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Background: Health services research often relies on secondary data, necessitating quality checks for completeness, validity, and potential errors before use. Various methods address implausible data, including data elimination, statistical estimation, or value substitution from the same or another dataset. This study presents an internal validation process of a secondary dataset used to investigate hospital compliance with minimum caseload requirements (MCR) in Germany. The secondary data source validated is the German Hospital Quality Reports (GHQR), an official dataset containing structured self-reported data from all hospitals in Germany., Methods: This study conducted an internal cross-field validation of MCR-related data in GHQR from 2016 to 2021. The validation process checked the validity of reported MCR caseloads, including data availability and consistency, by comparing the stated MCR caseload with further variables in the GHQR. Subsequently, implausible MCR caseload values were corrected using the most plausible values given in the same GHQR. The study also analysed the error sources and used reimbursement-related Diagnosis Related Groups Statistic data to assess the validation outcomes., Results: The analysis focused on four MCR procedures. 11.8-27.7% of the total MCR caseload values in the GHQR appeared ambiguous, and 7.9-23.7% were corrected. The correction added 0.7-3.7% of cases not previously stated as MCR caseloads and added 1.5-26.1% of hospital sites as MCR performing hospitals not previously stated in the GHQR. The main error source was this non-reporting of MCR caseloads, especially by hospitals with low case numbers. The basic plausibility control implemented by the Federal Joint Committee since 2018 has improved the MCR-related data quality over time., Conclusions: This study employed a comprehensive approach to dataset internal validation that encompassed: (1) hospital association level data, (2) hospital site level data and (3) medical department level data, (4) report data spanning six years, and (5) logical plausibility checks. To ensure data completeness, we selected the most plausible values without eliminating incomplete or implausible data. For future practice, we recommend a validation process when using GHQR as a data source for MCR-related research. Additionally, an adapted plausibility control could help to improve the quality of MCR documentation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Ethics Committee of the Philipps-Universität Marburg evaluated the study and concluded that no formal ethical approval was necessary as the secondary database used for analyses followed all German legal data protection regulations. (AZ: RS21/85). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: In longitudinal health services research, hospital identification using an ID code, often supplemented with several additional variables, lacks clarity regarding representativeness and variable influence. This study presents an operational method for hospital identity delimitation and a novel longitudinal identification approach, demonstrated using a case study., Methods: The conceptualisation considers hospitals as evolving entities, identifying "similar enough" pairs across two time points using an automated similarity matrix. This method comprises key variable selection, similarity scoring, and tolerance threshold definition, tailored to data source characteristics and clinical relevance. This linking method is tested by applying the identification of minimum caseload requirements-related German hospitals, utilizing German Hospital Quality Reports (GHQR) 2016-2020., Results: The method achieved a success rate (min: 97.9% - max: 100%, mean: 99.9%) surpassing traditional hospital ID-code linkage (min: 91.5% - max: 98.8%, mean: 96.6%), with a remarkable 99% reduction in manual work through automation., Conclusions: This method, rooted in a comprehensive understanding of hospital identities, offers an operational, automated, and customisable process serving diverse clinical topics. This approach has the advantage of simultaneously considering multiple variables and systematically observing temporal changes in hospitals. It also enhances the precision and efficiency of longitudinal hospital identification in health services research., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Free hospital choice is promoted in health policy through public quality reporting. Previous studies on hospital choice mostly survey patients for specific elective procedures. This study examines all full inpatient surgical patients and compares them to those in other specialties. Research questions are: How many patients make their own decisions about the hospital? How much time do they have before admission? Where do they obtain information and what are their important decision criteria?, Materials and Methods: This study evaluates cross-sectional primary data on hospital choice collected by questionnaire from 1925 consecutively hospitalised patients from 11 medical specialties and 3 levels of care, including 438 surgical patients from 6 general surgery departments., Results: Three quarters of surgical patients decide on the hospital themselves. Their own previous experience with the hospital is an important source of information and decision-making criterion for a good half of the patients, along with relatives and outpatient treatment providers as well as the hospital reputation., Conclusion: Many surgical patients decide in favour of a hospital because of the trust they have built up through previous treatment in the hospital, which they experience as satisfactory. The professional quality of treatment is thus the greatest impact factor on patients, their relatives and outpatient treatment providers. It is important to actively and specifically address and clarify possible dissatisfaction on the part of the patient before discharge., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: