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AbstractBelgium exhibits a complex governmental structure with overlapping yet fragmented healthcare service responsibilities across various levels. The past decade has been characterized with major political reforms, and a continuing road towards deinstitutionalization, enhancing care intensity, and fortifying primary care services. This article provides a concise overview of recent epidemiological trends in Belgium, the organizational landscape of mental healthcare, the roles and financing mechanisms of key institutions and professions, and a selection of specific topics such as euthanasia. Mental healthcare has ascended on the political agenda with a declaration of interest to eliminate a historical underfunding. This is urgent because over one fifth of the adult population struggles with mental issues on a yearly basis, with suicide rates 50 to 60% above the European average. Beyond the individual toll, there is a burning societal impact, reflected in the 7.4 billion euro directly spend within the healthcare sector, alongside substantial additional costs incurred through social security and productivity losses. Policy measures are needed to tackle contemporary challenges such as the attraction, recruiting and retention of skilled healthcare personnel, ensuring equitable remuneration across institutions and professions, and addressing critical areas such as forensic, transcultural, and transition psychiatry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A proportion of patients with Lyme borreliosis (LB) report long-term persisting signs and symptoms, even after recommended antibiotic treatment, which is termed post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Consensus on guidance regarding diagnosis and treatment is currently lacking. Consequently, patients suffer and are left searching for answers, negatively impacting their quality of life and healthcare expenditure. Yet, health economic data on PTLDS remain scarce. The aim of this article is therefore to assess the cost-of-illness related to PTLDS, including the patient perspective. Methods PTLDS patients (N  = 187) with confirmed diagnosis of LB were recruited by a patient organization. Patients completed a self-reported questionnaire on LB-related healthcare utilization, absence from work and unemployment. Unit costs (reference year 2018) were obtained from national databases and published literature. Mean costs and uncertainty intervals were calculated via bootstrapping. Data were extrapolated to the Belgian population. Generalized linear models were used to determine associated covariates with total direct costs and out-of-pocket expenditures. Results Mean annual direct costs amounted to €4618 (95% CI €4070–5152), of which 49.5% were out-of-pocket expenditures. Mean annual indirect costs amounted to €36 081 (€31 312–40 923). Direct and indirect costs at the population level were estimated at €19.4 and 151.5 million, respectively. A sickness or disability benefit as source of income was associated with higher direct and out-of-pocket costs. Conclusions The economic burden associated with PTLDS on patients and society is substantial, with patients consuming large amounts of non-reimbursed healthcare resources. Guidance on adequate diagnosis and treatment of PTLDS is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated Osteoporosis Care (IOC) has been emerging over the past decade. To support integrated care initiatives, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has developed the Integrated People Centred Health Services (IPCHS) framework, which consists of five interdependent strategies. Five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, World of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus) were searched for relevant studies published from January 1, 2010 to December 2022. Initiatives implementing collaborative practices and at least two IPCHS strategies were included. Quality assessment was performed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project checklist. Seventy-six publications describing 69 implementations met the inclusion criteria; 90% of them were implemented at the hospital level, and over half focused on secondary fracture prevention. Three implementations captured all five IPCHS strategies, and half applied three. Substrategies targeting individuals as beneficiaries were frequently employed. Substrategies requiring fundamental shifts (e.g., systemic coordination and updating) were seldomly implemented. Substantive heterogeneity in substrategy operationalization was observed. Patient education, standardized care, team-based care, care coordinators, and health care provider training were commonly pursued. IOC interventions have focused mainly on secondary fracture prevention in a hospital setting and have been narrowly operationalized. Future implementation should: employ all five IPCHS strategies; better align programmes, providers, and regulatory frameworks, while adapting funding mechanisms; and operationalize broader and more innovative substrategies. Registration: This review has been registered at the international prospective register of systematic reviews PROSPERO (CRD42021250244). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical and economic burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus on society is rising. Effective and efficient preventive measures may stop the increasing prevalence, given that type 2 diabetes mellitus is mainly a lifestyle-driven disease. The Feel4Diabetes-study aimed to tackle unhealthy lifestyle (unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and excess weight) of families with a child in the first grades of elementary school. These schools were located in regions with a relatively low socio-economic status in Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Hungary and Spain. Special attention was paid to families with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: The aim of this paper is to describe the detailed methodology of the intervention's cost-effectiveness analysis. Based on the health economic evaluation of the Toybox-study, both a decision analytic part and a Markov model have been designed to assess the long-term (time horizon of 70 year with one-year cycles) intervention's value for money. Data sources used for the calculation of health state incidences, transition probabilities between health states, health state costs, and health state utilities are listed. Intervention-related costs were collected by questionnaires and diaries, and attributed to either all families or high risk families only. Conclusions: The optimal use of limited resources is pivotal. The future results of the health economic evaluation of the Feel4Diabetes-study will contribute to the efficient use of those resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate and summarize current evidence on the relationship between the patient–nurse ratio staffing method and nurse employee outcomes. Background: Evidence‐based decision‐making linking nurse staffing with staff‐related outcomes is a much needed research area. Although multiple studies have investigated this phenomenon, the evidence is mixed and fragmented. Evaluation: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cinahl, Cochrane Library and the ERIC databases. Thirty studies were identified, analysing eight selected key nurse outcomes. Key issue(s): Future research should focus on unit‐level data, incorporate other methodologies and aim for comparability between different types of clinical settings as well as different health care systems. Conclusion: A relationship between the patient–nurse ratio and specific staff‐related outcomes is confirmed by various studies. However, apart from the patient–nurse ratio other variables have to be taken into consideration to ensure quality of care (e.g., skill mix, the work environment and patient acuity). Implications for Nursing Management: Hospital management should pursue the access and use of reliable data so that the validity and generalizability of evidence‐based research can be assessed, which in turn can be converted into policy guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodsResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONSeveral high-income countries install Cash-for-Care Schemes (CCSs) by granting budgets to care users. However, little quantitative evidence exist on empowerment and client-centered care levels, due to a lack of validated scales. This research aimed to validate the Psychological Empowerment Scale (PE scale) and Client-Centered Care Questionnaire (CCCQ) in budget holders with disabilities.A survey was developed based on a literature review and experts and budget holders input. Principal Axis Factoring with direct oblimin rotation, Cronbach’s Alpha, and hypotheses testing with socio-demographic and budget characteristics as independent variables, and PE scale and CCCQ as dependent, were undertaken to assess both scales’ internal consistency and validity.A convenience sample of 224 Flemish (proxy) budget holders completed the survey. Our analysis showed a two-factor solution for both scales; for the PE scale consisting of “meaning” and “competence,” and “self-determination” and “impact,” for CCCQ consisting of items 1–7 (conduct by caregiver) and items 8–15 (autonomy). Cronbach’s Alpha of both scales was 0.94. The majority of our hypotheses were confirmed.The findings show that both scales are valid and internally consistent, meaning that they can be further tested in a respondent sample of people with disabilities and in other care contexts.In light of the current trends in the (health)care sector to stimulate empowerment and client-centered care in care users, the monitoring of this experience is important.The Psychological Empowerment Scale (PE scale) measures empowerment by means of four cognitions (meaning, competence, impact, and self-determination), while the Client-Centered Care Questionnaire (CCCQ) measures the level of client-centered care.The PE scale and CCCQ are valid and internally consistent in our sample of (proxy) budget holders with disabilities.In light of the current trends in the (health)care sector to stimulate empowerment and client-centered care in care users, the monitoring of this experience is important.The Psychological Empowerment Scale (PE scale) measures empowerment by means of four cognitions (meaning, competence, impact, and self-determination), while the Client-Centered Care Questionnaire (CCCQ) measures the level of client-centered care.The PE scale and CCCQ are valid and internally consistent in our sample of (proxy) budget holders with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over half of the European population aged minimum 65 years presents with at least two chronic diseases. Attention towards these diseases exhibits disparities, with limited primary care physician (PCP) attention for osteoporosis. This was confirmed in a previous integrated osteoporosis care (IOC) project in which notable difficulties to enlist PCPs arose. Consequently, this study was initiated in Flemish PCPs for in-depth analysis of underlying mechanisms hampering PCPs to fully commit to osteoporosis care. Methods: A qualitative Electronic Medical Record (EMR)-facilitated clinical reasoning study was conducted. A semi-structured interview guide was employed to guide PCPs from reflections on their own patients to broader views regarding osteoporosis care. An inductive thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 12. Results: Thirteen PCPs were