Including 'Work as a Treatment Goal' in the Care for Patients with Chronic Diseases : The Development of a Generic Care Model-A Descriptive Study.

Background: The Netherlands faces 60% prevalence of chronic conditions by 2040, impacting societal participation and quality of life. Current clinical care inadequately addresses these consequences, and most hospitals do not integrate occupational health in their care.

Objectives: To develop a generic person- and work-oriented medical care model (WMCM) based on real life experiences with work-oriented care and supporting the chronically ill in active societal participation.

Work-related support in clinical care for patients with a chronic disease: development of an intervention.

Background: Patients with a chronic disease are more vulnerable in the labor market, and work-related support in clinical care would enhance the timely support greatly needed in each phase of their working life. This paper describes the development of a generic stay-at-work intervention to provide work-related support in clinical care to patients with a chronic disease.

Methods: Steps 1-4 of Intervention Mapping (IM) were combined with action research principles.

In vivo tumour imaging employing regional delivery of novel gallium radiolabelled polymer composites.

Background: Understanding the regional vascular delivery of particles to tumour sites is a prerequisite for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic composites for treatment of oncology patients. We describe a novel imageable Ga-radiolabelled polymer composite that is biocompatible in an animal tumour model and can be used for preclinical imaging investigations of the transit of different sized particles through arterial networks of normal and tumour-bearing organs.

Results: Radiolabelling of polymer microspheres with Ga was achieved using a simple mix and wash method, with tannic acid as an immobilising agent.

Impact of Q-fever fatigue syndrome on patients' work status.

Background: Chronic illnesses can increase the risk of unemployment, but evidence on the specific impact of Q-fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) on work is lacking.

Aims: The aim of this study was to describe and quantify the impact of QFS on work.

Methods: Changes in work status from 1 year prior to 4 years after acute Q-fever infection of QFS patients were retrospectively collected with a self-report questionnaire measuring employment status and hours of paid work per week.