Supplementary health insurance in Finland : Consumer preferences and behaviour.

This nationally representative questionnaire survey provides insight into the demographics, motivations and behaviour of consumers opting for supplementary health insurance (SHI), and the impact of SHI on consumer utilisation of healthcare services. The data was collected from a combination of online and paper-based surveys (N = 1,620, response rate 41%) in October 2013 – January 2014. The questionnaire covers both adult and children’s SHI. The data comprises information on respondents’ socio-economics, health insurance, motivations for purchasing (or not purchasing) SHI and utilisation of healthcare services. We analyse 1) the current utilisation of and trends in SHI, 2) the preferences and motivations of Finnish consumers in opting for SHI in relation to their background characteristics, and 3) the consequences of SHI on primary healthcare service utilisation. A total of 22.7% of Finnish adults and 52.0% of children had SHI. The reasons for purchasing SHI were faster access, wider choice, better quality and willingness to use private healthcare (PRH) services. For adults, labour market position, level of education, better health and household income were significantly associated with SHI. For children, the most important factor associated with purchasing insurance seems to be the educational level of the (responding) parent. There was a significant interdependence between parents' and children’s SHI. For adults, the insurance decreases the probability they will choose a public provider and increases the utilisation of private services. For children, the insurance increases the probability of choosing a private provider. The SHI decreases the utilisation of public services for adults and increases the utilisation of private services. For children, there seems to be no effect on the utilisation of public services, but a significant increase in the utilisation of private services. Also the mode of purchase, i.e. self-purchased or employer-purchased, seems to influence healthcare utilisation in the working population. Self-purchased SHI increases the utilisation of private services, but employer-purchased SHI has no impact on healthcare utilisation. Tällä väestöä edustavaan otokseen perustuvalla tutkimuksella selvitetään vakuutusten hankkimisen sosio-demografiaa, kansalaisten motivaatioita, käyttäytymistä ja vakuutusten vaikutusta terveyspalvelusten käyttöön. Aineisto on koottu yhdistetyllä verkko- ja paperilomakekyselyllä (N = 1 620, vastausprosentti oli 41 %) lokakuun 2013 ja tammikuun 2014 välisenä aikana. Tutkimus kattaa sekä aikuisten että heidän lastensa terveyteen liittyvät vakuutukset. Aineisto sisältää tietoja vastaajien sosio-ekonomisesta asemasta, terveysvakuutuksista, vakuutuksen valinnan (tai valitsematta jättämisen) motiiveista, vakuutuksen käytöstä ja vaikutuksesta terveyspalvelujen käyttöön. Selvitämme tässä tutkimuksessa; 1) terveysvakuutusten määrää ja niiden käytön trendejä, 2) kansalaisten preferenssejä ja motiiveja vakuutusten hankinnassa ja 3) vakuutusten seurauksia terveyspalvelujen käytössä. Suomalaisista aikuisista 22,7 %:lla ja lapsiperheistä 52,0 %:lla on yksityinen terveysvakuutus. Syyt vakuutuksen hankintaan ovat nopea hoitoon pääsy, laajempi palveluvalikoima ja koettu yksityisten palvelujen parempi laatu. Aikuisten vakuutuksen valintaa selittävät työmarkkina-asema, koulutustaso ja kotitalouden tulot. Aikuisilla vakuutuksen omaajilla on parempi terveydentila kuin ilman vakuutusta olevilla. Aikuisten ja lasten vakuutukset keskittyvät samoihin kotitalouksiin. Lasten vakuutusten valintaa selittää ensisijaisesti vanhemman koulutus. Aikuisten ja lasten vakuuttamista selittävät täten hieman erilaiset seikat. Vakuutus selittää terveyspalvelujen tuottajan valintaa ja palvelujen käytettyä määrää. Vakuutus näyttää johtavan yksityisten palvelujen käyttöön ja lisääntyneeseen palvelukäyttöön erityisesti lapsilla. Aikuisilla vakuutus vähentää julkisen ja lisää yksityisen palveluntuottajan valinnan todennäköisyyttä. Lapsilla taas vakuutus lisää yksityisen tuottajan valinnan todennäköisyyttä. Vakuutus vähentää aikuisilla julkisten ja lisää yksityisen palvelujen käytettyä määrää. Lapsilla julkisten palvelujen käyttö ei vähene, mutta yksityisten palvelujen käyttö lisääntyy. Myös vakuutuksen hankinnan tavalla on yhteys palvelujen käyttöön. Työssäkäyvien aikuisten itse hankkima vakuutus tuottaa lisäyksen yksityisten palvelujen käytetyssä määrässä, mutta työnantajan hankkima vakuutus ei ole yhteydessä julkisten, yksityisten tai työterveyshuollon palvelujen käytettyyn määrään

Health- related quality of life and self-worth in 10-year old children with congenital hypothyroidism diagnosed by neonatal screening

