Preoperative Delirium Risk Screening in Patients Undergoing a Cardiac Surgery: Results from the Prospective Observational FINDERI Study.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication of cardiac surgery that is associated with higher morbidity, longer hospital stay, cognitive decline, and mortality. Preoperative assessments may help to identify patients´ POD risk. However, a standardized screening assessment for POD risk has not been established. DESIGN: Prospective observational FINd DElirium RIsk factors (FINDERI) study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged ≥50 years undergoing cardiac surgery. MEASUREMENTS: The primary aim was to analyze the predictive value of the Delirium Risk Screening Questionnaire (DRSQ) prior to cardiac surgery. Secondary aims are to investigate cognitive, frailty, and geriatric assessments, and to use data-driven machine learning (ML) in predicting POD. Predictive properties were assessed using receiver operating characteristics analysis and multivariate approaches (regularized LASSO regression and decision trees). RESULTS: We analyzed a data set of 504 patients (68.3 ± 8.2 years, 21.4% women) who underwent cardiac surgery. The incidence of POD was 21%. The preoperatively administered DRSQ showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.68 (95% CI 0.62, 0.73), and the predictive OR was 1.25 (95% CI 1.15, 1.35, p <0.001). Using a ML approach, a three-rule decision tree prediction model including DRSQ (score>7), Trail Making Test B (time>118), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (score ≤ 22) was identified. The AUC of the three-rule decision tree on the training set was 0.69 (95% CI 0.63, 0.75) and 0.62 (95% CI 0.51, 0.73) on the validation set. CONCLUSION: Both the DRSQ and the three-rule decision tree might be helpful in predicting POD risk before cardiac surgery.

The prevalence and impact of sarcopenia in older cardiac patients undergoing inpatient cardiac rehabilitation - results from a prospective, observational cohort pre-study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sarcopenia and its impact in older patients undergoing inpatient cardiac rehabilitation (iCR) after cardiac procedure has been insufficiently studied. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia and quantify the functional capacity of older sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients participating in iCR. METHODS: Prospective, observational cohort study within the framework of the ongoing multicenter prehabilitation study "PRECOVERY". A sample of 122 patients ≥75 years undergoing iCR after cardiac procedure were recruited in four German iCR facilities and followed up 3 months later by telephone. At iCR (baseline), the Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire was used to identify sarcopenic patients. In addition, Katz-Index, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), handgrip strength (HGS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) measured functional capacity and frailty at baseline. Outcomes were prevalence of sarcopenia and the correlation of sarcopenia to functional capacity and frailty at baseline as well as the SARC-F score at follow-up. The Wilcoxon test was applied for pre-post-test analysis. Correlation between sarcopenia and 6MWD, SPPB score and HGS was tested with the eta coefficient with one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Complete assessments were collected from 101 patients (79.9 ± 4.0 years; 63% male). At baseline, the mean SARC-F score was 2.7 ± 2.1; 35% with sarcopenia. Other baseline results were Katz-Index 5.7 ± 0.9, CFS 3.2 ± 1.4, HGS 24.9 ± 9.9 kg, SPPB score 7.5 ± 3.3 and 6MWD 288.8 ± 136.5 m. Compared to baseline, fewer patients were sarcopenic (23% versus 35%) at follow-up. In the subgroup of sarcopenic patients at baseline (n = 35), pre-post comparison resulted in a significant SARC-F improvement (p = 0.017). There was a significant correlation between sarcopenia measured by SARC-F and poor results in the assessments of functional capacity (p < 0.001; r > 0.546). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sarcopenia in older patients at iCR after cardiac procedure is high (35%) and remains high at follow-up (23%). Sarcopenia screening is important since the diagnosis of sarcopenia in these patients correlates significantly with poor functional capacity. The results indicate that these patients may benefit from prehabilitation aimed at improving perioperative outcomes, increasing functional capacity and mitigating adverse effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; http://www.drks.de ; DRKS00032256). Retrospectively registered on 13 July 2023.

