1
|
Martins Leitão P, Oliveira S, Miranda A, Vivas C, Nascimento J, Leal S, Tavares Ferreira J, Magalhães A. Ophthalmology Census 2021: A Demographic Characterisation of Ophthalmologists in Portugal. ACTA MEDICA PORT 2024. [PMID: 38477300 DOI: 10.20344/amp.20321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human resources in ophthalmology have recently received particular attention, and it has been questioned whether there is a sufficient number of workers. The aim of this study was to analyze and characterize Portugal's ophthalmologist population. METHODS In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire was sent to all ophthalmologists registered with the Portuguese College of Ophthalmology in December 2021. Information on the following variables was collected and analyzed: demographic factors, professional qualifications, professional activity, weekly professional activity and medium-term plans. RESULTS Among the 910 registered ophthalmologists, a response rate of 64.7% was achieved. There were 0.9 ophthalmologists for every 10 000 inhabitants, 0.45:10 000 working in the public sector (0.35:10 000 full-time equivalent). Among the respondents, 57.6% were over 50 years old (59.6% male), 97.3% were Portuguese, 46.7% completed their residency in the Lisbon region, 27.3% complemented their programme with additional training, 9.5% had a PhD and approximately 58% lived and worked in large urban centres. Regarding professional activity, 58.5% of the respondents worked in the public sector (4.2% exclusively), while 67.9% worked in different economic sectors. The median number of weekly working hours reported was 45 hours, with those in the public sector reporting 35 hours. Private/social sector work and public sector work accounted for 12 926 hours/week and 10 808 hours/week, respectively. It was found that 31.4% of the respondents provided emergency medical services and that 52.8% performed surgical procedures more than once a week. Looking ahead, 38.7% of the ophthalmologists intended to reduce their workload within the next five years due to family reasons, fatigue and demotivation. The projected rate of retirement or cessation of activity in the next five years was estimated to be 1.7%, while an average of 20 new ophthalmologists are expected to enter the profession annually, resulting in a generational balance of 0.8%. CONCLUSION While the number of ophthalmologists in Portugal meets the international recommendations, there is a shortage in the public sector and most ophthalmologists work in large urban centres. The number of ophthalmologists in Portugal is expected to be stable for the next five years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Martins Leitão
- College of Ophthalmology. Portuguese Medical Association. Lisbon; Department of Ophthalmology. Associação Protectora dos Diabéticos de Portugal. Lisbon. Portugal
| | - Sandra Oliveira
- Santarém Higher School of Management and Technology. Instituto Politécnico de Santarém. Santarém; Life Quality Research Centre. Instituto Politécnico de Santarém. Santarém; Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology. Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra. Portugal
| | - Ana Miranda
- College of Ophthalmology. Portuguese Medical Association. Lisbon; Department of Ophthalmology. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal
| | - Carla Vivas
- Research Center. Instituto Universitário Militar. Lisbon. Portugal
| | - João Nascimento
- Santarém Higher School of Management and Technology. Instituto Politécnico de Santarém. Santarém. Portugal
| | - Susana Leal
- Santarém Higher School of Management and Technology. Instituto Politécnico de Santarém. Santarém; Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology. Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra. Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares Ferreira
- College of Ophthalmology. Portuguese Medical Association. Lisbon; Department of Ophthalmology. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Norte. Lisbon. Portugal
| | - Augusto Magalhães
- College of Ophthalmology. Portuguese Medical Association. Lisbon; Department of Ophthalmology. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Oporto. Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Watts RD, Bowles DC, Ryan E, Fisher C, Li IW. No Two Workforces Are the Same: A Systematic Review of Enumerations and Definitions of Public Health Workforces. Front Public Health 2020; 8:588092. [PMID: 33330331 PMCID: PMC7711128 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.588092] [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: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The delivery and coordination of public health functions is essential to national and global health, however, there are considerable problems in defining the people who work in public health, as well as estimating their number. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify and explore research which has defined and enumerated public health workforces. In particular, how were such workforces defined? Who was included in these workforces? And how did researchers make judgments about the size of a workforce? In this systematic review, we identified 82 publications which enumerated a public health workforce between 2000 and November 2018. Most workforce definitions were unique and study-specific and included workers based on their occupation or their place of work. Common occupations included public health nurses and physicians, epidemiologists, and community health workers. National workforces varied by size, with the United States and Switzerland having the largest public health workforces per-capita, although definitions used varied substantially. Normative assessments (e.g., assessments of ideal workforce size) were informed through opinion, benchmarks or “service-target” models. There are very few regular, consistent enumerations within countries, and fewer still which capture a substantial proportion of the public heath workforce. Assessing the size of the public health workforce is often overlooked and would be aided by fit-for-purpose data, alignment of occupations and functions to international standards, and transparency in normative methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rory D Watts
