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Kelsall-Foreman I, Bacusmo EAZ, Barr C, Vitkovic J, Campbell E, Coles T, Paton M, Penno K, Bennett RJ. Teleaudiology Services in Australia: A National Survey of Hearing Health Care Consumers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Audiol 2024; 33:518-531. [PMID: 38648545 DOI: 10.1044/2024_aja-23-00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the perspectives of Australia-based hearing health care consumers regarding the (a) provision and utilization of teleaudiology services, (b) experiences with teleaudiology, and (c) barriers and enablers to future teleaudiology use. METHOD A national prospective self-report online survey was completed between April and October 2020, amid COVID-19. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (closed-answer items) and content analysis (open-text responses). A total of 381 participants (Mage = 72.07 years ± 10.08, 142 females) were recruited from different states and territories of Australia. RESULTS Despite positive outcomes reported by those who undertook teleaudiology appointments during COVID-19, results indicate low-consumer teleaudiology uptake. It can be inferred that consumers were not aware of teleaudiology as an appointment option, clinicians/clinic staff had not informed and/or supported teleaudiology as an option, and biases existed that prevented teleaudiology being more widely adopted. It is unclear whether consumers who were eligible for government subsidies understood that teleaudiology appointments were reimbursed through government funding. Barriers to future teleaudiology uptake were largely related to concerns regarding confidentiality and privacy. CONCLUSION Low consumer uptake of teleaudiology appointments appears to be driven by consumer preference for in-person services, which appears to be driven by lack of knowledge regarding the availability and effectiveness of teleaudiology. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25619808.
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Affiliation(s)
- India Kelsall-Foreman
- University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Department of Brain and Hearing, Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Western Australia
| | - Eloise Anne Z Bacusmo
- University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Department of Brain and Hearing, Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Western Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Mark Paton
- Australian College of Audiology, Spring Hill, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kathryn Penno
- Hearing Collective, Como, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Bennett
- University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Department of Brain and Hearing, Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Western Australia
- Audiological Sciences, National Acoustic Laboratories, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Wang Z, Hua Y, Cao C. Letter to the Editor Concerning "Telemedicine Improves Access to Care for Spine Patients with Low Socioeconomic Status." by Ye et al. Global Spine J 2024; 14:1678-1679. [PMID: 38230661 DOI: 10.1177/21925682241227221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Yantai hospital of shandong wendeng orthopaedics & trauma tology
| | - Yu Hua
- Department of Spine Surgery, Yantai hospital of shandong wendeng orthopaedics & trauma tology
| | - Changqing Cao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Yantai hospital of shandong wendeng orthopaedics & trauma tology
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Coetzer JA, Loukili I, Goedhart NS, Ket JCF, Schuitmaker-Warnaar TJ, Zuiderent-Jerak T, Dedding C. The potential and paradoxes of eHealth research for digitally marginalised groups: A qualitative meta-review. Soc Sci Med 2024; 350:116895. [PMID: 38710135 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Whilst the transformation towards digital healthcare is accelerating, there is still a substantial risk of excluding people with a distance to the online world. Groups like people with a low socioeconomic position, people with a migrant background or the elderly, who are already most at risk of experiencing health inequalities, are simultaneously experiencing increased digital exclusion. Researchers play a role in determining how eHealth access is framed and can thus impact how the barriers to its use are addressed. This qualitative meta-review critically evaluates the way researchers (as authors) discuss eHealth use in digitally marginalised groups. Specifically, it seeks to understand how eHealth is framed to address existing health systems problems; how the barriers to eHealth use are presented and which solutions are provided in response; and who authors suggest should be responsible for making eHealth work. The results of this review found four paradoxes in how current literature views eHealth use. Firstly, that health systems problems are complex and nuanced, yet eHealth is seen as a simple answer. Secondly, that there are many political, social and health systems-based solutions suggested to address eHealth use, however most of the identified barriers are individually framed. This focus on personal deficits results in misallocating responsibility for making these systemic improvements. Thirdly, although eHealth is meant to simplify the tasks of patients and healthcare workers, these are the groups most often burdened with the responsibility of ensuring its success. Lastly, despite tailoring eHealth to the user being the most suggested solution, researchers generally speak about groups as a homogenous entity - thus rendering tailoring difficult. Ultimately, this review finds that a shift to focus research on addressing systemic issues on a systems level is necessary to prevent further exacerbating existing health inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Coetzer
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Ibrahim Loukili
- Department of Ethics, Law & Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1089a, F-vleugel medische faculteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Nicole S Goedhart
- Department of Ethics, Law & Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1089a, F-vleugel medische faculteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Johannes C F Ket
- VUmc, Medische Bibliotheek, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Teun Zuiderent-Jerak
- Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Christine Dedding
- Department of Ethics, Law & Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1089a, F-vleugel medische faculteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Freeman SJ, Nisenbaum R, Jegathesan T, Sgro MD. Healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03279-0. [PMID: 38796534 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03279-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery. We hypothesized that children with neurodevelopmental problems would have reduced healthcare utilization during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. METHODS We conducted a population-based study of healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems among children ages 0-6 years in Ontario, Canada. Our outcome measure was rate per 1000 children-months for healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems. We compared changes in monthly rates before and during the pandemic using interrupted time series analysis (ITSA). RESULTS The rate of new neurodevelopmental problems before the pandemic was 6.31 per 1000 children-months and during the pandemic was 6.58 per 1000 children-months. However, using ITSA, there were no differences in monthly rates of healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems before and during the pandemic. The observed rate during the first 30 days of the pandemic dropped to 3.40 per 1000 children-months. CONCLUSION We found no significant difference in rates of healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems before and during the pandemic. There was a decrease in the number of visits during the first 30 days of the pandemic compared to all months prior. IMPACT This study found no significant difference in rates of healthcare visits for new neurodevelopmental problems before and during the pandemic. There was a decrease in the number of visits during the first 30 days of the pandemic compared to all months prior. This study adds information on healthcare access for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid deployment of virtual healthcare delivery in Ontario, Canada may explain the fast recovery of healthcare utilization for children with neurodevelopmental problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sloane J Freeman
- Women and Children's Health Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Rosane Nisenbaum
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Applied Health Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Thivia Jegathesan
- Women and Children's Health Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Joint Centre for Bioethics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Sgro
- Women and Children's Health Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Szczepura A, Khan AJ, Wild D, Nelson S, Woodhouse S, Collinson M. Digital Adoption by an Organization Supporting Informal Caregivers During COVID-19 Pandemic Showing Impact on Service Use, Organizational Performance, and Carers' Well-Being: Retrospective Population-Based Database Study With Embedded User Survey. JMIR Aging 2024; 7:e46414. [PMID: 38739915 PMCID: PMC11130774 DOI: 10.2196/46414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a move from face-to-face to digital delivery of services by hospitals and primary care. However, little is known about the impact of digital transformation on organizations supporting unpaid caregivers. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the value of care provided by such informal caregivers is estimated to be £111 billion (US$ 152.7 billion) in England. OBJECTIVE This study aims to analyze service uptake patterns (including digital service options) over the pandemic period in an English caregivers' support organization covering a population of 0.98 million; measure changes in organizational performance, service efficiency, and quality; and identify the views of caregivers on service provision and future digital delivery. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of the use of digital versus nondigital support services (January 2019 to June 2021) by caregivers in city and rural geographic areas. We compared organizational performance and service quality indicators for 2 financial years (2019-2020 and 2020-2021). A survey was conducted to identify barriers and facilitators to digital service uptake, the computer proficiency of caregivers (the Computer Proficiency Questionnaire, 12-item version), and preferences for future digital service provision. Quantitative data were analyzed using Stata 13 (StataCorp LLC). Thematic analysis was used for open-text survey responses. RESULTS The number of caregivers registered with the organization rose from 14,817 in 2019 to 20,237 in 2021. Monthly contacts rose from 1929 to 6741, with remote contacts increasing from 48.89% (943/1929) to 86.68% (5843/6741); distinctive patterns were observed for city versus rural caregivers. There was an increase in one-to-one contacts (88.8%) and caregiver assessments (20.9%), with no expansion in staffing. Service quality indicators showed an improvement in 5 of 8 variables (all P<.05). The 152 carers completing the survey had similar demographics to all registered caregivers. The Computer Proficiency Questionnaire, 12-item version, mean score of 25.61 (SD 4.40) indicated relatively high computer proficiency. The analysis of open-text responses identified a preference for the organization to continue to offer face-to-face services as well as web-based options. The digital services that were the most highly rated were carers' well-being assessments, support needs checks, and peer support groups. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that staff in the caregiver support organization were agile in adapting their services to digital delivery while dealing with increased numbers of registered clients and higher monthly contacts, all without obvious detriment to service quality. Caregivers indicated a preference for blended services, even while recording high computer proficiency. Considering the economic importance of unpaid caregivers, more attention should be given to organizations funded to provide support for them and to the potential for technology to enhance caregivers' access to, and engagement with, such services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ala Szczepura
- Research Centre for Healthcare & Communities, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Amir Jahan Khan
- Department of Economics, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Deidre Wild
- Research Centre for Healthcare & Communities, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Nelson
- Prostate Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
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Yang M, Evans JM, Singer SJ, Gutberg J, Porter TH, Grudniewicz A. Crisis leadership behaviors in healthcare: survey validation and influence on staff outcomes in primary care clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:590. [PMID: 38715045 PMCID: PMC11075262 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11061-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented transition from in-person to virtual delivery of primary health care services. Leaders were at the helm of the rapid changes required to make this happen, yet outcomes of leaders' behaviours were largely unexplored. This study (1) develops and validates the Crisis Leadership and Staff Outcomes (CLSO) Survey and (2) investigates the leadership behaviours exhibited during the transition to virtual care and their influence on select staff outcomes in primary care. METHODS We tested the CLSO Survey amongst leaders and staff from four Community Health Centres in Ontario, Canada. The CLSO Survey measures a range of crisis leadership behaviors, such as showing empathy and promoting learning and psychological safety, as well as perceived staff outcomes in four areas: innovation, teamwork, feedback, and commitment to change. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis to investigate factor structure and construct validity. We report on the scale's internal consistency through Cronbach's alpha, and associations between leadership scales and staff outcomes through odds ratios. RESULTS There were 78 staff and 21 middle and senior leaders who completed the survey. A 4-factor model emerged, comprised of the leadership behaviors of (1) "task-oriented leadership" and (2) "person-oriented leadership", and select staff outcomes of (3) "commitment to sustaining change" and (4) "performance self-evaluation". Scales exhibited strong construct and internal validity. Task- and person-oriented leadership behaviours positively related to the two staff outcomes. CONCLUSION The CLSO Survey is a reliable measure of leadership behaviours and select staff outcomes. Our results suggest that crisis leadership is multifaceted and both person-oriented and task-oriented leadership behaviours are critical during a crisis to improve perceived staff performance and commitment to change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Yang
