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Wardle G, Sanfilippo AJ, Narula A, Kolos A, Chan K, Leong-Poi H, Sasson Z, Woodward G. Variations and inequities in access to cardiac diagnostic services in Ontario Canada. Health Policy 2024; 143:105033. [PMID: 38564973 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105033] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Echocardiography is an essential diagnostic modality known to have wide regional utilization variations. This study's objectives were to quantify regional variations and to examine the extent to which they are explained by differences in population age, sex, cardiac disease prevalence (CDP), and social determinants of health (SDH) risk. METHODS This is an observational study of all echocardiography exams performed in Ontario in 2019/20 (n = 695,622). We measured regional variations in echocardiography crude rates and progressively standardized rates for population age, sex, CDP, and SDH risk. RESULTS After controlling for differences in population age, sex, and CDP, Ontario's highest rate regions had echocardiography rates 57% higher than its lowest rate regions. Forty eight percent of total variation was not explained by differences in age, sex, and CDP. CDP increased with SDH risk. Access to most cardiac diagnostics was negatively correlated with SDH risk, while cardiac catheterization rates were positively correlated with SDH risk. CONCLUSION Variations analysis that adjusts for age and sex only without including clinical measures of need are likely to overestimate the unwarranted portion of total variation. Substantial variations persisted despite a mandatory provider accreditation policy aimed at curtailing them. The associations between variations and SDH risks imply a need to redress access and outcome inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin Wardle
- Preyra Solutions Group, 172 Palmerston Ave. Toronto ON M6J 2J4 Canada.
| | | | - Ashrut Narula
- Preyra Solutions Group, 172 Palmerston Ave. Toronto ON M6J 2J4 Canada
| | | | - Kwan Chan
- Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street K1Y 4W7 Ottawa, Ontario Canada
| | - Howard Leong-Poi
- University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, 1 King's College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Zion Sasson
- University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, 1 King's College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Graham Woodward
- Ontario Health, 500 - 525 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2L3, Canada
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van Munster JJCM, Halperin IJY, Ardesch FH, van den Hout WB, van Benthem PPG, Moojen W, Peul WC. Practice variation in surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease: exploring regional and hospital factors influencing surgical rates. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9273. [PMID: 38653739 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59629-9] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The presence of significant, unwarranted variation in treatment suggests that clinical decision making also depends on where patients live instead of what they need and prefer. Historically, high practice variation in surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDDD) has been documented. This study aimed to investigate current regional variation in surgical treatment for sciatica resulting from LDDD. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of all Dutch adults (>18 years) between 2016 and 2019. Demographic data from Statistics Netherlands were merged with a nationwide claims database, covering over 99% of the population. Inclusion criteria comprised LDDD diagnosis codes and relevant surgical codes. Practice variation was assessed at the level of postal code areas and hospital service areas (HSAs). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify variables associated with surgical treatment. Among the 119,148 hospital visitors with LDDD, 14,840 underwent surgical treatment. Practice variation for laminectomies and discectomies showed less than two-fold variation in both postal code and HSAs. However, instrumented fusion surgery demonstrated a five-fold variation in postal code areas and three-fold variation in HSAs. Predictors of receiving surgical treatment included opioid prescription and patient referral status. Gender differences were observed, with males more likely to undergo laminectomy or discectomy, and females more likely to receive instrumented fusion surgery. Our study revealed low variation rates for discectomies and laminectomies, while indicating a high variation rate for instrumented fusion surgery in LDDD patients. High-quality research is needed on the extent of guideline implementation and its influence on practice variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliëtte J C M van Munster
- University Neurosurgical Centre Holland (UNCH), LUMC | HMC | HAGA, Leiden & The Hague, the Netherlands.
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Ilan J Y Halperin
- University Neurosurgical Centre Holland (UNCH), LUMC | HMC | HAGA, Leiden & The Hague, the Netherlands
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Frank H Ardesch
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Health Campus The Hague, Leiden University Medical Center, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Wilbert B van den Hout
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Paul G van Benthem
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter Moojen
- University Neurosurgical Centre Holland (UNCH), LUMC | HMC | HAGA, Leiden & The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Wilco C Peul
- University Neurosurgical Centre Holland (UNCH), LUMC | HMC | HAGA, Leiden & The Hague, the Netherlands
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Schenker C, Wertli MM, Räber L, Haynes AG, Chiolero A, Rodondi N, Panczak R, Aujesky D. Regional variation and temporal trends in transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement in Switzerland: A population-based small area analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296055. [PMID: 38190381 PMCID: PMC10773935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296055] [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: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease and if severe, is treated with either transcatheter (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). We assessed temporal trends and regional variation of these interventions in Switzerland and examined potential determinants of geographic variation. METHODS We conducted a population-based analysis using patient discharge data from all Swiss public and private acute care hospitals from 2013 to 2018. We generated hospital service areas (HSAs) based on patient flows for TAVR. We calculated age-standardized mean procedure rates and variation indices (extremal quotient [EQ] and systematic component of variation [SCV]). Using multilevel regression, we calculated the influence of calendar year and regional demographics, socioeconomic factors (language, insurance status), burden of disease, and number of cardiologists/cardiovascular surgeons on geographic variation. RESULTS Overall, 8074 TAVR and 11,825 SAVR procedures were performed in 8 HSAs from 2013 to 2018. Whereas the age-/sex-standardized rate of TAVR increased from 12 to 22 procedures/100,000 persons, the SAVR rate decreased from 33 to 24 procedures during this period. After full adjustment, the predicted TAVR and SAVR rates varied from 12 to 22 and 20 to 35 per 100,000 persons across HSAs, respectively. The regional procedure variation was low to moderate over time, with a low overall variation in TAVR (EQ 1.9, SCV 3.9) and SAVR (EQ 1.6, SCV 2.2). In multilevel regression, TAVR rates increased annually by 10% and SAVR rates decreased by 5%. Determinants of higher TAVR rates were older age, male sex, living in a German speaking area, and higher burden of disease. A higher proportion of (semi)private insurance was also associated with higher TAVR and lower SAVR rates. After full adjustment, 10.6% of the variance in TAVR and 18.4% of the variance in SAVR remained unexplained. Most variance in TAVR and SAVR rates was explained by language region and insurance status. CONCLUSION The geographic variation in TAVR and SAVR rates was low to moderate across Swiss regions and largely explained by differences in regional demographics and socioeconomic factors. The use of TAVR increased at the expense of SAVR over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Schenker
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria M. Wertli
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Baden, Baden, Switzerland
| | - Lorenz Räber
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Arnaud Chiolero
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Rodondi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Radoslaw Panczak
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Drahomir Aujesky
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Stoller N, Wertli MM, Haynes AG, Chiolero A, Rodondi N, Panczak R, Aujesky D. Large regional variation in cardiac closure procedures to prevent ischemic stroke in Switzerland a population-based small area analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0291299. [PMID: 38166018 PMCID: PMC10760725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291299] [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: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) or the left atrial appendage (LAA) are controversial procedures to prevent stroke but often used in clinical practice. We assessed the regional variation of these interventions and explored potential determinants of such a variation. METHODS We conducted a population-based analysis using patient discharge data from all Swiss hospitals from 2013-2018. We derived hospital service areas (HSAs) using patient flows for PFO and LAA closure. We calculated age-standardized mean procedure rates and variation indices (extremal quotient [EQ] and systematic component of variation [SCV]). SCV values >5.4 indicate a high and >10 a very high variation. Because the evidence on the efficacy of PFO closure may differ in patients aged <60 years and ≥60 years, age-stratified analyses were performed. We assessed the influence of potential determinants of variation using multilevel regression models with incremental adjustment for demographics, cultural/socioeconomic, health, and supply factors. RESULTS Overall, 2574 PFO and 2081 LAA closures from 10 HSAs were analyzed. The fully adjusted PFO and LAA closure rates varied from 3 to 8 and from 1 to 9 procedures per 100,000 persons per year across HSAs, respectively. The regional variation was high with respect to overall PFO closures (EQ 3.0, SCV 8.3) and very high in patients aged ≥60 years (EQ 4.0, SCV 12.3). The variation in LAA closures was very high (EQ 16.2, SCV 32.1). In multivariate analysis, women had a 28% lower PFO and a 59% lower LAA closure rate than men. French/Italian language areas had a 63% lower LAA closure rate than Swiss German speaking regions and areas with a higher proportion of privately insured patients had a 86% higher LAA closure rate. After full adjustment, 44.2% of the variance in PFO closure and 30.3% in LAA closure remained unexplained. CONCLUSIONS We found a high to very high regional variation in PFO closure and LAA closure rates within Switzerland. Several factors, including sex, language area, and insurance status, were associated with procedure rates. Overall, 30-45% of the regional procedure variation remained unexplained and most probably represents differing physician practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Stoller
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Emergency Department, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria M. Wertli
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital Baden, Baden, Switzerland
| | | | - Arnaud Chiolero
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Rodondi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Radoslaw Panczak
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Drahomir Aujesky
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Glynn J, Jones T, Bell M, Blazeby J, Burton C, Conefrey C, Donovan JL, Farrar N, Morley J, McNair A, Owen-Smith A, Rule E, Thornton G, Tucker V, Williams I, Rooshenas L, Hollingworth W. Did the evidence-based intervention (EBI) programme reduce inappropriate procedures, lessen unwarranted variation or lead to spill-over effects in the National Health Service? PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290996. [PMID: 37656701 PMCID: PMC10473535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290996] [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: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health systems are under pressure to maintain services within limited resources. The Evidence-Based Interventions (EBI) programme published a first list of guidelines in 2019, which aimed to reduce inappropriate use of interventions within the NHS in England, reducing potential harm and optimising the use of limited resources. Seventeen procedures were selected in the first round, published in April 2019. METHODS We evaluated changes in the trends for each procedure after its inclusion in the EBI's first list of guidelines using interrupted time series analysis. We explored whether there was any evidence of spill-over effects onto related or substitute procedures, as well as exploring changes in geographical variation following the publication of national guidance. RESULTS Most procedures were experiencing downward trends in the years prior to the launch of EBI. We found no evidence of a trend change in any of the 17 procedures following the introduction of the guidance. No evidence of spill-over increases in substitute or related procedures was found. Geographic variation in the number of procedures performed across English CCGs remained at similar levels before and after EBI. CONCLUSIONS The EBI programme had little success in its aim to further reduce the use of the 17 procedures it deemed inappropriate in all or certain circumstances. Most procedure rates were already decreasing before EBI and all continued with a similar trend afterwards. Geographical variation in the number of procedures remained at a similar level post EBI. De-adoption of inappropriate care is essential in maintaining health systems across the world. However, further research is needed to explore context specific enablers and barriers to effective identification and de-adoption of such inappropriate health care to support future de-adoption endeavours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Glynn
- Health Economics Bristol, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy Jones
- Health Economics Bristol, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Mike Bell
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Blazeby
- Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Burton
- School of Allied and Public Health Professions, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Carmel Conefrey
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny L. Donovan
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Farrar
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Josie Morley
- Health Economics Bristol, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Angus McNair
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Owen-Smith
- Health Economics Bristol, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen Rule
- Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB), Brockworth, United Kingdom
| | - Gail Thornton
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Tucker
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB), Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Iestyn Williams
- Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Leila Rooshenas
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - William Hollingworth
