Vitamin D Level Trajectories of Adolescent Patients with Anorexia Nervosa at Inpatient Admission, during Treatment, and at One Year Follow Up: Association with Depressive Symptoms.

(1) Background: Evidence has accumulated that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) are at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency than healthy controls. In epidemiologic studies, low 25(OH) vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were associated with depression. This study analyzed the relationship between 25(OH)D serum levels in adolescent patients and AN and depressive symptoms over the course of treatment. (2) Methods: 25(OH)D levels and depressive symptoms were analyzed in 93 adolescent (in-)patients with AN from the Anorexia Nervosa Day patient versus Inpatient (ANDI) multicenter trial at clinic admission, discharge, and 1 year follow up. Mixed regression models were used to analyze the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and depressive symptoms assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). (3) Results: Although mean 25(OH)D levels constantly remained in recommended ranges (≥50 nmol/L) during AN treatment, levels decreased from (in)patient admission to 1 year follow up. Levels of 25(OH)D were neither cross-sectionally, prospectively, nor longitudinally associated with the BDI-II score. (4) Conclusions: This study did not confirm that 25(OH)D levels are associated with depressive symptoms in patients with AN. However, increasing risks of vitamin D deficiency over the course of AN treatment indicate that clinicians should monitor 25(OH)D levels.

Efficacy of Blended Collaborative Care for Patients With Heart Failure and Comorbid Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Depression is often comorbid in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. However, depression generally goes unrecognized and untreated in this population. Objective: To determine whether a blended collaborative care program for treating both HF and depression can improve clinical outcomes more than collaborative care for HF only and physicians' usual care (UC). Design, Setting, and Participants: This 3-arm, single-blind, randomized effectiveness trial recruited 756 participants with HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (<45%) from 8 university-based and community hospitals in southwestern Pennsylvania between March 2014 and October 2017 and observed them until November 2018. Participants included 629 who screened positive for depression during hospitalization and 2 weeks postdischarge and 127 randomly sampled participants without depression to facilitate further comparisons. Key analyses were performed November 2018 to March 2019. Interventions: Separate physician-supervised nurse teams provided either 12 months of collaborative care for HF and depression ("blended" care) or collaborative care for HF only (enhanced UC [eUC]). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was mental health-related quality of life (mHRQOL) as measured by the Mental Component Summary of the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (MCS-12). Secondary outcomes included mood, physical function, HF pharmacotherapy use, rehospitalizations, and mortality. Results: Of the 756 participants (mean [SD] age, 64.0 [13.0] years; 425 [56%] male), those with depression reported worse mHRQOL, mood, and physical function but were otherwise similar to those without depression (eg, mean left ventricular ejection fraction, 28%). At 12 months, blended care participants reported a 4.47-point improvement on the MCS-12 vs UC (95% CI, 1.65 to 7.28; P = .002), but similar scores as the eUC arm (1.12; 95% CI, -1.15 to 3.40; P = .33). Blended care participants also reported better mood than UC participants (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Depression effect size, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.67) and eUC participants (0.24; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.41), but physical function, HF pharmacotherapy use, rehospitalizations, and mortality were similar by both baseline depression and randomization status. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial of patients with HF and depression, telephone-delivered blended collaborative care produced modest improvements in mHRQOL, the primary outcome, on the MCS-12 vs UC but not eUC. Although blended care did not differentially affect rehospitalization and mortality, it improved mood better than eUC and UC and thus may enable organized health care systems to provide effective first-line depression care to medically complex patients. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02044211.

Demographic differences in the initiation and maintenance of statins in the first year post ACS in New Zealand: a data linkage study (ANZACS-QI 57).

