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Health care utilisation amongst Shenzhen migrant workers: does being insured make a difference?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Health care utilisation patterns differ between insured and uninsured workers and insurance status appears to be a significant factor. The health insurance system is inequitably distributed amongst migrant workers. Younger less educated women who are paid less are more likely to be uninsured and therefore to pay out of pocket for their care. For greater equity this group need to be included in the insurance schemes as they develop. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 21, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Jin MouJinquan ChengDan ZhangHanping JiangLiangqiang LinSian Griffiths Source Type: journals

The politics of local hospital reform: a case study of hospital reorganization following the 2002 Norwegian hospital reformEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Because of the incentives that faced political actors and the controversial nature of major hospital reforms, the removal of local politicians and the centralization of ownership did not necessarily facilitate reforms in the hospital structure. Keeping politics at an arm's length may simply be unrealistic and further complicate the politics of local hospital reforms. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 20, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Trond Tjerbo Source Type: journals

Predicting intention to treat HIV-infected patients among Tanzanian and Sudanese medical and dental students using the theory of planned behaviour-a cross sectional studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The TPB is applicable to students' care delivery intentions in the context of HIV and AIDS across the two SSA countries investigated. It is suggested that attitudes, subjective norms, moral norms and perceived behavioural control are key factors in students' willingness to treat AIDS and HIV infected patients and should be targets of interventions aimed at promoting quality health care delivery in this context. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 20, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Anne AstromElwalid Nasir Source Type: journals

Cost analysis of the Dutch Obstetric system: low-risk nulliparous women preferring home or short-stay hospital birth - a prospective non-randomised controlled studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study is a cost analysis based on the findings of a multicenter prospective non-randomised study comparing two groups of nulliparous women with different preferences for where to give birth, at home or in a short-stay hospital setting. Data were collected using cost diaries, questionnaires and birth registration forms. Analysis of the data is divided into a base case analysis and a sensitivity analysis. Results: In the group of home births, the total societal costs associated with giving birth at home were E3,695 (per birth), compared with E3,950 per birth in the group for short-stay hospital births. Statistically sig...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 19, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Marijke HendrixSilvia EversMarloes BastenJan NijhuisJohan Severens Source Type: journals

Register data for cross-country comparisons of migrants' healthcare utilization in the EU: a survey study of availability and contentEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Lack of register data in 16 EU countries, shortage of data on healthcare utilization, and the diversity in the definition of migrant status hampers cross-national comparisons and calls for an urgent establishment of registers, expansion of the existing register information, and adoption of a common, generally acceptable definition and identification method of migrants across EU. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 18, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Signe Smith NielsenAllan KrasnikAldo Rosano Source Type: journals

Shelter-based convalescence for homeless adults in Amsterdam: a descriptive studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Over the last years, the shelter-based convalescence care facility users were mainly homeless single males, around 45 years of age, with chronic problems due to substance use, mental health disorders and a frail physical condition, many of whom died a premature death. The facility has been flexible and responsive to the needs of the users and services available. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 18, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Igor van LaereMatty de WitNiek Klazinga Source Type: journals

Pharmaceutical cost control in primary care: opinion and contributions by healthcare professionalsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Future investigations should be oriented toward strategies that involve GPs in the planning and management of drug cost control mechanisms. The proposals in this study may be considered by the health administration as a means to move toward the rational use of drugs while avoiding concerns about injustice and feelings of impotence on the part of the GPs, which can lead to lack of interest in and disaffection with the current measures. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 18, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Alexandra Prados-TorresAmaia Calderon-LarranagaAntoni Sicras-MainarSebastia March-LlullBarbara Olivan-Blazquez Source Type: journals

Age, chronic non-communicable disease and choice of traditional Chinese and western medicine outpatient services in a Chinese populationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: In Hong Kong, most patients have chosen WM provided in the public sector as their sole outpatient service provider for NCD. Amongst TCM service users, middle aged NCD patients are more likely to choose both TCM and WM outpatient services. Meanwhile, older people without NCD are more likely to use TCM as their main form of care, but the size of this population group is small. These utilization patterns show that patients choose both modalities to manage their NCD and TCM should be considered within policies for supporting patients with NCD under the wider primary health and social care system that supports pati...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 17, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Vincent ChungChun Hong LauEng Kiong YeohSian Griffiths Source Type: journals

