Informal caregivers of the frail elderly often experience the demands placed on them as a heavy burden and a threat to their quality of life. Informal care refers to the unprofessional and unpaid assistance provided by partners, family or close friends. Frail elderly people suffer from age-related problems …

Abstract Background: Integrated disease management with self-management for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is effective to improve clinical outcomes. eHealth can improve patients’ involvement to be able to accept and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Eventhough there is mixed evidence of …

PURPOSE: Patients with chronic Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) report symptoms and disability. Neither the relationship between self-reported disability and functional capacity, nor its predictors have been investigated in patients with WAD. This was the purpose of this study. METHOD: This was a …

Background: Changes in reimbursement have been compelling for Dutch primary care practices to apply a disease management approach for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This approach includes individual patient consultations with a practice nurse, who coaches patients in COPD …

In the Netherlands an innovative programme for early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary care among patients aged 40–70 years has been evaluated in both an effect study and a pilot implementation study. Health-care providers identified four obstacles for successful implementation …

The aim of this study was to assess the association between prescription changes frequency (PCF) and hospital admissions and to compare the PCF to the Chronic Disease Score (CDS). The CDS measures comorbidity on the basis of the 1-year pharmacy dispensing data. In contrast, the PCF is based on prescriptionchanges …

There is no strong evidence to support the claim that 80% to 90% of patients with low back pain (LBP) become pain-free within 1 month; on average, 62% (range42%–75%) of the patients still experienced back pain after 12 months.1 Studies following patients over a 12-month period have shown that LBP is …

Maintaining a proper lifestyle is important for chronic kidney disease patients. This study investigates whether an online lifestyle diary supplementary to the support received in the outpatient clinic can help patients to get to such a lifestyle. A total of 33 participants expressed their willingness …

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of instruments that claim to detect submaximal capacity when maximal capacity is requested in patients with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several instruments have been developed to measure capacity …

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of instruments that claim to detect submaximal capacity when maximal capacity is requested in patients with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several instruments have been developed to measure capacity …