Contains fulltext : 108082.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Much is written about cognitive and motor development; less is known about social and emotional consequences of growing up with congenital hypothyroidism (CH).The objectives of the study were: (1) to compare health related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-worth of 10 year old patients with CH with the general population; (2) to explore associations of disease factors, IQ and motor skills with the outcomes. METHODS: Children with CH and their parents completed several questionnaires. Patients were classified to 'severe CH, n = 41' or 'moderate/mild CH, n = 41' based on pre-treatment FT4 concentration.Differences between CH and the general population were tested by analysis of covariance and one sample t-tests (mean scale scores HRQoL and self-worth), chi-square tests and binomial tests (% at risk of impaired HRQoL and self-worth). Linear regression analyses corrected for gender were conducted to explore associations of the outcomes with disease factors, IQ and motor skills. RESULTS: Patients with CH reported lower mean HRQoL on motor, cognitive and social functioning, and on autonomy and positive emotions (p < 0.0001). Patients were also more often at risk for impaired HRQoL and self-worth. No differences were found between the severity groups. Lower IQ was only significant associated with worse cognitive HRQoL. Initial FT4 plasma, age at onset of therapy, initial T4 dose and motor skills were not significantly associated with HRQoL and self-worth. CONCLUSIONS: Negative consequences in terms of HRQoL and self-worth are prevalent in children with CH, independent of disease factors, IQ and motor skills. Physicians should to be attentive to these consequences and provide attention and supportive care

Investment case for two-year post university speciality training in family medicine in Tajikistan: how much is needed for continuing and scaling up the improved education of family doctors?

Background: A new two-year Post University Specialty Training (PUST) programme in family medicine was introduced to improve the quality of postgraduate speciality medical education in Tajikistan. Postgraduate education of family doctors (FDs) needs to be urgently scaled up, as 38% of FD positions in Tajikistan remained unfilled in 2018. Moreover, the international financial support for the PUST programme is ending. This investment case assesses the minimum funding needed for the continuation and scale-up of PUST and establishes the rationale for the investment in the light of a recent evaluation. Methods: The costs of the programme were calculated for 2018 and a scale-up forecast made for the period 2019-2023. The impact of the scale-up on the shortage of FDs was assessed. An evaluation using a Multiple Choice Questionnaire and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) assessed and compared theoretical knowledge, clinical skills and competencies of PUST trained and conventionally trained FDs. Results: The annual costs of the programme were US$228,000 in 2018. The total investment needed for scaling up PUST from 31 new FDs in 2018 to 100 FD graduates each year by 2023 was US$ 802,000.However, when the retirement of FDs and population growth are considered, the scale-up will result only in maintaining the current level of FDs working and not solve the country's FD shortage. The PUST FDs demonstrated significantly better clinical skills than the conventionally trained interns, scoring 60 and 45% of OSCE points, respectively. Theoretical knowledge showed a similar trend; PUST FDs answered 44% and interns 38% of the questions correctly. Conclusions: The two-year PUST programme has clearly demonstrated it produces better skilled family doctors than the conventional one-year internship, albeit some enduring quality concerns do still prevail. The discontinuation of international support for PUST would be a major setback and risks potentially losing the benefits of the programme for family medicine and also other specialities. To guarantee the supply of adequately trained FDs and address the FD shortage, the PUST should be continued and scaled up. Therefore, it is essential that international support is extended and a gradual transition to sustainable national financing gets underway

Feasibility of a Pulsed Ponderomotive Phase Plate for Electron Beams

We propose a scheme for constructing a phase plate for use in an ultrafast Zernike-type phase contrast electron microscope, based on the interaction of the electron beam with a strongly focused, high-power femtosecond laser pulse and a pulsed electron beam. Analytical expressions for the phase shift using the time-averaged ponderomotive potential and a paraxial approximation for the focused laser beam are presented, as well as more rigorous quasiclassical simulations based on the quantum phase integral along classical, relativistic electron trajectories in an accurate, non-paraxial description of the laser beam. The results are shown to agree well unless the laser beam is focused to a waist size below a wavelength. For realistic (off-the-shelf) laser parameters the optimum phase shift of $-\pi/2$ is shown to be achievable. When combined with RF-cavity based electron chopping and compression techniques to produce electron pulses, a femtosecond regime pulsed phase contrast microscope can be constructed. The feasibility and robustness of the scheme are further investigated using the simulations, leading to motivated choices for design parameters such as wavelength, focus size and polarization.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure

Social participation is reduced in type 3 Von Willebrand disease patients and in patients with a severe bleeding phenotype

Introduction The negative impact of haemophilia on social participation is well established in previous studies, however, the impact of Von Willebrand disease (VWD) on social participation has not been studied. Aim To compare the social participation of a large cohort of VWD patients in the Netherlands with the general Dutch population. In addition, to identify factors associated with social participation in VWD. Methods Patients participating in the "Willebrand in the Netherlands" study completed an extensive questionnaire on educational level, absenteeism from school or work, and occupational disabilities. Results Seven-hundred and eighty-eight VWD patients were included (mean age 38.9 years, 59.5% females), of whom 136 children = 16 years the days lost from school and/or work in the year prior to study inclusion differed significantly between the VWD types (p = .011). Using negative binomial regression analysis, the occurrence of bleeding episodes requiring treatment in the year preceding study inclusion was significantly associated with the number of days lost from school and/or work among patients aged >= 16 years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that a higher total bleeding score, older age and presence of at least one comorbidity were significantly associated with occupational disability in patients aged >= 16 years. Conclusion Our study shows that social participation was lower in type 3 VWD and VWD patients with a more severe bleeding phenotype