[Prevention of cognitive decline in old age : Selected primary preventive approaches]. / Prävention des kognitiven Abbaus im Alter : Ausgewählte primärpräventive Ansätze.

There are currently 1.8 million people in Germany affected by dementia. Despite advances in research and new treatments, there is no cure for most cases of dementia. The evidence regarding the prevention of cognitive decline in old age is unclear. In addition to the optimized adjustment of drug treatment (e.g., arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus), preventive measures that can be influenced by individuals themselves play an important role. These include areas such as physical and cognitive activity, remedying hearing loss, sleep, social contacts, abstaining from alcohol as well as tobacco consumption and nutrition. Multimodal concepts and digital approaches appear to be promising and an increase in evidence is expected in the coming years.

[Immunosuppressed people's beliefs, expectations, and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations : Results of a longitudinal study]. / Impfeinstellung, Erwartungen und Impferfahrung von Immunsupprimierten bei COVID-19-Impfungen : Ergebnisse einer Längsschnittstudie.

BACKGROUND: Immunocompromised people are less likely to be vaccinated, despite an increased benefit of many vaccinations in terms of benefit-risk assessment, including the vaccines against SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19). Attitudes, expectations, and experiences with previous vaccinations influence the decision to get vaccinated. OBJECTIVE: To explore the attitudes of immunocompromised people towards vaccinations in general and COVID-19 vaccination in particular and their experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: As part of the CoCo Immune study, immunocompromised participants were surveyed in the spring and summer of 2021 (1 November 2021-7 September 2021) using questionnaires. Initially, they were asked about their expectations concerning a COVID-19 vaccination and followed up about their experience after COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, sociodemographic data, general attitudes toward vaccinations and experiences with previous vaccinations were collected. Analysis was performed using descriptive and bivariate statistics. RESULTS: The 243 participants mostly approved vaccinations and expected the COVID-19 vaccination to be effective and well-tolerated. Women were more concerned about the safety of vaccinations and were more often worried about side effects. Older persons felt better informed than younger persons. Participants who reported subjective side effects of previous vaccinations were more skeptical about vaccinations as well as the government institutions that recommend vaccinations. They less often agreed with the statement "in retrospect, the COVID-19 vaccination has been harmless for me so far". DISCUSSION: The participants mostly expressed a positive attitude and anticipation towards COVID-19 vaccinations; however, the age and sex differences found suggest that there are different information needs which should be addressed when educating individuals about vaccinations or designing vaccination campaigns.

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccination in Melanoma Patients under Immune Checkpoint Blockade.

BACKGROUND: Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is modestly impaired in cancer patients due to a generally weakened immune system. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are expected to enhance immune response. This has already been described to be the case in influenza vaccines, and first data about COVID-19 vaccines show a trend in this direction. AIM: We aimed to investigate the immune response of patients with melanoma under ICI therapy after COVID-19 vaccination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the Skin Cancer Center Hanover (Germany), we recruited 60 patients with advanced melanoma who either received ICI therapy during or before the vaccination period. Serological blood analysis was performed using quantitative ELISA for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein 1 IgG antibodies. RESULTS: We did not observe an enhanced humoral immune response in patients under active or past ICI therapy after COVID-19 vaccination. Nevertheless, there is a tendency of higher antibody levels when ICI therapy was received within the last 6 months before vaccination. Subgroup analysis revealed that patients in our study population under ongoing targeted therapy during vaccination period had significantly higher median antibody levels than patients without any active antitumor treatment. CONCLUSION: Melanoma patients under ICI therapy show comparable antibody response after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to healthy health care professionals. This finding is independent of the timing of ICI therapy.

SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses in elderly and immunosuppressed participants and patients with hematologic disease or checkpoint inhibition in solid tumors: study protocol of the prospective, observational CoCo immune study.

