ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To develop, implement and evaluate a health navigator service (HNS) for visitors and guests in a German health resort. METHOD: Information on local health services providers was collected and included in a database. A complementary national and international literature search was conducted. Health and wellness guests were interviewed about information needs and expectations with respect to a HNS. During the implementation of the HNS, all consultations were continuously documented. In interviews, cooperation partners and stakeholders were asked to evaluate the concept and its potentials. RESULTS: The literature search showed no comparable models or studies. The database was routinely used by the health navigator. In pre-implementation interviews, health and wellness guests stressed the need for neutral and objective counseling provided by a HNS. Routine documentation showed that more than half of the guests using the HNS were older than 65 years. Questions regarding local medical, healthcare and wellness institutions were frequent in consultations. The initial line of work of the HNS was modified during the implementation toward a stronger focus on involvement in health tourism-related issues. Cooperation partners and stakeholders rated this repositioning favorably. CONCLUSIONS: The HNS concept was successfully implemented. The realignment of HNS job specifications facilitated its local establishment. An implementation manual is intended to support the transfer of the HNS concept to other health resorts and spas.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Health Resorts , Germany , Health ServicesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis follows a two-step algorithm, starting with a screening assay with maximum sensitivity followed by a confirmatory assay of positive results with respect to specificity. Line immunoassays with single recombinant antigen lines are the established confirmatory test method, although result interpretation is not standardized. The present study evaluates suitability of the multiplex test SeraSpot Anti-Borrelia IgG/IgM (SeraSpot) as confirmatory test in serodiagnosis of Lyme disease. METHODS: For this retrospective study, serum samples from patients with suspicion of Lyme borreliosis were analyzed. For determination of specificity, blood donor samples as well as rheumatoid factor (RF), ANA, and EBV positive sera were investigated. The SeraSpot IgG/IgM results were compared with the recomBead Borrelia IgG/IgM (recomBead) test as alternative multiplex-based method. RESULTS: In comparison to the recomBead test the sensitivity of SeraSpot was determined 95% for IgG/IgM detection. The analysis of blood donors revealed a specificity of ≥ 96.0% for SeraSpot IgG/IgM and of 97.3% for recomBead IgG/IgM. RF positive samples tested negative by both assays (specificity of 100%). ANA and EBV antibody positive samples resulted in specificities of 90% (SeraSpo IgG/IgM) and ≥ 94% (recomBead IgG/IgM) and ≥ 91% (SeraSpot IgG/IgM) and ≥ 91% (recomBead IgG/IgM). The intra- and interassay coefficient of variation (CV) and the lot-to-lot reproducibility of the SeraSpot assay ranged between 1 - 9% for the different Borrelia IgG and IgM antigens. Potentially interfering substances (bilirubin F, bilirubin C, hemoglobin, lipid factor, and rheumatoid factor) did not influence the SeraSpot assays. CONCLUSIONS: Our evaluation data confirm that new multiplex assay generations such as SeraSpot Anti-Borrelia IgG/IgM are reliable and robust test systems suitable for application as confirmatory tests for serodiagnosis of Lyme borreliosis.
