Changes in secondary pharmacological prevention of acute coronary syndromes and stroke after hospital discharge: a 6-month follow-up study of German primary care patients

Aim: This study examined modifications in secondary preventive medication between the time of hospital discharge (HD) and during a 6-month follow-up treatment of outpatients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stroke. Subjects and methods: During a 6-month period, a health diary was completed on a weekly basis by 98 patients who were initially hospitalised with ACS and 29 patients with strokes in the Cologne area (Germany). Changes in medication between the time of HD and follow-up treatment (weeks 2, 12, and 24) were recorded. Results: On average, patients with ACS took six medications, whereas patients with stroke took five medications per day. ACS patients received beta-blockers (96%), lipid-lowering agents (80%), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (64%) at HD, and no changes in medication were made during follow-up treatment. However, there was a significant decrease in prescriptions of clopidogrel among ACS patients within 6 months, and about 13% of ACS patients did not receive an antiplatelet agent at any time. Stroke patients received beta-blockers (50%), lipid-lowering agents (67%), and antiplatelet agents, such as acetylsalicylic acid (57%) or clopidogrel (27%), at the time of HD, and no significant changes in medication were instituted during follow-up treatment. Conclusion: Treatment of ACS patients with the combination of acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel was insufficient, although it has been shown that this combination is highly effective in secondary prevention of ACS. Besides medical reasons, the cost-containment restrictions (“medication budget”) for German physicians might explain the observed failure of guideline-oriented medication. Furthermore, no changes in medications occurred regarding blood-pressure- and lipid-lowering agents

The health literate health care organization 10 item questionnaire (HLHO-10): development and validation

Abstract Background While research on individual health literacy is steadily increasing, less attention has been paid to the context of care that may help to increase the patient’s ability to navigate health care or to compensate for their limited health literacy. In 2012, Brach et al. introduced the concept of health literate health care organizations (HLHOs) to describe the organizational context of care. This paper presents our effort in developing and validating an HLHO instrument. Method Ten items were developed to represent the ten attributes of HLHO (HLHO-10) based on a literature review, an expert workshop, a focus group discussion, and qualitative interviews. The instrument was applied in a key informant survey in 51 German hospitals as part of a larger study on patient information and training needs (PIAT-study). Item properties were analyzed and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the instrument’s unidimensionality. To investigate the instrument’s predictive validity, a multilevel analysis was performed that used the HLHO-10 score to predict the adequacy of information provided to 1,224 newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients treated at the sample hospitals. Results Cronbach’s α of the resulting scale was 0.89. CFA verified the one-factor structure after allowing for the correlation for four pairs of error terms. In the multilevel model, HLHO-10 significantly predicted the adequacy of information as perceived by patients. Conclusion The instrument has satisfactory reliability and validity. It provides a useful tool to assess the degree to which health care organizations help patients to navigate, understand, and use information and services. Further validation should include participant observation in health care organizations and a sample that is not limited to breast cancer care.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110523/1/12913_2015_Article_707.pd

The influence of occupational stress factors on the nicotine dependence: a cross sectional study

Objective This study analyses the association between occupational stress factors and nicotine dependence. Our hypothesis is that occupational stress factors increase nicotine dependence. Methods Data were taken from the Cologne Smoking Study, a case-control study that examines which genetic/psychosocial factors lead to a higher risk for smokers to suffer from cardiac infarction, lung cancer and/or to become addicted to nicotine. Our sample consisted of N = 197 currently smoking and employed participants. Nicotine dependence was measured using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). The extent of the stress factors experienced at work was assessed using the Effort-Reward Imbalance scale (ERI). Logistic regression was used for the statistical analysis. Results Contrary to our hypothesis, the results show that occupational stress factors are actually associated with lower levels of nicotine dependence (N = 197; adjusted OR = 0.439; p = .059). Conclusions One possible explanation for the study's findings is that the participants have a heavy workload and can only smoke in their spare time. Another reason may be workplace smoking bans. Furthermore, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence is unable to examine nicotine dependence during working hours

Family resilience of families with parental cancer and minor children: a qualitative analysis