- École interdisciplinaire des sciences de la santé/Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, université d'Ottawa /University of Ottawa, 25 University Private, Ottawa, ON, K1N 7K4, Canada
| | - Jenna M Evans
- DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4E8, Canada
| | - Sara J Singer
- Department of Health Policy, Stanford University, 615 Crothers Way, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jennifer Gutberg
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 155 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M6, Canada
| | - Tracy H Porter
- Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland State University, 1860 E. 18th St, Cleveland, OH, 44114, USA
| | - Agnes Grudniewicz
- Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, 55 Laurier Ave. E, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
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Prosperi Desenzi Ciaralo P, Guerreiro Cardoso PF, Minamoto H, Bibas BJ, Ribeiro de Carvalho CR, Pego-Fernandes PM. Implementation and Results of a Dedicated Telemedicine Program ( TeleTrachea) for Patients with Tracheal Diseases. Telemed J E Health 2024; 30:1317-1324. [PMID: 38109228 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2023.0524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Central airway diseases requiring frequent outpatient visits to a specialized medical center due to tracheal devices. Many of these patients have mobility and cognition restrictions or require specialized transport due to the need for supplemental oxygen. This study describes the implementation and results of a telemedicine program dedicated to patients with central airway diseases based in a Brazilian public health system. Methods: A retrospective study of telemedicine consultation for patients with central airway diseases referred to a public academic hospital between August 1, 2020 and August 1, 2022. The consultations occurred in a telemedicine department using the hospital's proprietary platform. Data retrieved consisted of demographics, disease characteristics, and the treatment modalities of the patients. The analysis included the savings in kilometers not traveled, the carbon footprint based on reducing CO2 emissions, and the cost savings in transportation. Results: A total of 1,153 telemedicine visits conducted in 516 patients (median age of 31.5 years). Two hundred ninety patients (56.2%) had a tracheal device (129 silicone T-Tube, 128 tracheostomy, and 33 endoprosthesis) and 159 patients (30.8%) had difficulties in transportation to the specialized medical center. Patients were served from 147 Brazilian cities from 22 states. The savings in kilometers traveled was 1,224,108.54 km, corresponding to a 250.14 ton reduction in CO2 emissions. The costs savings in transportation for the municipalities was BRL$ 1,272,283.78. Conclusions: Telemedicine consultations for patients with central airway diseases are feasible and safe. Cost savings and the possibility of disseminating specialized care make telemedicine a fundamental tool in current medical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Prosperi Desenzi Ciaralo
- Divisions of Thoracic Surgery, Instituto do Coracao do Hospital das Clinicas, HCFMUSP da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paulo Francisco Guerreiro Cardoso
- Divisions of Thoracic Surgery, Instituto do Coracao do Hospital das Clinicas, HCFMUSP da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helio Minamoto
- Divisions of Thoracic Surgery, Instituto do Coracao do Hospital das Clinicas, HCFMUSP da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Benoit Jacques Bibas
- Divisions of Thoracic Surgery, Instituto do Coracao do Hospital das Clinicas, HCFMUSP da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Roberto Ribeiro de Carvalho
- Divisions of Pulmonology, Instituto do Coracao do Hospital das Clinicas, HCFMUSP da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paulo Manuel Pego-Fernandes
- Divisions of Thoracic Surgery, Instituto do Coracao do Hospital das Clinicas, HCFMUSP da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Ruggiero C, Macchione IG, Gemo V, Properzi C, Perini F, Bianco A, Ercolani MC, Mencacci M, Manzi P, Pasqualucci A, De Filippis G, Baroni M, Mecocci P. Effectiveness and Satisfaction with Telemedicine in Geriatric Patients at High Risk of Fragility Fractures. Telemed J E Health 2024. [PMID: 38656125 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2023.0708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Telemedicine has increasingly widespread to improve the monitoring of patients with chronic diseases. Secondary prevention of fragility fractures is an urgent matter to be addressed by means of available technology, although supported by little evidence so far. We investigated the feasibility, efficacy, and satisfaction of managing older adults at high risk of fragility fractures during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: During the period January to July 2021, a prospective observational study for safety and adherence purposes was conducted among older adults (n = 407) with ongoing treatments for secondary prevention of fragility fractures. The study procedures comply with national and regional resolutions related to telemedicine service (TS), including equipment, staff behaviors, and patient reports. Results: A majority (86.48% [n = 352]) of the eligible patients joined the remote visits, mainly women (88.2%), 81.4 ± 8.8 years of age, 49.6% independent in 5 out of 6 BADL, despite high comorbidity (4.9 ± 1.5), and polypharmacy (4.9 ± 3.1). Almost all were on second-line antifracture treatments (95.58%) due to previous major (84.03%) and minor (42.5%) fragility fractures. About 58% reported good and very good reliability of the internet network, allowing easy access to the TS platform, and 54% declared the degree of satisfaction with TS as good and very good. About 75% of clinicians acknowledged the efficacy of TS and expressed willingness to recommend the use of TS to colleagues. Ultimately, 68% of specialists defined the time allocated for patients' remote visits as acceptable. Conclusion: TS may be an opportunity to improve the availability of appropriate health care services to satisfy patients' needs and optimize health care resource allocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelinda Ruggiero
- Orthogeriatric Service, Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Giovanna Macchione
- Orthogeriatric Service, Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Valentina Gemo
- Orthogeriatric Service, Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Properzi
- Orthogeriatric Service, Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Federica Perini
- Orthogeriatric Service, Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Annarita Bianco
- Orthogeriatric Service, Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Ercolani
- IT Systems and Transition to Digital Administration, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Marco Mencacci
- Technological Infrastructure Development, IT Department, Municipality of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Pietro Manzi
- Medical Direction, S. Maria Hospital, Terni, Italy
| | | | | | - Marta Baroni
- Orthogeriatric Service, Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Mecocci
- Orthogeriatric Service, Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
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Halas G, Baldwin A, LaBine L, MacKay K, Singer A, Katz A. A Phenomenological Inquiry of the Shift to Virtual Care Delivery: Insights from Front-Line Primary Care Providers. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:861. [PMID: 38667623 PMCID: PMC11050693 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12080861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The rapid deployment of virtual primary care visits served as a first-line response to COVID-19 and can now be examined for insights, particularly as virtual care is playing an ongoing role in patient care and consultations. Input from primary care providers directly responsible for virtual care delivery is needed to inform policies and strategies for quality care and interactions. The overarching goal of this research study was to examine the use of virtual care as a mechanism for primary healthcare delivery. A phenomenological approach investigated the shift in primary care service delivery as experienced by primary care providers and initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus groups were conducted with primary care providers (n = 21) recruited through email, advertisements, and professional organizations, exploring how virtual care was delivered, the benefits and challenges, workflow considerations, and recommendations for future use. Integrating virtual care was performed with a great deal of autonomy as well as responsibility, and overwhelmingly depended on the telephone. Technology, communication, and workflow flexibility are three key operational aspects of virtual care and its delivery. Providers highlighted cross-cutting themes related to the dynamics of virtual care including balancing risk for quality care, physician work/life balance, efficiency, and patient benefits. Primary care providers felt that virtual care options allowed increased flexibility to attend to the needs of patients and manage their practice workload, and a few scenarios were shared for when virtual care might be best suited. However, they also recognized the need to balance in-person and virtual visits, which may require guidelines that support navigating various levels of care. Overall, virtual care was considered a good addition to the whole 'care package' but continued development and refinement is an expectation for optimizing and sustaining future use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle Halas
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
| | - Alanna Baldwin
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
| | - Lisa LaBine
- Department of Family Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
| | - Kerri MacKay
- Department of Family Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
- Community Partner, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
| | - Alexander Singer
- Department of Family Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
| | - Alan Katz
- Department of Family Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3, Canada
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10
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Sikka V, King C, Klinker S, Mont T, Sommers-Olson B, Hunt BE, Davis S, Fonseca J. Telemedicine for veterans in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned from a virtual urgent care center. J Telemed Telecare 2024; 30:514-518. [PMID: 34970932 DOI: 10.1177/1357633x211069018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although telemedicine was predominantly adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on healthcare outcomes in the veteran population in achieving first contact resolution, or the ability to safely manage patient care at home from an urgent care perspective, is yet to be determined. METHODS This study included 13,090 veteran patient episodes who presented to the Department of Veteran's Affairs Veterans Integrated Services Network 8's Clinical Contact Center, a virtual urgent care organization covering South Georgia, Florida, and U.S. Virgin Islands in providing episodic care, between March 2020 and February 2021. Multivariate logistic regression estimated the probability that veterans with COVID-19-related symptoms stayed at home compared to presenting to the emergency department (ED) or their primary care provider. RESULTS Patients with COVID-related symptoms were 33% less likely to present to the ED compared to patients who presented with non-COVID-related symptoms. DISCUSSION The virtual urgent care center enabled veterans to receive timely care and avoid public places that could potentially lead to a COVID-19 infection or infecting others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Sikka
- Virtual Care, Clinical Contact Center, VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8), St Petersburg, FL, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Christian King
- School of Global Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
- Orlando VA Healthcare System, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Suzanne Klinker
- Virtual Care, Clinical Contact Center, VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8), St Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Theresa Mont
- Virtual Care, Clinical Contact Center, VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8), St Petersburg, FL, USA
| | | | - Bruce E Hunt
- Virtual Care, Clinical Contact Center, VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8), St Petersburg, FL, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Stacey Davis
- Virtual Care, Clinical Contact Center, VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8), St Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Jennifer Fonseca
- Virtual Care, Clinical Contact Center, VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8), St Petersburg, FL, USA
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11
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Zhai RN, Liu Y, Wen JX. Competency scale of quality and safety for greenhand nurses: instrument development and psychometric test. BMC Nurs 2024; 23:219. [PMID: 38553742 PMCID: PMC10979626 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-01873-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Guaranteeing nursing service safety and quality is a prioritized issue in the healthcare setting worldwide. However, there still lacks a valid scale to measure the quality and safety competencies of newly graduated nurses globally. METHODS This scale was developed in two phases. In Phase One, a literature review and three-round e-Delphi were conducted to generate the initial item pool; while in Phase Two, five experts tested the content validity of the scale. The construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and the data were collected among 1,221 newly graduated nursing students between May, 2017 and August, 2017. Finally, the internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were tested. RESULTS The final version's Competency Scale of Quality and Safety (CSQS) was confirmed by the CFA involving 64 items in six dimensions, including patient-center care, safety, evidence-based practice, collaboration and teamwork, continuous quality improvement, and informatics. The results of data showed that the data supported the modified model of CSQS (Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.03, p = 0.053, Adjusted Goodness of Normed Fit Index = 1.00, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.007, Fit Index = 0.95, Goodness of Fit Index = 0.97, χ2/df = 1.06), and the standardized factor loadings of items were from 0.59 to 0.74 (p < 0.05). The internal consistency reliability of the total scale was 0.98, and the test-retest reliability was 0.89. CONCLUSIONS CSQS was a valid and reliable instrument to measure the safety and quality abilities of greenhand nurses, and could be fully utilized by nursing students, greenhand nurses, nursing educators, as well as hospital nursing managers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Nan Zhai
- School of Nursing, Dalian Medical University, No 9 Western Section South LvShun road, 116044, Dalian city, Liaoning province, China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Nursing, Dalian Medical University, No 9 Western Section South LvShun road, 116044, Dalian city, Liaoning province, China.