BACKGROUND: Immunocompromised people (ICP) and elderly individuals (older than 80 years) are at increased risk for severe coronavirus infections. To protect against serious infection with SARS-CoV-2, ICP are taking precautions that may include a reduction of social contacts and participation in activities which they normally enjoy. Furthermore, for these people, there is an uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of the vaccination. The COVID-19 Contact (CoCo) Immune study strives to characterize the immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in immunocompromised, elderly people, and patients with hematological or oncological diseases. The study uses blood-based screenings to monitor the humoral and cellular immune response in these groups after vaccination. Questionnaires and qualitative interviews are used to describe the level of social participation. METHODS: The CoCo Immune Study is a mixed methods prospective, longitudinal, observational study at two large university hospitals in Northern Germany. Starting in March 2021, it monitors anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune responses and collects information on social participation in more than 600 participants, at least 18 years old. Inclusion criteria and subcohorts: Participants with (1) regularly intake of immunosuppressive medication (ICP-cohort) or (2) age ≥ 80 years (80 + -cohort). Additionally, patients with current or former (3) myeloid, (4) lymphatic disease or (5) solid tumor under checkpoint inhibition (3-5: HO-cohort). EXCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) refusal to give informed consent, (2) contraindication to blood testing, (3) inability to declare consent. Participants complete a questionnaire at four different time points: prior to full vaccination, and 1, 6 and 12 months after completed vaccination. In addition, participants draw blood samples themselves or through a local health care provider and send them with their questionnaires per post at the respective time points after vaccination. Patients of the HO cohort dispense additional blood samples at week 3 to 12 and at month 6 to 9 after 2nd vaccination to gain additional knowledge in B and T cell responses. Selected participants are invited to qualitative interviews about social participation. DISCUSSION: This observational study is designed to gain insight into the immune response of people with weakened immune systems and to find out how social participation is affected after COVID-19 vaccination. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with German Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: DRKS00023972) on 30th December 2020.

Identification of risk factors for delirium, cognitive decline, and dementia after cardiac surgery (FINDERI-find delirium risk factors): a study protocol of a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium is a common complication of cardiac surgery associated with higher morbidity, longer hospital stay, risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and mortality. Geriatric patients, patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and intensive care patients are at a high risk of developing postoperative delirium. Gold standard assessments or biomarkers to predict risk factors for delirium, cognitive decline, and dementia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery are not yet available. METHODS: The FINDERI trial (FINd DElirium RIsk factors) is a prospective, single-center, observational study. In total, 500 patients aged ≥ 50 years undergoing cardiac surgery at the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery of the University of Göttingen Medical Center will be recruited. Our primary aim is to validate a delirium risk assessment in context of cardiac surgery. Our secondary aims are to identify specific preoperative and perioperative factors associated with delirium, cognitive decline, and accelerated dementia after cardiac surgery, and to identify blood-based biomarkers that predict the incidence of postoperative delirium, cognitive decline, or dementia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. DISCUSSION: This prospective, observational study might help to identify patients at high risk for delirium prior to cardiac surgery, and to identify important biological mechanisms by which cardiac surgery is associated with delirium. The predictive value of a delirium screening questionnaire in cardiac surgery might be revealed. Finally, the identification of specific blood biomarkers might help to predict delirium, cognitive decline, and dementia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the IRB of the University of Göttingen Medical Center. The investigators registered this study in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; https://www.drks.de ) (DRKS00025095) on April 19th, 2021.

