Differences in characteristics between people with tinnitus that seek help and that do not.

Knowledge on characteristics of people that seek help for tinnitus is scarce. The primary objective of this study was to describe differences in characteristics between people with tinnitus that seek help compared to those who do not seek help. Next, we described differences in characteristics between those with and without tinnitus.

Unexplained versus explained symptoms: The difference is not in patients' language use. A quantitative analysis of linguistic markers.

Objective: Patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are believed to have a deviant way of talking about complaints. This study systematically compared linguistic markers in symptom presentations of patients with MUS and medically explained symptoms (MES).

Methods: This content analysis (cross-sectional study) conceptualized relevant linguistic markers based on previous research about MUS communication.

Task shifting from general practitioners to practice assistants and nurses in primary care: a cross-sectional survey in 34 countries.

Aim: To describe variation in task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to practice assistants/nurses in 34 countries, and to explain differences by analysing associations with characteristics of the GPs, their practices and features of the health care systems.

Background: Redistribution of tasks and responsibilities in primary care are driven by changes in demand for care, such as the growing number of patients with chronic conditions, and workforce developments, including staff shortage. The need to manage an expanding range of services has led to adaptations in the skill mix of primary care teams.

To what extent do home care nurses feel free to assess the care that is needed for their patients? A nationwide survey in the Netherlands.

Background And Aims: Patients receiving nursing care at home require a needs assessment. There are indications that practice variation exists in needs assessments performed by Dutch home care nurses. One possible cause is that nurses are differentially influenced by others when performing needs assessments.

Implementation and Use of Point-of-Care C-Reactive Protein Testing in Nursing Homes.

Objectives: This study evaluated logistics, process data, and barriers/facilitators for the implementation and use of C-reactive protein point-of-care testing (CRP POCT) for suspected lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in nursing home (NH) residents.

Design: This process evaluation was performed alongside a cluster randomized, controlled trial (UPCARE study) to evaluate the effect of CRP POCT on antibiotic prescribing for suspected LRTIs in NH residents.

Setting And Participants: Eleven NHs in the Netherlands.

Development of a blended communication training program for managing medically unexplained symptoms in primary care using the intervention mapping approach.

Background: General practice (GP) training in how to communicate with patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) is limited.

Objective: Development, implementation and evaluation of an evidence-based communication training program for GP residents focused on patients with MUS in primary care.

Methods: We used the intervention mapping (IM) framework to systematically develop the MUS training program.

Addressing challenges in information-provision: a qualitative study among oncologists and women with advanced breast cancer.

Background: There is a need for more insight into how to address challenges of information-provision for women with advanced breast cancer. We aimed to explore oncologists' and patients' views on (i) the challenges of information-provision, and (ii) possible strategies to address these challenges, meanwhile (iii) exploring the possible facilitating role of positive expectations and empathy.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were held with oncologists (n = 10) and women with advanced breast cancer (n = 14).

Persuasive communication in medical decision-making during consultations with patients with limited health literacy in hospital-based palliative care.

Objective: Both patients in the palliative phase of their disease and patients with limited health literacy (LHL) have an increased risk of being influenced by healthcare providers (HCPs) when making decisions. This study aims to explore to what extent persuasive communication occurs during shared decision-making (SDM) by (1) providing an overview of persuasive communication behaviours relevant for medical decision-making and (2) exemplifying these using real-life outpatient consultations.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative design was applied: (1) brief literature review; (2) analysis of verbatim extracts from outpatient consultations and stimulated recall sessions with HCPs; and (3) stakeholder meetings.

Patients with tinnitus use more primary healthcare compared to people without tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a heterogeneous condition not only in terms of nature of the sound, but also in co-morbidities such as mental health issues. Prevalence number range widely between 5 and 43%. Even though the etiologic pathway between tinnitus and its comorbidities remains unclear, in this study we aim to assess whether people with tinnitus use more primary health care than people without tinnitus.

The Global Epidemiology of RSV in Community and Hospitalized Care: Findings From 15 Countries.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of acute respiratory tract infections. To optimize control strategies, a better understanding of the global epidemiology of RSV is critical. To this end, we initiated the Global Epidemiology of RSV in Hospitalized and Community care study (GERi).

Community engagement and vulnerability in infectious diseases: A systematic review and qualitative analysis of the literature.

The global response to infectious diseases has seen a renewed interest in the use of community engagement to support research and relief efforts. From a perspective rooted in the social sciences, the concept of vulnerability offers an especially useful analytical frame for pursuing community engagement in a variety of contexts. However, few have closely examined the concept of vulnerability in community engagement efforts, leading to a need to better understand the various theories that underline the connections between the two.

Shared Decision Making in Practice and the Perspectives of Health Care Professionals on Video-Recorded Consultations With Patients With Low Health Literacy in the Palliative Phase of Their Disease.

