Discontinuation of reimbursement of benzodiazepines in the Netherlands: does it make a difference?

Background: In an attempt to control chronic benzodiazepine use and its costs in the Netherlands, health care insurance reimbursement of this medication was stopped on January 1st 2009. This study investigates whether benzodiazepine prescriptions issued by general practitioners changed during the first two years following implementation of this regulation.

Methods: Registry study based on data from all benzodiazepine users derived from the Registration Network Groningen.

Time spent in primary care for hip osteoarthritis patients once the diagnosis is set: a prospective observational study.

Background: Previous research on time to referral to orthopaedic surgery has predominantly used hip complaints as starting point instead of the moment the diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is established, therefore little is known about the length of time a patient diagnosed with hip OA stays under the care of a general practitioner (GP). No knowledge on factors of influence on this time period is available either. Aim of this study was thus to determine the time an incident hip OA patient stays in the care of a GP until referral to an orthopaedic department.

Analyzing generic and branded substitution patterns in the Netherlands using prescription data.

Background: As in other societies, pharmaceutical expenditures in the Netherlands are rising every year. As a consequence, needs for cost control are often expressed. One possible solution for cost control could come through increasing generic substitution by pharmacists.

Role of the general practitioner during the active breast cancer treatment phase: an analysis of health care use.

Purpose: Little is known about the actual involvement of the general practitioner (GP) during the active breast cancer treatment phase. Therefore, this study explored (disease-specific) primary health care use among women undergoing active treatment for breast cancer compared with women without breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 185 women with a first diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer between 1998 and 2007 were identified in the primary care database of the Registration Network Groningen and matched with a reference population of 548 women without breast cancer on birth year and GP.

Patients with shoulder complaints in general practice: consumption of medical care.

Objective: To describe the medical consumption [general practitioner (GP) consultation, referrals, medication consumption] of patients with shoulder complaints in general practice.

Methods: Data were obtained from a primary-care medical registration network. All patients aged ≥18 years with new shoulder complaints who consulted their general practitioner in 1998 were included, and were followed 10 years beyond the initial consultation.

Screening for depression and anxiety: correlates of non-response and cohort attrition in the Netherlands study of depression and anxiety (NESDA).

A major problem in the analysis of attrition of cohorts in studies on mental health problems is that data on those who do not participate at the outset of a study are largely unavailable. It is not known how underlying psychopathology affects the first stages of screening where non-response and selectivity are usually highest. This article presents results of one of the centres of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), a longitudinal study aimed at describing the long-term course and consequences of depression and anxiety disorders.

Prescribing of asthma medication in primary care for children aged under 10.

Objective: To evaluate prescriptions of asthma medication for children in primary care.

Methods: Data on prescriptions of asthma medication for children aged 0-9 years were collected from a general practice-based network in the north eastern part of the Netherlands. Prevalence, incidence, indications, continuation beyond the age of 6 years, and predictors of continuation, were determined.

Assessment of patient's experiences across the interface between primary and secondary care: Consumer Quality Index Continuum of care.

Objective: Development and validation of a questionnaire that measures patients' experiences of collaboration between general practitioners (GPs) and specialists.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed using the method of the consumer quality index and validated in a cross-sectional study among a random sample of patients referred to medical specialists in the Netherlands. Validation included factor analysis, ascertain internal consistency, and the discriminative ability.

What factors explain the differences in morbidity estimations among general practice registration networks in the Netherlands? A first analysis.

Background: Information on the incidence and prevalence of diseases is a core indicator for public health. There are several ways to estimate morbidity in a population (e.g.

External validation of EPICON: a grouping system for estimating morbidity rates using electronic medical records.

Objective: To externally validate EPICON, a computerized system for grouping diagnoses from EMRs in general practice into episodes of care. These episodes can be used for estimating morbidity rates.

Design: Comparative observational study.

Determinants for the adoption of angiotensin II receptor blockers by general practitioners.

Results of studies conducted 10-20 years ago show the prominence of commercial information sources in the adoption process of new drugs. Over the past decade, there has been a growing emphasis on practicing evidence-based medicine in drug prescribing. This raises the question whether professional information sources currently counterbalance the influence of commercial information sources in the adoption process.

Uptake of angiotensin II receptor blockers in the treatment of hypertension.

Objective: To examine trends in prescribing of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) as initial and second-line treatment of hypertension.

Methods: We performed a cohort study in the Integrated Primary Care Information database, a general practice research database in The Netherlands. We included hypertensive patients who were newly treated with antihypertensive drugs between 1996 and 1999.

Does comorbidity explain trends in prescribing of newer antihypertensive agents?

Objective: Concerns exist about heavily prescribing of new drugs when the evidence on hard outcomes is still limited. This has been the case for the newer classes of antihypertensives, especially in hypertensive patients without additional comorbidity. The association between comorbidity and trends in prescribing of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) was examined for the period 1996-2000.

Pharmacoeconomics of gastrointestinal drug utilisation prior and post Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Background: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori prevents recurrence of peptic ulcer. In pharmacoeconomic analyses it is often presumed that after successful eradication no more gastrointestinal drugs are used. We investigated this presumed positive monetary effect using General Practitioners prescribing data, including information in diagnosis.

Validity of performance indicators for assessing prescribing quality: the case of asthma.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the concurrent validity between the identification of sub-optimal treatment based on clinical information and computer generated indicators. Indicators that are associated with sub-optimal treatment in one of the four steps of asthma management were assessed.

Design: The ability of each indicator to identify patients with sub-optimal asthma treatment from computerised general practitioner (GP) prescription records was assessed by comparing them with the results of an individual patient assessment using clinical data.