Influenza vaccination patterns among at-risk patients during the Covid-19 pandemic-a retrospective cross-sectional study based on claims data.

PURPOSE: The Covid-19 pandemic may have encouraged at-risk patients to get vaccinated against influenza for the first time. As previous vaccinations are known predictors for further vaccinations, knowledge about individual vaccination patterns, especially in first time vaccinated patients, is of great interest. The aim of this study was to determine influenza vaccination uptake rate (VUR), individual vaccination patterns and factors associated with vaccination uptake among at-risk patients. METHODS: The study design was retrospective cross-sectional. Based on claims data, VUR was determined for four influenza seasons (2018/2019-2021/2022). In a cohort subgroup, with data available for all seasons, VUR, vaccination patterns and factors associated with uptake were determined. At-risk patients were people aged ≥ 65 and adult patients with chronic diseases. RESULTS: We included n = 238,461 patients in the cross-sectional analysis. Overall VUR ranged between 21.8% (2018/2019) and 29.1% (2020/2021). Cohort subgroup consisted of n = 138,526 patients. Within the cohort, 56% were never vaccinated and 11% were vaccinated in all seasons. 14.3% of previously unvaccinated patients were vaccinated for the first time in the first pandemic season (2020/2021 season). The strongest predictor for vaccination was history of vaccinations in all previous seasons (OR 56.20, 95%CI 53.62-58.90, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Influenza VUR increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, but only a minority of previously eligible but unvaccinated at-risk patients were vaccinated for the first time in the first pandemic season. Previous vaccinations are predictors for subsequent vaccinations and health care professionals should actively address at-risk patients' vaccination history in order to recommend vaccination in future seasons.

Discrepancy between antibiotic pack sizes and guideline recommendations: a real-world analysis based on claims data.

PURPOSE: Antibiotics are often only available in predefined pack sizes, which may not align with guideline recommendations. This can result in leftover pills, leading to inappropriate self-medication or waste disposal, which can both foster the development of antibiotic resistance. The magnitude of inappropriate pack sizes is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential non-conformity of prescribed antibiotic pack sizes. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was based on claims data from a large Swiss health insurance company. The study analysed the prescriptions of eleven different antibiotic substances recommended for the five most common indications for antibiotics in Switzerland. All prescriptions for adult outpatients issued by general practitioners in 2022 were included and extrapolated to the entire Swiss population. Potential non-conformity was defined as a mismatch between the total dosage in a pack and the total dosage recommended. RESULTS: A total of n = 947,439 extrapolated prescriptions were analysed. In 10 of 23 of all analysed substance/indication combinations none of the prescribed packs aligned with the respective guideline recommendation. Considering pack sizes in which the total prescribed dosage of a substance did not correspond to any of the total dosages recommended in at least one of the guidelines, 31.6% of prescriptions were potentially non-conform and an estimated number of 2.7 million tablets were overprescribed. CONCLUSIONS: We found a large discrepancy between prescribed pack sizes and guideline recommendations. Since inadequately prepacked antibiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance and unnecessary waste, efforts are needed to implement alternatives like exact pill dispensing.

Elevated TSH Levels: A Database Study of General Practitioners' Course of Action.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate general practitioners' course of action after detection of elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels regarding repeat testing, direct levothyroxine replacement, or neither. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of adults without prior evidence of thyroid disease and with a first detection of elevated TSH levels from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020, using data from electronic medical records of a Swiss primary care database. We determined the occurrence of either repeat TSH testing or direct levothyroxine initiation in primary care during 12-month follow-up and determined associations with demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: Of the 1 591 patients included (median age 65 years, 64.4% female, median TSH 5.7 mIU/L), 34.3% received repeat TSH testing and 12.4% received direct levothyroxine replacement in primary care during follow-up. Repeat TSH testing showed the strongest association with overt hypothyroidism and was more common among patients with high primary care utilization and among patients aged 40-64 years compared to patients aged <40 years. Direct levothyroxine initiation was more likely for TSH levels >7 mIU/L, overt hypothyroidism, female patients, and nonurban practices. CONCLUSIONS: While the degree of thyroid dysfunction was the main driver of follow-up, we identified important gaps in the primary care-based monitoring of elevated TSH levels in young patients and in patients with infrequent consultations. We also observed potential overtreatment of women and patients in nonurban areas. Our findings highlight the need for standardization and dissemination of guidelines for the management of elevated TSH levels among general practitioners.

