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Fiona Elizabeth van Zyl-Bonk, Sibylle Lange, Antoinette Leonarda Maria Lagro-Janssen, Theodora Alberta Maria Teunissen Department of Primary and Community Care, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: Theodora Alberta Maria Teunissen, Department of Primary and Community Care, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 21, Postbus 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, the Netherlands, Tel +31 24 3618181, Email doreth.teunissen@radboudumc.nlPurpose: Sexual abuse is a health issue with many consequences. Recognizing and discussing past sexual abuse has proven to be challenging for health care professionals. To improve overall quality of health care for sexual abuse victims, health care professionals need to be properly trained. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of training methods for health care professionals and to report on their effectiveness.Methods: A scoping review was conducted. A broad search was executed in six databases in December 2022. Study selection was performed by two independent reviewers, followed by quality assessment and data extraction.Results: After screening of titles and abstracts and later full-text assessment for quality appraisal, seven articles were selected, consisting mostly of non-randomized trials, performed among a total of 1299 health care professionals. All studies were assessed to be of moderate to poor quality. The participants attended training courses with a wide variety of durations, settings, formats and methods. The outcomes showed improvements in self-perceived or measured knowledge, skills and confidence to discuss sexual violence. Changes in clinical practice were scarcely investigated. Training courses were most effective when a mix of didactic passive methods, such as lectures and videos, and active participatory strategies, such as discussions and roleplay, were applied. Timely iteration to reinforce retention of gained knowledge and skills also contributed to effectiveness. Participants most enjoyed incorporating opportunities for receiving feedback in small settings and sharing personal experiences.Conclusion: This scoping review summarizes on how to effectively train health care professionals. Flaws and difficulties in measuring the effectiveness of training courses were discussed. Recognition and discussion of past sexual abuse by health care providers can be effectively trained using an alternating mix of multiple active and passive training methods with room for feedback and personal experiences.Keywords: sexual violence, disclosure, recognition, medical education, post-graduate training

Jasmijn Mulder,1 Theodora Alberta Maria Teunissen,1 Veranie Maria Johanna Peters,1 Marie Louise Moors,2 Antoinette Leonarda Maria Lagro-Janssen1 1Department of Primary and Community Care, Gender and Women’s Health, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; 2Emergency Department, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: Jasmijn Mulder, Radboudumc, Afdeling Eerstelijnsgeneeskunde, Huispost 121, t.a.v. Jasmijn Mulder, Postbus 9101, Nijmegen, 6500HB, the Netherlands, Email Jasmijn.mulder@radboudumc.nlPurpose: As the response to sexual assault victims proved to be shattered and substandard, sexual assault centers were set up to improve care by providing the victims with medical, psychosocial and legal care. The Dutch Centers for Sexual Assault were launched in 2012. We wished to examine the challenges in interprofessional collaboration experienced in a long-running Dutch Sexual Assault Center.Methods: In this qualitative study, data was collected via semi-structured explorative interviews which were analyzed using thematic analysis in an iterative process. The semi-structured interviews were held with fifteen professionals from medical, psychosocial and legal disciplines. An interview guide was developed based on expert opinion and the Bronstein Index of Interprofessional Collaboration. Qualitative analyses were done using the method of thematic analysis in ATLAS.ti and were reported according to the COREQ criteria. The themes of the experienced challenges in interprofessional collaboration were further clarified using quotations.Results: Participants mentioned three themes that challenged interprofessional collaboration: 1. discrepancies in professional involvement, 2. conflicting goals and 3. a lack of connection. Discrepancies in motivation and affinity to work with victims of sexual violence between professionals proved to be the most pivotal challenge to collaboration, leading to disturbing differences in professional involvement. A low caseload and time restraints complicated gaining expertise, affinity and motivation. Conflicting goals and confidentiality issues arose between the medical and legal disciplines due to their contrasting aims of caring for victims versus facilitating prosecution. Some professionals felt a lack of connection, particularly due to missing face-to-face personal contact, which hindered the sharing of complex or burdensome cases and gaining insight into the other discipline’s competences.Conclusion: Building collective ownership and equal professional involvement are crucial for interprofessional collaboration. Professional involvement should be increased by training courses to clarify conflicting goals and to improve reciprocal personal contact between professionals. Training courses should be facilitated with organizational financial support.Keywords: interprofessional collaboration, sexual assault center, challenges, sexual assault, sexual violence, qualitative methods

HA Lammers, TAM Teunissen, H Bor, IS Smid, ALM Lagro-Janssen Radboudumc, Department of Primary and Community Care/Gender & Women’s Health, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: HA LammersRadboudumc, Huispost 117, Postbus 9101, Nijmegen 6500 HB, the NetherlandsTel +316 52378946Email Huub.Lammers@radboudumc.nlBackground: Lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) is a common condition in older men. In accordance with the Dutch College of General Practitioners Guideline “Micturition symptoms in men”, the diagnosis can be made based on a patient’s medical history and a physical examination. GPs lack additional tools in primary care to assess the residual urine volume. A residual volume usually requires a referral to a urologist. We hypothesized that the IPSS screening questionnaire score (measuring the severity of symptoms) might be related to patients’ residual urine volume. The research objective was to examine the relation between the IPSS score and the residual urine volume.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we analysed patients’ IPSS and residual urine volume. Men aged over 50 with LUTS who consulted Dutch primary-care physicians were included. The interventions comprised an IPSS screening and a bladder scan. Data regarding the patients’ residual volume, total IPSS score, single IPSS score, IPSS storage score, and IPSS voiding score were recorded and analysed. We used odds ratios to describe the relation between the IPSS categories associated with the presence of a normal or abnormal (above 100 cc and above 200 cc) residual urine volume.Results: A total of 126 patients were included in this study. Patients with higher scores on the overall IPSS, separate IPSS, IPSS storage and IPSS voiding showed no higher odds ratios of having an abnormal residual volume, neither above 100 mL or 200 mL.Conclusion: We did not find a relation between the IPSS core to an abnormal residual urine volume in men aged over 50 with LUTS consulting primary-care physicians.Trial Registration: This study has been approved by the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects for the Arnhem-Nijmegen Region and is registered with ToetsingOnline under ID number 29822.091.10.Keywords: lower urinary tract symptoms, primary care, international prostate symptom score, post-void residual volume

