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Vandermorris A, Toulany A, McKinnon B, Tam MW, Li Z, Guan J, Stukel T, Fu L, Wang X, Begun S, Harrison ME, Wigle J, Brown HK. Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes Among Adolescent Females During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pediatrics 2024; 153:e2023063889. [PMID: 38303635 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-063889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) posed a significant threat to adolescents' sexual and reproductive health. In this study, we examined population-level pregnancy and sexual health-related care utilization among adolescent females in Ontario, Canada during the pandemic and evaluated relationships between these outcomes and key sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS This was a population-based, repeated cross-sectional study of >630 000 female adolescents (12-19 years) during the prepandemic (January 1, 2018-February 29, 2020) and COVID-19 pandemic (March 1, 2020-December 31, 2022) periods. Primary outcome was pregnancy; secondary outcomes were contraceptive management visits, contraception prescription uptake, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) management visits. Poisson models with generalized estimating equations for clustered count data were used to model pre-COVID-19 trends and forecast expected rates during the COVID-19 period. Absolute rate differences between observed and expected outcome rates for each pandemic month were calculated overall and by urbanicity, neighborhood income, immigration status, and region. RESULTS During the pandemic, lower-than-expected population-level rates of adolescent pregnancy (rate ratio 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.85-0.88), and encounters for contraceptive (rate ratio 0.82; 95% CI:0.77-0.88) and STI management (rate ratio 0.52; 95% CI:0.51-0.53) were observed. Encounter rates did not return to pre-pandemic rates by study period end, despite health system reopening. Pregnancy rates among adolescent subpopulations with the highest pre-pandemic pregnancy rates changed least during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Population-level rates of adolescent pregnancy and sexual health-related care utilization were lower than expected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and below-expected care utilization rates persist. Pregnancy rates among more structurally vulnerable adolescents demonstrated less decline, suggesting exacerbation of preexisting inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alene Toulany
- The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Michelle W Tam
- The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontaria, Canada
| | - Zhiyin Li
- University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jun Guan
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Thérèse Stukel
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Longdi Fu
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xuesong Wang
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Hilary K Brown
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Moschella A, Burrows K. Patient Experience With Primary Care Physician Assistants in Ontario, Canada: Impact of Trust, Knowledge, and Access to Care. J Patient Exp 2023; 10:23743735231211782. [PMID: 37928961 PMCID: PMC10623992 DOI: 10.1177/23743735231211782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Physician assistants (PAs) have been integrated into primary care settings to reduce wait times and to optimize continuity of care. Though previous studies suggest that PA utilization leads to improved healthcare access, few studies have investigated patient experience with primary care PAs in Canada. The objective of this study is to explore patient perspectives on primary care PAs in Ontario. A patient survey was developed and distributed to patients seen by PAs in 4 family medicine practices across Ontario, Canada. Results demonstrate that many patients are highly satisfied with their experience including the PA's ability to address their medical needs, establish rapport, and provide fast access to care (including same-day and after-hours appointments). Despite preferring to see a physician for more complex concerns, participants felt that PAs demonstrate similar medical knowledge, competencies, and scope of practice as family physicians. Patients demonstrated a solid understanding of the PA role and recognized the collaborative PA-physician relationship. These findings describe successful patient awareness and acceptance of the PA profession, largely due to positive PA-patient interactions in family medicine settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Moschella
- Physician Assistant Education Program, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristen Burrows
- Physician Assistant Education Program, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Evans A, Mahar AL, Deb B, Boblitz A, Brownell M, Guttmann A, Stukel TA, Cohen E, Sarkar J, Eze N, Katz A, Raveendran T, Saunders N. Gaps in childhood immunizations and preventive care visits during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based cohort study of children in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada, 2016-2021. Can J Public Health 2023; 114:774-786. [PMID: 37440102 PMCID: PMC10484833 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-023-00797-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to estimate the changes to the delivery of routine immunizations and well-child visits through the pandemic. METHODS Using linked administrative health data in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada (1 September 2016 to 30 September 2021), infants <12 months old (N=291,917 Ontario, N=33,994 Manitoba) and children between 12 and 24 months old (N=293,523 Ontario, N=33,001 Manitoba) exposed and unexposed to the COVID-19 pandemic were compared on rates of receipt of recommended a) vaccinations and b) well-child visits after adjusting for sociodemographic measures. In Ontario, vaccinations were captured using physician billings database, and in Manitoba they were captured in a centralized vaccination registry. RESULTS Exposed Ontario infants were slightly more likely to receive all vaccinations according