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The association of comorbid dementia with length of stay, cost and mortality among older adults in US acute hospitals: An observational study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 125:105487. [PMID: 38788369 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although overall health and social care expenditures among persons with dementia are larger than for other diseases, the resource and cost implications of a comorbid diagnosis of dementia in acute hospitals in the U.S. are largely unknown. We estimate the difference in inpatient outcomes between similar hospital admissions for patients with and without comorbid dementia (CD). METHODS Inpatient admissions, from the U.S. National Inpatient Sample (2016-2019), were stratified according to hospital characteristics and primary diagnosis (using ICD-10-CM codes), and entropy balanced within strata according to patient and hospital characteristics to create two comparable groups of admissions for patients (aged 65 years or older) with and without CD (a non-primary diagnosis of dementia). Generalized linear regression modeling was then used to estimate differences in length of stay (LOS), cost, absolute mortality risk and number of procedures between these two groups. RESULTS The final sample consisted of 8,776,417 admissions, comprised of 1,013,879 admissions with and 7,762,538 without CD. CD was associated with on average 0.25 (95 % CI: 0.24-0.25) days longer LOS, 0.4 percentage points (CI: 0.37-0.42) higher absolute mortality risk, $1187 (CI: -1202 to -1171) lower inpatient costs and 0.21 (CI: -0.214 to -0.210) fewer procedures compared to similar patients without CD. CONCLUSION Comorbid dementia is associated with longer LOS and higher mortality in acute hospitals but lower inpatient costs and fewer procedures. This highlights potential communication issues between dementia patients and hospital staff, with patients struggling to express their needs and staff lacking sufficient dementia training to address communication challenges.
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Protocol for a systematic review of the application of the kidney failure risk equation and Oxford classification in estimating prognosis in IgA nephropathy. Syst Rev 2024; 13:122. [PMID: 38704598 PMCID: PMC11070080 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-024-02543-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Outcomes are highly variable and predicting risk of disease progression at an individual level is challenging. Accurate risk stratification is important to identify individuals most likely to benefit from treatment. The Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) has been extensively validated in CKD populations and predicts the risk of ESRD at 2 and 5 years using non-invasive tests; however, its predictive performance in IgAN is unknown. The Oxford classification (OC) describes pathological features demonstrated on renal biopsy that are associated with adverse clinical outcomes that may also inform prognosis. The objective of this systematic review is to compare the KFRE with the OC in determining prognosis in IgAN. METHODS A systematic review will be conducted and reported in line with PRISMA guidelines (PRISMA-P checklist attached as Additional file 1). Inclusion criteria will be cohort studies that apply the KFRE or OC to determine the risk of CKD progression or ESRD in individuals with IgAN. Multiple databases will be searched in duplicate to identify relevant studies, which will be screened first by title, then by abstract and then by full-text analysis. Results will be collated for comparison. Risk of bias and confidence assessments will be conducted independently by two reviewers, with a third reviewer available if required. DISCUSSION Identifying individuals at the highest risk of progression to ESRD is challenging in IgAN, due to the heterogeneity of clinical outcomes. Risk prediction tools have been developed to guide clinicians; however, it is imperative that these aids are accurate and reproducible. The OC is based on observations made by specialist renal pathologists and may be open to observer bias, therefore the utility of prediction models incorporating this classification may be diminished, particularly as in the future novel biomarkers may be incorporated into clinical practice. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42022364569.
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Effectiveness of full Pulpotomy compared with Root canal treatment in managing teeth with signs and symptOms indicative of irreversible pulpitis: a protocol for prospectiVE meta-analysis of individual participant data of linked randomised clinical trials (PROVE). Trials 2023; 24:807. [PMID: 38102685 PMCID: PMC10722670 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07836-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Full pulpotomy has been proposed as an alternative to root canal treatment in teeth with signs and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (IRP), but the evidence is limited, relying on underpowered studies with a high risk of bias. The aim of this study is to conduct a prospective meta-analysis (PMA) of individual participant data of a series of individual randomised trials to provide robust evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of pulpotomy compared with root canal treatment. METHODS Individual participant data will be obtained from a series of randomised trials designed and conducted by a consortium of multi-national investigators with an interest in vital pulp treatment. These individualised trials will be conducted using a specified protocol, defined outcomes, and outcome measures. Ten parallel-group randomised trials currently being conducted in 10 countries will provide data from more than 500 participants. The primary outcome is a composite measure defined as (1) the absence of pain indicative of IRP, (2) the absence of signs and symptoms indicative of acute or chronic apical periodontitis, and (3) the absence of radiographic evidence of failure including radiolucency or resorption. Individual participant data will be obtained, assessed, and checked for quality by two independent reviewers prior to the PMA. Pooled estimates on treatment effects will be generated using a 2-stage meta-analysis approach. The first stage involves a standard regression analysis in each trial to produce aggregate data on treatment effect estimates followed by an inverse variance weighted meta-analysis to combine these aggregate data and produce summary statistics and forest plots. Cost-effectiveness analysis based on the composite outcome will be undertaken as a process evaluation to evaluate treatment fidelity and acceptability by patients and dentists. RESULTS The research question and trial protocol were developed and approved by investigators in all 10 sites. All sites use shared resources including study protocols, data collection forms, participant information leaflets, and consent forms in order to improve flow, consistency, and reproducibility. Each site obtained its own Institutional Review Board approval, and trials were registered in appropriate open access platforms. Patient recruitment has started in most sites, as of July 2023. DISCUSSION PMA offers a rigorous, flexible, and efficient methodology to answer this important research question and provide results with improved generalisability and external validity compared with traditional trials and retrospective meta-analyses. The results of this study will have implications for both the delivery of clinical practice and structured clinical guidelines' development. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42023446809. Registered on 08 February 2023.
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Arts and creativity interventions for improving health and wellbeing in older adults: a systematic literature review of economic evaluation studies. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2496. [PMID: 38093290 PMCID: PMC10717503 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17369-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the population ages, older people account for a larger proportion of the health and social care budget. A significant body of evidence suggests that arts and creativity interventions can improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of older adults, however the value and/or cost-effectiveness of such interventions remains unclear. METHODS We systematically reviewed the economic evidence relating to such interventions, reporting our findings according to PRISMA guidelines. We searched bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Econlit and Web of Science and NHSEED), trial registries and grey literature. No language or temporal restrictions were applied. Two screening rounds were conducted independently by health economists experienced in systematic literature review. Methodological quality was assessed, and key information extracted and tabulated to provide an overview of the published literature. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS Only six studies were identified which provided evidence relating to the value or cost-effectiveness of arts and creativity interventions to improve health and wellbeing in older adults. The evidence which was identified was encouraging, with five out of the six studies reporting an acceptable probability of cost-effectiveness or positive return on investment (ranging from £1.20 to over £8 for every £1 of expenditure). However, considerable heterogeneity was observed with respect to study participants, design, and outcomes assessed. Of particular concern were potential biases inherent in social value analyses. CONCLUSIONS Despite many studies reporting positive health and wellbeing benefits of arts and creativity interventions in this population, we found meagre evidence on their value or cost-effectiveness. Such evidence is costly and time-consuming to generate, but essential if innovative non-pharmacological interventions are to be introduced to minimise the burden of illness in this population and ensure efficient use of public funds. The findings from this review suggests that capturing data on the value and/or cost-effectiveness of such interventions should be prioritised; furthermore, research effort should be directed to developing evaluative methods which move beyond the confines of current health technology assessment frameworks, to capture a broader picture of 'value' more applicable to arts and creativity interventions and public health interventions more generally. PROSPERO REGISTRATION CRD42021267944 (14/07/2021).
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Study protocol for Ketamine as an adjunctive therapy for major depression (2): a randomised controlled trial (KARMA-Dep [2]). BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:850. [PMID: 37974160 PMCID: PMC10655414 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05365-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a common psychiatric disorder and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Conventional monoaminergic antidepressants have limited efficacy and take weeks to exert a therapeutic effect. Single infusions of subanaesthetic doses of ketamine exhibit rapid antidepressant action but effects are transient and relapse is common. One potential strategy for increasing ketamine's antidepressant efficacy and/or prolonging its therapeutic benefit may be serial infusions. There is limited evidence on the efficacy and safety of repeated ketamine infusions against an active comparator. METHODS This protocol describes an ongoing pragmatic, randomised, controlled, parallel-group, patient- and rater-blind, superiority trial. Eligible adult inpatients with a confirmed DSM-5 diagnosis of a major depressive episode (unipolar or bipolar) are randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to a course of up to eight infusions of ketamine or midazolam twice-weekly over four weeks. The primary objective is to assess the efficacy of serial adjunctive ketamine infusions versus active comparator midazolam by measuring Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score difference between arms from before the first infusion to 24 h after the final infusion, supplemented by a 95% confidence interval. To facilitate generalisability of results, the trial takes place under "real world" conditions with both groups continuing to receive regular inpatient care including treatment-as-usual pharmacotherapy, nursing care, and psychological and other therapies during the randomised treatment phase and regular outpatient care thereafter. Participants are monitored for relapse during a 24-week follow-up after the end of the randomised phase. Secondary objectives of the trial are to assess: response and remission rates at the end of randomised phase; relapse status during the 24-week follow-up after the end of the randomised phase; the safety and tolerability of repeated ketamine infusions regarding psychotomimetic and other psychiatric side effects, cognitive side effects, as well as withdrawal symptoms, haemodynamic stability, neurological, urological, and other physical side effects; and quality of life and cost-effectiveness. DISCUSSION There is an unmet clinical need for rapidly-acting novel antidepressants. This trial will provide efficacy, safety and health economic data on serial ketamine infusions and thus help inform clinical practice on the potential role of this treatment in the management of depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION EudraCT 2019-003109-92. Registered 2 October 2019. CLINICALTRIALS gov NCT04939649. Registered 25 June 2021.
