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PURPOSE: Imaging (X-ray, CT and MRI) provides no health benefits for low back pain (LBP) patients and is not recommended in clinical practice guidelines. Whether imaging leads to increased costs, healthcare utilization or absence from work is unclear. Therefore, this study systematically reviews if imaging in patients with LBP leads to an increase in these outcomes. METHODS: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science until October 2017 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (OSs), comparing imaging versus no imaging on targeted outcomes. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment was performed independently by two reviewers. The quality of the body of evidence was determined using GRADE methodology. RESULTS: Moderate-quality evidence (1 RCT; n = 421) supports that direct costs increase for patients undergoing X-ray. Low-quality evidence (3 OSs; n = 9535) supports that early MRI may lead to an increase in costs. There is moderate-quality evidence (1 RCT, 2 OSs; n = 3897) that performing MRI or imaging (MRI or CT) is associated with an increase in healthcare utilization (e.g., future injections, surgery, medication, etc.). There is low-quality evidence (5 OSs; n = 15,493) that performing X-ray or MRI is associated with an increase in healthcare utilization. Moderate-quality evidence (2 RCTs; n = 667) showed no significant differences between X-ray or MRI groups compared with non-imaging groups on absence from work. However, low-quality evidence (2 Oss; n = 7765) did show significantly greater mean absence from work in the MRI groups in comparison with the non-imaging groups. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging in LBP may be associated with higher medical costs, increased healthcare utilization and more absence from work. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
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Diagnóstico por Imagen/economía , Dolor de la Región Lumbar , Vértebras Lumbares/diagnóstico por imagen , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Ausencia por Enfermedad , HumanosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine characteristics and healthcare utilization of high-cost patients in the Netherlands. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, using claim data for 2013 from one Dutch health insurer. Analyses were limited to the curative health system (care that falls under the Health Insurance Act), including voluntary supplementary insurance. METHOD: We established total healthcare costs per beneficiary by summing all claims with a starting date in 2013. We categorized hospital-related diagnosis related groups (DRGs) and mental health care DRGs according to the ICD-10 International Classification of Diseases main chapters and sub-chapters. Per patient we determined which ICD-10-(sub-)chapter carried the highest costs. In addition, we developed several indicators for healthcare utilization and analysed healthcare utilization using descriptive statistics. Finally, we broke down high-cost patients by age group and compared characteristics and health care utilization between age groups. RESULTS: High-cost patients, those in the top 1% in 2013, incurred an average total cost of over 56,000 per patient. They were treated by multiple providers for numerous health problems. Approximately one third of high-cost patients had one or more expensive treatments, including transplant surgery, dialysis, expensive drugs, intensive care unit use, or DRGs exceeding 30,000. The majority of high-cost patients were treated for cardiovascular disorders, neoplasms or mental and behavioural disorders. Though the high-cost patients were relatively old, more than half were younger than 65 years and average costs per patient decreased sharply with age. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for an integral approach in the treatment of high-cost patients. Tailored policy and interventions are needed to improve care quality and to avoid unnecessarily high costs of care.
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OBJECTIVE: To contribute to a better understanding of volume-outcome relationships in surgery by exploring Dutch surgeons' views on the underlying mechanism. DESIGN: A qualitative study based on face-to-face semi structured interviews and an inductive content analysis approach. SETTING: Interviews were conducted in eight hospitals in the Netherlands (2 university, 4 teaching and 2 general). PARTICIPANTS: Twenty surgeons (gastrointestinal, vascular and trauma). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Dutch surgeons' views on volume-outcome relationships in surgery and the underlying mechanism. RESULTS: The majority of surgeons believed volume is related to outcomes after surgery. Interviewees highlighted the importance of both focus and skills when describing the underlying mechanism. Focus was visible on three levels: hospital, surgeon and team. Focus on a hospital level referred to investing in specific infrastructure and dedicated personnel. Surgeons described both the benefits and downsides of surgeons' increased focus to a certain surgical subspeciality. And their experiences on the importance of working with fixed, procedure-specific teams. The positive influence of caseload on technical and nontechnical skills was acknowledged, as well as the benefits of combining skills by operating together. Although a basic skill set should be maintained, this does not necessarily require high volume. CONCLUSIONS: Focus and skills are important explanatory factors in volume-outcome relationships according to Dutch surgeons. This suggests that both high- and low-volume providers should enable specialized, fixed teams for complex surgeries and focus on maintenance of both their technical and nontechnical skills. By uncovering the underlying mechanism, imperfect quality indicators such as volume can be supplemented or replaced.