[COVID-19 vaccination strategy for employees of German hospitals: results of a survey of infection control practitioners within the B-FAST project]. / COVID-19-Impfstrategien für Beschäftigte deutscher Kliniken: Ergebnisse einer Befragung von Leitungen der (Krankenhaus­)Hygiene im Rahmen des B-FAST-Projektes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: At the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Germany, employees in medical facilities were prioritised for vaccination against SARS-CoV­2 due to the high risk of exposure and contact with vulnerable groups. Hospitals were therefore encouraged to organise and implement the vaccination of their employees as soon as possible. The aim of the study was to record the practice regarding the vaccination strategy for employees in German hospitals. METHODS: In a self-developed cross-sectional study, infection control practitioners of all German university hospitals as well as non-university hospitals in Lower Saxony and Bavaria were surveyed in March 2021. The data were stratified according to the characteristics of university hospitals and non-university hospitals. RESULTS: Of 416 invitations sent out, 100 questionnaires (university hospitals: 33; non-university hospitals: 67) were completed. University hospitals reported greater vaccination capacity than non-university hospitals, but a limiting factor was uncertain vaccine supply. Vaccination information campaigns were planned or had already been conducted in 89% of clinics. About two-thirds of the respondents (70%) said they did not plan to conduct antibody tests on vaccinated employees. A follow-up of vaccinated employees to detect possible SARS-CoV­2 infections by PCR was planned by 41% of the respondents. In case of detection of SARS-CoV­2 infection, 72% of the respondents had planned further diagnostic procedures. DISCUSSION: All hospitals were able to achieve rapid implementation of COVID-19 vaccination of their employees. At the time of the survey, there was also much uncertainty regarding the management of breakthrough infections as well as the need for booster vaccinations.

[Experiences when handling sleep medicines: Group discussions with nursing students about benzodiazepines and Z-drugs]. / Erfahrungen im Umgang mit Schlafmitteln: Gruppendiskussionen mit Auszubildenden in der Pflege über Benzodiazepine und Z-Substanzen.

Experiences when handling sleep medicines: Group discussions with nursing students about benzodiazepines and Z-drugs Abstract. Background and aims: Helping patients who have difficulties falling or staying asleep is one of the challenges of hospital care. The goal of this study was to explore how nursing students experience patients' sleeping problems as well as the usage of sleep-inducing drugs, especially benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in the hospital setting. Methods: In four focus group discussions, we collected data exploring the experiences of nursing students with regards to sleeping problems and sleep-inducing drugs. The transcripts of the discussion were analysed, using documentary method. Results were finally summarized to main categories, using qualitative content analysis. Results: Students experience a generous distribution of sleep-inducing drugs, which are considered as the best possible solution for sleeping problems - in spite of weak evidence. Non-drug alternatives are seldom taught, are often unavailable on the ward and their use is rarely trained. Pharmacological knowledge is too shallow and / or the transfer of theoretical knowledge to practical action is unsuccessful. Sleep and sleeping problems, e. g. in contrast to pain management, are not a topic of priority in the hospital setting. Conclusions: More knowledge and greater sensibility about sleeping problems is needed. For example, nurses' training should incorporate knowledge about medications and non-drug alternatives and how to apply them in critical situations. Doctors and nurses should offer nursing students good role models in these situations.

[Secondary Use of Electronic Medical Record Data from Primary Health Care is Feasible: Report from RADAR Project]. / Sekundäre Nutzung von hausärztlichen Routinedaten ist machbar ­ Bericht vom RADAR Projekt.

