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Objective: This study aimed to explore psychosocial consequences of (false) positive liver screening results and to identify influencing factors for perceived strain within a multistage screening programme for liver cirrhosis and fibrosis in Germany. Methods: Between June 2018 and May 2019, all positively screened patients were asked to participate in the study (n = 158). N = 11 telephone interviews and n = 4 follow‐up interviews were conducted. Semi‐structured telephone interviews were carried out. The analysis followed a structuring content analysis approach. Thereby, categories were first defined deductively. Second, the categories were revised inductively based on the data. Results: The main themes found regarding the consequences of the screening were categorised in emotional reactions and behavioural reactions. Few respondents described negative emotional consequences related to screening. Those seem to be mostly driven by suboptimal patient–provider communication and might be worsened when transparent information transfer fails to happen. As a result, patients sought information and support in their social environment. All patients reported positive attitudes towards liver screening. Conclusion: To reduce the potential occurrence of psychosocial consequences during the screening process, medical screening should be performed in the context of transparent information. Regular health communication on the side of health professionals and increasing patients' health literacy might contribute to avoiding negative emotions in line with screening. Patient or Public Contribution: This study recognises the wide‐ranging patients' perspectives regarding the consequences of liver screening which should be taken into consideration when implementing a new screening programme to ensure a patient‐centred approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Decision aids (DAs) are promising tools to foster evidence‐based shared decision‐making between practitioners and service users. Nevertheless, it is still obscure how an evidence‐based DA for people with severe mental illness, especially psychosis, should look in an inpatient treatment setting to be useful and feasible. Therefore, we conducted focus groups with psychiatrists and service users to collect and assess their expectations and wishes regarding an evidence‐based DA. From these findings, we derived immediate recommendations for the future development of DAs. Methods: We held two group interviews with service users (n = 8) and three group interviews with psychiatrists (n = 10). We used an open, large‐scale topic guide. First, we presented data from a current meta‐analysis on antipsychotics to the interviewees and, in a second step, asked for their expectations and wishes towards a DA that integrates these data. Results: Our thematic analysis revealed six key themes addressed by the respondents: (1) general considerations on the importance and usefulness of such a DA, (2) critical comments on psychiatry and psychopharmacotherapy, (3) communicative prerequisites for the use of a DA, (4) form and content of the DA, (5) data input, data processing and output as well as (6) application of the DA and possible obstacles. Conclusions: Participants identified several important features for the development of DAs for selecting antipsychotics in inpatient psychiatric treatment. The digital format was met with the greatest approval. Especially the adaptability to different needs, users and psychopathologies and the possibility to outsource information dissemination via app seemed to be a decisive convincing argument. Further research is required to test specific features of DAs to be developed in clinical settings. Patient or Public Contribution: The entire project is supported by an advisory board, including also experienced users. The members are regularly updated about the process and give important feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore nurses' and nurse assistants' experiences of providing end‐of‐life care during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Austria, Germany and Northern Italy. Design: A qualitative explorative interview study. Method: Data were collected between August and December 2020 and analysed using content analysis. Healthcare professionals (nurses (n = 30), nurse coordinators (n = 6) and nurse assistants (n = 5)) from hospitals (n = 32) and long‐term care facilities (n = 9) in Austria, Germany and Northern Italy were interviewed for this study. Results: Five main categories were identified as follows: (i) end‐of‐life care involves love and duty, (ii) last wishes and dignity of the patient, (iii) communication with the family, (iv) organizational and religious aspects and (v) personal emotions. Results indicate that more training and guidelines are needed to prepare nurses and nurse assistants for end‐of‐life care during pandemics. Public contribution: This research can help prepare nurses and nurse assistants for end‐of‐life care in pandemics and will be of value for improving the institutional and government health policies. Furthermore, it can be of value in preparing training for healthcare professionals patient–relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying social identity theory and the relational demography approach, this paper proposes that the effect of age diversity on individual team members' health is contingent on the individual age as well as on age stereotypes. We suggest that younger and older employees' health is negatively associated with age diversity, while middle-aged team members' health is not affected. We further postulate that age stereotypes strengthen the negative effect of age diversity