to billing data (62.5% exposed vs. 61.6% unexposed; adjusted Relative Rate (aRR) 1.01 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.02]) whereas exposed Manitoba infants were less likely to receive all vaccines (73.5% exposed vs. 79.2% unexposed; aRR 0.93 [95% CI 0.92-0.94]). Among children exposed to the pandemic, total vaccination receipt was modestly decreased compared to unexposed (Ontario aRR 0.98 [95% CI 0.97-0.99]; Manitoba aRR 0.93 [95% CI 0.91-0.94]). Pandemic-exposed infants were less likely to complete all recommended well-child visits in Ontario (33.0% exposed, 48.8% unexposed; aRR 0.67 [95% CI 0.68-0.69]) and Manitoba (55.0% exposed, 70.7% unexposed; aRR 0.78 [95% CI 0.77-0.79]). A similar relationship was observed for rates of completed well-child visits among children in Ontario (aRR 0.78 [95% CI 0.77-0.79]) and Manitoba (aRR 0.79 [95% CI 0.77-0.80]). CONCLUSION Through the first 18 months of the pandemic, routine vaccines were delivered to children < 2 years old at close to pre-pandemic rates. There was a high proportion of incomplete well-child visits, indicating that developmental surveillance catch-up is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Evans
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alyson L Mahar
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | | | - Marni Brownell
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Astrid Guttmann
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Therese A Stukel
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eyal Cohen
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Nkiruka Eze
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Alan Katz
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Tharani Raveendran
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Natasha Saunders
- ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Pediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Mitchell RHB, Toulany A, Chung H, Cohen E, Fu L, Strauss R, Vigod SN, Stukel TA, Moran K, Guttmann A, Kurdyak P, Artani A, Kopec M, Saunders NR. Self-harm among youth during the first 28 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada: a population-based study. CMAJ 2023; 195:E1210-E1220. [PMID: 37722745 PMCID: PMC10506509 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.230127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Youth have reported worsening mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to evaluate rates of pediatric acute care visits for self-harm during the pandemic according to age, sex and mental health service use. METHODS We conducted a population-based, repeated cross-sectional study using linked health administrative data sets to measure monthly rates of emergency department visits and hospital admissions for self-harm among youth aged 10-17 years between Jan. 1, 2017, and June 30, 2022, in Ontario, Canada. We modelled expected rates of acute care visits for self-harm after the pandemic onset based on prepandemic rates. We reported relative differences between observed and expected monthly rates overall and by age group (10-13 yr and 14-17 yr), sex and mental health service use (new and continuing). RESULTS In this population of about 1.3 million children and adolescents, rates of acute care visits for self-harm during the pandemic were higher than expected for emergency department visits (0.27/1000 population v. 0.21/1000 population; adjusted rate ratio [RR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.39) and hospital admissions (0.74/10 000 population v. 0.43/10 000 population, adjusted RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.46-2.03). This increase was primarily observed among females. Rates of emergency department visits and hospital admissions for self-harm were higher than expected for both those aged 10-13 years and those aged 14-17 years, as well as for both those new to the mental health system and those already engaged in care. INTERPRETATION Rates of acute care visits for self-harm among children and adolescents were higher than expected during the first 2 and a half years of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among females. These findings support the need for accessible and intensive prevention efforts and mental health supports in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel H B Mitchell
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Alene Toulany
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Hannah Chung
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Eyal Cohen
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Longdi Fu
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Rachel Strauss
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Simone N Vigod
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Therese A Stukel
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Kimberly Moran
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Astrid Guttmann
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Paul Kurdyak
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Azmina Artani
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Monica Kopec
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont
| | - Natasha R Saunders
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Mitchell); Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute (Mitchell); Department of Psychiatry (Mitchell, Vigod, Kurdyak), University of Toronto; The Hospital for Sick Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders); Department of Pediatrics (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; ICES Central (Toulany, Chung, Cohen, Fu, Strauss, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Artani, Saunders); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Toulany, Cohen, Vigod, Stukel, Guttmann, Kurdyak, Saunders), University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Kopec, Saunders), SickKids Research Institute; Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children (Toulany, Cohen, Guttmann, Saunders), University of Toronto; Women's College Hospital (Vigod); Women's College Research Institute (Vigod); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (Vigod); Ontario College of Family Physicians (Moran); Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Kurdyak), Toronto, Ont.