Primary care indicators for disease burden, monitoring and surveillance of COVID-19 in 31 European countries: Eurodata Study.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of patients received ambulatory treatment, highlighting the importance of primary health care (PHC). However, there is limited knowledge regarding PHC workload in Europe during this period. The utilization of COVID-19 PHC indicators could facilitate the efficient monitoring and coordination of the pandemic response. The objective of this study is to describe PHC indicators for disease surveillance and monitoring of COVID-19's impact in Europe. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study employing data obtained through a semi-structured ad hoc questionnaire, which was collectively agreed upon by all participants. The study encompasses PHC settings in 31 European countries from March 2020 to August 2021. Key-informants from each country answered the questionnaire. Main outcome: the identification of any indicator used to describe PHC COVID-19 activity. RESULTS: Out of the 31 countries surveyed, data on PHC information were obtained from 14. The principal indicators were: total number of cases within PHC (Belarus, Cyprus, Italy, Romania and Spain), number of follow-up cases (Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Spain and Turkey), GP's COVID-19 tests referrals (Poland), proportion of COVID-19 cases among respiratory illnesses consultations (Norway and France), sick leaves issued by GPs (Romania and Spain) and examination and complementary tests (Cyprus). All COVID-19 cases were attended in PHC in Belarus and Italy. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic exposes a crucial deficiency in preparedness for infectious diseases in European health systems highlighting the inconsistent recording of indicators within PHC organizations. PHC standardized indicators and public data accessibility are urgently needed, conforming the foundation for an effective European-level health services response framework against future pandemics.

Prescriber-level surveillance of outpatient antimicrobial consumption to enable targeted antimicrobial stewardship: a nationwide observational study, Switzerland, 2015 to 2022.

BackgroundIn Europe and other high-income countries, antibiotics are mainly prescribed in the outpatient setting, which consists of primary, specialist and hospital-affiliated outpatient care. Established surveillance platforms report antimicrobial consumption (AMC) on aggregated levels and the contribution of the different prescriber groups is unknown.AimTo determine the contribution of different prescribers to the overall outpatient AMC in Switzerland.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study using claims data from one large Swiss health insurance company, covering the period from 2015 to 2022. We analysed antibiotic prescriptions (ATC code J01) prescribed in the Swiss outpatient setting. Results were reported as defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DID) and weighted according to the total population of Switzerland based on census data.ResultsWe analysed 3,663,590 antibiotic prescriptions from 49 prescriber groups. Overall, AMC ranged from 9.12 DID (2015) to 7.99 DID (2022). General internal medicine (40.1% of all prescribed DID in 2022), hospital-affiliated outpatient care (20.6%), group practices (17.3%), paediatrics (5.4%) and gynaecology (3.7%) were the largest prescriber groups. Primary care accounted for two-thirds of the prescribed DID. Quantity and type of antibiotics prescribed varied between the prescriber groups. Broad-spectrum penicillins, tetracyclines and macrolides were the most prescribed antibiotic classes.ConclusionPrimary care contributed considerably less to AMC than anticipated, and hospital-affiliated outpatient care emerged as an important prescriber. Surveillance at the prescriber level enables the identification of prescribing patterns within all prescriber groups, offering unprecedented visibility and allowing a more targeted antibiotic stewardship according to prescriber groups.

