Appropriateness of strategy comparisons in cost-effectiveness analyses of infant pneumococcal vaccination: a systematic review.

Objectives: Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is the standard framework for informing the efficient allocation of scarce healthcare resources. The importance of considering all relevant intervention strategies and appropriate incremental comparisons have both long been recognized in CEA. Failure to apply methods correctly can lead to suboptimal policies.

Increased risk of pneumonia amongst residents living near goat farms in different livestock-dense regions in the Netherlands.

Background: Previous studies, performed between 2009-2019, in the Netherlands observed an until now still unexplained increased risk for pneumonia among residents living close to goat farms. Since data were collected in the provinces Noord-Brabant and Limburg (NB-L), an area with relatively high air pollution levels and proximity to large industrial areas in Europe, the question remains whether the results are generalizable to other regions. In this study, a different region, covering the provinces Utrecht, Gelderland, and Overijssel (UGO) with a similar density of goat farms, was included to assess whether the association between goat farm proximity and pneumonia is consistently observed across the Netherlands.

Are older people worse off in 2040 regarding health and resources to deal with it? - Future developments in complex health problems and in the availability of resources to manage health problems in the Netherlands.

Introduction: Developing sustainable health policy requires an understanding of the future demand for health and social care. We explored the characteristics of the 65+ population in the Netherlands in 2020 and 2040, focusing on two factors that determine care needs: (1) the occurrence of complex health problems and (2) the availability of resources to manage health and care (e.g.

What can we learn from experiences in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative study.

Background: Experiences with organizational changes in daytime general practices and out-of-hours (OOH) services during the COVID-19 pandemic may help to address the challenges in general practice care that were already a concern before the crisis. This study aimed to describe these experiences and the potential usefulness of the organizational changes for future general practice care and any future pandemics.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were performed among 11 directors of OOH services, and 19 (locum) general practitioners (GPs) or practice managers, who were purposively sampled.

How physicians see nurses' role in decision-making about life-prolonging treatments in patients with a short life expectancy: An interview study.

Objective: Exploring physicians' views on hospital nurses' role in decision-making about potentially life-prolonging treatments in patients with a short life expectancy.

Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with hospital physicians. Data were collected from May to September 2019 and analyzed following principles of thematic analysis.

Identifying most important contextual factors for the implementation of self-management interventions: A Delphi study.

Objective: To reach consensus amongst stakeholders about the most important contextual factors (CFs) that may influence the successful implementation of (components of) self-management interventions (SMIs) for type 2 diabetes, obesity, COPD and heart failure.

Methods: Building on our literature review that identified 31 CFs on different levels we conducted a Delphi with 44 stakeholders to identify which of these CFs, or additional ones, contribute most to successful implementation of SMIs. The Delphi consisted of three rounds in which the CFs were scored, prioritized and discussed.

Psychometric Validation of an Instrument for Measuring Patient Experiences with Outpatient Healthcare.

Aim: Recently, a patient-reported experience measure (PREM) was developed in Slovenia to assess patients' experiences with outpatient specialist healthcare clinics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties (including factor structure, reliability, convergent validity, and response distribution) of the questionnaire.

Methods: The sample consisted of 8,406 adult participants treated in 171 specialist clinics from different medical fields.

Self-management interventions for chronically ill patients with limited health literacy: A descriptive analysis.

Objectives: To support patients with limited health literacy with the challenges they face in the day-to-day management of their disease(s), numerous self-management interventions (SMIs) have been developed. To date, it is unclear to what extent SMIs have been developed for chronically ill patients with limited health literacy. This study aims to provide a description of these SMIs and to provide insight in their methodological components.

Emergency department crowding and older patients: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Emergency department (ED) crowding is a worldwide problem and one of the main causes internationally is an increase in presentations by older patients with complex and chronic care needs. Although there has been a 4,3% reduction in total ED visits from 2016-2019 in the Netherlands, the EDs still experience crowding. National crowding research has not focused on the older group in detail, hence their possible role remains ill defined.

Disaster Mental Health Risk Reduction: Appraising Disaster Mental Health Research as If Risk Mattered.

The globally increasing frequency, intensity, and complexity of extreme climatic events and disasters poses significant challenges for the future health and wellbeing of affected populations around the world [...

Regional practice variation in induction of labor in the Netherlands: Does it matter? A multilevel analysis of the association between induction rates and perinatal and maternal outcomes.

Background: Practice variation in healthcare is a complex issue. We focused on practice variation in induction of labor between maternity care networks in the Netherlands. These collaborations of hospitals and midwifery practices are jointly responsible for providing high-quality maternity care.

The influence of government policies on the nurse practitioner and physician assistant workforce in the Netherlands, 2000-2022: a multimethod approach study.

Background: Many countries are looking for ways to increase nurse practitioner (NP) and physician assistant/associate (PA) deployment. Countries are seeking to tackle the pressing issues of increasing healthcare demand, healthcare costs, and medical doctor shortages. This article provides insights into the potential impact of various policy measures on NP/PA workforce development in the Netherlands.