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Cirugía General/normas , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , Cirujanos , Actitud del Personal de Salud , Cirugía General/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Países Bajos , Investigación CualitativaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The optimum treatment of patients with distal radius fracture has not been entirely clarified resulting in possible major variations between hospitals in the number of patients undergoing surgical treatment. The objective of this study was to examine the variation in surgical treatment rates of patients with distal radius fractures across Dutch hospitals. DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHOD: Aggregated data for all patients with a distal radius fracture were obtained for 2012 and 2013 on the basis of reimbursement codes. The surgical rate across hospitals was corrected for several variables using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: We analysed a total of 95,754 reimbursements. The operative rate ranged from 0% to 23%, with a mean of 9.6%. Hospital type, the percentage of females, the percentage of patients over 65, the mean age, average socioeconomic status, and the total number of patients treated explained only 2.6% of the observed differences in operative rate between hospitals in 2012 and 11.6% in 2013. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that non-scientific factors, such as surgeon's age, background, and local culture, influence therapeutic decisions in patients with distal radius fractures.
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Fijación Interna de Fracturas , Modalidades de Fisioterapia , Fracturas del Radio/cirugía , Fracturas del Radio/terapia , Femenino , Humanos , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina , Análisis de Regresión , Estudios Retrospectivos , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Complex medication management in older people with multiple chronic conditions can introduce practice variation in polypharmacy prevalence. This study aimed to determine the inter-practice variation in polypharmacy prevalence and examine how this variation was influenced by patient and practice characteristics. METHODS: This cohort study included 45,731 patients aged 55 years and older with at least one prescribed medication from 126 general practices that participated in NIVEL Primary Care Database in the Netherlands. Medication dispensing data of the year 2012 were used to determine polypharmacy. Polypharmacy was defined as the chronic and simultaneous use of at least five different medications. Multilevel logistic regression models were constructed to quantify the polypharmacy prevalence variation between practices. Patient characteristics (age, gender, socioeconomic status, number, and type of chronic conditions) and practice characteristics (practice location and practice population) were added to the models. RESULTS: After accounting for differences in patient and practice characteristics, polypharmacy rates varied with a factor of 2.4 between practices (from 12.4% to 30.1%) and an overall mean of 19.8%. Age and type of conditions were highly positively associated with polypharmacy, and to a lesser extent a lower socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable variation in polypharmacy rates existed between general practices, even after accounting for patient and practice characteristics, which suggests that there is not much agreement concerning medication management in this complex patient group. Initiatives that could reduce inappropriate heterogeneity in medication management can add value to the care delivered to these patients.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the variation in surgical treatment rates of patients with distal radius fractures across Dutch hospitals. We obtained all reimbursement data for the treatment of distal radius fractures for 2012 and 2013 categorized by hospital. The surgical rate across hospitals was corrected for possible explanatory variables using linear regression analyses. We analysed a total of 95,754 reimbursements. The operative rate ranged from 0% to 23%, with a mean of 9.6%. Hospital type, the percentage of females, the percentage of patients over 65, the mean age, average socioeconomic status and the total number of patients treated explained only 2.6% of the observed differences in the operative rate among hospitals in 2012 and 11.6% in 2013. Our results suggest that subjective factors, such as surgeon's opinions and preferences, significantly influence therapeutic decisions in patients with distal radius fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
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BACKGROUND: Five to 22 % of the adult Western population has gallstones. Among them, 13 to 22 % become symptomatic during their lifetime. Cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment for symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. Remarkably, cholecystectomy provides symptom relief in only 60-70 % of patients. The objective of this trial is to compare the effectiveness of usual (operative) care with a restrictive strategy using a standardized work-up with stepwise selection for cholecystectomy in patients with gallstones and abdominal complaints. DESIGN AND METHODS: The SECURE-trial is designed as a multicenter, randomized, parallel-arm, non-inferiority trial in patients with abdominal symptoms and ultrasound proven gallstones or sludge. If patients meet the inclusion criteria they will be randomized to either usual care or the restrictive strategy. Patients in the usual care group will be treated according to the physician's knowledge and preference. Patients in the restrictive care group will be treated with interval evaluation and stepwise selection for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this stepwise selection, patients strictly meeting