Saxon Epidemiological Study in General Practice-6 (SESAM-6): protocol of a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: General practitioners (GPs) are mostly the first point of contact for patients with health problems in Germany. There is only a limited epidemiological overview data that describe the GP consultation hours based on other than billing data. Therefore, the aim of Saxon Epidemiological Study in General Practice-6 (SESAM-6) is to examine the frequency of reasons for encounter, prevalence of long-term diagnosed diseases and diagnostic and therapeutic decisions in general practice. This knowledge is fundamental to identify the healthcare needs and to develop strategies to improve the GP care. The results of the study will be incorporated into the undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education for GP. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This cross-sectional study SESAM-6 is conducted in general practices in the state of Saxony, Germany. The study design is based on previous SESAM studies. Participating physicians are assigned to 1 week per quarter (over a survey period of 12 months) in which every fifth doctor-patient contact is recorded for one-half of the day (morning or afternoon). To facilitate valid statements, a minimum of 50 GP is required to document a total of at least 2500 doctor-patient contacts. Univariable, multivariable and subgroup analyses as well as comparisons to the previous SESAM data sets will be conducted. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Technical University of Dresden in March 2023 (SR-EK-7502023). Participation in the study is voluntary and will not be remunerated. The study results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, preferably with open access. They will also be disseminated at scientific and public symposia, congresses and conferences. A final report will be published to summarise the central results and provided to all study participants and the public.

Screen time and sleep among medical students in Germany.

Medical students are a vulnerable group for harmful health behaviours due to academic stress. Increased screen time is associated with adverse health behaviour, particularly delayed bedtime, shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep quality. This possible relationship has not yet been examined among medical students in Europe. Medical students at the Technical University of Dresden were invited to participate in an online questionnaire based cross-sectional study. To analyse correlations between screen time and sleep parameters, correlation coefficients, linear regression and mixed-model analysis were calculated. 415 students (average age 24 years, 70% female) were included in the analysis. The students reported an average of 7 h screen time per day and 7.25 h sleep duration per night. Approximately 23% (n = 97) reported sleeping less than 7 h per night and 25% (n = 105) reported fairly to very poor sleep quality. Students who reported more screen time for leisure went to bed significantly later (r = 0.213, p < 0.001). Students who spent more screen time for study/work tended to sleep shorter (r = - 0.108, p < 0.015). There was no significant association between screen time and sleep quality (p = 0.103). The results show a need for educational interventions to promote healthy sleep behaviour and to limit screen time.

[SaxoForN-a transregional primary care research network in Dresden and Frankfurt am Main : Design of a practice-based research infrastructure]. / SaxoForN ­ Transregionales allgemeinmedizinisches Forschungspraxennetz Dresden und Frankfurt am Main : Konzept einer innovativen Forschungspraxeninfrastruktur.

Establishing primary care research networks (PCRNs) makes it easier to conduct clinical trials and health services research in a general-practice setting. Since February 2020, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has sponsored the development of six PCRNs and a coordination unit throughout Germany, with the aim of setting up a sustainable outpatient research infrastructure to raise the quantity and quality of primary care.The present article describes the design of a PCRN in Dresden and Frankfurt am Main - SaxoForN - and explains its structure and how it operates. The network is a transregional alliance between the two regional PCRNs named "SaxoN" (Dresden/Saxony) and "ForN" (Frankfurt am Main/Hesse), both of which run transregional and local research projects. For this purpose, joint standards and harmonized structures, for example with respect to the data infrastructure, qualifications, participation, and accreditation, were agreed upon and implemented at both sites.A critical success factor will be whether and to what extent the standards and structures, as well as resource planning, can be designed sustainably enough to permit the PCRNs to carry out high-quality research over the long term. To achieve this, the PCRNs will have to attract new practices and build up lasting relationships with them, qualify the research practices in order to standardize processes as far as possible, and regularly document their basic information and healthcare data.

