The "Seminartage Weiterbildung Allgemeinmedizin" (SemiWAM): development, implementation and evaluation of a five-year, competence-based postgraduate programme in Bavaria

Introduction: Starting in 2013, a five-year, competence-based postgraduate programme, the "Seminartage Weiterbildung Allgemeinmedizin" (SemiWAM®) for continuing education in general practice, was developed and offered in Bavaria. This evaluation reports on the experiences of SemiWAM® after a first cycle.Material and methods: Process reflection based on the cycle of Kern: In addition to qualitative findings, results of the evaluation forms (mean values with standard deviation) are presented. The evaluation form contained questions on organisational issues, content of presentation, didactic preparation of the supervisor, transfer to real life practice as well as demographic variables. All questions were voted on a six-point Likert scale from "1=very satisfied" to "6=very dissatisfied".Results: The reflection showed three crucial entry points: Choosing "reason for encounter" as a content precondition to ensure target audience needs, the close didactic supervision of supervisor, and the continuous growth of supervisor team with newly qualified GP. The evaluation results for the overall assessment (MW 1.11-1.60), the didactic concept (MW 1.30-1.87), as well as the transfer into daily life practice (MW 1.48-2.35) reflect the high quality of the SemiWAM®. Discussion: The SemiWAM® curriculum presented can be easily transferred to comparable structures in Germany that accompany specialty training, such as the competence centres for residency training in general practice. The process evaluation based on the core cycle also provides important support for the agile implementation of these or similar programmes.Einleitung: Beginnend im Jahr 2013 wurde in Bayern ein fünfjähriges, kompetenzbasiertes, weiterbildungsbegleitendes Seminarcurriclum, die "Seminartage Weiterbildung Allgemeinmedizin" (SemiWAM®) für die Weiterbildung in der Allgemeinmedizin entwickelt und angeboten. Mit diesem Evaluationsbericht werden die Erfahrungen der SemiWAM® nach einem ersten Durchlaufen berichtet.Material und Methoden: Prozessreflexion auf Basis des Kern-Zyklus: Neben qualitativen Befunden werden Ergebnisse der Evaluation der Teilnehmenden (Mittelwerte mit Standardabweichung) dargestellt. Der Evaluationsbogen enthielt Fragen, u.a. zur Bewertung der Organisation, Inhalten und Art der Präsentation der Referierenden, der didaktischen Aufbereitung, des Transfers in die Weiterbildungspraxis sowie demographische Variablen. Alle Fragen wurden auf einer sechststufigen Likertskala von "1=sehr zufrieden" bis "6=sehr unzufrieden" abgestimmt.Ergebnisse: In der Prozessreflexion zeigten sich drei Stellschrauben als zielführend: Die Ausrichtung der Inhalte an Beratungsanlässen nah am Bedarf der Zielgruppe, die enge didaktische Supervision von Referierendenteams und die stetige Erweiterung des Referierendenteams durch junge Fachärztinnen und Fachärzte für Allgemeinmedizin. Die Evaluationsergebnisse für die Gesamtbewertung (MW 1,11-1,60), die didaktische Konzeption und Aufbereitung (MW 1,30-1,87) sowie den Transfer in die Weiterbildungspraxis (MW 1,48-2,35) spiegeln die hohe Qualität der SemiWAM®. Diskussion: Das vorgestellte Curriculum der SemiWAM® lässt sich zwanglos auf vergleichbare weiterbildungsbegleitende Strukturen in Deutschland wie die Kompetenzzentren Weiterbildung Allgemeinmedizin übertragen. Die Prozessevaluation auf Basis des Kern-Zyklus gibt zudem wichtige Hilfestellung in der agilen Umsetzung dieser oder ähnlicher Programme