interviewed. They stated that osteoporosis patients often had complex (medical) profiles. PCPs emphasised the ongoing necessity for prioritisation within this context. This leads to a competition for PCP attention during consultations at three levels: i. between acute versus preventive care; ii. between primary fracture prevention and other preventive services and iii. between secondary fracture prevention and other preventive services; spanning eight areas of competition: disease significance, perceived impact, PCP awareness, the patient agenda, PCP competence, PCP support, perceived patient burden, and efficiency of care provision. Applicability of these areas of competition differed between levels. Conclusion: The intricate context in which PCPs operate, creates a competition for PCP attention leading to a lack of attention for fracture prevention. To preserve efforts in fracture prevention, areas of competition should be systematically addressed. Trial registration: Approval for the study has been provided by the Ghent University Hospital Ethics Committee (BC-09797). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Telemedicine is already in use in daily practice, but appropriate reimbursement and physician payment is falling behind in many countries. One reason is the limited availability of research on the matter. This research therefore examined physicians' views on the optimal use and payment modalities for telemedicine. Methods: Sixty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with physicians from 19 medical disciplines. Interviews were encoded using thematic analysis. Results: Telephone and video televisits tend not to be used as a first patient contact, except for triage of patients in urgency situations. Several minimum required modalities for the payment system of televisits and telemonitoring were identified. For televisits these were: (i) remuneration of both telephone- and videovisits to increase healthcare equity, (ii) little or no differentiation between videovisit and in-person visit fee to make videovisits financially attractive and sustainable for physicians, (iii) differentiation of televisit fee per medical discipline, and (iv) quality requirements such as mandatory reporting in the patient's medical file. The identified minimum required modalities for telemonitoring were: (i) an alternative payment scheme than fee-for-service, (ii) remunerating not only physicians but also other involved health professionals, (iii) designating and remunerating a coordinator, and (iv) distinguishing sporadic vs. continuously follow-up. Conclusions: This research investigated the telemedicine usage behavior of physicians. Moreover, several minimum required modalities were identified for a physician-supported payment system of telemedicine, as these innovations necessitate challenging and innovation of the healthcare payment systems as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Feel4Diabetes-study implemented a school- and community-based intervention to promote healthy lifestyle and prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in six European countries. The intervention included a special focus on families at increased T2DM risk. The current study evaluates the intervention's cost-effectiveness. A Markov-type health economic model was developed to predict the incidence of T2DM and its complications. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (lifetime horizon, societal perspective) were calculated based on the overall intervention effect on health behaviour, and stratified for low- and high-risk families. Sensitivity analyses captured input parameters uncertainty. A budget impact analysis was performed. The increase in children's water consumption and physical activity led to a modest gain in quality adjusted life years (QALYs) at a low intervention cost and budget impact. Medical cost savings due to avoided illness could only be achieved on the very long-term (>30 years). The intervention in its entirety was cost-effective (more QALYs at a reasonable investment) in Belgium, Finland, Bulgaria, and Hungary, while being dominant (net savings and more QALYs) in Greece and Spain. Results were cost-effective for the low-risk families, who only received the school- and community-based intervention component. Results for the high-risk families were only cost-effective (with considerable uncertainty) in Greece and Spain, but not when the intervention would need to be repeated. The Feel4Diabetes-intervention is potentially cost-effective, especially in countries with a high overweight and obesity prevalence, at a limited budget impact. The incremental financial investments to reach and support high-risk families did not result in the hoped-for health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal management of patients with oligorecurrent prostate cancer (PCa) is unknown. There is growing interest in metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) for this population. The objective was to assess cost-utility from a Belgian healthcare payer's perspective of MDT and delayed androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in comparison with surveillance and delayed ADT, and with immediate ADT. A Markov decision-analytic trial-based model was developed, projecting the results over a 5-year time horizon with one-month cycles. Clinical data were derived from the STOMP trial and literature. Treatment costs were derived from official government documents. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses showed that MDT is cost-effective compared to surveillance (ICER: €8393/quality adjusted life year (QALY)) and immediate ADT (dominant strategy). The ICER is most sensitive to utilities in the different health states and the first month MDT cost. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of €40,000 per QALY, the cost of the first month MDT should not exceed €8136 to be cost-effective compared to surveillance. The Markov-model suggests that MDT for oligorecurrent PCa is potentially cost-effective in comparison with surveillance and delayed ADT, and in comparison with immediate ADT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that residents are at risk for developing burnout. Most burnout measures focus on individual risk factors, although work-organizational-focused measures might be beneficial as well. This study analyzed the relative importance of positive and negative work-organizational stressors, according to residents themselves, with NVivo11. Eleven work-organizational themes were found with deductive reasoning and two themes, recognition and success experiences, were found inductively. Main positive stressors are professional development, receiving feedback, experiencing success, autonomy and social support. Main negative stressors are high workloads, role conflicts/ambiguity, long work hours, and a lack of feedback, a lack of social support, and a lack of professional development. Measures to improve residents' well-being should not only focus on reducing workload and work hours. Our results suggest to allocate resources to improve supervisors' skills, such as providing social support, feedback, and recognition. A better match between internship obligations and residents' studies could also contribute positively to this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital heart disease (CHD) entails a broad spectrum of malformations with various degrees of severity and prognosis. Consequently, new and specific healthcare needs are emerging, requiring responsive healthcare provision. Research on this matter is predominantly performed on population-based databases, to inform clinicians, researchers and policy-makers on health outcomes and economic burden of CHD. Most databases contain data either from administrative sources or from clinical systems. We describe the methodological design of the BELgian COngenital Heart Disease Database combining Administrative and Clinical data (BELCODAC), to investigate patients with CHD. Data on clinical characteristics from three university hospitals in Belgium (Leuven, Ghent and Brussels) were merged with mortality and socio-economic data from the official Belgian statistical office (StatBel), and with healthcare use data from the InterMutualistic Agency, an overarching national organization that collects data from the seven sickness funds for all Belgian citizens. Over 60 variables with multiple entries over time are included in the database. BELCODAC contains data on 18,510 patients, of which 8926 patients (48%) have a mild, 7490 (41%) a moderately complex and 2094 (11%) a complex anatomical heart defect. The most prevalent diagnosis is Ventricular Septal Defect in 3879 patients (21%), followed by Atrial Septal Defect in 2565 patients (14%). BELCODAC comprises longitudinal data on patients with CHD in Belgium. This will help build evidence-based provision of care to the changing CHD population. • BELCODAC includes clinical data on healthcare use and outcomes in patients with CHD. • It is an alliance between universities, hospitals and governmental organizations. • BELCODAC comprises longitudinal data on 18,510 patients with CHD in Belgium. • It will enable research on outcomes and economic burden of healthcare use in CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The frequency of family meals has been suggested as a protective factor against obesity among children. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between family meals frequency and children's overweight/obesity in families at high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) across six European countries. Methods: 989 parent–child dyads (52% girls and 72% mothers) were included. Participants completed validated measures to assess the frequency of family meals and anthropometrics. Multivariable regression models were applied to examine the longitudinal associations between family meals frequency and overweight/obesity in children. Logistic regression was performed to predict the odds of having overweight/obesity depending on changes in family meals frequency over a two‐year follow‐up period. Analyses were stratified for children's sex. Results: High frequency of family breakfasts and/or dinners was inversely associated with children's BMI in boys and girls at T2. Results showed decreased odds of overweight/obesity at follow‐up among both boys (OR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.41, 0.96) and girls (OR = 0.53; 95% CI 0.31, 0.87) who consumed minimum of three times family breakfasts and/or family dinners a week at baseline. An increase in family breakfasts and/or dinners frequency was associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity in both boys and girls at follow‐up. Conclusion: A high frequency of family breakfasts and/or dinners but not lunch during childhood is associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity development in children from families at high risk of T2D. The promotion of family meals could help in preventing the development of overweight/obesity among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the parental food consumption and diet quality and its associations with children's consumption in families at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus across Europe. Also, to compare food frequency consumption among parents and children from high-risk families to the European Dietary guidelines/recommendations.Design: Cross-sectional study using Feel4diabetes FFQ.Setting: Families completed FFQ and anthropometric measures were obtained. Linear regression analyses were applied to