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The relationship between region of residence, socio-demographic factors, and healthcare utilization among Saudi citizens: insights from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1252340. [PMID: 38020173 PMCID: PMC10657865 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1252340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is a dearth of research on the nature and extent of variation in patterns of health service use in Saudi Arabia. This is an important gap in knowledge, given ongoing efforts to improve service provision and delivery. This study examined the relationship between the region of residence and socio-demographic factors and patterns of health service use in Saudi Arabia. Methods Data were taken from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey (SHIS), a national multistage survey of individuals aged 15 years and above in Saudi Arabia. Data included measures of service use, respondent health, socio-demographic characteristics, and region or area of residence. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to describe the data and examine the likelihood of a respondent visiting a doctor or healthcare professional in the preceding 12 months. In addition, the analyses examined the role of health and socio-demographic characteristics within selected regions. Results The increased likelihood of using health services in terms of visiting a doctor or healthcare professional was related to poor health status, being female, married, having a low income, and residing in particular regions. Respondents aged <65 and who lived furthest from service providers were less likely to visit a doctor or other health professionals (p < 0.01). Residents who lived in Riyadh, Al Medina, Baha, or Aseer demonstrated a higher likelihood of service utilization compared to respondents residing in other regions (p < 0.05). In sub-group analyses, there was variation between regions with respect to socio-demographic status and distance to service. Conclusion Region of residence and income level, in particular, may help to explain the likelihood of primary care use in Saudi Arabia and the distinct patterns of service use in relation to regional and socio-demographic characteristics. The relationship between regional variation in service utilization and the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents may reflect differences with respect to population need, enabling, and predisposing factors as represented in Anderson's Behavioral Model (ABM) of health service use. The findings from this study underscore the importance of considering region or area of residence when seeking to understand the utilization of health services, particularly primary care services.
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Compliance with oral hygiene and dietary advice for the prevention of post-radiotherapy dental disease among head and neck cancer patients - a qualitative study. J Dent 2023; 138:104720. [PMID: 37741501 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104720] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To elicit head and neck cancer (HANC) patients' views about their oral health and to identify potential issues regarding compliance with clinical oral hygiene and dietary advice for the prevention of post-radiotherapy dental disease. METHODS A purposive sample of twelve HANC patients between 6- and 12-months post-radiotherapy were recruited to undergo a semi-structured interview with a qualitative researcher. A pre-piloted topic guide was used to frame each interview. Qualitative data were analysed via thematic analysis. RESULTS Data were categorised into four main themes - 'How HANC patients perceive oral health', 'Cancer diagnosis and cancer care pathway', 'Impact of oncology treatment (radiotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy)', and 'Post-oncology treatment recovery', with 14 subthemes. Oral health was viewed as an important component of HANC patients' overall physical and mental health post-treatment. Patients' non-compliance with adequate oral hygiene practice was related to oral mucositis, a "burning" sensation associated with high fluoride toothpaste, forgotten or inconsistent clinical advice, and an inadequate supply of preventive oral hygiene products. The potentially highly cariogenic nature of prescribed nutritional supplements for patients at risk of malnutrition did not tend to be communicated to patients in advance of their prescription. CONCLUSIONS Adequate oral health is essential for the overall physical and mental well-being of post-treatment HANC patients. Non-compliance with preventive clinical advice increases the risk of post-treatment oral health deterioration and was related to miscommunication, inadequate supplies of oral hygiene products, and treatment-related oral discomfort. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Post-treatment HANC patients are at increased risk of dental disease. Educational and behavioural techniques should be employed to enhance patients' compliance with clinical oral hygiene and dietary advice for the prevention of post-radiotherapy dental disease. Patients should be informed about the potentially highly cariogenic nature of nutritional supplements, and these patients should undergo frequent dental recall. Clinical advice regarding oral hygiene and dietary practices needs to be given consistently to HANC patients by different specialists of the HANC multidisciplinary team.
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Trends in pathology diagnoses during 10 years of a colorectal cancer screening programme. Histopathology 2023; 83:756-770. [PMID: 37565291 DOI: 10.1111/his.15017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
AIMS We report pathology findings from the first 10 years of the faecal-occult blood-based Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, presenting summary data and trends in pathology diagnoses and clinicopathological features of screen-detected cancers. METHODS AND RESULTS Data were analysed from a comprehensive polyp-level pathology database representing all endoscopy specimens from programme inception in 2010 until 2021. A total of 9800 individuals underwent 13 472 endoscopy procedures, yielding 25 967 pathology specimens and 32 119 diagnoses. Index specimen diagnoses (4.1%) and index colonoscopies (10.4%) yielded a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, representing 1045 cancers from 1020 individuals (25 with synchronous cancers). A further 13 index cancers were identified via computed tomography colonography; 65.3% of cancer diagnoses were in males; 41.7% were stage I, 23.1% stage II, 25.8% stage III and 1.8% stage IV (7.6% unstaged). Of 233 pT1 cancers diagnosed within local excision specimens, 79 (33.9%) had completion surgery. Ten-year trends showed a steady decline in the proportion of index colonoscopies that yielded a diagnosis of cancer (14.7% in year 1; 4.8% in year 11) or advanced colorectal polyp. There was a strong upward trend in diagnoses of sessile serrated lesions, which overtook hyperplastic polyps in proportions of total index diagnoses by the end of the study time-frame (8.7% compared to 8.5%). CONCLUSIONS Over the first 10 years of a population colorectal cancer screening programme, 'real world' pathology data demonstrate success in the form of reduced diagnoses of cancer and advanced colorectal polyp with passage of successive screening rounds. Interesting trends with respect to serrated polyp diagnoses are also evident, probably related to pathologist and endoscopist behaviour.
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UK Valuation of EQ-5D-5L, a Generic Measure of Health-Related Quality of Life: A Study Protocol. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2023; 26:1625-1635. [PMID: 37722593 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A high-quality and widely accepted UK EQ-5D-5L value set is urgently required to enable the latest version of EQ-5D scored using recent UK public preferences to inform policy including health technology assessments submitted to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. This article outlines the study protocol for the generation of a new EQ-5D-5L UK value set. METHODS Twelve hundred interviews will be undertaken using the composite time trade-off elicitation technique for 102 health states (86 from the international EQ-5D-5L valuation protocol, plus 16 with best predictive performance in an extended design used in the Native American EQ-5D-5L valuation). The sample will be UK adults (age ≥18 years) proportionately representative across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, representative for age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic group, with inclusion of participants with/without health problems. Participants will choose to be interviewed via videoconference (by Zoom) or in-person in a central venue. Data quality will be rigorously assessed. RESULTS The value set will be generated using tobit random effects and heteroscedastic tobit models (with censoring at -1) using all data, excluding time trade-off values highlighted by participants as ones they would reconsider and data from interviewers failing protocol compliance. Quality and acceptance will be achieved by public involvement, regular Steering Group meetings, independent assessment of data quality at 4 time points, and final endorsement of data and analyses. CONCLUSION This study will produce a UK value set for the EQ-5D-5L for use in prospective and retrospective data sets containing EQ-5D-5L data.
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Technologies for the diagnosis of angle closure glaucoma (ACE): protocol of a prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional diagnostic study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e073975. [PMID: 37793921 PMCID: PMC10551982 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Angle-closure is responsible for half of all glaucoma blindness globally. Patients with suspected glaucoma require assessment of the drainage angle by an experienced clinician. The goal of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance and cost-effectiveness of two non-contact tests, anterior segment OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) (AS-OCT) and limbal anterior chamber depth for patients referred to hospital with suspected angle closure compared with gonioscopy by ophthalmologist. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Study design: prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study. INCLUSION CRITERIA adults referred from community optometry to hospital with suspected angle closure. PRIMARY OUTCOME Sensitivity and specificity. SECONDARY OUTCOMES Positive/negative likelihood ratios, concordance, cost-effectiveness, proportion of patients requiring subsequent clinical assessment by ophthalmologist. SAMPLE SIZE 600 individuals who have been referred with suspected angle closure from primary care (community optometry). We will have a 95% probability of detecting the true sensitivity of either test to within ±3.5% based on a sensitivity of 90%. The study would also have a 95% probability of detecting the true specificity of either test to within ±5%, assuming a specificity of 75%. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical Review Board approval was obtained. REC reference: 22/LO/0885. Our findings will be disseminated to those involved in eye care services. We will have a knowledge exchange event at the end of the study, published via the Health Technology Assessment web page and in specialist journals. The results will be presented at professional conferences and directly to patients via patient group meetings and the Glaucoma UK charity. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN15115867.