- Health Economics Bristol, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Jella TK, Manyak GA, Cwalina TB, Roth AL, Mesko NW, Kamath AF. Declining Geographic Access to High-Volume Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty Surgeons: A National Medicare Analysis. J Arthroplasty 2023; 38:S103-S110. [PMID: 36634884 DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2023.01.006] [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: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While trends in the economics of revision THA (revTHA) procedures have been well-described from the standpoint of both hospitals and surgeons, their population-level effects of these trends on patient access are not well-understood. METHODS The Medicare fee-for-service provider utilization and payment public use files were used to extract data for primary and revTHA for beneficiaries between 2013 and 2019. Primary and revTHA procedures were identified using the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code; 27130 for primaries and 27132, 27134, 27137, or 27138 for revisions. Geospatial analyses were performed by aggregating surgeon practice locations at the level of individual counties, hospital service areas, and hospital referral regions. RESULTS The number of high-volume primary THA surgeons within the Medicare population increased by 17.6% over the study period (3,838 in 2013 to 4,515 in 2019). Conversely, the number of high-volume revTHA surgeons decreased by 36.1% (178 in 2013 to 129 in 2019). Linear regression revealed a significant increase and decrease in high-volume primary (β = 109.07, P ≤ .001) and revision (β = -13.04, P = .011) THA surgeons, respectively. Over the study period, the number of counties with at least 1 high-volume primary THA surgeon increased by 6.1% (1,194 to 1,267), while the number of counties with at least 1 high-volume revTHA surgeon decreased by 30.2% (159 to 111). CONCLUSION The present findings of declining geographic access may represent a consequence of shifting economic incentives and declining reimbursements for the care of complicated revTHA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun K Jella
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Grigory A Manyak
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Thomas B Cwalina
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Alexander L Roth
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Nathan W Mesko
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Atul F Kamath
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
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Rudolfsen JH, Olsen JA. Related variations: A novel approach for detecting patterns of regional variations in healthcare utilisation rates. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287306. [PMID: 37347756 PMCID: PMC10286998 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287306] [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: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Regional variations in healthcare utilisation rates are ubiquitous and persistent. In settings where an aggregate national health service budget is allocated primarily on a per capita basis, little regional variation in total healthcare utilisation rates will be observed. However, for specific treatments, large variations in utilisation rates are observed, iymplying a substitution effect at some point in service delivery. The current paper investigates the extent to which this substitution effect occurs within or between specialties, particularly distinguishing between emergency versus elective care. We used data from Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Patient Registry on eight somatic surgeries for all patients treated from 2010 to 2015. We calculated Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) -weight per capita in 19 hospital regions. We applied principal component analysis (PCA) to demonstrate patterns in DRG-weight, annual relative changes in DRG-weight, and DRG-weight production for elective care. We show that treatments with similar characteristics cluster within regions. Treatment frequency explains 29% of the total variation in treatment rates. In a dynamic model, treatments with a high degree of emergency care are negatively correlated with treatments with a high degree of elective care. Furthermore, when considering only elective care treatments, the substitution effect occurs between specialties and explains 49% of the variation. When designing policies aimed at reducing regional variations in healthcare utilisation, a distinction between elective and emergency care as well as substitution effects need to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jan Abel Olsen
- Department of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
- Centre for Health Economics, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Division of Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Garofil ND, Bratucu MN, Zurzu M, Paic V, Tigora A, Prunoiu V, Rogobete A, Balan A, Vladescu C, Strambu VDE, Radu PA. Groin Hernia Repair during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Romanian Nationwide Analysis. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:medicina59050970. [PMID: 37241202 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59050970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Groin hernia repair surgery (GHRS) is among the most common elective interventions. The aim of this three-year nationwide study on GHRS is to provide a thorough analysis of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the Romanian Health System in regard to elective procedures. Materials and Methods: 46,795 groin hernia cases obtained between 2019 and 2021 from the DRG database using ICD-10 diagnostic codes. The data were collected from all 261 GHRS performing hospitals nationwide, including 227 public hospitals (PbH) and 34 private hospitals (PvH). The 42 variables taken into account were processed using Microsoft Excel 2021, applying Chi square, F-Test Two-Sample for variances, and Two Sample t-Test. The significance threshold considered was p < 0.001. Results: Of the grand total of cases, 96.2% were inguinal hernias, 86.8% were performed on men, 15.2% were laparoscopic procedures, and 6.88% were in PvH. Overall, due to the pandemic, the total number of GHRS decreased with 44.45% in 2020 and with 29.72% in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic year 2019. April 2020 shows the steepest decrease in GHRS (91 procedures nationwide). In the private sector, there was an opposite trend with increases in the number of cases by 12.21% and a 70.22% in both pandemic years. The mean admission period (MAP) for all procedures was 5.5 days. There was a significant difference between PbH and PvH (5.75 vs. 2.8 days, p < 0.0001). During the pandemic, the MAP in PbH decreased (6.02 in 2019, 5.82 in 2020 and 5.3 in 2021), remaining stable for PvH (2.9 days in 2019, 2.85 days in 2020 and 2.74 days in 2021). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the overall number of GHRS performed in Romania in 2020 and 2021, compared to 2019. However, the private sector thrived with an actual increase in the number of cases. There was a significant lower MAP in the PvH compared to PbH throughout the three-year period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolae Dragos Garofil
- Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mircea Nicolae Bratucu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihai Zurzu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Vlad Paic
- Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anca Tigora
- Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Virgiliu Prunoiu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alexandru Rogobete
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Ana Balan
- Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristian Vladescu
- National Institute of Health Services Management, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Victor Dan Eugen Strambu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Petru Adrian Radu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
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Effects of Covid-19 on the elective surgery: an approach based on the case of the Italian Province of Bolzano. RESEARCH IN HEALTH SERVICES & REGIONS 2023. [PMCID: PMC10014390 DOI: 10.1007/s43999-023-00021-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
As of February 2020, the rise of COVID-19 cases led to significant pressures in the Northern parts of Italy, including the province of Bolzano (a small territorial reality on the border between Italy and Austria), and left the Italian National Health System (NHS) unprepared for the initial wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Objective/Methods
By dividing the analyses into two phases, the study assesses the effect of COVID-19 for the years 2018–2019 and 2020–2021. The first phase highlights the hospitalization rates in the Province of Bolzano in comparison to other Italian regions. In the second step, the Systematic Component of Variation (SCV) has been applied to calculate the differences between the admission rates for the elective surgery (tonsillectomy, vein stripping, hip replacement, knee replacement, and arthroscopy) in the four health districts (HDs) of the Province of Bolzano.
Results
Overall, the findings demonstrate that the effect of COVID-19 cases has resulted in a 20% reduction in hospitalization rates. A variation of less than 30% for knee and hip replacements and up to 75% for vein stripping is seen for elective surgeries. According to the SCV values for each elective procedure, the results indicate comparable levels of variation across the two time periods, with tonsillectomy showing the lowest levels of variation, arthroscopy and vein stripping having the highest levels, hip replacement having a high level and knee replacement having a low-medium level.
Conclusions
The data show no significant changes in the variation between the four HDs in the province of Bolzano, suggesting that the COVID-19 cases have a proportionate impact on hospitalization rates.
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Stulz N, Jörg R, Reim-Gautier C, Bonsack C, Conus P, Evans-Lacko S, Gabriel-Felleiter K, Heim E, Jäger M, Knapp M, Richter D, Schneeberger A, Thornicroft SG, Traber R, Wieser S, Tuch A, Hepp U. Mental health service areas in Switzerland. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 2023; 32:e1937. [PMID: 35976617 PMCID: PMC9976601 DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Small area analysis is a health services research technique that facilitates geographical comparison of services supply and utilization rates between health service areas (HSAs). HSAs are functionally relevant regions around medical facilities within which most residents undergo treatment. We aimed to identify HSAs for psychiatric outpatient care (HSA-PSY) in Switzerland. METHODS We used HSAr, a new and automated methodological approach, and comprehensive psychiatric service use data from insurances to identify HSA-PSY based on travel patterns between patients' residences and service sites. Resulting HSA-PSY were compared geographically, demographically and regarding the use of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services. RESULTS We identified 68 HSA-PSY, which were reviewed and validated by local mental health services experts. The population-based rate of inpatient and outpatient service utilization varied considerably between HSA-PSY. Utilization of inpatient and outpatient services tended to be positively associated across HSA-PSY. CONCLUSIONS Wide variation of service use between HSA-PSY can hardly be fully explained by underlying differences in the prevalence or incidence of disorders. Whether other factors such as the amount of services supply did add to the high variation should be addressed in further studies, for which our functional mapping on a small-scale regional level provides a good analytical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklaus Stulz
- Integrated Psychiatric Services Winterthur-Zurcher Unterland, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Reto Jörg
- Swiss Health Observatory, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | | | - Charles Bonsack
- Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Conus
- Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Evans-Lacko
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | | | - Eva Heim
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Martin Knapp
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Dirk Richter
- Department of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andres Schneeberger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sir Graham Thornicroft
- Centre for Global Mental Health and Center for Implementation Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rafael Traber
- Organizzazione Sociopsichiatrica Cantonale, Mendrisio, Switzerland
| | - Simon Wieser
- Winterthur Institute of Health Economics, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | | | - Urs Hepp
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Meilener Institute Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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11
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Eid M, Bastien A, Shaw R, Goodman DC, Ivatury SJ. Regional Differences in Procedural Care of Hemorrhoid Management in Medicare Patients; Unwarranted Variation in Clinical Practice for a Medical-First Problem. J Surg Res 2023; 283:626-631. [PMID: 36446250 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.10.082] [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: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hemorrhoid disease is very common problem in the Medicare population. Prior work has shown significant variation in county-level practices of hemorrhoidectomy; however, regional variation of rubber band ligation (RBL) has yet to be assessed. This is important as many different practitioners from different specialties can perform this procedure repeatedly in an office-based setting. We aim to evaluate the variation of RBL and hemorrhoidectomy over a 7-y period. METHODS Using Medicare part B claims data, we identified all beneficiaries >65 y seen for hemorrhoid disease between 2006 and 2013. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify all events for hemorrhoidectomy (46083, 46250, 46255, 46257, 46260, and 46261) or RBL (46221) by hospital referral region (HRR). We determined HRR-level rates of hemorrhoidectomy and RBL per 1000 beneficiaries adjusted for age, sex, and race. We calculated annual coefficients of variation (SD × 100/mean) for hemorrhoidectomy and RBL. RESULTS 1.2 to 1.3 million fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries were seen annually for evaluation of hemorrhoid disease. Mean-adjusted annual rates for hemorrhoidectomy by HRRs varied from 4.34 to 63.03 per 1000 beneficiaries. Mean-adjusted rates of RBL by HRRs varied from 7.06 to 163 per 1000 beneficiaries. Annual procedural coefficients of variation over the study period were 41-48 (high) for hemorrhoidectomy and 69-74 (very high) for RBL. CONCLUSIONS While continued high variation exists for hemorrhoidectomy, there is very high variation for RBL between HRRs in treating hemorrhoid disease among Medicare beneficiaries. There are substantial Medicare expenditures in this high-volume population that are likely unwarranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Eid
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; VA Outcomes Group, VA Quality Scholars Program, VA Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont; Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | | | - Robert Shaw
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - David C Goodman
- Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire; The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - S Joga Ivatury
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire; University of Texas at Austin, Dell School of Medicine, Austin, Texas.
