Influenza A viruses circulated in Europe from September 2023 to January 2024, with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 predominance. We provide interim 2023/24 influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) estimates from two European studies, covering 10 countries across primary care (EU-PC) and hospital (EU-H) settings. Interim IVE was higher against A(H1N1)pdm09 than A(H3N2): EU-PC influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 IVE was 53% (95% CI: 41 to 63) and 30% (95% CI: -3 to 54) against influenza A(H3N2). For EU-H, these were 44% (95% CI: 30 to 55) and 14% (95% CI: -32 to 43), respectively.

• Klíčová slova
• Europe, influenza, multicentre study, test-negative design, vaccine effectiveness,
• MeSH
• chřipka lidská * epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemocnice MeSH
• primární zdravotní péče MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• vakcíny proti chřipce * MeSH
• virus chřipky A, podtyp H1N1 * MeSH
• virus chřipky A, podtyp H3N2 MeSH
• virus chřipky B MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• vakcíny proti chřipce * MeSH

AIM: To describe variation in task shifting from GPs to practice assistants/nurses in 34 countries and to explain differences by analysing associations with characteristics of the GPs and their practices and features of the health care systems. BACKGROUND: Redistribution of tasks and responsibilities in primary care are driven by changes in demand, such as the growing number of patients with chronic conditions, and workforce developments, including staff shortage. The need to manage an expanding range of services has led to adaptations in the skill-mix of primary care teams. These developments are hampered by barriers between professional domains. METHODS: Data were collected between 2011 and 2013 through a cross-sectional survey among approximately 7,200 general practitioners (GPs) in 34 countries. Task shifting is measured through a composite score of GPs' self-reported shifting of tasks. Independent variables at GP and practice level are as follows: innovativeness; part-time working; availability of staff; location and population of the practice. Country-level independent variables are as follows: demand for and supply of care, nurse prescribing, and professionalisation of practice assistants/nurses. Multilevel analysis is used to account for clustering of GPs in countries. FINDINGS: Countries vary in the degree of task shifting. Regarding GP and practice characteristics, use of electronic health records and availability of support staff in the practice are positively associated with task shifting and GPs' working hours negatively, in line with our hypotheses. Age of the GPs is, contrary to our hypothesis, positively related to task shifting. These variables explain 11% of the variance at GP level. Two country variables are related to task shifting: a lower percentage of practices without support staff in a country and nurse prescribing rights coincide with more task shifting. The percentage of practices without support staff has the strongest relationship, explaining 73% of the country variation.

• Klíčová slova
• general practice, international comparison, practice nurse, primary care, task shifting,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• poskytování zdravotní péče MeSH
• praktické lékařství * MeSH
• praktičtí lékaři * MeSH
• primární zdravotní péče MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are one of the leading causes of lower respiratory tract infections and have a major burden on society. For prevention and control to be deployed effectively, an improved understanding of the seasonality of RSV is necessary. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to contribute to a better understanding of RSV seasonality by examining the GERi multi-country surveillance dataset. METHODS: RSV seasons were included in the analysis if they contained ≥100 cases. Seasonality was determined using the "average annual percentage" method. Analyses were performed at a subnational level for the United States and Brazil. RESULTS: We included 601 425 RSV cases from 12 countries. Most temperate countries experienced RSV epidemics in the winter, with a median duration of 10-21 weeks. Not all epidemics fit this pattern in a consistent manner, with some occurring later or in an irregular manner. More variation in timing was observed in (sub)tropical countries, and we found substantial differences in seasonality at a subnational level. No association was found between the timing of the epidemic and the dominant RSV subtype. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that geographical location or climatic characteristics cannot be used as a definitive predictor for the timing of RSV epidemics and highlight the need for (sub)national data collection and analysis.

• Klíčová slova
• epidemiology, respiratory syncytial virus, seasonality, surveillance,
• MeSH
• epidemie * MeSH
• infekce dýchací soustavy * epidemiologie   MeSH
• infekce respiračními syncytiálními viry * epidemiologie   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lidský respirační syncytiální virus * MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Spojené státy americké epidemiologie   MeSH

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of acute respiratory tract infections. To optimize control strategies, a better understanding of the global epidemiology of RSV is critical. To this end, we initiated the Global Epidemiology of RSV in Hospitalized and Community care study (GERi). METHODS: Focal points from 44 countries were approached to join GERi and share detailed RSV surveillance data. Countries completed a questionnaire on the characteristics of their surveillance system. RESULTS: Fifteen countries provided granular surveillance data and information on their surveillance system. A median (interquartile range) of 1641 (552-2415) RSV cases per season were reported from 2000 and 2020. The majority (55%) of RSV cases occurred in the <1-year-olds, with 8% of cases reported in those aged ≥65 years. Hospitalized cases were younger than those in community care. We found no age difference between RSV subtypes and no clear pattern of dominant subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: The high number of cases in the <1-year-olds indicates a need to focus prevention efforts in this group. The minimal differences between RSV subtypes and their co-circulation implies that prevention needs to target both subtypes. Importantly, there appears to be a lack of RSV surveillance data in the elderly.