the preselected criteria for symptomatic cholecystolithiasis will be offered a cholecystectomy. Patients not meeting these criteria will be assessed for other diagnoses and re-evaluated at 3-monthly intervals. Follow-up consists of web-based questionnaires at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. The main end point of this trial is defined as the proportion of patients being pain-free at 12 months follow-up. Pain will be assessed with the Izbicki Pain Score and Gallstone Symptom Score. Secondary endpoints will be the proportion of patients with complications due to gallstones or cholecystectomy, the association between the patients' symptoms and treatment and work performance, and ultimately, cost-effectiveness. DISCUSSION: The SECURE trial is the first randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of usual care versus restrictive care in patients with symptomatic gallstones. The outcome of this trial will inform clinicians whether a more restrictive strategy can minimize persistent pain in post-operative patients at least as good as usual care does, but at a lower cholecystectomy rate. (The Netherlands National Trial Register NTR4022, 17th December 2012) TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Netherlands National Trial Register NTR4022 http://www.zonmw.nl/nl/projecten/project-detail/scrutinizing-inefficient-use-of-cholecystectomy-a-randomized-trial-concerning-variation-in-practi/samenvatting/.
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Colecistectomía Laparoscópica , Cálculos Biliares/cirugía , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Protocolos Clínicos , Análisis Costo-Beneficio , Femenino , Cálculos Biliares/complicaciones , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Países Bajos , Selección de Paciente , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Up to 33 per cent of patients with uncomplicated symptomatic cholecystolithiasis report persistent pain after cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to determine characteristics associated with patient-reported absence of abdominal pain after cholecystectomy, improved abdominal symptoms, and patient-reported positive cholecystectomy results in a prospective cohort multicentre study. METHODS: Patients aged 18 years or more with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis who had a cholecystectomy between June 2012 and June 2014 in one of three hospitals were included. Before surgery all patients were sent the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) questionnaire and the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). At 12 weeks after surgery, patients were invited to complete the GIQLI and Patients' Experience of Surgery Questionnaire (PESQ). Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine associations. RESULTS: Questionnaires were sent to 552 patients and returned by 342 before and after surgery. Postoperative absence of abdominal pain was reported by 60·5 per cent of patients. A high preoperative GIQLI score, episodic pain, and duration of pain of 1 year or less were associated with postoperative absence of pain. These factors showed no association with improved abdominal symptoms (reported by 91·5 per cent of patients) or a positive surgery result (reported by 92·4 per cent). CONCLUSION: Preoperative characteristics determine the odds for relief of abdominal pain after cholecystectomy. However, these factors were not associated with patient-reported improvement of abdominal symptoms or patient-reported positive cholecystectomy results, highlighting the variation of internal standards and expectations of patients before cholecystectomy.
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Dolor Abdominal/etiología , Colecistectomía , Colecistolitiasis/cirugía , Dolor Postoperatorio/etiología , Dolor Abdominal/diagnóstico , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Colecistolitiasis/complicaciones , Femenino , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Dimensión del Dolor , Dolor Postoperatorio/diagnóstico , Evaluación del Resultado de la Atención al Paciente , Estudios Prospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: To improve perioperative patient safety, hospitals are implementing evidence-based perioperative safety guidelines. To facilitate this process, it is important to provide insight into current practice. For this purpose, we aimed to develop patient safety indicators. METHODS: The RAND-modified Delphi method was used to develop a set of patient safety indicators based on the perioperative guidelines. First, a core group of experts systematically selected recommendations from the guidelines. Then, an expert panel of representative professionals appraised the recommendations against safety criteria, prioritized them and reached consensus about 11 patient safety indicators. Measurability, applicability, improvement potential (based on current practice) and discriminatory capacity of each indicator were pilot tested in eight hospitals. RESULTS: Seven structure, two process and two outcome indicators were developed covering the entire perioperative care process. Most indicators showed good applicability (N=11), improvement potential (N=6) and discriminatory capacity (N=7). Four indicators were difficult to measure. Improvement opportunities concerned the use of perioperative stops, timely administration of antibiotics, availability of protocols on perioperative anticoagulants and on prospective risk analysis of medical equipment, presence of a surveillance system for postoperative wound infections, and a morbidity and mortality registration. CONCLUSIONS: Using a systematic, stepwise method 11 patient safety indicators were developed for internal assessment, monitoring and improvement of the perioperative care process. There was large variation in guideline adherence between and within hospitals, identifying opportunities for improvement in the quality of perioperative care.