Changes in the attractiveness of medical careers and career determinants during the bachelor's program at Zurich medical schools.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring the career intentions of medical students during their undergraduate studies could help to address the shortage of physicians, particularly in general practice. This study aimed to investigate changes in medical students' career openness, attractiveness and determinants of medical career choice during their bachelor's studies. METHODS: The design was cross-sectional, recruiting all medical students who started a bachelor's program in one of the four different educational tracks in Zurich, Switzerland, in the fall of 2019 (first survey) and completed it in the summer of 2022 (second survey). Students' perceptions of the attractiveness and determinants of different medical career options were assessed using a structured online questionnaire. Absolute changes between the two-time points were reported in percentage points overall and by educational track. Regression analysis was used to examine the association of student characteristics and determinants of career options with the attractiveness of each option. RESULTS: We surveyed 354 medical students at the beginning and 433 at the end of the bachelor's program (participation rate: 71.1% and 86.9%, respectively). Overall, the proportion of students open to all proposed medical career options decreased (from 52.8% to 43.8%, p = 0.004). The attractiveness of outpatient gynecology or pediatrics increased (from 27.4% to 43.4%, p < 0.001), whereas the attractiveness of both general and specialized inpatient care decreased (from 47.8% to 40.3%, p = 0.05 and from 71.1% to 61.1%, p = 0.006 respectively). There was an increase in the proportion of students who perceived part-time work, autonomy and relationships with patients as important career determinants (from 47.3% to 64.7%, p < 0.001; from 63.3% to 77.8%, p < 0.001; from 80.8% to 89.3%, p = 0.002 respectively), while the importance of reputation and career opportunities decreased (from 42.6% to 26.2%, p < 0.001; from 79.2% to 63.6%, p < 0.001 respectively). The importance of part-time work and relationships with patients were positively associated with the attractiveness of general practice. CONCLUSIONS: During the bachelor's program, the attractiveness of a career in general practice tended to decrease, but the importance of part-time work, autonomy and relationships with patients as career determinants increased. Helping students understand how these determinants relate to general practice may increase their interest in the profession. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Medication Review and Enhanced Information Transfer at Discharge of Older Patients with Polypharmacy: a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Swiss Hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Medication safety in patients with polypharmacy at transitions of care is a focus of the current Third WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge. Medication review and communication between health care professionals are key targets to reduce medication-related harm. OBJECTIVE: To study whether a hospital discharge intervention combining medication review with enhanced information transfer between hospital and primary care physicians can delay hospital readmission and impact health care utilization or other health-related outcomes of older inpatients with polypharmacy. DESIGN: Cluster-randomized controlled trial in 21 Swiss hospitals between January 2019 and September 2020, with 6 months follow-up. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight senior physicians and their blinded junior physicians included 609 patients ≥ 60 years taking ≥ 5 drugs. INTERVENTIONS: Participating hospitals were randomized to either integrate a checklist-guided medication review and communication stimulus into their discharge processes, or follow usual discharge routines. MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcome was time-to-first-readmission to any hospital within 6 months, analyzed using a shared frailty model. Secondary outcomes covered readmission rates, emergency department visits, other medical consultations, mortality, drug numbers, proportions of patients with potentially inappropriate medication, and the patients' quality of life. KEY RESULTS: At admission, 609 patients (mean age 77.5 (SD 8.6) years, 49.4% female) took a mean of 9.6 (4.2) drugs per patient. Time-to-first-readmission did not differ significantly between study arms (adjusted hazard ratio 1.14 (intervention vs. control arm), 95% CI [0.75-1.71], p = 0.54), nor did the 30-day hospital readmission rates (6.7% [3.3-10.1%] vs. 7.0% [3.6-10.3%]). Overall, there were no clinically relevant differences between study arms at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of a structured medication review with enhanced information transfer neither delayed hospital readmission nor improved other health-related outcomes of older inpatients with polypharmacy. Our results may help researchers in balancing practicality versus stringency of similar hospital discharge interventions. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN18427377, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN18427377.

Comparison of Motivational Short Interventions to Improve Smokers' Health Behavior (The COSMOS Study): A Pragmatic Cluster-Randomized Two-Arm Trial in General Practice.