INTRODUCTION: Prior New Zealand studies suggest that only approximately two-thirds of patients who present with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are adequately maintained on a statin post-discharge. This could be due to low initiation and/or poor longer-term adherence. AIM: To identify the pattern and adequacy of statin maintenance following ACS from initial prescription to one-year post-discharge. METHODS: All New Zealand Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement (ANZACS-QI) registry data for consecutive New Zealand residents (2015-2017) who were hospitalised with ACS and managed with coronary angiography were anonymously linked to national datasets to derive a medication possession ratio (MPR) to assess medication maintenance. An MPR ≥0.8 is considered adequate maintenance and ≥1 is considered optimal. RESULTS: Of the 16,557 patients who survived their ACS, 15,431 (93.2%) were prescribed a statin at discharge and 89.8% were dispensed a statin within three months. 79.8% (13,219/16,557) of patients had an MPR ≥0.8 during the first year, but only 61.0% (10,096/16,557) had optimal dispensing over this period. Regression analysis identified the independent predictors of sub-optimal maintenance over the first year as age <45 years, no prior statin and Maori and Pacific ethnicity. CONCLUSION: After ACS discharge, the gap between prescribing and dispensing rates was small with only minor demographic variation. One in ten patients were not initially dispensed a statin. Although eight in ten patients were adequately maintained, only six in ten had optimal maintenance with clear ethnic and age differences, which may reflect more general disparities in healthcare.

The Center for Trauma Survivorship: Addressing the great unmet need for posttrauma center care.

BACKGROUND: Returning patients to preinjury status is the goal of a trauma system. Trauma centers (TCs) provide inpatient care, but postdischarge treatment is fragmented with clinic follow-up rates of <30%. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are common, but few patients ever obtain necessary behavioral health services. We postulated that a multidisciplinary Center for Trauma Survivorship (CTS) providing comprehensive care would meet patient's needs, improve postdischarge compliance, deliver behavioral health, and decrease unplanned emergency department (ED) visits and readmissions. METHODS: Focus groups of trauma survivors were conducted to identify issues following TC discharge. Center for Trauma Survivorship eligible patients are aged 18 to 80 years and have intensive care unit stay of >2 days or have a New Injury Severity Score of ≥16. Center for Trauma Survivorship visits were scheduled by a dedicated navigator and included physical and behavioral health care. Patients were screened for PTSD and depression. Patients screening positive were referred for behavioral health services. Patients were provided 24/7 access to the CTS team. Outcomes include compliance with appointments, mental health visits, unplanned ED visits, and readmissions in the year following discharge from the TC. RESULTS: Patients universally felt abandoned by the TC after discharge. Over 1 year, 107 patients had 386 CTS visits. Average time for each appointment was >1 hour. Center for Trauma Survivorship "no show" rate was 17%. Eighty-six percent screening positive for PTSD/depression successfully received behavioral health services. Postdischarge ED and hospital admissions were most often for infections or unrelated conditions. Emergency department utilization was significantly lower than a similarly injured group of patients 1 year before the inception of the CTS. CONCLUSION: A CTS fills the vast gaps in care following TC discharge leading to improved compliance with appointments and delivery of physical and behavioral health services. Center for Trauma Survivorship also appears to decrease ED visits in the year following discharge. To achieve optimal long-term recovery from injury, trauma care must continue long after patients leave the TC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level III.

Growth in the High-Risk Newborn Infant Post-Discharge: Results from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nutrition Follow-up Clinic.

Growth and nutrition in preterm infants have long-term implications for neurodevelopmental and cardiometabolic outcomes. Many infants are discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with growth restriction, but often without a specialized team to monitor postdischarge growth. At our institution, we addressed our ongoing concerns for the health and growth of these infants post-discharge by creating a Nutrition NICU Graduate Clinic. This clinic serves infants discharged from our NICU who were born with very low birth weight, had difficulty growing or feeding while inpatient, had a gastrostomy tube placed during hospitalization, or were deemed high risk for other reasons by our neonatal team, with the first clinic visit within 5 weeks of discharge. Data from our first 227 patients at time of discharge, first clinic visit, and any available second clinic visits are described. Anthropometrics show a high rate of extrauterine growth restriction at time of discharge with continued growth restriction at follow-up. Feeding regimens prescribed at discharge and variations from the prescribed regimen at time of follow-up are described. At time of first clinic visit, most patients (92.2%) required a medical or dietary intervention by our team. Our findings illustrate the need for early and specialized nutrition follow-up in this patient population to improve growth trajectory post-discharge.