OBJECTIVE: to establish which factors are associated with birthing positions throughout the second stage of labour and at the time of birth. DESIGN: retrospective cohort study. SETTING: primary care midwifery practices in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: 665 low-risk women who received midwife-led care. MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: a postal questionnaire was sent to women 3-4 years after birth. The number of women who remained in the supine position throughout the second stage varied between midwifery practices, ranging from 31.3% to 95.9% (p<0.001). The majority of women pushed and gave birth in the supine position. For positions used throughout the second stage of labour, a stepwise forward logistic regression analysis was used to examine effects controlled for other factors. Women aged 36 years and highly educated women were less likely to use the supine pushing position alone [odds ratio (OR) 0.54, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.31-0.94; OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.21-0.73, respectively]. Women who pushed for longer than 60 minutes and who were referred during the second stage of labour were also less likely to use the supine position alone (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.16-0.64; OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.23-0.86, respectively). Bivariate analyses were conducted for effects on position at the time of birth. Age 36 years, higher education and homebirth were associated with giving birth in a non-supine position. KEY CONCLUSIONS: the finding that highly educated and older women were more likely to use non-supine birthing positions suggests inequalities in position choice. Although the Dutch maternity care system empowers women to choose their own place of birth, many may not be encouraged to make choices in birthing positions. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: education of women, midwives, obstetricians and perhaps the public in general is necessary to make alternatives to the supine position a logical option for all women. Future studies need to establish midwife, clinical and other factors that have an effect on women's choice of birthing positions, and identify strategies that empower women to make their own choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To shed light on lesbian 'bed death' among lesbian women. To explore the wishes and expectations of lesbian women with respect to healthcare professionals.Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 30 self-identified lesbian women. The interviews were audio recorded. Three researchers classified and analyzed the most important themes.Results: The women indicated few sexual problems except for 'bed death,' a quasi-complete cessation of sexual activity. Twenty-three women experienced 'bed death' during the current relationship or a previous one. The factors felt by the women to contribute to 'bed death' were environmental influences, the existence of a symbiotic relationship, hormonal factors, and reduced sexual initiative. The women indicated that they would like family doctors to adopt a neutral attitude, be knowledgeable about homosexuality, and be able to recognize homosexuality in their patients.Discussion: A careful examination of the potential causes of 'bed death' suggests that the phenomenon is more closely linked to a patient's gender than to her sexual orientation. Lesbian women would also like general practitioners to possess at least some basic knowledge about homosexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This paper is a report of a study to explore the views of midwives on women's positions during the second stage of labour.Background. Many authors recommend encouraging women to use positions that are most comfortable to them. Others advocate encouragement of non-supine positions, because offering 'choice' is not enough to reverse the strong cultural norm of giving birth in the supine position. Midwives' views on women's positions have rarely been explored.Method. Six focus groups were conducted in 2006DS2007 with a purposive sample of 31 midwives. The data were interpreted using Thachuk's models of informed consent and informed choice.Findings. The models were useful in distinguishing between two different approaches of midwives to women's positions during labour. When giving informed consent, midwives implicitly or explicitly ask a woman's consent for what they themselves prefer. When offering informed choice, a woman's preference is the starting point, but midwives will suggest other options if this is in the woman's interest. Obstetric factors and working conditions are reasons to deviate from women's preferences.Conclusions. To give women an informed choice about birthing positions, midwives need to give them information during pregnancy and discuss their position preferences. Women should be prepared for the unpredictability of their feelings in labour and for obstetric factors that may interfere with their choice of position. Equipment for non-supine births should be more midwife-friendly. In addition, midwives and students need to be able to gain experience in assisting births in non-supine positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To gain insight into the needs and expectations of abused women in shelter homes, with regard to family physicians. Methods: Twelve women in two shelter homes were interviewed. The interview focused on women's experiences and expectations of family physicians regarding the abuse situation. Results: Eight women did not disclose intimate partner abuse to their family physicians. The main reasons were shame and fear of retaliation. Six women suffered from extreme controlling behavior by their partners, which made it impossible to seek help. Four women were not aware of the relationship between abuse by a partner and physical symptoms. Women mainly wanted a solution for physical problems and were ambivalent about help to tackle their problems with abuse. The majority of the women found the family physician's attitude of great importance and considered it a task of the family physician to provide assistance. Conclusion: Although the family physician did not play an important role in solving the problems for victims of intimate partner abuse living in shelter homes, an open and empathic attitude was of great importance to these women. Women also expressed the need for assistance by their physician and emphasized that it was important to keep asking about partner abuse, even in case of denial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response by Ank de Jonge, Mariet Th. van Diem and Antoine L. M. Lagro-Janssen to a letter to the editor about their article on the importance of giving women informed choice about birthing position is presented.

