Gall's visit to The Netherlands.

Reducing Inter-Laboratory Differences between Semen Analyses Using Z Score and Regression Transformations

Background Standardization of the semen analysis may improve reproducibility. We assessed variability between laboratories in semen analyses and evaluated whether a transformation using Z scores and regression statistics was able to reduce this variability. MaterialsAndMethods We performed a retrospective cohort study. We calculated between-laboratory coefficients of variation (CVB) for sperm c...

Sustainability of Long-term Care: Puzzling Tasks Ahead for Policy-Makers

Background The sustainability of long-term care (LTC) is a prominent policy priority in many Western countries. LTC is one of the most pressing fiscal issues for the growing population of elderly people in the European Union (EU) Member States. Country recommendations regarding LTC are prominent under the EU’s European Semester.   Methods This paper examines challenges related to the financial-...

Evidence-Informed Deliberative Processes – Early Dialogue, Broad Focus and Relevance: A Response to Recent Commentaries

Hospital Choice for Cataract Treatments: The Winner Takes Most

Background Transparency in quality of care is an increasingly important issue in healthcare. In many international healthcare systems, transparency in quality is crucial for health insurers when purchasing care on behalf of their consumers, for providers to improve the quality of care (if necessary), and for consumers to choose their provider in case treatment is needed. Conscious consume...

Need for Optimisation of Immunisation Strategies Targeting Invasive Meningococcal Disease in the Netherlands

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a severe bacterial infectious disease with high mortality and morbidity rates worldwide. In recent years, industrialised countries have implemented vaccines targeting IMD in their National Immunisation Programmes (NIPs). In 2002, the Netherlands successfully implemented a single dose of meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine at the age of 14 months a...