Bmc Health Serv Res
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Bmc Health Serv Res · Apr 2018
ReviewHealth economic evaluations based on routine data in Germany: a systematic review.
Improved data access and funding for health services research have promoted the application of routine data to measure costs and effects of interventions within the German health care system. Following the trend towards real world evidence, this review aims to evaluate the status and quality of health economic evaluations based on routine data in Germany. ⋯ This review confirms that routine data has become an increasingly common data source for health economic evaluations in Germany. While most studies addressed the application of routine data, this analysis reveals deficits in considering methodological particularities and in reporting quality of economic evaluations based on routine data. Nevertheless, this review demonstrates the overall potential of routine data for economic evaluations.
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Bmc Health Serv Res · Apr 2018
Factors associated with internal medicine physician job attitudes in the Veterans Health Administration.
US healthcare organizations increasingly use physician satisfaction and attitudes as a key performance indicator. Further, many health care organizations also have an academically oriented mission. Physician involvement in research and teaching may lead to more positive workplace attitudes, with subsequent decreases in turnover and beneficial impact on patient care. This article aimed to understand the influence of time spent on academic activities and perceived quality of care in relation to job attitudes among internal medicine physicians in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). ⋯ Expanding opportunities for physician involvement with research may lead to more positive work experiences, which could potentially reduce turnover and improve system performance.
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Bmc Health Serv Res · Apr 2018
Hospitalization outcomes in patients with schizophrenia after switching to lurasidone or quetiapine: a US claims database analysis.
This study compared hospital admission rates among adult patients with schizophrenia who switched to antipsychotic monotherapy with lurasidone or quetiapine. ⋯ In this retrospective claims database study, patients with schizophrenia who were switched to lurasidone had significantly fewer all-cause and mental health-related hospitalizations and similar rates of schizophrenia-related hospitalization compared with those switched to quetiapine. Patients switching to lurasidone had a significantly longer treatment duration rate than those switching to quetiapine. These results may reflect differences in efficacy or tolerability between lurasidone and quetiapine.
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Bmc Health Serv Res · Apr 2018
Multicenter StudyPharmacists in general practice: a qualitative interview case study of stakeholders' experiences in a West London GP federation.
Increased patient demand for healthcare services coupled with a shortage of general practitioners necessitates changes in professional roles and service delivery. In 2016, NHS England began a 3-year- pilot study of pharmacists in general practice, however, this is not an entirely new initiative. There is limited, current, evidence-based, UK research to inform the pilot so studies of pre-existing services must suffice until findings from a formal national evaluation are available. ⋯ Recommendations are made for the development of clear role definitions, identification of training needs, dedication of time for team building, production of educational materials for practice staff members and patients, and provision of on-site, full-time pharmacy services. Future work should focus on evaluation of various models of employing pharmacy teams in general practice; integration of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians into multidisciplinary general practice teams; relationships between local community pharmacy and general practice personnel; and patients' service and information needs. A formal national evaluation of the pilot scheme is overdue.
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Bmc Health Serv Res · Apr 2018
Observational StudyAssociation between industry payments and prescribing costly medications: an observational study using open payments and medicare part D data.
While many new medications may offer advantages over existing drugs, some newer drugs are reformulations of existing products that provide little innovation or incremental benefit while driving up drug costs. Despite the lack of benefit of these medications, prescribers may be motivated by payments made by the pharmaceutical industry. The objective of the study was to determine the association between payments made to physicians by the pharmaceutical industry and prescriptions for certain selected costly brand name drugs. ⋯ A physician-industry financial relationship was associated with increased odds of prescribing costly brand-name drugs of uncertain medical benefit. Patients, as healthcare consumers, should demand transparency from their physicians about payment from the pharmaceutical industry to increase shared decision-making. Physician and policy makers need increased awareness and reflection on how industry payment influences their prescribing practices.