Encouragement of patients' self-management in primary care for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (DECADE): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in Germany and among the most frequent reasons for encounters in primary care. Most patients with cardiovascular risks (CVRs) have difficulties implementing health-promoting behavioural changes. In this study, a complex intervention containing evidence-based patient materials and structured follow-up consultations are intended to strengthen patients' self-management to improve health behaviour. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In this cluster randomised controlled trial, we investigate the effects of the intervention "Decision aid, action planning and follow-up support for patients to reduce the 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases" (DECADE) using a 2×2 design. All patients, including the control group (CG), receive a CVR calculation. Three intervention groups (IGs) receive one or both of two different components of the DECADE intervention: IG1 (patient materials), IG2 (follow-up consultations) and IG3 (patient materials and follow-up consultations). The study was planned to be conducted with 77 general practitioners in 3 German regions and a target sample size of 924 patients. The observation period for each patient amounts to 12 months with three patient surveys: baseline (t0), after 6 and 12 months (t1 and t2). The primary outcome is patient activation (Patient Activation Measure 13 (PAM13-D)) at t1. Secondary outcomes include PAM13-D at t2 and further patient-reported and clinical outcomes at t1 and t2. We will also analyse the cost-effectiveness of the intervention, the degree of usage and satisfaction with the intervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was first approved by the lead ethics committee of the University of Freiburg on 15 April 2021 (vote number: 21-1078) and subsequently by the other ethics committees in the study regions (Ethics committee of medical association Baden-Württemberg (B-F-2021-078), Ethics Committee of the Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden (BO-EK-251052021), Ethics Committee of the State Chamber of Physicians of Saxony (EK-BR-92/21-1), Ethics Committee of the Hamburg Medical Association (2021-200013-BO-bet)). Informed consent is required for patients to participate in the study. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at congresses by the DECADE team. The DECADE lead management will communicate the results to the funder of this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00025401 (registration date: 21 June 2021); International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, DRKS00025401.

Needs- and user-oriented development of contactless camera-based telemonitoring in heart disease-Results of an acceptance survey from the Home-based Healthcare Project (feasibility project).

Home-based telemonitoring in heart failure patients can reduce all-cause mortality and the relative risk of heart failure-related hospitalization compared to standard care. However, technology use depends, among other things, on user acceptance, making it important to include potential users early in development. In a home-based healthcare project (a feasibility project) a participatory approach was chosen in preparation for future development of contactless camera-based telemonitoring in heart disease patients. The project study patients (n = 18) were surveyed regarding acceptance and design expectations, and acceptance-enhancing measures and design suggestions were then drawn from the results. The study patients corresponded to the target group of potential future users. 83% of respondents showed high acceptance. 17% of those surveyed were more skeptical with moderate or low acceptance. The latter were female, mostly living alone, and without technical expertise. Low acceptance was associated with a higher expectation of effort and lower perception of self-efficacy and lower integratability into daily rhythms. For the design, the respondents found independent operation of the technology very important. Furthermore, concerns were expressed about the new measuring technology, e.g., anxiety about constant surveillance. The acceptance of a new generation of medical technology (contactless camera-based measuring technology) for telemonitoring is already quite high in the surveyed group of older users (60+). Specific user expectations concerning design should be considered during development to increase acceptance by potential users even more.

[Examining in General Practice: Licensure Examinations in a General Practice Setting]. / Prüfen in der Allgemeinmedizin ­ Staatsexamina im ambulanten hausärztlichen Setting.

General practitioners play a major role in the health care of the population. Only a small proportion of patients receives care from specialised consultants, in a hospital or in a university hospital. Most of the patients consult a general practitioner. The strengthening of general practice that is called for in the Master Plan for Medical Studies 2020 in new state examination formats, for instance, means that this central position in patient care will be reflected in studies and examinations in the future. The general medical setting is subject to a specific background with unselected patients and a hermeneutic understanding of cases. The format of the new final examination promotes general medical and interdisciplinary competencies in medical interviewing, physical examination, dealing with diseases that can be treated on an outpatient basis, prevention, and the application of general medical guidelines of ethics and law. The standardised oral-practical examination has newly been designed by the Institute for Medical and Pharmaceutical Examination Questions (IMPP). It includes real patients in an outpatient setting. In eight steps, it integrates communicative and technical examination aspects. Two trained examiners will observe and assess the performance of graduates using standardised evaluation forms. The new examination format was developed in 2019 by the IMPP and faculty from various medical schools, was tested in five general medical teaching practices, revised, and then piloted in fourteen examinations. Standardised specifications for the examination process, spatial equipment, and examiner training were developed by IMPP. With approximately 10,000 examinees per year and two students per examination day, a total of 5,000 examination days will be required in general practices. The expertise of the German College of General Practicioners and Family Physicians (DEGAM), the Society of University Teachers of General Medicine (GHA), and the university locations, together with the great potential as the largest specialist group in Germany suggest that the goal of recruiting and motivation of practices appears achievable. With regard to funding, political decisions are necessary. In an increasingly complex care system, the redesign of the oral-practical examination in the outpatient setting contributes to strengthening interdisciplinary and multi-professional cooperation.