Introduction: Making a treatment decision for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can be challenging for patients and healthcare providers. Dutch guidelines advise to counsel both pelvic floor muscle therapy and midurethral sling surgery as primary treatment options in uncomplicated moderate to severe cases. The use of a patient decision aid (PDA) can support decision-making, reduce decisional conflict and decisional regret, and increase knowledge. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an online PDA for females (SUI)., Methods: This mixed-methods study was performed in consecutive stages by a multidisciplinary working group. PDA design was based on the International Patient Decision Aids Standards (IPDAS) and on outcomes of needs assessments amongst patients and healthcare providers. Content was based on Dutch guidelines, targeted literature searches and patient information from the Dutch scientific society for gynecology. The concept version was evaluated by patients, patients' advocates, and healthcare providers., Results: Using the nominal group technique, the working group established the design and format of the PDA. Fifty-six out of 58 applicable items of the IPDAS were met. The PDA contains information on the condition, advice on lifestyle adaptations, and describes surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. The option grid contains comparisons of the primary treatment options. Furthermore, value clarification exercises and narratives were included. Acceptability and usability evaluation of the concept version was performed by 15 healthcare providers, three patients, and two patients' advocates. Comments were processed in the working group, resulting in the final version of the PDA, which was supported by all assessors., Conclusion: Our multidisciplinary working group developed an online PDA for women with moderate to severe SUI including conservative and surgical treatment options, based on IPDAS criteria, guidelines, scientific evidence, and needs assessments from patients and healthcare providers. This PDA is supported by patients, healthcare providers, scientific societies, and the Dutch patients' association. The next step is to evaluate and implement this PDA in daily practice., Trial Registration: ID 2014-308., (© 2024 The Author(s). Neurourology and Urodynamics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: In the Netherlands, the use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods increases. Studies show high premature discontinuation rates of LARCs, but comprehensive insights into the Dutch situation remain limited., Aim: The aim of this study is to determine (1) the rate and reasons of discontinuation of different types of LARC in the first 2.5 years of use and (2) what patient characteristics are associated with premature discontinuation., Design and Setting: Retrospective cohort study utilising data from a Dutch primary care research network., Methods: We included all women who received a LARC between 2017 and 2019 with a 2.5-year follow-up period. We performed a descriptive analysis, Kaplan Meier and logistic regression analysis to answer the research questions., Results: We included 642 women. In total, 166 women (25.9%) discontinued their LARC within 2.5 years. Discontinuation rates were 22% for levonorgestrel intra-uterine systems (LNG-IUS) 52 mg, 25% for LNG-IUS 19.5 mg, 39% for copper IUDs and 47% for subdermal implants. Common reasons for discontinuation were: alterations in bleeding pattern (68%), abdominal pain (32%), headache or mood fluctuation (24%) and a preference for natural contraceptive methods (23%). Factors associated with discontinuation for reasons other than pregnancy wish were: age between 30 and 34 years old (OR 5.1, 95% CI [1.26-20.48]) and a history of sexual, physical and/or psychological abuse (OR 3.16, 95% CI [1.60-6.23]). A high educational level (OR 0.33, 95% CI [0.12-0.89]) was associated with a lower risk of discontinuation., Conclusion: The discontinuation rates of LARCs are high. Better counselling might prevent premature discontinuation.

Objectives: To study the possible association between (sexual) abuse and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men and women. To study the differences in this association between men and women, and between the timing of the abuse., Subjects and Methods: A Dutch observational population-based cross-sectional study was used, based on self-administered questionnaires. Respondents were included if they had answered all questions about abuse and LUTS. Logistic regression was used to analyse the data., Results: Included were 558 men and 790 women, of whom 29% and 37%, respectively, reported a history of one of more types of abuse. Abuse was significantly associated with LUTS in both men (odds ratio [OR] 1.7; 1.2-2.5) and women (OR 1.4; 1.1-2.1). This association, testing by two-way interaction, was significantly stronger in men. No association was found between childhood abuse or adulthood abuse and LUTS, in men or women. The association of sexual abuse with LUTS was significant in both men (2.7; 1.4-5.2) and in women (1.5; 1.1-2.2), and this association (testing by two-way interaction) was significantly much stronger in men., Conclusion: In men more than in women, a history of any type of abuse is associated with LUTS, regardless of whether the abuse occurred during childhood or adulthood. In both sexes, a history of sexual abuse is also associated with experiencing LUTS, with a much stronger association in men than in women. Patients, in particular male patients, presenting with LUTS should therefore be asked about sexual abuse in the past., (© 2024 The Authors. Neurourology and Urodynamics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pessary therapy as an initial treatment option compared with surgery for moderate to severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms in secondary care from a healthcare and a societal perspective., Design: Economic evaluation alongside a multicentre randomised controlled non-inferiority trial with a 24-month follow-up., Setting: 21 hospitals in the Netherlands, recruitment conducted between 2015 and 2022., Participants: 1605 women referred to secondary care with symptomatic prolapse stage ≥2 were requested to participate. Of them, 440 women gave informed consent and were randomised to pessary therapy (n=218) or to surgery (n=222) in a 1:1 ratio stratified by hospital., Interventions: Pessary therapy and surgery., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: The Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), a 7-point scale dichotomised into successful versus unsuccessful, with a non-inferiority margin of -10%; quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) measured by the EQ-5D-3L; healthcare and societal costs were based on medical records and the institute for Medical Technology Assessment questionnaires., Results: For the PGI-I, the mean difference between pessary therapy and surgery was -0.05 (95% CI -0.14; 0.03) and -0.03 (95% CI -0.07; 0.002) for QALYs. In total, 54.1% women randomised to pessary therapy crossed over to surgery, and 3.6% underwent recurrent surgery. Healthcare and societal costs were significantly lower in the pessary therapy (mean difference=-€1807, 95% CI -€2172; -€1446 and mean difference=-€1850, 95% CI -€2349; -€1341, respectively). The probability that pessary therapy is cost-effective compared with surgery was 1 at willingness-to-pay thresholds between €0 and €20 000/QALY gained from both perspectives., Conclusions: Non-inferiority of pessary therapy regarding the PGI-I could not be shown and no statistically significant differences in QALYs between interventions were found. Due to significantly lower costs, pessary therapy is likely to be cost-effective compared with surgery as an initial treatment option for women with symptomatic POP treated in secondary care., Trial Registration Number: NTR4883., Competing Interests: Competing interests: CHvdV reports grants from ZonMW, a Dutch government institution, during the conduct of the study., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), though a prevalent condition among women, is undertreated in primary care. EHealth with pelvic floor muscle training is an evidence-based alternative to care-as-usual. It is unknown, however, how eHealth usage is related to treatment outcome, and this knowledge is required for general practitioners to implement eHealth in their practice. This study examines the relation between usage of eHealth for SUI and treatment outcomes by examining log data. Baseline factors were also explored for associations with treatment success., Method: In this pre-post study, women with SUI participated in "Baasoverjeblaas.nl", a web-based intervention translated from the Swedish internet intervention "Tät®-treatment of stress urinary incontinence". Usage was based on log data and divided into three user groups (low, intermediate and high). Online questionnaires were sent before, after treatment and at six-months follow-up. The relation between usage and the primary outcome - treatment success (PGI-) - was studied with a binomial logistic regression analysis. Changes in the secondary outcomes - symptom severity (ICIQ-UI SF) and quality of life (ICIQ-LUTSqol) - were studied per user group with linear mixed model analysis., Results: Included were 515 users with a mean age of 50.5 years (12.0 SD). The majority were low users (n = 295, 57.3%). Treatment success (PGI-I) was reached by one in four women and was more likely in high and intermediate users than in low users (OR 13.2, 95% CI 6.1-28.5, p < 0.001 and OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.35-6.34, p = 0.007, respectively). Symptom severity decreased and quality of life improved significantly over time, especially among high users. The women's expected ability to train their pelvic floor muscles and the frequency of pelvic floor muscle exercises at baseline were associated with treatment success., Conclusion: This study shows that usage of eHealth for SUI is related to all treatment outcomes. High users are more likely to have treatment success. Treatment success is more likely in women with higher expectations and pelvic floor muscle training at baseline. These findings indicate that general practitioners can select patients that would be more likely to benefit from eHealth treatment, and they can enhance treatment effect by stimulating eHealth usage., Trial Registration: Landelijk Trial Register NL6570;  https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/nl/trial/25463 ., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Women presenting with Premenstrual Disorder (PMD) to general practitioners (GPs) experience problems with their biopsychosocial functioning. PMD is a disorder consisting of physical and/or mood-based symptoms cyclically occurring with a significant impairment of daily life. Little is known about the symptoms and coping strategies of women with PMD and their experiences with their GPs., Objectives: This present study aimed to improve understanding of the perspectives of women with PMD, their coping strategies and their expectations of the GP., Design: Qualitative study with semi-structured interviews., Setting: In 2017, Dutch women with symptoms of premenstrual disorder were recruited through local newspapers in the town of Nijmegen and the North-Holland region and via social media. After checking the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we interviewed 20 women (between 27 and 49 years of age). The interviews took place at a location of the interviewees' preference., Results: PMD symptoms can strongly influence the quality of women's lives. Three themes emerged from our analysis: feelings of having two separate female identities, PMD as a life-controlling condition and different coping strategies. Most women used an active coping strategy. Women with PMD need recognition from their GPs and knowledge of proper treatment., Conclusion: PMD symptoms can have a high impact on daily life. Women with PMD expressed their need for acknowledgement and a personalised approach from their GP. Greater awareness and knowledge among GPs may be helpful in this.