Disparities in adherence to head and neck cancer follow-up guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aim to determine the frequency of adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network follow-up guidelines in a population of head and neck cancer patients who received curative treatment. We will also assess the impact of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and treatment setting on utilization of follow-up care. METHODS: This study included patients with biopsy-proven, nonmetastatic oropharyngeal or laryngeal cancer treated with radiotherapy between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2016, at a safety-net hospital or adjacent private academic hospital. Components of follow-up care analyzed included an appointment with a surgeon or radiation oncologist within 3 months and posttreatment imaging of the primary site within 6 months. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted using a logistic regression model to estimate odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-four patients were included in this study. Of those, 88.8% received posttreatment imaging of the primary site within 6 months; 88.5% attended a follow-up appointment with a radiation oncologist within 3 months; and 71.1% of patients attended a follow-up appointment with a surgeon within 3 months. On multivariable analysis, private academic hospital treatment versus safety-net hospital treatment was associated with increased utilization of both surgical and radiation oncology follow-up. Non-Hispanic black (NHB) patients, Hispanic patients, and those with a low socioeconomic status were also less likely to receive follow-up. CONCLUSION: Safety-net hospital treatment, socioeconomic status, Hispanic ethnicity, and NHB race were associated with decreased follow-up service utilization. Quality improvement initiatives are needed to reduce these disparities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b Laryngoscope, 129:2303-2308, 2019.

Experiences of women, hospital clinicians and general practitioners with gestational diabetes mellitus postnatal follow-up: A mixed methods approach.

PROBLEM: Postnatal screening rates to detect type two diabetes following gestational diabetes are low. The quality of communication is an important element to consider in developing targeted strategies that support women in completing recommended follow-up care. AIMS: To explore the communication perspectives, practices and preferences of women, hospital clinicians and general practitioners, to determine strategies that may promote completion of recommended postnatal GDM follow-up, in Queensland Australia. METHOD: We used an exploratory, three-phase, mixed-methods approach, interpreted through intergroup communication theory. Phase one: convergent interviews explored perspectives of the communication experience in GDM care among new mothers (n = 13), hospital clinicians (n = 13) and general practitioners (n = 16). Phase two: a retrospective chart audit assessed current practice in postnatal discharge summaries of women (n = 86). Phase three: an online survey identified the preferences of general practitioners and hospital clinicians who provide maternity care in Queensland. Triangulation of the findings from the interviews, audit and surveys was used to clarify results and increase the robustness of the findings. RESULTS: Three themes: Seeking information, Written hospital discharge summary (discharge summary) and Clarity of follow-up requirements, provide direction for pragmatic strategies to promote follow-up. Practical recommendations include continued discussion about care with women from the point of GDM diagnosis into the postnatal period; discharge summaries that give primacy to diagnosis and ongoing treatment; and provision of explicit directions for recommended testing and timing. IMPLICATIONS: This research informs seven practical recommendations to help promote completion of recommended postnatal GDM follow-up.

Adherence of hypertension patients in the Brazil's Family Health Strategy.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the adherence and associate it to blood pressure control and to follow-up observation of people with hypertension in the Brazil's Family Health Strategy. METHOD: cross-sectional study, conducted with 417 people in treatment of hypertension, living in a municipality located in the Northwest region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. The data were collected in the first 2016 semester, using an instrument adapted and validated for the evaluation of satisfaction with the services offered by Primary Health Care. Analysis of variance and the logistic regression model were used for the treatment of variables. RESULTS: it was evidenced that people with inadequate follow-up observation evaluate the relations between professional/user and the guidance to the medications used as unsatisfactory. CONCLUSION: weak guidelines and ineffective dialogue between health professionals and users might result in an inadequate follow-up observation of blood pressure control and of people with hypertension.

Screening and management of postoperative hypoparathyroidism-induced hypocalcemia in thyroidectomized patients in the endocrine ward compared with the surgical ward.