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The case for individualised public health interventions: Smoking prevalence and inequalities in Northern Ireland 1985-2015. Health Policy 2023; 135:104879. [PMID: 37441920 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While smoking prevalence in high income countries has declined over time, socioeconomic inequalities in smoking have widened. This study is one of the few studies to examine the longitudinal pattern of income-related smoking inequalities and only the second using concentration indices in its analysis. METHOD Income-related smoking inequalities were measured using concentration indices using the Northern Ireland Continuous Household Survey data. Smoking inequalities were compared quantitatively and visually across three periods: 1985-1995, 1997-2005 and 2007-2015. Joinpoint analysis was used to measure the overall time trend of smoking inequalities. Subgroup analysis was used to examine the nature of change in smoking inequalities across population sub-groups. FINDINGS Throughout 1985-2015, smoking was more concentrated among the poor (standard concentration index of-0·131, p < 0·001). While prevalence declined sharply across population, income-related inequalities increased sharply in general and within subgroups. Income-related smoking inequalities were significantly larger among high educated group and those who were employed. No structural break was observed with respect to the adoption of any specific policy measures over the period. CONCLUSION Current approaches to tobacco control may be ill-suited to addressing smoking inequalities and may indeed be counterproductive. More tailored approaches that address the specific needs of population sub-groups or more draconian approaches such as extensions to prohibition may be required to reduce prevalence further while avoiding a widening of inequalities.
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Caretakers' stated willingness to pay for children's spectacles in cross river state, Nigeria and its implication for a cross-subsidisation scheme: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1075. [PMID: 37277747 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15901-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding caretakers' willingness to pay (WTP) for their children's spectacles is essential to improving the sustainability of refractive error services and spectacle provision. Therefore, we investigated the willingness of caretakers to pay for their children's spectacles in a multi-centre study to develop a spectacle cross-subsidisation scheme in the Cross River State (CRS), Nigeria. METHODS We administered the questionnaire to all caretakers whose children were referred from school vision screenings to four eye centres for full refraction assessment and dispensing of corrective spectacles from 9 August to 31 October 2019. We collected information on socio-demography, children's refractive error types, and spectacle prescription and then asked the caretakers about their WTP for the spectacles using a structured questionnaire and bidding format (in the local currency, Naira, ₦). RESULTS A total of 137 respondents (response rate = 100%) from four centres were interviewed: with greater proportion of women (n = 92, 67.1%), aged between 41 and 50 years (n = 59, 43.1%), government employees (n = 64, 46.7%) and had acquired college or university education (n = 77, 56.2%). Of the 137 spectacles dispensed to their children, 74 (54.0%) had myopia or myopic astigmatism (equal to or greater than 0.50D). The mean stated WTP for the sample population was ₦3,560 (US$ 8.9) (SD ± ₦1,913.4). Men (p = 0.039), those with higher education (p < 0.001), higher monthly incomes (p = 0.042), and government employees (p = 0.001) were more willing to pay ₦3,600 (US$9.0) or more. CONCLUSION Combining our previous findings from marketing analysis, these findings provided a basis to plan for a children's spectacles cross-subsidisation scheme in CRS. Further research will be needed to determine the acceptability of the scheme and the actual WTP.
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Inpatient care utilisation and expenditure associated with objective physical activity: econometric analysis of the UK Biobank. THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS : HEPAC : HEALTH ECONOMICS IN PREVENTION AND CARE 2023; 24:489-497. [PMID: 35750963 PMCID: PMC10175475 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-022-01487-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical inactivity increases the risk of chronic disease and mortality. The high prevalence of physical inactivity in the UK is likely to increase financial pressure on the National Health Service. The UK Biobank Study offered an opportunity to assess the impact of physical inactivity on healthcare use and spending using individual-level data and objective measures of physical activity. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between objectively measured physical activity levels and future inpatient days and costs in adults in the UK Biobank study. METHODS We conducted an econometric analysis of the UK Biobank study, a large prospective cohort study. The participants (n = 86,066) were UK adults aged 43-79 who had provided sufficient valid accelerometer data. Hospital inpatient days and costs were discounted and standardised to mean monthly values per person to adjust for the variation in follow-up times. Econometric models adjusted for BMI, long-standing illness, and other sociodemographic factors. RESULTS Mean follow-up time for the sample was 28.11 (SD 7.65) months. Adults in the most active group experienced 0.037 fewer days per month (0.059-0.016) and 14.1% lower inpatient costs ( - £3.81 [ - £6.71 to - £0.91] monthly inpatient costs) compared to adults in the least active group. The relationship between physical activity and inpatient costs was stronger in women compared to men and amongst those in the lowest income group compared to others. The findings remained significant across various sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS Increasing physical activity levels in the UK may reduce inpatient hospitalisations and costs, especially in women and lower-income groups.
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Cost-Effectiveness of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Suppression Testing as an Adherence Screening Tool Among Patients With Difficult-to-Control Asthma. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2023; 11:1796-1804.e3. [PMID: 36940864 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 50% of adults on long-term asthma medication are nonadherent. Current methods to detect nonadherence have had limited effect. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide suppression testing (FeNOSuppT) has demonstrated clinical effectiveness as an adherence screening tool to detect poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroids in difficult-to-control asthma prior to initiation of expensive biologic therapy. OBJECTIVE Estimate the cost effectiveness and budget impact of FeNOSuppT as a screen prior to the initiation of biologic therapy among U.S. adults with difficult-to-control asthma and high fractional exhaled nitric oxide (≥45 ppb). METHODS A decision tree simulated the progression of a cohort of patients over a 1-year time horizon into 1 of 3 states ([1] discharged from or [2] remain in specialist care; or [3] progress to biologics). Two strategies, with and without FeNOSuppT, were examined and the incremental net monetary benefit estimated using a discount rate of 3% and a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Sensitivity analysis and a budget impact analysis were also undertaken. RESULTS In the baseline scenario, FeNOSuppT prior to the initiation of biologic therapy was associated with lower costs ($4,435/patient) and fewer QALYs (0.0023 QALY/patient) compared with no FeNOSuppT over 1 year and was considered cost effective (incremental net monetary benefit = $4,207). The FeNOSuppT was consistently found to be cost effective across a range of scenarios and in deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Assuming differential levels of FeNOSuppT uptake (20%-100%), this was associated with budget savings ranging from USD $5 million to $27 million. CONCLUSIONS The FeNOSuppT is likely to be cost effective as a protocol-driven, objective, biomarker-based tool for identifying nonadherence in difficult-to-control asthma. This cost effectiveness is driven by cost savings from patients not progressing to expensive biologic therapy.
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Early clinical and economic outcomes of expanded criteria living kidney donors in the United States. J Nephrol 2023; 36:957-968. [PMID: 36592302 DOI: 10.1007/s40620-022-01541-4] [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: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The donation of what might be termed expanded criteria kidneys has become an increasingly common practice. This study aimed to assign expanded criteria and non-expanded criteria donation status and examine early clinical and economic outcomes among expanded criteria and non-expanded criteria living kidney donor (LKD) hospitalizations in the US. METHODS Healthcare cost and Utilization Project-National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) data (Jan 2008-Dec 2019, N = 12,020) were used. Expanded criteria LKDs were identified as admitted patients aged ≥ 60 years, or 50-59 years with any comorbidity that historically precluded donation. The Clavien-Dindo system was applied to classify surgical complications as grade I-IV/V. RESULTS The number of LKD admissions decreased by 31% over the study period, although this trend fluctuated over time. Compared to non-expanded criteria LKD admissions, expanded criteria LKD admissions had comparable surgical complication rates in Grade I (aOR 1.0, 0.8-1.3), but significantly higher surgical complication rates in Grade II (aOR 1.5, 1.1-2.2) and Grade III (aOR 1.4, 1.0-2.0). The two groups had comparable hospital length of stay and cost in the adjusted models. Notably, Grade II complications were significantly higher in private, for-profit hospitals (15%) compared to government hospitals (2.9%). CONCLUSIONS Expanded criteria LKDs had comparable early outcomes compared to non-expanded criteria LKDs, but the trends evident in LKDs over time and the variation in complication records warrant further research.