Introduction and Hypothesis: A treatment choice for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is preference sensitive for both patients and physicians. Multiple treatment options are available, with none being superior to any other. The decision-making process can be supported by a patient decision aid (PDA). We aimed to assess physicians' perceptions concerning the use of a PDA., Methods: In a mixed methods study, urologists, gynecologists and general practitioners in the Netherlands were asked to fill out a web-based questionnaire. Questions were based on the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases checklist using the following domains: guideline factors, individual health professional factors, professional interactions, incentives and resources, and capacity for organizational change. Participants were asked to grade statements using a five-point Likert scale and to answer open questions on facilitators of and barriers to implementation of a PDA. Outcomes of statement rating were quantitatively analyzed and thematic analysis was performed on the outcomes regarding facilitators and barriers., Results: The response rate was 11%, with a total of 120 participants completing the questionnaire. Ninety-two of the physicians (77%) would use a PDA in female SUI. Evidence-based and unbiased content, the ability to support shared decision making, and patient empowerment are identified as main facilitators. Barriers are the expected prolonged time investment and the possible difficulty using the PDA in less health-literate patient populations., Conclusions: The majority of physicians would use a PDA for female SUI. We identified facilitators and barriers that can be used when developing and implementing such a PDA., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is highly prevalent among women and has an impact on physical and mental well-being. eHealth with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) has shown to be effective in reducing complaints. The usage and nonusage attrition of eHealth for SUI is unknown, but knowledge about users and their usage patterns is crucial for implementation purposes., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate how an eHealth intervention for SUI was used and by whom, explore reasons for nonusage attrition, and determine what factors are associated with usage., Methods: In this observational, mixed methods study, women with SUI independently registered to a web-based eHealth intervention, Baas over je blaas, a translation of the Swedish internet program Tät-treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Log-in data were collected during 3-month access to the website, and surveys were sent at baseline. Participants were divided into three user groups (low, intermediate, and high) and were compared based on sociodemographic and incontinence-related characteristics. Nominal logistic regression analysis was used to study factors associated with eHealth usage. Qualitative content analysis was used for open-ended questions about nonusage attrition and about facilitators of and barriers to eHealth usage., Results: Participants (n=561) had a mean age of 50.3 (SD 12.1) years, and most of them (340/553, 61.5%) had never visited a health care professional for SUI before. Most users were low users (295/515, 57.3%), followed by intermediate users (133/515, 25.8%) and high users (87/515, 16.9%). User groups differed significantly in age (48.3, SD 12 years; 52.1, SD 11.6 years; and 55.3, SD 10.9 years; P<.001) and in their expected ability to train the pelvic floor muscles (7.5, SD 1.4; 7.7, SD 1.4; and 8.1, SD 1.5 for low, intermediate, and high users, respectively; P=.006). Nonusage attrition was mainly caused by problems in integrating PFMT into everyday life. High age (>50 years), previous PFMT, and high expected ability to train the pelvic floor muscles are associated with high usage. Facilitators for eHealth usage were the clear explanation of exercises and the possibility of self-management. Barriers were its noncommittal character and the absence of personal contact., Conclusions: eHealth fulfills a need for women with SUI who have never received treatment. Those who discontinued prematurely did so mainly because it was difficult to integrate the training schedule into their everyday lives. High eHealth usage was more likely for women aged >50 years, with previous PFMT, and with high expectations about their ability to train the pelvic floor muscles. Knowledge of these user characteristics can guide clinicians and correct their misunderstandings about the suitable target population for this intervention. Furthermore, strategies for reinforcing expectations and self-efficacy are important to upscale eHealth usage, together with paying attention to people's need for personal contact., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/13164., (©Lotte Firet, Theodora Alberta Maria Teunissen, Rudolf Bertijn Kool, Kim Josephina Bernadette Notten, Antoinette Leonarda Maria Lagro-Janssen, Huub van der Vaart, Willem Jan Jozef Assendelft. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 17.11.2022.)

