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Background: The role of patient participation and representation during crises, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, has been under‐researched. Existing studies paint a pessimistic picture of patient representation during the pandemic. However, there are indications that patient representatives have adapted to the new situation and can contribute to the resilience of healthcare systems. This paper aims to further explore the potential contribution of patient representatives for healthcare system resilience during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: The study used a qualitative approach. We conducted a thematic analysis on the following data: interviews with client council members (n = 32) and representatives from patient organizations (n = 6) and focus groups (n = 2) to investigate patient representation on both the national policy level and organizational level in the Netherlands. Results: We identified the crisis discourse, the dependent position, the diversity of patient perspectives and the layered decision‐making structure as themes that help to understand what made patient representation in pandemic times a struggle for national and local patient representatives. The analysis of the subjects these representatives put forward during decision‐making shows that their input can play an important role in broadening discussions, challenging decisions, and suggesting alternatives during a crisis. We identified several strategies (e.g., collaborating with other actors, proactively putting subjects on the policy agenda, finding new ways of contacting their 'constituency') used by the patient representatives studied to exert influence despite the difficulties encountered. Conclusions: The struggle for patient representation during pandemic decision‐making is a missed opportunity for resilient healthcare systems as these representatives can play a role in opening up discussions and putting different perspectives to the fore. Moreover, the adaptive strategies used by representatives to influence decision‐making offer lessons for future representation activities. However, adaptations to the crisis decision‐making structure are also needed to enable patient representatives to play their role. Patient Contribution: We conducted interviews with patient representatives and discussed our preliminary findings with patient representatives during the focus groups. Zorgbelang, a patient organization supporting client councils and enabling and organizing patient participation for organizations and municipalities, was partner in this research and contributed to the interview guide, conducting interviews and focus groups. Additionally, the analysis made by the first author was discussed and refined multiple times with the partners of Zorgbelang and one of them co‐authored this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Choosing Wisely is an international movement that stimulates conversations about unnecessary care. The campaign created five recommendations including a statement that less wound care is sometimes better. Aims: The study aims to evaluate nurses' and physicians' adherence to the Choosing Wisely recommendations for acute wound care in the Netherlands and the barriers and facilitators to improve this. Design: This is a mixed methods study using a survey and interviews. Methods: The survey was completed by 171 nurses and 71 physicians from November 2017 to February 2018. A total of 17 nurses and 6 physicians were interviewed. Results: Awareness of the five recommendations ranged from 62% to 89% for nurses and 46% to 85% for physicians. However, up to 15% of the nurses and 28% of physicians were aware but did not adhere to the recommendations. Barriers to adhering were a lack of knowledge, the work environment and perceptions of patients' preferences. Repeated attention, cost‐consciousness and an open culture facilitated the implementation. Conclusion: Although most nurses and physicians were aware of the recommendations, not all adhered to them. Increasing awareness is not enough for successful implementation. A tailored approach that removes the barriers is necessary, such as increasing knowledge about wounds and changing the work environment. Summary statement: What is already known on this topic? Less wound care is sometimes better: cleaning wounds with tap water only, not bathing wounds, using simple bandages and not using bandages on wounds healing by primary intention leads to better wound care for lower costs.It is unknown to what extent this is known and practiced by nurses and physicians and what barriers and facilitators they experience in practicing this. What this paper adds? Although the majority of nurses and physicians were aware of the Choosing Wisely recommendations for acute wounds, not all adhered to them.Awareness is not always sufficient for successful implementation, which requires a broader approach that targets the barriers. The implications of this paper Implementation of these recommendations can be improved by increasing knowledge about wounds and wound care, changing the work environment, and verifying the patient's presumed preferences regarding wound care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To guide the development of high‐quality care for people with multiple chronic conditions, partners of the European Joint Action CHRODIS developed the Integrated Multimorbidity Care Model. To assess its suitability for improving care for people with multimorbidity in the Netherlands, the model was piloted in a primary care setting with both patients and care providers. Aim: This paper reports on the patient perspective, and aims to explore the priorities, underlying values and preferences for care of people with multimorbidity. Participants and methods: Twenty persons with multimorbidity (selected from general practice registries) participated in a focus group or telephone interview. Subsequently, a questionnaire was completed by 863 persons with multimorbidity registered with 14 general practices. Qualitative data were thematically analysed and quantitative data by means of descriptive statistics. Results: Frequently prioritized elements of care were the use of shared electronic health records, regular comprehensive assessments, self‐management support and shared decision making, and care coordination. Preferences for how these elements should be specifically addressed differed according to individual values (eg weighing safety against privacy) and needs (eg ways of coping with multimorbidity). Conclusion: The JA‐CHRODIS Integrated Multimorbidity Care Model reflects the priorities and preferences for care of people with multimorbidity in the Netherlands, which supports its relevance to guide the development of person‐centred integrated care for people with multiple chronic conditions in the Netherlands. Patient contribution: European patient experts contributed to the development and applicability assessment of the JA‐CHRODIS Integrated Multimorbidity Care Model; Dutch patients participated in focus groups, interviews and a survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To reduce the burden of low back pain (LBP) in the Netherlands, a multidisciplinary guideline for LBP has been implemented in Dutch primary care using a multifaceted implementation strategy targeted at health care professionals (HCPs) and patients. The current paper describes the process evaluation of the implementation among HCPs. Methods The strategy aimed to improve multidisciplinary collaboration and communication, and consisted of 7 components. This process evaluation was performed using the Linnan and Steckler framework. Data were collected using a mixed methods approach of quantitative and qualitative data. Results 128 HCPs participated in the implementation study, of which 96 participated in quantitative and 21 participated in qualitative evaluation. Overall dose delivered for this study was 89 %, and the participants were satisfied with the strategy, mostly with the multidisciplinary approach, which contributed to the mutual understanding of each other's disciplines and perspectives. While the training sessions did not yield any new information, the strategy created awareness of the guideline and its recommendations, contributing to positively changing attitudes and aiding in improving guideline adherent behaviour. However, many barriers to implementation still exist, including personal and practical factors, confidence, dependence and distrust issues among the HCPs, as well as policy factors (e.g. reimbursement systems). Conclusions The data presented in this paper have shown that the strategy that was used to implement the guideline in a Dutch primary care setting was feasible, especially when using a multidisciplinary approach. However, identified barriers for implementation have been identified and should be addressed in future implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim was to examine the association between physical and mental comorbidity with receiving low vision services (LVS). Methods: A retrospective study based on Dutch claims data of health insurers was performed. We retrieved data (2015–2018) of patients (≥18 years) with eye diseases causing severe vision loss who received LVS at Dutch rehabilitation organizations in 2018 (target group) and patients who did not receive LVS, but who received ophthalmic medical specialist care for glaucoma, macular, diabetic retinal and/or retinal diseases in 2018 (reference group). For examining the association between the patients’ comorbidities and receiving LVS, multivariable logistic regression was used. The relative quality of five different models was assessed with the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Results: The study population consisted of 574,262 patients, of which 8,766 in the target group and 565,496 in the reference group. Physical comorbidity was found in 83% and 14% had mental comorbidity. After adjustment for all assumed confounders, both physical and mental comorbidity remained significantly associated with receiving LVS. In the adjusted model, which also included both comorbidity variables, the best relative quality was found to describe the association between mental and physical comorbidity and receiving LVS. Conclusions: Mental comorbidity seemed to be independently associated with receiving LVS, implying that the odds for receiving a LVS referral are higher in patients who are vulnerable to mental comorbidity. Physical comorbidity was independently associated, however, the association with receiving LVS might not be that meaningful in terms of policy implications. Providing mental healthcare interventions for people with VI seems warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two main coping styles regarding information seeking under medical threat; monitoring (information-seeking) and blunting (information-avoiding). The aim of this study is to (1) determine factors associated with a monitoring or blunting coping style in gastro-intestinal stromal tumour (GIST) patients and (2) investigate its association with psychological distress, cancer-related concerns, health-related quality of life and satisfaction with healthcare. In a cross-sectional study, Dutch GIST patients completed the shortened version of the Threatening Medical Situations Inventory to determine their coping style, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Cancer Worry Scale, EORTC QLQ-C30 and part of the EORTC QLQ-INFO25. A total of 307 patients were classified as blunters (n = 175, 57%) or monitors (n = 132, 43%). Coping style was not associated with tumour or treatment variables, but being a female (OR 