Transient hypoparathyroid-associated hypocalcemia is a common side effect after thyroidectomy. Not only may it be life-threatening, but it also can distinctly affect length of hospital stay and treatment costs. Screening and treatment practices are suspected to differ between clinicians in endocrine and surgical wards. We therefore compared discipline-related differences in screening and treatment of hypocalcemia as well as the length of hospital stay of patients after thyroidectomy. Data from 170 patients treated with total thyroidectomy in the Department of Otolaryngology (n = 29), General Surgery (n = 49) and Endocrinology (n = 92) were analyzed, and measurements of postoperative calcium and parathyroid hormone, calcium at time of discharge, percentage of discharge with a calcium level <1.9 mmol/L (defined as severe hypocalcemia), treatment of hypocalcemia, and duration of hospitalization were compared between disciplines. Postoperative calcium levels were measured in 97.8% of patients in endocrine wards compared with 83.3% in surgical departments (p = 0.001), and discharge with a calcium level <1.9 mmol/L was statistically more frequent in surgical vs. endocrine wards. Additional to calcium supplementation, active vitamin D was administered in 95% of patients treated in endocrine wards vs. 35% in surgical wards. Length of hospitalization was 8.12 (±6.62) days (endocrinology) to 10.55 (±9.39) days (surgical wards) (p = 0.05). Monitoring of calcium levels is an important indicator of the quality of postoperative care after thyroidectomy. To prevent postoperative hypocalcemia-induced complications and to reduce the length of hospital stay, an interdisciplinary approach for the management of hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy might be a promising model for future treatment concepts.

Evaluation of a Dedicated Tobacco Cessation Support Service for Thoracic Cancer Center Patients.

CONTEXT: Cancer patients' continued tobacco use results in poorer therapeutic outcomes including decreased quality of life and survival. OBJECTIVE: To assess reach and impact of a free, opt-out, telephone-based tobacco cessation program for thoracic cancer center patients. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Comprehensive Cancer Center in Western New York. PARTICIPANTS: Current or recent (within past 30 days) tobacco-using thoracic cancer center patients referred to a tobacco cessation support service between October 2010 and October 2012 at a Comprehensive Cancer Center (n = 942/1313 referrals were eligible for cessation support). INTERVENTION: A free, opt-out, telephone-based cessation service that was implemented as standard of care. Cessation specialists had patient-guided conversations that assessed readiness to quit; methods used in the past provided cessation strategies and worked to set up a quit date. There was an average of 35.9 days between referral and first contact. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Program reach (referral and participation rates) and impact (as self-reported cessation outcomes measured twice after referral). RESULTS: Of 942 patients, 730 (77.5%) referred to and called by a tobacco cessation service participated in at least 1 cessation support call, of which 440 of 730 (60.3%) were called for follow-up and 89.5% (394/440) participated. In total, 20.2% (69/342) of current smokers at referral reported at least 7-day abstinence at follow-up. Among current smokers at referral and first contact, being married (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-4.18) and having a lower Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score (OR = 4.05; 95% CI, 1.58-10.39) were associated with quitting at follow-up, after controlling for demographic, clinical, and health behavior characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that 78% of thoracic cancer center patients, if contacted, participated at least once in this cessation support service; for current smokers at referral and first contact, being married and having a lower ECOG performance score were associated with self-reported quitting at follow-up. Other organizations may find our results useful while implementing a systematic way to identify tobacco-using patients as part of routine care and to improve available cessation support services.

Patterns of Long-term Cancer Survivorship Care in a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

PURPOSE: The majority of the cancer survivors in the United States are 5 or more years beyond their diagnosis. The follow-up care of these individuals remains a major concern for survivors and for the cancer care system. The purpose of this study was to characterize long-term cancer survivors' visits at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We abstracted electronic medical record data for 18,882 unique patients' visits during 2010 to determine the distribution of the number of years of survival after the initial cancer diagnosis. We then reviewed 374 patient visits during a randomly selected week in April 2010 to determine whether patients were seen for treatment of a new diagnosis of cancer, a residual or recurrent cancer, for a second or secondary cancer, or for cancer survivorship care while not actively receiving treatment (other than adjuvant hormonal therapy). RESULTS: In the 1-year group of 18,882 unique patients visits the percentage of patients who were <1, 1 to 5, 6 to 10, and >10 years postdiagnosis were 18.7%, 48.7%, 18.9%, and 13.8%, respectively. During the selected week, 74% of the total office visits were with patients who were being actively treated for a new cancer, relapse, or a second cancer, whereas 24% were not being seen for treatment of an active malignancy. The percentage of total office visits with patients who were <6, 6 to 10, or >10 years postdiagnosis and had completed their initial treatment were 21.4%, 3.7%, and 1%, respectively. Approximately 5% of oncology office visits were with cancer survivors who were 5 or more years postdiagnosis and not receiving treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In a database of over 18,000 unique patients who were seen at a major cancer center in 2010, approximately 68% were 5 or less and 32% were 6 or more years postdiagnosis. A review of the medical oncology notes in a random sample of cases of oncology visits demonstrated that approximately 5% of office visits were with long-term cancer survivors who were >5 years postdiagnosis and not receiving active treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Cancer survivors often indicate a preference to receive long-term follow-up care from their oncologist. These findings suggest that long-term cancer survivorship care represents only a small component of care at a comprehensive cancer center and also that alternative models for long-term survivorship health care need to be considered.