| | - Jia Xin Wen
- School of Nursing, Dalian Medical University, No 9 Western Section South LvShun road, 116044, Dalian city, Liaoning province, China
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12
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Al Baalharith IM, Aboshaiqah AE. A Delphi Study on Identifying Competencies in Virtual Healthcare for Healthcare Professionals. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:739. [PMID: 38610161 PMCID: PMC11011667 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual care adoption accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for healthcare professionals to develop relevant competencies. However, limited evidence exists on the core competencies required for quality virtual care delivery. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify the critical competencies physicians, nurses, and other health professionals need for adequate virtual care provision in Saudi Arabia using a Delphi method. METHODS A 3-round Delphi technique was applied with a panel of 42 experts, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, academicians, and telehealth specialists. In Round 1, an open-ended questionnaire elicited competencies needed for virtual care. The competencies were distilled and rated for importance in Rounds 2 and 3 until consensus was achieved. RESULTS Consensus emerged on 151 competencies across 33 domains. The most prominent domains were communication (15 competencies), professionalism (13), leadership (12), health informatics (5), digital literacy (5), and clinical expertise (11).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Mubarak Al Baalharith
- College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia;
- Governance and Excellence, SEHA Virtual Hospital, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
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13
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Yeboah I, Dwomoh D, Ndejjo R, Kabwama SN, Ohemeng F, Takyi SA, Issah I, Bawuah SA, Wanyenze RK, Fobil J. Maintaining essential health services during COVID-19 in Ghana: a qualitative study. BMJ Glob Health 2024; 8:e013284. [PMID: 38490688 PMCID: PMC11148662 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Evidence suggests that non-pharmaceutical interventions such as lockdown policies, restriction of movement and physical distancing to control the novel COVID-19 contributed to the decline in utilisation of essential health services. We explored healthcare providers' and policy-makers' experiences of the barriers, interventions and response actions that contributed to ensuring the continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana to help inform future practice and policy. METHODS We used a qualitative study approach. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Thirty Four participants composed of 20 healthcare providers and 14 policy-makers who worked across regions with low and high recorded COVID-19 cases in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic were involved in this study. RESULTS Participants reported that essential health services including maternal, reproductive and child health services, communicable and non-communicable disease care, and elective surgeries were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barriers to the utilisation of essential services were constructed into three subthemes: (1) fear, (2) poor quality of care at the facility and (3) financial limitation. These barriers were mitigated with population-based interventions underpinned by the socioecological model at the individual and interpersonal level (including psychosocial care for families and home visits), institutional and community levels (such as allocation of funds, training of health workers, public education, triage stations, provision of logistics, appointment scheduling, telemedicine and redeployment of health workers) and public policy level (tax relief packages, transportation arrangements and provision of incentives), which helped in maintaining essential health services during COVID-19. CONCLUSION Disruption of essential health services during COVID-19 in Ghana instigated population-based interventions which aided in expanding the populations' continuous access to essential health services and strengthened health service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Yeboah
- Employment and Society, University of Professional Studies, Legon, Ghana
| | - Duah Dwomoh
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Rawlance Ndejjo
- Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Sylvia Akpene Takyi
- Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Ibrahim Issah
- Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Serwaa Akoto Bawuah
- Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Julius Fobil
- Department of Biological, Environmental, and Occupational Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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14
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de Oliveira MAC, Miles A, Asbridge JE. Modern medical schools curricula: Necessary innovations and priorities for change. J Eval Clin Pract 2024; 30:162-173. [PMID: 37656633 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Medical schools' curricula have expanded over the decades to incorporate important new medical breakthroughs and discoveries. Their current focus and overall structures remain, however, stubbornly captive of early 20th-century thinking, with changes having been undertaken in a piecemeal fashion. Indeed, since the notable Flexner reform in 1910, medical schools' study plans have suffered successive and typically always partial adjustments which have failed to keep up with scientific, technological and sociological change. This difficulty may be attributable to the well-known conservatism of medical schools, where updating study plans is a process that invariably encounters numerous barriers to change. These observations were afforded detailed attention some 15 years ago when de Oliveira wrote: 'it is now perfectly demonstrated that public medical schools have not been able to adapt their operation in depth and in due time to the new demands of teaching dictated by an explosive scientific and technological development'. Recent advances in communication and information technologies, as well as the introduction of new pedagogical techniques, have the potential to bring significant benefits to medical practice and healthcare systems, but these have not in the main become properly taught and utilized. The proposition that healthcare is evolving from reactive disease care to care that is predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory was initially regarded as highly speculative, yet systems approaches to biology and medicine are now beginning to provide experience of both health and disease at the molecular, cellular and organ levels. Medicine is a broad scientific field. In contrast to the 19th century, current medical 'sectarianism' is a positive by-product of rapid and gratifying medical progress, and the multiplicity of new models means that the lines of evidence legitimately bearing on practice and health policymaking are already highly diverse and likely to become ever more variegated over time. Put simply, most sound decisions, by definition, will be evidence-informed and not evidence-based, where divergence may be as informative as convergence. Here, the most enduring lesson of history is, perhaps, that clinical medicine is constantly rediscovering its humanistic core. Complexities create opportunities for innovation. In innovative environments, high-performing organizations are finding ways to create a culture that supports a diverse workforce preparing to deliver different models of care, with direct implications for excellence of patient experience and strong repercussions for medical education. The COVID-19 crisis saw major increases in the use of telemedicine, virtual office visits and other forms of online contact, and these are likely to increase considerably. This particular transformation will not be easy or comfortable to make. But reconfiguration of medical education seems inevitable, fuelled by online educational technology and the need to transform clinical training to more outpatient settings with promotion based on competency and person-centeredness, not simply time. As we prepare to enter 2024, this is an exciting time to be working in healthcare. We have more evidence than ever about how to provide high quality, person-centered care, and to keep patients safe. Shame on us if there is any hesitation about applying this knowledge to make the healthcare experience better for patients and providers. Embracing change and making continuous improvements are essential and urgent priorities for medicine and healthcare and, as we describe in the current article, will become more and more indispensably important in our rapidly changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew Miles
- European Society for Person Centered Healthcare, London, UK
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15
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Collins E, Keedle H, Jackson M, Lequertier B, Schmied V, Boyle J, Kildea S, Dahlen HG. Telehealth use in maternity care during a pandemic: A lot of bad, some good and possibility. Women Birth 2024; 37:419-427. [PMID: 38218652 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To reduce transmission risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, 'telehealth' (health care delivered via telephone/video-conferencing) was implemented into Australian maternity services. Whilst some reports on telehealth implementation ensued, there was scant evidence on women and midwives' perspectives regarding telehealth use. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted in Australia during 2020-2021 using two data sources from the Birth in the Time of COVID-19 (BITTOC) study: i) interviews and ii) surveys (open-text responses). Content analysis was utilised to analyse the data and explore telehealth from the perspective of midwives and women accessing maternity care services. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 women and 16 midwives. Survey responses were provided from 687 midwives and 2525 women who were pregnant or gave birth in 2021, generating 212 and 812 comments respectively. FINDINGS Telehealth delivery was variable nationally and undertaken primarily by telephone/videoconferencing. Perceived benefits included: reduced COVID-19 transmission risk, increased flexibility, convenience and cost efficiency. However, women described inadequate assessment, and negative impacts on communication and rapport development. Midwives had similar concerns and also reported technological challenges. CONCLUSION During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth offered flexibility, convenience and cost efficiency whilst reducing COVID-19 transmission, yet benefits came at a cost. Telehealth may particularly suit women in rural and remote areas, however, it also has the potential to further reduce equitable, and appropriate care delivery for those at greatest risk of poor outcomes. Telehealth may play an adjunct role in post-pandemic maternity services, but is not a suitable replacement to traditional face-to-face maternity care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Collins
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751 NSW Australia
| | - Hazel Keedle
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751 NSW Australia
| | - Melanie Jackson
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751 NSW Australia
| | - Belinda Lequertier
- Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Level 11, East Tower, 410 Ann Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia
| | - Virginia Schmied
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751 NSW Australia
| | - Jacqueline Boyle
- Monash Centre of Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Locked Bag 29, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Sue Kildea
- Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hannah Grace Dahlen
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751 NSW Australia.
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Linden MA, McKinlay A, Hawley C, Aaro-Jonsson C, Kristiansen I, Meyer-Heim A, Ewing-Cobbs L, Wicks B, Beauchamp MH, Prasad R. Further recommendations of the International Paediatric Brain Injury Society (IPBIS) for the post-acute rehabilitation of children with acquired brain injury. Brain Inj 2024; 38:151-159. [PMID: 38329039 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2024.2309252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paediatric acquired brain injury is a life-long condition which impacts on all facets of the individual's lived experience. The existing evidence base continues to expand and new fields of enquiry are established as clinicians and researchers uncover the extent of these impacts. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE To add to recommendations described in the International Paediatric Brain Injury Society's 2016 paper on post-acute care for children with acquired brain injury and highlight new areas of enquiry. REVIEW OF INFORMATION Recommendations were made based on the opinions of a group of experienced international clinicians and researchers who are current or past members of the board of directors of the International Paediatric Brain Injury Society. The importance of each recommendation was agreed upon by means of group consensus. OUTCOMES This update gives new consideration to areas of study including injuries which occur in pre-school children, young people in the military, medical referral, young offenders and the use of technology in rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Linden
- School of Nursing & Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | | | - Carol Hawley
- Warwick Medical School - Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Warwick, UK
| | | | - Ingela Kristiansen
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andreas Meyer-Heim
- Rehabilitation Centre, University Children's Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Linda Ewing-Cobbs
- Department of Pediatrics, UTHealth Houston, McGovern Medical School, USA
| | | | - Miriam H Beauchamp
- Department of Psychology, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Rajendra Prasad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, India
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Linden MA, Leonard R, Forbes T, Brown M, Marsh L, Todd S, Hughes N, Truesdale M. Randomised controlled feasibility study protocol of the Carers-ID online intervention to support the mental health of family carers of people with intellectual disabilities. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2024; 10:25. [PMID: 38321576 PMCID: PMC10845768 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-024-01448-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family carers play a crucial role in supporting the health and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities. Given their role and responsibilities, many family carers experience significant and ongoing stress and mental health difficulties. Programmes and interventions which provide training and support to family carers have been shown to have a positive impact on levels of stress and quality of life. However, these are often face to face which can create barriers to full participation. Online interventions have been shown to offer flexibility in delivery compared with traditional face-to-face approaches. The primary objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of delivering the Carers-ID online intervention, while the secondary outcome is improved mental health in family carers of people with intellectual disabilities. METHODS Family carers (n = 120) will be randomised to receive the intervention (n = 60) or assigned to a wait-list control (n = 60) group. The intervention ( www.Carers-ID.com ) consists of 14 modules which cover topics including the following: promoting resilience, providing peer support, reducing anxiety, managing stress, accessing local supports and managing family conflict and information for siblings who are carers. The intervention has been co-produced with voluntary sector organisations and family carers and tested for acceptability. Primary outcomes for this study include acceptability and feasibility of the outcome measures, recruitment, participation and retention rates and effect sizes. Secondary outcomes will be completed at three time points (baseline, following intervention completion and 3 months after completion). These include the following: the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, the Resilience Scale and the Social Connectedness Scale Revised. Participants (n = 12) who have taken part in the intervention arm of the research will be invited to participate in semi-structured interviews as part of the process evaluation. DISCUSSION The Carers-ID intervention provides an online resource for family carers to support their mental health and well-being and promote their resilience. It represents an affordable and accessible means of delivering such support. Testing the feasibility of the intervention and related trial procedures is required to determine whether a full-scale randomised controlled trial to evaluate the intervention's effectiveness is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT05737823.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Linden
- Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Ireland
| | - Rachel Leonard
- Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Ireland.
| | - Trisha Forbes
- Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Ireland
| | - Michael Brown
- Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Ireland
| | - Lynne Marsh
- Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Ireland
| | - Stuart Todd
- School of Care Sciences, University of South Wales, Caerleon, Wales
| | - Nathan Hughes
- Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England
| | - Maria Truesdale
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
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Ting CY, Abdul Halim NH, Ling JN, Tiong IK, Ahmad Shauki NIHJ, Lee YF, Osman NA, Chai GW, Ung SH, Ang M. The use of a multi-disciplinary geriatric telemedicine service (TELEG) and its acceptance at a tertiary care centre in Malaysia. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:133. [PMID: 38317117 PMCID: PMC10845621 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04676-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the widespread adoption of telemedicine in healthcare, particularly in Sarawak, Malaysia. This study investigates the use and acceptance of Sarawak's inaugural multidisciplinary geriatric telemedicine service, TELEG. METHODS This cross-sectional study took place at the Sarawak Heart Centre's geriatric department from July 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022. Convenient sampling included all TELEG-enrolled patients during this period, to achieve minimum sample size of 148. TELEG's utilization was assessed in terms of medication therapy and treatment plan optimization, as well as enhanced healthcare accessibility. Participants' acceptance of TELEG was measured using the Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire (SUTAQ) administered through Google Forms. Descriptive statistics percentages illustrated the proportion of participants who found TELEG moderately to highly acceptable. Associations between baseline characteristics and overall acceptance were explored through bivariate analyses, including Pearson's correlation test, independent t-test, and ANOVA. The influence of six SUTAQ dimensions on overall acceptance, multivariable linear regression using enter method was employed. Statistical significance was determined by p-values less than 0.5. RESULTS Among 180 geriatric patients enrolled in TELEG during the study period, 149 agreed to participate. TELEG led to medication therapy optimization for 88.6% of participants, primarily involving dose adjustment (44.7%), de-prescribing (31.8%), and prescribing (15.9%). Additionally, 53.8% received treatment plan optimization, predominantly in the form of self-care education (56.3%), referrals for further treatment (33.8%), additional laboratory investigations (29.6%), and increased monitoring (26.8%). Among those educated in self-care (n = 40), dietary intake (27.5%), lower limb exercise (25.0%), and COVID-19 vaccination (12.5%) were the most common topics. All participants expressed moderate to high acceptance of TELEG (mean = 4.9, SD = 0.65, on a scale of 1 to 6). Notably, care personnel concern (B = 0.256; p < 0.001) had the most significant impact on overall acceptance. CONCLUSION This pioneering study evaluates the utilization and user acceptance of a geriatric telemedicine service in the region, providing valuable insights to support its expansion. Follow-up surveys or interviews to gain insights into users' experiences are crucial to further enhance acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuo Yew Ting
- Pharmaceutical Services Division, Sarawak State Health Department, Ministry of Health, Jalan Diplomatik, Off Jalan Bako, Kuching, 93350, Malaysia.