Effects of a Web-Based Intervention for Stress Reduction in Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Preliminary findings suggest that Web-based interventions may be effective in achieving significant stress reduction. To date, there are no findings available for primary care patients. This is the first study that investigates a Web-based intervention for stress reduction in primary care. Objective: The aim was to examine the short-term effectiveness of a fully automated Web-based coaching program regarding stress reduction in a primary care setting. Methods: The study was an unblinded cluster randomized trial with an observation period of 12 weeks. Individuals recruited by general practitioners randomized to the intervention group participated in a Web-based coaching program based on education, motivation, exercise guidance, daily text message reminders, and weekly feedback through the Internet. All components of the program were fully automated. Participants in the control group received usual care and advice from their practitioner without the Web-based coaching program. The main outcome was change in the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) over 12 weeks. Results: A total of 93 participants (40 in intervention group, 53 in control group) were recruited into the study. For 25 participants from the intervention group and 49 participants from the control group, PSQ scores at baseline and 12 weeks were available. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the PSQ score decreased by mean 8.2 (SD 12.7) in the intervention group and by mean 12.6 (SD 14.7) in the control group. There was no significant difference identified between the groups (mean difference -4.5, 95% CI -10.2 to 1.3, P=. 13). Conclusions: This trial could not show that the tested Web-based intervention was effective for reducing stress compared to usual care. The limited statistical power and the high dropout rate may have reduced the study's ability to detect significant differences between the groups. Further randomized controlled trials are needed with larger populations to investigate the long-term outcome as well as the contents of usual primary care

Effects of a Web-Based Intervention for Stress Reduction in Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Preliminary findings suggest that Web-based interventions may be effective in achieving significant stress reduction. To date, there are no findings available for primary care patients. This is the first study that investigates a Web-based intervention for stress reduction in primary care. Objective: The aim was to examine the short-term effectiveness of a fully automated Web-based coaching program regarding stress reduction in a primary care setting. Methods: The study was an unblinded cluster randomized trial with an observation period of 12 weeks. Individuals recruited by general practitioners randomized to the intervention group participated in a Web-based coaching program based on education, motivation, exercise guidance, daily text message reminders, and weekly feedback through the Internet. All components of the program were fully automated. Participants in the control group received usual care and advice from their practitioner without the Web-based coaching program. The main outcome was change in the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) over 12 weeks. Results: A total of 93 participants (40 in intervention group, 53 in control group) were recruited into the study. For 25 participants from the intervention group and 49 participants from the control group, PSQ scores at baseline and 12 weeks were available. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the PSQ score decreased by mean 8.2 (SD 12.7) in the intervention group and by mean 12.6 (SD 14.7) in the control group. There was no significant difference identified between the groups (mean difference -4.5, 95% CI -10.2 to 1.3, P=. 13). Conclusions: This trial could not show that the tested Web-based intervention was effective for reducing stress compared to usual care. The limited statistical power and the high dropout rate may have reduced the study's ability to detect significant differences between the groups. Further randomized controlled trials are needed with larger populations to investigate the long-term outcome as well as the contents of usual primary care

Diagnostic accuracy of FeNO [fractional exhaled nitric oxide] and asthma symptoms increased when evaluated with a superior reference standard

Objectives: The objective of the study is to determine the impact of changing reference standards (RS), namely spirometry vs. whole-body plethysmography (WBP), on estimation of the diagnostic accuracy of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and clinical signs and symptoms (CSS) as index tests regarding asthma diagnosis. Study Design and Setting: This was a diagnostic study conducted in 393 patients attending a private practice of pneumologists with complaints suspicious of asthma. First, the index tests were compared with the diagnostic results of spirometry in terms of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) responsiveness. Second, the index tests were compared with the results of WBP in terms of specific airway resistance and FEV1 responsiveness. Areas under the curve (AUC) were compared with a generalized estimating equation approach based on binary logistic regression. Results: FeNO values and CSS ‘wheezing’ and ‘allergic rhinitis’ showed higher specificities (P < 0.001) and sensitivities (not significant) when evaluated with WBP; also, Youden indices increased in these CSS (P < 0.05). AUC of FeNO in combination with ‘wheezing’ and ‘allergic rhinitis’ when WBP was used as RS (AUC = 0.724; 95% confidence interval 0.672 to 0.776) was higher compared with spirometry as RS (AUC = 0.654; 95% confidence interval 0.585 to 0.722) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In case of asthma, superior RS led to more favorable assessment of index tests. FeNO measurement might have been underestimated in some previous studies

