failure risk equation (NICE,2021) METHODS: Data of the population-based cohort Study of Health in Pomerania were matched with claims data. Proportion of subjects meeting referral criteria and corresponding health care expenditures were calculated and projected to the population of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The course of thyroid nodules and thyroid volume over a time period of up to 10 years: a longitudinal analysis of a population-based cohort.

Objective: Thyroid disorders are common. Information on the long-term progression of morphologic disorders is scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the course of thyroid nodules and volume over a period of up to 10 years.

Concordance of patient beliefs and expectations regarding the management of low back pain with guideline recommendations - a cross-sectional study in Germany.

Background: Low back pain is a common reason for patients to seek medical care. Physician non-adherence to clinical guidelines has been observed. We investigated the extent to which patient expectations correspond to recommendations of the German national guideline for management of low back pain (G-LBP) and whether patient characteristics, history of LBP and previous treatment experience are associated with expectations.

Cerumen Impaction Removal in General Practices: A Comparison of Approved Standard Products.

Background: Ear irrigation is a commonly used method for removing earwax in general practice. There is no firm evidence if no pre-treatment is as good as pre-treatment with various standard preparations.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of no pre-treatment compared to pre-treatment with commercially available cerumenolytics and to assess which preparation is best suited for pre-treatment.

Frequency of thyroid function tests and examinations in participants of a population-based study.

Background: Thyroid disorders are common in the adult German population. Little is known about guideline implementation in clinical practice and the prevalence of diagnostic procedures in ambulatory care. The study aims to investigate the use of thyroid hormone measurements, thyroid ultrasound, thyroid scintiscan and associated costs in ambulatory care at population level.

Evaluation of an ambulatory geriatric rehabilitation program - results of a matched cohort study based on claims data.

Background: Ambulatory geriatric rehabilitation (AGR) is a multidisciplinary outpatient prevention program designed to decrease hospitalisation and dependence on nursing care in multimorbid patients ≥70 years of age. We evaluated the effectiveness of AGR compared to usual care on progression of nursing care levels, nursing home admissions, hospital admissions, incident fractures, mortality rate and total cost of care during a one-year follow-up period.

Methods: Analyses were based on claims data from the health insurance company AOK Nordost.

[Effect of ambulatory geriatric rehabilitation on polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication-an observational study].

Background: Ambulatory geriatric rehabilitation (AGR) is a prevention program for multimorbid patients with the contractual agreement to prevent the need for care and hospital admissions and to promote self-sufficiency. It provides an opportunity to reduce the prevalence of polypharmacy and to discontinue potentially inadequate medication (PIM).

Aim: The study investigated the effect of AGR on the number of drugs and PIM.

[Prevalence of thyroid abnormality: a comparison of ambulatory claims data with data from a population-based study].

Background: Billing diagnoses are used for quality assurance, estimates of prevalence and resource allocation. Validity studies showed relevant limitations. In Germany, there are no population-based data on the agreement of outpatient billing diagnoses with clinical data of thyroid disorders.

[Patients Ability to Provide Information about Prescribed Drugs - a Cross-Sectional Study in Ten General Practice].

Background: For the correct intake and safe handling of their own medication it is important that patients know about their own medication and can give certain information. This study examines what information patients can provide about their prescribed medication and which factors influence the ability to provide information.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted.

[Course of Treatment and Sustainability of Ambulatory Geriatric Rehabilitation - An Analysis of 128 Geriatric Patients].

Aim Of The Study: The observational study aims to investigate the course of clinical outcomes of geriatric, multimorbid patients who received ambulatory geriatric rehabilitation (AGR) for four weeks.

Methods: Analyses were based on data from 128 patients. Basic geriatric assessment tests and the EQ5D-Scale were used before, directly after the intervention, as well as after 6 and 12 months.

Evaluation of Ambulatory Geriatric Rehabilitation (EAGER): study protocol of a matched cohort study based on claims data.

Background: Ambulatory geriatric rehabilitation (AGR) is a community based outpatient intervention which aims to improve physical function, maintain independent living of geriatric patients, avoiding hospitalisation and institutionalisation. It should therefore reduce health care costs. The objective of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness of AGR for frail elderly patients insured by the statutory health insurance AOK Nordost compared to care as usual.

Community-based intervention for depression management at the primary care level in Ha Nam Province, Vietnam: a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention including psychoeducation and yoga for depression management at the primary healthcare level in one district in the Hà Nam province, Vietnam.

Method: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used for depression screening and follow-up. Screened patients were further diagnosed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Diagnostic Interview, by a trained general doctor.