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12
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Molina G, Ruan M, Lipsitz SR, Iyer HS, Hassett MJ, Brindle ME, Trinh QD. Association of Variation in US County-Level Rates of Liver Surgical Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastasis With Poverty Rates in 2010. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e230797. [PMID: 36848088 PMCID: PMC9972196 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.0797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Among patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) who are eligible for curative-intent liver surgical resection, only half undergo liver metastasectomy. It is currently unclear how rates of liver metastasectomy vary geographically in the US. Geographic differences in county-level socioeconomic characteristics may, in part, explain variability in the receipt of liver metastasectomy for CRLM. OBJECTIVE To describe county-level variation in the receipt of liver metastasectomy for CRLM in the US and its association with poverty rates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This ecological, cross-sectional, and county-level analysis was conducted using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Research Plus database. The study included the county-level proportion of patients who had colorectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018, underwent primary surgical resection, and had liver metastasis without extrahepatic metastasis. The county-level proportion of patients with stage I colorectal cancer (CRC) was used as a comparator. Data analysis was performed on March 2, 2022. EXPOSURES County-level poverty in 2010 obtained from the US Census (proportion of county population below the federal poverty level). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was county-level odds of liver metastasectomy for CRLM. The comparator outcome was county-level odds of surgical resection for stage I CRC. Multivariable binomial logistic regression accounting for clustering of outcomes within a county via an overdispersion parameter was used to estimate the county-level odds of receiving a liver metastasectomy for CRLM associated with a 10% increase in poverty rate. RESULTS In the 194 US counties included in this study, there were 11 348 patients. At the county level, the majority of the population was male (mean [SD], 56.9% [10.2%]), White (71.9% [20.0%]), and aged between 50 and 64 (38.1% [11.0%]) or 65 and 79 (33.6% [11.4%]) years. The adjusted odds of undergoing a liver metastasectomy was lower in counties with higher poverty in 2010 (per 10% increase; odds ratio, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.69-0.96]; P = .02). County-level poverty was not associated with receipt of surgery for stage I CRC. Despite the difference in rates of surgery (mean county-level rates were 0.24 for liver metastasectomy for CRLM and 0.75 for surgery for stage I CRC), the variance at the county-level for these 2 surgical procedures was similar (F370, 193 = 0.81; P = .08). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The findings of this study suggest that higher poverty was associated with lower receipt of liver metastasectomy among US patients with CRLM. Surgery for a more common and less complex cancer comparator (ie, stage I CRC) was not observed to be associated with county-level poverty rates. However, county-level variation in surgical rates was similar for CRLM and stage I CRC. These findings further suggest that access to surgical care for complex gastrointestinal cancers such as CRLM may be partially influenced by where patients live.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Molina
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Ariadne Labs, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mengyuan Ruan
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Stuart R. Lipsitz
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hari S. Iyer
- Section of Epidemiology and Health Outcomes, Rutgers-Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick
| | - Michael J. Hassett
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mary E. Brindle
- Ariadne Labs, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Quoc-Dien Trinh
- Center for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Urological Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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13
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Jella TK, Cwalina TB, Schmidt JE, Wu VS, Haglin JM, Kamath AF. Do Americans Lacking a Local Orthopaedic Surgeon Have Adequate Broadband for Telehealth? Clin Orthop Relat Res 2023; 481:347-355. [PMID: 36040749 PMCID: PMC9831156 DOI: 10.1097/corr.0000000000002374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although telehealth holds promise in expanding access to orthopaedic surgical care, high-speed internet connectivity remains a major limiting factor for many communities. Despite persistent federal efforts to study and address the health information technology needs of patients, there is limited information regarding the current high-speed internet landscape as it relates to access to orthopaedic surgical care. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES (1) What is the distribution of practicing orthopaedic surgeons in the United States relative to the presence of broadband internet access? (2) What geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic factors are associated with the absence of high-speed internet and access to a local orthopaedic surgeon? METHODS The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Mapping Broadband in America interactive tool was used to determine the proportion of county residents with access to broadband-speed internet for all 3141 US counties. Data regarding the geographic distribution of orthopaedic surgeons and county-level characteristics were obtained from the 2015 Physician Compare National Downloadable File and the Area Health Resource File, respectively. The FCC mapping broadband public use files are considered the most comprehensive datasets describing high-speed internet infrastructure within the United States. The year 2015 represents the most recently available FCC data for which county-level broadband penetration estimates are available. Third-party audits of the FCC data have shown that broadband expansion has been slow over the past decade and that many large improvements have been driven by changes in the reporting methodology. Therefore, we believe the 2015 FCC data still hold relevance. The primary outcome measure was the simultaneous absence of at least 50% broadband penetration and at least one orthopaedic surgeon practicing in county limits. Statistical analyses using Kruskal-Wallis tests and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to assess for factors associated with inaccessibility to orthopaedic telehealth. All statistical tests were two-sided with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. RESULTS In 2015, 14% (448 of 3141) of counties were considered "low access" in that they both had no orthopaedic surgeons and possessed less than 50% broadband access. A total of 4,660,559 people lived within these low-access counties, representing approximately 1.4% (4.6 million of 320.7 million) of the US population. After controlling for potential confounding variables, such as the age, sex, income level, and educational attainment, lower population density per square mile (OR 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90 to 0.94]; p < 0.01), a lower number of primary care physicians per 100,000 (OR 0.88 [95% CI 0.81 to 0.97]; p < 0.01), a higher unemployment level (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.2 to 1.4]; p < 0.01), and greater number preventable hospital stays per 100,000 (OR 1.01 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.02]; p < 0.01) were associated with increased odds of being a low-access county (though the effect size of the finding was small for population density and number of primary care physicians). Stated another way, each additional person per square mile was associated with an 8% (95% CI 6% to 10%; p < 0.01) decrease in the odds of being a low-access county, and each additional percentage point of unemployment was associated with a 30% (95% CI 20% to 40%) increase in the odds of being a low-access county. CONCLUSION Despite the potential for telehealth programs to improve the delivery of high-quality orthopaedic surgical care, broadband internet access remains a major barrier to implementation. Until targeted investments are made to expand broadband infrastructure across the country, health systems, policymakers, and surgeon leaders must capitalize on existing federal subsidy programs, such as the lifeline or affordability connectivity initiatives, to reach unemployed patients living in economically depressed regions. The incorporation of internet access questions into clinic-based social determinants screening may facilitate the development of alternative follow-up protocols for patients unable to participate in synchronous videoconferencing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Some orthopaedic patients lack the broadband capacity necessary for telehealth visits, in which case surgeons may pursue alternative methods of follow-up such as mobile phone-based surveillance of postoperative wounds, surgical sites, and clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun K Jella
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Thomas B Cwalina
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jenna E Schmidt
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Victoria S Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jack M Haglin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Atul F Kamath
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
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14
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Kovoor JG, Bacchi S, Gupta AK, O'Callaghan PG, Trochsler MI, Maddern GJ. Standardizing optimization in surgery. ANZ J Surg 2023; 93:24-25. [PMID: 36546639 DOI: 10.1111/ans.18201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua G Kovoor
- Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Stephen Bacchi
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Aashray K Gupta
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Patrick G O'Callaghan
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Markus I Trochsler
- Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Guy J Maddern
- Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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15
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Castaño-Riera E, Ridao M, Librero J, Martínez-Lizaga N, Comendeiro-Maaløe M, Angulo-Pueyo E, Peiro S, Bernal-Delgado E. Revisiting systematic geographical variations in tonsils surgery in children in the Spanish National Health System: spatiotemporal ecological study on hospital administrative data. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e064009. [PMID: 36456022 PMCID: PMC9716779 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064009] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide new evidence on how tonsils surgery in children has geographically varied over time in the context of the Spanish National Health System. DESIGN Observational ecological spatiotemporal study on geographical variations in medical practice, using linked administrative datasets, including virtually all surgeries performed from 2003 to 2015. SETTING The Spanish National Health System, a quasi-federal structure with 17 autonomous communities (ACs), and 203 healthcare areas (HCAs). PARTICIPANTS Patients aged 19 and younger residing in the HCAs and ACs. INTERVENTIONS Tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy (T&A); and tonsillectomies alone (T). MAIN ENDPOINTS: (1) Evolution of T&A and T rates; (2) spatiotemporal variation in the risk of receiving T&A or T surgery at regional level (ACs) and HCAs; and (3) the fraction of the variation (FV) attributed to each of the components of variation-ACs, HCAs, year and interaction ACs year. RESULTS T&A age-sex standardised rates increased over the period of analysis from 15.2 to 20.9 (5.7 points per 10 000 inhabitants). T alone remained relatively lower than T&A rates, evolving from 3.6 in 2003 to 3.9 in 2015 (0.3 points per 10 000 inhabitants). Most of the risk variation was captured at the HCAs level in both procedures (FV: 55.3% in T&A and 72.5% in T). The ACs level explained 27.6% of the FV in the risk in T&A versus 8% in T. The interaction ACs year was similar in both procedures (FV: 15.5% in T&A and 17.5% in T). The average trend hardly explained 1.46% and 1.83% of the variation, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study showed wide persistent variations with a steady increase in rates and risk of T&A and a stagnation of T alone, where most of the variation risk was explained at HCA level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eusebio Castaño-Riera
- Servicio de Planificación, Govern de les Illes Balears Conselleria de Salut, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Manuel Ridao
- Data Science for Health Services and Policy Research, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julian Librero
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Navarrabiomed-Unidad de metodología, Navarre Institute of Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Natalia Martínez-Lizaga
- Data Science for Health Services and Policy Research, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Micaela Comendeiro-Maaløe
- Data Science for Health Services and Policy Research, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ester Angulo-Pueyo
- Data Science for Health Services and Policy Research, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Peiro
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Fundacion para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana, FISABIO, Valencia, Spain
| | - Enrique Bernal-Delgado
- Data Science for Health Services and Policy Research, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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16