A telephone and e-mail helpline known as the Consultation Service, open to all the public, was launched at a Dutch Centre for Sexual Violence to deal with non-acute sexual violence. The aim of this study was to gain insight into case characteristics, reasons for contacting the Consultation Service and whether these reasons differed for victims, their relatives and professionals. Using a mixed methods design, the study included all consultations handled at the Consultation Service in 2018 and 2019. Descriptive statistics described quantitatively the case characteristics, the themes and differences between victims, relatives and professionals. The themes of the reasons for contact were established from the qualitative analysis, using the method of content analysis. Cases were characterised by complexity. Three themes emerged: case complexity, decision-making on care options and reporting to the police, which differed for victims, relatives and professionals. The differences in reasons for contacting the helpline imply that approaches should be adapted and fitted to different clients. Specialised care is needed to guide clients through cases that are challenging and often complex. There is a widespread lack of knowledge of options in addition to the complex multifaceted aspects to decision making about actions post-assault. Assault centres should implement a Consultation Service in which integrated care is offered not only to the victims, but also to their relatives and professionals., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Clinical empathy has been described as a key component of effective person-centeredness in patient-physician communication. Yet little is known about general practitioner (GP) trainees' experiences and opinions regarding clinical empathy, empathy-education and the development of empathic skills. This study aimed to explore trainees' experiences with clinical empathy during GP training., Methods: This study used focus group interviews. GP trainees at two Dutch universities were approached by e-mail. Focus groups were conducted between April and November 2018. Six focus groups were conducted: two with starting trainees, two with trainees at the end of their first year and two with trainees at the end of their 3 years' training. Two experienced qualitative researchers analyzed the focus groups. During the thematic analysis the differences and similarities between the various stages of education were taken into account and a framework for the identified themes and subthemes was developed., Results: Thirty-five GP trainees took part. Four main themes could be identified. Starting trainees experienced frictions regarding the influence of personal affective reactions on their medical competencies. Trainees at the end of their first year indicated that they reached a balance between empathic involvement and their responsibility to carry out relevant medical tasks, such as following GP guidelines. Trainees at the end of their three years' training recognized the mutual relationship between the development of the behavioral part of clinical empathy and personal growth. All trainees stated that their needs concerning education changed during their GP training and proposed changes to the curriculum., Conclusions: GP trainees face various obstacles in developing empathic skills and behavior. Particularly they mention handling personal affective reactions. Trainees express a clear wish for clinical empathy, in its theoretical as well as its skill and emotional aspects, to play a central role in the curriculum., Practice Implications: More explicit attention to be paid to empathy by embedding theoretical education, explicit attention to skill training and assessment of empathic behavior by patients and supervisors., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: General practitioners (GPs) encounter women suffering from premenstrual symptoms. Often women with premenstrual problems experience little understanding from GPs. Views of GPs will influence their approach to these women and their care. Insight into these views is lacking but could help in designing educational programmes for GPs., Objectives: To explore the views of Dutch GPs towards aetiology, diagnostic process, and preferred treatment of premenstrual symptoms., Methods: In 2017, we conducted a qualitative, semi-structured, interview survey among 27 GPs, varying in age, gender, and practice setting., Results: Important themes emerged from the interviews: 'no need for a symptom diary,' 'PMS defined as illness' exclusively in case of disruption of normal functioning, and 'symptomatic treatment' as preferred approach. Most GPs considered PMS to be a physiological phenomenon, with taking history as an adequate diagnostic tool. Almost all GPs regarded a normal cyclical hormonal cycle as causal; many also mentioned the combination with personal sensitivity. Some pointed to a dividing line between physiological condition and illness if women could not function normally in daily life. Lastly, the approach GPs preferred was focussing on relieving symptoms of individual patients. In addition to explaining the hormonal cycle and lifestyle advice, all GPs advocated oral contraceptives, and if necessary psychological support. GPs expressed negative feelings about prescribing antidepressants., Conclusion: GPs considered physiological changes and personal sensitivity as aetiological factors. We recommend more training to improve GPs knowledge and more insight into the burden of women with PMS. A symptom diary is an essential diagnostic tool for GPs.