Impact of quality circles for improvement of asthma care: results of a randomized controlled trial

Contains fulltext : 69846.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)RATIONALE AND AIMS: Quality circles (QCs) are well established as a means of aiding doctors. New quality improvement strategies include benchmarking activities. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of QCs for asthma care working either with general feedback or with an open benchmark. METHODS: Twelve QCs, involving 96 general practitioners, were organized in a randomized controlled trial. Six worked with traditional anonymous feedback and six with an open benchmark; both had guided discussion from a trained moderator. Forty-three primary care practices agreed to give out questionnaires to patients to evaluate the efficacy of QCs. RESULTS: A total of 256 patients participated in the survey, of whom 185 (72.3%) responded to the follow-up 1 year later. Use of inhaled steroids at baseline was high (69%) and self-management low (asthma education 27%, individual emergency plan 8%, and peak flow meter at home 21%). Guideline adherence in drug treatment increased (P = 0.19), and asthma steps improved (P = 0.02). Delivery of individual emergency plans increased (P = 0.008), and unscheduled emergency visits decreased (P = 0.064). There was no change in asthma education and peak flow meter usage. High medication guideline adherence was associated with reduced emergency visits (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.07-0.89). Use of theophylline was associated with hospitalization (OR 7.1; 95% CI 1.5-34.3) and emergency visits (OR 4.9; 95% CI 1.6-14.7). There was no difference between traditional and benchmarking QCs. CONCLUSIONS: Quality circles working with individualized feedback are effective at improving asthma care. The trial may have been underpowered to detect specific benchmarking effects. Further research is necessary to evaluate strategies for improving the self-management of asthma patients

Comparative effectiveness of psychological treatments for depressive disorders in primary care: network meta-analysis

Background: A variety of psychological interventions to treat depressive disorders have been developed and are used in primary care. In a systematic review, we compared the effectiveness of psychological treatments grouped by theoretical background, intensity of contact with the health care professional, and delivery mode for depressed patients in this setting. Methods: Randomized trials comparing a psychological treatment with usual care, placebo, another psychological treatment, pharmacotherapy, or a combination treatment in adult depressed primary care patients were identified by database searches up to December 2013. We performed both conventional pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis combining direct and indirect evidence. Outcome measures were response to treatment (primary outcome),remission of symptoms, post-treatment depression scores and study discontinuation. Results: A total of 37 studies with 7, 024 patients met the inclusion criteria. Among the psychological treatments investigated in at least 150 patients face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT;OR 1.80;95 % credible interval 1.35-2.39),face-to-face counselling and psychoeducation (1.65;1.27-2.13),remote therapist lead CBT (1.87;1.38-2.53),guided self-help CBT (1.68;1.22-2.30) and no/minimal contact CBT (1.53;1.07-2.17) were superior to usual care or placebo, but not face-to-face problem-solving therapy and face-to-face interpersonal therapy. There were no statistical differences between psychological treatments apart from face-to-face interpersonal psychotherapy being inferior to remote therapist-lead CBT (0.60;0.37-0.95). Remote therapist-led (0.86;0.21-3.67),guided self-help (0.93;0.62-1.41) and no/minimal contact CBT (0.85;0.54-1.36) had similar effects as face-to-face CBT. Conclusions: The limited available evidence precludes a sufficiently reliable assessment of the comparative effectiveness of psychological treatments in depressed primary care patients. Findings suggest that psychological interventions with a cognitive behavioral approach are promising, and primarily indirect evidence indicates that it applies also when they are delivered with a reduced number of therapist contacts or remotely