How stressful was the COVID-19 pandemic for residents specializing in family practice?. A study of stressors and psychological well-being of physicians in further training specializing in family practice (GP trainees) within a pandemic context.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus pandemic poses many challenges for medical personnel. During the first phase of the pandemic, psychological stress became increasingly apparent. This was a complex and difficult situation, especially for physician residents specializing in family practice (GP trainees), who were not yet able to draw on years of practical experience. In this context, the Kompetenzzentrum Weiterbildung Allgemeinmedizin Sachsen (Competence Center for Continuing Education in General Medicine Saxony) (KWASa) developed a survey on how to deal with the concerns and challenges perceived at the time. The purpose of the study was to obtain information on psychological well-being in the pandemic context, as well as on expectations, fears, and protective measures in everyday work. The aim was to identify stress factors for general practice (GP) trainees during a pandemic situation to be able to consider the support needs in the design of future residency training programs, especially for GP trainees. METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed from May 5, 2020 to June 4, 2020 among GP trainees enrolled in KWASa since 2018. The questionnaire consisted of standardized items, which were evaluated descriptively, and open-ended items with free-text answers, which were evaluated according to the principle of qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The results show the relevance of the topic as 61% of respondents indicated that they were concerned about the coronavirus. Most GP trainees also gave an affirmative response regarding emotional challenges. In this context, various stressors could be identified within both the professional and personal environments. There were four particularly salient factors: (1) the fear of infecting one's family as well as patients with the SARS-CoV-2 virus; (2) missing or insufficiently existing protective measures; (3) an increased need for consultation due to unpredictable patient behavior as well as uncertainties in patient treatment; and (4) communication difficulties within the collegial environment. CONCLUSIONS: The study aimed to identify the support needs of GP trainees in crisis situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the survey can be used for the development of suitable continuing education programs for physicians in further training.

[Regional Influences on Home Visits - Is Care in Rural Areas Secured in the Long Term?] / Regionale Einflüsse auf die Hausbesuchstätigkeit ­ Ist die ländliche Versorgung auf Dauer gesichert?

BACKGROUND: Demographic change and urbanisation are proceeding at a rapid pace in Germany. Although the need for care is increasing due to a growing older and multimorbid generation, the number of home visits by general practitioners has been declining since years. Previous studies have shown that the workload for general practitioners is increasing, especially in rural areas. Research question What kind of structural practice characteristics are associated with the frequency of GP home visits? What influence do regional characteristics of GP practices have? METHODS: In a study of family doctors̓ practices in Saxony, 4286 home visits were documented by questionnaires from 303 participating practices over a period of one year. Each practice surveyed the home visits within a randomly assigned week. In addition to the characteristics of the home visits, information about the practice, such as regional location, home visit organization and patient numbers was also collected. The frequency of home visits was based on information provided by the doctors surveyed. Subsequently, the data based on the postal code were supplemented with structural information from the State Statistical Office and data from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Vereinigung-KV). The data were first analysed regarding bivariate associations. Significantly associated variables were finally tested in a multivariate regression model. RESULTS: According to their own statements, the interviewed general practitioners carried out an average of 14.5 (SD 9.5) home visits per week, which included the care of 32.0 (SD 30.0) nursing home patients. The number of home visits correlated significantly negatively with the number of inhabitants and significantly positively with the average age of the region. In the multivariate analysis, the age of the doctor was found to be the largest predictor of the number of home visits per week, with younger doctors making significantly fewer home visits. CONCLUSION: The number of home visits per week continues to decline compared to preliminary studies. In the regression model, the great influence of the doctor̓s age on the number of home visits is striking. While regional-structural characteristics fade into the background, a changed attitude towards home visits must be assumed, with telemedicine and delegation coming to the fore.

