Monthly Archives: October 2015

Feasibility and effectiveness of an asthma/COPD service for primary care: a cross-sectional baseline description and longitudinal results.

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Metting EI, Riemersma RA, Kocks JH, Piersma-Wichers MG, Sanderman R, van der Molen T






Related Articles

Feasibility and effectiveness of an asthma/COPD service for primary care: a cross-sectional baseline description and longitudinal results.

NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2015;25:14101

Authors: Metting EI, Riemersma RA, Kocks JH, Piersma-Wichers MG, Sanderman R, van der Molen T

Abstract
BACKGROUND: In 2007, an Asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (AC) service was implemented in the North of the Netherlands to support General Practitioners (GPs) by providing advice from pulmonologists on a systematic basis.
AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this service on patient-related outcomes.
METHODS: We report baseline data on 11,401 patients and follow-up data from 2,556 patients. GPs can refer all patients with possible obstructive airway disease (OAD) to the service, which is conducted by the local laboratory. Patients are assessed in the laboratory using questionnaires and spirometry. Pulmonologists inspect the data through the internet and send the GP diagnosis and management advice.
RESULTS: A total of 11,401 patients were assessed by the service, covering almost 60% of all adult patients with projected asthma or COPD in the area. In all, 46% (n = 5,268) of the patients were diagnosed with asthma, 18% (n = 2,019) with COPD and 7% (n = 788) with the overlap syndrome. A total of 740 (7%) patients were followed up after 3 months because the GP advised them to change medication. In this group, the proportion of unstable COPD patients (Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) ⩾ 1) decreased from 63% (n = 92) at baseline to 49% (n = 72). The proportion of patients with uncontrolled asthma (Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) ⩾ 1.5) decreased from 41% (n = 204) to 23% (n = 115). In all, 938 (8%) patients were followed up after 12 months. From these patients, the proportion of unstable COPD patients (CCQ ⩾ 1) decreased from 47% (n = 115) to 44% (n = 107). The proportion of patients with uncontrolled asthma (ACQ⩾1.5) decreased from 16% (n = 95) to 14% (n = 85).
CONCLUSION: The AC service assessed a considerable proportion of patients with OAD in the area, improved patients’ outcomes, and is considered to be feasible and effective.

PMID: 25569634 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Continue reading →

Posted in NPJ Prim Care Respir Med | Tagged | Leave a comment

A randomized controlled trial of web-based cognitive behavioral therapy for severely fatigued breast cancer survivors (CHANGE-study): study protocol.

Posted on October 28, 2015 by






A randomized controlled trial of web-based cognitive behavioral therapy for severely fatigued breast cancer survivors (CHANGE-study): study protocol.

BMC Cancer. 2015;15(1):765

Authors: Abrahams HJ, Gielissen MF, Goedendorp MM, Berends T, Peters ME, Poort H, Verhagen CA, Knoop H

Abstract
BACKGROUND: About one third of breast cancer survivors suffer from persistent severe fatigue after completion of curative cancer treatment. Face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy (F2F CBT), especially designed for fatigue in cancer survivors, was found effective in reducing fatigue. However, this intervention is intensive and treatment capacity is limited. To extend treatment options, a web-based version of CBT requiring less therapist time was developed. This intervention is aimed at changing fatigue-perpetuating cognitions and behaviors. The efficacy of web-based CBT will be examined in a multicenter randomized controlled trial.
METHODS: In total, 132 severely fatigued breast cancer survivors will be recruited and randomized to either an intervention condition or care as usual (ratio 1:1). Participants will be assessed at baseline and 6 months thereafter. The intervention group will receive web-based CBT, consisting of three F2F sessions and maximally eight web-based modules over a period of 6 months. The care as usual group will be on a waiting list for regular F2F CBT. The total duration of the waiting list is 6 months. The primary outcome of the study is fatigue severity. Secondary outcomes are functional impairments, psychological distress and quality of life.
DISCUSSION: If web-based CBT is effective, it will provide an additional treatment option for fatigue in breast cancer survivors. Web-based CBT is expected to be less time-consuming for therapists than regular F2F CBT, which would result in an increased treatment capacity. Moreover, the intervention would become more easily accessible for a larger number of patients, and patients can save travel time and costs.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Registry – NTR4309.

PMID: 26500019 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

Continue reading →

Posted in BMC Cancer | Tagged | Leave a comment

A randomized controlled trial of web-based cognitive behavioral therapy for severely fatigued breast cancer survivors (CHANGE-study): study protocol

Posted on October 27, 2015 by






BACKGROUND: About one third of breast cancer survivors suffer from persistent severe fatigue after completion of curative cancer treatment. Face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy (F2F CBT), especially designed for fatigue in cancer survivors, was found effective in reducing fatigue. However, this intervention is intensive and treatment capacity is limited. To extend treatment options, a web-based version of CBT requiring less therapist time was developed. This intervention is aimed at… Continue reading →

Tagged | Leave a comment

Long-term effects of goal disturbance and adjustment on well-being in cancer patients.

