Change is possible: How increased patient activation is associated with favorable changes in well-being, self-management and health outcomes among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A prospective longitudinal study

Objective. To examine the relationship between risk factors for low patient activation and change in patient activation, well-being, and health outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Method. A longitudinal prospective study was conducted with measurements at baseline and 20-week follow-up among 603 people with T2DM...

Shared decision making from reintegration professionals" perspectives to support return to work: a qualitative study

Background: Work participation is an important determinant of public health; being unemployed leads to a decrease in an individual's health. In the Netherlands, people with a work disability can apply for disability benefits, in which people also receive support to return to work (RTW). A method, currently used in the medical sector, that can...

A Predictive Model-Based Decision Support System for Diabetes Patient Empowerment

The main objective of POWER2DM is to develop and validate a personalized self-management support system (SMSS) for T1 and T2 diabetes patients that combines and integrates i) a decision support system (DSS) based on leading European predictive personalized models for diabetes interlinked with predictive computer models, ii) automated e-coaching...

Empowering Diabetes Patients with Interventions Based on Behaviour Change Techniques

The number of people with diabetes is increasing in every European country and like all chronic diseases it cannot be cured. However, patient empowerment is an acknowledged strategy for improving the patients' health situation. This paper describes the Action Plan Engine developed as a tool for diabetes patients in the POWER2DM project. The...

Evidence-based practice in physiotherapy: Time to involve the patient?

A retrospective study of the success, safety and effectiveness of external cephalic version without tocolysis in a specialised midwifery centre in the Netherlands

Background: to evaluate the effectiveness of external cephalic version (ECV) without tocolysis or epidural analgesia, the complications associated with the procedure and the association between the number of ECV attempts and cephalic presentation at birth and caesarean section. Methods: retrospective cohort study of all (n = 924) ECVs carried...

Walking or vitamin B for cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment? A randomised controlled trial

Objective: To examine the effects of aerobic exercise or vitamin B supplementation on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design: Randomised placebo-controlled trial. Setting: General community. Participants: Community-dwelling adults aged 70-80 with MCI. Interventions : The 152 participants were randomly...

Rates and determinants of repeated participation in a web-based behavior change program for healthy body weight and healthy lifestyle

Background: In recent years, many tailored lifestyle counseling programs have become available through the Internet. Previous research into such programs has shown selective enrollment of relatively healthy people. However, because of the known dose-response relationship between the intensity and frequency of counseling and the behavior change...

Nonresponse bias in a follow-up study of 19-year-old adolescents born as preterm infants

Objective. To assess the effect of demographic and neonatal risk factors and outcome at the last available assessment on the probability of full responders, postal responders (those who only responded to the mailed questionnaire), or nonresponders in a follow-up study of 19-year-old adolescents who were born as preterm infants. Design. The 19...

Implementation of a nation-wide automated auditory brainstem response hearing screening programme in neonatal intensive care units

Aim: As part of a future national neonatal hearing screening programme in the Netherlands, automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) hearing screening was implemented in seven neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The objective was to evaluate key outcomes of this programme: participation rate, first stage success rate, pass/referral rates,...

Self-reported physical disabilities in children in the Netherlands

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of self-reported physical disabilities in school children, through the Child Health Monitoring System. Methods: In 1992/1993, data were obtained in mainstream education (n = 5484), and in 1994/1995 in special education (n = 2622). The data were weighted to calculate estimates representative of the Dutch...

Implications of minimally invasive therapy

The field of minimally invasive therapy (MIT) raises many important issues for the future of health care. It seems inevitable that MIT will replace much conventional surgery. This trend is good for society and good for patients. The health care system, however, may find the change disruptive. The need for hospital beds will shrink. Day surgery...