Background: Uroflowmetry and ultrasound scanning of the post-void residual volume are diagnostic instruments in specialist urological care of men referred with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We hypothesized that implementing uroflowmetry and post-void ultrasound bladder scanning in primary care for men with LUTS will reduce the number of referrals to urologists., Objective: To assess the effect on referrals to urologists for new male patients over 50 years of age with LUTS when performing uroflowmetry and post-void ultrasound bladder scanning in primary care., Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among Dutch general practitioners (GPs). The GPs enrolled male patients with the first-time presentation of LUTS, these were randomized to primary-care treatment with or without uroflowmetry and post-void bladder scanning. Primary outcome: percentage of patients referred to urologists within 3 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes: changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the IPSS-Quality of Life, patient satisfaction and urologic medication usage after 12 months., Results: Four GPs were randomly assigned to the intervention group (132 patients) and seven to the control group (212 patients). The percentage of patients referred to urologists did not differ significantly between the intervention group vs the control group: within 3 months 19.7% versus 10.4% (OR 1.9, 95% CI 0.8 to 5.0), and within 12 months 28.8% versus 21.2% (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.5)., Conclusions: Performing uroflowmetry and ultrasound bladder scanning in primary care as additional diagnostic tools do not reduce the number of referrals to urologists. We do not recommend using these diagnostic tools in general practice in the diagnostic work-up of these patients., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Worldwide, one in three women have experienced sexual violence, causing various physical and mental health problems such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and medically unexplained symptoms. Much has changed in the last decade. The use of the Internet, smartphones and apps has increased enormously, sexual violence is discussed more and more openly in the media. These changes have provided a platform for victims of sexual violence which has profoundly influenced the disclosing process and the victims' help-seeking behavior. Nevertheless, the question remains whether the number of victims seeking help from a professional institution has gone up. Therefore, our study aims to investigate if there have been changes in victim, incident and care characteristics among victims of a Dutch Center for Sexual Violence. We used data of victims attending the center between 2013 and 2020, including registered police file registrations instead of victim's reporting statements. Victims were divided into a cohort of early years (2013-2016) and recent years (2017-2020). In 2017-2020, a total of 270 victims attended the center compared to 83 victims in 2013-2016. The percentage of self-referrers increased from 10% to 30% in recent years; the use of psychotropic drugs among victims decreased from 24% to 11%; and more victims were willing to receive psychosocial follow-up care (64% versus 79%). The percentage of male victims remains low at approximately 5% of all victims in both cohorts. Background characteristics such as age and mental disability have hardly changed between 2013 and 2020. The proportion of known perpetrators remains high with approximately 80% in both cohorts, and the proportion of perpetrators who met victims on the Internet remains unchanged with approximately 6% in both cohorts. To improve our understanding of the influence of societal changes on help-seeking behavior, the monitoring of victim, incident and care characteristics remains crucial in the future., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is common among women and affects their quality of life. Pelvic floor muscle training is an effective conservative therapy, but only a minority of women seek help. E-health with pelvic floor muscle training is effective and increases access to care. To implement an e-Health intervention in a sustainable way, however, we need to understand what determines adoption. The aim is to investigate the barriers and facilitators to adopting an e-Health intervention among Dutch women with stress urinary incontinence., Methods: Semi-structured telephonic interviews were carried out among participants of the Dutch e-Health intervention for women with stress urinary incontinence. Women were purposively sampled. The 'Fit between Individuals, Task and Technology' (FITT) framework was used for both the data collection and data analysis, to gain a more in-depth insight into the adoption of the intervention., Results: Twenty women were interviewed, mean age 51 years and mostly highly educated. The adoption of e-Health for women with SUI mainly depends on the interaction between users and e-Health, and users and pelvic floor muscle training exercises. Facilitators for the adoption were the preference for an accessible self-management intervention, having a strong sense of self-discipline and having the ability to schedule the exercises routinely. Women needed to possess self-efficacy to do this intervention independently. Barriers to the adoption of e-Health were personal circumstances restricting time for scheduling pelvic floor muscle training and lacking skills to perform the exercises correctly. Despite guidance by technical features several women remained uncertain about their performance of the exercises and, therefore, wanted additional contact with a professional., Conclusions: For stress urinary incontinence e-Health is an appropriate option for a target audience. Use of the FITT framework clearly demonstrates the conditions for optimal adoption. For a subgroup it was a suitable alternative for medical care in person. For others it identified the need for further support by a health care professional. This support could be provided by improvements of technical features and incorporating modes for digital communication. The additional value of integration of the e-Health intervention in primary care might be a logical next step., Trial Registration: The study was prospectively registered in the Netherlands Trial Registry (NTR) NTR6956 .

Background: Adverse drug events, including adverse drug reactions (ADRs), are responsible for approximately 5% of unplanned hospital admissions: a major health concern. Women are 1.5-1.7 times more likely to develop ADRs. The main objective was to identify sex differences in the types and number of ADRs leading to hospital admission., Methods: ADR-related hospital admissions between 2005 and 2017 were identified from the PHARMO Database Network using hospital discharge diagnoses. Patients aged ≥ 16 years with a drug possibly responsible for the ADR and dispensed within 3 months before admission were included. Age-adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs for drug-ADR combinations for women versus men were calculated., Results: A total of 18,469 ADR-related hospital admissions involving women (0.35% of all women admitted) and 14,678 admissions involving men (0.35% of all men admitted) were included. Most substantial differences were seen in ADRs due to anticoagulants and diuretics. Anticoagulants showed a lower risk of admission with persistent haematuria (ORadj 0.31; 95%CI 0.21, 0.45) haemoptysis (ORadj 0.47, 95%CI 0.30,0.74) and subdural haemorrhage (ORadj 0.61; 95%CI 0.42,0.88) in women than in men and a higher risk of rectal bleeding in women (ORadj 1.48; 95%CI 1.04,2.11). Also, there was a higher risk of admission in women using thiazide diuretics causing hypokalaemia (ORadj 3.03; 95%CI 1.58, 5.79) and hyponatraemia (ORadj 3.33, 95%CI 2.31, 4.81) than in men., Conclusions: There are sex-related differences in the risk of hospital admission in specific drug-ADR combinations. The most substantial differences were due to anticoagulants and diuretics.