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Seguridad del Paciente/normas , Atención Perioperativa/normas , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Anticoagulantes/uso terapéutico , Consenso , Técnica Delphi , Adhesión a Directriz/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Monitoreo Fisiológico , Proyectos Piloto , Estudios Prospectivos , Mejoramiento de la Calidad , Medición de Riesgo , Infección de la Herida Quirúrgica/diagnóstico , Infección de la Herida Quirúrgica/terapiaRESUMEN
Three domains are accepted as indicators that make the quality of hospital care quantifiable and transparent: process, structure and outcome. In recent years volume thresholds for surgical interventions have been added as new quality indicators, rendering the assumption that more volume leads to better outcomes. This assumption has been established for many procedures in peer-reviewed literature since the 1970s. Although there is consensus about the fact that volume is a proxy measure for other factors influencing the outcome of care, available research does not shed much light on the mechanisms underlying the volume-outcome relationship. Moreover, the methodological quality of the available research has several limitations. Despite the incomplete substantiation, volume thresholds are now embedded in 'risk-based' supervision by the health inspectorate as well as purchasing policies by health insurers.
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Evaluación de Procesos y Resultados en Atención de Salud , Indicadores de Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Medicina Basada en la Evidencia , Humanos , Países Bajos , Carga de TrabajoRESUMEN
AIMS: To determine the effectiveness of a 2.5-year lifestyle intervention for Type 2 diabetes prevention in Dutch general practice compared with usual care. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial of 925 individuals at high risk for Type 2 diabetes (FINDRISC-score ≥ 13) in 14 general practices in the Netherlands. Intervention consisted of lifestyle counselling from the nurse practitioner and the general practitioner. Usual care consisted of oral and written information at the start of the study. Study groups were compared over 2.5 years regarding changes in clinical and lifestyle measures. RESULTS: Both groups showed modest changes in body weight, glucose concentrations, physical activity and dietary intake [weight: intervention group, -0.8 (5.1) kg, usual care group, -0.4 (4.7) kg, (P=0.69); fasting plasma glucose: intervention group, -0.17 (0.4) mmol/l, usual care group, -0.10 (0.5) mmol/l, (P=0.10)]. Differences between groups were significant only for total physical activity and fibre intake. In the intervention group, self-efficacy was significantly higher in individuals successful at losing weight compared with unsuccessful individuals. No significant differences in participant weight loss were found between general practitioners and nurse practitioners with different levels of motivation or self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes risk factors could significantly be reduced by lifestyle counselling in Dutch primary care. However, intervention effects above the effects attributable to usual care were modest. Higher participant self-efficacy seemed to facilitate weight loss. Lack of motivation or self-efficacy of professionals did not negatively influence participant guidance.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/prevención & control , Estilo de Vida , Adulto , Anciano , Actitud Frente a la Salud , Glucemia/metabolismo , Consejo/métodos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangre , Ingestión de Energía , Medicina General , Promoción de la Salud/métodos , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Países Bajos , Relaciones Médico-Paciente , Pautas de la Práctica en Enfermería , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Resultado del Tratamiento , Pérdida de Peso/fisiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The patient assessment of chronic illness care (PACIC) is a promising instrument to evaluate the chronic care experiences of patients, yet additional validation is needed to improve its usefulness. METHODS: A total of 1941 patients with diabetes completed the questionnaire. Reliability coefficients and factor analyses were used to psychometrically test the PACIC and PACIC+ (i.e. PACIC extended with six additional multidisciplinary team functioning items to improve content validity). Intra-class correlations were computed to identify the extent to which variation in scores can be attributed to GP practices. RESULTS: The PACIC and PACIC+ showed a good psychometric quality (Cronbach's alpha's >0.9). Explorative factor analyses showed inconclusive results. Confirmative factor analysis showed that none of the factor structures had an acceptable fit (RMSEA>0.10). In addition, 5.1 to 5.4% of the total variation was identified at the GP practice level. CONCLUSION: The PACIC and PACIC+ are reliable instruments to measure the chronic care management experiences of patients. The PACIC+ is preferred because it also includes multidisciplinary coordination and cooperation-one of the central pillars of chronic care management-with good psychometric quality. Previously identified subscales should be used with caution. Both PACIC instruments are useful in identifying GP practice variation.