Objectives It is difficult to obtain longitudinal 'real world' data from ambulatory medical care in Germany in a systematic way. Our vision is a large German research data repository featuring representative, anonymized patient and outpatient health care data, longitudinal, continuously updated and across different providers, offering a perspective of linking secondary care data or additional data obtained from research cohorts, for example patient reported data or biodata, and will be accessible for other researchers. Here we report specific methods and results from the RADAR project.Methods Survey of legislation, design of technical processes and organisational solutions, with a feasibility study to evaluate technical and content functionality, acceptability and performance fitness for health services research questions.Results In 2016, a multi-disciplinary scientific team initiated the development of a privacy protection and IT security concept for data exported from the electronic medical records (EMR) of physicians' practices in line with the European General Data Protection Regulation. Technical and organisational requirements for lawful research infrastructure were developed and executed for use in a specific case, namely ̒oral anticoagulation'. In 7 Lower Saxonian general practices, 100 patients were selected by their physician and their data - reduced to 40 essential data fields - extracted from EMR via a mandatory software interface after informed consent. Still in the practice, the data were split into identifying or medical data. These were encrypted and transferred either to a trusted third party (TTP) or to a data repository, respectively. 75 patients who met our inclusion criteria (minimum of one year of oral anticoagulation treatment) received a quality-of-life questionnaire via the TTP. Of the 66 returns, 63 responses were then linked to the EMR data in the repository.Conclusion Results from RADAR project proved the technical and organisational feasibility of lawful, pseudonymised data acquisition and the linkage of questionnaires to EMR data. The protecting concepts privacy by design and data minimization (Art. 25 GDPR with Recital 78) were implemented. Without informed consent, secondary use of routine data from ambulatory care which are sufficiently anonymized but still meaningful is all but impossible under current German law.

Designing and piloting a generic research architecture and workflows to unlock German primary care data for secondary use.

BACKGROUND: Medical data from family doctors are of great importance to health care researchers but seem to be locked in German practices and, thus, are underused in research. The RADAR project (Routine Anonymized Data for Advanced Health Services Research) aims at designing, implementing and piloting a generic research architecture, technical software solutions as well as procedures and workflows to unlock data from family doctor's practices. A long-term medical data repository for research taking legal requirements into account is established. Thereby, RADAR helps closing the gap between the European countries and to contribute data from primary care in Germany. METHODS: The RADAR project comprises three phases: (1) analysis phase, (2) design phase, and (3) pilot. First, interdisciplinary workshops were held to list prerequisites and requirements. Second, an architecture diagram with building blocks and functions, and an ordered list of process steps (workflow) for data capture and storage were designed. Third, technical components and workflows were piloted. The pilot was extended by a data integration workflow using patient-reported outcomes (paper-based questionnaires). RESULTS: The analysis phase resulted in listing 17 essential prerequisites and guiding requirements for data management compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Based on this list existing approaches to fulfil the RADAR tasks were evaluated-for example, re-using BDT interface for data exchange and Trusted Third Party-approach for consent management and record linkage. Consented data sets of 100 patients were successfully exported, separated into person-identifying and medical data, pseudonymised and saved. Record linkage and data integration workflows for patient-reported outcomes in the RADAR research database were successfully piloted for 63 responders. CONCLUSION: The RADAR project successfully developed a generic architecture together with a technical framework of tools, interfaces, and workflows for a complete infrastructure for practicable and secure processing of patient data from family doctors. All technical components and workflows can be reused for further research projects. Additionally, a Trusted Third Party-approach can be used as core element to implement data privacy protection in such heterogeneous family doctor's settings. Optimisations identified comprise a fully-electronic consent recording using tablet computers, which is part of the project's extension phase.

Why Z-drugs are used even if doctors and nurses feel unable to judge their benefits and risks-a hospital survey.

BACKGROUND: Many patients receive Z-drugs for hospital-associated sleep problems, in spite of well-known risks. The aim of this study was to learn more about the attractiveness of Z-drugs, seen from the doctors' and nurses' perspective. METHODS: Using a standardized questionnaire, doctors (63/116) and nurses (73/243) in a German general hospital were surveyed about the risks and benefits of Z-drugs, compared with benzodiazepines. RESULT: "Reduced time to get to sleep" was perceived by doctors (51%) and nurses (53%) to be a strong benefit of Z-drugs; "confusion" and "falls" were perceived by ca. 10% of doctors and ca. 15% of nurses to be a frequent problem. Compared with benzodiazepines, respondents more often answered "unable to judge" for Z-drugs; e.g. for doctors, 18% (benzodiazepines) vs. 45% (Z-drugs) were unable to judge "improved daytime functioning" and 12% (benzodiazepines) vs. 37% (Z-drugs) were unable to judge "falls." CONCLUSION: Z-drugs seem to be attractive because experiential knowledge overemphasizes their benefits and fails to take risks such as drug-related falls and confusion into account. Difficulties to judge a drug's risk-benefit ratio do not prevent doctors and nurses from using them. Interventions for reducing Z-drug usage should incorporate local quality assurance data about relevant patient risks.

