Das Gesundheitswesen
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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.
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Oct 2014
[Transfer managment of postoperative acute pain therapy to outpatient aftercare].
The significance of postoperative pain management for patients in the hospital is well known and has been a focus of research for several years. The ambulatory care after hospital discharge, however, is not well investigated. A prospective observational study was therefore conducted to study the transfer management from in-hospital patients to ambulatory care. ⋯ The study shows the significance of the acute pain therapy not only during the hospital stay but also after discharge. There are very few data on pain therapy after discharge from the hospital. Based on the significance of the chronification of acute pain it is of the utmost importance to close this gap.
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Oct 2014
[Poisonings due to Substance Abuse Reported to the Poisons Information Centre Erfurt from 2002 to 2011].
Because of their importance for clinical toxicology, developments of sub-stance abuse reported to the Poisons Information Centre (PIC) Erfurt were investigated and compared to other reasons of human exposures. ⋯ The clinical significance of substance abuse is shown by the fact that it resulted more often in moderate and severe symptoms than suicide attempts. Data on substance abuse from PICs could supplement official annual drug reports in aspects of clinical toxicology.
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It is of particular concern that the last 33 years no country in the world has succeeded in countering the obesity epidemic. The authors therefore consider the need for global activities, to oppose this pandemic effectively.
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Das Gesundheitswesen · May 2014
[Do German DRGs appropriately explain the resource consumption of hospitals? An empirical patient-level cost-data analysis across ten episodes of care].
The revenues of German hospitals are mainly determined by DRG-based payments. Therefore DRGs should appropriately explain the resource consumption of hospitals in order to avoid unintended consequences. So far little is known about the ability of German DRGs to adequately reflect the cost of a hospital stay. ⋯ The analysis shows that the German DRG system requires further research. However, to date this is limited by poor data availability. Compared to other DRG systems the German system shows a weak performance. The incorporation of some of the used variables as well as an increasing international knowledge transfer might help to further improve the German DRG system.