| | - Nur Hidayati Abdul Halim
- Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Jia Nee Ling
- Sarawak General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuching, Malaysia
| | | | - Nor Izzah H J Ahmad Shauki
- Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Yew Fong Lee
- Sarawak General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuching, Malaysia
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nor Anizah Osman
- Pharmaceutical Services Division, Sarawak State Health Department, Ministry of Health, Jalan Diplomatik, Off Jalan Bako, Kuching, 93350, Malaysia
| | - Gin Wei Chai
- Sarawak Heart Centre, Ministry of Health, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Shin Han Ung
- Sarawak Heart Centre, Ministry of Health, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Melinda Ang
- Sarawak Heart Centre, Ministry of Health, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
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Marwah S, Sharma P, Tripathi S, Arora D, Agarwal A, Malik A, Gaikwad H, Bajaj B. Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Antenatal Care Among Antenatal Women: A Study From a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi, India. Cureus 2024; 16:e52618. [PMID: 38374850 PMCID: PMC10875906 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on knowledge, attitude, and practices toward antenatal care among antenatal women. DESIGN Prospective observational study. METHOD After taking written and informed consent, 3000 term/near-term SARS CoV2-negative antenatal women admitted to the hospital for emergency were enrolled; excluding those in advance labour or critically ill. An interview was conducted and a knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) questionnaire was filled out based on verbatim answers. All women were then given individualized antenatal and postnatal care as per hospital protocols and discharged accordingly. The data obtained during the study was recorded on predesigned case proforma and analysed at the end of the study using the SPSS v. 23 software, after the application of appropriate statistical tests. MAIN RESULT All women knew about the pandemic and its signs and symptoms along with precautions to be taken. Most of the women 2652 (88.4%) thought that they were at increased risk of contracting an infection during pregnancy and 2208 (73.6%) thought that coronavirus can harm the baby and will increase the risk of pregnancy. Awareness of nearby health facilities providing antenatal care was in 71.2% and 94% were aware of functional outpatient department services but only 1.4% were aware of teleconsultation services. About 2094 women have had any ANC visits. All of them knew that taking iron, Ca and vitamin supplements and getting an ultrasound and investigations were necessary but only 1524 (50.8%) took these supplements regularly, 1752 (58.4%) got their ultrasound done and 41.6% got investigations done. Two thousand four hundred thirty-six (81.2%) women had this fear that they would contract COVID-19 infection during their visit to the hospital. All the respondents of our study wanted to have hospital delivery and knew that it was necessary to have ANC registration and none of them wanted to have home delivery. CONCLUSION Mastering correct knowledge will foster a positive attitude among antenatal women and will not only prevent disease transmission but also improve pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheeba Marwah
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
| | - Poornima Sharma
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
| | - Shiwani Tripathi
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
| | - Divya Arora
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
| | - Ambika Agarwal
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
| | - Abhigya Malik
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
| | - Harsha Gaikwad
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
| | - Bindu Bajaj
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, IND
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Tiwari A, Dubey A, Yadav AK, Bhansali R, Bagaria V. A review of Smart future of healthcare in the digital age to improve Quality of orthopaedic patient care in metaverse called: The Healthverse!! J Clin Orthop Trauma 2024; 48:102340. [PMID: 38292151 PMCID: PMC10823058 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcot.2024.102340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Tiwari
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, Girgaum, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | | | - Amit Kumar Yadav
- Department of Trauma & Orthopedic Surgery, Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, UK
| | - Rakesh Bhansali
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, Girgaum, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Vaibhav Bagaria
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, Girgaum, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Veeramani P, Pilar Martin-Gutierrez M, Agorogiannis E, Hamilton R, Griggs T, Nicholson L, Heng LZ. Efficacy and Safety outcomes of a novel model to assess new medical retina referrals in a high-volume medical retina virtual clinic. Eye (Lond) 2024; 38:168-172. [PMID: 37491441 PMCID: PMC10764806 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-023-02653-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ophthalmology outpatient attendances have significantly increased recently with rising pressure from backlogs arising from the pandemic. Medical retina digital surveillance clinics for stable follow-up appointments are well established. We present a model for assessing new referrals and evaluating clinical outcomes and long-term sustainability in a complex high-volume medical retina service. METHODS Suitable routine new patient referrals were identified from electronic referrals and referred to this new pathway. Structured history, visual acuities, and intraocular pressures were recorded, and widefield colour fundus and optical coherence tomography imaging were performed at a imaging hub for asynchronous consultant-led review. RESULTS 1458 patients were invited to attend over four months, with a 13.2% did-not-attend (DNA) rate. Common diagnoses included stable diabetic retinopathy (19.9%), early age-related macular degeneration (6.7%), central serous retinopathy (8.8%), and retinal vein occlusion (6.3%). 7 patients (0.05%) required urgent same-day review. 61 (5.0%) required urgent face-to-face (F2F) assessment within two weeks. A total of 727 (59.0%) were either discharged or remained in the virtual pathway following their first visit. CONCLUSION This study encourages the use of a digital model that efficiently assesses suitable newly referred medical retina patients in both complex and local eye unit settings. This decreased the need for F2F clinics and resources. Further patient satisfaction surveys for digital services are currently being evaluated to guide long-term sustainability of this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Veeramani
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - E Agorogiannis
- Manchester Royal Eye Hospital Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - R Hamilton
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - T Griggs
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - L Nicholson
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - L Z Heng
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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22
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Halas G, Baldwin A, Mackay K, Cardenas E, LaBine L, Cherrett P, Abraham L, Fogarty V, Singer A, Katz A, Kirby S. Patients' and caregivers' experiences of virtual care in a primary care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic: A patient-oriented research study. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076241232949. [PMID: 38410792 PMCID: PMC10896066 DOI: 10.1177/20552076241232949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This study explored patient and caregiver expectations and experiences of virtual primary care in Manitoba, Canada. This study focused on accessibility of care, acceptability and perceptions of quality from 'users' of primary healthcare services. Due to the rapid implementation of virtual primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, patient/public input was largely bypassed. Methods A mixed method was conducted in collaboration with Patient and Caregiver Community Advisors. Data was obtained from 696 surveys and 9 focus groups (n = 41 patients and caregivers). Results Data suggest good acceptance of virtual visits, although considered a new experience despite almost exclusive use of the telephone. Participants preferred more input for choosing the type of visit but experienced less stress, time and inconvenience by using virtual care. There were mixed opinions of quality. More complex visits were associated with incomplete consultations and serve as one exemplar of the limitations due to lack of physical presence or contact. Unique communication skills were required to convey health concerns adequately and accurately. A more transactional approach was perceived from the lack of visual cues and the awkwardness associated with pauses during the phone conversation. Virtual care may be better used for certain circumstances but should encompass patient-centred decision making for when and how. Many expressed interests in video options; technology access and user ability are additional considerations for advancing virtual care. Conclusions The experiences and recommendations from patients and caregivers provide an important contribution to decision-making and integrating and sustaining quality virtual care for patient-centered healthcare service delivery. Keywords: Virtual care experiences, primary care, patient-oriented research, mixed methods, COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle Halas
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Alanna Baldwin
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | | | - Ernesto Cardenas
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Lisa LaBine
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Alexander Singer
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Alan Katz
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Sarah Kirby
- George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Winnipeg, Canada
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23
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Yuan EJS, Huang SS, Hsu CA, Lirng JF, Li TH, Huang CC, Yang YY, Li CP, Chen CH. Negative effects on medical students' scores for clinical performance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan: a comparative study. JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS 2023; 20:37. [PMID: 38148494 PMCID: PMC10810719 DOI: 10.3352/jeehp.2023.20.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has heavily impacted medical clinical education in Taiwan. Medical curricula have been altered to minimize exposure and limit transmission. This study investigated the effect of COVID-19 on Taiwanese medical students' clinical performance using online standardized evaluation systems and explored the factors influencing medical education during the pandemic. METHODS Medical students were scored from 0 to 100 based on their clinical performance from 1/1/2018 to 6/31/2021. The students were placed into pre-COVID-19 (before 2/1/2020) and midst-COVID-19 (on and after 2/1/2020) groups. Each group was further categorized into COVID-19-affected specialties (pulmonary, infectious, and emergency medicine) and other specialties. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to compare and examine the effects of relevant variables on student performance. RESULTS In total, 16,944 clinical scores were obtained for COVID-19-affected specialties and other specialties. For the COVID-19-affected specialties, the midst-COVID-19 score (88.513.52) was significantly lower than the pre-COVID-19 score (90.143.55) (P<0.0001). For the other specialties, the midst-COVID-19 score (88.323.68) was also significantly lower than the pre-COVID-19 score (90.063.58) (P<0.0001). There were 1,322 students (837 males and 485 females). Male students had significantly lower scores than female students (89.333.68 vs. 89.993.66, P=0.0017). GEE analysis revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic (unstandardized beta coefficient=-1.99, standard error [SE]=0.13, P<0.0001), COVID-19-affected specialties (B=0.26, SE=0.11, P=0.0184), female students (B=1.10, SE=0.20, P<0.0001), and female attending physicians (B=-0.19, SE=0.08, P=0.0145) were independently associated with students' scores. CONCLUSION COVID-19 negatively impacted medical students' clinical performance, regardless of their specialty. Female students outperformed male students, irrespective of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Jia-Shiow Yuan
- Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shiau-Shian Huang
- Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-An Hsu
- Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiing-Feng Lirng
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hao Li
- Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chang Huang
- Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Clinical Skills Training, Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Clinical Innovation Center, Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Ying Yang
- Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Clinical Innovation Center, Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Pin Li
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Clinical Skills Training, Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Pancreatic Cancer, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Huan Chen
- Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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24
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Delabre RM, Di Ciaccio M, Lorente N, Villes V, Castro Avila J, Yattassaye A, Bonifaz C, Ben Moussa A, Sikitu IZ, Khodabocus N, Freitas R, Spire B, Veras MA, Sagaon-Teyssier L, Girard G, Roux P, Velter A, Delpech V, Ghosn J, Riegel L, Rojas Castro D. Impact of the COVID-19 Health Crisis on Key Populations at Higher Risk for, or Living With, HIV or Hepatitis C Virus and People Working With These Populations: Multicountry Community-Based Research Study Protocol (EPIC Program). JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e45204. [PMID: 38096016 PMCID: PMC10755648 DOI: 10.2196/45204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information concerning the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on populations most affected by HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV; or key populations [KP]), and those working with these populations in community settings, is limited. Community-based organizations working in the field of HIV and viral hepatitis are well placed to identify and meet the new needs of KP owing to the health crisis. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the development and implementation of an exploratory and descriptive multicountry, community-based research program, EPIC (Enquêtes Pour évaluer l'Impact de la crise sanitaire covid en milieu Communautaire), within an international network of community-based organizations involved in the response to HIV and viral hepatitis. The EPIC program aimed to study the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on KP or people living with HIV or HCV and people working with these populations at the community level (community health workers [CHWs]) and to identify the key innovations and adaptations in HIV and HCV services. METHODS A general protocol and study documents were developed and shared within the Coalition PLUS network. The protocol had a built-in flexibility that allowed participating organizations to adapt the study to local needs in terms of the target population and specific themes of interest. Data were collected using surveys or interviews. RESULTS From July 2020 to May 2022, a total of 79 organizations participated in the EPIC program. Across 32 countries, 118 studies were conducted: 66 quantitative (n=12,060 among KP or people living with HIV or people living with HCV and n=811 among CHWs) and 52 qualitative (n=766 among KP or people living with HIV or people living with HCV and n=136 among CHWs). CONCLUSIONS The results of the EPIC program will provide data to describe the impact of the health crisis on KP and CHWs and identify their emerging needs. Documentation of innovative solutions that were put into place in this context may help improve the provision of services after COVID-19 and for future health crises. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/45204.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicolas Lorente
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Centre Estudis Epidemiològics sobre les Infeccions de Transmissió Sexual i Sida de Catalunya, Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Badalona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Virginie Villes
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
| | | | - Adam Yattassaye
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Association pour la Résilience des Communautés pour l'Accès au Développement et à la Santé PLUS, Bamako, Mali
| | - César Bonifaz
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Corporación Kimirina, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Amal Ben Moussa
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Association de Lutte Contre le Sida, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ingrid-Zaïre Sikitu
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Association Nationale de Soutien aux Séropositifs et Malades du Sida, Bujumbura, Burundi
| | - Niloufer Khodabocus
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Prévention Information Lutte contre le SIDA, Port Louis, Mauritius
| | - Rosa Freitas
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bruno Spire
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | | | - Luis Sagaon-Teyssier
- Association pour la Résilience des Communautés pour l'Accès au Développement et à la Santé PLUS, Bamako, Mali
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Gabriel Girard
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Perrine Roux
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Annie Velter
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Valérie Delpech
- Director of Population and Public Health Directorate, North Coast North South Wales, Australia
| | - Jade Ghosn
- Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Nord, Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Center Hospitalier Universitaire Bichât - Claude Bernard, Paris, France
- Infection, Antimicrobials, Modelling, Evolution, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1137, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Lucas Riegel
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
| | - Daniela Rojas Castro
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
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25