Design of a continuous quality improvement program to prevent falls among community-dwelling older adults in an integrated healthcare systemEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: A theory-driven program development process has resulted in the successful initial implementation of a fall prevention program. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 16, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: David GanzElizabeth YanoDebra SalibaPaul Shekelle Source Type: journals

Geriatric patients' expectations of their physicians: findings from a tertiary care hospital in PakistanEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: Geriatric health is a neglected and under-explored area internationally and in Pakistan. We aimed to ascertain the expectations of the geriatric patients from their physicians and the factors associated with patient satisfaction in this particular age bracket. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Data collection was carried out via face-to-face interviews based on structured, pre-tested questionnaires. All consenting individuals aged 65 years or above were recruited into the study. Convenience sampling was used to draw the sample. The data ...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 13, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Taimur SaleemUmair KhalidWaris Qidwai Source Type: journals

Re-organisation of oesophago-gastric cancer care in England: progress and remaining challengesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: There has been considerable progress in reforming oesophago-gastric cancer services but the process of reorganisation is still incomplete and regional differences in service provision exist that may lead to variation in patient outcomes. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 12, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tom PalserDavid CromwellRichard HardwickStuart RileyKimberley GreenawayWilliam AllumJan van der Meulen Source Type: journals

Effects and feasibility of a multi-disciplinary orientation program for newly registered cancer patients: design of a randomised controlled trialEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study investigates the effects of an orientation program on levels of anxiety and self-efficacy amongst newly registered cancer patients who are about to undergo chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in the cancer care centre of a large tertiary Australian hospital. Methods: The concept of interventions for orienting new cancer patients needs revisiting due to the dynamic health care system. Historically, most orientation programs at this cancer centre were conducted by one nurse. A randomised controlled trial has been designed to test the effectiveness of an orientation program with bundled interventions; a face-to-f...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 11, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Raymond ChanJoan WebsterLinda Bennett Source Type: journals

Changes in and predictors of length of stay in hospital after surgery for breast cancer between 1997/98 and 2004/05 in two regions of England: a population-based studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The number of days spent in hospital after breast cancer surgery has continued to decline for several decades. The change from mastectomy to BCS accounts for only 9% of the overall decrease in LOS. Other explanations include the adoption of new techniques and practices, such as sentinel lymph node biopsy and early discharge. This study has identified wide variation in practice with substantial cost implications for the NHS. Further work is required to explain this variation. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 9, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Amy DowningMark LansdownRobert WestJames ThomasGill LawrenceDavid Forman Source Type: journals

Use of information and communication technologies to support effective work practice innovation in the health sector: a multi-site studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionA socio-technical approach to the use of ICT will be adopted to examine and interpret the workforce and organisational complexities of the health sector. The project will also focus on ICT as a potentially disruptive innovation that challenges the way in which health care is delivered and consequently leads some health professionals to view it as a threat to traditional roles and responsibilities and a risk to existing models of care delivery. Such views have stifled debate as well as wider explorations of ICT's potential benefits, yet firm evidence of the effects of role changes on health service outcomes is lim...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 8, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Johanna WestbrookJeffrey BraithwaiteKathryn GibsonRichard PaoloniJoanne CallenAndrew GeorgiouNerida CreswickLouise Robertson Source Type: journals

Comparison of distance measures in spatial analytical modeling for health service planningEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Road distance and travel time measurements are the most accurate estimates, but cannot be directly implemented in spatial analytical modeling. Euclidean distance tends to underestimate road distance and travel time; Manhattan distance tends to overestimate both. The optimized Minkowski distance partially overcomes their shortcomings; it provides a single model of travel over the network. The method is flexible, suitable for analytical modeling, and more accurate than the traditional metrics; its use ultimately increases the reliability of spatial analytical models. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 6, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Rizwan ShahidStefania BertazzonMerril KnudtsonWilliam Ghali Source Type: journals

The Impact of Statins on Health Services Utilization and Mortality in Older Adults Discharged from Hospital with Ischemic Heart Disease: a cohort study.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: As the utilization of statins continues to grow, their impact on the health care system will continue to be important. Future studies are needed to continue to ensure that those who would realize significant benefit from the medication receive it. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 4, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Charmaine CookeSusan KirklandIngrid SketrisJafna Cox Source Type: journals