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An umbrella review of the effectiveness of fiscal and pricing policies on food and non-alcoholic beverages to improve health. Obes Rev 2023:e13570. [PMID: 37095626 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Poor quality diets represent major risk factors for the global burden of disease. Modeling studies indicate a potential for diet-related fiscal and pricing policies (FPs) to improve health. There is real-world evidence (RWE) that such policies can change behavior; however, the evidence regarding health is less clear. We conducted an umbrella review of the effectiveness of FPs on food and non-alcoholic beverages in influencing health or intermediate outcomes like consumption. We considered FPs applied to an entire population within a jurisdiction and included four systematic reviews in our final sample. Quality appraisal, an examination of excluded reviews, and a literature review of recent primary studies assessed the robustness of our results. Taxes and, to some extent, subsidies are effective in changing consumption of taxed/subsidized items; however, substitution is likely to occur. There is a lack of RWE supporting the effectiveness of FPs in improving health but this does not mean that they are ineffective. FPs may be important for improving health but their design is critical. Poorly designed FPs may fail to improve health and could reduce support for such policies or be used to support their repeal. More high-quality RWE on the impact of FPs on health is needed.
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An exploratory study of maternal diabetes and offspring use of dental services-Northern Ireland national cohort study. BDJ Open 2023; 9:14. [PMID: 37037830 PMCID: PMC10085974 DOI: 10.1038/s41405-023-00140-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A small number of literature has posited a link between prenatal exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus and an increased risk of developmental defects in the enamel of offspring. However, the evidence remains inconclusive. AIMS This study examined the relationship between the diabetes status of mothers and the use of dental services by offspring to that pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Anonymised data from a cohort of mothers who carried a child to term in Northern Ireland between 2012 and 2017 and service use by the child were taken from administrative databases from March 2015 to September 2021. Descriptive statistics, differences in means and regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between service use and maternal diabetes status, controlling for covariates. RESULTS In multivariate analyses that controlled inter alia for age and deprivation, diabetes status was negatively related to restoration, extraction, prevention, and total service use. In the analysis of the COVID period, pre-COVID prevention was negatively related to extractions, restorations, prevention and services in general. CONCLUSION The relationship between maternal diabetic status and aspects of offspring use of dental services was contrary to that suggested in previous studies and warrants more detailed investigation using this valuable data resource.
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Budget impact analysis of a home-based colorectal cancer screening programme in Malaysia. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e066925. [PMID: 36944471 PMCID: PMC10032398 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The 2020-2022 research project 'Colorectal Cancer Screening Intervention for Malaysia' (CRC-SIM) evaluated the implementation of a home-based CRC screening pilot in Segamat District. This budget impact analysis (BIA) assessed the expected changes in health expenditure of the Malaysian Ministry of Health budget in the scenario where the pilot programme was implemented nationwide vs current opportunistic screening. DESIGN Budget impact analysis. Assumptions and costs in the opportunistic and novel CRC screening scenarios were derived from a previous evaluation of opportunistic CRC screening in community health clinics across Malaysia and the CRC-SIM research project, respectively. SETTING National level (with supplement analysis for district level). The BIA was conducted from the viewpoint of the federal government and estimated the annual financial impact over a period of 5 years. RESULTS The total annual cost of the current practice of opportunistic screening was RM1 584 321 (~I$1 099 460) of which 80% (RM1 274 690 or ~I$884 587) was expended on the provision of opportunistic CRC to adults who availed of the service. Regarding the implementation of national CRC screening programme, the net budget impact in the first year was estimated to be RM107 631 959 (~I$74 692 546) and to reach RM148 485 812 (~I$103 043 589) in the fifth year based on an assumed increased uptake of 5% annually. The costs were calculated to be sensitive to the probability of adults who were contactable, eligible and agreeable to participating in the programme. CONCLUSIONS Results from the BIA provided direct and explicit estimates of the budget changes to when implementing a population-based national CRC screening programme to aid decision making by health services planners and commissioners in Malaysia about whether such programme is affordable within given their budget constraint. The study also illustrates the use and value of the BIA approach in low-income and middle-income countries and resource-constrained settings.
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Restoring arm function with a soft robotic wearable for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadd1504. [PMID: 36724237 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.add1504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Despite promising results in the rehabilitation field, it remains unclear whether upper limb robotic wearables, e.g., for people with physical impairments resulting from neurodegenerative disease, can be made portable and suitable for everyday use. We present a lightweight, fully portable, textile-based, soft inflatable wearable robot for shoulder elevation assistance that provides dynamic active support to the upper limbs. The technology is mechanically transparent when unpowered, can quantitatively assess free movement of the user, and adds only 150 grams of weight to each upper limb. In 10 individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with different degrees of neuromuscular impairment, we demonstrated immediate improvement in the active range of motion and compensation for continuing physical deterioration in two individuals with ALS over 6 months. Along with improvements in movement, we show that this robotic wearable can improve functional activity without any training, restoring performance of basic activities of daily living. In addition, a reduction in shoulder muscle activity and perceived muscular exertion, coupled with increased endurance for holding objects, highlight the potential of this device to mitigate the impact of muscular fatigue for patients with ALS. These results represent a further step toward everyday use of assistive, soft, robotic wearables for the upper limbs.
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Implementation of a home-based colorectal cancer screening intervention in Malaysia (CRC-SIM). BMC Cancer 2023; 23:22. [PMID: 36609260 PMCID: PMC9817284 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10487-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Colorectal Cancer Screening Intervention for Malaysia (CRC-SIM) was a CRC study of home-based testing designed to improve low screening uptake using the immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) in Malaysia. METHODS This quasi-experimental study was informed by the Implementation Research Logic Model and evaluated with the RE-AIM framework. Trained data collectors recruited by phone, randomly selected, asymptomatic adults aged 50-75 years from Segamat District, who previously completed a health census form for the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO). Participants were posted an iFOBT kit and asked to return a photo of the completed test for screening by health care professionals. A regression analysis of evaluation data was conducted to identify which variables were associated with the outcome indicators of 'study participation' and 'iFOBT completion' and the CRC-SIM was evaluated in terms of its appropriateness, feasibility and acceptability. RESULTS Seven hundred forty-seven eligible adults (52%) agreed to participate in this study and received an iFOBT kit. Participation was significantly lower amongst Chinese Malaysians (adjusted OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.35 - 0.59, p<0.001) compared to Malays and amongst participants from the rural sub-district (Gemereh) (adjusted OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54 - 0.92, p=0.011) compared to the urban sub-district (Sungai Segamat). Less than half of participants (42%, n=311/747) completed the iFOBT. Test-kit completion was significantly higher amongst Chinese Malaysians (adjusted OR 3.15, 95% CI 2.11 - 4.69, p<0.001) and lower amongst participants with a monthly household income ≥RM 4,850 (adjusted OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.39 - 0.87, p=0.009) compared to participants with a lower household income. The main reported reason for non-participation was 'not interested' (58.6%) and main implementation challenges related to invalid photographs from participants and engaging iFOBT positive participants in further clinic consultations and procedures. CONCLUSION Home-testing for CRC (test completion) appeared to be acceptable to only around one-fifth of the target population in Malaysia. However, mindful of the challenging circumstances surrounding the pandemic, the CRC-SIM merits consideration by public health planners as a method of increasing screening in Malaysia, and other low- and middle-income countries.
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Estimating the health impacts of sugar-sweetened beverage tax for informing policy decisions about the obesity burden in Vietnam. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0274928. [PMID: 37014838 PMCID: PMC10072454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been adopted in more than 40 countries but remained under discussion in Vietnam. This study aimed to estimate the health impacts of different SSBs tax plans currently under discussion to provide an evidence base to inform decision-making about a SSBs tax policy in Vietnam. METHOD & FINDINGS Five tax scenarios were modelled, representing three levels of price increase: 5%, 11% and 19-20%. Scenarios of the highest price increase were assessed across three different tax designs: ad valorem, volume-based specific tax & sugar-based specific tax. We modelled SSBs consumption in each tax scenario; how this reduction in consumption translates to a reduction in total energy intake and how this relationship in turn translates to an average change in body weight and obesity status among adults by applying the calorie-to weight conversion factor. Changes in type 2 diabetes burden were then calculated based on the change in average BMI of the modelled cohort. A Monte Carlo simulation approach was applied on the conversion factor of weight change and diabetes risk reduction for the sensitivity analysis. We found that the taxation that involved a 5% price increase gave relatively small impacts while increasing SSBs' price up to 20% appeared to impact substantially on overweight and obesity rates (reduction of 12.7% and 12.4% respectively) saving 27 million USD for direct medical cost. The greatest reduction was observed for overweight and obesity class I. The decline in overweight and obesity rates was slightly higher for women than men. CONCLUSION This study supports the SSB tax policy in pursuit of public health benefits, especially where the tax increase involves around a 20% price increase. The health benefit and revenue gains were evident across all three tax designs with the specific tax based on sugar density achieving greatest effects.