• Klíčová slova
• epidemiology: RSV, respiratory infections, surveillance,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) are the number one cause of death. Selective prevention of CMDs by general practitioners (GPs) could help reduce the burden of CMDs. This measure would entail the identification of individuals at high risk of CMDs-but currently asymptomatic-followed by interventions to reduce their risk. No data were available on the attitude and the extent to which European GPs have incorporated selective CMD prevention into daily practice. METHODS: A survey among 575 GPs from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands and Sweden was conducted between September 2016 and January 2017, within the framework of the SPIMEU-project. RESULTS: On average, 71% of GPs invited their patients to attend for CMD risk assessment. Some used an active approach (47%) while others used an opportunistic approach (53%), but these values differed between countries. Most GPs considered selective CMD prevention as useful (82%) and saw it as part of their normal duties (84%). GPs who did find selective prevention useful were more likely to actively invite individuals compared with their counterparts who did not find prevention useful. Most GPs had a disease management programme for individuals with risk factor(s) for cardiovascular disease (71%) or diabetes (86%). CONCLUSIONS: Although most GPs considered selective CMD prevention as useful, it was not universally implemented. The biggest challenge was the process of inviting individuals for risk assessment. It is important to tailor the implementation of selective CMD prevention in primary care to the national context, involving stakeholders at different levels.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kardiovaskulární nemoci epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lékařská praxe - způsoby provádění statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• postoj zdravotnického personálu * MeSH
• praktičtí lékaři psychologie   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• primární zdravotní péče statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Dánsko epidemiologie   MeSH
• Nizozemsko epidemiologie   MeSH
• Řecko epidemiologie   MeSH
• Švédsko epidemiologie   MeSH

The aim of this study is to identify potential facilitators and barriers for health care professionals to undertake selective prevention of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in primary health care. We developed a search string for Medline, Embase, Cinahl and PubMed. We also screened reference lists of relevant articles to retain barriers and facilitators for prevention of CMD. We found 19 qualitative studies, 7 quantitative studies and 2 mixed qualitative and quantitative studies. In terms of five overarching categories, the most frequently reported barriers and facilitators were as follows: Structural (barriers: time restraints, ineffective counselling and interventions, insufficient reimbursement and problems with guidelines; facilitators: feasible and effective counselling and interventions, sufficient assistance and support, adequate referral, and identification of obstacles), Organizational (barriers: general organizational problems, role of practice, insufficient IT support, communication problems within health teams and lack of support services, role of staff, lack of suitable appointment times; facilitators: structured practice, IT support, flexibility of counselling, sufficient logistic/practical support and cooperation with allied health staff/community resources, responsibility to offer and importance of prevention), Professional (barriers: insufficient counselling skills, lack of knowledge and of experience; facilitators: sufficient training, effective in motivating patients), Patient-related factors (barriers: low adherence, causes problems for patients; facilitators: strong GP-patient relationship, appreciation from patients), and Attitudinal (barriers: negative attitudes to prevention; facilitators: positive attitudes of importance of prevention). We identified several frequently reported barriers and facilitators for prevention of CMD, which may be used in designing future implementation and intervention studies.

• MeSH
• kardiovaskulární nemoci prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• kvalitativní výzkum MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• metabolické nemoci prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• postoj zdravotnického personálu MeSH
• primární zdravotní péče * MeSH
• služby preventivní péče metody   MeSH
• zdravotnický personál * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• systematický přehled MeSH

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The increase in the proportion of elderly people and a consequent increase in the demand for care have caused healthcare systems to become overloaded. This paper describes the use of Home Care Quality Indicators (HCQIs), derived from the Minimum Data Set for Home Care, for monitoring quality of care. Research questions were, "Do HCQI scores vary between home care organizations in different countries?" and "Are one or more country-specific sites consistently scoring better on most or all HCQIs"? METHODS: a cross-sectional observational study of 65+ randomly selected clients of home care organizations in urban areas in 11 European countries who had been receiving home care for at least two weeks. Data were collected with the MDS-HC. The scoring of 16 prevalent quality indicators for home care, adjusted for population differences, was calculated with baseline data. RESULTS: Population size at baseline was 4,007 clients. Among home care clients in Europe, "rehabilitation potential in Activities of Daily Living and no therapies" (average 75.9%) and "inadequate pain control" were the most common quality problems. The prevalence between populations studied in various countries varied substantially. No country-specific site consistently scored worst or best. CONCLUSIONS: HCQIs derived from the MDS-HC detect variance in quality scores between home care in the 11 partner countries. The highest prevalence of unwanted outcomes were most often found in the Czech Republic, Italy and Germany. Although further research is necessary, we believe that HCQIs may be of great value for quality improvement in home care.

• MeSH
• činnosti denního života MeSH
• kliniky pro terapii bolesti MeSH
• kvalita zdravotní péče normy   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• služby domácí péče normy   MeSH
• ukazatele kvality zdravotní péče normy   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Itálie MeSH
• Německo MeSH