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Devin C Bowles
- Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Eli Ryan
- Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Colleen Fisher
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ian W Li
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gershuni O, Czabanowska K, Burazeri G, Cichowska Myrup A, Von Krauss MK. Is there a golden recipe? A scoping review of public health workforce development. Eur J Public Health 2020; 29:401-408. [PMID: 30508074 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/cky247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study intended to design a suitable and comprehensive approach for a public health workforce development plan with the ultimate goal of meeting the health objectives in different European Region countries. METHODS We performed a scoping review, including an accurate and exhaustive country-specific hand-search process, mapping the key concepts and practices used in public health workforce development based on the available evidence worldwide. RESULTS We identified nine comparative measures, based on common features from a scoping literature review, for the assessment of public health workforce development plans available in selected countries. This list of nine comparative measures includes: (i) Alignment between the 10 Essential Public Health Operations (EPHOs) or core public health functions and organizational resources and public health priority areas; (ii) Regulations and Norms; (iii) Capacity Assessment; (iv) Datasets and Databases; (v) Workforce Development Strategies, Planning and Management; (vi) Education, Training, Core Competencies and Models; (vii) Licensing, Accreditation and Credentialing; (viii) Forecasting Strategies for Enumerating and Quotas and (ix) Ethical and Professional Codes of Conduct. These measures are essential to develop, sustain and modernize the public health workforce effectively. CONCLUSION We propose a well-balanced set of measures for countries aiming to improve or develop their public health workforce based on instruments that are successfully used and applied in a wide range of countries with different public health systems. However, the implementation should be tailored and adopted according to the specific country context and available recourses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Gershuni
- Department of International Health, School CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Czabanowska
- Department of International Health, School CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.,National Institute of Public Health, Warsaw, Poland (on behalf of the Council for the Development of Human Resources for Public Health)
| | - Genc Burazeri
- Department of International Health, School CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania
| | - Anna Cichowska Myrup
- Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Public Health Services, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Krayer Von Krauss
- Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Public Health Services, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Laaser U, Bjegovic-Mikanovic V, Vukovic D, Wenzel H, Otok R, Czabanowska K. Education and training in public health: is there progress in the European region? Eur J Public Health 2020; 30:683-688. [PMID: 31761941 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) is confronted with challenges to improve education for public health professionals. In this article, we attempt to answer the question: Did ASPHER members improve their organization and programmes to enable their graduates to acquire the competences to tackle the diverse areas of public health defined in the Ten Essential Public Health Operations (EPHOs)? METHODS ASPHER run two surveys among its membership: In 2011, 66 Schools and Departments of Public Health (SDPHs) took part (82.5%), while in 2015-16, 78 SDPHs (81.3%). The performance of graduates was estimated using a Likert scale. RESULTS In 2015-16, the SDPHs delivered 169 academic programmes (2.2 on average per SDPH). Among the SDPHs participating in both surveys, significant differences could not be determined, neither for the organization (except increasingly using social media) nor for teaching areas. The performance of graduates did not show significant differences except for the deterioration of EPHO-8 ('assuring sustainable organizational structures and financing'). However, the qualitative data revealed progressive dynamics regarding innovations in the organizational set-up, digitalization, teaching/training, introduction of new modules and research. CONCLUSIONS The results generated do not allow us to state that the innovative elements introduced after the first survey in 2011 have had a clear impact reflected in the second survey carried out in 2015-16, but perhaps this is due to the need for a broader follow-up in order to objectify the potential consequences derived from the boost generated by the changes introduced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Laaser