Association Between Primary Care Visits and Colorectal Cancer Screening Outcomes in the Era of Population Health Outreach.

BACKGROUND: Population outreach strategies are increasingly used to improve colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. The influence of primary care on cancer screening in this context is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between primary care provider (PCP) visits and receipt of CRC screening and colonoscopy after a positive fecal immunochemical (FIT) or fecal occult blood test (FOBT). DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 968,072 patients ages 50-74 years who were not up to date with CRC screening in 2011 in four integrated healthcare systems (three with screening outreach programs using FIT kits) in the Population-Based Research Optimizing Screening through Personalized Regimens (PROSPR) consortium. MEASURES: Demographic, clinical, PCP visit, and CRC screening data were obtained from electronic health records and administrative databases. We examined associations between PCP visits in 2011 and receipt of FIT/FOBT, screening colonoscopy, or flexible sigmoidoscopy (CRC screening) in 2012 and follow-up colonoscopy within 3 months of a positive FIT/FOBT in 2012. We used multivariable logistic regression and propensity score models to adjust for confounding. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of eligible patients completed a CRC screening test in 2012, most by FIT. Those with a greater number of PCP visits had higher rates of CRC screening at all sites. Patients with ≥1 PCP visit had nearly twice the adjusted-odds of CRC screening (OR = 1.88, 95 % CI: 1.86-1.89). Overall, 79.6 % of patients with a positive FIT/FOBT completed colonoscopy within 3 months. Patients with ≥1 PCP visit had 30 % higher adjusted odds of completing colonoscopy after positive FIT/FOBT (OR = 1.30; 95 % CI: 1.22-1.40). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a greater number of PCP visits had higher rates of both incident CRC screening and colonoscopy after positive FIT/FOBT, even in health systems with active population health outreach programs. In this era of virtual care and population outreach, primary care visits remain an important mechanism for engaging patients in cancer screening.

[Organized Post-Stroke Care through Case Management on the Basis of a Standardized Treatment Pathway : Results of a Single-Centre Pilot Study]. / Koordinierte Schlaganfallnachsorge durch Case Management auf der Basis eines standardisierten Behandlungspfades : Ergebnisse einer monozentrischen Pilotstudie.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke care programs based on a standardized treatment pathway supported by case management may prevent secondary stroke and minimize risk factors. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the feasibility of a standardized treatment pathway and its impact on risk factor control, life-style changes and adherence to secondary prevention medication. METHODS: We conducted a prospective pilot study in consecutive stroke patients. The 12-month post-stroke care program included regular perosnal and phone contact with a certified case manager. Target values for vascular risk factors following current recommendations of stroke guidelines were monitored and treated if necessary. In the case of deviations from the treatment pathway the case manager intervened. Patients were screened for recurrent stroke at the end of the program after 12 months. RESULTS: We enrolled 101 patients: 57.4 % were male, the median age was 72 (IQR, 62-80) years, median baseline NIHSS score was 2(IQR, 1-5), 79.2 % had an ischemic stroke, 3 % a hemorrhagic stroke, and 17.8 % a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Eighty-six (85.1 %) patients completed the program, 12 (11.9 %) withdrew from the program and 3 died of malignant diseases. In total, 628 personal (6.2/patient) and 2,683 phone contacts (26.6/patient) were conducted by the case manager. Three hundred-seventy-nine specific interventions were necessary mostly because of missing medication, non-compliance, and social needs. After 12 months, target goals for blood pressure, body mass index, nicotine use, and cholesterol were more frequently (p < 0.05) achieved than at baseline. No recurrent stroke occurred during the program. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot data demonstrate that case management-based post-stroke care is feasible and may contribute to effective secondary prevention of stroke.