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BACKGROUND: General practice based registration networks (GPRNs) provide information on morbidity rates in the population. Morbidity rate estimates from different GPRNs, however, reveal considerable, unexplained differences. We studied the range and variation in morbidity estimates, as well as the extent to which the differences in morbidity rates between general practices and networks change if socio-demographic characteristics of the listed patient populations are taken into account. METHODS: The variation in incidence and prevalence rates of thirteen diseases among six Dutch GPRNs and the influence of age, gender, socio economic status (SES), urbanization level, and ethnicity are analyzed using multilevel logistic regression analysis. Results are expressed in median odds ratios (MOR). RESULTS: We observed large differences in morbidity rate estimates both on the level of general practices as on the level of networks. The differences in SES, urbanization level and ethnicity distribution among the networks' practice populations are substantial. The variation in morbidity rate estimates among networks did not decrease after adjusting for these socio-demographic characteristics. CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic characteristics of populations do not explain the differences in morbidity estimations among GPRNs.
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Medicina General/estadística & datos numéricos , Morbilidad/tendencias , Condiciones Sociales , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Niño , Preescolar , Bases de Datos Factuales , Etnicidad , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Países Bajos , Salud Pública , Factores Sexuales , Clase Social , Remodelación Urbana , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To analyse the variation in the registration of hospital admissions across Dutch hospitals and determine how this variation affects the Hospital Standardised Mortality Rate (HSMR). DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive. METHOD: We used data from the National Medical Registration (LMR), covering the records of all hospital admissions in 2005 in Dutch hospitals, to analyse the variation between hospitals in 3 variables: the number of secondary diagnoses, the percentage of unplanned admissions, and the percentage of non-specified diagnoses ('other diagnoses'). The impact of this variation on the HSMR was analysed by calculating the correlation between the HSMR and each of the variables. The correlation between the original HSMR and the HSMR without adjustment for these variables was also calculated. RESULTS: The variation in the percentages of unplanned admissions and admissions with a non-specified diagnosis was low. The variation in these two variables had a small or no effect on the HSMR. There was a considerable variation in the mean number of secondary diagnoses per hospital. This variation had a limited but statistically significant effect on the HSMR. The HSMR calculated without adjustments for secondary diagnoses correlated strongly with the original HSMR. CONCLUSION: This analysis does not support the view that the HSMR is strongly affected by variation in the registration of hospital admissions and is therefore not reliable. Therefore, there is no need for restraint with regard to publication of the Dutch HSMR.
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Encuestas de Atención de la Salud , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Admisión del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Alta del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Garantía de la Calidad de Atención de Salud , Causas de Muerte , Grupos Diagnósticos Relacionados , Humanos , Países Bajos , Sistema de Registros , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
AIM OF THE STUDY: To use the hospital standardised mortality ratio (HSMR), as a tool for Dutch hospitals to analyse their death rates by comparing their risk-adjusted mortality with the national average. METHOD: The method uses routine administrative databases that are available nationally in The Netherlands--the National Medical Registration dataset for the years 2005-2007. Diagnostic groups that led to 80% of hospital deaths were included in the analysis. The method adjusts for a number of case-mix factors per diagnostic group determined through a logistic regression modelling process. RESULTS: In The Netherlands, the case-mix factors are primary diagnosis, age, sex, urgency of admission, length of stay, comorbidity (Charlson Index), social deprivation, source of referral and month of admission. The Dutch HSMR model performs well at predicting a patient's risk of death as measured by a c statistic of the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.91. The ratio of the HSMR of the Dutch hospital with the highest value in 2005-2007 is 2.3 times the HSMR of the hospital with the lowest value. DISCUSSION: Overall hospital HSMRs and mortality at individual diagnostic group level can be monitored using statistical process control charts to give an early warning of possible problems with quality of care. The use of routine data in a standardised and robust model can be of value as a starting point for improvement of Dutch hospital outcomes. HSMRs have been calculated for several other countries.
