Evaluation of a Dutch version of the AIMS2 for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

DUTCH-AIMS2, a Dutch version of AIMS2 and successor to DUTCH-AIMS, is an instrument to assess health status among patients with rheumatic diseases. It provides measurements of 12 areas of health status on scales for health status proper, satisfaction, attribution and arthritis impact. We assessed the reliability of its scales in terms of internal consistency and their validity according to both internal standards and external standards. Correctly completed questionnaires were returned by 231 RA patients and 131 controls. Internal consistency coefficients for the health status scales ranged from 0.66 and 0.89, but most exceeded 0.80. Within-scale factor analyses produced single factors in all composite health status scales for both patients and controls, with only two exceptions. Factor analysis also identified a physical, social and psychological dimension among 11 areas of health. External validity was established by strong correlations between DUTCH-AIMS2 health status scales and functional class, laboratory parameters, and self-assessments of fatigue, loneliness, pain, functional disability and social support. DUTCH-AIMS2 is acceptably reliable and valid for use in a variety of settings

Ondernemer centraal bij terugdringing administratieve lasten in Agrarisch Nederland; Verkenning naar de toekomstige informatie architectuur tussen overheid en agrarische ondernemingen

De Nederlandse regering heeft zich tot doel gesteld de administratieve lasten van ondernemersdrastisch te verlagen. Eén van de middelen daarbij is het beter gebruik maken vaninformatica- en communicatietechnologie, en het daarmee beter aansluiten op de bedrijfsprocessenvan ondernemingen. In opdracht van het Ministerie van LNV heeft een groeponderzoekers van Wageningen UR nagegaan of en hoe het centraal stellen van de ondernemerbij kan dragen aan de vermindering van administratieve lasten. Dit rapport beschrijftin een essay en negen wetenschappelijke hoofdstukken welke mogelijkheden en valkuilener zijn. Gepleit wordt voor een publiek-private samenwerking rond dit thema

The supply of and demand for informal and professional care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The objective of this study is to determine supply of, and demand for, informal care for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to evaluate the factors that contribute to the amounts of help needed and received from professional and informal care providers at home. Data were collected by questionnaire from 229 RA patients and 174 informal caregivers. Most of the help required is also received, though 24% of the patients did not receive help for one or more tasks. Most help given at home is by informal caregivers. The amount of help needed is related primarily to the patient's physical condition, sex, and self-efficacy expectations towards coping with RA. The amount of help received from informal caregivers is largely explained by the physical condition and the marital status of the patient, the sex of the caregiver, the patient's self-efficacy expectations towards coping with RA, and the age of the patient. The amount of help received from health professionals is related primarily to the marital status and the physical condition of the patient