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Cost-effectiveness of clinical breast examination screening programme among HER2-positive breast cancer patients: a modelling study. Breast Cancer 2023; 30:68-76. [PMID: 36028594 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-022-01398-2] [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: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE For many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), breast cancer (BC) screening based on mammography is not a viable option. Clinical breast examination (CBE) may represent a pragmatic and cost-effective alternative. This paper examines the cost-effectiveness of CBE screening programme among a patient group for whom its cost-effectiveness is likely to be least evident (HER2-positive patients) and discuss the wider implications for BC screening in LMICs. METHODS A Markov model was used to examine clinical and economic outcomes over a life-time horizon from the patient, public payer, and healthcare sector perspective. HER2-positive patients entered the model at either disease-free survival or metastatic BC state. The downstaging effect of CBE determined the starting probabilities in the no-screening and screening scenarios. The model used a monthly cycle length, with half-cycle correction. Costs and outcomes were discounted at 1.5% annually. RESULTS Compared with no-screening, the cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per quality-adjusted life-year gained for the CBE screening programme was $1801, $2381, and $4179 from three mentioned perspectives, respectively. The finding of cost-effectiveness remained robust to a range of sensitivity analyses. The parameters to which ICERs are most sensitive are average age of cohorts, reduction in proportion of metastatic patients at diagnosis, cost of CBE, and BC detection rate of the programme. CONCLUSION For HER2-positive patients and compared with no-screening, CBE screening programme in Vietnam is cost-effective from all investigated perspectives. CBE is a 'good value' intervention and should be considered for implementation throughout Vietnam as well as in LMICs where mammography is not feasible.
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GroundsWell: Community-engaged and data-informed systems transformation of Urban Green and Blue Space for population health - a new initiative. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:237. [PMID: 36865374 PMCID: PMC9971655 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18175.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural environments, such as parks, woodlands and lakes, have positive impacts on health and wellbeing. Urban Green and Blue Spaces (UGBS), and the activities that take place in them, can significantly influence the health outcomes of all communities, and reduce health inequalities. Improving access and quality of UGBS needs understanding of the range of systems (e.g. planning, transport, environment, community) in which UGBS are located. UGBS offers an ideal exemplar for testing systems innovations as it reflects place-based and whole society processes , with potential to reduce non-communicable disease (NCD) risk and associated social inequalities in health. UGBS can impact multiple behavioural and environmental aetiological pathways. However, the systems which desire, design, develop, and deliver UGBS are fragmented and siloed, with ineffective mechanisms for data generation, knowledge exchange and mobilisation. Further, UGBS need to be co-designed with and by those whose health could benefit most from them, so they are appropriate, accessible, valued and used well. This paper describes a major new prevention research programme and partnership, GroundsWell, which aims to transform UGBS-related systems by improving how we plan, design, evaluate and manage UGBS so that it benefits all communities, especially those who are in poorest health. We use a broad definition of health to include physical, mental, social wellbeing and quality of life. Our objectives are to transform systems so that UGBS are planned, developed, implemented, maintained and evaluated with our communities and data systems to enhance health and reduce inequalities. GroundsWell will use interdisciplinary, problem-solving approaches to accelerate and optimise community collaborations among citizens, users, implementers, policymakers and researchers to impact research, policy, practice and active citizenship. GroundsWell will be shaped and developed in three pioneer cities (Belfast, Edinburgh, Liverpool) and their regional contexts, with embedded translational mechanisms to ensure that outputs and impact have UK-wide and international application.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in Malaysia and cases are often detected late. Improving screening uptake is key in down-staging cancer and improving patient outcomes. The aim of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate an intervention to improve CRC screening uptake in Malaysia in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The evaluation will include ascertaining the budgetary impact of implementing and delivering the intervention. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The implementation research logic model guided the development of the study and implementation outcome measures were informed by the 'Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance' (RE-AIM) framework. This CRC screening intervention for Malaysia uses home-testing and digital, small media, communication to improve CRC screening uptake. A sample of 780 people aged 50-75 years living in Segamat district, Malaysia, will be selected randomly from the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) database. Participants will receive a screening pack as well as a WhatsApp video of a local doctor to undertake a stool test safely and to send a photo of the test result to a confidential mobile number. SEACO staff will inform participants of their result. Quantitative data about follow-up clinic attendance, subsequent hospital tests and outcomes will be collected. Logistic regression will be used to investigate variables that influence screening completion and we will conduct a budget impact-analysis of the intervention and its implementation. Qualitative data about intervention implementation from the perspective of participants and stakeholders will be analysed thematically. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approval has been granted by Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC ID: 29107) and the Medical Review and Ethics Committee (Reference: 21-02045-O7G(2)). Results will be disseminated through publications, conferences and community engagement activities. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER National Medical Research Register Malaysia: 21-02045-O7G(2).
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uSing rolE-substitutioN In care homes to improve ORal health (SENIOR): a study protocol. Trials 2022; 23:679. [PMID: 35982457 PMCID: PMC9386206 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06487-3] [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: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dental service provision in the care home sector is poor, with little emphasis on prevention. Emerging evidence suggests that the use of Dental Care Professionals (dental therapists and dental nurses) as an alternative to dentists has the potential to improve preventive advice, the provision of care and access to services within care homes. However, robust empirical evidence from definitive trials on how to successfully implement and sustain these interventions within care homes is currently lacking. The aim of the study is to determine whether Dental Care Professionals could reduce plaque levels of dentate older adults (65 + years) residing in care homes. Methods This protocol describes a two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial that will be undertaken in care homes across Wales, Northern Ireland and England. In the intervention arm, the dental therapists will visit the care homes every 6 months to assess and then treat eligible residents, where necessary. All treatment will be conducted within their Scope of Practice. Dental nurses will visit the care homes every month for the first 3 months and then three-monthly afterwards to promulgate advice to improve the day-to-day prevention offered to residents by carers. The control arm will be ‘treatment as usual’. Eligible care homes (n = 40) will be randomised based on a 1:1 ratio (20 intervention and 20 control), with an average of seven residents recruited in each home resulting in an estimated sample of 280. Assessments will be undertaken at baseline, 6 months and 12 months and will include a dental examination and quality of life questionnaires. Care home staff will collect weekly information on the residents’ oral health (e.g. episodes of pain and unscheduled care). The primary outcome will be a binary classification of the mean reduction in Silness-Löe Plaque Index at 6 months. A parallel process evaluation will be undertaken to explore the intervention’s acceptability and how it could be embedded in standard practice (described in a separate paper), whilst a cost-effectiveness analysis will examine the potential long-term costs and benefits of the intervention. Discussion This trial will provide evidence on how to successfully implement and sustain a Dental Care Professional-led intervention within care homes to promote access and prevention. Trial registration ISRCTN16332897. Registered on 3 December 2021. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06487-3.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND While cancer outcomes have improved over time, in Northern Ireland they continue to lag behind those of many other developed economies. The role of comorbid conditions has been suggested as a potential contributory factor in this but issues of data comparability across jurisdictions has inhibited efforts to explore relationships. We use data from a single jurisdiction of the UK using data from - the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR), to examine the association between mortality (all-cause and cancer specific) and pre-existing cardiovascular diseases among patients with cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients diagnosed with cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) between 2011 and 2014 were identified from Registry records. Those with a pre-existing diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases were identified by record linkage with patient hospital discharge data using ICD10 codes. Survival following diagnosis was examined using descriptive statistics and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Analyses examined all-cause mortality and cancer specific mortality for lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer. As well as cardiovascular diseases, regression models controlled for age, gender (where appropriate), deprivation (as quintiles), stage at diagnosis and other comorbidities. RESULTS Almost 35,000 incident cancer cases were diagnosed during the study period of which approximately 23% had a prior heart condition. The pan-cancer hazard ratio for death in the presence of pre-existing cardiovascular diseases was 1.28 (95% CI: 1.18-1.40). All-cause and cancer specific mortality was higher for patients with cardiovascular diseases across lung, female breast, prostate and colorectal cancer groups after controlling for age, gender (where appropriate), deprivation (as quintiles), stage at diagnosis and other comorbidities. CONCLUSION Pre-existing morbidity may restrict the treatment of cancer for many patients. In this cohort, cancer patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases had poorer outcomes than those without cardiovascular diseases. A high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases may contribute to poorer cancer outcomes at a national level.
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Assessing the comparative feasibility, acceptability and equivalence of videoconference interviews and face-to-face interviews using the time trade-off technique. Soc Sci Med 2022; 309:115227. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Satisfaction with dental care services in Great Britain 1998-2019. BMC Oral Health 2022; 22:308. [PMID: 35883074 PMCID: PMC9315088 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-022-02343-7] [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: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Satisfaction with dental services can provide valuable insights into aspects of quality including access as well as changes in this over time. In the UK publicly funded dental services are ostensibly delivered by private sector general dental practitioners for whom private patients represent an opportunity cost to the provision of care to public patients. This study examined changes in satisfaction as economic circumstances and policy changed in Britain between 1998 and 2019. Methods Data were taken from successive waves of the British Social Attitudes Survey a representative cross-sectional survey of the population between 1998 and 2019. Descriptive statistics and a series of logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between satisfaction and a range of socio-demographic characteristics over time. Results 37,328 usable responses were extracted from the survey spanning 21 years of data. Over the course of the survey approximately 71% of the sample was very satisfied, satisfied or neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with publicly funded dental services. Satisfaction fell at the outset of the study period but rose following the economic downturn from 2008 which coincided with increased use of publicly funded services. Differences were evident in satisfaction between older versus younger respondents, more affluent versus less affluent respondents and better educated versus less well-educated respondents. Satisfaction did not appear to change in response to policy changes. Conclusion Satisfaction is an important outcome of service provision. Policies aiming to improve satisfaction with publicly funded dental care in the UK must take account of the competing demands on dentists’ time from private patients. At times of economic expansion or when supply has been disrupted, these may be particularly acute and require specific interventions to improve access for those who depend on public services. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-022-02343-7.