Sexual violence is a worldwide public health concern. Care for victims has improved with the development of sexual assault centres, which have served to professionalise and tailor care and to get different services to improve collaboration. Nonetheless, reporting rates remain low, causing perpetrators to walk free without prosecution. We aimed to investigate, firstly, the influence of victim, perpetrator and assault characteristics on the reporting rate, and, secondly, the reasons why victims did not report to the police. Data of a Dutch sexual assault centre was used in this cross-sectional study. All victims who attended the centre between January 2016 and January 2019 were included. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relation of certain characteristics with reporting. Forty per cent of the victims reported to the police. Age and injuries were significantly related to reporting. Victims of 26 years or over were less likely to report than victims under 18 years old. Victims with objectified injuries reported to the police more often. Contrary to previous research, no relation between the perpetrator being well-known to the victim and a lower reporting rate was found. Victims mainly refrained from reporting as they experienced conflicting emotions, followed by their feeling discouraged by the police. Other reasons were fear of the perpetrator and defamation, wanting to move on with their life and wanting to spare the perpetrator. Our findings will serve to further optimise care for victims of sexual violence and increase reporting rates., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Background: Twinning collaborations, where two groups - from educational institutions, hospitals or towns - work together cross-culturally on joint goals, are increasingly common worldwide. Pairing up individuals, so-called twin pairs, is thought to contribute to successful collaboration in twinning projects, but as yet, there is no empirical evidence or theory that offers insight into the value of the pair relationship for twinning., Aim: To explore the contribution of one-to-one relationships between twins to twinning projects, as exemplified in projects between Dutch and Moroccan, and Dutch and Sierra Leone midwives., Methods: We conducted thirteen in-depth interviews with midwives from two twinning collaborations. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using an iterative, grounded theory process, yielding a theoretical understanding of one-to-one twinning relationships for twinning collaborations., Findings: Participant comments fell into four substantive categories: 1) Being named a twin, 2) moving beyond culture to the personal level, 3) searching for common ground to engage, 4) going above and beyond the twinning collaboration. Their interplay demonstrates the value of twin pairs in paving the way for successful twinning., Discussion: A complex combination of contextual inequities, personality, and cultural differences affect the twin relationship. Trusting relationships promote effective collaboration, however, as 'trust' cannot be mandated, it must be built by coaching twins in personal flexibility and (cultural) communication., Conclusion: By offering original insights into the ways twinning relationships are built, our research explores how twin pairs can enhance the success of twinning projects., (Copyright © 2020 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects almost one in three women worldwide. However, disclosing violence or seeking help is difficult for affected women. eHealth may represent an effective alternative to the standard support offers, which often require face-to-face interaction, because of easy accessibility and possibility of anonymous usage. In the Netherlands we are developing SAFE, an eHealth intervention for female victims of IPV, which will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial and a process evaluation, followed by an open feasibility study to assess real-world user data., Methods/design: The randomized controlled trial is a two-arm parallel design comparing an intervention arm and a control group. The groups both have access to eHealth but differ in the offer of interactive features compared to static information. Both groups complete questionnaires at three or four time points (baseline, three months, six months, 12 months) with self-efficacy at 6 months as the primary outcome, measured with the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale. The process evaluation consists of quantitative data (from the website and from web evaluation questionnaires) and qualitative data (from interviews) on how the website was used and the users' experiences., Discussion: eHealth has the potential to reach a large number of women who experience IPV. The internet-based design can lower access barriers and encourage help-seeking behavior ultimately reducing the lag time between subjective awareness and protective action., Trial Registration: Trial registered on 15 August 2017 at the Netherlands Trial Register NL7108 (NTR7313).

Background: Sex and gender influence health and disease outcomes, therefore, doctors should be able to deliver gender-sensitive care. To train gender-sensitive doctors, relevant sex and gender differences have to be included in medical education. In order to develop appealing, relevant, and effective education for undergraduate medical students, education should be tailored to students' level and anticipated on their ideas and assumptions. Therefore, we wanted to answer the following research questions: 1. What do aspiring medical students want to learn about gender medicine?; 2. How would they like to learn about gender medicine?; and 3. What are their ideas and assumptions about sex and gender differences in health and disease?, Methods: We performed an explorative thematic document analysis of educational assignments made by successful applicants (n = 50) during the selection procedure of their entry into medical school. To test aspirants' capacity for self-directed learning, students were asked to formulate their own study plan after they watched a video that resembled a future practical experience (a consultation with a patient). As the content of this video was gender-sensitive, the assignments of the successful applicants gave us the unique opportunity to examine aspiring medical students' views about gender medicine., Results: Aspiring medical students were eager to start their training to become gender-sensitive doctors. They believed in better care for all patients and thought doctors should obtain gender competences during their medical training. Students preferred to start with acquiring basic biomedical knowledge about differences between men and women and continue their training by developing gender-sensitive communication skills in (simulated) practical settings. Students differed in their interpretation of the gender-sensitive video, some generalized potential differences to all men and all women. Teachers were considered as important role models in learning about gender medicine., Conclusions: We advise medical schools to teach gender medicine from the beginning of medical school, by focusing on sex differences first and adding gender related themes later on in the curriculum. As students may interpret gender-sensitive information differently, structurally embedding reflection on gender medicine with gender competent teachers is necessary.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common problem with a great potential influence on quality of life. Although SUI can be treated effectively with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), only a minority of women with this complaint seek help. An internet-based electronic health (eHealth) intervention could make care more accessible. The Swedish eHealth intervention Tät-treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence offers PFMT and has shown to be effective in reducing symptoms in women with SUI. This intervention might be helpful for Dutch women too, but its adoption needs to be studied as the Netherlands differs from Sweden in terms of geographical characteristics and health care organization., Objective: The objective of this protocol is to investigate the barriers and facilitators to the adoption of an eHealth intervention for Dutch women with SUI and the effects of this intervention., Methods: We are conducting an explanatory sequential mixed methods study among 800 Dutch women with SUI who participate in the translated version of Tät-treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence. This eHealth intervention takes 3 months. A pre-post study is conducted using surveys, which are sent at baseline (T0), 3 weeks after baseline (T1), posttreatment (T2), and 3 months posttreatment (T3). After the intervention, semistructured interviews will be held with 15 to 20 participants. The primary outcomes are barriers and facilitators to using the Tät-treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence. This will also be analyzed among groups that differ in age and severity of incontinence. A thematic content analysis of the qualitative data will be performed. The secondary outcomes are: (1) effect on symptoms of urinary incontinence, (2) effect on quality of life, and (3) factors that are potentially associated with success. Effects will be analyzed by a mixed model analysis. Logistic regression analysis will be used to study what patient-related factors are associated with success., Results: Enrollment started in July 2018 and will be finished by December 2019. Data analysis will start in March 2020., Conclusions: An eHealth intervention for Dutch women with SUI is promising because it can make treatment more accessible. The strength of this study is that it explores the possibilities for an internet-based-only treatment for women with SUI by using both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. The study elaborates on existing results by using a previously tested and effective eHealth program. Insight into the barriers and facilitators to using this program can enhance the implementation of the intervention in the Dutch health care system., Trial Registration: Netherlands Trial Registry (NTR) NTR6956; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6570., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/13164., (©Lotte Firet, Theodora Alberta Maria Teunissen, Huub van der Vaart, Willem Jan Jozef Assendelft, Kim Josephina Bernadette Notten, Rudolf Bertijn Kool, Antoinette Leonarda Maria Lagro-Janssen. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 11.07.2019.)