Faith-based organizations and the Affordable Care Act: Reducing Latino mental health care disparities.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; 2010) is expected to increase access to mental health care through provisions aimed at increasing health coverage among the nation's uninsured, including 10.2 million eligible Latino adults. The ACA will increase health coverage by expanding Medicaid eligibility to individuals living below 138% of the federal poverty level, subsidizing the purchase of private insurance among individuals not eligible for Medicaid, and requiring employers with 50 or more employees to offer health insurance. An anticipated result of this landmark legislation is improvement in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders in racial/ethnic minorities, particularly for Latinos, who traditionally have had less access to these services. However, these efforts alone may not sufficiently ameliorate mental health care disparities for Latinos. Faith-based organizations (FBOs) could play an integral role in the mental health care of Latinos by increasing help seeking, providing religion-based mental health services, and delivering supportive services that address common access barriers among Latinos. Thus, in determining ways to eliminate Latino mental health care disparities under the ACA, examining pathways into care through the faith-based sector offers unique opportunities to address some of the cultural barriers confronted by this population. We examine how partnerships between FBOs and primary care patient-centered health homes may help reduce the gap of unmet mental health needs among Latinos in this era of health reform. We also describe the challenges FBOs and primary care providers need to overcome to be partners in integrated care efforts.

General practitioners' perceptions of their role in cancer follow-up care: a qualitative study in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: In the last few decades there has been a considerable increase in the number of cancer survivors. Health policy makers would like to see cancer follow-up care moved from secondary to primary care. METHOD: Between 2008 and 2010, a qualitative study among primary health care professionals was performed to get more insight into the way they care for cancer survivors. Analysed was whether a coordinating role in cancer survivorship care would fit in with the practical logic underlying the way the general practitioners work. RESULTS: In their everyday work, general practitioners are used to provide care in a reactive way. Based on this habitus, they classify their patients into 'not special' and 'special' ones. Since general practitioners label cancer survivors as 'not special,' they expect these patients to take the initiative to ask for help and present their complaints in a clear and complete way. Their habitus as a gatekeeper implies that they are reticent about referring patients to other primary health care professionals. In regard to 'not special' patients, such as cancer survivors, general practitioners appear to build on the patients' own strengths. CONCLUSION: The emphasis on a wait-and-see attitude in contemporary Dutch general practice, as well as the general practitioners' role as a gatekeeper are at odds with the proactive and holistic approach inherent to a coordinating role in cancer follow-up. Therefore, we assume that it will be difficult for general practitioners to shape a pivotal role in this care.

[Transfer-time and -rates from inpatient to outpatient care of mental ill persons in Baden Wurttemberg]. / Übergangszeiten und -raten von stationär nach ambulant in der Versorgung psychisch kranker Menschen in Baden-Württemberg.

OBJECTIVE: The time of transfer between discharge from inpatient mental health care and first contact to the outpatient sector is considered to be an indicator for continuity of care. METHODS: This indicator is assessed using health care claims data of one of the mayor health insurances in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. RESULTS: About 80 % of cases with the diagnosis of a defined mental disorder sought outpatient care at general or mental health practitioners within six months from discharge. 50 % of them did so within six days, 75 % within three weeks. The majority sought outpatient care at general practitioners. Cases that sought care in outpatient clinics specialized for severe mental illness (SMI) could not be considered in the data. However, considering them by estimation, the rate of cases with SMI seeking outpatient care at mental health practitioners within six months from discharge estimated to be at least 70 %. CONCLUSIONS: General practitioners are an important source for aftercare of mentally ill people discharged from inpatient care. Time of transfer as an indicator can be predominantly assessed by using health claims data in Germany.