The Prostate Care Questionnaire for Patients (PCQ-P): Reliability, validity and acceptability.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The PCQ-P has been found to be acceptable to patients and service providers, and is ready for use for the measurement of patient experience in routine practice, service improvement programmes, and research. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - November 4, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Carolyn TarrantRichard BakerAndrew ColmanPaul SinfieldShona AgarwalJohn MellonWilliam StewardRoger Kockelbergh Source Type: journals

The Case for Developing Publicly-Accessible Datasets for Health Services Research in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) RegionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionA search was conducted to explore the availability, accessibility and utility of publicly-accessible datasets in the MENA region. Although datasets were found in most countries in the region, those were limited in terms of their relevance, quality and public-accessibility. With rare exceptions, publicly-accessible datasets - as present in the developed world - were absent. Based on this, we proposed a gradual approach and a set of recommendations to promote the development and use of publicly-accessible datasets in the region. These recommendations target potential actions by governments, researchers, policy make...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 29, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Shadi SalehMohamad AlameddineFadi El-Jardali Source Type: journals

Delay in Tuberculosis case detection in Pwani region, Tanzania. a cross sectional study.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: There is a considerable delay in TB case detection in Pwani mainly contributed by patients. Risk factors for delay include misconception about TB/HIV and poor knowledge of TB symptoms. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 29, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Esther NgadayaGodfrey MfinangaEliud WandwaloOdd Morkve Source Type: journals

An effectiveness analysis of healthcare systems using a systems theoretic approachEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: There is clear value in developing a theoretical systems approach to achieving quality in health care. The introduction of the systematic surveyor-based search for improvements creates an adaptive-control system to optimize health care quality. It is hoped that these outcomes will stimulate further research in the development of strategic planning using systems theoretic approach for the improvement of quality in health care. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 23, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Sheuwen ChuangKerry Inder Source Type: journals

Characteristics of national registries for occupational diseases: international development and validation of an audit tool (ODIT)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: We have developed quality indicators and criteria to evaluate registries for occupational diseases on the ability to provide appropriate information for preventive policy on a national level. Together, these indicators form a tool which can be used for quality improvement of registries of occupational diseases. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 22, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Dick SpreeuwersAngela de BoerJos VerbeekFrank van Dijk Source Type: journals

A cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of culturally-appropriate hypertension education among Afro-Surinamese and Ghanaian patients in Dutch general practice: study protocolEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionThe findings will provide new knowledge on how to improve blood pressure control and patient adherence in ethnic minority persons with a high risk of negative hypertension-related health outcomes.Trial registration: ISRCTN35675524 (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 21, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Joke HaafkensErik BeuneEric Moll van CharanteCharles Agyemang Source Type: journals

Potential impact of task-shifting on costs of antiretroviral therapy and physician supply in UgandaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Task-shifting results in substantial cost and physician personnel savings in ART follow-up in Uganda and can contribute to mitigating the heath worker crisis. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 20, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Joseph BabigumiraBarbara CastelnuovoMohammed LamordeAndrew KambuguAndy StergachisPhilippa EasterbrookLouis Garisson Source Type: journals

Distribution and determinants of patient satisfaction in oncology with a focus on health related quality of lifeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Patient fatigue, as reported by the QoL fatigue scale, was an independent significant predictor of overall patient satisfaction. This finding argues for special attention and programs for cancer patients who report higher levels of fatigue given that fatigue is the most frequently reported symptom in cancer patients. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 20, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Christopher LisMark RodeghierJames GrutschDigant Gupta Source Type: journals

"It depends on what you mean": a qualitative study of Swedish health professionals' views on health and health promotionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The study suggests that different interpretations of what constitutes health promotion can lead to unnecessary misunderstandings and pose barriers to further development of a health promoting practice. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 20, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Helene JohanssonLars WeinehallMaria Emmelin Source Type: journals