An important goal of palliative care is improving the quality of life of patients and their partners/families. To attain this goal, requirements and preferences of patients need to be discussed, preferably through shared decision making (SDM). This enhances patient autonomy and patient-centeredness, requiring active participation by patients.

The content and effectiveness of self-management support interventions for people at risk of pressure ulcers: A systematic review.

Background: Pressure ulcers are a common complication with a high impact on well-being and quality of life in people with impaired mobility and/or dysfunctional pain sensations. Prevention is therefore crucial. However, persons at risk seem to experience difficulties in adhering to self-management regimens that can help to prevent or diminish the development of pressure ulcers.

Defining the seasonality of respiratory syncytial virus around the world: National and subnational surveillance data from 12 countries.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are one of the leading causes of lower respiratory tract infections and have a major burden on society. For prevention and control to be deployed effectively, an improved understanding of the seasonality of RSV is necessary.

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to contribute to a better understanding of RSV seasonality by examining the GERi multi-country surveillance dataset.

The use of implicit persuasion in decision-making about treatment for end-stage kidney disease.

Background: There are various options for managing end-stage kidney disease. Each option impacts the lives of patients differently. When weighing the pros and cons of the different options, patients' values, needs and preferences should, therefore, be taken into account.

Patient coaching in secondary care: healthcare professionals' views on target group, intervention and coach profile.

Background: Not all patients are able to communicate effectively during consultations with medical specialists. Patient coaching has shown to be effective for enhancing communication.

Objective: We aimed to get healthcare professionals' views on target groups for patient coaching, on supportive elements in patient coaching and on the necessary qualifications and profile of a patient coach, to further our knowledge on the concept of patient coaching as supportive intervention for patients in consultations with medical specialists.

Electronic Monitoring Feedback for Improving Medication Adherence and Clinical Outcomes in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Non-adherence to medication (range 30-107%) is a major issue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous research has shown that electronic monitoring feedback (EMF) might be an effective strategy to improve medication adherence in chronic conditions. Therefore, this study investigated the effectiveness of electronic monitoring feedback in patients with early RA to improve medication adherence and clinical outcomes compared to usual care.

Information needs of patients with chronic diseases and their relatives for web-based advance care planning: a qualitative interview study.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) enables persons to identify preferences for future treatment and care, and to discuss, record and review these preferences. However, the uptake of ACP among patients with chronic diseases is relatively low. Web-based ACP programs can support patients and their relatives in ACP.

Impact of influenza vaccination in the Netherlands, 2007-2016: Vaccinees consult their general practitioner for clinically diagnosed influenza, acute respiratory infections, and pneumonia more often than non-vaccinees.

Introduction: We aimed to develop an innovative population-based method to estimate the health effect of influenza vaccination based on electronic medical records collected within a general practitioner (GP)-based influenza surveillance system in the Netherlands.

Methods: In each season between 2006/07 and 2015/16, we fitted multilevel Poisson regression models to compare GP consultation rates for clinically diagnosed influenza, acute respiratory infections (ARI), pneumonia, and lower back pain (as a control) between vaccinated vs. unvaccinated individuals.

Provision of social support by mayors in times of crisis: a cross-sectional study among Dutch mayors.

: During times of crisis, mayors may play an important role as public leaders and providers of social support to affected residents. However, empirical studies have not yet been conducted among the involved mayors about the support they provide and the factors associated with it. : The aim is to examine the support the mayors provided to the affected residents during crises and to test the possible determinants of this support.

Managing diabetes mellitus with comorbidities in primary healthcare facilities in urban settings: a qualitative study among physicians in Odisha, India.

Aim: To explore the perceived barriers and facilitators in the management of the patients having diabetes with comorbidities by primary care physicians.

Methods: A qualitative In-Depth Interview study was conducted among the primary care physicians at seventeen urban primary health care centres at Bhubaneswar city of Odisha, India. The digitally recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and translated into English.

Continuity of care experienced by patients in a multi-institutional pancreatic care network: a pilot study.

Background: Over the past decades, health care services for pancreatic surgery were reorganized. Volume norms were applied with the result that only a limited number of expert centers perform pancreatic surgery. As a result of this centralization of pancreatic surgery, the patient journey of patients with pancreatic tumors has become multi-institutional.

The Uptake and Use of Telemonitoring in Chronic Care Between 2014 and 2019: Nationwide Survey Among Patients and Health Care Professionals in the Netherlands.

Background: Telemonitoring could offer solutions to the mounting challenges for health care and could improve patient self-management. Studies have addressed the benefits and challenges of telemonitoring for certain patient groups.

Objective: This paper will examine the nationwide uptake of telemonitoring in chronic care in the Netherlands from 2014 to 2019 by means of an annual representative survey among patients and health care professionals.