Patient-reported factors associated with the desire to continue taking sleep-inducing drugs after hospital discharge: A survey of older adults.

PURPOSE: To find out whether any prior experiences with sleep-inducing drugs before hospitalization and positive experiences with these drugs during hospitalization influence a patient's wish to continue taking sleep-inducing drugs after hospitalization. METHODS: We surveyed older hospital patients about use of sleep-inducing drugs before, during, and after hospitalization and compared these answers with their hospital chart using the kappa statistic. The association between the wish to continue these drugs after discharge and the perceived benefits, experience of side effects, and prior experience with sleep-inducing drugs was determined by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Agreement between patient responses and the hospital file was high (κ = 0.7). Seventeen percent (83/483) of the participants reported prior experience before their hospital stay; 45% received a sleep-inducing drug during hospitalization; 17% wished to continue taking them after discharge. Of the 400 patients who had no prior experience with sleep-inducing drugs, 147 (37%) became first-time users in the hospital, and 27% (40/147) of these wished to continue this medication after discharged. Strong predictors for this wish were the reduction of sleep onset problems (adjusted odds ratio, 6.26; 95% confidence interval, 2.38-16.44) and any prior experience with sleep-inducing drugs (4.08; 1.97-8.48). CONCLUSIONS: Many older patients become first-time users of sleep-inducing drugs in the hospital. Especially the experience of sleep onset improvements influences the wish to continue sleep-inducing drug use after discharge. Avoiding first-time use should become a goal of hospital policy and be taken into account when weighing the benefits and risks of sleep-inducing drugs.

[Non-pharmacological treatment of hospital patients with sleeping problems - the nurse perspective]. / Nicht-medikamentöse Maßnahmen bei Ein- und Durchschlafproblemen von älteren Patienten im Krankenhaus ­ Qualitative Interviews mit Pflegenden.

Non-pharmacological treatment of hospital patients with sleeping problems - the nurse perspective Abstract. BACKGROUND: Elderly patients suffer from sleep disturbances during hospitalization. These patients often receive hypnotics and sedatives; despite of the known risks and although non-pharmacological treatments are available. AIM: The study investigates the experiences of nurses when using non-pharmacological treatments for elderly patients with sleeping problems. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 13 nurses from a general hospital were analyzed according to Mayring's qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Nurses used a variety of non-pharmacological treatments for elderly inpatients with sleeping problems: (1) structural measures (regulation of temperature and light), (2) organizational measures (more time for conversation during the nightshift), (3) nursing measures (asking about night-time routines) and (4) household remedies. From the nurses' perspective, the more intensive contact required when applying non-pharmacological treatments can lead to higher patient satisfaction and a lower bell frequency during the night shift. Barriers result from limited time and personnel, a lack of standards and individual patient needs. CONCLUSION: Nurses know several kinds of non-pharmacological treatments to help elderly inpatients sleep better. A lack of resources as well as a lack of professional consensus about the treatment of temporary sleeping disturbances can be an obstacle to their use. A professional climate should restrict the use of drugs for sleeping problems as far as possible.