Patient delay in cancer studies: a discussion of methods and measuresEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionThe main argument of the present paper is that current studies on patient delay do not sufficiently consider existing theories on symptom interpretation. It is illustrated that the interpretation of bodily sensations as symptoms related to a specific cancer diagnosis is embedded within a social and cultural context. We therefore cannot assume that respondents define delay periods in identical ways.SummaryIn order to improve the validity of patient delay studies, it is suggested that research be strengthened on three counts: More research should be devoted to symptom interpretation processes, more research should ...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 18, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Rikke Sand AndersenPeter VedstedFrede OlesenFlemming BroJens Soendergaard Source Type: journals

Collaborative Depression Trial (CADET): multi-centre randomised controlled trial of collaborative care for depression - study protocolEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionIf collaborative care is demonstrated to be effective we will have evidence to enable the NHS to substantially improve the organisation of depressed patients in primary care, and to assist primary care providers to deliver a model of enhanced depression care which is both effective and acceptable to patients.Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN32829227 (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 15, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: David RichardsAdwoa Hughes-MorleyRachel HayesRicardo ArayaMichael BarkhamJohn BlandPeter BowerJohn CapeCarolyn Chew-GrahamLinda GaskSimon GilbodyColin GreenDavid KesslerGlyn LewisKarina LovellChris ManningStephen Pilling Source Type: journals

Overcoming language barriers with foreign-language speaking patients: a survey to investigate intra-hospital variation in attitudes and practicesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Attitudes and practices regarding communication with LFP patients vary across professions and hospital departments. In order to foster an institution-wide culture conducive to ensuring adequate communication with LFP patients will require both the development of a hospital-wide policy and service-level activities aimed at reinforcing this policy and putting it into practice. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 14, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Patricia HudelsonSarah Vilpert Source Type: journals

Realising the potential of the family history in risk assessment and primary prevention of coronary heart disease in primary care: ADDFAM study protocolEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionOn completion of the project, users and primary care practitioners will be more informed of the value and utility of including family history in CHD risk assessment. Further, this approach will also act as a model of how familial risk information can be integrated within mainstream primary care preventive services for common chronic diseases. Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN17943542 (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 11, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Nadeem QureshiSarah ArmstrongPaula SaukkoTracey SachJo MiddlemassPhil EvansJoe KaiHannah FarrimondSteve Humphries Source Type: journals

Are U.S. cancer screening test patterns consistent with guideline recommendations with respect to the age of screening initiation?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The results from this study suggest that cancer screening test utilization is consistent with guideline age information regarding the age of screening initiation. Screening test and adherence rates increased by approximately 100% at the breast and colorectal cancer guideline recommended ages compared to only a 50% increase in the screening test rate for prostate cancer screening. Since information regarding the age of cancer screening initiation varies across countries, results from this study also potentially have implications for cross-country comparisons of cancer incidence and survival statistics. (Source: ...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 11, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Srikanth Kadiyala Source Type: journals

Quality of care and 30 day mortality among patients with hip fractures: a nationwide cohort studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Higher quality of care during hospitalization with hip fracture was associated with lowered 30 day mortality. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 11, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Katrine NielsenNiels JensenClaus JensenMarianne ThomsenLars PedersenSoren JohnsenAnnette IngemanPaul BartelsReimar Thomsen Source Type: journals

Can we import quality tools? A feasibility study of European practice assessment in a country with less organised general practiceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: This feasibility study shows that prior interest in EPA is low in the GP community. We encountered a number of logistic and organisational problems. It proved attractive to participants, but it can be augmented by coaching of participants in more than a one-off project to identify and achieve targets for quality improvement. In the absence of commitment of the government, a network of universities and one scientific organisation will offer EPA as a service to training practices. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 10, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Roy RemmenLuc SeuntjensDominique PaulusDominique PestiauxKlaus KnopsAnn Van den Bruel Source Type: journals

Economic hardship associated with managing chronic illness: a qualitative inquiryEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: This research provides insights into the economic stressors associated with managing chronic illness, demonstrating that economic hardship requires households to make difficult decisions between care and basic living expenses. These decisions may cause less than optimal health outcomes and increased costs to the health system. The findings support the necessity of a critical analysis of health, social and welfare policies to identify cross-sectoral strategies to alleviate such hardship and improve the affordability of managing chronic conditions. In a climate of global economic instability, research into the e...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 8, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Yun-Hee JeonBeverley EssueStephen JanRobert WellsJudith Whitworth Source Type: journals

