Interactive Education on Sleep Hygiene with a Social Robot at a Pediatric Oncology Outpatient Clinic: Feasibility, Experiences, and Preliminary Effectiveness

Objectives: Children with cancer often experience sleep problems, which are associated with many negative physical and psychological health outcomes, as well as with a lower quality of life. Therefore, interventions are strongly required to improve sleep in this population. We evaluated interactive education with respect to sleep hygiene with a...

Task analysis of information technology-mediated medication management in outpatient care

Aims Educating physicians in the procedural as well as cognitive skills of information technology (IT)-mediated medication management could be one of the missing links for the improvement of patient safety. We aimed to compose a framework of tasks that need to be addressed to optimize medication management in outpatient care. Methods Formal task...

Comparing high altitude treatment with current best care in Dutch children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (and asthma): Study protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (DAVOS trial)

Background: About 10 to 20% of children in West European countries have atopic dermatitis (AD), often as part of the atopic syndrome. The full atopic syndrome also consists of allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and food allergy. Treatment approaches for atopic dermatitis and asthma include intermittent anti-inflammatory therapy with...

Distinguishing symptom dimensions of depression and anxiety: An integrative approach

Background: Clark and Watson developed the tripartite model in which a symptom dimension of 'negative affect' covers common psychological distress that is typically seen in anxious and depressed patients. The 'positive affect' and 'somatic arousal' dimensions cover more specific symptoms. Although the model has met much support, it does not...

Can workers with chronic back pain shift from pain elimination to function restore at work? Qualitative evaluation of an innovative work related multidisciplinary programme

Introduction: Workers with chronic low back pain (LBP) mean a heavy human and social-economic burden. Their medical histories often include different treatments without attention to work-relatedness or communication with occupational health providers, leaving them passive and medicalized in (outpatient) health care. So we developed and...

Patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders. Relationship between clinical and psychological factors and functional health status

Schmitt MA, van Meeteren NL, de Wijer A, van Genderen FR, van der Graaf Y, Helders PJ: Patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders: Relationship between clinical and psychological factors and functional health status. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2009;88:231-238. Objectives: To examine the relative contribution of cervical impairments and...

The diagnostic work up of growth failure in secondary health care ; An evaluation of consensus guidelines

Background: As abnormal growth might be the first manifestation of undetected diseases, it is important to have accurate referral criteria and a proper diagnostic work-up. In the present paper we evaluate the diagnostic work-up in secondary health care according to existing consensus guidelines and study the frequency of underlying medical...

Level of agreement between patient self-report and observer ratings of health-related quality of life communication in oncology

Objective: To determine the level of agreement between patients and observers regarding the frequency with which health-related quality of life topics are discussed during outpatient clinical oncology visits. Methods: The sample (n = 50) consisted of a consecutive series of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Both the patients and observers...

Health related quality of life problems of children aged 8-11 years with a chronic disease

In paediatric research, Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HRQoL) has received increasing recognition as an important health outcome. This study aimed to investigate the nature and prevalence of HRQoL problems in children with different chronic diseases. Data were available on 318 children aged 8-11 years with different diseases: congenital heart...

Employment and disability for work in patients with COPD: A cross-sectional study among Dutch patients

Objectives: The aim was to gain insight into work experiences and problems of subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to develop more effective guidelines for preventing work disability and work loss. Methods: A total of 617 patients aged 45-60, recruited from pulmonary outpatient clinics and general practices, completed a...

Prognostic factors for duration of sick leave due to low back pain in Dutch health care professionals

Information on prognostic factors for duration of sick leave due to low-back pain (LBP) is growing. In this prospective cohort study, prognostic factors for duration of sick leave and course of disability were identified at a very early stage of sick leave due to LBP. A total of 615 workers calling in sick from work due to LBP at an occupational...

Het instellen op insuline van patiënten met diabetes mellitus type 2: In een transmurale organisatievorm minstens even effectief als poliklinisch; een retrospectief onderzoek met 4 jaar follow-up [Initiating insulin therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2: In a transmural form of care at least as effective as an outpatients form; a retrospective study with a 4-year follow-up]

Objective. Assessing whether the initiation of insulin therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 can be delivered as effectively in a structured transmural care model as in the more usual outpatients structure. Design. Retrospective comparative cohort study. Method. In 1997 data were collected from 52 patients with diabetes mellitus type...

Disagreement between bedside and laboratory activated partial thromboplastin time and international normalized ratio for various novel anticoagulants

During studies on warfarin, heparin and various anticoagulants with novel mechanisms of action, the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and the (apparent) international normalized ratio (INR) from a bedside monitor (Coagucheck Plus®) were compared with laboratory assay results. Data were compared using the Bland and Altman method of...

Knowledge of high-school students and adult OPD attenders of family planning methods and sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV) in rural Zimbabwe

Labour force participation among patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives - To assess work history and labour force participation among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (IRA) in the Netherlands, Method - A random sample of 1056 patients with RA aged 16-59 years from 17 rheumatology practices in the Netherlands was examined. Data on disease status and outcome were obtained by a questionnaire including...

National database of patients visiting rheumatologists in the Netherlands: The standard diagnosis register of rheumatic diseases. A report and preliminary analysis