INTRODUCTION: Helping smokers to quit is an important task of general practitioners (GPs). However, achieving tobacco abstinence is difficult, and smokers who fail may still want to improve their health in other ways. Therefore, Swiss GPs developed a multithematic coaching concept that encourages health behavior changes beyond smoking cessation alone. AIMS AND METHODS: To compare the effectiveness of such coaching with state-of-the-art smoking cessation counseling, we conducted a pragmatic cluster-randomized two-arm trial with 56 GPs in German-speaking Switzerland and 149 of their cigarette smoking patients. GPs were instructed in either multithematic health coaching or smoking cessation counseling. After 12 months, we compared their patients' improvements in cigarette consumption, body weight, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, stress, unhealthy diet, and a health behavior of their own choice, using hierarchical logistic regression models and Fisher's exact and t tests. RESULTS: Over 95% of all participants achieved clinically relevant improvements in at least one health behavior, with no difference between study arms (health coaching vs. smoking cessation counseling: aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = [0.03-50.76]; and aOR = 1.78, 95% CI = [0.51-6.25] after non-responder imputation). Rates of clinically relevant improvements in the individual health behaviors did not differ between study arms either (they were most frequent in physical activity, achieved by 3 out of 4 patients), nor did the extent of the improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Multithematic health coaching and state-of-the art smoking cessation counseling were found to be comparable interventions, both in terms of smoking cessation success and, quite unexpectedly, their effects on other health behaviors. IMPLICATIONS: The findings of our study suggest that in general practice, multithematic health coaching is an effective smoking cessation intervention, and conversely, monothematic smoking cessation counseling also achieves the beneficial effects of a multithematic health behavior intervention. This opens up the possibility for GPs to support their smoking patients in improving their health behavior in additional and more flexible ways.

Broken bones and apple brandy: resilience and sensemaking of general practitioners and their at-risk patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland.

In early 2020, when the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Switzerland, the federal government started implementing measures such as national stay-at-home recommendations and a strict limitation of health care services use. General practitioners (GPs) and their at-risk patients faced similar uncertainties and grappled with subsequent sensemaking of the unprecedented situation. Qualitative interviews with 24 GPs and 37 at-risk patients were conducted which were analyzed using thematic analysis. Weick's (1993) four sources of -resilience - improvisation, virtual role systems, attitudes of wisdom and respectful interaction - heuristically guide the exploration of on-the-ground experiences and informal ways GPs and their at-risk patients sought to ensure continuity of primary care. GPs used their metaphorical Swiss army knives of learned tools as well as existing knowledge and relationships to adapt to the extenuating circumstances. Through improvisation, GPs and patients found pragmatic solutions, such as using local farmer apple brandy as disinfectant or at-home treatments of clavicle fractures. Through virtual role systems, GPs and patients came to terms with new and shifting roles, such as "good soldier" and "at-risk patient" categorizations. Both parties adopted attitudes of wisdom by accepting that they could not know everything. They also diversified their sources of information through personal relationships, formal networks, and the internet. The GP-patient relationship grew in importance through respectful interaction, and intersubjective reflection helped make sense of shifting roles and ambiguous guidelines. The empirical analysis of this paper contributes to theoretical considerations of sensemaking, resilience, crisis settings and health systems.

The Effect of Financial Incentives on Quality Measures in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Financial incentives are often used to improve quality of care in chronic care patients. However, the evidence concerning the effect of financial incentives is still inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of financial incentives on quality measures (QMs) in the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus in primary care. We incentivized a clinical QM and a process QM to test the effect of financial incentives on different types of QMs and to investigate the spill-over effect on non-incentivized QMs. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: Parallel cluster randomized controlled trial based on electronic medical records database involving Swiss general practitioners (GPs). Practices were randomly allocated. INTERVENTION: All participants received a bimonthly feedback report. The intervention group additionally received potential financial incentives on GP level depending on their performance. MAIN MEASURES: Between-group differences in proportions of patients fulfilling incentivized QM (process QM of annual HbA1c measurement and clinical QM of blood pressure level below 140/95 mmHg) after 12 months. KEY RESULTS: Seventy-one GPs (median age 52 years, 72% male) from 43 different practices and subsequently 3838 patients with diabetes mellitus (median age 70 years, 57% male) were included. Proportions of patients with annual HbA1c measurements remained unchanged (intervention group decreased from 79.0 to 78.3%, control group from 81.5 to 81.0%, OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.90-1.32, p = 0.39). Proportions of patients with blood pressure below 140/95 improved from 49.9 to 52.5% in the intervention group and decreased from 51.2 to 49.0% in the control group (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.99-1.36, p = 0.06). Proportions of non-incentivized process QMs increased significantly in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: GP level financial incentives did not result in more frequent HbA1c measurements or in improved blood pressure control. Interestingly, we could confirm a spill-over effect on non-incentivized process QMs. Yet, the mechanism of spill-over effects of financial incentives is largely unclear. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN13305645.