Searching for factors that may reduce the use of benzodiazepines in hospitals - a survey of hospital doctors and nurses
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A chart review at a mid-sized German general hospital found a high usage of benzodiazepines among older patients. Therefore, all doctors and nurses of this hospital were surveyed about the benefits and risks of benzodiazepines that they considered to be the strongest and their own overall assessment of the risk-benefit ratio for their patients Response rate was 54% (63/116) for doctors and 30% (73/243) for nurses. "Reduced fear or agitation" was perceived by many doctors (71%) and nurses (49%) to be a strong benefit of benzodiazepines. With regards to the overall risk-benefit ratio, doctors who indicated that "falls" and/or "craving" often occur in combination with benzodiazepines were more likely to estimate that the risks of benzodiazepines outweigh the benefits. For nurses, "confusion" strongly influenced their overall assessment of the risk-benefit ratio. The results of this study will be incorporated into interventions for reducing benzodiazepine prescriptions.
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Trends towards stronger primary care in three western European countries; 2006-2012.

BACKGROUND: Strong primary care systems are believed to have an important role in dealing with healthcare challenges. Strengthening primary care systems is therefore a common policy goal for many countries. This study aims to investigate whether the Netherlands, the UK and Germany have strengthened their primary care systems in 2006-2012. METHOD: For this cross-sectional study, data from the International Health Policy surveys of the Commonwealth Fund in 2006, 2009 and 2012 were used. The surveys represent the experiences and perspectives of primary care physicians with their primary care system. The changes over time were researched in three areas: organization of primary care processes, use of IT in primary care and use of benchmarking and financial incentives for performance improvement. RESULTS: Regarding organization of primary care processes, in all countries the use of supporting personnel in general practice increased, but at the same time practice accessibility decreased. IT services were most advanced in the UK. The UK and the Netherlands showed increased use of performance feedback information. German GPs were least satisfied with how their system works across the 2006-2012 timeframe. CONCLUSION: All three countries show trends towards stronger primary care systems, although in different areas. Coordination and comprehensive care through the assignment of assisting personnel and use of disease management programs improved in all countries. In the Netherlands and the UK, informational continuity is in part ensured through better IT services. All countries showed increasing difficulties upholding primary care accessibility.

Navigating uncertainty: occupational therapists' experiences of Long COVID management in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

PURPOSE: Long COVID presents global challenges for healthcare professionals. Occupational therapists responded by seeking effective treatment strategies. The approaches of occupational therapists supporting long-haulers in German-speaking countries remain under-explored. The purpose of this study is to explore how occupational therapists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland navigate and apply profession-specific strategies in the new clinical landscape of Long COVID care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used qualitative-descriptive design and content analysis to extract insights from seven semi-structured interviews with occupational therapists in inpatient and outpatient settings from three countries. RESULTS: Four overarching themes emerged: how Long COVID was encountered within the scope of occupational therapy, the multifaceted repertoire experts used to support long haulers, triumphs and challenges that emerged in Long COVID treatment, and recommendations and opportunities for occupational therapy practice. The results underscore the complex support needed for long-haulers, achieved through a multifaceted occupational therapy repertoire, incorporating client-centred, occupation-focused, and context-referencing strategies with shared decision-making and collaborative therapy planning. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational therapy concepts, with their focus on human occupation, may offer new treatment options and strategies for managing emerging conditions such as Long COVID.

Long COVID-RehabilitationSymptom management in relation to the clients' occupational repertoire improves participation and social function in everyday life.Actively involving clients in the therapy process through shared decision-making enhances tailored rehabilitation.Contextualized interventions take into account clients' needs and concerns, as well as the requirements of their social and professional environment.Teletherapy can be a pragmatic solution to improve the accessibility of rehabilitation services for those affected by long COVID.