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Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Indicadores de Calidad de la Atención de Salud/normas , Medición de Riesgo/métodos , Factores de Edad , Comorbilidad , Bases de Datos Factuales , Grupos Diagnósticos Relacionados/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Tiempo de Internación , Modelos Logísticos , Países Bajos , Admisión del Paciente , Curva ROC , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Factores SexualesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Several trials have shown the potential of lifestyle intervention programmes for prevention of type 2 diabetes. The effectiveness of implementation of these programmes into daily practice is now being studied in several countries. The 'Active Prevention in High Risk individuals of Diabetes Type 2 in Eindhoven' (APHRODITE) study investigates whether type 2 diabetes prevention by lifestyle intervention is effective in Dutch primary care. In this article we describe the process of recruiting the study participants. OBJECTIVE: To assess the reach of an active strategy to recruit participants for a programme on type 2 diabetes prevention by lifestyle intervention in Dutch primary care. METHODS: A diabetes risk questionnaire was sent to general practice patients aged 40-70 years. Individuals with a risk score above threshold were invited for an admission interview with the GP and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). All individuals with non-diabetic glucose levels were asked to participate in the intervention study. RESULTS: In total, 8752 (54.6%) of the individuals returned the questionnaire in time. Of all high-risk individuals (n = 1533), 73.1% contacted their practice to schedule a consultation with the GP. Response rates varied significantly among practices. CONCLUSIONS: Using invitational letters, a substantial amount of individuals could be motivated to participate in a programme on type 2 diabetes prevention by lifestyle intervention in Dutch primary care. Further research is needed on what kind of strategy would be most effective and efficient to screen for individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes in primary care.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/prevención & control , Selección de Paciente , Conducta de Reducción del Riesgo , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Tamizaje Masivo , Persona de Mediana Edad , Países Bajos , Atención Primaria de Salud , Desarrollo de Programa , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Evidence-based clinical guidelines aim to improve the quality of care. In The Netherlands, considerable time and effort have been invested in the development and implementation of evidence-based guidelines since the 1990s. Thus far, no reviews are available on their effectiveness. The primary aim of this article was to assess the evidence for the effectiveness of Dutch evidence-based clinical guidelines in improving the quality of care. METHODS: A systematic review of studies evaluating the effects of Dutch evidence-based guidelines on both the process and structure of care and patient outcomes was conducted. The electronic databases Medline and Embase (1990-2007) and relevant scientific journals were searched. Studies were only selected if they included a controlled trial, an interrupted time series design or a before and after design. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies were included. In 17 of 19 studies that measured the effects on the process or structure of care, significant improvements were reported. Thirteen of these studies reported improvement with respect to some of the recommendations studied. In addition, the size of the observed effects varied largely across the recommendations within guidelines. Six of nine studies that measured patient health outcomes showed significant but small improvements as a result of the use of clinical guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates that Dutch evidence-based clinical guidelines can be effective in improving the process and structure of care. The effects of guidelines on patient health outcomes were studied far less and data are less convincing. The high level of variation in effects across recommendations suggests that implementation strategies tailored to individual recommendations within the guideline are needed to establish relevant improvements in healthcare. Moreover, the results highlight the need for well-designed studies focusing on the level of the recommendations to determine which factors influence guideline utilisation and improved patient outcomes.