People with intellectual disabilities (ID) show an increased morbidity. Their access to healthcare could be a contributing factor, but there is little data on this in Germany. This paper addresses the question of what barriers and facilitators exist in the use of medical outpatient healthcare for people with ID, considering their own perspective and the perspectives of their accompanying relatives and their general practitioners (GPs)., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, people with ID in three sheltered workshops, their relatives and their GPs were interviewed by means of questionnaires. The data were evaluated descriptively, and a statistical comparison of the perspectives of the people with ID and their relatives was performed. The content structure follows Cantrell's pathway model (identifying need, accessing services and interaction during a consultation)., Results: People with ID communicate complaints to their relatives, who usually accompany them to medical appointments. There are more organisational than spatial barriers. The treatment is sometimes impeded by fears, restlessness or not allowing examinations. It is difficult to find experienced health professionals, which is why a list of such practices and, structurally, medical centres for people with ID would be beneficial. The views of people with ID and their relatives show hardly any differences. GPs cite increased treatment effort, desire for further training and appropriate remuneration., Conclusions: Relatives play an important role in the medical care of people with ID. Difficulties in care can arise from the specific, more complex requirements in treating people with ID, which present as organisational difficulties but also require an active readiness for inclusion., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Continuity of care is considered an important treatment aspect of psychiatric disorders, as it often involves long-lasting or recurrent episodes with psychosocial treatment aspects. We investigated in two psychiatric hospitals in Germany whether the positive effects of relational continuity of care on symptom severity, social functioning, and quality of life, which have been demonstrated in different countries, can also be achieved in German psychiatric care., Methods: Prospective cohort study with a 20-months observation period comparing 158 patients with higher and 165 Patients with lower degree of continuity of care of two psychiatric hospitals. Patients were surveyed at three points in time (10 and 20 months after baseline) using validated questionnaires (CGI Clinical Global Impression rating scales, GAF Global Assessment of Functioning scale, EQ-VAS Euro Quality of Life) and patient clinical record data. Statistical analyses with analyses of variance with repeated measurements of 162 patients for the association between the patient- (EQ-VAS) or observer-rated (CGI, GAF) outcome measures and continuity of care as between-subject factor controlling for age, sex, migration background, main psychiatric diagnosis group, duration of disease, and hospital as independent variables., Results: Higher continuity of care reduced significantly the symptom severity with a medium effect size (p 0.036, eta 0.064) and increased significantly social functioning with a medium effect size (p 0.023, eta 0.076) and quality of life but not significantly and with only a small effect size (p 0.092, eta 0.022). The analyses of variance suggest a time-independent effect of continuity of care. The duration of psychiatric disease, a migration background, and the hospital affected the outcome measures independent of continuity of care., Conclusion: Our results support continuity of care as a favorable clinical aspect in psychiatric patient treatment and encourage mental health care services to consider health service delivery structures that increase continuity of care in the psychiatric patient treatment course. In psychiatric health care services research patients' motives as well as methodological reasons for non-participation remain considerable potential sources for bias., Trial Registration: This prospective cohort study was not registered as a clinical intervention study because no intervention was part of the study, neither on the patient level nor the system level., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Study Objective: People with intellectual disabilities have a lower life expectancy and more frequent comorbidities than the general population and have unmet health needs. Insufficient medical care is suspected to be one reason, for which little data is available in Germany. The study therefore focuses on the question of how people with intellectual disabilities make use of medical care, including screening and preventive measures., Method: In a cross-sectional study in 3 workshops for people with intellectual disabilities, the use of health care was surveyed by means of questionnaires from their relatives. The evaluation was carried out descriptively and by means of inferential statistics comparing participants with the general population as well as within the group of participants for socio-demographic differences., Results: Almost all 181 participants (participation rate 19.3%) had a family doctor. In comparison to the general population, the participants made more frequent use of the services of general practitioners and the care provided by numerous other specialist areas. They made less frequent use of screening for colon, breast, cervix and prostate and more frequent use for skin cancer and general check-up. Dental check-ups and preventive measures showed no difference. Participants living in institutional settings made more use of the regular services than those living with relatives or alone. Participants with a migration background were less aware of care services., Conclusions: The results do not show any indications of a general undersupply of health care. Participation in cancer screening