Attractiveness of medical disciplines amongst Swiss first-year medical students allocated to different medical education tracks: cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: As most countries, Switzerland is experiencing a shortage of physicians especially in general practice and new medical education tracks with respective focusses have been started in response. This study investigated Swiss medical students' career openness and attractiveness of different medical disciplines as well as the concordance of students' career intentions with assigned medical education tracks. METHODS: Cross-sectional study surveying first year medical students assigned to four different Swiss medical education tracks with distinctive additional education focuses (ETH Zurich: medical technology and engineering, University of St. Gallen and University of Lucerne: primary healthcare and University of Zurich: no distinctive focus). RESULTS: We surveyed 354 medical students (response rate across all included medical education tracks 71.1%), 64.8% female, mean age 20 years. Regarding career openness, we found that 52.8% of medical students had neither a strong commitment nor a strong reservation for any of the proposed career options and 17.0% had a strong commitment. Among medical disciplines, medical subspecialties were attractive to the largest part of students (inpatient subspecialties attractive for 71%, outpatient for 58%), attractiveness of general practice was moderate (30%), academic (22%) and industrial sector (17%) careers were least attractive. Proportions of medical students attracted to general practice were similar at medical education tracks with focus on primary healthcare compared to other medical education tracks (32.2% vs. 25.8%, p = 0.391). Conversely, proportions of medical students attracted to academic or industry careers were significantly higher at the ETH Zurich compared to other medical education tracks (37.2%, vs. 13.1%, p < 0.001 and 31.9%, vs. 8.8%, p < 0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION: While most first-year medical students were open to careers in many medical disciplines, attractiveness of disciplines varied strongly. Students attracted to academic or industrial careers accumulated at the medical education track with concordant teaching focus but students attracted to general practice did not accumulate at medical education tracks focused on primary healthcare. For medical education tracks with primary care teaching focus this is both a challenge and an opportunity to specifically counteract the shortage of general practitioners in Switzerland.

Swiss GPs' preferences for antidepressant treatment in mild depression: vignette-based quantitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: GPs frequently prescribe antidepressants in mild depression. The aim of this study was to examine, how often Swiss GPs recommend antidepressants in various clinical presentations of mild depression and which factors contribute to antidepressant treatment recommendations. METHODS: We conducted an online survey among Swiss GPs with within-subject effect analysis. Alternating case vignettes described a typical female case of mild depression according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition criteria, with and without anxiety symptoms and sleep problems. GPs indicated for each vignette their preferred treatments (several recommendations were possible). Additionally, we assessed GP characteristics, attitudes towards depression treatments, and elements of clinical decision-making. RESULTS: Altogether 178 GPs completed the survey. In the initial description of a case with mild depression, 11% (95%-CI: 7%-17%) of GPs recommended antidepressants. If anxiety symptoms were added to the same case, 29% (23%-36%) recommended antidepressants. If sleep problems were mentioned, 47% (40%-55%) recommended antidepressants, and if both sleep problems and anxiety symptoms were mentioned, 63% (56%-70%) recommended antidepressants. Several factors were independently associated with increased odds of recommending antidepressants, specifically more years of practical experience, an advanced training in psychosomatic and psychosocial medicine, self-dispensation, and a higher perceived effectiveness of antidepressants. By contrast, a higher perceived influence of patient characteristics and the use of clinical practice guidelines were associated with reduced odds of recommending antidepressants. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with depression practice guidelines, Swiss GPs rarely recommended antidepressants in mild depression if no co-indications (i.e., sleep problems and anxiety symptoms) were depicted. However, presence of sleep problems and anxiety symptoms, many years of practical experience, overestimation of antidepressants' effectiveness, self-dispensation, an advanced training in psychosomatic and psychosocial medicine, and non-use of clinical practice guidelines may independently lead to antidepressant over-prescribing.