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Medicina Basada en la Evidencia , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Humanos , Países BajosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In 2003, the Dutch psoriasis guidelines were among the first evidence-based medicine guidelines in dermatology. Although pivotal, the implementation of dermatological guidelines has not been assessed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate various aspects that affect implementation of clinical guidelines such as knowledge, attitudes and practices among dermatologists. METHODS: A cross-sectional anonymous postal survey was conducted among all Dutch dermatologists. In addition to questions about knowledge and practices, 24 items assessed guidelines attitudes. Factor analysis was applied to merge these items into attitudinal scales and multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors for these scales. RESULTS: Of the 353 dermatologists, 161 (46%) completed the questionnaire. Almost all respondents were aware of the guidelines and 60% reported to have a decent knowledge of their content. Factor analysis retained 22 items divided into three scales: usefulness and content, barriers, and reliability. Apart from some disagreement on the user-friendliness and communication facilitating properties, the dermatologists' attitudes were generally positive. A larger volume of patients with psoriasis was associated with more frequent use of the guidelines [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-5.72]. Good familiarity predicted a more positive attitude towards the guidelines' usefulness and content (P < 0.001), perceived barriers (P < 0.001), and more frequent use in practice (adjusted OR = 8.38; 95% CI 3.08-22.81). CONCLUSIONS: Dutch dermatologists seem to know and appreciate their psoriasis guidelines and use them more often when they have a larger psoriasis population. Enhancing the familiarity of the guidelines among users may result in a more positive attitude towards them and a higher frequency of use.
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Actitud del Personal de Salud , Competencia Clínica , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Psoriasis/terapia , Adulto , Anciano , Estudios Transversales , Dermatología/organización & administración , Análisis Factorial , Femenino , Adhesión a Directriz/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Países Bajos , Práctica Profesional/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of specialised medical procedures (SMPs) on the hospital standardized mortality ratio (HSMR) in Dutch cardiac centres. DESIGN: Retrospective, calculation of the HSMR. METHOD: Data from 2004 from the National Medical Registration (LMR) were used to calculate the HSMR in 12 cardiac centres and all other hospitals in the Netherlands. The HSMRwas then recalculated for the 12 cardiac centres excluding either percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or open heart surgery or both to determine the impact of these SMPs on the HSMR. RESULTS: Exclusion of SMPs from the HSMR calculation changed the HSMR for individual cardiac centres, ranging from a 4.7% decrease to a 5.3% increase. Change in HSMR was related to the relative frequency of the two procedures at each cardiac centre. Mortality risk was lower than average for PTCA and higher than average for open heart surgery. PTCA accounted for 5.6%-20.2% of total admissions in the 12 cardiac centres. A relatively high proportion of PTCA procedures was associated with a lower HSMR, to a maximum decrease of nearly 7% in one cardiac centre. Open heart surgery accounted for 2.1%-12.6% of total admissions per cardiac centre. A relatively high proportion ofopen heart procedures was associated with an increased HSMR, to a maximum increase of nearly 8% in one cardiac centre. CONCLUSION: Specialised medical procedures for heart conditions influence the HSMR of cardiac centres. The increase or decrease in HSMR is related to the relative frequency of PTCA and open heart surgery. These results can be used to help interpret the differences in HSMR among cardiac centres and other hospitals.
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Angioplastia Coronaria con Balón/mortalidad , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Cardíacos/mortalidad , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Alta del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Indicadores de Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Encuestas de Atención de la Salud , Humanos , Países Bajos , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Since, at the health system level, there is little research into the possible interrelationships among the various indicators of health, healthcare performance, non-medical determinants of health, and community and health system characteristics, we conducted this study to explore such interrelationships using the Canadian Health Indicators Framework. METHODS: We conducted univariate correlational analyses with health and healthcare performance as outcomes using recent Canadian data and the ten Canadian provinces and three territories as units of the analyses. For health, 6 indicators were included. Sixteen healthcare performance indicators, 12 non-medical determinants of health and 16 indicators of community and health system characteristics were also included as independent variables for the analysis. A set of decision rules was applied to guide the choice of what was considered actual and preferred performance associations. RESULTS: Health (28%) correlates more frequently with non-medical determinants than healthcare does (12%), in the preferred direction. Better health is only correlated with better healthcare performance in 13% of the cases in the preferred direction. Better health (24%) is also more frequently correlated with community and health system characteristics than healthcare is (13%), in the preferred direction. CONCLUSION: Canadian health performance is a function of multiple factors, the most frequent of which may be the non-medical determinants of health and the community characteristics as against healthcare performance. The contribution of healthcare to health may be limited only to relatively small groups which stand to benefit from effective healthcare, but its overall effect may be diluted in summary measures of population health. Interpreting multidimensional, multi-indicator performance data in their proper context may be more complex than hitherto believed.