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Wu J, Bolton RE, Anwar C, Bokhour BG, Khanna A, Mullur RS, Taylor SL, Hyde J. Modifying Whole Health Services for Successful Telehealth Delivery: Lessons from Veterans Health Administration's Rapid Transition During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 2023; 29:792-804. [PMID: 37668607 DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2023.0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is shifting care from a disease-oriented to health-creating approach that aims to provide whole person care. This Whole Health (WH) system combines person-centered care with delivery of WH services (e.g., health coaching, well-being education and skill-building classes, and evidence-based complementary and integrative health therapies), alongside conventional medical services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, WH services were modified for delivery through telehealth (teleWH). This article characterizes modifications to WH services made to maintain continuity during the transition to telehealth formats. Materials and methods: We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of 51 providers delivering teleWH services at 10 VHA medical centers. We examined WH service modifications as well as facilitators and barriers to those modifications using rapid coding and directed content analysis. Results: Modifications were driven by (1) preparing for teleWH service delivery and (2) improving teleWH service delivery. To prepare for teleWH services, modifications were prompted by access, readiness, and setting and resources. Modifications to improve the delivery of teleWH services were motivated by engagement, community-building, safety, and content for a teleWH environment. One-on-one teleWH services required the fewest modifications, while more significant modifications were needed for well-being, skill-building, and movement-based groups, and reconfiguration of manual therapies. Discussion: Findings highlighted the need for modifications to ensure that teleWH services are accessible and safe and support interpersonal relationships between patients and providers, as well as in group-based classes. Successfully delivering teleWH services requires proactive preparation that considers access, readiness, and the availability of resources to engage in teleWH services. Tailoring strategies and considering the unique needs of different teleWH services are critical. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed teleWH service implementation, utilization, and sustainment. The challenges faced and modifications made during this transition provide lessons learned for other health care systems as they attempt to implement teleWH services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet Wu
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Rendelle E Bolton
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Chitra Anwar
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Barbara G Bokhour
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Aishwarya Khanna
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Rashmi S Mullur
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for the Study of Health Care Innovation, Implementation & Policy (CSHIIP), Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Integrative Medicine Collaborative, University of California Los Angeles Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Taylor
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for the Study of Health Care Innovation, Implementation & Policy (CSHIIP), Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Justeen Hyde
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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26
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Parsons CE, Purves KL, Davies MR, Mundy J, Bristow S, Eley TC, Breen G, Hirsch CR, Young KS. Seeking help for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal analysis of adults' experiences with digital technologies and services. PLOS DIGITAL HEALTH 2023; 2:e0000402. [PMID: 38055730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about dramatic changes in how patients access healthcare from its outset. Lockdown restrictions and remote working led to a proliferation of digital technologies and services, which also impacted mental health provisions. Against the backdrop of new and changing support services, along with an unprecedented emphasis on mental health, relatively little is known about how adults sought out and received support for their mental health during this period. With a sample of 27,574 adults assessed longitudinally online over 12 months of the pandemic in the UK, we analysed reports of help-seeking for mental health, as well as sources of treatment or support and the perceived helpfulness of treatments received. We observed that the proportions of participants who reported seeking help remained relatively consistent throughout the 12-month period (ranging from 12.6% to 17.0%). Online talking therapies were among the most frequently sought sources (15.3%), whereas online self-guided treatments were among the least frequently sought sources (5%). Telephone lines, both NHS and non-governmental, had marked treatment 'gaps'. These treatment gaps, where individuals sought treatment but did not receive it, were especially evident for men and older adults. Our findings underscore online talking therapies as being a widely-sought and helpful source of mental health support. This is important given the current global need for accessible treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Parsons
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Interacting Minds Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kirstin L Purves
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Molly R Davies
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Mundy
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shannon Bristow
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Thalia C Eley
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Gerome Breen
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Colette R Hirsch
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine S Young
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, King's College London, United Kingdom
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27
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Weiss L, Dorman K, Boukovala M, Schwinghammer F, Jordan P, Fey T, Hasselmann K, Subklewe M, Bücklein V, Bargou R, Goebeler M, Sayehli C, Spoerl S, Lüke F, Heudobler D, Claus R, von Luettichau I, Lorenzen S, Lange S, Westphalen CB, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Heinemann V, Gießen-Jung C. Early clinical trial unit tumor board: a real-world experience in a national cancer network. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:13383-13390. [PMID: 37490102 PMCID: PMC10587227 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05196-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Early clinical trials are the first step into clinical therapies for new drugs. Within the six Bavarian university-based hospitals (Augsburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, Munich (LMU and TU), Würzburg) we have enrolled a virtual network platform for patient discussion. METHODS The virtual Early Clinical Trial Unit Tumor Board (ECTU Tumor Board) is a secured web-based meeting to evaluate early clinical trial options for patients, where representatives from local ECTUs participate. We retrospectively analyzed patient cases discussed between November 2021 and November 2022. RESULTS From November 2021 to November 2022, a total of 43 patients were discussed in the ECTU Tumor Board. Median age at diagnosis was 44.6 years (range 10-76 years). The median number of previous lines of therapies was 3.7 (range 1-9 therapies) including systemic treatment, surgery, and radiation therapy. A total of 27 different tumor entities were presented and 83.7% (36/43) patients received at least one trial recommendation. In total, 21 different active or shortly recruiting clinical trials were recommended: ten antibody trials, four BiTE (bispecific T cell engager) trials, six CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell trials, and one chemotherapy trial. Only six trials (28.6%) were recommended on the basis of the previously performed comprehensive genetic profiling (CGP). CONCLUSION The ECTU Tumor Board is a feasible and successful network, highlighting the force of virtual patient discussions for improving patient care as well as trial recruitment in advanced diseases. It can provide further treatment options after local MTB presentation, aiming to close the gap to access clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Weiss
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - K Dorman
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - M Boukovala
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - F Schwinghammer
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - P Jordan
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - T Fey
- Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC Munich LMU), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - K Hasselmann
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC Munich LMU), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - M Subklewe
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - V Bücklein
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - R Bargou
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - M Goebeler
- Early Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - C Sayehli
- Early Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - S Spoerl
- Department of Internal Medicine 5 (Hematology and Clinical Oncology), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - F Lüke
- Department of Internal Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Division of Personalized Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - D Heudobler
- Department of Internal Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - R Claus
- Department of Hematology and Clinical Oncology, University Medical Center Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - I von Luettichau
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Cancer Research Center, TUM School of Medicine, Kinderklinik München Schwabing, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - S Lorenzen
- Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology), Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - S Lange
- Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology), Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - C B Westphalen
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC Munich LMU), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - M von Bergwelt-Baildon
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - V Heinemann
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC Munich LMU), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - C Gießen-Jung
- Department Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany.
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Pearce L, Costa N, Sherrington C, Hassett L. Implementation of digital health interventions in rehabilitation: A scoping review. Clin Rehabil 2023; 37:1533-1551. [PMID: 37132030 DOI: 10.1177/02692155231172299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Digital health interventions have potential to enhance rehabilitation services by increasing accessibility, affordability and scalability. However, implementation of digital interventions in rehabilitation is poorly understood. This scoping review aims to map current strategies, research designs, frameworks, outcomes and determinants used to support and evaluate the implementation of digital interventions in rehabilitation. DATA SOURCES Comprehensive searches from inception until October 2022 of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PEDro, SpeechBITE, NeuroBITE, REHABDATA, WHO International Clinical Trial Registry and the Cochrane Library. METHODS Two reviewers screened studies against the eligibility criteria. Implementation science taxonomies and methods, including Powell et al.'s compilation of implementation strategies, were used to guide analysis and synthesis of findings. RESULTS The search retrieved 13,833 papers and 23 studies were included. Only 4 studies were randomised controlled trials and 9 studies (39%) were feasibility studies. Thirty-seven discrete implementation strategies were reported across studies. Strategies related to training and educating clinicians (91%), providing interactive assistance (61%), and developing stakeholder interrelationships (43%) were most frequently reported. Few studies adequately described implementation strategies and methods for selecting strategies. Almost all studies measured implementation outcomes and determinants; most commonly, acceptability, compatibility and dose delivered of digital interventions. CONCLUSION The rigour of implementation methods in the field is currently poor. Digital interventions require carefully planned and tailored implementation to facilitate successful adoption into rehabilitation practice. To keep pace with rapidly advancing technology, future rehabilitation research should prioritise using implementation science methods to explore and evaluate implementation while testing effectiveness of digital interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Pearce
- Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney/Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
- Royal Rehab LifeWorks Ryde, Royal Rehab Rehabilitation Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nathalia Costa
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Catherine Sherrington
- Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney/Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Leanne Hassett
- Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney/Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Yedulla NR, Faraj MT, Hazime AA, Gong JH, Tang A, Day CS. Decision Aid on Orthopedic Virtual Care: Patient Preferences in Orthopedic Hand Clinic. Telemed J E Health 2023; 29:1730-1737. [PMID: 37074349 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2022.0214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The objectives of this study are to develop a decision aid for orthopedic patients to decide between virtual or in-person care and assess patient preferences for these modalities in hand clinic. Methods: An orthopedic virtual care decision aid was developed alongside orthopedic surgeons and a virtual care expert. Subject participation involved 5 steps: Orientation, Memory, and Concentration Test (OMCT), knowledge pretest, decision aid, postdecision aid questionnaire, and Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) assessment. Patients presenting to hand clinic were initially provided the OMCT to assess decision-making capacity, with those failing excluded. Subjects were then administered a pretest to assess their understanding of virtual and in-person care. Subsequently, the validated decision aid was provided to patients, after which a postdecision aid questionnaire and DCS assessment were administered. Results: This study enrolled 124 patients. Pre- to postdecision aid knowledge test scores increased by 15.3% (p < 0.0001), and the average patient DCS score was 18.6. After reading the decision aid, 47.6% of patients believed that virtual and in-person care provided similar physician interaction, 46.0% felt little difference in effectiveness between the modalities, and 39.5% had no preference for either. Most patients understood their options (79.8%) and were ready to make a care modality decision (65.4%) following decision aid administration. Conclusion: Significant improvements in knowledge scores, strong DCS scores, and high levels of understanding and decision-making readiness support decision aid validity. Hand patients appear to have no consensus preferences for care modality, emphasizing the need for a decision aid to help determine individual care preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil R Yedulla
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Majd T Faraj
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan, USA
| | - Alaa A Hazime
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jung Ho Gong
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Amy Tang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Charles S Day
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Michigan State College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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Hägglund M, Ekwall AK, Davoody N, Farrokhnia N. Escape to the future - a qualitative study of physicians' views on the work environment, education, and support in a digital context. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2023; 23:231. [PMID: 37858147 PMCID: PMC10588019 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-023-02337-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of remote services such as video consultations (VCs) has increased significantly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Sweden, private healthcare providers offering VCs have grown substantially since 2016 and have been controversial. Few studies have focused on physicians' experiences providing care in this context. Our aim was to study physicians' experiences of VCs, focusing on the work environment, quality of care, and educational needs. METHODS Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were performed with physicians working with VCs in Sweden, and analyzed through inductive content analysis. RESULTS We identified five categories; flexibility, social work environment, impact on care and society, continuous learning and career development, and organizational support. Flexibility and accessibility were considered positive features of working digitally by giving physicians control over their time and workplace and increasing patients' timely access to healthcare. Regarding collegial contact and social activities in a digital context, the majority of the participants did not experience any significant difference compared to the physical context. Access to technical support services, educational support, and collegial support in decision-making, guidance, and consultations were described as well-functioning. Satisfied patients positively impacted the work environment, and participants felt that VCs have a positive socio-economic effect. Continuity of care was considered supported, but patients did not always prioritize this. Privacy risks were considered a challenge, as were poor development of clinical skills due to the low variation of patient cases. Working for an online healthcare provider was contributing to career advancements for junior clinicians. CONCLUSIONS Physicians appreciate the flexibility of the digital context and seem satisfied with a work environment where they have a high level of control, but few consider this a full-time career option. The pandemic year 2020 has led to a significant increase in the implementation of VCs in traditional care systems. How this affects the work environment and continuous education needs and career development remains to be seen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Hägglund
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 14B, Uppsala, 752 37, Sweden.
- Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Health Informatics Center, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management, and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | | - Nadia Davoody
- Health Informatics Center, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management, and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nasim Farrokhnia
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
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Sakuma F, Yamamiya A, Abe Y, Nagashima K, Minaguchi T, Kashima K, Kunogi Y, Fukushi K, Inaba Y, Sugaya T, Tominaga K, Goda K, Irisawa A. Investigating COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Acute Pancreatitis Development-From the Perspective of Alcohol Sales (Consumption) in a Japanese Regional Hospital. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2769. [PMID: 37893843 PMCID: PMC10606278 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11202769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
[Aim and Background] People's lifestyles changed considerably due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The number of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) can be expected to decrease as alcohol consumption decreases. This study was conducted to assess COVID-19 pandemic effects on AP patients in a Japanese regional hospital. [Methods] Based on the first and second states of emergency declarations in Tochigi Prefecture, the survey periods were set as follows: period A, 16 April-14 May; period B, 15 May-13 January; period C, 14 January-7 February; and period D, 8 February-15 April. Using data acquired in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, we retrospectively reviewed the number of patients admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of AP, and their clinical characteristics. [Results] According to a National Tax Agency survey, the average alcohol sales per adult in Tochigi Prefecture were 71.3 L in 2017 before the pandemic, and 64.0 L in 2021 under the pandemic. The number of AP patients in 2020 was 38% lower than in 2017. Comparing 2017 with 2020, the number of alcoholic AP patients was lower in 2020 (p = 0.007). [Conclusions] The findings suggest that COVID-19-pandemic-related lifestyle changes contributed to the decrease in AP patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Akira Yamamiya
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan; (F.S.); (Y.A.); (K.N.); (T.M.); (K.K.); (Y.K.); (K.F.); (Y.I.); (T.S.); (K.T.); (K.G.); (A.I.)
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Stephens D, Weiser T, Mera J, Becker T, Essex W, Brown H, Vinson E, Woodbury M, Reilley B, Leston J. Adapting a Telehealth Network for Emergency COVID-19 Pandemic Response, 2020-2021. Public Health Rep 2023; 138:17S-22S. [PMID: 36197011 PMCID: PMC9535452 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221123567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In March 2020, a Tribal telehealth program-the Indian Country Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO)-added emergency COVID-19 to its programming to support the pandemic response. A long-standing relationship with a network of Indian Health Service, Tribal, and urban Indian clinicians supported a rapid launch of the COVID-19 telehealth program. This nationwide service offered primary care clinicians and staff serving American Indian/Alaska Native people access to virtual learning opportunities, expert clinical recommendations, technical assistance, and capacity building. From March 12, 2020, through April 30, 2021, the program provided 85 clinical sessions in 12 months, with an average participation of 120 attendees per clinic (N = 11 710). Attendees could complete a voluntary evaluation form for each session via an online link. A total of 2595 forms were completed. Attendees came from 33 states and 206 unique locations, primarily from the Pacific Northwest (n = 931, 35.9%). Most pharmacists (78.1%), providers (ie, medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or clinical nurse midwife; 70.8%), and nurses (59.6%) gave the sessions the highest rating of "very satisfied." The highest proportion of attendees indicating that they planned a change in practice were pharmacists (68.0%), nurses, (64.1%), and providers (61.3%). Most attendees (93.1%) said that the COVID-19 sessions gave them a sense of social support. Lessons learned were that (1) a telehealth platform can be quickly retasked for emergency response with no further delays, (2) a telehealth network can be scaled up quickly with participation from preexisting relationships, and (3) the platform is flexible and adaptable to the needs of participants. An existing telehealth program can be a key part of timely, relevant, large-scale emergency readiness and response efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Stephens
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Thomas Weiser
- Indian Health Service Area Office, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jorge Mera
- Cherokee Nation Health Services, Tahlequah, OK, USA
| | - Tom Becker
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Harry Brown
- United South and Eastern Tribes, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Eric Vinson
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Megan Woodbury
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Brigg Reilley
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jessica Leston
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, OR, USA
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Ferentinou E, Koutelekos I, Pappa D, Manthou P, Dafogianni C. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity: A Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e45470. [PMID: 37859918 PMCID: PMC10583857 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed many families' eating habits and lifestyles. The main aim of this study was to investigate the association between COVID-19 and childhood obesity across the scientific literature. Literature reviews have shown that the current COVID-19 pandemic may play a major negative role in the global fight against childhood obesity. School closures, changes in routine, loss of structure, and loss of control were negatively associated with childhood obesity during the COVID-19 period. In addition, physical inactivity, irregular sleep, increased smartphone/TV screen time, and sedentary life may have played a significant negative role in social distress among children and adolescents. It has been argued that school closures during the pandemic have the potential to increase the prevalence of childhood obesity. Finally, family violence was predicted to increase during the pandemic, putting already vulnerable children at increased risk. The pandemic caused significant morbidity and mortality, straining healthcare systems, shutting down economies, and closing school districts. Pandemic future planning should involve stakeholders, including governments, schools, and families, who should make every effort to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on childhood obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Panagiota Manthou
- Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC
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Rudzinski K, King K, Guta A, Chan Carusone S, Strike C. "And if my goal is never to leave Casey House?": The significance of place attachment for patients at a specialty HIV hospital in Toronto, Canada. Health Place 2023; 83:103100. [PMID: 37595542 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
The current healthcare context prioritizes shorter hospital stays and fewer readmissions. However, these measures may not fully capture care experiences for people living with HIV, especially those experiencing medical, psychosocial, and economic complexity. As part of a larger study, we conducted seven focus groups with people living with HIV (n = 52), who were current/former patients at a Toronto-based specialty hospital, examining their desires/needs for hospital programs. Using a novel place attachment lens, we conducted a thematic analysis focusing on the emotional bond between person (patient) and place (hospital). Our findings show that participants wanted an ongoing connection to hospital to fulfill their need(s) for control, security, restoration and belonging. Indeed, continual attachment to hospital may be beneficial for patients with complex care needs. Our research has implications for care engagement and retention frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Rudzinski
- School of Social Work, University of Windsor, 167 Ferry Street, Windsor, ON, N9A 0C5, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada.
| | - Kenneth King
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada
| | - Adrian Guta
- School of Social Work, University of Windsor, 167 Ferry Street, Windsor, ON, N9A 0C5, Canada.
| | | | - Carol Strike
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada.
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Tozzo P, Delicati A, Marcante B, Catelan D, Caenazzo L. Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey-Based Study on a Sample of Italian Physicians' Opinions on Telemedicine. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1267. [PMID: 37623517 PMCID: PMC10455507 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13081267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Telemedicine was born out of the need to ensure clinical evaluation and personal care regardless of the physical presence of the healthcare professional nearby. Information technologies have been vital during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure medical care and avoid the contagion between patients and clinicians. Accordingly, telecare services multiplied worldwide and gained paramount importance. The present work aims to collect field-based opinions about Telemedicine and ethics among Italian physicians. We developed a web-based questionnaire that was administered to Italian physicians from 1 May to 15 June 2022. The questionnaire was distributed as a link to Google Forms via social networks/instant messaging applications to groups of graduated and qualified physicians. A total of 180 physicians answered the questionnaire (with an age range from 25 to 68 years old). Physicians belonging to the medical area of expertise appear to more frequently use new technologies in comparison to other specialties. The vast majority believe that it is appropriate to use Telemedicine for monitoring and follow-up but not for evaluating a new patient. Concerns about changes in the physician-patient relationship, informed consent, digital barrier, and privacy and data protection also emerged. Finally, telehealth is thought to be a potential useful tool for the future by the majority of respondents but proper training for physicians is therefore needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Tozzo
- Legal Medicine Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (A.D.); (B.M.); (L.C.)
| | - Arianna Delicati
- Legal Medicine Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (A.D.); (B.M.); (L.C.)
| | - Beatrice Marcante
- Legal Medicine Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (A.D.); (B.M.); (L.C.)
| | - Dolores Catelan
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy;
| | - Luciana Caenazzo
- Legal Medicine Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (A.D.); (B.M.); (L.C.)
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Shaikh CF, Woldesenbet S, Munir MM, Moazzam Z, Endo Y, Alaimo L, Azap L, Yang J, Katayama E, Lima HA, Dawood Z, Pawlik TM. Utilization of Telemedicine among Medicare beneficiaries undergoing Hepatopancreatic Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Gastrointest Surg 2023; 27:1611-1620. [PMID: 37254021 PMCID: PMC10228881 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-023-05711-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Telemedicine may serve as an important avenue to address disparities in access to cancer care. We sought to define factors associated with telemedicine use among Medicare beneficiaries who underwent hepatopancreatic (HP) surgery, as well as characterize trends in telemedicine usage relative to community vulnerability based on the enactment of the Medicare telemedicine coverage waiver. METHODS Patients who underwent HP surgery between 2013-2020 were identified from the Medicare Standard Analytic Files (SAF). Telemedicine utilization was assessed pre- versus post- implementation of the Medicare telemedicine coverage waiver; the county-level social vulnerability index (SVI) was obtained from the Center for Disease Control. Interrupted time series analysis with negative binomial and multivariable logistic regression methods were used to assess changes in telemedicine utilization after the implementation of the Medicare telemedicine coverage waiver relative to SVI. RESULTS Pre-waiver telemedicine visits were scarce among 16,690 patients (0.2%, n = 28), while post-waiver telemedicine adoption was substantial among 3,301 patients (45.8%, n = 1,388). Post-waiver, the median patient age was 70 years (IQR, 66-74) with the majority of patients being age 65-69 (n = 994, 32.8%); 1,599 (52.8%) were female. Most patients self-identified as White (n = 2641, 87.1%), while a minority of patients self-identified as Black (n = 190, 6.3%), Asian (n = 18, 0.6%), Hispanic (n = 35, 1.2%), or Other/unknown (n = 147, 4.9%). On multivariable regression analysis, patients who lived in highly vulnerable counties (referent Low SVI; moderate SVI: OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.86-1.39, p = 0.449; high SVI: OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55-0.94, p = 0.001) and individuals with advancing age (referent 18-64; 65-69, OR 0.68, 95%CI 0.54-0.86; 70-74, OR 0.56, 95%CI 0.44-0.71; 75-79, OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.44-0.75; 80-84, OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.30-0.61; 85 + , OR 0.25, 95%CI 0.13-0.49) had lower odds of utilizing telemedicine. In contrast, Black patients (referent White; OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.65-3.10) and patients with a higher CCI score > 2 (referent ≤ 2; OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.28-1.71) were more likely to use telemedicine (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Medicare beneficiaries residing in counties with extreme vulnerability, as well as elderly individuals, were markedly less likely to use telemedicine services related to HP surgical episodes of care. The lower utilization of telemedicine in areas of high social vulnerability was attributable to concomitant lower rates of internet access in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanza Fahim Shaikh
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Selamawit Woldesenbet
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Muhammad Musaab Munir
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zorays Moazzam
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Yutaka Endo
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Laura Alaimo
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lovette Azap
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jason Yang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Erryk Katayama
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Henrique A Lima
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zaiba Dawood
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Suite 670, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Surgery, The Urban Meyer III and Shelley Meyer Chair for Cancer Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Haddad TC, Maita KC, Inselman JW, Avila FR, Torres-Guzman RA, Coffey JD, Christopherson LA, Leuenberger AM, Bell SJ, Pahl DF, Garcia JP, Manka L, Forte AJ, Maniaci MJ. Patient Satisfaction With a Multisite, Multiregional Remote Patient Monitoring Program for Acute and Chronic Condition Management: Survey-Based Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e44528. [PMID: 37343182 PMCID: PMC10415939 DOI: 10.2196/44528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is an option for continuously managing the care of patients in the comfort of their homes or locations outside hospitals and clinics. Patient engagement with RPM programs is essential for achieving successful outcomes and high quality of care. When relying on technology to facilitate monitoring and shifting disease management to the home environment, it is important to understand the patients' experiences to enable quality improvement. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe patients' experiences and overall satisfaction with an RPM program for acute and chronic conditions in a multisite, multiregional health care system. METHODS Between January 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022, a patient experience survey was delivered via email to all patients enrolled in the RPM program. The survey encompassed 19 questions across 4 categories regarding comfort, equipment, communication, and overall experience, as well as 2 open-ended questions. Descriptive analysis of the survey response data was performed using frequency distribution and percentages. RESULTS Surveys were sent to 8535 patients. The survey response rate was 37.16% (3172/8535) and the completion rate was 95.23% (3172/3331). Survey results indicated that 88.97% (2783/3128) of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the program helped them feel comfortable managing their health from home. Furthermore, 93.58% (2873/3070) were satisfied with the RPM program and ready to graduate when meeting the program goals. In addition, patient confidence in this model of care was confirmed by 92.76% (2846/3068) of the participants who would recommend RPM to people with similar conditions. There were no differences in ease of technology use according to age. Those with high school or less education were more likely to agree that the equipment and educational materials helped them feel more informed about their care plans than those with higher education levels. CONCLUSIONS This multisite, multiregional RPM program has become a reliable health care delivery model for the management of acute and chronic conditions outside hospitals and clinics. Program participants reported an excellent overall experience and a high level of satisfaction in managing their health from the comfort of their home environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tufia C Haddad
- Center For Digital Health, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Karla C Maita
- Division of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Jonathan W Inselman
- Center For Digital Health, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Francisco R Avila