Depression among Turkish and Moroccan immigrant populations in Northwestern Europe: a systematic review of prevalence and correlates.

Background: This systematic review aimed to synthesize the prevalence and correlates of depressive disorders and symptoms of Turkish and Moroccan immigrant populations in Northwestern Europe, formulating evidence-informed recommendations for clinical practice.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane databases for records up to March 2021. Peer-reviewed studies on adult populations that included instruments assessing prevalence and/or correlates of depression in Turkish and Moroccan immigrant populations met inclusion criteria and were assessed in terms of methodological quality.

Impact of Subgroup Distribution on Seasonality of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Global Systematic Analysis.

Background: Previous studies reported inconsistent findings regarding the association between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) subgroup distribution and timing of RSV season. We aimed to further understand the association by conducting a global-level systematic analysis.

Methods: We compiled published data on RSV seasonality through a systematic literature review, and unpublished data shared by international collaborators.

Estimation of the Number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Hospitalizations in Adults in the European Union.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in adults that can result in hospitalizations. Estimating RSV-associated hospitalization is critical for planning RSV-related healthcare across Europe.

Methods: We gathered RSV-associated hospitalization estimates from the RSV Consortium in Europe (RESCEU) for adults in Denmark, England, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, and Scotland from 2006 to 2017.

Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in the European Union: estimation of RSV-associated hospitalizations in children under 5 years.

Background: No overall estimate of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated hospitalizations in children aged under 5 years has been published for the European Union (EU). We aimed to estimate the RSV hospitalization burden in children aged under 5 years in EU countries and Norway, by age group.

Methods: We collated national RSV-associated hospitalization estimates calculated using linear regression models via the RESCEU project for Denmark, England, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, and Scotland, 2006-2018.

Exploration of the effects of an innovative mentalization-based training on patient-centered communication skills of pharmacy staff: A video-observation study.

Objective: To explore whether a mentalization-based communication training for pharmacy staff impacts their ability to elicit and recognize patients' implicit and explicit medication related needs and concerns.

Methods: A single-arm intervention pilot study was conducted, in which pre-post video-recordings of pharmacy counter-conversations on dispensed-medication (N = 50 and N = 34, respectively; pharmacy staff: N = 22) were coded. Outcome measures included: detecting needs and concerns, and implicitly and explicitly eliciting and recognizing them.

Implementation of a Patient Questionnaire in Community Pharmacies to Improve Care for Patients Using Combined Antithrombotic Therapy: A Qualitative Study.

For several indications or combinations of indications the use of more than one antithrombotic agent is required. The duration of combined antithrombotic therapy depends on indication and patient characteristics. This study investigated the use of an antithrombotic questionnaire tool that had been developed for pharmacists to detect patients with possible incorrect combined antithrombotic therapy.

The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on global influenza surveillance: Insights from 18 National Influenza Centers based on a survey conducted between November 2021 and March 2022.

Background: National Influenza Centers (NICs) have played a crucial role in the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. The FluCov project, covering 22 countries, was initiated to monitor the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on influenza activity.

Methods: This project consisted of an epidemiological bulletin and NIC survey.

Healthcare utilization patterns for knee and hip osteoarthritis before and after changes in national health insurance coverage: a data linkage study from the Netherlands.

Introduction: Medical guidelines aim to stimulate stepped care for knee and hip osteoarthritis, redirecting treatments from hospitals to primary care. In the Netherlands, this development was supported by changing health insurance coverage for physio/exercise therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate healthcare utilization patterns before and after health changes in health insurance coverage.

Early identification of persistent somatic symptoms in primary care: data-driven and theory-driven predictive modelling based on electronic medical records of Dutch general practices.

Objective: The present study aimed to early identify patients with persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) in primary care by exploring routine care data-based approaches.

Design/setting: A cohort study based on routine primary care data from 76 general practices in the Netherlands was executed for predictive modelling.

Participants: Inclusion of 94 440 adult patients was based on: at least 7-year general practice enrolment, having more than one symptom/disease registration and >10 consultations.

Symptoms and signs of urogenital cancer in primary care.

Background: Urogenital cancers are common, accounting for approximately 20% of cancer incidence globally. Cancers belonging to the same organ system often present with similar symptoms, making initial management challenging. In this study, 511 cases of cancer were recorded after the date of consultation among 61,802 randomly selected patients presenting in primary care in six European countries: a subgroup analysis of urogenital cancers was carried out in order to study variation in symptom presentation.

Psychiatric risk factors for chronic high-dose opioid prescribing: register-based cohort study.

Background: Chronic high-dose (CHD) prescription opioid use is a major public health concern. Although CHD opioid use has been associated with psychiatric disorders, the causality could go both ways. Some studies have already linked psychiatric disorders to an increased risk of transitioning to chronic opioid use, and longitudinal data identifying psychiatric disorders as predictors of CHD opioid use could shed further light on this issue.