with more complex examinations should be encouraged, especially for people with mental disabilities living alone or with relatives. Those with a migration background and their families should be specifically informed., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Statutory quality assurance (QA) serves to ensure and further develop the quality of service provision. Particularly prominent in Germany's acute inpatient care are mandatory quality reports (QRs) and participation in external quality assessments (eQAs). Their effects have not yet been comprehensively evaluated., Objectives: What are the effects of eQAs and QRs on the quality of care?, Materials and Methods: Based on a selective literature review, international evidence on the effects of QA was compiled. This was supplemented by analyses of the quality reports of the Federal Office for Quality Assurance (BQS), the Institute for Applied Quality Improvement and Research in Health Care (AQUA), and the Institute for Quality Assurance and Transparency in Healthcare (IQTIG), which have been responsible for eQAs since 2001., Results: According to international literature, at most weak effects of these measures can be expected, especially on process quality. Studies from Germany mostly observe only uncontrolled temporal trends and partly show improved quality indicators. Only one controlled study each was able to show weak positive effects on outcome and process quality for eQAs and QRs, respectively., Conclusions: There are no convincing evaluation results for either the QRs or the eQAs. Deficiencies in the addressee-oriented design of the QRs and the reported indicator results in terms of their validity, risk adjustment, and temporal availability can be cited as potential causes. Statutory QA should be revised by paying more attention to the prerequisites for successful performance feedback and by again creating room for an intrinsically motivated assessment of one's own quality of care., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background:  The free choice of hospital by patients is promoted by health policy and is to be supported by the quality reports of hospitals. But how do patients choose a hospital? How many can decide for themselves, where do they inform themselves and what are their decision criteria in the specific situation? This will be answered for inpatients of internal medicine in comparison to those of other specialties., Methods:  The data originate from an observational study. The random sample, stratified by specialties and hospital care levels, was collected in 46 departments of 17 hospitals from 15 cities and municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The weighted sample evaluates 758 patients of internal medicine and 1168 patients of other specialties descriptively and inferentially., Results:  Internal medicine patients are older, more often men, without a migration background and chronically ill, and also more often pretreated as inpatients. About half decide on the hospital themselves, with their own knowledge of the hospital through a previous stay being the most important source of information and the important decision criteria being their own previous experience, the hospital call and the recommendation of outpatient treatment providers. The small proportion of patients with more time before admission choose more actively., Conclusions:  In internal medicine, fewer patients can decide on the hospital themselves. These then decide quite predominantly on the basis of their previous experience with the hospital and continue the renewed treatment in the hospital with which they are also familiar. A small proportion of younger, more educated and less hospital-experienced patients inform themselves more actively before elective procedures. Patients' treatment experiences are central to their own and their relatives' choice of hospital via social exchange., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Objectives: Patients in German ambulatory care frequently report patient safety problems (PSP). It is unclear whether patients report PSP back to their general practitioner (GP) or specialist in charge. This study reports on how patients respond to experienced PSP., Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study., Setting: Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) with randomly recruited citizens aged ≥40 years in Germany., Participants: 10 037 citizens ≥40 years. About 52% of the interviewees were female, 38% were between 60 and 79 years old and about 47% reported that they were chronically ill. A total of 2589 PSPs was reported., Primary and Secondary Measures/results: According to the respondents (n=1422, 77%, 95% CI: 74.7 to 79.1), 72% (95% CI: 70.2 to 73.7) of PSP were reported back to the GP in charge or to another GP/specialist. Further reactions were taken by 65% (95% CI: 62.5 to 67.5) of the interviewees: around 63% (95% CI: 62.5 to 66.2) of the reported PSP led to a loss of faith in the physician or to complaints. χ 2 and binary logistic regression analyses show significant associations between the (a) reporting and (b) reaction behaviour and determinants like 'medical treatment area' ((a) χ 2 =17.13, p=0.009/(b) χ 2 =97.58, p=0.000), 'PSP with/without harm' ((a) χ 2 =111.84, p=0.000/(b) χ 2 =265.39, p=0.000) and sociodemographic characteristics when respondents are aged between 40 and 59 years ((a) OR 2.57/(b) OR 2.60) or have chronic illnesses ((a) OR 2.16/(b) OR 2.14)., Conclusion: The data suggest that PSPs are frequently reported back to the GP or specialist in charge and have a significant serious impact on the physician-patient relationship. Much could be learnt from the patient reporting and reacting behaviour to prevent PSPs in ambulatory care., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: The rigid separation of outpatient and inpatient care in the German health care system prevents continuity of care, although it has been shown to be of great importance for