investigate the relations between parental food consumption and diet quality and their children's food consumption after consideration of potential confounders.Participants: 2095 European families (74·6 % mothers, 50·9 % girls). The participants included parent and one child, aged 6-8 years.Results: Parental food consumption was significantly associated with children's intake from the same food groups among boys and girls. Most parents and children showed under-consumption of healthy foods according to the European Dietary Guidelines. Parental diet quality was positively associated with children's intake of 'fruit' (boys: β = 0·233, P < 0·001; girls: β = 0·134, P < 0·05) and 'vegetables' (boys: β = 0·177, P < 0·01; girls: β = 0·234, P < 0·001) and inversely associated with their 'snacks' consumption (boys: β = -0·143, P < 0·05; girls: β = -0·186, P < 0·01).Conclusion: The present study suggests an association between parental food consumption and diet quality and children's food intake. More in-depth studies and lifestyle interventions that include both parents and children are therefore recommended for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of food parenting practices (FPP), including home availability of different types of foods and drinks, parental modelling of fruit intake, permissiveness and the use of food as a reward in the relationship between parental education and dietary intake in European children. Design: Single mediation analyses were conducted to explore whether FPP explain associations between parents' educational level and children's dietary intake measured by a parent-reported FFQ. Setting: Six European countries. Participants: Parent–child dyads (n 6705, 50·7 % girls, 88·8 % mothers) from the Feel4Diabetes-study. Results: Children aged 8·15 ± 0·96 years were included. Parental education was associated with children's higher intake of water, fruits and vegetables and lower intake of sugar-rich foods and savoury snacks. All FPP explained the associations between parental education and dietary intake to a greater or lesser extent. Specifically, home availability of soft drinks explained 59·3 % of the association between parental education and sugar-rich food intake. Home availability of fruits and vegetables was the strongest mediators in the association between parental education and fruit and vegetable consumption (77·3 % and 51·5 %, respectively). Regarding savoury snacks, home availability of salty snacks and soft drinks was the strongest mediators (27·6 % and 20·8 %, respectively). Conclusions: FPP mediate the associations between parental education and children's dietary intake. This study highlights the importance of addressing FPP in future interventions targeting low-educated populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A family meal is defined as a meal consumed together by the members of a family or by having ≥ 1 parent present during a meal. The frequency of family meals has been associated with healthier food intake patterns in both children and parents. This study aimed to investigate in families at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes across Europe the association (i) between family meals' frequency and food consumption and diet quality among parents and (ii) between family meals' frequency and children's food consumption. Moreover, the study aimed to elucidate the mediating effect of parental diet quality on the association between family meals' frequency and children's food consumption. Food consumption frequency and anthropometric were collected cross-sectionally from a representative sample of 1964 families from the European Feel4Diabetes-study. Regression and mediation analyses were applied by gender of children. Positive and significant associations were found between the frequency of family meals and parental food consumption (β = 0.84; 95% CI 0.57, 1.45) and diet quality (β = 0.30; 95% CI 0.19, 0.42). For children, more frequent family meals were significantly associated with healthier food consumption (boys, β = 0.172, p < 0.05; girls, β = 0.114, p < 0.01). A partial mediation effect of the parental diet quality was shown on the association between the frequency of family meals and the consumption of some selected food items (i.e., milk products and salty snacks) among boys and girls. The strongest mediation effect of parental diet quality was found on the association between the frequency of family breakfast and the consumption of salty snacks and milk and milk products (62.5% and 37.5%, respectively) among girls.Conclusions: The frequency of family meals is positively associated with improved food consumption patterns (i.e., higher intake of fruits and vegetables and reduced consumption of sweets) in both parents and children. However, the association in children is partially mediated by parents' diet quality. The promotion of consuming meals together in the family could be a potentially effective strategy for interventions aiming to establish and maintain healthy food consumption patterns among children.Trial Registration: The Feel4Diabetes-study is registered with the clinical trials registry (NCT02393872), http://clinicaltrials.gov , March 20, 2015.What Is Known: • Parents' eating habits and diet quality play an important role in shaping dietary patterns in children • Family meals frequency is associated with improved diet quality of children in healthy population What is New: • Frequency of family meals was significantly associated with healthier food consumption among parents and children in families at high risk of type 2 diabetes in six European countries. • Parental diet quality mediates the association between family meals frequency and the consumption of some selected food items among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]