- Division of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Ricardo A Torres-Guzman
- Division of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Jordan D Coffey
- Center For Digital Health, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Rochester, MN, United States
| | | | - Angela M Leuenberger
- Center For Digital Health, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Sarah J Bell
- Center For Digital Health, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Dominick F Pahl
- Center For Digital Health, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - John P Garcia
- Division of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Lukas Manka
- Center For Digital Health, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Antonio J Forte
- Division of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Michael J Maniaci
- Division of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
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Clay-Williams R, Hibbert P, Carrigan A, Roberts N, Austin E, Fajardo Pulido D, Meulenbroeks I, Nguyen HM, Sarkies M, Hatem S, Maka K, Loy G, Braithwaite J. The diversity of providers' and consumers' views of virtual versus inpatient care provision: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:724. [PMID: 37400807 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09715-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A broad-based international shift to virtual care models over recent years has accelerated following COVID-19. Although there are increasing numbers of studies and reviews, less is known about clinicians' and consumers' perspectives concerning virtual modes in contrast to inpatient modes of delivery. METHODS We conducted a mixed-methods study in late 2021 examining consumers' and providers' expectations of and perspectives on virtual care in the context of a new facility planned for the north-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Data were collected via a series of workshops, and a demographic survey. Recorded qualitative text data were analysed thematically, and surveys were analysed using SPSS v22. RESULTS Across 12 workshops, 33 consumers and 49 providers from varied backgrounds, ethnicities, language groups, age ranges and professions participated. Four advantages, strengths or benefits of virtual care reported were: patient factors and wellbeing, accessibility, better care and health outcomes, and additional health system benefits, while four disadvantages, weaknesses or risks of virtual care were: patient factors and wellbeing, accessibility, resources and infrastructure, and quality and safety of care. CONCLUSIONS Virtual care was widely supported but the model is not suitable for all patients. Health and digital literacy and appropriate patient selection were key success criteria, as was patient choice. Key concerns included technology failures or limitations and that virtual models may be no more efficient than inpatient care models. Considering consumer and provider views and expectations prior to introducing virtual models of care may facilitate greater acceptance and uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Clay-Williams
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Peter Hibbert
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- IIMPACT in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Ann Carrigan
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Elite Performance, Macquarie University, Expertise & Training, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Natalie Roberts
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Austin
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Diana Fajardo Pulido
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Isabelle Meulenbroeks
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Hoa Mi Nguyen
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mitchell Sarkies
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sarah Hatem
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Maka
- Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Graeme Loy
- Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeffrey Braithwaite
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Fouladvand S, Gomez FR, Nilforoshan H, Schwede M, Noshad M, Jee O, You J, Sosic R, Leskovec J, Chen J. Graph-based clinical recommender: Predicting specialists procedure orders using graph representation learning. J Biomed Inform 2023; 143:104407. [PMID: 37271308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2023.104407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether graph neural network based models of electronic health records can predict specialty consultation care needs for endocrinology and hematology more accurately than the standard of care checklists and other conventional medical recommendation algorithms in the literature. METHODS Demand for medical expertise far outstrips supply, with tens of millions in the US alone with deficient access to specialty care. Rather than potentially months long delays to initiate diagnostic workup and medical treatment with a specialist, referring primary care supported by an automated recommender algorithm could anticipate and directly initiate patient evaluation that would otherwise be needed at subsequent a specialist appointment. We propose a novel graph representation learning approach with a heterogeneous graph neural network to model structured electronic health records and formulate recommendation/prediction of subsequent specialist orders as a link prediction problem. RESULTS Models are trained and assessed in two specialty care sites: endocrinology and hematology. Our experimental results show that our model achieves an 8% improvement in ROC-AUC for endocrinology (ROC-AUC = 0.88) and 5% improvement for hematology (ROC-AUC = 0.84) personalized procedure recommendations over prior medical recommender systems. These recommender algorithm approaches provide medical procedure recommendations for endocrinology referrals more effectively than manual clinical checklists (recommender: precision = 0.60, recall = 0.27, F1-score = 0.37) vs. (checklist: precision = 0.16, recall = 0.28, F1-score = 0.20), and similarly for hematology referrals (recommender: precision = 0.44, recall = 0.38, F1-score = 0.41) vs. (checklist: precision = 0.27, recall = 0.71, F1-score = 0.39). CONCLUSION Embedding graph neural network models into clinical care can improve digital specialty consultation systems and expand the access to medical experience of prior similar cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjad Fouladvand
- Biomedical Informatics Research, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
| | - Federico Reyes Gomez
- Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
| | - Hamed Nilforoshan
- Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
| | - Matthew Schwede
- Biomedical Informatics Research, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
| | - Morteza Noshad
- Biomedical Informatics Research, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
| | - Olivia Jee
- Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
| | - Jiaxuan You
- Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
| | - Rok Sosic
- Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
| | - Jure Leskovec
- Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
| | - Jonathan Chen
- Biomedical Informatics Research, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America; Division of Hospital Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America; Clinical Excellence Research Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
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AlJaloud AM, Al Suwyed A, Al Zoman KH, Tabbaa MY, Alwin Robert A, Al-Nowaiser AM, Alotaibi F, Alfaifi MA, Almubarak SA. Patient Perceptions and Satisfaction With Virtual Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e42450. [PMID: 37637632 PMCID: PMC10449483 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Virtual clinics played an important role for many patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted this cross-sectional study to evaluate patient perceptions and their satisfaction with virtual clinics during and after COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Methods An online questionnaire-based survey with questions in both Arabic and English was conducted among patients who attended outpatient clinics at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May 2021 to September 2021. Demographic variables, the clinic type, and the level of satisfaction with the remote appointments were recorded. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Results A total of 1274 participants filled out the survey. Of them, 831 (65.23%) were females, and 749 (58.79%) were aged 18 to 30 years old. Of the sample studied, 411 (32.26%) had appointments with their healthcare provider remotely since the beginning of the pandemic; 311 (75.67%) were satisfied or highly satisfied with the remote appointments; and 198 (48.18%) participants desired to continue using virtual services post-COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression analysis showed that females were more satisfied with virtual clinics than males (OR= 1.18, 95% CI (1.01, 1.40), p=0.04). The age group of 18 to 30 was more satisfied than other age groups (OR= 53.23, 95% CI (2.01, 1347.18), p=0.02). Conclusion The majority of the participants who used virtual clinics were satisfied with the service. Nearly half of the participants wanted to continue using virtual services even after the COVID-19 pandemic was over. More effort should be made to increase patient awareness and knowledge about virtual clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abdulaziz Al Suwyed
- Dentistry, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Khalid H Al Zoman
- Dentistry, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Mohammad Y Tabbaa
- Dentistry, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, SAU
| | | | | | - Faisal Alotaibi
- Neurological Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Mohammed A Alfaifi
- Emergency Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Sultan A Almubarak
- Innovation and Knowledge Translation, Saudi National Institute of Health, Riyadh, SAU
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Mallow J, Davis SM, Herczyk J, Jaynes M, Klos B, Canaday M, Theeke L. Feasibility and Acceptability of Community-Based Telehealth to Prevent Long-Term Care Readmission. TELEMEDICINE REPORTS 2023; 4:135-146. [PMID: 37771699 PMCID: PMC10523410 DOI: 10.1089/tmr.2022.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Background Transitioning to community living after long-term care requires multiple complex individualized interventions to prevent readmission. The current focus of home and community-based services (HCBS) is on increasing consumer engagement and individualizing care. Telehealth interventions provide additional services without the burden of face-to-face encounters and have yet to be evaluated for feasibility and acceptability in rural HCBS. Methods West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services and West Virginia University implemented and evaluated a telehealth intervention with 26 Aged and Disabled Waiver or Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver participants who were transitioning back into their communities from a long-term care facility. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment process, fidelity to planned intervention, number of people eligible for participation, number of individuals enrolling in the intervention, enrollment process, completed enrollment, engagement in the intervention, number of weeks participating in the intervention, type of devices provided, attrition, and fidelity to original intervention. Satisfaction with services was used as a marker of acceptability for both participants and providers. Results Half (n = 12) of the enrolled population completed the full 24-week telehealth monitoring period and modification of the original intervention was necessary for most. Provider and participant satisfaction was high. Recruitment and enrollment may have been affected by COVID-19. Conclusion Future implementation will continue to track recruitment and retention efforts. Individualized care plans, demonstration and practice with equipment, family or direct-care worker presence, and live technical support through the phone are needed. Primary care provider and in-home direct-care worker satisfaction workflow planning and evaluation are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Mallow
- School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Stephen M. Davis
- School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Johnathan Herczyk
- Office of Health Affairs, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Margaret Jaynes
- School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Ben Klos
- School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Marcus Canaday
- Take Me Home, West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services, Charleston, West Virginia, USA
| | - Laurie Theeke
- School of Nursing, George Washington University, Ashburn, Virginia, USA
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Fainardi V, Capoferri G, Tornesello M, Pisi G, Esposito S. Telemedicine and Its Application in Cystic Fibrosis. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1041. [PMID: 37511654 PMCID: PMC10381340 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13071041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The care of cystic fibrosis (CF) traditionally consists of regular visits to the clinic where a multidisciplinary team can visit the patient, adjust treatments and monitor the disease. During the COVID-19 pandemic when access to hospitals and medical environments was very limited, the role of telemedicine was crucial to keep in touch with patients with chronic diseases such as CF. Increasing evidence demonstrates that electronic health can successfully support healthcare professionals in the management of people with CF. The use of devices connected to digital platforms or smartphones results in a continuous flow of data that can be shared with the clinician and the team in order to improve the knowledge of patients' diseases and the level of care needed. This narrative review aims to describe the application of telemedicine in CF disease with pros and cons. A literature analysis showed that telemedicine has several advantages in the management of patients with CF. With the evolving support of digital technology, telemedicine can promote clinical visits, adherence to daily treatment, including respiratory physiotherapy and physical exercise, early identification of pulmonary exacerbations and management of psychological issues. The main disadvantages are missed physical exam findings, lack of physical contact that can prevent conversation on sensitive topics, lack of access to technology and lack of technological skills. Furthermore, healthcare operators need appropriate training for telemedicine systems and need time to organise and analyse data generated remotely, which may increase the burden of daily work. Hybrid personalised care models that marge telemedicine and traditional care can be an ideal solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Fainardi
- Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Gaia Capoferri
- Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Tornesello
- Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Giovanna Pisi
- Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
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Ramamoorthi K, Liu R, Fujioka J, Rathod P, Rosart J, Desveaux L, Bhattacharyya O. Navigating Virtual Care Services in Ontario Urban Hospitals, Using Patient Journey Mapping. J Patient Exp 2023; 10:23743735231179059. [PMID: 37362251 PMCID: PMC10286535 DOI: 10.1177/23743735231179059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic forced health systems to rapidly shift to deliver healthcare virtually, however, there is a limited understanding of this shift from the patient's perspective. We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients in three clinical areas (mental health, chronic care, and surgical care) and used patient journey mapping to visualize their experiences. Themes suggest that (1) patient's preference of modalities was contextually dependent, (2) that providers must continually converse with patients to select appropriate modalities, and (3) that providers must account for multiple factors such as a patient's digital and health literacy, comfort level with the modality and their medical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karishini Ramamoorthi
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rebecca Liu
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jamie Fujioka
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Purvi Rathod
- Healthcare Human Factors, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jennifer Rosart
- Healthcare Human Factors, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Laura Desveaux
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Onil Bhattacharyya
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Hodges J, Calvo R. Telehealth for All? Assessing Remote Service Delivery for Latinx Immigrants. HEALTH & SOCIAL WORK 2023:7194690. [PMID: 37308313 DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlad016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred a widespread shift to remotely delivered health services. Telehealth has shown promise in making healthcare more accessible. Little research has looked at the effects of this change on access to healthcare for Latinx immigrants. This qualitative study explored the shift to remote services during the COVID-19 pandemic in a new immigrant destination. Authors interviewed 23 service providers to assess if telehealth increased access to healthcare for Latinx immigrants. Results showed that telehealth improved access to services overall. Still, barriers to care remained. Immigrants experienced (a) limited access to technology and low digital literacy, (b) lack of privacy during the provision of services, (c) inability to utilize certain digital platforms due to confidentiality regulations, and (d) decreased quality of services. Findings suggest that telehealth is a promising modality to decrease healthcare disparities, but providers need to thoughtfully address barriers unique to Latinx immigrants to ensure their full participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Hodges
- LCSW, is a doctoral candidate School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Rocío Calvo