Comparison of On the Way Home aftercare supports to traditional care following discharge from a residential setting: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

This study compares the On the Way Home (OTWH) aftercare program to traditional aftercare supports on placement and school stability for 82 youth (43 treatment, 39 control) with disabilities discharging from residential care. One-year-post-discharge results revealed that negative event occurrence (i.e., returning to care or discontinuing enrollment in the community school) was three to over five times less likely for OTWH youth compared to youth in the control condition.

Determining the relative importance of the mechanisms of behavior change within Alcoholics Anonymous: a multiple mediator analysis.

AIMS: Evidence indicates that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) participation reduces relapse risk but less is known about the mechanisms through which AA confers this benefit. Initial studies indicate self-efficacy, negative affect, adaptive social networks and spiritual practices are mediators of this effect, but because these have been tested in isolation, their relative importance remains elusive. This study tested multiple mediators simultaneously to help determine the most influential pathways. DESIGN: Prospective, statistically controlled, naturalistic investigation examined the extent to which these previously identified mechanisms mediated AA attendance effects on alcohol outcomes controlling for baseline outcome values, mediators, treatment, and other confounders. SETTING: Nine clinical sites within the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (n = 1726) suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) initially enrolled in a randomized study with two arms: aftercare (n = 774); and out-patient (n = 952) comparing three out-patient treatments (Project MATCH). MEASUREMENTS: AA attendance during treatment; mediators at 9 months; and outcomes [percentage of days abstinent (PDA) and drinks per drinking day (DDD)] at 15 months. FINDINGS: Among out-patients the effect of AA attendance on alcohol outcomes was explained primarily by adaptive social network changes and increases in social abstinence self-efficacy. Among more impaired aftercare patients, in addition to mediation through adaptive network changes and increases in social self-efficacy, AA lead to better outcomes through increasing spirituality/religiosity and by reducing negative affect. The degree to which mediators explained the relationship between AA and outcomes ranged from 43% to 67%. CONCLUSION: While Alcoholics Anonymous facilitates recovery by mobilizing several processes simultaneously, it is changes in social factors which appear to be of primary importance.

[Modern information and communication technology in medical rehabilitation. Enhanced sustainability through Internet-delivered aftercare]. / Moderne Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie in der Rehabilitation. Mehr Nachhaltigkeit durch Internet-vermittelte Nachsorge.

Internet and mobile phones open new avenues for the optimization of health services in medical rehabilitation. Various models of Internet-delivered aftercare after psychosomatic inpatient treatment have shown promising results. The focus of this report is on the experience in translating one of the promising models, the Internet-Bridge ("Internet-Brücke"), to every day health care. Effectiveness was estimated through comparison of 254 patients who were treated in a hospital specialized in psychosomatic medicine and who participated in the Internet-Bridge as well as in the 1-year follow-up in the frame of standard quality assurance between 2003-2010 with 364 patients of the same hospital who also participated in the 1-year follow-up, but did not utilize the aftercare. Sustainable, reliable, and clinically significant improvements were more frequent in participants of the Internet-Bridge, especially with regard to psychological well-being, social problems, and psychosocial competence-at small additional costs. Results are understood as encouragement to start translation to routine care accompanied by research.

Additional treatment services in a cocaine treatment study: level of services obtained and impact on outcome.

The objective of this study was to examine the level of additional treatment services obtained by patients enrolled in the NIDA Cocaine Collaborative Study, a multi-center efficacy trial of four treatments for cocaine dependence, and to determine whether these services impact treatment outcome. Cocaine-dependent patients (N = 487) were recruited at five sites and randomly assigned to six months of one of four psychosocial treatments. Assessments were made at baseline, monthly during treatment, and at follow-ups at 9, 12, 15, and 18 months post-randomization. On average, patients received little or no additional treatment services during active treatment (first six months), but the rate of obtaining most services increased during the follow-up phase (month 7 to 18). In general, the treatment groups did not differ in the rates of obtaining non-protocol services. For all treatment groups, patients with greater psychiatric severity received more medical and psychiatric services during active treatment and follow-up. Use of treatment services was unrelated to drug use outcomes during active treatment. However, during the follow-up period, increased use of psychiatric medication, twelve-step attendance, and twelve-step participation was related to less drug use. The results suggest that during uncontrolled follow-up phases, additional non-protocol services may potentially confound the interpretation of treatment group comparisons in drug use outcomes.