psychiatric patients. This study analyzes continuity of care of a model hospital with a global treatment budget according to § 64b SGB V and constant treatment staff across all settings in comparison to a control hospital with regular financing without such a team., Methods: In a prospective cohort study with a 20-month observation period, we collected data on continuity of care of 220 model and 215 control clinic patients., Results: The model clinic achieved significant higher continuity of care than the control clinic, both during inpatient treatment at the time of recruitment and across all settings during the observation period., Conclusion: A global treatment budget can create the necessary conditions for more flexible psychiatric care and better implementation of continuity of care., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: The epidemiology of patient safety problems (PSPs) in the German ambulatory care sector is largely unknown. So far, there has been a lack of appropriate survey instruments., Objective: Development and application of a questionnaire (PSP-AMB), which records the epidemiology of PSP in the ambulatory care sector from the patient's perspective by using computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) on a population sample of ≥40-year-olds., Methods: The questionnaire items were developed by means of a literature search and guided interviews with ambulatory care physicians (N=10) and patients (N=20). The conversion to CATI and its application in the field was carried out by a survey institute. Qualitative (N=20) and quantitative (N=110) pretests were conducted before going into the field. The sample was generated via randomly generated fixed and mobile telephone numbers., Results: PSP-AMB collects 32 PSPs in seven areas of medical treatment, from medical history-taking to practice organisation, and surveys all PSPs from the last 12 months (PSP-one-year incidence), PSPs with harm since the age of 40 (PSP-40+-prevalence), as well as PSPs resulting in death or severe need for care via proxy survey of the participants' parents and children. Detailed questions record the consequences and handling of PSPs and participants' socio-demographic data. Between May and October 2018, a total of 10,037 citizens (participation rate: 12.4%) were interviewed. The drop-out rate was 8.3%. The sample represents the German population aged 40 years or older., Discussion: PSP-AMB is suitable for systematically recording PSPs in the ambulatory care sector from the patient's perspective. Thus, PSP-AMB meets the international demand to actively involve patients as a valuable source of information to improve patient safety., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Background: In 2004, the Federal Joint Committee, supreme decision-making body in German healthcare, introduced minimum volume requirements (MVRQs) as a quality instrument. Since then, MVRQs were implemented for seven hospital procedures. This study evaluates the effect of a system-wide intermission of MVRQ for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), demanding 50 annual cases per hospital., Methods: An uncontrolled before-after study based on federal-level data including the number of hospitals performing TKA, and TKA cases from the external hospital quality assurance programme in Germany (2004-2017). Bi- and multivariate analyses based on hospital-level secondary data of TKA cases and TKA quality indicators extracted from hospital quality reports in Germany (2006-2014)., Results: The number of TKAs performed in Germany decreased by 11% after suspending the TKA-MVRQ in 2011, and rose by 13% after its reintroduction in 2015. The number of hospitals with less than 50 cases rose from 10 to 25% and their case share from 2 to 5.5% during suspension. Change in hospital volume after the suspension of TKA-MVRQ was not associated with hospital size, ownership, or region. All four evaluable quality indicators increased significantly in the year after their first public reporting. Compared to hospitals meeting the TKA-MVRQ, three indicators show slight but statistically significant better quality in hospitals below the TKA-MVRQ., Conclusions: In Germany, TKA-MVRQs seem to induce in-hospital caseload adjustments rather than foster regional inter-hospital case transfers as intended.

Introduction: Cesarean deliveries account for approximately one-third of all births in Germany, prompting ongoing discussions on cesarean section rates and their connection to medical staffing and birth volume. In Germany, the majority of departments integrate obstetric and gynecological care within a single department., Methods: The analysis utilized quality reports from German hospitals spanning 2015 to 2019. The outcome variable was the annual risk-adjusted cesarean section ratio-a metric comparing expected to observed cesarean sections. Explanatory variables included annual counts of physicians, midwives, and births. To account for case number-related staffing variations, full-time equivalent midwife and physician staff positions were normalized by the number of deliveries. Uni- and multivariate panel models were applied, complemented by multiple instrument variable analyses, including two-stage least square and generalized method of moments models., Results: Incorporating data from 509 integrated obstetric departments and 2089 observations, representing 2,335,839 deliveries with 720,795 cesarean sections (over 60% of all inpatient births in Germany), multivariate model with fixed effects revealed a statistically significant positive association between the number of physicians per birth and the risk-adjusted cesarean section ratio (0.004, p = 0.004). Two-stage least square instrument variable analysis (0.020, p < 0.001) and a system GMM estimator models (0.004, p < 0.001) validated these results, providing compelling evidence for a causal relationship., Conclusion: The study established a robust connection between the number of physicians per birth