Adherence and acceptance of a home-based telemonitoring application used by multi-morbid patients aged 65 years and older.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, there are only a small number of comprehensive study results on adherence and acceptance of telemonitoring applications (TMAs) regarding multi-morbid older patients. The ATMoSPHAERE study aimed to develop an information and communication platform for an intersectoral networking of, for example, general practitioners, therapists, social services and the multi-morbid older patient. METHODS: The study presented was designed as a longitudinal bicentric intervention study which focused on multi-morbid patients aged ≥65 years using home-based telemedical measurement and input devices. The development and testing of this TMA aimed to optimise patients' health care through intersectoral networking of all treating actors. Quantitative methods of data collection and analysis were used. RESULTS: Patients who completed the study were significantly younger than drop-outs and non-participants. The mental health of study patients significantly improved between the beginning and end of TMA use. The main reason for non-participation in the study was the high time expenditure when participating in the study. No perceived (information) benefits for health and insufficient content variety were the main reasons for drop-out. Appropriateness and handling of TMAs must be aligned with the needs of the heterogeneous user group of multi-morbid patients in order to increase acceptance and the added value of TMAs. Telemonitoring hardware should be oriented on functional capabilities of the older target group. Telemonitoring software content requires an individual, disease-specific approach for patients. The TMA should be unobtrusively integrated into usual daily life and be used to an appropriate extent according to the underlying disease in order to avoid stressing patients. With regard to adherence concerning TMAs, it is crucial to provide a contact person who is always available for patients having problems handling TMAs. Health concerns and questions can thus be addressed early, providing a feeling of safety in the care process. DISCUSSION: User acceptance of TMAs is an essential indicator and driver for use and for future implementation efforts in health care. In order to achieve maximum user centricity in development processes, patients must be involved as experts, co-designers and future users, considering their needs and perceptions.

[Quality of care in family practice and quality of life from the point of view of older patients with gon- and coxosteoarthritis - results from the MobilE-TRA cohort study]. / Hausärztliche Versorgungsqualität und Lebensqualität aus Sicht älterer Patienten mit Gon- und Coxarthrose : Ergebnisse aus der Kohortenstudie MobilE-TRA.

BACKGROUND: A central role in the care of patients with osteoarthritis has the family practice. The aim of this analysis is to assess the association between the quality of family practice care from the osteoarthritis patients' perspectives and their health-related quality of life, disease-specific symptoms, and physical function. METHOD: 111 patients suffering from cox- and/or gonosteoarthritis at the age of 65 or older had been recruited from family practices in Saxony and Bavaria. The participants received a paper-based questionnaire that assessed their sociodemographic data, the patients' level of depression (PHQ-9), physical activity, health-related quality of life (EQ-5D with EQ-VAS), as well as the quality of care in family practice from the patients' perspectives (PACIC short form). Furthermore, disease-specific symptoms (pain, stiffness) and physical function of patients with osteoarthritis were investigated (WOMAC). The analysis was performed with multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: A greater extent of depression was associated with stronger pain (beta=0,378; 95% CI [0,180; 0,576]), more stiffness of the joints (beta=0,223; 95% CI [0,135; 0,310]), and worse physical function (beta=1,628; 95% CI [0,908; 2,348]). The analysis also showed that older (beta=-0,901; 95% CI [-1,705; -0,097]), more depressive (beta=-1,654; 95% CI [-2,820; -0,488]) osteoarthritis patients were associated with a lower health-related quality of life. A statistically significant association between the quality of family practice care from the patients' perspectives and their health-related quality of life, disease-specific symptoms, and physical function could not be detected. CONCLUSIONS: Previous literature provides evidence for an association between the quality of care of patients with a chronic illness and their quality of life or other health outcomes. The results of this research work did not align with these findings. Since depression was associated with decreased health-related quality of life and more severe complaints of patients suffering from osteoarthritis, potential depressive comorbidity should not be disregarded in the health care of this patient group and should be treated if necessary.

Need-based care of multi-morbid patients - supporting general practitioners with algorithm-generated recommendations of healthcare services (telemedicine-project ATMoSPHÄRE).

