BackgroundIn the coming decades the number of older people increases and correspondingly the number of people with chronic conditions. Chronic conditions can have a significant impact on the quality of life of elderly and their family caregivers. They face a lifelong challenge with the illnesses, treatments, …

Over a period of 5 years (2006-2010) there was an increase of more than 600% in performed hip arthroscopies. During hip arthroscopy a perineal post is placed between the legs, to counter the generated pulling force and to make sure the patient stays in position. Due to this dislocation procedure several …

The general objective of this study was to develop a substantive theory of how good nurses in acute care tune in to patient preferences in their nursing decision-making, and what knowledge they deploy in doing so.

Objective: Kidney transplant recipients face many self-management challenges. We aimed to identify profiles of attitudes towards self-management support (SMS) shortly after kidney transplantation. Methods: Profiles were generated using Q-methodology: In face-to-face interviews participants rankordered opinion …

Abstract Background: Currently, health care and medical decision-making at the end of life for older people are often insufficiently patient-centred. In this trial we study the effects of Advance Care Planning (ACP), a formalised process of timely communication about care preferences at the end of life, …

Objective To describe communication between pharmacy staff and patients at the counter in outpatient pharmacies. Both content and communication style were investigated. Methods Pharmaceutical encounters in three outpatient pharmacies in the Netherlands were video-recorded. Videos were analyzed based …

Background: The majority of patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer are in a position to choose between having a mastectomy or lumpectomy with radiation therapy (breast-conserving therapy). Since the long-term survival rates for mastectomy and for lumpectomy with radiation therapy are comparable, …

AimsKnowledge of patient preferences is vital for delivering optimal healthcare. This study uses utility measurement to assess the preferences of heart failure (HF) patients regarding quality of life or longevity. The utility approach represents the perspective of a patient; facilitates the combination …

Thirty years ago, in the summer of 1982, I was introduced to pediatric nursing during my internship in the Sophia Children’s Hospital, Academic Hospital Rotterdam (now Erasmus MC). One of my unforgettable patients was Dirk, a 24-year-old man with cystic fibrosis (CF), who spent his time in hospital in …

As important users of health care, adolescents with chronic conditions deserve to be consulted about their experiences and expectations. This study aimed to explore chronically ill adolescents’ preferences regarding providers' qualities, and outpatient and inpatient care. Furthermore, suggestions for …