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Vainieri M, Nuti S, Mantoan D. Does the healthcare system know what to cut under the pandemic emergency pressure? An observational study on geographic variation of surgical procedures in Italy. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e061415. [PMID: 36424104 PMCID: PMC9692139 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061415] [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] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES During 2020 many countries reduced the number of elective surgeries to free up beds and cope with the COVID-19 outbreak. This situation led healthcare systems to prioritise elective interventions and reduce the overall volumes of treatments.The aim of this paper is to analyse whether the pandemic and the prioritisation policies on elective surgery were done considering the potential inappropriateness highlighted by the measurement of geographic variation. SETTING The setting of the study is acute care with a focus on elective surgical procedures. Data were analysed at the Italian regional level. PARTICIPANTS The study is observational and relies on national hospitalisation records from 2019 to 2020. The analyses refer to the 21 Italian regional health systems, using 48 917 records for 2019 and 33 821 for 2020. The surgical procedures analysed are those considered at high risk of unwarranted variation: coronary angioplasty, cholecystectomy, colectomy, knee replacement, hysterectomy, tonsillectomy, hip replacement and vein stripping. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Primary measures were the hospitalisation rate and its reduction per procedure, to understand the level of potential inappropriateness. Secondary measures were the SD and high/low ratio, to map the level of geographic variation. RESULTS For some procedures, there is a linear negative relationship (eg, tonsillectomy: ρ = -0.92, p<0.01; vein stripping: ρ = -0.93, p<0.01) between the reduction in hospitalisation and its starting point. The only two procedures for which no significant differences were registered are cholecystectomy (ρ = -0.22, p=0.31) and hysterectomy (ρ = -0.22, p=0.33). In particular, in all cases, data show that regions with higher 2019 hospitalisation rates registered a larger reduction. CONCLUSIONS The Italian data show that the pandemic seems to have led hospital managers and health professionals to cut surgical interventions more likely to be inappropriate. Hence, these findings can inform and guide the healthcare system to manage unwarranted variation when coming back to the new normal. This new starting point (lower volumes in some selected elective surgical procedures) should be used to plan elective surgical treatments that can be cancelled because of their high risk of inappropriateness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Vainieri
- Management and Health Laboratory, Institute of Management, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sabina Nuti
- Management and Health Laboratory, Institute of Management, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Domenico Mantoan
- AGENAS, Agenzia Nazionale per i Servizi Sanitari Regionali, Roma, Italy
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Walsh ME, Sorensen J, Blake C, Johnsen SP, Kristensen PK. Geographic variation in hip fracture surgery rate, care quality and outcomes: a comparison between national registries in Ireland and Denmark. Arch Osteoporos 2022; 17:128. [PMID: 36161538 DOI: 10.1007/s11657-022-01169-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Ireland and Denmark have similar hip fracture surgery rates but differences in care quality indicators and patterns of intracapsular fracture repair. Very high variation in total hip arthroplasty rate within both countries and higher observed early mortality in Denmark require further investigation. PURPOSE To explore and compare geographic variation of hip fracture surgery rate, care quality and outcomes in Ireland and Denmark. METHODS Patients aged ≥ 65 years with surgically treated hip fracture were included from the Irish Hip Fracture Database (years = 2017-2020, n = 12,904) and the Danish Multidisciplinary Hip Fracture Registry (years = 2016-2017, n = 12,924). The age and sex standardised rate of hip fracture surgery and the proportion of patients with seven process quality indicators, three surgery types and four outcomes were calculated. Systematic components of variation (SCV) were calculated based on hospital area (6 Irish hospital groups, 5 Danish regions). RESULTS The age and sex standardised rate of hip fracture surgery per 1000 older population in 2017 was 4.7 (95% CI = 4.4-5.1) in Ireland and 5.3 (95% CI = 5.1-5.5) in Denmark. Ireland had lower rates of surgery within 36 h (59% versus 84%), nutritional assessment (27% versus 84%) and pre-discharge mobility recording (52% versus 92%). Patterns of intracapsular fracture repair also differed between countries (hemiarthroplasty: Ireland = 85%, Denmark = 52%). Both countries had very high variation for total hip arthroplasty (THA) provision (SCV Ireland = 10.6, Denmark = 97.9). Ireland had longer hospital stays (median 12 versus 7 days), but lower 7-day (1.0% versus 3.1%) and 14-day (2.0% versus 5.5%) mortality. CONCLUSION Ireland and Denmark have similar hip fracture surgery rates, but differences in care quality, surgery patterns and outcomes. High variation in THA provision and observed differences in mortality require further exploration. In Ireland, there is scope for improvement regarding early surgery, mobility, nutrition assessment and improved post-discharge follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Walsh
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Jan Sorensen
- Healthcare Outcomes Research Centre, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Catherine Blake
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Søren Paaske Johnsen
- Danish Center for Clinical Health Services Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Pia Kjær Kristensen
- The Department of Clinical Medicine, Orthopaedic, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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18
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Holsen M, Hovind V, Bedane HK, Osvoll KI, Gjertsen JE, Furnes ON, Walsh ME, Ingebrigtsen T. Geographical variation in orthopedic procedures in Norway: Cross-sectional population-based study. Scand J Surg 2022; 111:92-98. [DOI: 10.1177/14574969221118488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Standardized surgery rates for common orthopedic procedures vary across geographical areas in Norway. We explored whether area-level factors related to demand and supply in publicly funded healthcare are associated with geographical variation in surgery rates for six common orthopedic procedures. Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional population-based study of hospital referral areas in Norway. We included adult admissions for arthroscopy for degenerative knee disease, arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, surgical treatment for hip fracture, and decompression with/without fusion for lumbar disk herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis in 2012–2016. Variation in age and sex standardized rates was estimated using extremal quotients, coefficients of variation, and systematic components of variation (SCV). Associations between surgery rates and the socioeconomic factors urbanity, unemployment, low-income, high level of education, mortality, and number of surgeons and hospitals were explored with linear regression analyses. Results: Knee arthroscopy showed highest level of variation (SCV 10.3) and decreased in numbers. Variation was considerable for spine surgery (SCV 3.8–4.9), moderate to low for arthroplasty procedures (SCV 0.8–2.6), and small for hip fracture surgery (SCV 0.2). Higher rates of knee arthroscopy were associated with more orthopedic surgeons (adjusted coefficient 24.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.7–47.0), and less urban population (adjusted coefficient −13.3, 95% CI: −25.4 to −1.2). Higher spine surgery rates were associated with more hospitals (adjusted coefficient 22.4, 95% CI: 4.6–40.2), more urban population (adjusted coefficient 2.1, 95% CI: 0.4–3.8), and lower mortality (adjusted coefficient −192.6, 95% CI: −384.2 to −1.1). Rates for arthroplasty and hip fracture surgery were not associated with supply/demand factors included. Conclusions: Arthroscopy for degenerative knee disease decreased in line with guidelines, but showed high variation of surgery rates. Socioeconomic factors included in this study did not explain geographical variation in orthopedic surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Holsen
- Healthcare Atlas ServicesHelse Førde Health Trust Førde , Postboks 1000, Helse Førde, Førde 6807, Norway
| | - Veronica Hovind
- Helgeland Hospital, Mo i Rana, Norway Center for Clinical Documentation and Evaluation (SKDE), Tromsø, Norway Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Haji K. Bedane
- Healthcare Atlas Services, Helse Førde Health Trust, Førde, Norway
| | - Knut I. Osvoll
- Healthcare Atlas Services, Helse Førde Health Trust, Førde, Norway
| | - Jan-Erik Gjertsen
- The Norwegian Arthroplasty Register, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ove N. Furnes
- The Norwegian Arthroplasty Register, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Mary E. Walsh
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tor Ingebrigtsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway Department of Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Chew DS, Au F, Xu Y, Manns BJ, Tonelli M, Wilton SB, Hemmelgarn B, Kong S, Exner DV, Quinn AE. Geographic and temporal variation in the treatment and outcomes of atrial fibrillation: a population-based analysis of national quality indicators. CMAJ Open 2022; 10:E702-E713. [PMID: 35918151 PMCID: PMC9352379 DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessment of potential geographic variation in quality indicators of atrial fibrillation care may identify opportunities for improvement in the quality of atrial fibrillation care. The objective of this study was to assess for potential geographic variation in the quality of atrial fibrillation care in Alberta, Canada. METHODS In a population-based cohort of adults (age ≥ 18 yr) with incident nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) diagnosed between Apr. 1, 2008, and Mar. 31, 2016, in Alberta, we investigated the variation in national quality indicators of atrial fibrillation care developed by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Specifically, we assessed the geographic and temporal variation in the proportion of patients with initiation of oral anticoagulant therapy, persistence with therapy, ischemic stroke and major bleeding outcomes 1 year after atrial fibrillation diagnosis using linked administrative data sets. We defined stroke risk using the CHADS2 score. We assessed geographic variation using small-area variation statistics and geospatial data analysis. RESULTS Of the 64 093 patients in the study cohort (35 019 men [54.6%] and 29 074 women [45.4%] with a mean age of 69 [standard deviation 15.9] yr), 36 199 were at high risk for stroke and 14 411 were at moderate risk. Within 1 year of NVAF diagnosis, 20 180 patients (55.7%) in the high-risk group and 6448 patients (44.7%) in the moderate-risk group were prescribed anticoagulation. A total of 2187 patients (3.4%) had an ischemic stroke, and 2996 patients (4.7%) experienced a major bleed. There was substantial regional variation observed in initiation of oral anticoagulant therapy but not in the proportion of patients with ischemic stroke or major bleeding. Among the 64 Health Status Areas in Alberta, therapy initiation rates ranged from 22.6% to 71.2% among patients at high stroke risk and from 22.7% to 55.8% among those at moderate stroke risk, with clustering of lower therapy initiation rates in rural northern regions. INTERPRETATION The rate of initiation of oral anticoagulant therapy among adults with incident atrial fibrillation was less than 60% in patients in whom oral anticoagulant therapy would be considered guideline-appropriate care. The large geographic variation in oral anticoagulant prescribing warrants additional study into patient, provider and health care system factors that contribute to variation and drive disparities in high-quality, equitable atrial fibrillation care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek S Chew
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
| | - Flora Au
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Yuan Xu
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Braden J Manns
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Marcello Tonelli
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Stephen B Wilton
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Brenda Hemmelgarn
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Shiying Kong
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Derek V Exner
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Amity E Quinn
- Duke Clinical Research Institute (Chew), Duke University, Durham, NC; Libin Cardiovascular Institute (Chew, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner) and O'Brien Institute of Public Health (Au, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Exner), University of Calgary; Departments of Community Health Sciences (Au, Xu, Manns, Tonelli, Wilton, Hemmelgarn, Kong, Exner, Quinn), Oncology (Xu, Kong), Surgery (Xu, Kong) and Medicine (Manns, Tonelli), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Hemmelgarn), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
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Leeser L, Neukirch B, Drösler SE. [Regional and gender variations in appendicectomy : Nationwide small-area development of operation rates in the time series]. Chirurg 2022; 93:884-891. [PMID: 35391554 PMCID: PMC9399065 DOI: 10.1007/s00104-022-01628-5] [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] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Hintergrund Frühere Analysen kleinräumiger Appendektomieraten zeigen erheblich höhere regionale Unterschiede der Operationshäufigkeiten bei Frauen als bei Männern. Ziel Die Arbeit identifiziert valide Messgrößen zur Darstellung regionaler Unterschiede und analysiert geschlechtsspezifische Veränderungen der Appendektomieraten auf Landkreisebene in der Zeitreihe. Material und Methoden Datengrundlage sind die der DRG-Statistik entnommenen Appendektomiehäufigkeiten für 2014, 2016 sowie 2018 nach Geschlecht auf Landkreisebene. Die regionalen Unterschiede werden mittels der „systematic component of variation“ (SCV) berechnet und beurteilt. Die SCV ist im Vergleich zu Extrem-Ratio und Variationskoeffizient robuster gegenüber stark schwankender Nennerpopulationen. SCV-Werte über 5 geben einen Hinweis auf hohe Variationen und größer 10 auf sehr hohe Variationen. Ergebnisse Bei der männlichen Population lassen sich nur geringe regionale Unterschiede der Operationsraten feststellen, die im Zeitverlauf stabil bleiben (SCV2014 = 2,1, SCV2016 = 1,8 und SCV2018 = 2,0). Bei Frauen hingegen liegt die SCV in den Jahren 2014 sowie 2016 (SCV2014 = 6,1, SCV2016 = 5,3) über 5 und sinkt 2018 auf 4,5 ab. Darstellungen als Funnel-Plot berücksichtigen höhere Streuungen der Operationsraten in Landkreisen mit niedrigen Einwohnerzahlen. Diskussion Bei Frauen ist ein rückläufiger Trend in den Appendektomiehäufigkeiten zu erkennen. Unklar ist, ob dieser Trend auf einer Veränderung der Indikationsstellung oder auf einem geänderten allgemeinen Behandlungsmanagement bei einem Appendizitisverdacht beruht. Durch robuste Variationsmaße und der graphischen Aufbereitung als Funnel-Plots ist es möglich, systematisch bedingte regionale Versorgungsunterschiede von Zufallseffekten zu unterscheiden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Leeser
- Fachbereich Gesundheitswesen, Hochschule Niederrhein, Reinarzstraße 49, 47805, Krefeld, Deutschland.
