187 Background: Controversy exists about progression free survival (PFS) as an endpoint in novel cancer therapy trials. PFS is attractive for practical and methodological reasons but is not always a surrogate for overall survival. It is debatable whether or not PFS has discernable clinical benefit for patients (pts), the main treatment (tmt) goal. Also overlooked are pt perceptions. Few trials ...

shiftwork that affects diverse aspects of human life is arranged in various schedules. the main purpose of this study was to compare psycho-social problems among employees working in different 12-hour shift schedules of iranian petrochemical industries. this cross-sectional study was carried out at eight petrochemical companies in asalooyeh area. the study population consisted of 549 shift work...

Japan's universal and egalitarian health care system helps to keep its population healthy at an exceptionally low cost. Its financing and delivery systems have been adapted over the years in a gradual way that preserves balance. In particular, its mandatory fee schedule has proved to be effective in controlling spending by manipulating prices. Today, with severe fiscal problems, pressures are m...

This study analyzes changes in Medicaid physician fees from 1990 to 1993. Data were collected on maximum allowable Medicaid fees in 1993 and compared with similar 1990 Medicaid data as well as the fully phased-in Medicare Fee Schedule (MFS). The results suggest that, on average, Medicaid fees have grown roughly 14 percent, but considerable variation continues to exist in how well Medicaid progr...

OBJECTIVES Since 2006 France experiences an innovative version of Gate-keeping which aims at regulating access to outpatient specialist care. We describe the reform's initial objectives, the political pathway which lead to the implementation of a reshaped reform and discuss the first outcomes after 1 year implementation. In the conclusion, we try to catch a glimpse for future steps of the refor...

A key element in the construction of a physician fee schedule is the underlying relative value scale (RVS). The focus in this article is on the development and comparison of RVS's based on alternative data sources and construction methods. Results suggest that medical procedures' values are preserved across alternative charge-based RVS's. Some differences are observed, however, when comparing p...

This paper investigates a puzzle and possible policy concern: Why do platforms such as eBay and Visa that enable the trade of goods of different unobserved costs and valuations rely predominantly on linear ad-valorem fees, that is, fees that increase in proportion to the sale price of the trades that they enable? Under a broad class of demand functions, we show that a linear ad-valorem fee sche...

BACKGROUND This paper uses the concepts of organisational culture and organisational trust to explore the implementation of equity-oriented policies - the Uniform Patient Fee Schedule (UPFS) and Patients' Rights Charter (PRC) - in two South African district hospitals. It contributes to the small literatures on organisational culture and trust in low- and middle-income country health systems, an...

Project communication is one of the most important factors that contributes to success projects. The International Non Governmental Organizational (INGOs) in Rwanda has highlighted significant role management and its This study examined effect project practices on performance INGOs projects Rwanda. specific objectives were assess participatory communication, results-driven multi-channelled INGO...