BACKGROUND: The patient-oriented and need-based care of multi-morbid patients with healthcare services and assistive products can be a highly complex task for the general practitioners (GPs). An algorithm-based digital recommendation system (DRS) for healthcare services was developed within the context of the telemedicine research project ATMoSPHÄRE. The plausibility of the DRS was tested and the results used to examine if, and to what degree, the DRS provides useful assistance to GPs. METHODS: The plausibility of the recommendations of the DRS were tested with the Delphi procedure (n = 8) and Interviews (n = 4) in collaboration with the GPs. They proposed services and assistive products they considered appropriate for two multi-morbid patients. Furthermore, GPs had to report whether, and to what degree they deemed the algorithm-generated recommendations appropriate. Significant quantitative differences between the GPs', and the algorithm-generated, recommendations were evaluated with paired-samples-Wilcoxon-test. RESULTS: The first Delphi round revealed a high variability regarding the amount and character of services recommended by the physicians (1 to 10 recommendations, mean = 5.6, sd = 2.8). These professional recommendations converged after consideration of the algorithm-generated recommendations. The number of algorithm-generated recommendations which were judged as appropriate ranged between 7 and 17 of a total of 20 (mean = 11.9, sd = 2.5). The interviews revealed that the additional algorithm-generated recommendations which were judged appropriate contained mainly social care services. CONLUSION: The DRS provides GPs with additional appropriate recommendations for the need-based care of patients, which may not have been previously considered. It can therefore be assessed as a helpful complement in the primary care of multi-morbid patients.

Health-related quality of life in elderly, multimorbid individuals with and without depression and/or mild cognitive impairment using a telemonitoring application.

PURPOSE: Multimorbidity leads to decreasing health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Telemedicine may help to improve HRQoL. The present study was conducted to show (I) differences in HRQoL and changes in HRQoL over time in elderly, multimorbid individuals with and without depression and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using a telemonitoring application (TMA) and (II) associations between engagement with measurements by study participants using a TMA and changes in their HRQoL. METHODS: The present feasibility study was part of a longitudinal intervention study. Recruited general practitioners (GPs) enrolled individuals and assigned them to risk groups according to absence/presence of depression and/or MCI. Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), MCI using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and HRQoL using the SF-12. The TMA consisted of tablets, software, and measuring devices. Measured vital data were transferred to a care and case manager for monitoring and possible intervention. RESULTS: Nine GPs recruited 177 individuals, 97 of whom were included in the HRQoL analysis. Significantly lower physical and mental component summary (PCS/MCS) scores were revealed in study participants with depression, and with both depression and MCI, compared to participants with no mental disorders. PCS scores did not differ between study dates, but MCS scores had significantly increased over time. Participants' engagement with measurements was significantly associated with an increased MCS score, but not with the PCS score. DISCUSSION: Depression and/or MCI are negatively associated with the HRQoL of elderly, multimorbid people using a TMA. Engagement of individuals with vital data measurements via a TMA may increase their mental HRQoL. Mentally impaired people should be closely involved as co-designers and experts in development processes of TMAs to benefit from tailored solutions. An individual's increased mental HRQoL can be a decisive factor in their engagement with a GP treatment regimen and telemonitoring processes.

[Quality of primary care and quality of life from the point of view of older patients with dizziness. Results oft the cohort study MobilE-TRA]. / Hausärztliche Versorgungsqualität und Lebensqualität aus der Sicht älterer Patienten mit Schwindel : Ergebnisse der Kohortenstudie MobilE-TRA.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of elderly patients with dizziness/vertigo/balance disorders (VDB) can be challenging for their general practitioner. Patient-centered care with a focus on self-management support could be a possible approach. Primary objective of this study was to investigate the correlations between quality of primary care and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) from the patient's perspective. METHOD: Data had been collected in the area of Munich and in the area of Dresden between 2017 and 2019. Questionnaires of n = 157 elderly patients from primary care practices in Munich and Dresden were evaluated. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse quality of care, physical activity, depression, and their correlations with HRQOL. RESULTS: In this cohort of patients aged 65 to 94 no significant correlation between quality of care and HRQOL could be detected. Depression correlated negatively with HRQOL, whereas physical activity showed a positive correlation with HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity can be beneficial for elderly dizzy patients' HRQOL. Additionally, a potential depression should be taken into account when treating patients with dizziness to improve their HRQOL. The results can be well transferred to elderly patients with VDB. Analysing more patients however, could increase the significance of the results.

[Assessment of care in patients with dementia in house calls by general practitioners]. / Beurteilung der Betreuung dementer Patienten im allgemeinärztlichen Hausbesuch.