| | - Benno Neukirch
- Fachbereich Gesundheitswesen, Hochschule Niederrhein, Reinarzstraße 49, 47805, Krefeld, Deutschland
| | - Saskia E Drösler
- Fachbereich Gesundheitswesen, Hochschule Niederrhein, Reinarzstraße 49, 47805, Krefeld, Deutschland
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21
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Geographic Variation in Apical Support Procedures for Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Obstet Gynecol 2022; 139:597-605. [DOI: 10.1097/aog.0000000000004708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Bolt L, Wertli MM, Haynes AG, Rodondi N, Chiolero A, Panczak R, Aujesky D. Variation in regional implantation patterns of cardiac implantable electronic device in Switzerland. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262959. [PMID: 35171922 PMCID: PMC8849475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is a substantial geographical variation in the rates of pacemaker (PM), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation across European countries. We assessed the extent of regional variation and potential determinants of such variation. Methods We conducted a population-based analysis using discharge data for PM/ICD/CRT implantations from all Swiss acute care hospitals during 2013–2016. We derived hospital service areas (HSA) by analyzing patient flows. We calculated age- and sex-standardized rates and quantified variation using the extremal quotient (EQ) and the systemic component of variation (SCV). We estimated the reduction in variance of crude implantation rates across HSAs using multilevel regression models, with incremental adjustment for age and sex, language, socioeconomic factors, population health, diabetes mellitus, and the density of cardiologists on the HSA level. Results We analyzed implantations of 8129 PM, 1461 ICD, and 1411 CRT from 25 Swiss HSAs. The mean age- and sex-standardized implantation rate was 29 (range 8–57) per 100,000 persons for PM, 5 (1–9) for ICD, and 5 (2–8) for CRT. There was a very high variation in PM (EQ 7.0; SCV 12.6) and ICD (EQ 7.2; SCV 11.3) and a high variation in CRT implantation rates (EQ 3.9; SCV 7.1) across HSAs. Adjustments for age and sex, language, socioeconomic factors, population health, diabetes mellitus, and density of cardiologists explained 94% of the variance in ICD and 87.5% of the variance in CRT implantation rates, but only 36.3% of the variance in PM implantation rates. Women had substantially lower PM/ICD/CRT implantation rates than men. Conclusion Switzerland has a very high regional variation in PM/ICD implantation and a high variation in CRT implantation rates. Women had substantially lower implantation rates than men. A large share of the variation in PM procedure rates remained unexplained which might reflect variations in physicians’ preferences and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Bolt
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria M. Wertli
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Nicolas Rodondi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud Chiolero
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Radoslaw Panczak
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Drahomir Aujesky
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Poblano Verástegui O, Torres-Arreola LDP, Flores-Hernández S, Nevarez Sida A, Saturno Hernández PJ. Avoidable Hospitalization Trends From Ambulatory Care-Sensitive Conditions in the Public Health System in México. Front Public Health 2022; 9:765318. [PMID: 35127618 PMCID: PMC8814335 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.765318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate and identify the variations in rates of Avoidable Hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (AH-ACSC) in public institutions of the Mexican health system during the period 2010-2017. METHODS Secondary analysis of the hospital discharge database of the Ministry of Health (MoH) from 2010 to 2017. AH for ACSC was calculated by age group and sex per 100,000. Variations per year between institutions were calculated with the extreme quotient (EQ), coefficient of variation (CV) and systematic component of variance (SCV). Adjusted AH rates were calculated by group of causes (acute, chronic and preventable by vaccination). Adjusted AH trend rates were analyzed by Join Point Regression. RESULTS For the period 2010-2017, the number of AH for ACSC decreased from 676,705 to 612,897, going from almost 13% to 10.7% of hospital discharges. There is consistency in terms of relative variance magnitude. But, with regards to SCV, the change remained constant, and in a second period of 2015-2017, high variation was observed by SCV ≥ 3. All-cause AH is diminishing in all institutions. AH rates for diabetes are the highest, but like other chronic diseases, there was a decline in the period from 2010 to 2017. The relative reduction varied from 15% for heart failure to 38% for complications from diabetes or hypertension, to 75% for angina. CONCLUSIONS AH for ACSC is an indirect indicator of quality and access to first-level care. Variations by institutions are observed. This variation in CV and SCV across subsystems and states may be due to inequities in the provision of services. The factors that contribute to the burden of AH for ACSC in the Mexican Health System require detailed analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Armando Nevarez Sida
- Epidemiologic and Health Services Research Unit, Aging Area, CMNSXXI, Mexican Institute of Social Security, México City, Mexico
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Hashemian M, Mirkheshti A, Mirafzal A, Ahmadipour H, Nasehabad MA. The effect of preoperative oral magnesium oxide on the severity of postoperative pain among women undergoing hysterectomy. Ir J Med Sci 2022; 191:2711-2716. [PMID: 35022952 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-021-02905-8] [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: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Magnesium sulfate has been reported to be effective in perioperative pain treatment and in blunting somatic, autonomic, and endocrine reflexes provoked by noxious stimuli. The pre-emptive analgesic effects of magnesium in reducing postoperative pain could be beneficial in abdominal and gynecologic surgeries. OBJECTIVE The aim of study was to compare the pre-emptive analgesic effects of oral magnesium oxide and naproxen for hysterectomy surgery. METHODS This study evaluated all patients who were candidates for hysterectomy in 2 months. The 64 patients were randomly divided into two groups using a random allocation sequence. The patients in the intervention and control groups received either magnesium oxide tablet (500 mg) or naproxen tablet (500 mg) orally half an hour before surgery, respectively. The severity of postoperative pain is assumed as a primary outcome which is evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS In this study, 64 patients were assessed. The results showed age, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate of the patients in the two groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The mean score of pain intensity for these patients was significantly lower than the patients receiving naproxen (p-value: 0.03). Besides, more than one-quarter of patients in the magnesium oxide group (n = 9, 28.12%) received this analgesia with lower dose than the patients in the naproxen group (p-value: 0.03). CONCLUSION The results of this study showed that preoperative oral magnesium oxide had a significant effect on the severity of postoperative pain and consumption of postoperative analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Hashemian
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Alireza Mirkheshti
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Mirafzal
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Habibeh Ahmadipour
- Institute for Future Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Grove A, Pope C, Currie G, Clarke A. Paragons, Mavericks and Innovators-A typology of orthopaedic surgeons' professional identities. A comparative case study of evidence-based practice. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2022; 44:59-80. [PMID: 34706109 PMCID: PMC9298426 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Clinical guidelines, as vehicles for evidence-based practice (EBP) attempt to standardize health-care practice, reduce variation and increase quality. However, their use for surgery has been contested, and often resisted. This article examines professional responses to EBP in hip replacement surgery using data from case study observations and interviews in three English orthopaedic departments. A professional identity perspective is adopted to explain how standardization through EBP, represents an empirical phenomenon around which surgeons enact their identities as Paragons, Mavericks or Innovators, to enhance legitimacy and stratify themselves in their response to EBP. Attention is drawn to variation between Paragon surgeons working in university (teaching) hospitals and Maverick and Innovator types located in general hospitals, and the ways this interacts with adoption of EBP. The typology shows how practice variation is related to surgeons' tendencies to align to characteristic types, with distinct social processes, power and prestige, and which are in turn influenced by organizational context. The dynamics of EBP and professional identity continues to limit attempts to standardize surgical practice. The typology contributes to the understanding of failures to follow EBP, as associated with the identities individuals create and negotiate, and with identity narratives used to legitimize differing responses to EBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Grove
- Warwick Medical SchoolUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
| | - Catherine Pope
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Graeme Currie
- Warwick Business SchoolUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
| | - Aileen Clarke
- Warwick Medical SchoolUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
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Chronic care services and variation between Danish general practices: a nationwide cohort study. Br J Gen Pract 2021; 72:e285-e292. [PMID: 34990398 PMCID: PMC8843375 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp.2021.0419] [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: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about variations in the provision of chronic care services in primary care. Aim To describe the frequency of chronic care services provided by GPs and analyse the extent of non-random variation in service provision. Design and setting Nationwide cohort study undertaken in Denmark using data from 2016. Method Information on chronic care services was obtained from national health registers, including annual chronic care consultations, chronic care procedures, outreach home visits, and talk therapy. The associations between services provided, patient morbidity, and socioeconomic factors were estimated. Service variations were analysed, and excess variation related to practice-specific factors was estimated while accounting for random variation. Results Chronic care provision was associated with increasing patient age, increasing number of long-term conditions, and indicators of low socioeconomic status. Variation across practices ranged from 1.4 to 128 times more than expected after adjusting for differences in patient population and random variation. Variation related to practice-specific factors was present for all the chronic care services that were investigated. Older patients with lower socioeconomic status and multimorbidity were clustered in practices with low propensity to provide certain chronic care services. Conclusion Chronic care was provided to patients typically in need of health care, that is, older adults, those with multimorbidity, and those with low socioeconomic status, but service provision varied more than expected across practices. GPs provided slightly fewer chronic care services than expected in practices where many patients with multimorbidity and low socioeconomic status were clustered, suggesting inverse care law mechanisms.
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Mehta HB, An H, Andersen KM, Mansour O, Madhira V, Rashidi ES, Bates B, Setoguchi S, Joseph C, Kocis PT, Moffitt R, Bennett TD, Chute CG, Garibaldi BT, Alexander GC. Use of Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, and Dexamethasone Among Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19 in the United States : A Retrospective Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med 2021; 174:1395-1403. [PMID: 34399060 PMCID: PMC8372837 DOI: 10.7326/m21-0857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relatively little is known about the use patterns of potential pharmacologic treatments of COVID-19 in the United States. OBJECTIVE To use the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C), a large, multicenter, longitudinal cohort, to characterize the use of hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, and dexamethasone, overall as well as across individuals, health systems, and time. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING 43 health systems in the United States. PARTICIPANTS 137 870 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 between 1 February 2020 and 28 February 2021. MEASUREMENTS Inpatient use of hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, or dexamethasone. RESULTS Among 137 870 persons hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, 8754 (6.3%) received hydroxychloroquine, 29 272 (21.2%) remdesivir, and 53 909 (39.1%) dexamethasone during the study period. Since the release of results from the RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy) trial in mid-June, approximately 78% to 84% of people who have had invasive mechanical ventilation have received dexamethasone or other glucocorticoids. The use of hydroxychloroquine increased during March 2020, peaking at 42%, and started declining by April 2020. By contrast, remdesivir and dexamethasone use gradually increased over the study period. Dexamethasone and remdesivir use varied substantially across health centers (intraclass correlation coefficient, 14.2% for dexamethasone and 84.6% for remdesivir). LIMITATION Because most N3C data contributors are academic medical centers, findings may not reflect the experience of community hospitals. CONCLUSION Dexamethasone, an evidence-based treatment of COVID-19, may be underused among persons who are mechanically ventilated. The use of remdesivir and dexamethasone varied across health systems, suggesting variation in patient case mix, drug access, treatment protocols, and quality of care. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and National Institute on Aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemalkumar B Mehta
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (H.B.M., H.A., K.M.A., E.S.R., C.J.)
| | - Huijun An
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (H.B.M., H.A., K.M.A., E.S.R., C.J.)
| | - Kathleen M Andersen
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (H.B.M., H.A., K.M.A., E.S.R., C.J.)
| | | | | | - Emaan S Rashidi
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (H.B.M., H.A., K.M.A., E.S.R., C.J.)
| | - Benjamin Bates
- Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, New Brunswick, New Jersey (B.B., S.S.)
| | - Soko Setoguchi
- Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, New Brunswick, New Jersey (B.B., S.S.)
| | - Corey Joseph
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (H.B.M., H.A., K.M.A., E.S.R., C.J.)
| | - Paul T Kocis
- Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania (P.T.K.)
| | | | - Tellen D Bennett
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado (T.D.B.)
| | - Christopher G Chute
- Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (C.G.C.)
| | - Brian T Garibaldi
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland (B.T.G.)
| | - G Caleb Alexander
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland (G.C.A.)
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The Impact of Outcomes Research in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg 2021; 148:921-926. [PMID: 34550951 DOI: 10.1097/prs.0000000000008347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Laajala A, Tokola P, Autio TJ, Koskenkorva T, Tastula M, Ohtonen P, Läärä E, Alho OP. Total or partial tonsillar resection (tonsillectomy or tonsillotomy) to change the quality of life for adults with recurrent or chronic tonsillitis: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 2021; 22:617. [PMID: 34526073 PMCID: PMC8441038 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05539-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tonsillar surgery has been used for decades to treat recurrent and chronic tonsillitis in adults. Recurrent and chronic tonsillitis result in disturbing symptoms, treatment costs, sick leave, and impaired quality of life (QoL). Theoretically, removing all or part of the altered pathological palatal lymphoid tissue alleviates the symptoms and enhances the QoL. Whether this is true with total or partial tonsillar resection (tonsillectomy (TE) and tonsillotomy (TT), respectively) has not been reported in a randomised trial yet. METHODS We conduct a multicentre, partly blinded, randomised, 6-month, parallel-group clinical study including 285 adult participants referred to surgical treatment for chronic or recurrent tonsillitis. The participants will either have TE, TT or watchful waiting (WW). The primary outcome will be the difference between the mean disease-specific Tonsillectomy Outcome Inventory-14 (QoL questionnaire) scores at 6 months. Comparison is made firstly between the combined TE+TT and WW groups (superiority analysis), and secondly between the TE and TT groups (non-inferiority analysis). DISCUSSION This study will add significant new information to the effects and harms of TE and TT procedures in the treatment of adults with chronic or recurrent tonsillitis. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04657549.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksi Laajala
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland.