- PhD, is professor, School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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Sharan RV, Rahimi-Ardabili H. Detecting acute respiratory diseases in the pediatric population using cough sound features and machine learning: A systematic review. Int J Med Inform 2023; 176:105093. [PMID: 37224643 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute respiratory diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Cough is a common symptom of acute respiratory diseases and the sound of cough can be indicative of the respiratory disease. However, cough sound assessment in routine clinical practice is limited to human perception and the skills of the clinician. Objective cough sound evaluation has the potential to aid clinicians in acute respiratory disease diagnosis. In this systematic review, we assess and summarize the predictive ability of machine learning algorithms in analyzing cough sounds of acute respiratory diseases in the pediatric population. METHOD Our systematic search of the Scopus, Medline, and Embase databases on 25 January 2023 identified six articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the checklist for the assessment of medical artificial intelligence. RESULTS Our analysis shows variability in the input to the machine learning algorithms, such as the use of various cough sound features and combining cough sound features with clinical features. The use of the machine learning algorithms also varies from conventional algorithms, such as logistic regression and support vector machine, to deep learning techniques, such as convolutional neural networks. The classification accuracy for the detection of bronchiolitis, croup, pertussis, and pneumonia across five articles is in the range of 82-96%. However, a significant drop is observed in the detection accuracy for bronchiolitis and pneumonia in the remaining article. CONCLUSION The number of articles is limited but, in general, the predictive ability of cough sound classification algorithms in childhood acute respiratory diseases shows promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roneel V Sharan
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Hania Rahimi-Ardabili
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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McLean KA, Sgrò A, Brown LR, Buijs LF, Daines L, Potter MA, Bouamrane MM, Harrison EM. Evaluation of remote digital postoperative wound monitoring in routine surgical practice. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:85. [PMID: 37147462 PMCID: PMC10161985 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00824-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Remote digital postoperative wound monitoring provides an opportunity to strengthen postoperative community care and minimise the burden of surgical-site infection (SSI). This study aimed to pilot a remote digital postoperative wound monitoring service and evaluate the readiness for implementation in routine clinical practice. This was a single-arm pilot implementational study of remote digital postoperative wound monitoring across two tertiary care hospitals in the UK (IDEAL stage 2b, clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05069103). Adults undergoing abdominal surgery were recruited and received a smartphone-delivered wound assessment tool for 30-days postoperatively. Patients received 30-day postoperative follow-up, including the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). A thematic mixed-methods approach was used, according to the WHO framework for monitoring and evaluating digital health interventions. 200 patients were enroled, of whom 115 (57.5%) underwent emergency surgical procedures. Overall, the 30-day SSI rate was 16.5% (n = 33/200), with 72.7% (n = 24) diagnosed post-discharge. Usage of the intervention was 83.0% (n = 166/200), with subsequently 74.1% (n = 123/166) TUQ completion. There were no issues reported with feasibility of the technology, with the reliability (3.87, 95% CI: 3.73-4.00) and quality of the interface rated highly (4.18, 95%: 4.06-4.30). Patient acceptance was similarly high with regards to ease of use (4.51, 95% CI: 4.41-4.62), satisfaction (4.27, 95% CI: 4.13-4.41), and usefulness (4.07, 95% CI: 3.92-4.23). Despite the desire for more frequent and personalised interactions, the majority viewed the intervention as providing meaningful benefit over routine postoperative care. Remote digital postoperative wound monitoring successfully demonstrated readiness for implementation with regards to the technology, usability, and healthcare process improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A McLean
- Department of Clinical Surgery, University of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, 9 Little France Rd, Edinburgh, EH16 4UX, UK
| | - Alessandro Sgrò
- Colorectal Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Leo R Brown
- Department of Clinical Surgery, University of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK
| | - Louis F Buijs
- Colorectal Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Luke Daines
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, 9 Little France Rd, Edinburgh, EH16 4UX, UK
| | - Mark A Potter
- Colorectal Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Matt-Mouley Bouamrane
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, 9 Little France Rd, Edinburgh, EH16 4UX, UK
| | - Ewen M Harrison
- Department of Clinical Surgery, University of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK.
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, 9 Little France Rd, Edinburgh, EH16 4UX, UK.
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Quinn AE, Drummond R, Clement F, Columbus M, Moss SJ, Fitzgerald E, Daya R, Mastikhina L, Leigh JP, Stelfox HT. A North Star Vision: Results from a Deliberative Dialogue to Identify Policy Strategies to Improve Value in Healthcare. Healthc Policy 2023; 18:120-133. [PMID: 37486817 PMCID: PMC10370391 DOI: 10.12927/hcpol.2023.27089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
We hosted a deliberative dialogue with citizens (n = 3), policy researchers (n = 3), government decision makers (n = 3) and health system leaders (n = 3) to identify evidence-informed policy options to improve the value of Canadian healthcare. The analysis resulted in three themes: (1) the need for a vision to guide reforms, (2) community-based care and (3) community-engaged care. Results suggest the need for a new paradigm: community-focused health systems. Such a paradigm could serve as a North Star guiding healthcare transformation, improving value by aligning citizen and healthcare system goals, prioritizing spending on services that address the social determinants of health and improving quality and equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amity E Quinn
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Senior Research Associate, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
| | - Rachelle Drummond
- Research Associate, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
| | - Fiona Clement
- Professor, Department of Community Health Science, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Member, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
| | - Melanie Columbus
- Health Policy Manager, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
| | - Stephana J Moss
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Health, School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, CRISMA Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Emily Fitzgerald
- Research Associate, Faculty of Health, School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Rukhsaar Daya
- Community Engagement Specialist, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, kARLA KREWULAK, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
| | - Liza Mastikhina
- Unit Manager, Health Technology Assessment Unit, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
| | - Jeanna Parsons Leigh
- Assistant Professor Faculty of Health, School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Henry T Stelfox
- On behalf of the Health Policy Forum Panellists, Scientific Director, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Professor, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
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McLean KA, Knight SR, Diehl TM, Varghese C, Ng N, Potter MA, Zafar SN, Bouamrane MM, Harrison EM. Readiness for implementation of novel digital health interventions for postoperative monitoring: a systematic review and clinical innovation network analysis. Lancet Digit Health 2023; 5:e295-e315. [PMID: 37100544 DOI: 10.1016/s2589-7500(23)00026-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
An increasing number of digital health interventions (DHIs) for remote postoperative monitoring have been developed and evaluated. This systematic review identifies DHIs for postoperative monitoring and evaluates their readiness for implementation into routine health care. Studies were defined according to idea, development, exploration, assessment, and long-term follow-up (IDEAL) stages of innovation. A novel clinical innovation network analysis used coauthorship and citations to examine collaboration and progression within the field. 126 DHIs were identified, with 101 (80%) being early stage innovations (IDEAL stage 1 and 2a). None of the DHIs identified had large-scale routine implementation. There is little evidence of collaboration, and there are clear omissions in the evaluation of feasibility, accessibility, and the health-care impact. Use of DHIs for postoperative monitoring remains at an early stage of innovation, with promising but generally low-quality supporting evidence. Comprehensive evaluation within high-quality, large-scale trials and real-world data are required to definitively establish readiness for routine implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A McLean
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stephen R Knight
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Thomas M Diehl
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Chris Varghese
- Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nathan Ng
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mark A Potter
- Colorectal Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Syed Nabeel Zafar
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Matt-Mouley Bouamrane
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ewen M Harrison
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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Bul KCM, Bannon C, Krishnan N, Dunlop A, Szczepura A. Can eHealth applications improve renal transplant outcomes for adolescents and young adults? A systematic review. Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2023; 37:100760. [PMID: 37172527 DOI: 10.1016/j.trre.2023.100760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Adherence to medical treatment following a kidney transplant is particularly challenging during adolescence and young adulthood. There is increasing evidence of the benefits of the use of computer and mobile technology (labelled as eHealth hereafter) including serious gaming and gamification in many clinical areas. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of such interventions designed to improve self-management skills, treatment adherence and clinical outcomes in young kidney transplant recipients aged 16 to 30 years. METHOD The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, SCOPUS and CINAHL databases were searched for studies published between 01 January 1990 and 20 October 2020. Articles were short-listed by two independent reviewers based on pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Reference lists were screened and authors of published conference abstracts contacted. Two reviewers independently appraised selected articles, systematically extracted data and assessed the quality of individual studies (CASP and SORT). Thematic analysis was used for evidence synthesis; quantitative meta-analysis was not possible. RESULTS A total of 1098 unique records were identified. Short-listing identified four eligible studies, all randomized controlled trials (n = 266 participants). Trials mainly focused on mHealth applications or electronic pill dispensers (mostly for patients >18 years old). Most studies reported on clinical outcome measures. All showed improved adherence but there were no differences in the number of rejections. Study quality was low for all four studies. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this review suggest that eHealth interventions can improve treatment adherence and clinical outcomes for young kidney transplant patients. More robust and high-quality studies are now needed to validate these findings. Future studies should also extend beyond short-term outcomes, and consider cost of implementation. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017062469).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim C M Bul
- Coventry University, Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, West Midlands, Coventry, United Kingdom.
| | - Christopher Bannon
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nithya Krishnan
- University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Renal, West Midlands, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Amber Dunlop
- University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Library & Knowledge Services, West Midlands, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Ala Szczepura
- Coventry University, Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Centre for Healthcare and Communities, West Midlands, Coventry, United Kingdom
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Bargon CA, Mink van der Molen DR, Batenburg MCT, van Stam LE, van Dam IE, Baas IO, Veenendaal LM, Maarse W, Sier M, Schoenmaeckers EJP, Burgmans JPJ, Bijlsma RM, van der Leij F, Doeksen A, Young-Afat DA, Verkooijen HM. Physical and mental health of breast cancer patients and survivors before and during successive SARS-CoV-2-infection waves. Qual Life Res 2023:10.1007/s11136-023-03400-6. [PMID: 37016089 PMCID: PMC10072805 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-023-03400-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE During the first SARS-CoV-2-infection wave, a deterioration in emotional well-being and increased need for mental health care were observed among patients treated or being treated for breast cancer. In this follow-up study, we assessed patient-reported quality of life (QoL), physical functioning, and psychosocial well-being during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave in a large, representative cohort. METHODS This longitudinal cohort study was conducted within the prospective, multicenter UMBRELLA breast cancer cohort. To assess patient-reported QoL, physical functioning and psychosocial well-being, COVID-19-specific surveys were completed by patients during the first and second SARS-CoV-2-infection waves (April and November 2020, respectively). An identical survey was completed by a comparable reference population during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection waves. All surveys included the validated EORTC-QLQ-C30/BR23, HADS and "De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness" questionnaires. Pre-COVID-19 EORTC-QLQ-C30/BR23 and HADS outcomes were available from UMBRELLA. Response rates were 69.3% (n = 1106/1595) during the first SARS-CoV-2-infection wave and 50.9% (n = 822/1614) during the second wave. A total of 696 patients responded during both SARS-CoV-2-infection waves and were included in the analysis comparing patient-reported outcomes (PROs) during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave to PROs during the first wave. Moreover, PROs reported by all patients during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave (n = 822) were compared to PROs of a similar non-cancer reference population (n = 241) and to their pre-COVID-19 PROs. RESULTS Patient-reported QoL, physical functioning, and psychosocial well-being of patients treated or being treated for breast cancer remained stable or improved from the first to the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave. The proportion of emotional loneliness reduced from 37.6 to 29.9% of patients. Compared to a similar non-cancer reference population, physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning, future perspectives and symptoms of dyspnea and insomnia were worse in patients treated or being treated for breast cancer during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave. PROs in the second wave were similar to pre-COVID-19 PROs. CONCLUSION Although patients scored overall worse than individuals without breast cancer, QoL, physical functioning, and psychosocial well-being did not deteriorate between the first and second wave. During the second wave, PROs were similar to pre-COVID-19 values. Overall, current findings are cautiously reassuring for future mental health of patients treated or being treated for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A Bargon
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Cancer Centre, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Dieuwke R Mink van der Molen
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Cancer Centre, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marilot C T Batenburg
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Cancer Centre, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lilianne E van Stam
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Cancer Centre, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Iris E van Dam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Cancer Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Inge O Baas
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Cancer Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Wiesje Maarse
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maartje Sier
- Department of Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Surgery, Rivierenland Hospital, Tiel, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Rhodé M Bijlsma
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Cancer Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Femke van der Leij
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Cancer Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annemiek Doeksen
- Department of Surgery, St. Antonius Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Danny A Young-Afat
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helena M Verkooijen
- Division of Imaging and Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Cancer Centre, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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