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Objectives This study compares three methods to forecast the number of acute somatic hospital beds needed in a Swiss academic hospital over the period 2010–2030. Design Information about inpatient stays is provided through a yearly mandatory reporting of Swiss hospitals, containing anonymized data. Forecast of the numbers of beds needed compares a basic scenario relying on population projections with two other methods in use in our country that integrate additional hypotheses on future trends in admission rates and length of stay (LOS). Results The total number of beds in the hospital under study is projected to increase from 960 beds in 2010 to a range of 1188 to 1332 in 2030. This estimated growth equals to 24% to 39% of the hospital size at baseline, and these different figures are largely due to hypotheses about future reduction in LOS. Conversely, as the models’ hypotheses regarding future demand have balanced effects on global admission rates, the three methods lead to similar projections for the number of stays, which is estimated to increase by 33% between 2010 and 2030. Conclusion In the context of population aging, forecasting the number of hospital beds should not rely on a unique scenario. Using different hypotheses about admission rates and LOS, and comparing projected versus real use are important to avoid shortage of beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use in Switzerland of three chest X-ray imaging modalities is studied. The frequency and dosimetric aspects associated with chest radiography, chest CT, and photofluorography are investigated and the Swiss figures are compared with those of other countries. The frequencies are established by means of a nationwide survey performed in 1998, whereas the doses are determined by modelling, based on the technical parameters of the examinations. The annual frequencies of chest radiography, chest CT, and photofluorography are 201, 7, and 7 per thousand population, respectively. The standard effective doses related to these three types of examinations are 0.057, 9, and 0.13 mSv, respectively. The collective dose associated with chest X-ray imaging amounts to 606 man.Sv, representing 8.5% of the total collective dose due to diagnostic and interventional radiology. The geographic and seasonal variations, as well as the distribution with the medical specialty and with the age of the patient, are established. The Swiss results compare well with the average data published in the literature for other countries of similar health care level. Chest radiography shows a significant decrease with time. It dropped by a factor of 2 in 20 years. The conformity of the indication of chest X-ray modalities with referral guidelines is also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Healthy Heart Kit (HHK) is a risk management and patient education kit for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the promotion of CV health. There are currently no published data examining predictors of HHK use by physicians. The main objective of this study was to examine the association between physicians' characteristics (socio-demographic, cognitive, and behavioural) and the use of the HHK., Methods: All registered family physicians in Alberta (n=3068) were invited to participate in the "Healthy Heart Kit" Study. Consenting physicians (n=153) received the Kit and were requested to use it for two months. At the end of this period, a questionnaire collected data on the frequency of Kit use by physicians, as well as socio-demographic, cognitive, and behavioural variables pertaining to the physicians., Results: The questionnaire was returned by 115 physicians (follow-up rate = 75%). On a scale ranging from 0 to 100, the mean score of Kit use was 61 [SD=26]. A multiple linear regression showed that "agreement with the Kit" and the degree of "confidence in using the Kit" was strongly associated with Kit use, explaining 46% of the variability for Kit use. Time since graduation was inversely associated with Kit use, and a trend was observed for smaller practices to be associated with lower use., Conclusion: Given these findings, future research and practice should explore innovative strategies to gain initial agreement among physicians to employ such clinical tools. Participation of older physicians and solo-practitioners in this process should be emphasized.