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Paulus Tokola
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Timo J Autio
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Timo Koskenkorva
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Mikko Tastula
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pasi Ohtonen
- Division of Operative Care, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Esa Läärä
- Research Unit of Mathematical Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Olli-Pekka Alho
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Hofstad T, Rugkåsa J, Ose SO, Nyttingnes O, Husum TL. Measuring the level of compulsory hospitalisation in mental health care: The performance of different measures across areas and over time. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 2021; 30:e1881. [PMID: 34033189 PMCID: PMC8412230 DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A variety of measures are used for reporting levels of compulsory psychiatric hospitalisation. This complicates comparisons between studies and makes it hard to establish the extent of geographic variation. We aimed to investigate how measures based on events, individuals and duration portray geographical variation differently and perform over time, how they correlate and how well they predict future ranked levels of compulsory hospitalisation. METHODS Small-area analysis, correlation analysis and linear regressions of data from a Norwegian health registry containing whole population data from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS The average compulsory hospitalisation rate per 100,000 inhabitant was 5.6 times higher in the highest area, compared to the lowest, while the difference for the compulsory inpatient rate was 3.2. Population rates based on inpatients correlate strongly with rates of compulsory hospitalisations (r = 0.88) and duration (r = 0.78). 68%-81% of ranked compulsory hospitalisation rates could be explained by each area's rank the previous year. CONCLUSION There are stable differences in service delivery between catchment areas in Norway. In future research, multiple measures of the level of compulsory hospitalisation should ideally be included when investigating geographical variation. It is important that researchers describe accurately the measure upon which their results are based.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tore Hofstad
- Centre for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jorun Rugkåsa
- Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.,Centre for Care Research, University of South-Eastern Norway, Porsgrunn, Norway
| | | | - Olav Nyttingnes
- Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.,R&D Department, Division of Mental Health, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Tonje L Husum
- Centre for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Gray WK, Day J, Briggs TWR, Harrison S. Identifying unwarranted variation in clinical practice between healthcare providers in England: Analysis of administrative data over time for the Getting It Right First Time programme. J Eval Clin Pract 2021; 27:743-750. [PMID: 32997392 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES The Getting It Right First Time programme aims to reduce variation in clinical practice that unduly impacts on outcomes for patients in the National Health Service (NHS) in England; often termed "unwarranted variation." However, there is no "gold standard" method for detecting unwarranted variation. The aim of this study was to describe a method to allow such variation in recorded practice or patient outcomes between NHS trusts to be detected using data over multiple time periods. By looking at variation over time, it was hoped that patterns that could be missed by looking at data at a single time point, or averaged over a longer time period, could be identified. METHODS This was a retrospective time-series analysis of observational administrative data. Data were extracted from the Hospital Episodes Statistics database for two exemplar aspects of clinical practice within the field of urology: (a) use of ureteric stents on first emergency admission to treat urinary tract stones and (b) waiting times for definitive surgery for urinary retention. Data were categorized into 3-month time periods and three rules were used to detect unwarranted variation in the outcome metric relative to the national average: (a) two of any three consecutive values greater than two standard deviations above the mean, (b) four of any five consecutive values greater than one standard deviation above the mean, and (c) eight consecutive values above the mean. RESULTS For the urinary tract stones dataset, 24 trusts were identified as having unwarranted variation in the outcomes using funnel plots and 23 trusts using the time-series method. For the urinary retention data, 18 trusted were identified as having unwarranted variation in the outcomes using funnel plots and 22 trusts using the time-series method. CONCLUSIONS The time-series method may complement other methods to help identify unwarranted variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- William K Gray
- Getting It Right First Time programme, NHS Improvement, London, UK
| | - Jamie Day
- Getting It Right First Time programme, NHS Improvement, London, UK
| | - Tim W R Briggs
- Getting It Right First Time programme, NHS Improvement, London, UK
| | - Simon Harrison
- Getting It Right First Time programme, NHS Improvement, London, UK.,Department of Urology, Pinderfields Hospital, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Wakefield, UK
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Wertli MM, Zumbrunn B, Weber P, Haynes AG, Panczak R, Chiolero A, Rodondi N, Aujesky D. High regional variation in prostate surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia in Switzerland. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254143. [PMID: 34292959 PMCID: PMC8297757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Among various treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), surgical therapy is the most invasive. As Switzerland has the highest transurethral prostatectomy rate among OECD countries, we assessed the regional variation in prostate surgery for BPH and explored potential determinants of variation. Methods We conducted a population-based analysis using discharge data for men aged ≥40 years with transurethral or simple prostatectomy from all Swiss hospitals during 2013–2018. After excluding patients with genitourinary/prostate cancer, we derived hospital service areas (HSAs) by analyzing patient flows. We calculated age-standardized mean procedure rates and variation indices (extremal quotient [EQ] and systematic component of variation [SCV]). We estimated the reduction in variance across HSAs of prostatectomy rates in multilevel regression models, with incremental adjustment for age, regional cultural and socioeconomic factors, disease burden, density of urologists, and the time since urologists’ graduation. Results Overall, 44,253 prostatectomies (42,710 transurethral and 1543 simple) from 44 HSAs were analyzed. The mean age-standardized prostate surgery rate was 314 (range 166–500) per 100,000 men aged ≥40 years per year. The EQ was 3.01 and the SCV 5.53, indicating a high regional variation. In multivariate models, men aged 75–79 years had an 11.6-fold higher prostatectomy rate than those aged 50–54 years. French/Italian language areas had a 21% lower rate than Swiss German speaking areas. Socioeconomic factors, disease burden, and density of urologist/time since graduation were not associated with prostatectomy rates. After full adjustment, 80% of the variance in prostate surgery across HSAs remained unexplained. Conclusion We found a remarkably high regional variation in prostate surgery rates for BPH within Switzerland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M. Wertli
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Brigitta Zumbrunn
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Weber
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Radoslaw Panczak
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud Chiolero
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Rodondi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Drahomir Aujesky
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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van Munster JJCM, Wammes JJG, Bremmer RH, Zamanipoor Najafabadi AH, Hemler RJ, Peul WC, van den Hout WB, van Benthem PPG. Regional and hospital variation in commonly performed paediatric otolaryngology procedures in the Netherlands: a population-based study of healthcare utilisation between 2016 and 2019. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e046840. [PMID: 34210728 PMCID: PMC8252878 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In the past few decades, there has been an increase in high-quality studies providing evidence on the effectiveness of commonly performed procedures in paediatric otolaryngology. We believe that now is the time to re-evaluate the care process. We aimed to analyse (1) the regional variation in incidence and referrals of adenoidectomies, tonsillectomies and ventilation tube insertions in children in the Netherlands between 2016 and 2019, (2) whether regional surgical rates, referral rates and in-hospital surgical rates were associated with one another, and (3) the hospital variation in healthcare costs, which indicates the utilisation of resources. DESIGN Repeated cross-sectional analysis. SETTING Four neighbouring Dutch provinces comprising 2.8 million inhabitants and 14 hospitals. PARTICIPANTS Children aged 0-15 years. OUTCOME MEASURES We analysed variation in regional surgical rates and referral rates per 1000 inhabitants and in-hospital surgical rates per 1000 clinic visitors, adjusted for age and socioeconomic status. Furthermore, the relationships between referral rates, regional surgical rates and in-hospital surgical rates were estimated. Lastly, variation in resource utilisation between hospitals was estimated. RESULTS Adenoidectomy rates differed sixfold between regions. Twofold differences were observed for adenotonsillectomy rates, ventilation tube insertion rates and referral rates. Referral rates were negatively associated with in-hospital surgical rates for adenotonsillectomies, but not for adenoidectomies and ventilation tube insertions. In-hospital surgical rates were positively associated with regional rates for adenoidectomies and adenotonsillectomies. Significant variation between hospitals was observed in costs for all resources. CONCLUSIONS We observed low variation in tonsillectomies and ventilation tube insertion and high variation in adenoidectomies. Indications for a tonsillectomy and ventilation tube insertion are well defined in Dutch guidelines, whereas this is not the case for an adenoidectomy. Lack of agreement on indications can be expected and high-quality effectiveness research is required to improve evidence-based guidelines on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliëtte J C M van Munster
- Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- University Neurosurgical Center Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Rolf H Bremmer
- Hospital & Health Care, LOGEX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Raphael J Hemler
- Otorhinolaryngology, Gelre Hospitals, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
| | - Wilco C Peul
- University Neurosurgical Center Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Peter Paul G van Benthem
- Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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The Central Importance of Emergency Department Admission Rate Variation in Value-Based Care. Ann Emerg Med 2021; 78:484-486. [PMID: 34140160 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Walsh ME, Cronin S, Boland F, Ebell MH, Fahey T, Wallace E. Geographical variation of emergency hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in older adults in Ireland 2012-2016. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e042779. [PMID: 33952537 PMCID: PMC8103372 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ambulatory care sensitive (ACS) conditions are those for which intensified primary care management could potentially prevent emergency admissions. This study aimed to quantify geographical variation in emergency admissions with ACS conditions in older adults and explore factors influencing variation. DESIGN Repeated cross-sectional study. SETTING 34 public hospitals in the Ireland. PARTICIPANTS Adults aged ≥65 years hospitalised for seven ACS conditions between 2012 and 2016 (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes, angina, pyelonephritis/urinary tract infections (UTIs), dehydration and pneumonia). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE Age and sex standardised emergency admission rates (SARs) per 1000 older adults. ANALYSIS Age and sex SARs were calculated for 21 geographical areas. Extremal quotients and systematic components of variance (SCV) quantified variation. Spatial regression analyses was conducted for SARs with unemployment, urban population proportion, hospital turnover, supply of general practitioners (GPs), and supply of hospital-based specialists as explanatory variables. RESULTS Over time, an increase in UTI/pyelonephritis SARs was seen while SARs for angina and CHF decreased. Geographic variation was moderate overall and high for dehydration and angina (SCV=11.7-50.0). For all conditions combined, multivariable analysis showed lower urban population (adjusted coefficient: -2.2 (-3.4 to -0.9, p<0.01)), lower GP supply (adjusted coefficient: -5.5 (-8.2 to -2.9, p<0.01)) and higher geriatrician supply (adjusted coefficient: 3.7 (0.5 to 6.9, p=0.02)) were associated with higher SARs. CONCLUSIONS Future research should evaluate methods of preventing admissions for ACS conditions among older adults, including how resources are allocated at a local level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Walsh
- HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sinead Cronin
- HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona Boland
- HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mark H Ebell
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Tom Fahey
- HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emma Wallace
- HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Department of General Practice, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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The impact of new evidence on regional variation in paediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: a historical review. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology 2021; 134:1036-1043. [PMID: 33431080 DOI: 10.1017/s002221512000273x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy have been among the most commonly performed procedures in children for approximately 100 years. These procedures were the first for which unwarranted regional variation was discovered, in 1938. Indications for these procedures have become stricter over time, which might have reduced regional practice variation. METHODS This paper presents a historical review on practice variation in paediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy rates. Data on publication year, region, level of variation, methodology and outcomes were collected. RESULTS Twenty-one articles on practice variation in paediatric tonsil surgery were included, with data from 12 different countries. Significant variation was found throughout the years, although a greater than 10-fold variation was observed only in the earliest publications. CONCLUSION No evidence has yet been found that better indications for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy have reduced practice variation. International efforts are needed to reconsider why we are still unable to tackle this variation.
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Latenstein CSS, Thunnissen FM, Harker M, Groenewoud S, Noordenbos MW, Atsma F, de Reuver PR. Variation in practice and outcomes after inguinal hernia repair: a nationwide observational study. BMC Surg 2021; 21:45. [PMID: 33472620 PMCID: PMC7816298 DOI: 10.1186/s12893-020-01030-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inguinal hernia repair has often been used as a showcase to illustrate practice variation in surgery. This study determined the degree of hospital variation in proportion of patients with an inguinal hernia undergoing operative repair and the effect of this variation on clinical outcomes. Methods A nationwide, longitudinal, database study was performed in all hospitals in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2015. Patients with inguinal hernias were collected from the Diagnosis-Related-Group (DRG) database. The case-mix adjusted operation rate in patients with a new DRG determines the observed variation. Hospital variation in case-mix adjusted inguinal hernia repair-rates was calculated per year. Clinical outcomes after surgery were compared between hospitals with high and low adjusted operation-rates. Results In total, 95,637 patients were included. The overall operation rate was 71.6%. In 2013–2015, the case-mix adjusted performance of inguinal hernia repairs in hospitals with high rates was 1.6–1.9 times higher than in hospitals with low rates. Moreover, in hospitals with high adjusted rates of inguinal hernia repair the time to surgery was shorter, more laparoscopic procedures were performed, less emergency department visits were recorded post-operatively, while more emergency department visits were recorded when patients were treated conservatively compared to hospitals with low adjusted operation rates. Conclusion Hospital variation in inguinal hernia repair in the Netherlands is modest, operation-rates vary by less than two-fold, and variation is stable over time. Hernia repair in hospitals with high adjusted rates of inguinal hernia repair are associated with improved outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen S S Latenstein
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein 10, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Floris M Thunnissen
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein 10, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mitchell Harker
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein 10, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stef Groenewoud
- Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (IQ Healthcare), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mark W Noordenbos
- Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (IQ Healthcare), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Femke Atsma
- Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (IQ Healthcare), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Philip R de Reuver
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein 10, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Degree of regional variation and effects of health insurance-related factors on the utilization of 24 diverse healthcare services - a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:1091. [PMID: 33246452 PMCID: PMC7694910 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05930-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Regional variation in healthcare utilization could reflect unequal access to care, which may lead to detrimental consequences to quality of care and costs. The aims of this study were to a) describe the degree of regional variation in utilization of 24 diverse healthcare services in eligible populations in Switzerland, and b) identify potential drivers, especially health insurance-related factors, and explore the consistency of their effects across the services. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using health insurance claims data for the year of 2014. The studied 24 healthcare services were predominantly outpatient services, ranging from screening to secondary prevention. For each service, a target population was identified based on applicable clinical recommendations, and outcome variable was the use of the service. Possible influencing factors included patients’ socio-demographics, health insurance-related and clinical characteristics. For each service, we performed a comprehensive methodological approach including small area variation analysis, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and multilevel multivariable modelling using 106 mobilité spaciale regions as the higher level. We further calculated the median odds ratio in model residuals to assess the unexplained regional variation. Results Unadjusted utilization rates varied considerably across the 24 healthcare services, ranging from 3.5% (osteoporosis screening) to 76.1% (recommended thyroid disease screening sequence). The effects of health insurance-related characteristics were mostly consistent. A higher annual deductible level was mostly associated with lower utilization. Supplementary insurance, supplementary hospital insurance and having chosen a managed care model were associated with higher utilization of most services. Managed care models showed a tendency towards more recommended care. After adjusting for multiple influencing factors, the unexplained regional variation was generally small across the 24 services, with all MORs below 1.5. Conclusions The observed utilization rates seemed suboptimal for many of the selected services. For all of them, the unexplained regional variation was relatively small. Our findings confirmed the importance and consistency of effects of health insurance-related factors, indicating that healthcare utilization might be further optimized through adjustment of insurance scheme designs. Our comprehensive approach aids in the identification of regional variation and influencing factors of healthcare services use in Switzerland as well as comparable settings worldwide. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-020-05930-y.
