ObjectiveTo evaluate two different methods to obtain a dead (0)—full health (1) scale for EQ-5D-5L valuation studies when using discrete choice (DC) modeling.MethodThe study was carried out among 400 respondents from Barcelona who were representative of the Spanish population in terms of age, sex, and level of education. The DC design included 50 pairs of health states in five blocks. Participants were forced to choose between two EQ-5D-5L states (A and B). Two extra questions concerned whether A and B were considered worse than dead. Each participant performed ten choice exercises. In addition, values were collected using lead-time trade-off (lead-time TTO), for which 100 states in ten blocks were selected. Each participant performed five lead-time TTO exercises. These consisted of DC models offering the health state ‘dead’ as one of the choices—for which all participants’ responses were used (DCdead)—and a model that included only the responses of participants who chose at least one state as worse than dead (WTD) (DCWTD). The study also estimated DC models rescaled with lead-time TTO data and a lead-time TTO linear model.ResultsThe DCdead and DCWTD models produced relatively similar results, although the coefficients in the DCdead model were slightly lower. The DC model rescaled with lead-time TTO data produced higher utility decrements. Lead-time TTO produced the highest utility decrements.ConclusionsThe incorporation of the state ‘dead’ in the DC models produces results in concordance with DC models that do not include ‘dead’.

Background: Physical activity is associated with mental health benefits. This systematic literature review summarises extant evidence regarding this association, and explores differences observed between populations over sixty-five years and those younger than sixty-five. Methods: We reviewed articles and grey literature reporting at least one measure of physical activity and at least one mental disorder, in people of all ages. Results: From the 2263 abstracts screened, we extracted twenty-seven articles and synthesized the evidence regarding the association between physical (in)activity and one or more mental health outcome measures. We confirmed that physical activity is beneficial for mental health. However, the evidence was mostly based on self-reported physical activity and mental health measures. Only one study compared younger and elder populations, finding that increasing the level of physical activity improved mental health for middle aged and elder women (no association was observed for younger women). Studies including only the elderly found a restricted mental health improvement due to physical activity. Conclusions: We found inverse associations between levels of physical activity and mental health problems. However, more evidence regarding the effect of ageing when measuring associations between physical activity and mental health is needed. By doing so, prescription of physical activity could be more accurately targeted.

Background and aimsPathological gambling (PG) is an impulse control disorder. This study assessed the burden of co-occurring behavioral addictions and mental health disorders in treatment-seeking patients and estimated the likelihood of receiving care for these disorders by clinician specialty.MethodsStudy data were derived from the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database, a representative database, for the period 2009–2013. The sample included commercially insured adult residents of Massachusetts. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to estimate the likelihood of provision of care by clinician specialty adjusting for patient’s demographic characteristics and level of care. Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust for multiple testing.ResultsThe study sample included 869 patients. Treatment-seeking patients who had a diagnosis of PG were mostly males (71%), aged 45–54 years (26.7%) and enrolled in a health maintenance organization (47%). The most prevalent co-occurring disorders among patients with PG as principal diagnosis were anxiety disorders (28%), mood disorders (26%), and substance use disorders (18%). PG was associated with a more than twofold likelihood of receiving care from social workers and psychologists (p < .05). Depressive disorders were associated with a three times greater likelihood of receiving care from primary care physicians (PCPs) (p < .05). Having three and four or more diagnosis was associated with a greater likelihood of receiving care from PCPs.Discussion and conclusionsPsychiatric and substance use disorders are prevalent among treatment-seeking pathological gamblers. The likelihood of receiving care from specialty clinicians significantly varies by clinical diagnosis and patient clinical complexity.

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Background: Diabetes affects more than 400 million people around the world. Few published studies incorporate questionnaires that comprehensively cover every aspect of a patient’s experience of healthcare. This study analyzes potential differences in the healthcare experience for patients with diabetes based on their sociodemographic, economic, and health-related characteristics from a comprehensive viewpoint in an integrated delivery system. Methods: We used data from the 2018 Basque Health Survey, which includes a questionnaire for the measurement of the experiences of patients with chronic problems. We present descriptive and regression analyses to explore differences by sociodemographic, economic, and health-related characteristics of patients’ experiences with different healthcare services. Results: Having diabetes plus other comorbidities significantly decreases the quality of the experience with all healthcare services and decreases the global healthcare experience score. When comorbidities are present, the elderly seem to report better experiences than younger patients. Some differences in experience can be explained by sociodemographic and economic factors. No differences exist between conditions co-occurring with diabetes. Conclusion: Patients with diabetes who also suffer from other conditions report worse experiences than individuals who suffer from diabetes only. No specific conditions explain the differences in care experience.