Patient involvement in diabetes care: experiences in nine diabetes care groups.

Introduction: Despite the expected beneficial effects on quality of care, patient involvement in diabetes care groups, which deliver a bundled paid integrated care programme for diabetes type 2, seems to be limited. The aim of this study was to gain insight into levels and methods of patient involvement, into facilitators and barriers, and into the future preferences of care groups and patient representatives.

Theory And Methods: Semi-structured interviews were held with 10 representatives of care groups and 11 representatives of patient advocacy groups.

Supervision of care networks for frail community dwelling adults aged 75 years and older: protocol of a mixed methods study.

Introduction: The Dutch healthcare inspectorate (IGZ) supervises the quality and safety of healthcare in the Netherlands. Owing to the growing population of (community dwelling) older adults and changes in the Dutch healthcare system, the IGZ is exploring new methods to effectively supervise care networks that exist around frail older adults. The composition of these networks, where formal and informal care takes place, and the lack of guidelines and quality and risk indicators make supervision complicated in the current situation.

Ambulance Transfer in Case of Postpartum Hemorrhage after Birth in Primary Midwifery Care in The Netherlands: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The objective of this prospective cohort study was to assess whether the 45-minute prehospital limit for ambulance transfer is met in case of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) after midwifery-supervised home birth in The Netherlands and evaluate the process of ambulance transfer, maternal condition during transfer, and outcomes in relation to whether this limit was met.

Methods: Using ambulance report forms and medical charts, ambulance intervals, urgency coding, clinical condition (using the lowest Revised Trauma Score, [RTS]), and maternal outcomes were collected. From April 2008 to April 2010, midwives reported 72 cases of PPH.

Deviant early pregnancy maternal triglyceride levels and increased risk of congenital anomalies: a prospective community-based cohort study.

Objective: The maternal lipid profile could be of importance in congenital anomaly development. This study therefore investigates whether the maternal lipid profile during early pregnancy is associated with major nonsyndromic congenital anomalies (MNCA).

Design: Prospective community-based cohort study.

Defecation patterns in infants: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Data regarding prevalence and natural history of infant dyschezia, defined by the Rome III criteria as straining and crying for at least 10 min before successful passage of soft stools, are lacking.

Objective: We aimed to investigate prevalence and natural history of infant dyschezia.

Study Design: In 2003, 124 youth healthcare doctors participated in a national study on defecation patterns of infants.

Autonomic function is not associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes in a high-risk population: the Hoorn study.

Aim: Impaired autonomic function is a complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), but may also be involved in its development. For this reason, this study looked at the association of autonomic function with the incidence of DM2 in a homogeneous Caucasian population.

Methods: This Hoorn study was a prospective population-based study of individuals aged 50-75 years.

Rehabilitation after lumbar disc surgery: an update Cochrane review.

Study Design: Cochrane systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of active rehabilitation for adults after first-time lumbar disc surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Several rehabilitation programs are available for individuals after lumbar disc surgery, however, little is known about the efficacy of these treatments.