Use of acute care services by adults with a migrant background: a secondary analysis of a EurOOHnet survey.

BACKGROUND: High demands create pressure on acute care services, such as emergency medical services (EMS), emergency departments (ED) and out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC) services. A variety of patient- and organisational factors have been discussed as reasons why especially non-western migrants more frequently contact an ED or OOH-PC service than native born. We aim to investigate whether persons with a non-western and western migrant background more often contact an acute care service than native born and how this relates to the number of contacts with their general practitioners (GPs). In addition, we aim to explore how possible differences in acute care use by migrants can be explained. METHODS: We performed secondary analysis of data collected for the EurOOHnet survey on OOH help-seeking behaviour in Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Differences in self-reported acute care use (sum of number of contacts with OOH-PC, the ED and 1-1-2/1-4-4) between non-western and western migrants and native born were tested with a quasi Poisson regression analysis. Mediation analyses were performed to examine the impact of factors related to help-seeking on the relation between self-reported acute care use and migrant background. RESULTS: Non-western migrants had more acute care contacts than native born (adjusted IRR 1.74, 95% CI 1.33-2.25), whereas no differences were found between western migrants and native born. Migrants who regularly contacted OOH-PC or the ED also regularly contacted their GP. Mediation analyses showed that the factors employment, anxiety, attitude towards use of OOH-PC and problems in accessing the own GP could partly explain the higher acute care use of non-western migrants. CONCLUSION: The higher use of acute care services by non-western migrants compared with native born could partly be explained by feeling fewer barriers to contact these services, feeling more anxiety, more unemployment and problems making an appointment with the GP. Increasing awareness and improving GP access could help migrants in navigating the healthcare system.

Effect of a patient-centred deprescribing procedure in older multimorbid patients in Swiss primary care - A cluster-randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Management of patients with polypharmacy is challenging, and evidence for beneficial effects of deprescribing interventions is mixed. This study aimed to investigate whether a patient-centred deprescribing intervention of PCPs results in a reduction of polypharmacy, without increasing the number of adverse disease events and reducing the quality of life, among their older multimorbid patients. METHODS: This is a cluster-randomised clinical study among 46 primary care physicians (PCPs) with a 12 months follow-up. We randomised PCPs into an intervention and a control group. They recruited 128 and 206 patients if ≥60 years and taking ≥five drugs for ≥6 months. The intervention consisted of a 2-h training of PCPs, encouraging the use of a validated deprescribing-algorithm including shared-decision-making, in comparison to usual care. The primary outcome was the mean difference in the number of drugs per patient (dpp) between baseline and after 12 months. Additional outcomes focused on patient safety and quality of life (QoL) measures. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-four patients, mean [SD] age of 76.2 [8.5] years participated. The mean difference in the number of dpp between baseline and after 12 months was 0.379 in the intervention group (8.02 and 7.64; p = 0.059) and 0.374 in the control group (8.05 and 7.68; p = 0.065). The between-group comparison showed no significant difference at all time points, except for immediately after the intervention (p = 0.002). There were no significant differences concerning patient safety nor QoL measures. CONCLUSION: Our straight-forward and patient-centred deprescribing procedure is effective immediately after the intervention, but not after 6 and 12 months. Further research needs to determine the optimal interval of repeated deprescribing interventions for a sustainable effect on polypharmacy at mid- and long-term. Integrating SDM in the deprescribing process is a key factor for success. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials, prospectively registered ISRCTN16560559 Date assigned 31/10/2014. The Prevention of Polypharmacy in Primary Care Patients Trial (4P-RCT).