BACKGROUND: Patients with dementia (PD) are a special challenge for the healthcare system. They are responsible for 5% of the expenditure in the German healthcare service. The disease-related deficits and the associated need for care leads to the fact that patients are not able to live in their own residence and rely on the care of nursing homes (NH). OBJECTIVE: How is the overall care in PD assessed in house calls (HC)? Does the regional situation influence the living conditions of PD? MATERIAL AND METHODS: As part of the SESAM­5 study 303 participating general practices in Saxony were asked to document their HC within a period of 1 year whereby 4286 HC were documented through questionnaires and analyzed for content and structural data. RESULTS: The prevalence of dementia in HC patients was 27.5% and 72.6% of PD lived in a NH or assisted living home. The medical staff assessed the overall care of PD in the NH to be significantly better than in their own residence. This discrepancy was greater in rural compared to urban regions although in urban regions significantly more patients live in NHs (27% vs. 51%). CONCLUSIONS: The overall care of PD in HC was assessed predominantly as good by medical personnel, whereby PD in NH were assessed comparatively better than those in their own residence. This could be explained by the high need of care in PD. The difference between rural and urban regions is explainable through differences in the infrastructure and also in the organization in rural areas, where relatives participate in care significantly more frequently. In the future more focus could be placed on alternative types of housing because in PD cognitive deficits are in the foreground.

[Delegation of Home Visits and Qualification of Health Care Assistants in Family Practices in Saxony, Germany - Results of the Cross-Sectional Study SESAM-5]. / Delegation von Hausbesuchen und Qualifikation nicht-ärztlicher Mitarbeiter in sächsischen Hausarztpraxen ­ Ergebnisse der Querschnittstudie SESAM-5.

BACKGROUND: In the context of demographic changes and the shortage of family physicians in the primary care sector in Germany, the delegability of home visits to health care assistants is discussed. There is little information on the extent of home visits delegated. The aim of this article is to examine differences in the socio-demographic and organizational profile of delegating vs. non-delegating family doctors in Saxony and to describe the level of qualification of health care assistants. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study is part of a series of epidemiological studies in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. All family doctors in Saxony were contacted in 2014 (n=2677), of whom 11,2% participated. In a period of 12 months, family practices documented home visits within a randomly assigned week. Socio-demographic characteristics of the family practice and the level of qualification of health care assistants were surveyed. RESULTS: A total of 274 family practices participated; 52,9% of all participating family doctors declared their willingness to delegate home visits, but only 8,5% of home visits were made by health care assistants. There were non-significant trends between the willingness to delegate and self-employment vs. being employed (92,4 vs. 84,6%, p=0,06), establishment in a single vs. shared practice (35,2 vs. 31,4%, p=0,09) and higher patient numbers per 3 months (x̄+= 1183,08 vs. 1092,16, p=0,07). The 224 health care assistants that participated in the study were mostly trained in nursing (39,7%) or as medical assistants (50,8%). The vast majority of the health care assistants (82,5%) had no further training or additional qualification; 19,6% completed further training that qualified them to have home visits formally delegated to them. CONCLUSION: Among family doctors in Saxony there is a reported high willingness to delegate, which is not implemented sufficiently in practice. Delegation is based on personal confidence in health care assistants without formal qualification. Qualified delegation ensures high standards in patient care and this potential is not used in Saxony, particularly in rural areas with imminent shortages of medical care. More education about the opportunities of qualified delegation seems necessary.

Which Cost Components Influence the Cost of Palliative Care in the Last Hospitalization? A Retrospective Analysis of Palliative Care Versus Usual Care at a Swiss University Hospital.

CONTEXT: Although the number of studies on the economic impact of palliative care (PC) is growing, the great majority report costs from North America. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of PC hospital cost components from the perspective of a European mixed funded health care system by identifying cost drivers of PC and quantifying their effect on hospital costs compared to usual care (UC). METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational analysis examining cost data from the last hospitalization of patients who died at a large academic hospital in Switzerland comparing patients receiving PC vs. UC. RESULTS: Total hospital costs were similar in PC and UC with a mean difference of CHF -2777 [95% CI -12,713 to 8506, P = 0.60]. Average costs per day decreased by CHF -3224 [95% CI -3811 to -2631, P < 0.001] for PC patients with significant reduction of costs for diagnostic intervention and medication. Higher cost components for PC patients were catering, room, nursing, social counseling, and nonmedical therapists. In sensitivity analyses, when we restricted PC exposure to three days from admission, total costs and average costs per day were significantly lower for PC. CONCLUSION: Studies measuring the impact of PC on hospital costs should analyze various cost components beyond total costs to understand wanted and potentially unwanted cost-reducing effects. An international definition of a set of cost components, specific for cost-impact PC studies, may help avoid superficial and potentially dangerous cost discussions.