Evaluation of frailty in geriatric patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation after cardiac procedure: results of a prospective, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is an indicator of a decline in quality of life and functional capacity in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients. Currently, there is no standardized assessment tool for frailty used in CR. The aim of this study was to determine if the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is feasible for assessing frailty in CR. METHODS: Prospective, cross-sectional study within the framework of the ongoing multicenter prehabilitation study "PRECOVERY". Patients ≥75 years undergoing CR after cardiac procedure (n=122) were recruited in four German inpatient CR facilities. Assessments included: CFS, Katz-Index, hand grip strength (HGS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and six-minute-walk test (6MWT). Outcomes were frailty (CFS≥4) and the correlation of frailty with assessments of functional capacity, activities of daily living and clinical parameters. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and correlations, using the spearman correlation coefficient and chi-square test to test for significance. RESULTS: Data from 101 patients (79.9±4.0 years; 63% male) were analyzed. The mean CFS score was 3.2±1.4; 41.6% were defined as frail (CFS≥4). The mean time required to assess the CFS was 0.20 minutes. The findings show that CFS correlates significantly (p<0.001) with the following factors: Katz-Index, HGS, SPPB-Score and 6MWT (r≤-0.575). In addition, CFS correlated with small to moderate effects with co-morbidities (r=0.250), as-needed medications and need for nursing assistance (r≤0.248). CONCLUSIONS: The CFS assessment can be performed in under one minute and it correlates significantly with assessments of functional capacity, activities of daily living and clinical parameters in the CR setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; http:// www. drks. de; DRKS00032256). Retrospectively registered on 13 July 2023.

Parenting and Gender as Impact Factors for Social Participation, Quality of Life, and Mental Health in Long COVID.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the impact of gender and parental tasks on social participation, health-related quality of life (hrQoL), and mental health in persons with long COVID. METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was followed including a cross-sectional web-based survey and semi-structured interviews. Multivariable linear regressions were used to quantify the effect of gender and parenting tasks on social participation, hrQoL, and mental health. Qualitative data from interviews with participants experiencing long COVID symptoms was analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Data from 920 participants in the quantitative study and 25 participants in the qualitative study was analyzed. Parenting tasks were associated with increased impairments in family and domestic responsibilities in persons with long COVID compared to lower impairments in persons without long COVID (P = .02). The qualitative data indicate that coping with long COVID and pursuing parenting tasks limit participants' ability to perform leisure activities and attend social gatherings. In long COVID, men had higher anxiety symptoms than women, and in those without long COVID, the opposite was observed (P < .001). In the qualitative study, participants expressed feelings of dejection and pessimism about their future private, occupational, and health situations. No differences between the genders could be observed. CONCLUSIONS: Long COVID is associated with impairments in family and domestic responsibilities in individuals who have parenting tasks. Among participants with long COVID, anxiety symptoms are higher in men than women.

Association of long COVID with health-related Quality of Life and Social Participation in Germany: Finding from an online-based cross-sectional survey.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the health-related Quality of Life (hrQoL) and social participation in participants with Long COVID compared to participants without symptoms after COVID-19 and participants with no prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Germany. The non-random sample consists of participants 18 years or older. Participants were divided in three groups: Lg COVID with a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and new or persistent symptoms 28 days after infection, ExCOVID with a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and without new or persistent symptoms after 28 days, and NoCOVID when participants had no prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. EQ-5D-3L was used as hrQoL measure and the Index for the Assessment of Health Impairments (IMET) to reflect social participation. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Results: A total of 3188 participants were included in the analysis (1421 Lg COVID, 260 ExCOVID, 1507 NoCOVID). Lg COVID was associated with the lowest EQ-5D-3L index values (p < 0.001), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores (p < 0.001), and IMET (p < 0.001) scores followed by NoCOVID and ExCOVID. After adjusting for sociodemographic and medical conditions in a multivariable model Long COVID was still associated with lower hrQoL compared to NoCOVID (p < 0.001). About 10% of Lg COVID participants showed no health impairments in all EQ-5D dimensions while 51.1% of NoCOVID and 60% of ExCOVID participants showed no health impairments. Conclusion: This study highlights the impairments of persons with Long COVID on hrQoL and social participation compared to individuals without Long COVID in Germany. Trial registration: German Clinical Trial Registry, DRKS00026007.