Treatment of urinary tract infections in Swiss primary care: quality and determinants of antibiotic prescribing.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections are one of the most common reasons for prescribing antibiotics in primary care. Current guidelines recommend fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, or trimethoprim - sulfamethoxazol as empiric first line antimicrobial agents in uncomplicated infections. However, there is evidence that the use of fluoroquinolones, which are no longer recommended, is still inappropriate high. We determined antibiotic prescription patterns, quality and factors affecting antibiotic prescriptions in urinary tract infections in primary care in Switzerland. METHODS: From June 2017 to August 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study in patients suffering from a urinary tract infection (UTI). Patient and general practitioners characteristics as well as antibiotic prescribing patterns were analysed. RESULTS: Antibiotic prescribing patterns in 1.352 consecutively recruited patients, treated in 163 practices could be analysed. In 950 (84.7%) patients with an uncomplicated UTI the prescriptions were according to current guidelines and therefore rated as appropriate. Fluoroquinolones were prescribed in 13.8% and therefore rated as inappropriate. In multivariable analysis, the age of the general practitioner was associated with increasing odds of prescribing a not guideline recommended antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high degree of guideline conform antibiotic prescriptions in patients with an uncomplicated urinary tract infection in primary care in Switzerland. However, there is still a substantial use of fluoroquinolones in empiric therapy.

Active surveillance of antibiotic resistance patterns in urinary tract infections in primary care in Switzerland.

PURPOSE: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common reasons for prescribing antibiotics in primary care. In Switzerland, the Swiss Center for Antibiotic Resistances (ANRESIS) provides resistance data by passive surveillance, which overestimates the true resistance rates. The aim of this study was to provide actual data of the antimicrobial resistance patterns in patients with UTI in Swiss primary care. METHODS: From June 2017 to August 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 163 practices in Switzerland. We determined the resistance patterns of uropathogens in patients with a diagnosis of a lower UTI and analyzed risk factors for resistance. Patients with age < 18 years, pregnancy or a pyelonephritis were excluded. RESULTS: 1352 patients (mean age 53.8, 94.9% female) were included in the study. 1210 cases (89.5%) were classified as uncomplicated UTI. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the most frequent pathogen (74.6%). Susceptibility proportions of E. coli to ciprofloxacin (88.9%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol (TMP/SMX) (85.7%) were significantly higher than the proportions reported by ANRESIS. We found high susceptibility to the recommended first-line antibiotics nitrofurantoin (99.5%) and fosfomycin (99.4%). Increasing age, antimicrobial exposure and a recent travel history were independently associated with resistance. DISCUSSION: In this study, we report actual data on the resistance patterns of uropathogens in primary care in Switzerland. Escherichia coli showed low resistance rates to the recommended first-line antibiotics. Resistance to TMP/SMX was significantly lower than reported by ANRESIS, making TMP/SMX a suitable and cheap alternative for the empirical treatment.

Factors related to out-of-hours help-seeking for acute health problems: a survey study using case scenarios.

BACKGROUND: The acute out-of-hours healthcare services are challenged by increasing demand in many countries. We aimed to examine factors influencing the intended help-seeking in out-of-hours care for acute health problems during evenings, nights, and weekends. METHODS: We conducted a survey study based on data from parents of children (aged 0-4 years) and adults (aged 30-39 and 50-59 years) in Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Intended help-seeking behaviour was measured by six hypothetical case scenarios. We used Andersen's Behavioural Model to categorise potentially influential factors and applied multiple binomial regression to assess the influence of selected factors. RESULTS: A total of 1015 parents and 2942 adults participated. We identified several significant influential factors. Parents holding a low education (OR 1.56), having migrant background (western: OR 1.23; non-western: OR 1.93), having one child (OR 1.24), perceiving few barriers to using out-of-hours primary care (OR 1.59), perceiving difficulties with organising childcare (OR 1.13), and having a history of frequent contacts with out-of-hours care (OR 1.55) were more inclined to contact out-of-hours care, whereas female (OR 0.85) and non-anxious parents (OR 0.77) were less inclined. Adults who were older (OR 1.01), holding a medical education (OR 1.13), having non-western background (OR 1.28), being unemployed (OR 1.17), perceiving few barriers to using out-of-hours primary care (OR 1.37), and having a history of frequent contacts with a GP (few: OR 1.15; more: OR 1.22) and/or with out-of-hours care (one: OR 1.20; more: OR 1.49) were more inclined to contact out-of-hours care, whereas adults with no or little social support (OR 0.84) and adults with high health literacy level on health information (OR 0.91) were less inclined. Dutch parents were less inclined than Danish parents to contact out-of-hours care (OR 0.62), whereas Swiss adults were more inclined than Danish adults to contact out-of-hours care (OR 1.16). CONCLUSION: We identified several factors related to intended help-seeking in out-of-hours care. These results could be used to develop targeted interventions, but more research is needed to examine the underlying explanations for the identified differences.