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P-190 The Geriatric 8 score is associated with risk of hospitalisation and 6-month survival in patients with incurable pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine and capecitabine. Ann Oncol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.04.280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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Demographic characteristics and ocular needs of children attending child eye clinics in Cross River State, Nigeria: a retrospective analysis of clinical records. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060379. [PMID: 35537792 PMCID: PMC9092169 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060379] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the demographic characteristics and ocular needs of children attending four child eye clinics in Cross River State, Nigeria, to inform the development of a sustainable spectacle cross-subsidisation scheme. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of clinic records. SETTING Four child eye clinics in Calabar, Ogoja, Ikom and Ugep, Cross River State, Nigeria, from 1 May 2017 to 30 June 2019. PARTICIPANTS Children who failed the vision screening in schools and visited assigned child eye clinics, and self-referred children from the community. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Children's age, sex, residence, diagnosis, disease management, presenting and corrected visual acuity, history of spectacle wear and magnitude of refractive errors in spherical equivalent in the worse eye. RESULTS Of all the 3799 records reviewed, data were available for 3774 children (mean age 10.6±4.35 years; 61.6% girls; 69.1% from urban settings); 30.8% (n=1162) of them had vision impairment. Of those children, 71.2% (n=827) were diagnosed with refractive error. For management, 48.6% (n=1833) were prescribed spectacles and 40.5% (n=1527) were prescribed ocular medications. Children prescribed spectacles were significantly more likely to be girls (68.0%, p<0.001), and older than 13 years of age (53.6%, p<0.001). The most common range of spherical equivalent (in the worse eye) was <-0.50 DS to +1.75 DS (51.6%, n=945), followed by >-0.25 DS to -3.00DS (39.7%, n=727). Non-refractive eye conditions such as cataract (33.3%) and corneal disorders (14.1%) contributed to almost half of the total blindness. CONCLUSION The findings show that spectacles provisions and ocular medications are the primary and secondary needs for children who attended child eye clinics seeking eye care services. Further research is needed to understand parents' willingness to pay for spectacles to set strategic multitier pricing for a sustainable cross-subsidisation scheme.
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Appropriateness of tooth replacement strategies for adult patients in the United Kingdom with reduced dentitions – a modified Delphi analysis. J Dent 2022; 122:104125. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Sociodemographic characteristics of patients and their use of post-bariatric contouring surgery in the US. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:308. [PMID: 35255893 PMCID: PMC8900300 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-07692-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Expansion of healthcare insurance coverage to bariatric surgeries has led to an increased demand from patients for post-bariatric contouring surgeries. This study examined the relationship between the use of contouring procedures on post-bariatric surgery patients, clinical need and sociodemographic factors. Methods Data were extracted from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample (NASS) regarding hospital-owned ambulatory surgical centres in the US. Episodes without missing values relating to patients, 18 years old or above were the primary unit of analysis. Episodes were excluded if the field regarding expected payer was reported as “no charge.” The primary outcome was the likelihood of panniculectomy, abdominoplasty, and mastopexy among post-bariatric surgery patients; and the degree to which uptake of these types of contouring surgery were associated with age, gender, median households’ income, expected payer, patient’s location, and comorbidity. Results A total of 66,368 weighted episodes of care received by patients who had had bariatric surgery were extracted (54,684 female [82.4%]; mean age, 51.3 [SD, 12.1]; 6219 episodes had contouring surgeries [9.37%]). Panniculectomy was the most common post-bariatric contouring procedure (3.68%). Uptake of post-bariatric contouring procedures was associated with age, sex, payment type, area-based measures of median household income, and patient location. Compared to Medicare insured patients, the odds of receiving contouring surgery among self-payers were 1.82 (95% CI, 1.47 to 2.26) for panniculectomy, 14.79 (95% CI, 12.19 to 17.93) for abdominoplasty and 47.97 (95% CI, 32.76 to 70.24) for mastopexy. Rank order of comorbidity profiles also differed between insured and self-paying recipients of contouring surgery. Conclusions Insurance status of bariatric surgery patients and their sex were strongly associated with receipt of a range of contouring procedures. Self-payments were associated with a doubling of the odds of having panniculectomy and an increase in the odds to approximately 14 times for abdominoplasty and 48 times for mastopexy. Thus, access to contouring surgery by post-bariatric patients may be disproportionately dependent on personal preference supported by ability to pay rather than clinical need. Further research is needed to examine the impact of contouring or delayed/denied contouring on health status. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-07692-1.
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Health-related quality of life among breast cancer patients compared to cancer survivors and age-matched women in the general population in Vietnam. Qual Life Res 2022; 31:777-787. [PMID: 34541610 PMCID: PMC8921138 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-021-02997-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study compared the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of breast cancer (BC) patients, survivors, and age-matched women from the general population in Vietnam to address the paucity of HRQoL research and contribute to the robust assessment of BC screening and care in Vietnam. METHODS The standardised EQ-5D-5L instrument was incorporated in an online survey and a hospital-based face-to-face survey, and together with data from the Vietnam EQ-5D-5L norms study. χ2 tests assessed EQ-5D health profile associations and a Tobit regression model investigated the association between overall health status (EQ-VAS/utility scores) and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS A total of 309 participants (107 patients undergoing treatment and 202 survivors who had completed treatment) provided usable responses. The dimensions that affected mostly the HRQoL of women with BC were pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Current patients and survivors differed significantly regarding HRQoL dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activities, and anxiety/depression. Their health utilities were 0.74 and 0.84, respectively, compared with 0.91 for age-matched Vietnamese women in the general population (p < 0.001). Treatment status (survivor vs patient), younger age, higher monthly household income, and higher education levels were associated with higher health utility. CONCLUSIONS The results point to unmet needs in mental health support and well-being and for attention to be given to the development of a biopsychosocial system of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care. The results will also inform future assessments of the comparative value for money of interventions intended to impact on breast cancer in Vietnam.
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Examining the transnational preventive healthcare utilisation of a group of Eastern European migrants living full-time in another European state. Health Policy 2022; 126:318-324. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a paucity of research on the cost of breast cancer (BC) treatment from the patient's perspective in Vietnam. METHODS Individual-level data about out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures on use of services were collected from women treated for BC (n = 202) using an online survey and a face-to-face interview at two tertiary hospitals in 2019. Total expenditures on diagnosis and initial BC treatment were presented in terms of the mean, standard deviation, and range for each type of service use. A generalised linear model (GLM) was used to assess the relationship between total cost and socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS 19.3% of respondents had stage 0/I BC, 68.8% had stage II, 9.4% had stage III, none had stage IV. The most expensive OOP elements were targeted therapy with mean cost equal to 649.5 million VND ($28,025) and chemotherapy at 36.5 million VND ($1575). Mean total OOP cost related to diagnosis and initial BC treatment (excluding targeted therapy cost) was 61.8 million VND ($2667). The mean OOP costs among patients with stage II and III BC were, respectively, 66 and 148% higher than stage 0/I. CONCLUSIONS BC patients in Vietnam incur significant OOP costs. The cost of BC treatment was driven by the use of therapies and presentation stage at diagnosis. It is likely that OOP costs of BC patients would be reduced by earlier detection through raised awareness and screening programmes and by providing a higher insurance reimbursement rate for targeted therapy.