[Reasons for non-acceptance and non-use of a home telemonitoring application by multimorbid patients aged 65 years and over]. / Motive für die Nichtakzeptanz und Nichtnutzung einer Telemonitoring-Anwendung im häuslichen Umfeld durch multimorbide Patienten über 65 Jahre.

BACKGROUND: User acceptance is a key indicator and driver for the use and implementation of telemonitoring applications (TMA) in healthcare. Despite various positive effects that previous studies have revealed for users of TMA, there are always patients who discontinue their participation in a telemedicine study or even decline participation. There is little evidence for the reasons for non-acceptance and non-use of TMA, especially in multimorbid patients at the age of 65 and over in their home environment. To close this research gap, this sub-study focuses on patient-reported reasons for non-acceptance and non-use of TMA in the home environment. METHODS: This study follows a mixed-method approach and focuses on patients' perspective. Quantitative data collection took place via computer-assisted telephone interviews among all drop-outs and non-participants. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews with drop-out patients and non-users. Eligible patients were recruited consecutively by general practitioners, informed and included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. Amongst others, patients measured their vital signs (blood pressure, heart frequency, oxygen saturation, weight) via telemedical measures and sent them via tablet to a Care Coordination Center to ascertain the need for intervention. Collected data on non-acceptance and non-use of TMA were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULTS: Nine general practices in two German cities included a total of 177 patients according to the inclusion criteria. During the study, 61 study participants (34.5 %) dropped out, 80 patients (31.1 %) declined participation in the study. Drop-outs and non-participants were significantly older than active participants (p=.004 and p=.001, respectively). Predominant reasons for drop-out were the lack of the perceived added value and the content-related variety of the program on the patient's tablet, the missing interest/need for telemedical monitoring as well as the time spent participating in the study. Patients living alone, single and widowed patients reported significantly more difficulties in handling the hardware (tablet) (p=.040) and the program (Motiva) (p=.013) than married and cohabiting patients. These reasons were also reported mainly by female patients, patients aged 75 years and over, and those with a low level of education. CONCLUSION: In order to increase the acceptance and the added value of TMA for patients, the individual needs of the future target group should be analyzed at the beginning of the development. To ensure maximum user centricity, individual development steps should be continuously evaluated by the target group. TMA should be adapted to the functional abilities of elderly, multimorbid patients through, e. g., an appropriate design of the content, which is tailored to patients' individual needs. TMA should be used to an appropriate degree to avoid overburdening and should fit unobtrusively into patients' usual daily routine. For patient-specific acceptance of TMA, easy handling of the telemedical measuring and input devices is as important as the variety of offers on the platform and personal contact for technical queries. Special attention should be paid to patients who live alone, women, elderly patients over 75 years of age, and poorly educated patients in order to ensure full and easy access to technology-based telemonitoring for their own healthcare.

Pertussis vaccination status and vaccine acceptance among medical students: multicenter study in Germany and Hungary.

BACKGROUND: Medical students are at risk of contracting and transmitting infectious diseases such as pertussis. Complete vaccination status is important to protect own, patient and public health. Knowing own vaccination status is elementary for following current vaccination recommendations, including boosters. We aimed to assess pertussis vaccination status and vaccination acceptance among medical students of different nationalities. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicenter health survey at German and Hungarian universities enclosed international medical students in the 1st, 3rd and 5th year of study. Self-reported data from 2655 students regarding pertussis vaccination status were analyzed. Subgroup analysis enclosed data of German (n = 1217), Hungarian (n = 960) and other nationality (n = 478) students ("other"). RESULTS: More Hungarians reported basic immunization (39.0% vs 15.8% Germans vs 24.3% others, p ≤ 0.05). Booster vaccination was reported more by Germans (60.5% vs 43.6% Hungarians vs 36.0% others, p ≤ 0.05). Germans were more likely to report being unvaccinated (3.7% vs 0.9% Hungarians, p ≤ 0.05). More medical students of other nationalities were unaware of their pertussis vaccination status (37.4% vs 20.0% Germans/ 16.5% Hungarians, p ≤ 0.05). 75.2% (n = 1931) rated pertussis vaccinations as absolutely necessary (86.2% Hungarians vs 69.8% Germans/ 66.1% others, p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Positive attitudes towards vaccinations were reported but a large group reported insufficient vaccination status and being not aware of their status, especially among international students. Hungarians possibly have a better vaccination status than reported, based on mandatory vaccinations in childhood. The low awareness of vaccination status has implications for future booster vaccinations. All students should be informed about current recommendations and receive vaccination offers in frames of low-threshold medical services.