- Bielefeld School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.,University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Centre School of Public Health and Management, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Centre School of Public Health and Management, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dejana Vukovic
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Centre School of Public Health and Management, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Robert Otok
- Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Katarzyna Czabanowska
- Department of International Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPRHI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,National Institute of Public Health - PZH, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bjegovic-Mikanovic V, Santric-Milicevic M, Cichowska A, von Krauss MK, Perfilieva G, Rebac B, Zuleta-Marin I, Dieleman M, Zwanikken P. Sustaining success: aligning the public health workforce in South-Eastern Europe with strategic public health priorities. Int J Public Health 2018; 63:651-662. [PMID: 29732515 DOI: 10.1007/s00038-018-1105-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To map out the Public Health Workforce (PHW) involved in successful public health interventions. METHODS We did a pilot assessment of human resources involved in successful interventions addressing public health challenges in the countries of South-Eastern Europe (SEE). High-level representatives of eight countries reported about success stories through the coaching by experts. During synthesizing qualitative data, experts applied triangulation by contacting additional sources of evidence and used the framework method in data analysis. RESULTS SEE countries tailored public health priorities towards social determinants, health equalities, and prevention of non-communicable diseases. A variety of organizations participated in achieving public health success. The same applies to the wide array of professions involved in the delivery of Essential Public Health Operations (EPHOs). Key enablers of the successful work of PHW were staff capacities, competences, interdisciplinary networking, productivity, and funding. CONCLUSIONS Despite diversity across countries, successful public health interventions have similar ingredients. Although PHW is aligned with the specific public health success, a productive interface between health and other sectors is crucial for rolling-out successful interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre School of Public Health and Management, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 15, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Milena Santric-Milicevic
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre School of Public Health and Management, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 15, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Anna Cichowska
- Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Public Health Services, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Krayer von Krauss
- Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Public Health Services, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Galina Perfilieva
- Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Human Resources for Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Boris Rebac
- WHO Country Office, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jambroes M, Lamkaddem M, Stronks K, Essink-Bot ML. Enumerating the preventive youth health care workforce: Size, composition and regional variation in the Netherlands. Health Policy 2015; 119:1557-64. [PMID: 26358246 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Revised: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The progress in workforce planning in preventive youth health care (YHC) is hampered by a lack of data on the current workforce. This study aimed to enumerate the Dutch YHC workforce. To understand regional variations in workforce capacity we compared these with the workforce capacity and the number of children and indicators of YHC need per region. A national survey was conducted using online questionnaires based on WHO essential public health operations among all YHC workers. Respondents (n=3220) were recruited through organisations involved in YHC (participation: 88%). The YHC workforce is multi-disciplinary, 62% had >10 years working experience within YHC and only small regional variations in composition existed. The number of children per YHC professional varied between regions (range 688-1007). All essential public health operations were provided and could be clustered in an operational or policy profile. The operational profile prevailed in all regions. Regional differences in the number of children per YHC professional were unrelated to the indicators of YHC need. The essential public health operations provided by the YHC workforce and the regional variations in children per YHC professional were not in line with indicators of YHC needs, indicating room for improvement of YHC workforce planning. The methodology applied in this study is probably relevant for use in other countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marielle Jambroes
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Public Health, J2, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Majda Lamkaddem
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Public Health, J2, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Karien Stronks
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Public Health, J2, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Marie-Louise Essink-Bot
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Public Health, J2, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|