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most prevalent subtype of urinary incontinence and is a bothering condition in women. Only a minority of those with SUI consult a general practitioner (GP). EHealth with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is effective in reducing incontinence symptoms and might increase access to care. The role of the GP regarding such an eHealth intervention is unknown. The aim of the study is to gain insight into the attitudes towards a PFMT internet-based, eHealth, intervention for SUI., Methods: A qualitative study was conducted. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews among purposively sampled GPs. Audio records were fully transcribed, and analysed thematically., Results: Thirteen GPs were interviewed, nine females and four males. Three themes emerged: appraisal of eHealth as a welcome new tool, mixed feelings about a supportive role, and eHealth is no cure-all. GPs welcomed eHealth for SUI as matching their preferences for PFMT and having advantages for patients. With eHealth as stand-alone therapy GPs were concerned about the lack of feedback, and the loss of motivation to adhere to the intervention. Therefore, GPs considered personal support important. The GP's decision to recommend eHealth was strongly influenced by a woman's motivation and her age. GPs' treatment preferences for elderly are different from those for young women with SUI; both PFMT and eHealth are perceived less suitable for older women., Conclusion: EHealth with PFMT fits into the GPs' routine practice of SUI and adds value to it. Although there is evidence that eHealth as a stand-alone intervention is effective, GPs consider personal support important to supplement the perceived shortcomings. Probably GPs are not aware of, or convinced of the existing evidence. Training should address this issue and should also focus on common misunderstandings about regular care for women with SUI, such as the idea that PFMT is not suitable for the elderly. Improving GPs' knowledge that eHealth can be a stand-alone therapy for SUI facilitates the implementation in daily care.

Background: Paying attention to their patients' work and recognizing work-related problems is challenging for many general practitioners (GPs)., Objectives: To assess the effect of training designed to improve the care for patients with work-related problems in general practice., Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial among 32 Dutch GPs. GPs in the intervention group received five-hour training. GPs in the control group were not trained. Included patients (age 18-63, working ≥12 h per week) completed baseline questionnaires and follow-up questionnaires planned after one year. Primary outcome at patient level was patients' expectations about their ability to work, measured using the return-to-work self-efficacy scale (RTW-SE). Primary outcomes on GP level were their use of ICPC-code Z05 ('work-related problem') per 1000 working-age patients and percentage of the electronic medical files of working-age patients in which information about occupation had been recorded., Results: A total of 640 patients completed the baseline questionnaire and 281 the follow-up questionnaire. We found no statistically significant differences in patients' RTW-SE scores: intervention 4.6 (95%CI: 4.2-5.0); control 4.5 (95%CI: 4.1-4.9). Twenty-nine GPs provided data about the GP-level outcomes, which showed no statistically significant differences: use of ICPC code Z05 11.6 (95%CI: 4.7-18.6) versus 6.0 (95%CI: -1.2 to 13.2) per 1000 working-age patients; recording of occupation 28.8% (95%CI: 25.8-31.7) versus 28.6% (95%CI: 25.6-31.6)., Conclusion: Training GPs did not improve patients' work-related self-efficacy or GPs' registration of work-related problems and occupation.

Background: Chronically ill patients have to cope with transfers in the level or setting of care. Patients with prevalent disorders such as diabetes mellitus can be supported by their general practitioner (GP) when experiencing such care changes, as the GP already offers them disease-specific care. For community-dwelling patients with low-prevalent diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) - for which disease-specific care is provided by medical specialists - tailoring support to handle care changes requires more insight into patients' coping., Objectives: To explore PD patients' coping with care changes., Methods: A qualitative interview study was performed in 2013-2015 with a purposive sample of 16 community-dwelling PD patients in the Netherlands. A research assistant visited patients every month to explore if they had experienced a care change. If so, patients were interviewed face-to-face. An inductive approach to comparative content analysis was used., Results: Patients encountered a variety of care changes such as changes in the level of unpaid care, the purchase of tools, modification of pharmacotherapy or admission to hospital. Being able to anticipate, initiate and independently handle care changes contributes to patients' sense of control and acceptance of the post-change situation. Patients, who commenced care changes themselves, had more realistic expectations of it., Conclusion: Community-dwelling PD patients seem to be able to cope with the care changes they face. Offering education to facilitate their anticipation and initiation of changes in care and their ability to act independently, can contribute to patients' wellbeing. GPs can play a role in this.

Purpose: In addition to developing diagnostic and clinical skills, postgraduate medical education should stimulate residents' professional development. Teaching medical professionalism is challenging and is often left largely to the informal and hidden curricula. An intervention that might be beneficial for medical residents is mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). The authors implemented MBSR as an optional course for residents and qualitatively explored how it influenced residents professionally., Method: Between 2014 and 2016, the authors conducted 19 in-depth, face-to-face interviews with residents who had participated in an MBSR course at Radboud university medical center, The Netherlands. Medical and surgical residents, across a range of disciplines, participated. The authors used the constant comparison method to analyze the data., Results: The analysis of the data resulted in five themes: awareness of thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and behavior; increased self-reflection; acceptance and nonjudgment; increased resilience; and relating to others. Residents indicated that the MBSR training increased their awareness and self-reflection at work, and they were more accepting toward themselves and toward their limitations. Furthermore, they mentioned being more resilient and better at setting priorities and limits. They improved their self-care and work-life balance. In addition, residents indicated that the training made them more aware of how they communicated. They asked for help more often and seemed to be more open toward feedback. Lastly, they indicated an increased sense of compassion for others., Conclusions: This study indicated that mindfulness training can serve as a tool to cultivate important professional competencies for residents.