Barriers and enablers for deprescribing among older, multimorbid patients with polypharmacy: an explorative study from Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy is an increasing problem, leading to increased morbidity and mortality, especially in older, multimorbid patients. Consequently, there is a need for reduction of polypharmacy. The aim of this study was to explore attitudes, beliefs, and concerns towards deprescribing among older, multimorbid patients with polypharmacy who chose not to pursue at least one of their GP's offers to deprescribe. METHODS: Exploratory study using telephone interviews among patients of a cluster-randomized study in Northern Switzerland. The interview included a qualitative part consisting of questions in five pre-defined key areas of attitudes, beliefs, and concerns about deprescribing and an open explorative question. The quantitative part consisted of a rating of pre-defined statements in these areas. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 87 older, multimorbid patients with polypharmacy, to whom their GP offered a drug change, did not pursue all offers. Nineteen of these 22 were interviewed by telephone. The 19 patients were on average 76.9 (SD 10.0) years old, 74% female, and took 8.9 (SD 2.6) drugs per day. Drugs for acid-related disorders, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs were the three most common drug groups where patient involvement and the shared-decision-making (SDM) process led to the joint decision to not pursue the GPs offer. Eighteen of 19 patients fully trusted their GP, 17 of 19 participated in SDM even before this study and 8 of 19 perceived polypharmacy as a substantial burden. Conservatism/inertia and fragmented medical care were the main barriers towards deprescribing. No patient felt devalued as a consequence of the deprescribing offer. Our exploratory findings were supported by patients' ratings of predefined statements. CONCLUSION: We identified patient involvement in deprescribing and coordination of care as key issues for deprescribing among older multimorbid patients with polypharmacy. GPs concerns regarding patients' devaluation should not prevent them from actively discussing the reduction of drugs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN16560559 .

Autoadjusted versus fixed CPAP for obstructive sleep apnoea: a multicentre, randomised equivalence trial.

BACKGROUND: The obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is conventionally treated by continuous positive airway pressure set at a fixed level (fCPAP). Automatic mask pressure adjustment (autoCPAP) is increasingly used during home therapy. We investigated whether autoCPAP is equivalent to fCPAP in improving sleepiness in patients with OSAS in the long-term. METHODS: In this multicentre equivalence trial, 208 patients with OSAS, with median Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) 13, apnoea/hypopnoea index 48.4/hour, were randomised to treatment with autoCPAP (5-15 mbar) or fCPAP (pressure set at the 90th percentile applied by autoCPAP during 2-4 weeks adaptation). Coprimary outcomes were changes in subjective and objective sleepiness from baseline to 2 years after treatment. Equivalence ranges were ±2 points in ESS and ±3 min sleep resistance time evaluated by recording responses to light signals. RESULTS: At 2 years, in the intention to treat analysis, the reduction in sleepiness versus pretreatment baseline was similar in patients using autoCPAP (n=113, mean ESS-change -6.3, 95% CI -7.1 to -5.5; sleep resistance time +8.3 min, +6.9 to +9.7) and fCPAP (n=95, mean ESS-change -6.2, 95% CI -7.0 to -5.3; sleep resistance time +6.3 min, +4.7 to +7.8). The 95% CI of difference in ESS-reduction between autoCPAP and fCPAP was -0.9 to +1.4 and the 95% CI of difference in increase in sleep resistance time was -2.6 to +1.0 min. Blood pressure reduction and OSAS-related costs were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: AutoCPAP and fCPAP are equivalent within prespecified ranges in improving subjective and objective sleepiness in patients with OSAS over the course of 2 years. Costs of these treatments are similar. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00280800.

Correction to: The effects of shared decision-making compared to usual care for prostate cancer screening decisions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors notified us of a misleading data presentation in Table 4.