Dominant β-catenin mutations cause intellectual disability with recognizable syndromic features

The recent identification of multiple dominant mutations in the gene encoding β-catenin in both humans and mice has enabled exploration of the molecular and cellular basis of β-catenin function in cognitive impairment. In humans, β-catenin mutations that cause a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders have been identified. We identified de novo β-catenin mutations in patients with intellectual disability, carefully characterized their phenotypes, and were able to define a recognizable intellectual disability syndrome. In parallel, characterization of a chemically mutagenized mouse line that displays features similar to those of human patients with β-catenin mutations enabled us to investigate the consequences of β-catenin dysfunction through development and into adulthood. The mouse mutant, designated batface (Bfc), carries a Thr653Lys substitution in the C-terminal armadillo repeat of β-catenin and displayed a reduced affinity for membrane-associated cadherins. In association with this decreased cadherin interaction, we found that the mutation results in decreased intrahemispheric connections, with deficits in dendritic branching, long-term potentiation, and cognitive function. Our study provides in vivo evidence that dominant mutations in β-catenin underlie losses in its adhesion-related functions, which leads to severe consequences, including intellectual disability, childhood hypotonia, progressive spasticity of lower limbs, and abnormal craniofacial features in adult

A mutation update for the FLNC gene in myopathies and cardiomyopathies

Filamin C (FLNC) variants are associated with cardiac and muscular phenotypes. Originally, FLNC variants were described in myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) patients. Later, high-throughput screening in cardiomyopathy cohorts determined a prominent role for FLNC in isolated hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies (HCM and DCM). FLNC variants are now among the more prevalent causes of genetic DCM. FLNC-associated DCM is associated with a malignant clinical course and a high risk of sudden cardiac death. The clinical spectrum of FLNC suggests different pathomechanisms related to variant types and their location in the gene. The appropriate functioning of FLNC is crucial for structural integrity and cell signaling of the sarcomere. The secondary protein structure of FLNC is critical to ensure this function. Truncating variants with subsequent haploinsufficiency are associated with DCM and cardiac arrhythmias. Interference with the dimerization and folding of the protein leads to aggregate formation detrimental for muscle function, as found in HCM and MFM. Variants associated with HCM are predominantly missense variants, which cluster in the ROD2 domain. This domain is important for binding to the sarcomere and to ensure appropriate cell signaling. We here review FLNC genotype–phenotype correlations based on available evidence.</p

A mutation update for the FLNC gene in myopathies and cardiomyopathies

Filamin C (FLNC) variants are associated with cardiac and muscular phenotypes. Originally, FLNC variants were described in myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) patients. Later, high-throughput screening in cardiomyopathy cohorts determined a prominent role for FLNC in isolated hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies (HCM and DCM). FLNC variants are now among the more prevalent causes of genetic DCM. FLNC-associated DCM is associated with a malignant clinical course and a high risk of sudden cardiac death. The clinical spectrum of FLNC suggests different pathomechanisms related to variant types and their location in the gene. The appropriate functioning of FLNC is crucial for structural integrity and cell signaling of the sarcomere. The secondary protein structure of FLNC is critical to ensure this function. Truncating variants with subsequent haploinsufficiency are associated with DCM and cardiac arrhythmias. Interference with the dimerization and folding of the protein leads to aggregate formation detrimental for muscle function, as found in HCM and MFM. Variants associated with HCM are predominantly missense variants, which cluster in the ROD2 domain. This domain is important for binding to the sarcomere and to ensure appropriate cell signaling. We here review FLNC genotype–phenotype correlations based on available evidence.</p

A mutation update for the FLNC gene in myopathies and cardiomyopathies

Filamin C (FLNC) variants are associated with cardiac and muscular phenotypes. Originally, FLNC variants were described in myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) patients. Later, high-throughput screening in cardiomyopathy cohorts determined a prominent role for FLNC in isolated hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies (HCM and DCM). FLNC variants are now among the more prevalent causes of genetic DCM. FLNC-associated DCM is associated with a malignant clinical course and a high risk of sudden cardiac death. The clinical spectrum of FLNC suggests different pathomechanisms related to variant types and their location in the gene. The appropriate functioning of FLNC is crucial for structural integrity and cell signaling of the sarcomere. The secondary protein structure of FLNC is critical to ensure this function. Truncating variants with subsequent haploinsufficiency are associated with DCM and cardiac arrhythmias. Interference with the dimerization and folding of the protein leads to aggregate formation detrimental for muscle function, as found in HCM and MFM. Variants associated with HCM are predominantly missense variants, which cluster in the ROD2 domain. This domain is important for binding to the sarcomere and to ensure appropriate cell signaling. We here review FLNC genotype–phenotype correlations based on available evidence