First results of the 34 research projects founded are out.
The first research results of the projects founded by NRP 74 are available. Further study results are expected this year.
The projects, started at two different times (2017 and 2019), are being funded for between two and five years. They are also expected to finish at different times.
List of completed projects:
Project 13: Closure of general practices
The closure of general practices can lead to regional undersupply and more costly consultations
The study by Prof. Dr. Michael Gerfin and his team shows that 12 percent of consultations are lost as a result of the closure of GP practices. Only a quarter to half of these are replaced by treatment with a specialist or in hospital. As a result, the costs per consultation increase by five percent, but remain the same overall due to the reduced number.
More information on the study:
Project 14: Antibiotic-therapy
Gleichbleibende Wirkung auch bei halbierter Antibiotika-Behandlungsdauer
Dr. MD Angela Huttner and her team demonstrated by means of a randomized controlled trial carried out at point of care and using data from patients’ electronic health records that even when antibiotics are administered for half the time, the same good results can be achieved in the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial bloodstream infections as with a "classic" therapy that takes twice as long. Thanks to halving the duration of treatment, both health side effects and the formation of antibiotic resistance can be reduced.
More information on the study:
Project 16: Palliative Care
Cantonal differences make it difficult to form regional palliative care networks
There is little validated knowledge in Switzerland about how palliative care networks operate. The study by Prof. Dr. Brigitte Liebig and her team shows that palliative care has made great progress in recent years. Nevertheless, there are numerous challenges with regard to the formation of regional networks, interprofessional cooperation and the coordinating role of caregivers. Reasons for this include a lack of financial backing, but also a lack of "collobrative thinking" in the field of palliative care practice.
More information on the study:
Project 23: Financial incentives
Financial incentives only indirectly influence the quality of treatment for diabetes
The controlled randomized study by Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Rosemann and his team could not prove a direct influence of financial incentives on the quality of diabetes treatment in general practices. However, it showed that the intervention can have a positive effect on other quality indicators, regardless of financial incentives.
More information on the study:
Further results are expected in the course of the year.