for the younger age group, while they weaken the effect for older employees. For middle-aged team members, age stereotypes are expected not to determine the relationship between age diversity and health. We tested our hypotheses based on data from a representative sample of the German workforce ( n = 1,214). The results fully confirmed our hypotheses. Practitioner Points Organizations have to be aware that age diversity can undermine the health of older and younger team members., We found that younger team members' health is only affected by working in age-diverse teams if they hold negative stereotypical views about older team colleagues. In contrast, older team members' health is only affected if they do not hold negative stereotypical views about older employees., Accordingly, we advise taking steps to reduce the age stereotypes of younger team members in age-diverse teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This paper examines how negative experiences with the health-care system create a lack of confidence in receiving medical care in seven countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Methods The empirical analysis is based on data from the Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey 2007, with nationally representative samples of adults aged 18 and over. For the analysis of the experience of cost barriers and confidence in receiving medical care, we conducted pairwise comparisons of group percentages as well as country-wise multivariate logistic regression models. Results Individuals who have experienced cost barriers show a significantly lower level of confidence in receiving safe and quality medical care than those who have not. This effect is most pronounced in the United States, where people who have foregone necessary treatment because of costs are four times as likely to lack confidence as individuals without the experience of cost barriers (adjusted odds ratio 4.00). In New Zealand, Germany, and Canada, individuals with the experience of cost barriers are twice as likely to report low confidence compared with those without this experience (adjusted odds ratios of 1.95, 2.19 and 2.24, respectively). In the Netherlands and UK, cost barriers are only a marginal phenomenon. Conclusions The fact that the experience of financial barriers considerably lowers confidence indicates that financial incentives, such as private co-payments, have a negative effect on overall public support and therefore on the legitimacy of health-care systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To involve health service users in health care and health research priority setting, different methods exist. Which method is most suitable under which circumstances is unknown. We compared a postal Delphi survey and an in‐person workshop to involve health service users in priority settings for rehabilitative care and research in Germany. Methods: One hundred and eighty‐four former rehabilitants were randomly assigned to a postal Delphi survey (n = 152) or an in‐person workshop (n = 32). Two hundred and seventy‐six employees in rehabilitation were also invited to the Delphi Survey. The methodological comparison refers only to the sample of rehabilitants. Within each method, the participants agreed on the top 10 priorities for practice improvement and research in rehabilitative care. The priorities were compared descriptively. Participants' satisfaction was measured with the Public and Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool. The usability of both methods was compared based on the effort, time and material costs required for implementation. Results: Seventy‐five former rehabilitants and 41 employees in rehabilitation completed both Delphi survey rounds. Eleven former rehabilitants participated in the in‐person workshop. Priorities for practice improvement showed a high degree of overlap between both methods whereas research priorities differed greatly. Participants of the in‐person workshop felt significantly better prepared, more listened to and more likely to feel that different views on the topics were discussed. Participants of the Delphi survey expressed difficulties in understanding all survey questions. The Delphi survey was more elaborate in preparation and implementation but caused lower material costs. Conclusion: The differences in research priorities between the two methods could be due to the different samples, differences in the individual interests of participants or differences in the prioritization process. In‐person workshops seem to be more appropriate for complex topics, where clarifications of questions and deeper discussions are needed. Delphi surveys seem to be more suitable for easily understandable topics, larger sample sizes and when fewer financial resources are available. Patient or Public Contribution: The different study phases were supported by employees in rehabilitation and former rehabilitants (e.g., developing study documents, and interpreting results). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peer support is increasingly recognized as crucial for improving health and psychosocial outcomes in oncological care. The integration of cancer self‐help groups (SHGs) into cancer care facilities has gained importance in recent years. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge of the extent and quality of cooperation between cancer care facilities and SHGs and their integration into routine care. The concept of self‐help friendliness (SHF) provides a feasible instrument for the measurement of cooperation and integration. Methods: A cross‐sectional study across Germany investigates the experiences of 266 leaders of cancer SHGs concerning their cooperation with cancer care facilities based on the criteria for SHF. The participatory study was developed and conducted with representatives of the House of Cancer Self‐Help and the federal associations of cancer self‐help. Results: According to the SHG leaders, about 80% of their members primarily find their way to an SHG via other patients and only less than 50% more or less frequently via hospitals or rehabilitation clinics. The quality of cooperation with cancer centres, hospitals and rehabilitation clinics, however, is rated as good to very good by more than 70% of the respondents. Nine out of 10 quality criteria for SHF are fully or at least partially implemented, the values vary between 53% and 87%. Overall, 58% of the SHG leaders feel well to be very well integrated into care facilities. Conclusions: The results show a positive assessment of the involvement of SHGs in oncological care, but differences between inpatient and outpatient care and low referrals to SHGs are prominent. The concept of SHF is a feasible solution for a systematic and measurable involvement of SHGs. Patient or Public Contribution: The perspectives and insight of patient representatives obtained through qualitative interviews were directly incorporated into this study. Representatives of cancer self‐help organizations were involved in the development of the questionnaire, reviewed it for content and comprehensibility, and further helped to recruit participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This mixed‐method study explores psychological needs, access and barriers in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with and without mental health issues (MHI) within the German healthcare system. Methods: This study was conducted in three different healthcare settings: two hospitals, two rehabilitation clinics and three cardiology practices in Cologne, Germany. Patients were screened for angiographically documented CHD and other inclusion criteria. In total, 364 CHD patients took part in this study. It consisted of two parts: In the first part, participants filled in a newly developed questionnaire about their psychological needs, access and barriers within the healthcare system and their contact with their doctor in these matters. Then, patients were screened for MHIs with the help of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). When a score above seven was scored on the HADS, patients were additionally screened for specific MHIs using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Axis I Disorders. In the second part, 20 participants were subsequently interviewed in a semi‐structured interview to generate more in‐depth findings. Results: The interviews show that CHD patients with and without MHI experienced a cardiac event as life‐changing and had an urgent need to talk about CHD with their doctor, mostly the general practitioner (GP). When the GP spoke to the patient shortly after the cardiac event, patients experienced relief and were better able to cope with their illness. Only 9.1% reported being aided in their search for psychotherapeutic treatment or drug treatment (4.1%). Conclusion: The needs of CHD patients with and without MHI were not adequately satisfied within our sample. Psychological measures are necessary for sufficient improvement, such as training of doctors in doctor–patient communication (e.g., better support in coping with MHI/CHD), improvements in the procedure (more time for conversations during doctor contacts), and improvement of structural requirements (referring patients faster to psychotherapists). Patient or Public Contribution: We received input from patients during pretests and used the feedback to tailor our questionnaire and the interview guidelines. Afterwards, we disseminated the main results for the patient and public involvement (e.g., public lectures, leaflets for self‐help groups, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An economic model was developed to estimate the cost of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwelling of a topical wound solution vs control therapies. Economic model inputs were means derived from the results of a recently published systematic review and meta‐analysis of 13 comparative studies of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation. Means across studies comprising complex acute and chronic wounds for negative pressure wound therapy‐instillation vs control (negative pressure wound therapy without instillation, gauze dressings, or gentamicin polymethylmethacrylate beads) groups were 1.77 vs 2.69 operating room visits (P =.008) and 9.88 vs 21.80 therapy days (P =.02), respectively. These inputs plus hospital cost data were used to model costs for the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. For the United States, Germany, and United Kingdom, respectively, economic model estimates of total potential per patient savings were $33 338, €8467, and £5626 for negative pressure wound therapy‐instillation group vs control, based on assumed number of OR visits during therapy, cost of therapy system, and length of therapy. Model results showed an overall potential cost‐savings with negative pressure wound therapy‐instillation vs control, based on fewer OR visits and shorter therapy duration as reported in the published systematic review and meta‐analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Involving patients and citizens in health care decision‐making is considered increasingly important in Germany. Participatory structures have been implemented, especially in rehabilitative care. However, it is unknown whether and to what extent German patients and citizens want to participate in decisions that exceed their own medical treatment. Objective: This study aimed to survey participation preferences and associated factors of health service users in decisions regarding rehabilitative care at micro, meso and macro levels. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 3872 former rehabilitants. We collected participation preferences using the Control Preference Scale or an adapted form. Possible influencing factors were examined using logistic regression models. Results: The response rate was 5.7% (n = 217). At all decision‐making levels, joint decision‐making was preferred. At the macro level, preferences for actively participating were the highest. Preferences were significantly interrelated between decision‐making levels. At the micro level, an orthopaedic indication significantly decreased the desire for participation compared to psychosomatic indications (odds ratio = 0.44, p =.019). Discussion: Participants wanted to be equally involved in decision‐making as experts. Higher preferences for active participation at the macro level might be due to dissatisfaction with the current health care organisation and lack of trust in politicians. Compared to the general public, our study sample was older (73.3% between 50 and 69 years) and more often chronically ill—factors associated with increased participation preferences in the literature. Conclusion: Contrary to the identified preferences, participation opportunities in the German health care system are rare. Further research on participation preferences and structures that enable meaningful involvement are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess inter‐professional collaboration between nurses and physicians in long‐term care facilities and to determine if there are differences between subgroups of nurses. Design: A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was carried out between January 2018 and January 2020. Methods: 408 health professionals (345 nurses, 63 physicians) from 37 nursing homes in Baden‐Wuerttemberg (Germany) participated in the survey. For data collection, the "Team‐Scale" and "Work Situation Questionnaire for nurses/physicians" instruments were used. Furthermore, five self‐generated items were employed assessing how ward rounds and documentation are implemented. For the evaluation, descriptive analyses, one‐way variance analyses (ANOVAs) and a multilevel analysis were performed. Results: Inter‐professional teamwork was rated positively overall. However, the nursing staff usually gave more critical assessments than the physicians (for example, regarding mutual appreciation). Critical assessments could be used to initiate constructive change processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding peoples' evaluations of their health care is important to ensure appropriate health‐care services. Objectives: To understand what factors influence peoples' satisfaction with care and how interpersonal trust is established between doctors and cancer patients in Germany. Design: A narrative interview study that included women with a diagnosis of breast cancer and men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. A question‐focused analysis was conducted. Setting and participants: Interviewees were sought across Germany through self‐help organizations, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, physicians and other health‐care professionals, in order to develop modules on experiencing cancer for the website krankheitserfahrungen.de (illness experiences.de). Results: Satisfaction was related to the perception of having a knowledgeable and trusted physician. Trust was developed through particular interactions in which 'medical expertise' and 'humaneness' were enacted by physicians. Humaneness represents the ability of physicians to personalize medical expertise and thereby to convey working in the individual's best interest and to treat the patient as an individual and unique human being. This was fostered through contextual and relational factors including among others setting, time, information transfer, respect, availability, profoundness, sensitivity and understanding. Conclusion: It was the ability to make oneself known to and know the patient in particular ways that allowed for satisfying care experiences by establishing interpersonal trust. This suggests the importance of conceptualizing the doctor‐patient relationship as a fundamentally reciprocal human interaction of caregiving and care‐receiving. At the core of the satisfying care experiences lies a doctor‐patient relationship with a profoundly humane quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To participate in shared decision making (SDM), patients need to understand their options and develop trust in their own decision‐making abilities. Two experiments investigated the potential of decision aids (DAs) in preparing patients for SDM by raising awareness of preference‐sensitivity (Study 1) and showing possible personal motives for decision making (Study 2) in addition to providing information about the treatment options. Methods: Participants (Study 1: N = 117; Study 2: N = 217) were put into two scenarios (Study 1: cruciate ligament rupture; Study 2: contraception), watched a consultation video and were randomized into one of three groups where they received additional information in the form of (a) narrative patient testimonials; (b) non‐narrative decision strategies; and (c) an unrelated text (control group). Results: Participants who viewed the patient testimonials or decision strategies felt better prepared for a decision (Study 1: P <.001, ηP2 = 0.43; Study 2: P <.001, ηP2 = 0.57) and evaluated the decision‐making process more positively (Study 2: P <.001, ηP2 = 0.13) than participants in the control condition. Decision certainty (Study 1: P <.001, ηP2 = 0.05) and satisfaction (Study 1: P <.001, ηP2 = 0.11; Study 2: P =.003, d = 0.29) were higher across all conditions after watching the consultation video, and certainty and satisfaction were lower in the control condition (Study 2: P <.001, ηP2 = 0.05). Discussion: Decision aids that explain preference‐sensitivity and personal motives can be beneficial for improving people's feelings of being prepared and their perception of the decision‐making process. To reach decision certainty and satisfaction, being well informed of one's options is particularly relevant. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and the design of DAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the need for organs, public organizations use social marketing strategies to increase the number of donors. Their campaigns employ a variety of moral appeals. However, their effects on audiences are unclear. We identified 14 campaigns in Germany from over the last 20 years. Our approach combined a multimodal analysis of categorized posters with a qualitative analysis of responses, collected in interviews or focus groups, of 53 persons who were either skeptical or undecided about organ donation. The combined analyses revealed that the posters failed to motivate laypersons in general to donate, and were even less effective on skeptical or undecided individuals. We explain this in terms of the types of moral messages found on posters and the limits of such social marketing strategies. Furthermore, we discuss certain ethical aspects of organ donation campaigns pertaining to communicating norms and trust in public institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The importance of patient participation and involvement is now widely acknowledged; in the past, few systematic health-care institution policies existed to establish sustainable co-operation. In 2004, in Germany, the initiative 'Self-Help Friendliness ( SHF) and Patient-Centeredness in Health Care' was launched to establish and implement quality criteria related to collaboration with patient groups. Objectives The objective of this study was to describe (i) how patients were involved in the development of SHF by summarizing a number of studies and (ii) a new survey on the importance and feasibility of SHF. Setting and participants In a series of participative studies, SHF was shaped, tested and implemented in 40 health-care institutions in Germany. Representatives from 157 self-help groups ( SHGs), 50 self-help organizations and 17 self-help clearing houses were actively involved. The second objective was reached through a survey of 74 of the 115 member associations of the biggest self-help umbrella organization at federal level (response rate: 64 %). Results Patient involvement included the following: identification of the needs and wishes of SHGs regarding co-operation, their involvement in the definition of quality criteria of co-operation, having a crucial role during the implementation of SHF and accrediting health-care institutions as self-help friendly. The ten criteria in total were positively valued and perceived as moderately practicable. Conclusions Through the intensive involvement of self-help representatives, it was feasible to develop SHF as a systematic approach to closer collaboration of professionals and SHGs. Some challenges have to be taken into account involving patients and the limitations of our empirical study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on occupational health has consistently shown that job characteristics and personal resources predict employee well-being. Building on the associative network theory, we claim that - vice versa - well-being is likely to affect the perception of job characteristics and personal resources. The aim of this study was to expand the literature on job characteristics, personal resources, and employee well-being (1) by taking a reversed causation perspective and (2) by investigating the dynamic nature of these relations in a latent change model. More specifically, we hypothesized that baseline levels and change in affective well-being are related to change in emotional demands and autonomy, two core job characteristics for our sample of psychotherapists. In addition, we explored the mediating role of hope as a personal resource in this process. A total of 326 psychotherapists participated in a two-wave online survey with a 5-month time lag. Results revealed that baseline levels of and change in affective well-being were associated with change in emotional demands. Furthermore, change in hope mediated the effect of change in affective well-being on change in autonomy. In conclusion, the results show that affective well-being can mark a starting point for building personal resources and changing employees' perceptions of their job characteristics. Practitioner points Employees with high levels of affective well-being perceive fewer emotional demands at work over time., An increase in affective well-being over a period of 5 months further decreases their experience of emotional demands at work., Employees whose affective well-being increases over time build hope at work. This, in turn, goes along with a more positive perception of their autonomy at work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background While there has been a clear move towards shared decision-making ( SDM) in the last few years, the measurement of SDM-related constructs remains challenging. There has been a call for further psychometric testing of known scales, especially regarding validity aspects. Objective To test convergent validity of the nine-item Shared Decision- Making Questionnaire ( SDM- Q-9) by comparing it to the OPTION Scale. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting and participants Data were collected in outpatient care practices. Patients suffering from chronic diseases and facing a medical decision were included in the study. Methods Consultations were evaluated using the OPTION Scale. Patients completed the SDM- Q-9 after the consultation. First, the internal consistency of both scales and the inter-rater reliability of the OPTION Scale were calculated. To analyse the convergent validity of the SDM- Q-9, correlation between the patient ( SDM- Q-9) and expert ratings ( OPTION Scale) was calculated. Results A total of 21 physicians provided analysable data of consultations with 63 patients. Analyses revealed good internal consistency of the SDM- Q-9 and limited internal consistency of the OPTION Scale. Inter-rater reliability of the latter was less than optimal. Association between the total scores of both instruments was weak with a Spearman correlation of r = 0.19 and did not reach statistical significance. Discussion By the use of the OPTION Scale convergent validity of the SDM- Q-9 could not be established. Several possible explanations for this result are discussed. Conclusion This study shows that the measurement of SDM remains challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present research was to integrate and extend theorizing on transformational leadership, self-determination, and work engagement. Specifically, we tested experimentally our hypotheses that the satisfaction of followers' basic psychological needs (i.e., for competence, relatedness, and autonomy) and work engagement mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and performance. A total of 190 participants worked on a brainstorming task under either a transformational or a non-transformational leadership condition. Followers' performance was operationalized through quantity, quality, and persistence. Results revealed that satisfaction of the needs for competence and relatedness mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and work engagement, which, in turn, was positively related to quality, quantity, and persistence. Taken together, these findings are largely in line with our theoretical model and support Bass' ( Leadership and performance beyond expectations. New York, NY: Free Press, 1985) and Burns' ( Leadership. New York: Harper & Row, 1978) theories on needs satisfaction being a central mechanism behind transformational leadership. Practitioner points The results of this study suggest that organizations can benefit from implementing measures to increase employees' work engagement, because this can enhance employees' performance., Furthermore, the study provides an indication of how to design such measures. It suggests that initiatives focusing on followers' basic psychological needs satisfaction (especially of the needs for competence and relatedness) are particularly effective., Finally, our findings indicate that transformational leadership is one concrete way to foster employees' needs satisfaction and, consequently, work engagement and performance. Hence, integrating the frameworks of transformational leadership and followers' psychological needs can provide valuable insights for leadership development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine the psychometric properties of the German version of the 'observing patient involvement' scale (OPTION) by analysing video recordings of primary care consultations dealing with counselling in cardiovascular prevention. Design Cross-sectional assessment of physician-patient interaction by two rater pairs and two experts in shared decision making (SDM). Setting Primary care. Participants Fifteen general practitioners provided 40 videographed consultations. Measurements Video ratings using the OPTION instrument. Results Mean differences on item level between the four raters were quite large. Most items were skewed towards minimal levels of shared decision making. Measures of inter-rater association showed low to moderate associations on item level and high associations on total score level. Cronbach-α of the whole scale based on the data of all four raters is 0.90 and therefore on a high level. An oblique factor analysis revealed two factors, but both factors were highly correlated so we can confirm a one-dimensional structure of the instrument. ROC analyses between the rater total scores and dichotomized expert ratings (SDM yes/no) revealed a good discriminability of the OPTION total score. Physicians with more expertise in shared decision making received higher OPTION ratings. Conclusions The German version of the OPTION scale is reliable at total score level. Some items need further revision in the direction of more concrete, observable behaviour. We were only able to perform a quasi-validation of the scale. Validity issues need further research efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although applicant-employee fit has emerged as an important topic in recruitment research, little is known about how job seekers' perceived similarity with the employees working for an organization affects employer attraction. In this research, we introduce temporal construal as a crucial moderating variable and study how the temporal decision context affects the weighting of applicant-employee fit. In particular, we argue that applicant-employee fit is construed in abstract, high-level terms, and exerts a stronger influence when prospective applicants hold a distant time perspective. In contrast, instrumental attributes such as pay level represent low-level construals and gain greater relevance when prospective applicants hold a near time perspective. Two experiments involving a student sample and a sample of unemployed job seekers supported these predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]