Researchers from University of Oslo Report Findings in Clinical Trials and Studies (Continuity of care and its effect on readmissions for COPD…

Researchers from University of Oslo Report Findings in Clinical Trials and Studies (Continuity of care and its effect on readmissions for COPD patients: A comparative study of Norway and Germany)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Clinical Trials Week -- Research findings on Clinical Research - Clinical Trials and Studies are discussed in a new report. According to news originating from Oslo, Norway, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, "This study compares continuity of care between Germany- a social health insurance country, and Norway- a national health service country with gatekeeping and patient lists for COPD patients before and after initial hospitalization. We also investigate how subsequent readmissions are affected."

Financial support for this research came from Norwegian Research Council (see also Clinical Research - Clinical Trials and Studies).

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Oslo, "Continuity of Care Index (COCI), Usual Provider Index (UPC) and Sequential Continuity Index (SECON) were calculated using insurance claims and national register data (2009-14). These indices were used in negative binomial and logistic regressions to estimate incident rate ratios (IRR) and odds ratios (OR) for comparing readmissions. All continuity indices were significantly lower in Norway. One year readmissions were significantly higher in Germany, whereas 30-day rates were not. All indices measured one year after discharge were negatively associated with one-year readmissions for both countries. Significant associations between indices measured before hospitalization and readmissions were only observed in Norway - all indices for one-year readmissions and SECON for 30-day readmissions. Our findings indicate higher continuity is associated with reductions in readmissions following initial COPD admission. This is observed both before and after hospitalization in a system with gatekeeping and patient lists, yet only after for a system lacking such arrangements."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "These results emphasize the need for policy strategies to further investigate and promote care continuity in order to reduce hospital readmission burden for COPD patients."

For more information on this research see: Continuity of care and its effect on readmissions for COPD patients: A comparative study of Norway and Germany. Health Policy, 2018;122(7):737-745. Health Policy can be contacted at: Elsevier Ireland Ltd, Elsevier House, Brookvale Plaza, East Park Shannon, Co, Clare, 00000, Ireland. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Health Policy - www.journals.elsevier.com/health-policy/)

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from J.O. Swanson, University of Oslo, Dept. of Hlth Econ & Hlth Management, Inst Hlth & Soc, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway. Additional authors for this research include V. Vogt, L. Sundmacher, T.P. Hagen and T.A. Moger.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2018.05.013. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Keywords for this news article include: Oslo, Norway, Europe, Clinical Trials and Studies, Health and Medicine, Clinical Research, University of Oslo.

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