2.5; 95%CI 1.5–4.1; p= <.001) and higher educated (OR 5.5; 95%CI 2.5–11.9, p= <.001) were associated with higher odds of being a monitor. Monitors scored significantly lower on emotional functioning (mean = 86.8 vs mean = 90.9, p=.044), which is considered a trivial difference, more often experienced severe fear of cancer recurrence or progression (53.0% vs 37.7%, p=.007), and had more concerns about dying from GIST in the future (60.6% vs 47.4%, p=.025). Compared to blunters, monitors were less satisfied with the received healthcare and information, and would have liked to receive more information. GIST patients with a monitoring coping style experience a higher emotional burden. Additionally, monitors exhibit a greater need for information. Although this need for information could potentially result in fears and concerns, recognising it may also create an opening for tailored communication and information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advance care planning supports patients to reflect on and discuss preferences for future treatment and care. Studies of the impact of advance care planning on healthcare use and healthcare costs are scarce. Aim: To determine the impact on healthcare use and costs of an advance care planning intervention across six European countries. Design: Cluster-randomised trial, registered as ISRCTN63110516, of advance care planning conversations supported by certified facilitators. Setting/participants: Patients with advanced lung or colorectal cancer from 23 hospitals in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the UK. Data on healthcare use were collected from hospital medical files during 12 months after inclusion. Results: Patients with a good performance status were underrepresented in the intervention group (p < 0.001). Intervention and control patients spent on average 9 versus 8 days in hospital (p = 0.07) and the average number of X-rays was 1.9 in both groups. Fewer intervention than control patients received systemic cancer treatment; 79% versus 89%, respectively (p < 0.001). Total average costs of hospital care during 12 months follow-up were €32,700 for intervention versus €40,700 for control patients (p = 0.04 with bootstrap analyses). Multivariable multilevel models showed that lower average costs of care in the intervention group related to differences between study groups in country, religion and WHO-status. No effect of the intervention on differences in costs between study groups was observed (p = 0.3). Conclusions: Lower care costs as observed in the intervention group were mainly related to patients' characteristics. A definite impact of the intervention itself could not be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the effects of web-based SUpport PRogram (SUPR) for communication partners (CPs) of persons with hearing loss (PHLs) in a HA dispensing setting. Cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) with two arms (SUPR: Booklet, online videos; care as usual: no support) plus process evaluation. Measurements: baseline, and immediately-, six, and 12 months post-intervention. Outcomes: Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR), International Outcome Inventory for HAs/Alternative Interventions for Significant Others (IOI-HA/AI-SO). Process evaluation: dose-received, satisfaction, and benefit. The cRCT included 73 (SUPR) and 57 (care as usual) CPs. In the process evaluation study, 41 CPs (SUPR) participated. There were no significant effects of SUPR for third-party disability (SOS-HEAR), the proxy report (IOI-HA-SO item "use"), and third-party disability (IOI-HA-SO items "satisfaction", and "quality of life"). SUPR-videos were watched by 15-22% of the CPs. SUPR materials were rated as moderately beneficial and useful. Low baseline disability (floor effect) and low intervention dose-received may explain the findings. Directly targeting CPs rather than via their PHLs and providing intervention materials specifically for CPs may improve their engagement and contribute to SUPR's value supplementary to standard HA care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European policy emphasis on providing informal care at home causes caregivers and home care professionals having more contact with each other, which makes it important for them to find satisfying ways to share care. Findings from the literature show that sharing care between caregivers and professionals can be improved. This study therefore examines to what degree and why caregivers' judgements on sharing care with home care professionals vary. To improve our understanding of social inequities in caregiving experiences, the study adopts an intersectional perspective. We investigate how personal and situational characteristics attached to care judgements are interwoven. Using data of the Netherlands Institute for Social Research, we conducted bivariate and multivariate linear regression analysis (N = 292). We combined four survey questions into a 1–4 scale on 'caregiver judgement' (α = 0.69) and used caregivers' personal (such as gender and health status) and situational characteristics (such as the care recipient's impairment and type of care) as determinants to discern whether these are related to the caregivers' judgement. Using a multiplicative approach, we also examined the relationship between mutually constituting factors of the caregivers' judgement. Adjusted for all characteristics, caregivers who provide care to a parent or child with a mental impairment and those aged between 45 and 64 years or with a paid job providing care to someone with a mental impairment are likely to judge sharing care more negatively. Also, men providing care with help from other caregivers and caregivers providing care because they like to do so who provide domestic help seem more likely to be less satisfied about sharing care. This knowledge is