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5
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Reppas-Rindlisbacher C, Boblitz A, Fowler RA, Lapointe-Shaw L, Sheehan KA, Stukel TA, Rochon PA. Trends in Delirium and New Antipsychotic and Benzodiazepine Use Among Hospitalized Older Adults Before and After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2327750. [PMID: 37548976 PMCID: PMC10407689 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.27750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The COVID-19 pandemic caused large disruptions to health care for hospitalized older adults. The incidence and management of delirium may have been affected by high rates of COVID-19 infection, staffing shortages, overwhelmed hospital capacity, and changes to visitor policies. OBJECTIVE To measure changes in rates of delirium and related medication prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic among hospitalized older adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This population-based, repeated cross-sectional study used linked databases to measure rates of delirium and related medication prescriptions among adults aged 66 years or older hospitalized before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 1, 2017, to March 31, 2022) in Ontario, Canada. EXPOSURE The first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The main outcomes were weekly rates of delirium per 1000 admitted population and monthly rates of new antipsychotic and benzodiazepine prescriptions per 1000 discharged population. Observed rates were compared with projected rates based on modeling from 3 years before pandemic onset. RESULTS Among 2 128 411 hospitalizations of older adults over the 5-year study period (50.7% female; mean [SD] age, 78.9 [8.3] years), absolute rates of delirium increased from 35.9 per 1000 admitted population during the prepandemic period to 41.5 per 1000 admitted population throughout the pandemic. The adjusted rate ratio (ARR) of delirium during the pandemic compared with the projected rate was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.11-1.19). Monthly rates of new antipsychotic prescriptions increased from 6.9 to 8.8 per 1000 discharged population and new benzodiazepine prescriptions from 4.4 to 6.0 per 1000 discharged population and were significantly higher during the pandemic compared with projected rates (antipsychotics: ARR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.19-1.38; benzodiazepines: ARR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.20-1.57). Rates were highest during pandemic waves 1 (March to June 2020), 3 (March to June 2021), and 5 (December 2021 to February 2022) and remained elevated above projected levels throughout the first 2 years of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this repeated cross-sectional study of hospitalized older adults, there was a temporal association between COVID-19 pandemic onset and significant increases in rates of delirium in the hospital and new antipsychotic and benzodiazepine prescriptions after hospital discharge. Rates remained elevated over 2 years. Pandemic-related changes such as visitor restrictions, staff shortages, isolation practices, and reduced staff time at the bedside may have contributed to these trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher
- Women’s Age Lab and Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and the University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Robert A. Fowler
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauren Lapointe-Shaw
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and the University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kathleen A. Sheehan
- Centre for Mental Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Therese A. Stukel
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paula A. Rochon
- Women’s Age Lab and Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Saunders NR, Stukel TA, Strauss R, Fu L, Guan J, Cohen E, Vigod S, Guttmann A, Kurdyak P, Toulany A. Association between physician characteristics and practice-level uptake of paediatric virtual mental healthcare: a population-based study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e070172. [PMID: 37451721 PMCID: PMC10350908 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine physician factors associated with practice-level uptake of virtual mental healthcare for children and adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A population-based data linkage study of a cohort of all physicians (n=12 054) providing outpatient mental healthcare to children and adolescents (aged 3-17 years, n=303 185) in a single-payer provincial health system in Ontario, Canada from 1 July 2020 to 31 July 2021. EXPOSURES Physician characteristics including gender, age, specialty, location of training, practice region, practice size and overall and mental health practice size. MAIN OUTCOMES Practice-level proportion of outpatient virtual care provided: (1) mostly in-person (<25% virtual care), (2) hybrid (25%-99% virtual care) or (3) exclusively virtual (100% virtual care). Multinomial logistic regression models tested the association between practice-level virtual care provided and physician characteristics. RESULTS Among physicians, 1589 (13.2%) provided mostly in-person mental healthcare with 8714 (67.8%) providing hybrid care, and 2291 (19.0%) providing exclusively virtual care. The provision of exclusive virtual care (vs mostly in-person) was associated with female sex (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.97, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.27 (ref: male)), foreign training (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.50 (ref: Canadian-trained)), family physicians (aOR 2.05, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.69 (ref: psychiatrist)) and reversely associated with large practice size (aOR 0.32, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.40 (ref smallest quintile)). Mostly in-person care was associated with older age physicians (71+ years) and practice outside the Toronto region. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In a single-payer universal healthcare system that remunerates physicians using the same fee structure for in-person and virtual outpatient care, there is heterogeneity in utilisation of virtual care that is associated with provider factors. This practice variation, with limited evidence on effectiveness and appropriate contexts for virtual care use, suggests there may be opportunity for further outcomes research and guidance on appropriate context for paediatric virtual mental healthcare delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Ruth Saunders