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Janse M, Sprangers MA, Ranchor AV, Fleer J






Long-term effects of goal disturbance and adjustment on well-being in cancer patients.

Qual Life Res. 2015 Oct 7;

Authors: Janse M, Sprangers MA, Ranchor AV, Fleer J

Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of personal goal disturbance after cancer diagnosis on well-being over time, and a possible moderating role of goal adjustment tendencies and actual goal adjustment strategies.
METHODS: Participants (n = 186) were interviewed three times: within a month, 7 months (treatment period), and 18 months (follow-up period) after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Participants were asked to freely mention three to ten personal goals. Goal disturbance was assessed by the patients’ ratings of the amount of hindrance experienced in goal achievement. Goal adjustment tendencies were assessed using the Goal Disengagement and Re-engagement Scale and actual goal adjustment (i.e. goal flexibility) by the number of goal adjustment strategies used. Outcome measures were overall quality of life and emotional functioning, assessed with the cancer-specific EORTC QLQ-C30.
RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analyses showed that goal disturbance predicted well-being over both the treatment and the follow-up period. Additionally, the negative effect of goal disturbance on well-being was less for patients who scored higher on goal disengagement and not significant for patients who were more flexible in their use of actual goal adjustment strategies.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to test the theoretical assumption that goal adjustment is beneficial after goal disturbance. Whereas these findings need to be confirmed in future research, the possibly beneficial role of goal disengagement and actual goal adjustment strategies can be used for psychological interventions.

PMID: 26446093 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

Continue reading →

Posted in Qual Life Res | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Role of Patients’ Age on Their Preferences for Choosing Additional Blood Pressure-Lowering Drugs: A Discrete Choice Experiment in Patients with Diabetes.

Posted on October 10, 2015 by






Related Articles

The Role of Patients’ Age on Their Preferences for Choosing Additional Blood Pressure-Lowering Drugs: A Discrete Choice Experiment in Patients with Diabetes.

PLoS One. 2015;10(10):e0139755

Authors: de Vries ST, de Vries FM, Dekker T, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM, de Zeeuw D, Ranchor AV, Denig P

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess whether patients’ willingness to add a blood pressure-lowering drug and the importance they attach to specific treatment characteristics differ among age groups in patients with type 2 diabetes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients being prescribed at least an oral glucose-lowering and a blood pressure-lowering drug completed a questionnaire including a discrete choice experiment. This experiment contained choice sets with hypothetical blood pressure-lowering drugs and a no additional drug alternative, which differed in their characteristics (i.e. effects and intake moments). Differences in willingness to add a drug were compared between patients <75 years (non-aged) and ≥75 years (aged) using Pearson χ2-tests. Multinomial logit models were used to assess and compare the importance attached to the characteristics.
RESULTS: Of the 161 patients who completed the questionnaire, 151 (72%) could be included in the analyses (mean age 68 years; 42% female). Aged patients were less willing to add a drug than non-aged patients (67% versus 84% respectively; P = 0.017). In both age groups, the effect on blood pressure was most important for choosing a drug, followed by the risk of adverse drug events and the risk of death. The effect on limitations due to stroke was only significant in the non-aged group. The effect on blood pressure was slightly more important in the non-aged than the aged group (P = 0.043).
CONCLUSIONS: Aged patients appear less willing to add a preventive drug than non-aged patients. The importance attached to various treatment characteristics does not seem to differ much among age groups.

PMID: 26445349 [PubMed – in process]

Continue reading →

Posted in PLoS One | Leave a comment

Long-term effects of goal disturbance and adjustment on well-being in cancer patients

Posted on October 9, 2015 by






CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to test the theoretical assumption that goal adjustment is beneficial after goal disturbance. Whereas these findings need to be confirmed in future research, the possibly beneficial role of goal disengagement and actual goal adjustment strategies can be used for psychological interventions. Continue reading →

Tagged | Leave a comment

The Role of Patients’ Age on Their Preferences for Choosing Additional Blood Pressure-Lowering Drugs: A Discrete Choice Experiment in Patients with Diabetes

Posted on October 8, 2015 by






CONCLUSIONS: Aged patients appear less willing to add a preventive drug than non-aged patients. The importance attached to various treatment characteristics does not seem to differ much among age groups. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Caregivers’ attentional bias to pain: does it affect caregiver accuracy in detecting patient pain behaviors?

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Mohammadi S, Dehghani M, Khatibi A, Sanderman R, Hagedoorn M






Related Articles
Caregivers’ attentional bias to pain: does it affect caregiver accuracy in detecting patient pain behaviors?
Pain. 2015 Jan;156(1):123-30
Authors: Mohammadi S, Dehghani M, Khatibi A, Sanderman R, Hag… Continue reading →

Posted in Pain | Tagged | Leave a comment