Factorial validation of the patient assessment of chronic illness care (PACIC) and PACIC short version (PACIC-S) among cardiovascular disease patients in the Netherlands

Objective: The Chronic Care Model (CCM) has achieved widespread acceptance and reflects the core elements of patient-centred care in chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In the Netherlands the extent to which CVD patients receive care congruent with the CCM is unknown. The main objectives of this study were to validate the 20-item Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) and the 11-item (PACIC-S) in the Netherlands among

High-quality chronic care delivery improves experiences of chronically ill patients receiving care

__Abstract__ Objective. Investigate whether high-quality chronic care delivery improved the experiences of patients. Design. This study had a longitudinal design. Setting and Participants. We surveyed professionals and patients in 17 disease management programs targeting patients with cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, stroke, comorbidity and eatin

Structural and magneto-transport characterization of Co_2Cr_xFe_(1-x)Al Heusler alloy films

We investigate the structure and magneto-transport properties of thin films of the Co_2Cr_xFe_(1-x)Al full-Heusler compound, which is predicted to be a half-metal by first-principles theoretical calculations. Thin films are deposited by magnetron sputtering at room temperature on various substrates in order to tune the growth from polycrystalline on thermally oxidized Si substrates to highly textured and even epitaxial on MgO(001) substrates, respectively. Our Heusler films are magnetically very soft and ferromagnetic with Curie temperatures up to 630 K. The total magnetic moment is reduced compared to the theoretical bulk value, but still comparable to values reported for films grown at elevated temperature. Polycrystalline Heusler films combined with MgO barriers are incorporated into magnetic tunnel junctions and yield 37% magnetoresistance at room temperature

Differences in the association of subjective wellbeing measures with health, socioeconomic status, and social conditions among residents of an Eastern Cape township

The use of variably self-reported measures of wellbeing may produce differing outcomes. This study examined the differences in association with health, socioeconomic status, and social conditions (marital status, social capital) of two widely used cognitive subjective wellbeing measurements: Cantril’s ladder and Diener’s five-item Satisfaction with Life Scale. Methods: A stratified sampling design was used to collect data from representative households in the 20 neighborhoods of Rhini, a deprived suburb of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Correlation and stepwise multiple regression analyses investigated differences in the associations between wellbeing and health, demographics, socioeconomic status, and social conditions determined by the three measurements. Results: We found that the multiple-item satisfaction with life scale elicited more discriminating responses that took into account a broader range of life domains. This scale reported more significant relationships between subje

Access to livelihood assets among youth with and without disabilities in South Africa: Implications for health professional education

Purpose. This study compared access to 5 livelihood assets among disabled and non-disabled youth, to inform health professionals on inequities related to disability and to monitor the transformation agenda aimed at creating an inclusive society. Methods. Fieldworkers interviewed 989 youth (18 - 35 years; 523 (52.9%) disabled youth (DY), 466 (47.1%) non-disabled youth (NDY)) at 9 sites in 5 South African provinces. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic characteristics and livelihood assets. Chi-squared and t-tests were used for comparisons. Results. Doctors at hospitals and nurses at clinics are health professionals most frequently seen. Far fewer DY than NDY attended and completed school. Unemployment was markedly more common among DY than among NDY. Barriers to accessing employment for DY were poor health and lack of skills development, and a lack of job opportunities for NDY. Both groups received the same amount of support from immediate household members, but significantly more NDY received support from extended family, friends, partners, and neighbours. They spent significantly more time engaging in all free-time activities. NDY reported more access to bathrooms, phone, and newspapers, as well as public services and the business sector. Participation and access were limited for both groups because of inaccessible public transport. Conclusion. This paper shows that DY have a greater struggle to access livelihood assets than non-disabled peers. The Disability Studies Academic Programme at the University of Cape Town is an initiative that seeks to take specific focused action with disability organisations in order to address the inequities faced by disabled youth to ensure their inclusion in development to the same degree as their non-disabled peers

De wijkverpleegkundige als Zichtbare schakel in de wijk in Rotterdam

__Abstract__ Doel van de evaluatiestudie van Zichtbare Schakels Rotterdam was om i) inzicht te krijgen in de kosten en baten van de inzet van Zichtbare Schakels voor cliënten, ii) na te gaan in hoeverre cliënten, Zichtbare Schakels en andere professionals tevreden zijn over de zorg en ondersteuning door de Zichtbare Schakel, en iii) beschrijven in hoeverre de samenwerking met de Zichtbare Schakels volgens andere professionals bijdraagt aan de zorgverlening. Interessante bevinding uit de kosteneffectiviteit analyses is dat er een verschuiving in kosten lijkt plaats te vinden tussen de 3 e

Chronically ill patients' self-management abilities to maintain overall well-being: What is needed to take the next step in the primary care setting?

Background: Although widespread problems in patient-professional interaction and insufficient sup

How do older people achieve well-being? Validation of the Social Production Function Instrument for the level of well-being–short (SPF-ILs)

In a time of aging populations and an enormous increase in frailty within them, examination of these populations’ ability to achieve well-being has become increasingly important. This study aims to validate a theory-driven instrument for the measurement of well-being in three community-dwelling older populations: (i) a general population, (ii) a frail population, and (iii) Turkish migrants. The short (15-item) version of the Social Production Function Instrument for the Level of Well-being (SPF-ILs) measures whether a person's needs for stimulation, comfort, behavioral confirmation, affection, a

The importance of productive patient–professional interaction for the well-being of chronically ill patients

__Abstract__ Objective To investigate patient–professional interactions and identify the association between quality of care, productivity of patient–professional interaction, and chronically ill patients’ well-being. Methods Questionnaires were distributed to chronically ill patients [T1 (2011), 2,191/4,693 (47 %) respondents; T2 (2012), 1,722/4,350 (40 %) respondents]. Results Patients perceived a higher degree of productive interaction with general practitioners compared to other professionals. Bivariate analyses showed that patients’ well-being at T2 was positively related to well-being at T1 (r = 0.70), quality of care (r = 0.12), and prod

Is "disease management" the answer to our problems? No! Population health management and (disease) prevention require "management of overall well-being"

Background: Disease management programs based on the chronic care model have achieved successful and long-term improvement in the quality of chronic care delivery and patients' health behaviors and physical quality of life. However, such programs have not been able to maintain or improve broader self-management abilities or social well-being, which decline over time in chronically ill patients. Di