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Collyer TA, Smith KE. An atlas of health inequalities and health disparities research: "How is this all getting done in silos, and why?". Soc Sci Med 2020; 264:113330. [PMID: 32971486 PMCID: PMC7449896 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Research on health inequalities and health disparities has grown exponentially since the 1960s, but this expansion has not been matched by an associated sense of progress. Criticisms include claims that too much research addresses well-trodden questions and that the field has failed to gain public and policy traction. Qualitative studies have found researchers partly attribute these challenges to fragmentation resulting from disciplinary and methodological differences. Yet, empirical investigation ('research on research') is limited. This study addresses this gap, employing mixed-methods to examine, at scale, how and why this field is defined by insular research clusters. First, bibliometric analysis identifies and visualizes the 250 most-connected authors. Next, an algorithm was used to identify clustering via citation links between authors. We used researcher profiling to ascertain authors' geographical and institutional locations and disciplinary training, examining how this mapped onto clusters. Finally, causes of siloing were investigated via semi-structured interviews with 45 researchers. The resulting 'atlas' of health inequalities and health disparities research identifies eight clusters of authors with varying degrees of connectedness. No single factor neatly describes observed fragmentation, health equity scholars exhibit a diverse disciplinary backgrounds, and geographical, institutional, and historical factors appear to intersect to explain siloed citation patterns. While the configuration of research activity within clusters potentially helps render questions scientifically manageable, it affirms perceptions of the field as fragmented. We draw on Thomas Kuhn and Sheila Jasanoff to position results within theoretical pictures of scientific progress. Newcomers to the field can use our findings to orient themselves within the many streams of health equity scholarship, and existing health equity scholars can use the atlas to move beyond existing geo-disciplinary networks. However, although stronger cross-cluster engagement would be likely to improve insights, the complex nexus of factors underlying the field's structure will likely make this challenging in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taya A Collyer
- University of Edinburgh, School of Social and Political Science, 15a George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD, United Kingdom; Monash University, Peninsula Clinical School, 2 Hastings Rd, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Katherine E Smith
- University of Strathclyde, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Lord Hope Building 141 St James Road, Glasgow, G4 0LT, UK.
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Wertli MM, Schlapbach JM, Haynes AG, Scheuter C, Jegerlehner SN, Panczak R, Chiolero A, Rodondi N, Aujesky D. Regional variation in hip and knee arthroplasty rates in Switzerland: A population-based small area analysis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238287. [PMID: 32956363 PMCID: PMC7505431 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Compared to other OECD countries, Switzerland has the highest rates of hip (HA) and knee arthroplasty (KA). Objective We assessed the regional variation in HA/KA rates and potential determinants of variation in Switzerland. Methods We conducted a population-based analysis using discharge data from all Swiss hospitals during 2013–2016. We derived hospital service areas (HSAs) by analyzing patient flows. We calculated age-/sex-standardized procedure rates and measures of variation (the extremal quotient [EQ, highest divided by lowest rate] and the systemic component of variation [SCV]). We estimated the reduction in variance of HA/KA rates across HSAs in multilevel regression models, with incremental adjustment for procedure year, age, sex, language, urbanization, socioeconomic factors, burden of disease, and the number of orthopedic surgeons. Results Overall, 69,578 HA and 69,899 KA from 55 HSAs were analyzed. The mean age-/sex-standardized HA rate was 265 (range 179–342) and KA rate was 256 (range 186–378) per 100,000 persons and increased over time. The EQ was 1.9 for HA and 2.5 for KA. The SCV was 2.0 for HA and 2.2 for KA, indicating a low variation across HSAs. When adjusted for procedure year and demographic, cultural, and sociodemographic factors, the models explained 75% of the variance in HA and 63% in KA across Swiss HSAs. Conclusion Switzerland has high HA/KA rates with a modest regional variation, suggesting that the threshold to perform HA/KA may be uniformly low across regions. One third of the variation remained unexplained and may, at least in part, represent differing physician beliefs and attitudes towards joint arthroplasty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M. Wertli
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Judith M. Schlapbach
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alan G. Haynes
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- CTU Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Scheuter
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina N. Jegerlehner
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Radoslaw Panczak
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Queensland Centre for Population Research, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Arnaud Chiolero
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Rodondi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Drahomir Aujesky
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Latenstein CSS, Wennmacker SZ, Groenewoud S, Noordenbos MW, Atsma F, de Reuver PR. Hospital Variation in Cholecystectomies in The Netherlands: A Nationwide Observational Study. Dig Surg 2020; 37:488-494. [PMID: 32937632 DOI: 10.1159/000510503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Practice variation generally raises concerns about the quality of care. This study determined the longitudinal degree of hospital variation in proportion of patients with gallstone disease undergoing cholecystectomy, while adjusted for case-mix, and the effect on clinical outcomes. METHODS A nationwide, longitudinal, database study was performed in all hospitals in the Netherlands in 2013-2015. Patients with gallstone disease were collected from the diagnosis-related group database. Hospital variation in case-mix-adjusted cholecystectomy rates was calculated per year. Clinical outcomes after cholecystectomy were compared between hospitals in the lowest/highest 20th percentile of the distribution of adjusted cholecystectomy rates in all 3 subsequent years. RESULTS In total, 96,673 patients with gallstones were included. The cholecystectomy rate was 73.6%. In 2013-2015, the case-mix-adjusted performance of cholecystectomies was in hospitals with high rates 1.5-1.6 times higher than in hospitals with low rates. Hospitals with a high adjusted cholecystectomy rate had a higher laparoscopy rate, shorter time to surgery, and less emergency department visits after a cholecystectomy compared to hospitals with a low-adjusted cholecystectomy rate. CONCLUSION Hospital variation in cholecystectomies in the Netherlands is modest, cholecystectomy rates varies by <2-fold, and variation is stable over time. Cholecystectomies in hospitals with high adjusted cholecystectomy rates are associated with improved outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen S S Latenstein
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Z Wennmacker
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stef Groenewoud
- Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (IQ healthcare), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mark W Noordenbos
- Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (IQ healthcare), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Femke Atsma
- Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (IQ healthcare), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Philip R de Reuver
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,
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Tozzi VD, Pacileo G, Ferrara L. Evaluating the appropriateness of elective surgery: The case of spinal fusion (arthrodesis). Health Serv Manage Res 2020; 34:167-177. [PMID: 32910680 DOI: 10.1177/0951484820952331] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Appropriateness is an essential element of quality of care. Several methods and tools have been developed to measure the appropriateness of care, however, none of these could be used to systematically support providers in keeping the appropriateness under control. Our study aimed to develop a framework to evaluate the appropriateness of care that took into account four dimensions of appropriateness: clinical dimension, equity, service delivery model, outcome. METHODS We employed mixed-method approaches. These included a retrospective analysis of administrative data collected from Kinetika Sardinia (Italy) and a qualitative analysis of stakeholders' experiences and perspectives aimed at supporting data collection, identification of improvement actions and definition of performance indicators. We used arthrodesis as a paradigmatic example of potentially inappropriate elective surgery. RESULTS We collected data from 2,584 patients that underwent arthrodesis between January 1, 2010 and April 30, 2015. Based on the analysis and the exchanges with professionals, we identified 11 improvement actions. Monitoring and evaluation actions were finally conducted for 171 patients that underwent spinal fusion during the first semester of 2016 in order to assess if the improvement actions identified were put into practice and acquired desirable outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides a definition of appropriateness that goes beyond the clinical perspective and includes other perspectives (equity, service delivery and outcome); develops a framework and an approach that can be a valid help to systematically assess the appropriateness of elective surgery, adopt improvement actions, and monitor their impact; discusses what are the competencies necessary for measuring the appropriateness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria D Tozzi
- Centre for Research on Health and Social Care, Bocconi University, Italy; SDA Bocconi, School of Management, Government Health and Not for profit Division, Milan, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Pacileo
- Centre for Research on Health and Social Care, Bocconi University, Italy; SDA Bocconi, School of Management, Government Health and Not for profit Division, Milan, Italy.,Local Health Authority Alessandria, Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Ferrara
- Centre for Research on Health and Social Care, Bocconi University, Italy; SDA Bocconi, School of Management, Government Health and Not for profit Division, Milan, Italy
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Han IW, Lee HK, Park DJ, Choi YS, Lee SE, Kim H, Kwon W, Jang JY, Lee H, Heo JS. Long-term patient-reported outcomes following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A prospective multicenter observational study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e21683. [PMID: 32871883 PMCID: PMC7458203 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000021683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have reported short-term results for post-cholecystectomy symptoms and quality of life (QoL). However, reports on long-term results are still limited. This study aimed to identify risk factors affecting short- and long-term patient-reported outcome (PRO) following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.From 2016 to 2017, a total of 476 patients from 5 institutions were enrolled. PRO was examined using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score and the Gastrointestinal (GI) QoL Index questionnaire at postoperative 1 month and 1 year.Most of patients recovered well at postoperative 1 year compared to postoperative 1 month for the NRS pain score, QoL score, and GI symptoms. A high operative difficulty score (HR 1.740, P = .031) and pathology of acute or complicated cholecystitis (HR 1.524, P = .048) were identified as independent risk factors for high NRS pain scores at postoperative 1 month. Similarly, female sex (HR 1.571, P = .003) at postoperative 1 month and postoperative complications (HR 5.567, P = .001) at postoperative 1 year were independent risk factors for a low QoL. Also, age above 50 (HR 1.842, P = .001), female sex (HR 1.531, P = .006), and preoperative gallbladder drainage (HR 3.086, P = .001) were identified as independent risk factors for GI symptoms at postoperative 1 month.Most patients showed improved long-term PRO measurement in terms of pain, QoL, and GI symptoms. There were no independent risk factors for long-term postoperative pain and GI symptoms. However, postoperative complications were identified to affect QoL adversely at postoperative 1 year. Careful and long-term follow up is thus necessary for patients who experienced postoperative complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- In Woong Han
- Division of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery Departments of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
| | - Hyeon Kook Lee
- Department of Surgery, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine
| | - Dae Joon Park
- Division of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery Departments of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
| | - Yoo Shin Choi
- Department of Surgery, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine
| | - Seung Eun Lee
- Department of Surgery, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine
| | - Hongbeom Kim
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
- Department of Surgery, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Wooil Kwon
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
| | - Jin-Young Jang
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
| | - Huisong Lee
- Department of Surgery, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine
| | - Jin Seok Heo
- Division of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery Departments of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
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Abstract
BACKGROUND A second-opinion procedure was introduced for (adeno)tonsillectomy and tonsillotomy in 2018 by the Federal Joint Committee, due to the assumed high prevalence of both procedures. This study was conducted to quantify and analyze both types of tonsil surgery in Germany. METHODS Data from the Federal Office of Statistics on the number of procedures and population size were used to calculate annual intervention rates between 2005 and 2017. Percentual changes in intervention rates compared to the previous year were calculated for Germany, for the total number of ENT specialists, for the ENT specialists of the federal states, and for four age groups (≤10; ≤20; ≤40; >40 years). RESULTS Regression analysis revealed a significant decrease in (adeno)tonsillectomy and a significant increase in tonsillotomy in each investigated year (p < 0.001; exception: 2006 for adenotonsillectomy). Surgical rates of tonsillectomy and tonsillotomy decreased significantly with age (p < 0.001). There was no clear relationship between the density of ENT specialists in the different federal states and the number of surgical procedures. CONCLUSION There was no clear association between the surgical prevalence and the density of ENT specialists. The significant decrease in rates of (adeno)tonsillectomy began in 2005 and the tonsillotomy rates have been increasing since 2007, albeit without a compensatory effect. Both procedures are on the list of the 50 most frequently performed operations. The decreasing total number of both surgical procedures questions the value of a second-opinion procedure as suggested by the Federal Joint Committee. Tonsil surgery is significantly associated with young age (<10 years) and discussions on surgery rates must consider the age structure of the investigated population, since this is the most important influencing factor in tonsil surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Windfuhr
- Klinik für Hals‑, Nasen‑, Ohrenheilkunde, Kliniken Maria Hilf, Viersener Str. 450, 41063, Mönchengladbach, Deutschland.
