Das Gesundheitswesen
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Mar 2015
[Status quo and potential of health services research: the perspective of Bavarian actors].
In 2011, the Bavarian Parliament decided to advance health services research (HSR) in Bavaria by bundling scientific competencies in a State Working Group and integrating other actors in it. The establishment of such a State Working Group "Health Services Research" -(LAGeV) together with members from science, health care and politics followed in 2012. The objective of this study is to identify the status quo of HSR in Bavaria including its determinants and potential for development based on the actors' perspective. ⋯ The survey reveals important constraints as well as promoting factors based on the viewpoints of different groups of actors. It also prioritises future HSR topics and identifies potential for development, which are important for the LAGeV. The findings can be used for advancing HSR in Bavaria and beyond.
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Jan 2015
[Rationing in German health care with particular consideration of oncology: view points of German stakeholders--a qualitative interview study].
Germany is at the beginning of a discussion about possible rationing in the health-care system. Cancer treatment, which is often cost-intensive but not always cost-effective, is frequently considered as a field for rationing. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that the strongest opposition to a debate on rationing in Germany does not stem from the medical, but rather from the political sector. The criteria for rationing suggested in the theoretical debate are in need of a context-sensitive examination and specification for the field of oncology. A possible approach to constructively promote the debate on rationing is a stronger focus on social opportunity costs of health care. The exact role of experts in a discourse on rationing, which was emphasised by the interviewees, requires a thorough determination. It is necessary to differentiate between the roles of impartial experts and stakeholders. Decisions on rationing can ultimately only be legitimised politically by parliament.
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Dec 2014
[Recommendations for quality indicators in German S3 guidelines: a critical appraisal].
Assessment of the quality of medical care plays an increasingly important role in the German healthcare system. Requirements for quality indicators include validity, reliability, responsiveness, interpretability and feasibility. Because of the high impact of guidelines, quality indicators that are recommended in such guidelines are of special relevance. ⋯ Despite the increasing relevance of quality assessment for all stakeholders in the German healthcare system only approximately 40% of the S3 guidelines define indicators to measure the quality of care. Recommendations to assess outcome indicators are only provided in 10% of S3 guidelines. The process of the development and recommendation of quality indicators is heterogeneous and frequently not transparently reported. The current practice for the recommendation and validation of quality indicators in German S3 guidelines does not meet the requirements of evidence-based healthcare.
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After testing the psychometric properties of a new questionnaire that measures patient preferences for patient-physician communication (KOPRA questionnaire), the communication preferences of cancer patients were described. In order to do this, the preferences were differentiated according to sociodemographic subgroups and a comparison was made to the preferences of patients with chronic back pain and chronic ischaemic heart disease. ⋯ The KOPRA questionnaire is well suited for examining the communication preferences of cancer patients. In general, physician behaviour associated with high scores in all 4 KOPRA dimensions is optimal. Especially in cases where the 4 communication aspects conflict with each other, the physician's communication style should be individualised.