IntroductionEstimated 50,000 minor children in Germany experience a newly diagnosed cancer in one of their parents every year. Family resilience has proven to be an important concept against life crises. However, little research exists regarding family resilience in the context of parental cancer with minor children. Based on the “Family Resilience Framework,” the aim of the study is to investigate the processes of family resilience of affected families. In addition, we explore which combinations of promoting family resilience processes can be characterized.MethodsAs part of the mixed-method quasi-experimental interventional study “F-SCOUT,” a qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the documentation of the “Family-Scouts” (a fixed contact person who advises, accompanies, and supports the families). Documentation was performed by families’ study inclusion (T0), after 3 months (T1) and 9 months (T2) concerning current family situation, organization of everyday life, emotional coping, open communication within the family, and planned tasks.ResultsThe N = 73 families had between one and six children. In 58 (79%) families, the mother had cancer. In the course of the analysis, a category system with 10 main categories and 36 subcategories emerged. Family resilience processes were described to different extents. Combinations of categories promoting family resilience were characterized by the use of social resources, flexibility, economic resources, and open communication.DiscussionThe findings are consistent with existing assumptions about family resilience in terms of the importance of social resources, family cohesion, mutual support, flexibility, open communication, and psychological well-being. In contrast to the findings of previous research, spirituality, and collaborative problem-solving indicate less centrality here. In turn, the findings on economic resources and information-seeking provide a valuable addition to the family resilience literature in the context of parental cancer with minor children.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04186923

The association between active participation in a sports club, physical activity and social network on the development of lung cancer in smokers: a case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study analyses the effect of active participation in a sports club, physical activity and social networks on the development of lung cancer in patients who smoke. Our hypothesis is that study participants who lack social networks and do not actively participate in a sports club are at a greater risk for lung cancer than those who do.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data for the study were taken from the <b>Co</b>logne <b>Smo</b>king <b>S</b>tudy (<b>CoSmoS</b>), a retrospective case-control study examining potential psychosocial risk factors for the development of lung cancer. Our sample consisted of n = 158 participants who had suffered lung cancer (diagnosis in the patient document) and n = 144 control group participants. Both groups had a history of smoking.</p> <p>Data on social networks were collected by asking participants whether they participated in a sports club and about the number of friends and relatives in their social environment. In addition, sociodemographic data (gender, age, education, marital status, residence and religion), physical activity and data on pack years (the cumulative number of cigarettes smoked by an individual, calculated by multiplying the number of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked divided by 20) were collected to control for potential confounders. Logistic regression was used for the statistical analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results reveal that participants who are physically active are at a lower risk of lung cancer than those who are not (adjusted OR = 0.53*; CI = 0.29-0.97). Older age and lower education seem also to be risk factors for the development of lung cancer. The extent of smoking, furthermore, measured by pack years is statistically significant. Active participation in a sports club, number of friends and relatives had no statistically significant influence on the development of the cancer.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of the study suggest that there is a lower risk for physically active participants to develop lung cancer. In the study sample, physical activity seemed to have a greater protective effect than participation in a sports club or social network of friends and relatives. Further studies have to investigate in more detail physical activity and other club participations.</p

Differences between German and Turkish-speaking participants in a chronic heart failure management program

German and Turkish-speaking patients were recruited for a chronic heart failure management program. So far little is known about the special needs and characteristics of Turkish-speaking patients with chronic heart failure; therefore, the aim of this study was to examine sociodemographic and illness-related differences between German and Turkish-speaking patients with chronic heart failure. German and Turkish-speaking patients suffering from chronic heart failure and insured with the AOK Rheinland/Hamburg or the BARMER GEK health insurance companies and living in Cologne, Germany, were enrolled. Recruitment took place in hospitals, private practices and at information events. Components of the program were coordination of a guideline-oriented medical care, telemonitoring (e.g., blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and weight), a 24-h information hotline, attendance by German and Turkish-speaking nurses and a patient education program. Data were collected by standardized interviews in German or Turkish language. Data were analyzed with descriptive measures and tested for significance differences using Pearson's chi(2)-test and the taEurotest. A total of 465 patients (average age 71 years, 55 % male and 33 % Turkish-speaking) were enrolled in the care program during the study period. Significant differences between German and Turkish-speaking patients were found for age, education, employment status, comorbidities, risk perception, knowledge on heart failure and fear of loss of independence. The response rate could be achieved with the help of specific measures for patient enrollment by Turkish-speaking integration nurses. The differences between German and Turkish-speaking patients should in future be taken into account in the care of people with chronic heart failure