Publications

A number of barriers to the implementation of evidence-based practice have already been inventoried. However, little attention has been given to the context-specific nature of these barriers. This qualitative evidence synthesis examines commonalities in the obstacles perceived by different groups of health care practitioners working in the Belgian health care system and sets out to discuss potential strategies to bridge these country specific ...

BACKGROUND: Trials are vital in informing routine clinical care; however, current designs have major deficiencies. An overview of the various challenges that face modern clinical research and the methods that can be exploited to solve these challenges, in the context of personalised cancer treatment in the 21st century is provided. AIM: The purpose of this manuscript, without intending to be comprehensive, is to spark thought whilst presenting ...

In Burkina Faso, Burundi and Niger, the policy to remove user fees for primary care was carried out through significant adjustments in public financial management (PFM). The paper analyzes the PFM adjustments by stage of the budget cycle and describes their importance for health financing. The three countries shifted from input-based to program-based allocation for primary care facility compensation, allowed service providers autonomy to access ...

Increasing health care needs and new technology put long term sustainability of western health systems as they currently operate, into question. One instrument to redesign the health system is the reform and purposive use of supply side financial incentives, which are inherent to (mixed) healthcare payment systems. There is room for improvement in quality of care performance. Therefore, incentives that reduce overuse, underuse and misuse may be ...

Accessible Summary What is known on the subject Internationally, research and policy agendas recommend that family caregivers of service users in mental health care be involved in care and treatment, to support the service user's recovery process. Family caregivers of service users in mental health care are often highly burdened. There is a lack of research-based knowledge about the experiences of family caregivers of service users in forensic ...

PurposeClustering of patients in databases is usually ignored in one-stage meta-analysis of multi-database studies using matched case-control data. The aim of this study was to compare bias and efficiency of such a one-stage meta-analysis with a two-stage meta-analysis. MethodsFirst, we compared the approaches by generating matched case-control data under 5 simulated scenarios, built by varying: (1) the exposure-outcome association; (2) its ...

Context: Health care technological evolution through new drugs, implants and other interventions is a key driver of healthcare spending. Policy makers are currently challenged to strengthen the evidence for and cost-effectiveness of reimbursement decisions, while not reducing the capacity for real innovations. This article examines six cases of reimbursement decision making at the national health insurance authority in Belgium, with outcomes ...