The workload for home visits by German family practitioners: an analysis of regional variation in a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, home visits account for a considerable workload for many family practitioners, substantial rural-urban disparities are assumable with regards to home visit frequency and duration. Considering the ongoing demographic change and a rural-urban migration a significant regional difference in the provision of care is assumable. There is a lack of reliable data on the current provision of home visits and how their organisational procedures can be ensured in the future. The aim of this study was to describe and assess the average workload of family practitioners during home visits and compare their rural-urban variations. METHODS: A cross-sectional study over a period of 12 months was conducted in Saxony as part of the fifth project of the Saxon Epidemiologic Studies in General Practice (SESAM-5). Over a 1-week period, family practitioners documented every home visit and answered questionnaires about sociodemographic, organisational and clinical characteristics. According to common categorizations in empirical studies four regional groups (rural, semi-rural, semi-urban, urban) were analysed and compared by non-parametric tests: Kruskal-Wallis followed by Dunn's, Jonckheere-Terpstra and Mann-Whitney-U. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were carried out using a collection of plausible predictors to assess influences for a high frequency and a long duration of home visits. RESULTS: The sample included 3673 home visits conducted by 253 family practitioners. On average, 14.5 home visits were carried out per week with an average duration of almost 28 min. After comparing regional areas, the number and total duration per home visit showed significant differences between the regions: 8.2 h (rural), 7 h (semi-rural), 6.6 h (semi-urban) and 5 h (urban). The regression analyses found that a high frequency of home visits was most likely accomplished in rural regions and a long duration was most likely performed in private homes. CONCLUSIONS: Workload of home visits is strongly associated with the regional location of the practice, leading to rural-urban disparities. Strategies to reduce regional disparities to ensure the future provision of care in the German and comparable health care systems should be discussed, e.g. by financial incentives (short-term), exploiting the potential of delegation (medium-term) and discussing the implementation of substitution (long-term).

[Interface Problems Between Inpatient, GP and Outpatient Specialist Care: Viewpoint of General Practitioners in Dresden]. / "Da kann man sich ja totklingeln, geht ja keiner ran" ­ Schnittstellenprobleme zwischen stationärer, hausärztlicher und ambulant-fachspezialisierter Patientenversorgung aus Sicht Dresdner Hausärzte.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to identify interface problems between inpatient, GP and outpatient specialist care from the perspective of general practitioners in Dresden, especially in older multimorbid patients. METHODS: The data were collected in the context of the pilot study "Multimedication and its Consequences for the Primary Care of Patients in Saxony" and included guided interviews with 7 general practitioners. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed according to the inductive content analysis of Mayring. RESULTS: At the interface of inpatient to outpatient care, several problems regarding discharge management, intersectoral communication and cooperation as well as in the management of medication were found. Concerning the interface between general practitioners and outpatient specialist care, problems were particularly marked with regard to free choice of doctors, appointment management, medical decision-making process, medication management as well as the use of the electronic health card. Regardless of the interfaces, the lack of communication could be worked out as a central challenge. CONCLUSION: There are several problems with all adjacent interfaces. What is striking here is the lack of communication and cooperation between all parties involved. Possible causes were the often very different working methods and framework conditions, human and material resources and therapeutic intentions and approaches between the different interfaces. One possible approach to improve the situation may be the law regarding secure digital communications and healthcare applications, which exists since 2016. Among other things, it promises a secure and rapid inter- and intrasectoral exchange of patient data. The overall goal of healthcare in Germany should be an optimized and process-oriented interface management in order to ensure a secure and seamless sectoral transition to patients.