| | - Y-S Chen
- Praxis für Hals‑, Nasen‑, Ohrenheilkunde, Bad Honnef, Deutschland
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Molina G, Clancy TE, Tsai TC, Lam M, Wang J. Racial Disparity in Pancreatoduodenectomy for Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2020; 28:1088-1096. [PMID: 32651695 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-020-08717-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have found racial disparity in pancreatectomies for resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate if racial disparities were worse in the performance of pancreaticoduodenectomy for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS This study used the National Cancer Database (2004-2016) and included patients with non-metastatic and head of the pancreas borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Multivariable, Poisson regression models with robust standard errors evaluated the relative risk (RR) of undergoing a pancreaticoduodenectomy among non-White patients (Black, Asian, and non-White Hispanic) compared with White patients. A Poisson regression model with hospital fixed effects was performed to evaluate if findings were due to within-hospital or between-hospital variation. Interaction between race and neoadjuvant therapy was also evaluated. RESULTS There were 15,482 patients (median age 68 years, interquartile range 60-76 years; 48.6% male) with borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma who were predominantly White (84.3%, n = 13,058; non-White, 15.7%, n = 2424). Overall, 18.4% (n = 2853) had a pancreatic resection. Non-White patients had a significantly lower likelihood of undergoing a pancreatic resection for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma when compared with White patients (RR 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.68-0.83; p < 0.001). These findings persisted in the hospital fixed-effects model. In the interaction analysis, there were no significant differences in the likelihood of pancreatic resection if patients received neoadjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS Non-White patients were 25% less likely to undergo a pancreatic resection for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared with White patients. This racial disparity was due to variation in care within-hospitals and disappeared if non-White patients were treated with neoadjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Molina
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas E Clancy
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas C Tsai
- Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Miranda Lam
- Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiping Wang
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. .,Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA.
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Kembou Nzale S, Weeks WB, Ouafik L, Rouquette I, Beau-Faller M, Lemoine A, Bringuier PP, Le Coroller Soriano AG, Barlesi F, Ventelou B. Inequity in access to personalized medicine in France: Evidences from analysis of geo variations in the access to molecular profiling among advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients: Results from the IFCT Biomarkers France Study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234387. [PMID: 32609781 PMCID: PMC7329126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this article, we studied geographic variation in the use of personalized genetic testing for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and we evaluated the relationship between genetic testing rates and local socioeconomic and ecological variables. We used data on all advanced NSCLC patients who had a genetic test between April 2012 and April 2013 in France in the frame of the IFCT Biomarqueurs-France study (n = 15814). We computed four established measures of geographic variation of the sex-adjusted rates of genetic testing utilization at the "départment" (the French territory is divided into 94 administrative units called 'départements') level. We also performed a spatial regression model to determine the relationship between département-level sex-adjusted rates of genetic testing utilization and economic and ecological variables. Our results are the following: (i) Overall, 46.87% lung cancer admission patients obtained genetic testing for NSCLC; département-level utilization rates varied over 3.2-fold. Measures of geographic variation indicated a relatively high degree of geographic variation. (ii) there was a statistically significant relationship between genetic testing rates and per capita supply of general practitioners, radiotherapists and surgeons (negative correlation for the latter); lower genetic testing rates were also associated with higher local poverty rates. French policymakers should pursue effort toward deprived areas to obtain equal access to personalized medicine for advanced NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Kembou Nzale
- Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, EHESS, Centrale Marseille, AMSE, Marseille, France
| | - William B. Weeks
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Williamson Translational Building, DHMC, Lebanon, NH, United States of America
| | - L’Houcine Ouafik
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Service de Transfert d'Oncologie Biologique, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Isabelle Rouquette
- Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse, Oncopôle, Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Toulouse, France
| | - Michèle Beau-Faller
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Hautepierre, Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moléculaire & Plate-forme de Génomique des Cancers, Strasbourg, France
| | - Antoinette Lemoine
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier des Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Service d'Oncogénétique- Oncomolpath, Université Paris 11, Villejuif, France
| | - Pierre-Paul Bringuier
- Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologique, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon Cancer Research Center, UMR 1057 INSERM, Lyon, France
| | - Anne-Gaëlle Le Coroller Soriano
- Mixed Research Unit 912, Institute of Research and Development, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Paoli Calmettes Institute, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Fabrice Barlesi
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Multidisciplinary Oncology and Therapeutic Innovations Department, Aix-Marseille Univ, Centre d'Investigation Clinique, Marseille, France
| | - Bruno Ventelou
- Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, EHESS, Centrale Marseille, AMSE, Marseille, France
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Stoller N, Wertli MM, Zaugg TM, Haynes AG, Chiolero A, Rodondi N, Panczak R, Aujesky D. Regional variation of hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases in Switzerland. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233082. [PMID: 32407404 PMCID: PMC7224542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hysterectomy is the last treatment option for benign uterine diseases, and vaginal hysterectomy is preferred over more invasive techniques. We assessed the regional variation in hysterectomy rates for benign uterine diseases across Switzerland and explored potential determinants of variation. Methods We conducted a population-based analysis using patient discharge data from all Swiss hospitals between 2013 and 2016. Hospital service areas (HSAs) for hysterectomies were derived by analyzing patient flows. We calculated age-standardized mean procedure rates and measures of regional variation (extremal quotient [EQ], highest divided by lowest rate) and systematic component of variation [SCV]). We estimated the reduction in the variance of crude hysterectomy rates across HSAs in multilevel regression models, with incremental adjustment for procedure year, age, cultural/socioeconomic factors, burden of disease, and density of gynecologists. Results Overall, 40,211 hysterectomies from 54 HSAs were analyzed. The mean age-standardized hysterectomy rate was 298/100,000 women (range 186–456). While the variation in overall procedure rate was moderate (EQ 2.5, SCV 3.7), we found a very high procedure-specific variation (EQ vaginal 5.0, laparoscopic 6.3, abdominal 8.0; SCV vaginal 17.5, laparoscopic 11.2, abdominal 16.9). Adjusted for procedure year, demographic, cultural, and sociodemographic factors, a large share (64%) of the variance remained unexplained (vaginal 63%, laparoscopic 85%, abdominal 70%). The main determinants of variation were socioeconomic/cultural factors. Burden of disease and the density of gynecologists was not associated with procedure rates. Conclusions Switzerland has a very high regional variation in vaginal, laparoscopic, and abdominal hysterectomy for benign uterine disease. After adjustment for potential determinants of variation including demographic factors, socioeconomic and cultural factors, burden of disease, and the density of gynecologists, two thirds of the variation remain unexplained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Stoller
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Maria M. Wertli
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tabea M. Zaugg
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Arnaud Chiolero
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Nicolas Rodondi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Radoslaw Panczak
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Queensland Centre for Population Research, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Drahomir Aujesky
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Weyerstraß J, Prediger B, Neugebauer E, Pieper D. Results of a patient-oriented second opinion program in Germany shows a high discrepancy between initial therapy recommendation and second opinion. BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:237. [PMID: 32192450 PMCID: PMC7083019 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-5060-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As of 2015, second opinions are legally implemented in Germany. However, empirical results from German second opinion programs are lacking. The aim of this study was to examine several aspects within a population of a German second opinion program. Methods Study population consisted of patients who sought a second opinion in the period from August 2011 to December 2016. Multivariate logistic regression and ANOVA were used to examine differences in patient characteristics, differentiated by agreement of initial therapy recommendation and second opinion. Follow-up points for patient satisfaction and HRQoL were defined at 1, 3 and 6 months after obtaining the second opinion. Results Total number of patients who sought a second opinion was 1414. Most common indications concerned the knee (37.3%), spine (27.3%), hip (11.5%) and shoulder (10.1%). The independent specialists did not confirm the initial therapy recommendations in two out of three cases. The type of indication influenced the agreement between initial therapy recommendation and the second opinion significantly (p = 0.035). The second opinion and the offered service was highly valued by the patients (89%). Conclusions The second opinion offers patients the possibility to confirm a medical indication independently and support patients in their decision making process. Reasons for the large discrepancy between initial therapy recommendation and second opinion should be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Weyerstraß
- University of Witten/Herdecke, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, Witten, 58455, Germany.
| | - Barbara Prediger
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), Interim Head: Prof. Dr. Rolf Lefering, Chair of Surgical Research, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, 51109, Cologne, Germany
| | - Edmund Neugebauer
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), Interim Head: Prof. Dr. Rolf Lefering, Chair of Surgical Research, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, 51109, Cologne, Germany.,Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB), Brandenburg, Germany
| | - Dawid Pieper
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), Interim Head: Prof. Dr. Rolf Lefering, Chair of Surgical Research, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, 51109, Cologne, Germany.
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Is the number of tonsillectomies and tonsillotomies a relevant issue? HNO 2020; 68:50-55. [PMID: 31970445 DOI: 10.1007/s00106-019-00797-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] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A second-opinion procedure was introduced for (adeno)tonsillectomy and tonsillotomy in 2018 by the Federal Joint Committee, due to the assumed high prevalence of both procedures. This study was conducted to quantify and analyze both types of tonsil surgery in Germany. METHODS Data from the Federal Office of Statistics on the number of procedures and population size were used to calculate annual intervention rates between 2005 and 2017. Percentual changes in intervention rates compared to the previous year were calculated for Germany, for the total number of ENT specialists, for the ENT specialists of the federal states, and for four age groups (≤10; ≤20; ≤40; >40 years). RESULTS Regression analysis revealed a significant decrease in (adeno)tonsillectomy and a significant increase in tonsillotomy in each investigated year (p < 0.001; exception: 2006 for adenotonsillectomy). Surgical rates of tonsillectomy and tonsillotomy decreased significantly with age (p < 0.001). There was no clear relationship between the density of ENT specialists in the different federal states and the number of surgical procedures. CONCLUSION There was no clear association between the surgical prevalence and the density of ENT specialists. The significant decrease in rates of (adeno)tonsillectomy began in 2005 and the tonsillotomy rates have been increasing since 2007, albeit without a compensatory effect. Both procedures are on the list of the 50 most frequently performed operations. The decreasing total number of both surgical procedures questions the value of a second-opinion procedure as suggested by the Federal Joint Committee. Tonsil surgery is significantly associated with young age (<10 years) and discussions on surgery rates must consider the age structure of the investigated population, since this is the most important influencing factor in tonsil surgery.
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Yalcin Bahat P, Gülova S, Yuksel Ozgor B, Cakmak K. Is Vaginal Hysterectomy Safe for an Enlarged Uterus? Cureus 2020; 12:e6816. [PMID: 32133272 PMCID: PMC7049894 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes between two sets of women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy (VH) for benign gynecological conditions: those with moderately enlarged ( ≥12 weeks') uteruses and those with normal-sized uteruses. Materials and Methods The medical records of 84 women who underwent vaginal hysterectomies for benign gynecological conditions at Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey between 2013 and 2015 were reviewed. Age, uterine sizes, indications, duration of hospitalization, operation time, hematocrit (HCT) levels, and complications were analyzed. Results The most common indications for VH were uterine descensus. However, most women had presented with more than one indication. The mean age of the patients who underwent VH was 56.12. The maximum volume of the uterus was found to be 1244.74 ml, and the smallest volume was found to be 18.83 ml. The mean volume of the uterus was found as 122.6629 ml. The mean duration of operation was 159.70 minutes, whereas the mean duration of hospital stay was 3.79 days. The mean preoperative HCT and hemoglobin (Hgb) values were 37.098 (±3.64) gr/dl and 12.365 (±1.35) gr/dl respectively. Postoperative HCT and Hgb values were 31.363 (±3.94) gr/dl and 10.52 (±1.38) respectively. Conclusion VH is usually a simple procedure with low morbidity. It is important to choose the appropriate patient when deciding on the operation. In addition, having experienced surgeons in the field of VH increases the success of surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinar Yalcin Bahat
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, TUR
| | - Sibel Gülova
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, TUR
| | - Bahar Yuksel Ozgor
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Esenler Maternity and Children's Hospital, Istanbul, TUR
| | - Kubra Cakmak
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Esenler Maternity and Children's Hospital, Istanbul, TUR
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