The burden of varicella from a parent's perspective and its societal impact in The Netherlands: an Internet survey.

Background: Varicella is a common childhood disease. Only 5% of first varicella-zoster-virus infections occur asymptomatically. Most data on the burden of varicella stem from health service databases.

Societal costs and burden of otitis media in Portugal.

This study aimed to estimate the resource consumption and societal impact of otitis media (OM) in children younger than five years of age in Portugal. An Internet survey on generic childhood symptoms and diseases was administered to a sample of parents. This self-report survey had been previously implemented in other European countries.

Use of medical resources and indirect costs of otitis media in Sweden.

Aims: To estimate the use of medical resources and the societal impact of otitis media (OM) in children less than five years of age in Sweden.

Methods: An internet survey questionnaire was administered to a sample of parents with children <5 years of age. The survey covered socio-demographic data, characteristics of the OM episode, use of medical resources, productivity loss by the caregivers, and travel-related costs.

Expected and unexpected gallstones in primary care.

Objective: The aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the differences in signs and symptoms of primary-care patients with expected and those with unexpected gallstones referred for upper abdominal ultrasound (US).

Material And Methods: A total of 430 patients were referred by 76 general practitioners (GPs) for abdominal US to one of the three participating hospitals in The Netherlands. All GPs were asked to complete a standardized questionnaire before and after abdominal US.

Chest radiography in general practice: indications, diagnostic yield and consequences for patient management.

Background: Chest radiography (CXR) is frequently performed in Western societies. There is insufficient knowledge of its diagnostic value in terms of changes in patient management decisions in primary care.

Aim: To assess the influence of CXR on patient management in general practice.

Chest radiography and pneumonia in primary care: diagnostic yield and consequences for patient management.

The current prospective cohort study assessed the diagnostic yield of chest radiography (CXR) in primary-care patients suspected of pneumonia. In total, 192 patients with a clinical suspicion of pneumonia aged >/=18 yrs were referred by their general practitioner (GP) for CXR to one of the three participating hospitals in the Netherlands. All GPs were asked to complete a standardised form before and after CXR.

Upper abdominal ultrasound in general practice: indications, diagnostic yield and consequences for patient management.

Background: Abdominal ultrasound (US) is frequently performed in Western societies. There is insufficient knowledge of its diagnostic value in terms of changes in patient management decisions in primary care.

Objective: To assess the influence of upper abdominal US on patient management in general practice.

Frequency of chest radiography and abdominal ultrasound in the Netherlands: 1999-2003.

Chest radiography and abdominal ultrasound are two widely used diagnostic imaging techniques in Western societies. However, little is known about the frequency of these examinations and its determinants. The aim of this descriptive study was to provide detailed information on the number of chest radiography and abdominal ultrasound examinations by age, gender, referring physician and ethnicity.