Community Health Needs Assessment with Precede-proceed Model: a mixed methods studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: CVDs were identified by the communities as priority health problems. Future health programs should focus on smoking, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating behaviours. Behaviour change strategies should take predisposing factors, enabling factors and reinforcing factors into consideration. Policies, organization and human resource need strengthening. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 8, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Ying LiJia CaoHui LinKun LiYang WangJia He Source Type: journals

Interdisciplinary diabetes care teams operating on the interface between primary and specialty care are associated with improved outcomes of care: findings from the Leuven Diabetes Project.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: IDCT's operating on the interface between primary and specialty care are associated with improved outcomes of care. More research is required on what team and program characteristics contribute to improvements in diabetes care.Trial registration. NTR 1369. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 6, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Liesbeth BorgermansGeert GoderisCarine Van Den BroekeGeert VerbekeAn CarbonezAnna IvanovaChantal MathieuBert AertgeertsJan HeyrmanRichard Grol Source Type: journals

Estimation of physician supply by specialty and the distribution impact of increasing female physicians in JapanEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: At the current medical school enrollment capacity, the number of physicians per population is expected to continue to increase because of the skewed age distribution of physicians and the declining population in Japan. However, with changes in young physicians' choices of medical specialties and as the percentage of female physicians increases, patterns of physician supply will vary between specialties. Specialties less often chosen by young physicians and where males have dominated will face a decline in physician supply. These results highlight the necessity for developing a work environment that attracts fe...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - October 6, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Soichi KoikeShinya MatsumotoTomoko KodamaHiroo IdeHideo YasunagaTomoaki Imamura Source Type: journals

An evaluation of the appropriateness of advice and healthcare contacts made following calls to NHS Direct WalesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Based on NHSDW caller surveys responses and applying a transparent rule set to caller actions a large majority of subsequent actions were assessed as appropriate, with insufficient contacts particularly infrequent. The challenge for NHSDW is to reduce the number of unnecessary contacts made following calls to the service, whilst maintaining safety. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 29, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Helen SnooksJulie PeconiJames MunroWai-Yee CheungJaynie RanceAnne Williams Source Type: journals

The use of evidence in public governmental reports on health policy: an analysis of 17 Norwegian official reports (NOU)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The reports' evaluations of health evidence in relation to questions of effect lacked transparency and, overall, showed little use of systematic processes. A systematic, explicit and transparent approach, following the standards laid down in the ISQ, may help generate the evidence-based decision-making that Norway, the UK, the EU and the WHO desire and seek. However, policy-makers may find the ISQ criteria for assessing the scientific quality of a report too narrow to adequately inform policy-making. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 27, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Simon Innvaer Source Type: journals

The prisoner as patient - a health services satisfaction surveyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Prison inmates' satisfaction with the health services provided are low compared with patient satisfaction measured in other health areas. The substantial differences observed between services - even when adjusting for several known factors associated with patient satisfaction - indicate a potential for quality improvement. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 27, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Johan Hakon BjorngaardAse-Bente RustadEllen Kjelsberg Source Type: journals

Quantitative data management in quality improvement collaborativesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DISCUSSION: This paper discusses complications and dilemma's observed in the set-up of data management for QICs. An overview is presented of signals that were picked up by the data management team. These signals were used to improve the strategies for data management during the program and have, as far as possible, been translated into practical solutions that have been successfully implemented.The recommendations coming from this study are:- From our experience it is clear that quality improvement programs deviate from experimental research in many ways. It is not only impossible, but also undesirable to control processes...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 25, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Mireille van den BergRianne FrenkenRoland Bal Source Type: journals

Long-term care cost drivers and expenditure projection to 2036 in Hong KongEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The "demographic window" between the present and 2011 is critical in developing policies to cope with the anticipated burgeoning LTC burden, in concert with the related issues of health care financing and retirement planning. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 23, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Roger ChungKeith TinBenjamin CowlingKing Pan ChanWai Man ChanSu Vui LoGabriel Leung Source Type: journals

Introducing the National COPD Resources and Outcomes ProjectEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Key Points: positive change occurs over time and repeated audit seems to deliver some improvement in services. It is necessary to assess interventions such as the Peer Review used in NCROP to achieve more comprehensive and rapid change. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 23, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Robert StoneBrian HarrisonDerek LoweRhona BuckinghamNancy PurseyHarold HoskerJonathan PotterC Roberts Source Type: journals