vital for professionals providing home care, because it clarifies differences in caregivers' experiences and hence induce knowledge how to pay special attention to those who may experience less satisfaction while sharing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients' first impressions obtained during early contacts with doctors represent the basis for relationship building processes. Aim of this study was to verify how patients' first impression of doctors' communication approach influences patients' global assessment of doctors' performance. This cross-sectional study was part of a larger, multicenter observational study aiming to assess lay-people's preferences regarding patient–doctor communication. All participants (N = 136) were equally distributed over two selected Italian and Dutch recruitment centers as well as for gender and age. In each center, panels of 6–9 persons each watched the same set of eight videotaped Objective Structured Clinical Examination consultations. Participants performed different tasks as to pick up salient communication elements while watching the videos and to rate doctors' global communicative performances on a 10-point Likert scale. We performed a mediation analysis to assess direct and indirect effects of participants' first impression on participants' global assessment. Among the 439 collected first impressions, 284(65%) were positive. When the first impression was positive, the mean value of the global assessment of doctors' performance was significantly higher (M = 7.4, SD = 1.5) than when the first impression was negative (M = 6.0, SD = 1.6); t(437) = 9.0 p <.001. According to the mediation analysis, this difference was due to a direct (c' = 0.53) and an indirect effect (ab = 0.86) deriving from the total effect of first impressions on the global assessment of doctors' performances (c = 1.39). In conclusion, the first impression has a strong impact on positive and negative judgments on doctors' communication approach and may facilitate or inhibit all further interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health care no longer focuses solely on patients and increasingly emphasizes regions and their populations. Strategies, such as population management (PM) initiatives, aim to improve population health and well-being by redesigning health care and community services. Hence, insight into population health is needed to tailor interventions and evaluate their effects. This study aims to assess whether population health differs between initiatives and to what extent demographic, personal, and lifestyle factors affect these differences. A population health survey that included the Short Form 12 version 2 (SF12, physical and mental health status), Patient Activation Measure 13 (PAM13), and demographic, personal, and lifestyle factors was administered in 9 Dutch PM initiatives. Potential confounders were determined by comparing these factors between PM initiatives using analyses of variance and chi-square tests. The influence of these potential confounders on the health outcomes was studied using multivariate linear regression. Age, education, origin, employment, body mass index, and smoking were identified as potential confounders for differences found between the 9 PM initiatives. Each had a noteworthy influence on all of the instruments' scores. Not all health differences between PM initiatives were explained, as the SF12 outcomes still differed between PM initiatives once corrected. For the PAM13, the differences were no longer significant. Demographic and lifestyle factors should be included in the evaluation of PM initiatives and population health differences found can be used to tailor initiatives. Other factors beyond health care (eg, air quality) should be considered to further refine the tailoring and evaluation of PM initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Untreated dental caries is the most prevalent medical condition worldwide, with considerable variations in prevalence between regions and countries. The care index ( CI) and the restorative index ( RI) are generally used to make comparisons between and within countries of levels of care delivered. However, several methodological challenges can be identified that limit the interpretation and comparison of these indices. The objective of this manuscript was to evaluate these challenges and to provide solutions. Methods Five challenges were identified: (i) the comparability of CI and RI, (ii) the use of multiple definitions of CI and RI, (iii) CI and RI measured for surfaces or teeth, (iv) the skewness of F/D(M)F (restored teeth or surfaces as a fraction of the total number of decayed, (missing), and filled teeth or surfaces), and (v) the relationship between CI, RI and D(M)F. Time-series data were obtained - for people aged 25-44 years with low socioeconomic status - from four cross-sectional studies performed in 1995, 2002, 2007 and 2013 in the Netherlands, and those data were subjected to descriptive analyses. Results The analyses showed that the choice of index and definition had a major impact on the results, which varied in terms of absolute size and trends. Moreover, CI and RI are expressed as mean scores, but the distributions of F/ DMF and F/ DF were highly skewed. CI and RI may therefore mask groups of individuals who still need care. The proportion of individuals receiving most restorative care was much higher in the group with low levels of caries than in the groups with more caries. This implies that, when the need for care decreases over time, the restorative care indices can be expected to increase, even though there may be no improvement in the amount of care delivered. Conclusions We argue that epidemiological studies of oral health in the future should clarify the definitions used to describe the care delivered and investigate subgroups of F/ DMF or F/ DF in categories based on the extent of caries. These figures could be used to monitor changes in treatment provision and to highlight inequalities in the provision of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many patients show deterioration in functioning and increased care needs in the last year of life. End-of-life care needs and health care utilization might differ between groups of acutely hospitalized older patients. Aim: To investigate differences in geriatric conditions, advance care planning, and health care utilization in patients with cancer, organ failure, or frailty, who died within 1 year after acute hospitalization. Design: Prospective cohort study conducted between 2002 and 2008, with 1-year follow-up. Setting: University teaching hospital in the Netherlands. Participants: Aged ⩾65 years, acutely hospitalized for ⩾48 h, and died within 1 year after hospitalization. At admission, all patients received a systematic comprehensive geriatric assessment. Hospital records were searched for advance care planning information and health care utilization. Differences between patient groups were calculated. Results: In total, 306 patients died within 1 year after acute admission (35%) and were included; 151 with cancer, 98 with end-stage organ failure, and 57 frail older persons. At hospital admission, 72% of the frail group had delirium and/or severe pre-existing cognitive impairment. The frail and organ failure group had many pre-existing disabilities. Three months post-discharge, 75% of the frail and organ failure group had died, 45% of these patients had an advance care plan in their hospital records. Conclusion: Patients with frailty and organ failure had highest rates of geriatric conditions at hospital admission and often had missing information on advance care planning in the hospital records. There is a need to better identify end-of-life needs for these groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To study the quantitative consumption in out-of-hours (OOH) primary care in Denmark and the Netherlands, in the context of OOH care services. Design. A retrospective observational study describing contacts with OOH care services, using registration data. Setting. OOH care services (i.e. OOH primary care, emergency department, and ambulance care) in one Danish and one Dutch region. Subjects. All patients contacting the OOH care services in September and October 2011. Main outcome measures. Consumption as number of contacts per 1000 inhabitants in total and per age group per contact type. Results. For the two-month period the Danes had 80/1000 contacts with OOH primary care compared with 50/1000 for the Dutch. The number of contacts per 1000 inhabitants per age group varied between the regions, with the largest difference in the 0-5 years age group and a considerable difference in the young-adult groups (20-35 years). The difference was largest for telephone consultations (47/1000 vs. 20/1000), particularly in the youngest age group (154/1000 vs. 39/1000). The Danes also had more home visits than the Dutch (10/1000 vs. 5/1000), while the Dutch had slightly more clinic consultations per 1000 inhabitants than the Danes (25/1000 vs. 23/1000). Conclusion. The Danish population has more contacts with OOH primary care, particularly telephone consultations, especially concerning young patients. Future research should focus on the relevance of contacts and identification of factors related to consumption in OOH primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which investigated the implementation of integrated emotion-oriented care (IEOC) in psychogeriatric nursing home wards. Staff from 16 wards were trained to work with a standardized care plan before the experimental period. It was concluded that the implementation of IEOC was effective.

Background: Patient's satisfaction with monitoring frequency is of interest when implementing six-monthly monitoring for well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients. Here we want to determine the satisfaction of well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients with either three-monthly or six-monthly diabetes monitoring and their future preference. Methods: Survey among 2215 well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients (not using insulin, HbA1c ≤58 mmol/mol, systolic blood pressure ≤145 mmHg and total cholesterol ≤5.2 mmol/l) who participated in the EFFIMODI study, a randomised controlled patient-preference equivalence trial. At baseline, participants were asked whether they had a strong preference for three-monthly or six-monthly monitoring or not. If not, they were randomised to either three-monthly or six-monthly monitoring, while the others were monitored according to their preference. After eighteen months, all participants were asked whether they were satisfied with the monitoring frequency and about their future preference. Patient characteristics associated with satisfaction were also examined. Results: Most patients (70.8%) would like to continue their monitoring frequency. Patients from the preference groups were more often satisfied than randomised patients (92.7% and 88.1%, respectively) and patients monitored three-monthly were more often satisfied than patients monitored six-monthly (93.5% and 88.5%, respectively). Higher age, better physical health, less diabetes-related distress, higher diabetes treatment satisfaction and less perceived hyper- and hypoglycaemias were associated with a higher monitoring satisfaction. Conclusions: Most well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients were satisfied with their monitoring frequency and would like to continue it. Although the satisfaction for three-monthly monitoring was slightly higher, the satisfaction with six-monthly monitoring was still rather high (88.5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]