Ongoing Projects uniham-bb
1. From Diagnosis to Prescription: Real-World Pain Management in Swiss Primary Care Contact: andreas.zeller@clutterunibas.ch Pain is a common reason for consultation in primary care, yet contemporary data on pain management in Swiss general practice remain limited. This study aims to describe pain-related diagnoses, analgesic prescribing patterns, and treatment duration in a nationally distributed sample of Swiss primary care practices. Using the Swiss Sentinella network, physicians will prospectively collect standardised data during routine consultations to capture real-world clinical practice. The findings will help identify potential overuse or underuse of analgesics and inform future clinical recommendations, education, and healthcare policy in Switzerland. In cooperation with the Sentinella of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) |
2. Patients’ Perspectives on Medical Student Teaching in Swiss General Practices Project lead: Andreas Zeller, Centre for Primary Health Care, University of Basel, Romina Häfelfinger, MD candidate Contact: andreas.zeller@clutterunibas.ch This Swiss cross-sectional study aims to investigate how patients experience and perceive the involvement of medical students in consultations in family medicine teaching practices. It will explore patients’ expectations, concerns, and satisfaction, focusing on factors such as communication, role clarification, privacy, and consultation efficiency. The project also aims to develop and evaluate a standardised questionnaire to systematically assess patient experiences and support quality improvement in undergraduate family medicine education. Additionally, the project will explore physicians' perspectives to identify opportunities to enhance patient-centred teaching and optimise the integration of medical students into everyday clinical practice. |
3. Survey of the General Practice Workforce in Switzerland 2025 Project lead: Andreas Zeller, Laura Diaz-Hernadez The aim is to obtain current data on working hours, working habits, motivations and plans, particularly regarding current and future workloads (employment levels). The survey should also make it possible to compare the current data with the first four Workforce studies (2005, 2010, 2015, 2020; https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2022.w30196), to identify trends, and to show possible effects of the political changes of recent years. Status as of October 2026: Main results published (doi: 10.23785/PRAXIS.2026.03.002.) Ongoing assessment of subgroups (paediatricians) |
4. Scientific Evaluation of the Basel Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Awareness Campaign Project lead: Pietro Cippà, Nephrology, University Hospital Basel and Andreas Zeller, Centre for Primary Health Care, University of Basel To determine whether the Basel CKD awareness campaign increases guideline-concordant CKD screening among individuals at high risk of CKD. Primary endpoint: Change in the number of albuminuria measurements performed in primary care before and after the campaign. Start in March 2027 |
5. The myCare Start-I project Project lead: Marie P. Schneider, University of Geneva University of Geneva: Research group on medication adherence and interprofessionality Cooperation with the Centre for Primary Care, Basel, Contact: Andreas Zeller The myCare Start-I project aims to improve medication adherence and patient care for chronic conditions through an interprofessional collaboration between general practitioners and pharmacists. The program offers two structured 10-minute consultations with a pharmacist during the first six weeks after initiating a new medication, complementing information provided by the prescribing physician. Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and other national organisations, the program is being implemented across German- and French-speaking Switzerland to strengthen medication safety, adherence, and quality of care. |
6. Do evidence-based fact sheets change the wish of patients for check-up examinations? A pragmatic before-after study from Swiss primary care. Project lead: Andreas Plate (Project leader), Giuseppe Pichierri (Project coordinator), Stefania Di Gangi (Statistician), Oliver Senn (senior scientist), Stefan Neuner-Jehle (PI) Co-Investigator: Andreas Zeller, Centre for Primary Care, Basel Patients’ expectations regarding preventive tests and procedures (PTPs) often differ from evidence-based recommendations, potentially leading to unnecessary investigations. This study aims to explore the characteristics, attitudes, and preferences of Swiss primary care patients attending preventive check-up consultations. Using a pre-post study design, it will investigate whether providing evidence-based fact sheets influences patients’ preferences for PTPs and promotes more evidence-aligned decision-making. |
7. Strengthening the Future of Family Medicine by Making the Hidden Curriculum Visible: The REVEAL-FM Study Lead: Andreas Plate, Institute of Family Medicine , Universty of Zürich Cooperation with the Centre for Primary Care, Basel, Contact: Andreas Zeller This Swiss multicentre study aims to investigate how the hidden curriculum in medical education—implicit messages, attitudes, and role models -shapes medical students’ perceptions of family medicine and their career preferences. Using prospective electronic diaries and pre- and post-study assessments, 58 students from seven Swiss medical schools will document and reflect on their experiences over one academic year. The findings will identify potentially modifiable influences within medical education and inform targeted strategies to strengthen the attractiveness of family medicine as a career and support the future Swiss primary care workforce. |
8. Individual diabetes care in patients with diabetes Type-2 admitted to hospital because of respiratory tract infection (INDICATE-2) A randomised, controlled, multicentre trial In collaboration as Co-PI, PI Prof. Dr. med. Jörg Leuppi, Kantonsspital Liestal, University of Basel. Responsible: Andreas Zeller, Contact: Andreas Zeller Investigate whether individual diabetes care improves patient outcome in diabetic adults hospitalized for acute lower respiratory tract infection (Pneumonia, COPD exacerbation with acute infection, SARS-CoV2, Influenza). |
9. Sustainable improvement of INTERprofessional care for better resident outcomes: SCAling up an Evidence-based care model for nursing homes (INTERSCALE) In collaboration with Institute for Nursing Science, University of Basel, (Prof. S. De Geest, Prof. M. Simon, Prof. F. Zuniga [PIs]) Responsible: Andreas Zeller (co-investigator), Contact: Andreas Zeller |
10. Implementation of a Community-based Care Program for Senior Citizens in Canton Basel-Landschaft, Switzeralnd (INSPIRE-ACT Project) In collaboration with the Institute for Nursing Science, University of Basel Spitex-Verband Baselland; Amt für Gesundheit Baselland Responsible: Andreas Zeller (co-investigator) Contact: Andreas Zeller Adapt, implement and evaluate an integrated care model for older adults living at home who are at risk of hospitalisation within the Spitex system. i) Evaluate the effectiveness of the INSPIRE-ACT care model among clients aged 75+ of Spitex Muttenz by assessing the evolution of the incidence of hospitalisations (primary outcome) and nursing home admissions, as well as changes in perceived person-centred care and HRQoL between baseline and 9 months (secondary outcomes). ii) Evaluate the INSPIRE-ACT care model’s implementation in one Spitex organisation of Canton BL a) by assessing implementation outcomes; b) by conducting a process evaluation. iii) Conduct a health-economic evaluation of the INSPIRE-ACT care model. |