| We are pleased to present our fourth international newsletter. It provides up-to-date information concerning CoRe-Net ‒ a competence network connecting scientific practice and research in Cologne.
For further information on CoRe-Net, please visit our English website. Content: 2. Report: 2nd application phase 3. News from the CoRe-Net subprojects 3.1. LYOL-C 4. Outlook 1. Project start of K-APAT On 1st April the project K-APAT was started, which is carried out in cooperation with CoRe-Net and deals with outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy in the Cologne metropolitan region. We are looking forward to an exciting time together and relevant results for CoRe-Net and the care in Cologne! At the general meeting K-APAT will introduce itself. A short project description can be found here. 2. Report: 2nd application phase In January, the application for CoRe-Net’s second funding period was submitted. On March 12, the scientific director of the LYOL-C project, Prof. Raymond Voltz, and the CoRe-Net coordinator, Dr. Nadine Scholten, presented the project to the national and international reviewers appointed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). For the second funding phase, the previous experiences and findings of the first phase will be used to design and carry out a minimally invasive intervention based on the Trigger Question Technique. In addition, the CoRe-Net database will be further expanded. A presentation of the entire project and the further orientation of CoRe-Net took place during the general meeting. 3. News from the CoRe-Net subprojects 3.1. LYOL-C The survey results show that satisfaction with the overall care provided by all participating service providers is high (42 % good, 49 % rather good, 7 % rather poor, 2 % poor). However, if one considers the ratings of the individual caregivers, it can be seen that comparatively more bad experiences were made in hospitals (general and intensive care departments). On the other hand, palliative care providers* (hospice, SAPV service, palliative care unit) received the best ratings. In many cases, relatives acted as central coordinators. Consequently, the wish was expressed for a continuous contact person. Lack of resources led to a fragmentation of the care process and thus to burdens on patients and relatives. Meanwhile, three focus groups have been conducted at the Center for Palliative Medicine in cooperation with OrgValue. This involved doctors, decision-makers and nurses. The aim of the focus groups was the joint reflection of previous results from the perspective of the service providers. In addition, challenges and possibilities for optimizing care in the last year of life were discussed. The focus groups are currently being transcribed, evaluated and prepared for publication. We are currently writing on several publications. The project was represented with one lecture (Prof. Voltz) at this year’s Cologne Prevention Day in Gürzenich, as well as with two lectures at the “World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care”. Read more here. 3.2. MenDis-CHD The recruitment was completed at the end of March 2019 and includes a total of 368 patients distributed across the three study sites. The study population included 30 % women and 30 % patients with a heart ejection rate of less than 40 %. The MenDis-CHD study protocol was successfully accepted and has now been published by BMC Psychology. Read more here. The qualitative part of the study was also completed by 20 interviews with patients, 20 interviews with relatives and several face-to-face interviews as well as focus groups of practitioners. Further analyses on correlations and influencing factors are currently being carried out. Recruitment data are currently being adjusted and analyzed. An evaluation of the qualitative study data is in progress. Read more here. 3.3. OrgValue The scientific article on the results of the interview study with patients will be submitted shortly for publication in an international journal. The quantitative postal survey of 1790 decision-makers in cologne care organizations has been completed. The response rate was 13 %. Read more here. 3.4. K-APAT On April 1, the project supported by the Innovation Fund for the use of i.v. antibiotic therapy at home (OPAT) has started. In numerous infections, antibiotics are injected directly into the bloodstream as an infusion. In Germany, this is traditionally done in hospitals. With the so-called APAT or OPAT, on the other hand, antibiotics are administered at home by patients themselves or by a caregiver. In this way, patients can stay in their familiar surroundings and live their everyday lives as usual. In spite of these and other advantages, APAT/OPAT is rarely carried out in Germany. In case of a successful evaluation, the project should help to identify the potential of APAT for Germany. If positive effects and feasibility can be demonstrated in the Cologne metropolitan region, APAT could become an important therapy option with many advantages for certain patients. The findings from this study as well as the developed concepts and structures can later be transferred nationwide. CoRe-Net is a co-applicant and the infectiology department of the University Hospital of Cologne is involved with the Cologne Infectiology Network. Read more here. 4. Outlook Health services research in Cologne: CoRe-Net invites On January 15, 2020, a symposium will be held at the Fritz Thyssen Foundation in Cologne. Current results from CoRe-Net are discussed and a common transfer to practice is being initiated. At once, we would like to take this opportunity to connect all healthservices researcher and interested health care providers to share their current projects and ideas. CoRe-Net, a BMBF-funded competence network of practice and research in Cologne invites all interested practitioners and researchers to present their projects in the field of healthservices research. Short project descriptions or abstracts can be submitted to www.core-net.uni-koeln.de or sent to Core-Net@uk-koeln.de by e-mail. The corresponding template can be found here. With best regards, Prof. Holger Pfaff and Dr. Nadine Scholten, on behalf of the applicants
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