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Insitute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Therese A Stukel
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Insitute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Eyal Cohen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Insitute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Simone Vigod
- Insitute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Women's College Hospital and Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Astrid Guttmann
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Insitute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Kurdyak
- Insitute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alene Toulany
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Insitute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Pitch N, Verma R, Davidson L, Robertson T, Anagnostopoulos G, Sunkonkit K, Qazi A, Ambreen M, Mekhuri S, Miller MR, Orkin J, Amin R. Screening for psychosocial risk in caregivers of children with medical complexity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e068867. [PMID: 37185638 PMCID: PMC10151246 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The primary objective was to quantify psychosocial risk in family caregivers (FCs) of children with medical complexity (CMC) during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT). The secondary objectives were to compare this finding with the average PAT score of this population before the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine potential clinical predictors of psychosocial risk in FCs of CMC. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS FCs of CMC were recruited from the Long-Term Ventilation Clinic at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A total of 91 completed the demographic and PAT questionnaires online from 10 June 2021 through 13 December 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mean PAT scores in FCs were categorised as 'Universal' low risk, 'Targeted' intermediate risk or 'Clinical' high risk. The effect of sociodemographic and clinical variables on overall PAT scores was assessed using multiple linear regression analysis. Comparisons with a previous study were made using Mann-Whitney tests and χ2 analysis. RESULTS Mean (SD) PAT score was 1.34 (0.69). Thirty-one (34%) caregivers were classified as Universal, 43 (47%) as Targeted and 17 (19%) as Clinical. The mean PAT score (1.34) was significantly higher compared with the mean PAT score (1.17) found prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated an overall significant model, with the number of hospital admissions since the onset of COVID-19 being the only variable associated with the overall PAT score. CONCLUSION FCs of CMC are experiencing significant psychosocial stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Timely and effective interventions are warranted to ensure these individuals receive the appropriate support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Pitch
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rahul Verma
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura Davidson
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Taylor Robertson
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Kanokkarn Sunkonkit
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Chiang Mai University Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Adam Qazi
- Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Munazzah Ambreen
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samantha Mekhuri
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael R Miller
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julia Orkin
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Reshma Amin
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Xuan-Lan Nguyen A, Li P, Benkelfat R. Pandemic checkups: Mobile paediatric care and vaccination in disadvantaged areas. Paediatr Child Health 2022; 27:393-395. [PMID: 36524021 PMCID: PMC9732841 DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxac082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Patricia Li
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Rislaine Benkelfat
- Correspondence: Rislaine Benkelfat, The Montreal Children’s Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada. Telephone (514) 412-4400 x23432, fax 514-412-4271, e-mail
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Zhang CX, Boukari Y, Pathak N, Mathur R, Katikireddi SV, Patel P, Campos-Matos I, Lewer D, Nguyen V, Hugenholtz GC, Burns R, Mulick A, Henderson A, Aldridge RW. Migrants' primary care utilisation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in England: An interrupted time series analysis. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2022; 20:100455. [PMID: 35789753 PMCID: PMC9243519 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background How international migrants access and use primary care in England is poorly understood. We aimed to compare primary care consultation rates between international migrants and non-migrants in England before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2015-2020). Methods Using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD, we identified migrants using country-of-birth, visa-status or other codes indicating international migration. We linked CPRD to Office for National Statistics deprivation data and ran a controlled interrupted time series (ITS) using negative binomial regression to compare rates before and during the pandemic. Findings In 262,644 individuals, pre-pandemic consultation rates per person-year were 4.35 (4.34-4.36) for migrants and 4.60 (4.59-4.60) for non-migrants (RR:0.94 [0.92-0.96]). Between 29 March and 26 December 2020, rates reduced to 3.54 (3.52-3.57) for migrants and 4.2 (4.17-4.23) for non-migrants (RR:0.84 [0.8-0.88]). The first year of the pandemic was associated with a widening of the gap in consultation rates between migrants and non-migrants to 0.89 (95% CI 0.84-0.94) times the ratio before the pandemic. This widening in ratios was greater for children, individuals whose first language was not English, and individuals of White British, White non-British and Black/African/Caribbean/Black British ethnicities. It was also greater in the case of telephone consultations, particularly in London. Interpretation Migrants were less likely to use primary care than non-migrants before the pandemic and the first year of the pandemic exacerbated this difference. As GP practices retain remote and hybrid models of service delivery, they must improve services and ensure primary care is accessible and responsive to migrants' healthcare needs. Funding This study was funded by the Medical Research Council (MC_PC 19070 and MR/V028375/1) and a Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship (206602).
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire X. Zhang
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care, 39 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EU, United Kingdom
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom
| | - Yamina Boukari
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care, 39 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EU, United Kingdom
| | - Neha Pathak
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom
- Guy's & St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Rohini Mathur
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Berkeley Square, 99 Berkeley Street, Glasgow G3 7HR, United Kingdom
| | - Parth Patel
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom
| | - Ines Campos-Matos
- Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care, 39 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EU, United Kingdom
- UK Health Security Agency, Wellington House, 133–155, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG, United Kingdom
| | - Dan Lewer
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent Nguyen
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom
| | - Greg C.G. Hugenholtz
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Burns
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom
| | - Amy Mulick
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Alasdair Henderson
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Robert W. Aldridge
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom
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Islam MI, Freeman J, Chadwick V, Martiniuk A. Healthcare Avoidance before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Australian Youth: A Longitudinal Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:1261. [PMID: 35885788 PMCID: PMC9324364 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10071261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Access to healthcare for young people is essential to ensure they can build a foundation for a healthy life. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people avoided seeking healthcare, adversely affecting population health. We investigated the factors associated with the avoidance of healthcare for Australian young people when they reported that they needed healthcare. We were able to compare healthcare avoidance during the COVID-19 pandemic with healthcare avoidance prior to COVID-19. Methods: We used two recent data collection waves from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC)—Wave 9C1 during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and Wave 8 data which were collected in 2018. The primary outcome of this study revealed the avoidance of healthcare among those who perceived the need for care. Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression models were employed to identify the factors associated with the avoidance of healthcare during the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 periods. Results: In the sample of 1110 young people, 39.6% avoided healthcare during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic even though they perceived that they had a health problem that required healthcare. This healthcare avoidance was similar to the healthcare avoidance in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (41.4%). The factors most strongly associated with healthcare avoidance during the COVID-19 pandemic were female gender, an ongoing medical condition, and moderately high psychological distress. In comparison, prior to the pandemic, the factor associated with healthcare avoidance was only psychological distress. The most common reason for not seeking healthcare was thinking that the problem would spontaneously resolve itself (55.9% during COVID-19 vs. 35.7% pre-COVID-19 pandemic). Conclusions: A large proportion of youths avoided healthcare when they felt they needed to seek care, both during and before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Shulman R, Cohen E, Stukel TA, Diong C, Guttmann A. Examination of Trends in Diabetes Incidence Among Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario, Canada, From March 2020 to September 2021. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2223394. [PMID: 35877126 PMCID: PMC9315418 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.23394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional study uses health administrative data to examine trends in diabetes incidence among children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayzel Shulman
- Division of Endocrinology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eyal Cohen
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Astrid Guttmann
- Division of Paediatric Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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