and the risk-adjusted cesarean section ratio in integrated obstetric and gynecological departments in Germany. While the cause of the effect remains unclear, one possible explanation is a lack of specialization within these departments due to the combined provision of both obstetric and gynecological care., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Ethics approval: Not applicable., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the factors that influence patients` choice of obstetric and gynaecological medical centre., Methods: Patients attending the gynaecological and obstetric outpatient department (gyn./obs.) at a large tertiary university hospital were asked to voluntarily complete an anonymous 34-item-questionnaire on factors influencing their choice of medical centre at a large tertiary university hospital. Apart from epidemiological factors the preferences were analysed using a Likert scale of 1-5 (1 least, 5 most). Between 10/2023 and 04/2024, 445 outpatients (170 gynaecological, 275 obstetric) were included., Results: In both outpatient departments (gynaecological/obstetric), the most important factors (4&5/5 possible points) were considered to be clear communication (90%/92%), sufficient time for consultation with the medical staff (90%/90%), friendly care (89%/92%), good professional qualifications (86%/89%), treatment according to the latest findings (85%/86%) and empathy (83%/91%). The following factors were considered less important: Doctor's degree was considered important by only 31%/28%, appearance by 32%/35%, internet rating by 41%/36% and professional background by 35%/38% of patients. Regarding organisational structures, medical care was most important (91%/93%), followed by availability by telephone or e-mail (88%/82%), clear communication of possible costs (79%/76%) and organisation of consultations (76%/69%). Less important were short waiting times (67%/63%), flexible opening hours (63%/56%), the facilities (46%/68%) and the location (43%/66%)., Conclusion: Patients often prioritise interpersonal factors when choosing a centre for medical treatment, external factors such as academic qualifications or organisational issues appear to be less important. While it is unsurprising that the best medical treatment is of paramount importance, the other findings can help to increase patients´ satisfaction and experience of the treatment., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Since 2004, Germany has had legal minimum volumes for five surgical interventions (kidney, liver, and stem cell transplantations and complex pancreatic and esophageal interventions). In 2006, minimum volumes for total knee replacement were added. On behalf of the Federal Joint Committee we evaluated the implementation of the minimum volumes and their effects on health service structure, hospitals, and outcome quality. Methods: We analyzed hospital surveys and secondary data from quality reports for 2004, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System, and the Federal Agency for Quality Assurance. Results: In 2006, the minimum volume regulations affected about half of all acute-care hospitals and about 146 000 hospital cases. Depending on the intervention, 10% to 60% of the hospitals with 1% to 31% of the patients performed the procedures yet failed to attain the minimum volumes. The number of hospitals providing the services did not change between 2004 and 2006, so nationwide coverage remained virtually unchanged. Regarding outcomes, only data for total knee replacement were available. One of three analyzed indicators of outcome, wound infections, showed the introduction of the minimum volumes to be associated with better results for higher numbers of cases. Discussion: To date, the minimum volumes have affected health care only marginally. Further monitoring of the effects of the minimum volumes requires prospective definition of essential indicators of outcome and access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Data on patient safety problems (PSPs) in ambulatory care are scarce. The aim of the study was to record the frequency, type, severity and point of origin of PSPs in ambulatory care in Germany., Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study., Setting: Computer-assisted telephone interviews with randomly recruited citizens aged ≥40 years in Germany who were asked about their experiences with PSPs in ambulatory care., Participants: 10 037 citizens ≥40 years., Measures: A new questionnaire was developed to record patient experiences with PSPs in ambulatory care. The study reported here targets patient experiences in the last 12 months. The questionnaire focuses on PSPs in seven areas of medical treatment: anamnesis/diagnostic procedures; medication; vaccination, injection, infusion; aftercare; outpatient surgery; office administration; other areas. For each PSP reported, detailed questions were asked about the specialist group concerned, and, on the most serious harm, the severity of the harm and its consequences. The target parameters are presented as proportions with 95% CIs., Results: 1422 of the respondents (14%) reported 2589 PSPs. The areas most frequently affected by PSPs were anamnesis/diagnostic procedures (61%) and medication (15%). General practitioners accounted for 44% of PSPs, orthopaedists for 15% and internists for 10%. 75% of PSPs were associated with harm, especially unnecessarily prolonged pain or deterioration of health; 35% of PSPs led to permanent harm. 804 PSPs (32%) prompted patients to see another doctor for additional treatment; 255 PSPs (10%) required inpatient treatment., Conclusion: PSPs experienced by patients are widespread in ambulatory care in Germany. The study reveals in which areas of medical treatment efforts to prevent PSPs could make the greatest contribution to improving patient safety. It also demonstrates the valuable contribution of patient reports to the analysis of PSPs., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)