An ecological study on the relationship between supply of beds in long-term care institutions in Italy and potential care needs for the elderly.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Supply of beds in long term care institutions substantially differs across Italian regions, showing in every scenario some imbalances between potential care needs and other studied factors. Our study suggests the need of a comprehensive rethinking of care delivery "system". (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 23, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Gianfranco DamianiSimona ColosimoLorella SicuroAlessandra BurgioAlessandra BattistiAlessandro SolipacaGiordana BaldassarreRoberta CrialesiGiulia MilanTiziana TamburranoWalter Ricciardi Source Type: journals

Development and validation of the Accommodation and Enabling Scale for Eating Disorders (AESED) for caregivers in eating disordersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Internal consistency was good and initial validity of the scale was adequate, it was able to discriminate differences between clinical variables, however, further work is needed to confirm the factor structure and validity of the AESED. Nevertheless, this scale may be of value in exploring and helping to improve carers' coping strategies and in examining the effectiveness of family based interventions. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 22, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Ana SepulvedaOlivia KyriacouJanet Treasure Source Type: journals

Identifying primary care patients at risk for future diabetes and cardiovascular disease using electronic health recordsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined new diabetes and CHD incidence, and resource utilization over the subsequent 3-year period (2005-2007) using age-sex-adjusted regression models to compare outcomes by MetS category. Results: After excluding patients with diabetes/CHD at baseline, 78,293 patients were eligible for analysis. EHR-defined MetS had 73% sensitivity and 91% specificity for directly measured MetS. Diabetes incidence was 1.4% in No MetS; 4.0% in At-risk-for MetS; and 11.0% in MetS (p (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 21, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Marie-France HivertRichard GrantPeter ShraderJames Meigs Source Type: journals

Adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment among pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a qualitative and quantitative studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: More importance should be given to treatment adherence under the current TB control program. Heavy financial burdens, lack of social support, adverse drug reactions and personal factors are associated with non-adherence. Direct observation and regular home visits by health workers appear to reduce the risk of non-adherence. More patient-centered interventions and greater attention to structural barriers are needed to improve treatment adherence. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 17, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Weiguo XuWei LuYang ZhouLimei ZhuHongbing ShenJianming Wang Source Type: journals

Dutch healthcare reform: did it result in performance improvement of health plans? A comparison of consumer experiences over timeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: We found mixed results concerning the effects of managed competition on the performance of health plans. To determine whether managed competition in the healthcare system leads to quality improvement in health plans, it is important to examine whether and for what reasons health plans initiate improvement efforts. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 16, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Michelle HendriksPeter SpreeuwenbergJany RademakersDiana Delnoij Source Type: journals

How risky is caring for emergency patients at risk of malpractice litigation: a population based epidemiological study of Taiwan's experiencesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The findings of this population based study indicate that the patient population emergency physicians are facing in Taiwan have relatively lower risks of developing litigation in comparison with the patients that come to give birth. Due to the large volume of ER patients, malpractice still pose a major threat in the emergency department, and misdiagnosis remains the major complaint of plaintiffs in subsequent litigations. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 16, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Che-Ming YangShin-Han TsaiWen-Ta Chiu Source Type: journals

Physician career satisfaction within specialtiesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Career satisfaction varied across specialties. A number of stakeholders will likely be interested in these findings including physicians in specialties that rank high and low and students contemplating a specialty .Our findings regarding "less satisfied" specialties should elicit concern from residency directors and policy makers since they appear to be in critical areas of medicine. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 15, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: J Paul LeighDaniel TancrediRichard Kravitz Source Type: journals

Identifying important motivational factors for professionals in Greek hospitalsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: The purpose of this study was to identify important motivational factors according to the views of health-care professionals in Greek hospitals and particularly to determine if these might differ in the public and private sectors. Methods: A previously developed -and validated- instrument addressing four work-related motivators (job attributes, remuneration, co-workers and achievements) was used. Three categories of health care professionals, doctors (N=354), nurses (N=581) and office workers (N=418), working in public and private hospitals, participated and motivation was compared across socio-demographic and ...
Source: BMC Health Services Research - September 14, 2009 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Nick KontodimopoulosVictoria PaleologouDimitris Niakas Source Type: journals