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2021 Canadian Surgery Forum01. Design and validation of a unique endoscopy simulator using a commercial video game03. Is ethnicity an appropriate measure of health care marginalization?: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the outcomes of diabetic foot ulceration in the Aboriginal population04. Racial disparities in surgery — a cross-specialty matched comparison between black and white patients05. Starting late does not increase the risk of postoperative complications in patients undergoing common general surgical procedures06. Ethical decision-making during a health care crisis: a resource allocation framework and tool07. Ensuring stability in surgical training program leadership: a survey of program directors08. Introducing oncoplastic breast surgery in a community hospital09. Leadership development programs for surgical residents: a review of the literature10. Superiority of non-opioid postoperative pain management after thyroid and parathyroid operations: a systematic review and meta-analysis11. Timing of ERCP relative to cholecystectomy in patients with ductal gallstone disease12. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing intraoperative red blood cell transfusion strategies13. Postoperative outcomes after frail elderly preoperative assessment clinic: a single-institution Canadian perspective14. Selective opioid antagonists following bowel resection for prevention of postoperative ileus: a systematic review and meta-analysis15. Peer-to-peer coaching after bile duct injury16. Laparoscopic median arcuate ligament release: a video abstract17. Retroperitoneoscopic approach to adrenalectomy19. Endoscopic Zenker diverticulotomy: a video abstract20. Variability in surgeons’ perioperative management of pheochromocytomas in Canada21. The contribution of surgeon and hospital variation in transfusion practice to outcomes for patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal cancer surgery: a population-based analysis22. Perioperative transfusions for gastroesophageal cancers: risk factors and short- and long-term outcomes23. The association between frailty and time alive and at home after cancer surgery among older adults: a population-based analysis24. Psychological and workplace-related effects of providing surgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada25. Safety of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a systematic review26. Complications and reintervention following laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis27. Synchronization of pupil dilations correlates with team performance in a simulated laparoscopic team coordination task28. Receptivity to and desired design features of a surgical peer coaching program: an international survey9. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rates of emergency department utilization due to general surgery conditions30. The impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the exposure of general surgery trainees to operative procedures31. Association between academic degrees and research productivity: an assessment of academic general surgeons in Canada32. Laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for subepithelial gastric lesion: a video presentation33. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute care general surgery at an academic Canadian centre34. Opioid-free analgesia after outpatient general surgery: a pilot randomized controlled trial35. Impact of neoadjuvant immunotherapy or targeted therapies on surgical resection in patients with solid tumours: a systematic review and meta-analysis37. Surgical data recording in the operating room: a systematic review of modalities and metrics38. Association between nonaccidental trauma and neighbourhood socioeconomic status during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective analysis39. Laparoscopic repair of a transdiaphragmatic gastropleural fistula40. Video-based interviewing in medicine: a scoping review41. Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography for prevention of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery: a cost analysis from the hospital payer’s perspective43. Perception or reality: surgical resident and faculty assessments of resident workload compared with objective data45. When illness and loss hit close to home: Do health care providers learn how to cope?46. Remote video-based suturing education with smartphones (REVISE): a randomized controlled trial47. The evolving use of robotic surgery: a population-based analysis48. Prophylactic retromuscular mesh placement for parastomal hernia prevention: a retrospective cohort study of permanent colostomies and ileostomies49. Intracorporeal versus extracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy: a retrospective cohort study on anastomotic complications50. A lay of the land — a description of Canadian academic acute care surgery models51. Emergency general surgery in Ontario: interhospital variability in structures, processes and models of care52. Trauma 101: a virtual case-based trauma conference as an adjunct to medical education53. Assessment of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Surgical Risk Calculator for predicting patient-centred outcomes of emergency general surgery patients in a Canadian health care system54. Sustainability of a narcotic reduction initiative: 1 year following the Standardization of Outpatient Procedure (STOP) Narcotics Study55. Barriers to transanal endoscopic microsurgery referral56. Geospatial analysis of severely injured rural patients in a geographically complex landscape57. Implementation of an incentive spirometry protocol in a trauma ward: a single-centre pilot study58. Impostor phenomenon is a significant risk factor for burnout and anxiety in Canadian resident physicians: a cross-sectional survey59. Understanding the influence of perioperative education on performance among surgical trainees: a single-centre experience60. The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on current and future endoscopic personal protective equipment practices: a national survey of 77 endoscopists61. Case report: delayed presentation of perforated sigmoid diverticulitis as necrotizing infection of the lower limb62. Investigating disparities in surgical outcomes in Canadian Indigenous populations63. Fundoplication is superior to medical therapy for Barrett esophagus disease regression and progression: a systematic review and meta-analysis64. Development of a novel online general surgery learning platform and a qualitative preimplementation analysis65. Hagfish slime exudate as a potential novel hemostatic agent: developing a standardized assessment protocol66. The effect of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical oncology case volumes and wait times67. Safety of same-day discharge in high-risk patients undergoing ambulatory general surgery68. External validation of the Codman score in colorectal surgery: a pragmatic tool to drive quality improvement69. Improved morbidity and gastrointestinal restoration rates without compromising survival rates for diverting loop ileostomy with colonic lavage versus total abdominal colectomy for fulminant Clostridioides difficile colitis: a multicentre retrospective cohort study70. Potential access to emergency general surgical care in Ontario71. Immersive virtual reality (iVR) improves procedural duration, task completion and accuracy in surgical trainees: a systematic review01. Clinical validation of the Canada Lymph Node Score for endobronchial ultrasound02. Venous thromboembolism in surgically treated esophageal cancer patients: a provincial population-based study03. Venous thromboembolism in surgically treated lung cancer patients: a population-based study04. Is frailty associated with failure to rescue after esophagectomy? A multi-institutional comparative analysis of outcomes05. Routine systematic sampling versus targeted sampling of lymph nodes during endobronchial ultrasound: a feasibility randomized controlled trial06. Gastric ischemic conditioning reduces anastomotic complications in patients undergoing esophagectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis07. Move For Surgery, a novel preconditioning program to optimize health before thoracic surgery: a randomized controlled trial08. In case of emergency, go to your nearest emergency department — Or maybe not?09. Does preoperative SABR increase the risk of complications from lung cancer resection? A secondary analysis of the MISSILE trial10. Segmental resection for lung cancer: the added value of near-infrared fluorescence mapping diminishes with surgeon experience11. Toward competency-based continuing professional development for practising surgeons12. Stereotactic body radiotherapy versus surgery in older adults with NSCLC — a population-based, matched analysis of long-term dependency outcomes13. Role of adjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy and curative esophagectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis14. Evaluation of population characteristics on the incidence of thoracic empyema: an ecological study15. Determining the optimal stiffness colour threshold and stiffness area ratio cut-off for mediastinal lymph node staging using EBUS elastography and AI: a pilot study16. Quality assurance on the use of sequential compression stockings in thoracic surgery (QUESTs)17. The relationship between fissureless technique and prolonged air leak for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy18. CXCR2 inhibition as a candidate for immunomodulation in the treatment of K-RAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma19. Assessment tools for evaluating competency in video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: a systematic review20. Understanding the current practice on chest tube management following lung resection among thoracic surgeons across Canada21. Effect of routine jejunostomy tube insertion in esophagectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis22. Recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax following bullectomy with pleurodesis or pleurectomy: a retrospective analysis23. Surgical outcomes following chest wall resection and reconstruction24. Outcomes following surgical management of primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumours25. Does robotic approach offer better nodal staging than thoracoscopic approach in anatomical resection for non–small cell lung cancer? A single-centre propensity matching analysis26. Competency assessment for mediastinal mass resection and thymectomy: design and Delphi process27. The contemporary significance of venous thromboembolism (deep venous thrombosis [DVT] and pulmonary embolus [PE]) in patients undergoing esophagectomy: a prospective, multicentre cohort study to evaluate the incidence and clinical outcomes of VTE after major esophageal resections28. Esophageal cancer: symptom severity at the end of life29. The impact of pulmonary artery reconstruction on postoperative and oncologic outcomes: a systematic review30. Association with surgical technique and recurrence after laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernia: a single-centre experience31. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in esophagectomy32. Surgical treatment of esophageal cancer: trends in surgical approach and early mortality at a single institution over the past 18 years34. Adverse events and length of stay following minimally invasive surgery in paraesophageal hernia repair35. Long-term symptom control comparison of Dor and Nissen fundoplication following laparoscopic para-esophageal hernia repair: a retrospective analysis36. Willingness to pay: a survey of Canadian patients’ willingness to contribute to the cost of robotic thoracic surgery37. Radiomics in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma: a prediction tool for tumour immune microenvironments38. Effectiveness of intraoperative pyloric botox injection during esophagectomy: how often is endoscopic intervention required?39. An artificial intelligence algorithm for predicting lymph node malignancy during endobronchial ultrasound40. The effect of major and minor complications after lung surgery on length of stay and readmission41. Measuring cost of adverse events following thoracic surgery: a scoping review42. Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair: characterization by hospital and surgeon volume and impact on outcomes43. NSQIP 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index predicts morbidity but not mortality after esophagectomy44. Trajectory of perioperative HRQOL and association with postoperative complications in thoracic surgery patients45. Variation in treatment patterns and outcomes for resected esophageal cancer at designated thoracic surgery centres46. Patient-reported pretreatment health-related quality of life (HRQOL) predicts short-term survival in esophageal cancer patients47. Analgesic efficacy of surgeon-placed paravertebral catheters compared with thoracic epidural analgesia after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy: a retrospective noninferiority study48. Rapid return to normal oxygenation after lung surgery49. Examination of local and systemic inflammatory changes during lung surgery01. Implications of near-infrared imaging and indocyanine green on anastomotic leaks following colorectal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis02. Repeat preoperative endoscopy after regional implementation of electronic synoptic endoscopy reporting: a retrospective comparative study03. Consensus-derived quality indicators for operative reporting in transanal endoscopic surgery (TES)04. Colorectal lesion localization practices at endoscopy to facilitate surgical and endoscopic planning: recommendations from a national consensus Delphi process05. Black race is associated with increased mortality in colon cancer — a population-based and propensity-score matched analysis06. Improved survival in a cohort of patients 75 years and over with FIT-detected colorectal neoplasms07. Laparoscopic versus open loop ileostomy reversal: a systematic review and meta-analysis08. Posterior mesorectal thickness as a predictor of increased operative time in rectal cancer surgery: a retrospective cohort study09. Improvement of colonic anastomotic healing in mice with oral supplementation of oligosaccharides10. How can we better identify patients with rectal bleeding who are at high risk of colorectal cancer?11. Assessment of long-term bowel dysfunction in rectal cancer survivors: a population-based cohort study12. Observational versus antibiotic therapy for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis: a noninferiority meta-analysis based on a Delphi consensus13. Radiotherapy alone versus chemoradiotherapy for stage I anal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis14. Is the Hartmann procedure for diverticulitis obsolete? National trends in colectomy for diverticulitis in the emergency setting from 1993 to 201515. Sugammadex in colorectal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis16. Sexuality and rectal cancer treatment: a qualitative study exploring patients’ information needs and expectations on sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer treatment17. Video-based interviews in selection process18. Impact of delaying colonoscopies during the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer detection and prevention19. Opioid use disorder associated with increased anastomotic leak and major complications after colorectal surgery20. Effectiveness of a rectal cancer education video on patient expectations21. Robotic-assisted rectosigmoid and rectal cancer resection: implementation and early experience at a Canadian tertiary centre22. An online educational app for rectal cancer survivors with low anterior resection syndrome: a pilot study23. The effects of surgeon specialization on the outcome of emergency colorectal surgery24. Outcomes after colorectal cancer resections in octogenarians and older in a regional New Zealand setting — What are the predictors of mortality?25. Long-term outcomes after seton placement for perianal fistulae with and without Crohn disease26. A survey of patient and surgeon preference for early ileostomy closure following restorative proctectomy for rectal cancer — Why aren’t we doing it?27. Crohn disease independently associated with longer hospital admission after surgery28. Short-stay (≤ 1 d) diverting loop ileostomy closure can be selectively implemented without an increase in readmission and complication rates: an ACS-NSQIP analysis29. A comparison of perineal stapled rectal prolapse resection and the Altemeier procedure at 2 Canadian academic hospitals30. Mental health and substance use disorders predict 90-day readmission and postoperative complications following rectal cancer surgery31. Early discharge after colorectal cancer resection: trends and impact on patient outcomes32. Oral antibiotics without mechanical bowel preparation prior to emergency colectomy reduces the risk of organ space surgical site infections: a NSQIP propensity score matched study33. The impact of robotic surgery on a tertiary care colorectal surgery program, an assessment of costs and short-term outcomes — a Canadian perspective34. Should we scope beyond the age limit of guidelines? Adenoma detection rates and outcomes of screening and surveillance colonoscopies in patients aged 75–79 years35. Emergency department admissions for uncomplicated diverticulitis: a nationwide study36. Obesity is associated with a complicated episode of acute diverticulitis: a nationwide study37. Green indocyanine angiography for low anterior resection in patients with rectal cancer: a prospective before-and-after study38. The impact of age on surgical recurrence of fibrostenotic ileocolic Crohn disease39. A qualitative study to explore the optimal timing and approach for the LARS discussion01. Racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in diagnosis, treatment and survival of patients with breast cancer: a SEER-based population analysis02. First-line palliative chemotherapy for esophageal and gastric cancer: practice patterns and outcomes in the general population03. Frailty as a predictor for postoperative outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy04. Synoptic electronic operative reports identify practice variation in cancer surgery allowing for directed interventions to decrease variation05. The role of Hedgehog signalling in basal-like breast cancer07. Clinical and patient-reported outcomes in oncoplastic breast conservation surgery from a single surgeon’s practice in a busy community hospital in Canada08. Upgrade rate of atypical ductal hyperplasia: 10 years of experience and predictive factors09. Time to first adjuvant treatment after oncoplastic breast reduction10. Preparing to survive: improving outcomes for young women with breast cancer11. Opioid prescription and consumption in patients undergoing outpatient breast surgery — baseline data for a quality improvement initiative12. Rectal anastomosis and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: Should we avoid diverting loop ileostomy?13. Delays in operative management of early-stage, estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic — a multi-institutional matched historical cohort study14. Opioid prescribing practices in breast oncologic surgery15. Oncoplastic breast reduction (OBR) complications and patient-reported outcomes16. De-escalating breast cancer surgery: Should we apply quality indicators from other jurisdictions in Canada?17. The breast cancer patient experience of telemedicine during COVID-1918. A novel ex vivo human peritoneal model to investigate mechanisms of peritoneal metastasis in gastric adenocarcinoma (GCa)19. Preliminary uptake and outcomes utilizing the BREAST-Q patient-reported outcomes questionnaire in patients following breast cancer surgery20. Routine elastin staining improves detection of venous invasion and enhances prognostication in resected colorectal cancer21. Analysis of exhaled volatile organic compounds: a new frontier in colon cancer screening and surveillance22. A clinical pathway for radical cystectomy leads to a shorter hospital stay and decreases 30-day postoperative complications: a NSQIP analysis23. Fertility preservation in young breast cancer patients: a population-based study24. Investigating factors associated with postmastectomy unplanned emergency department visits: a population-based analysis25. Impact of patient, tumour and treatment factors on psychosocial outcomes after treatment in women with invasive breast cancer26. The relationship between breast and axillary pathologic complete response in women receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer01. The association between bacterobilia and the risk of postoperative complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy02. Surgical outcome and quality of life following exercise-based prehabilitation for hepatobiliary surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis03. Does intraoperative frozen section and revision of margins lead to improved survival in patients undergoing resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma? A systematic review and meta-analysis04. Prolonged kidney procurement time is associated with worse graft survival after transplantation05. Venous thromboembolism following hepatectomy for colorectal metastases: a population-based retrospective cohort study06. Association between resection approach and transfusion exposure in liver resection for gastrointestinal cancer07. The association between surgeon volume and use of laparoscopic liver resection for gastrointestinal cancer08. Immune suppression through TIGIT in colorectal cancer liver metastases09. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” — a combined strategy to reduce postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy10. Laparoscopic versus open synchronous colorectal and hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer11. Identifying prognostic factors for overall survival in patients with recurrent disease following liver resection for colorectal cancer metastasis12. Modified Blumgart pancreatojejunostomy with external stenting in laparoscopic Whipple reconstruction13. Laparoscopic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy: a single centre’s initial experience with introduction of a novel surgical approach14. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus upfront surgery for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: a single-centre cohort analysis15. Thermal ablation and telemedicine to reduce resource utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic16. Cost-utility analysis of normothermic machine perfusion compared with static cold storage in liver transplantation in the Canadian setting17. Impact of adjuvant therapy on overall survival in early-stage ampullary cancers: a single-centre retrospective review18. Presence of biliary anaerobes enhances response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma19. How does tumour viability influence the predictive capability of the Metroticket model? Comparing predicted-to-observed 5-year survival after liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma20. Does caudate resection improve outcomes in patients undergoing curative resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma? A systematic review and meta-analysis21. Appraisal of multivariable prognostic models for postoperative liver decompensation following partial hepatectomy: a systematic review22. Predictors of postoperative liver decompensation events following resection in patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma: a population-based study23. Characteristics of bacteriobilia and impact on outcomes after Whipple procedure01. Inverting the y-axis: the future of MIS abdominal wall reconstruction is upside down02. Progressive preoperative pneumoperitoneum: a single-centre retrospective study03. The role of radiologic classification of parastomal hernia as a predictor of the need for surgical hernia repair: a retrospective cohort study04. Comparison of 2 fascial defect closure methods for laparoscopic incisional hernia repair01. Hypoalbuminemia predicts serious complications following elective bariatric surgery02. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band migration inducing jejunal obstruction associated with acute pancreatitis: aurgical approach of band removal03. Can visceral adipose tissue gene expression determine metabolic outcomes after bariatric surgery?04. Improvement of kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease and severe obesity after bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis05. A prediction model for delayed discharge following gastric bypass surgery06. Experiences and outcomes of Indigenous patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a mixed-methods scoping review07. What is the optimal common channel length in revisional bariatric surgery?08. Laparoscopic management of internal hernia in a 34-week pregnant woman09. Characterizing timing of postoperative complications following elective Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy10. Canadian trends in bariatric surgery11. Common surgical stapler problems and how to correct them12. Management of choledocholithiasis following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Can J Surg 2021; 64:S80-S159. [PMID: 35483046 PMCID: PMC8677574 DOI: 10.1503/cjs.021321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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COVID-19 Era Recessional Mortality Continues the Impact of Prepandemic Recessions on Mortality. Am J Public Health 2021; 111:1944-1946. [PMID: 34709857 PMCID: PMC8630476 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2021.306531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Financial toxicity due to breast cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries: evidence from Vietnam. Support Care Cancer 2021; 29:6325-6333. [PMID: 33860362 PMCID: PMC8464564 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06210-z] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study examined the financial toxicity faced by breast cancer (BC) patients in Vietnam and the factors associated with the risk and degree of that toxicity. METHODS A total of 309 BC patients/survivors completed an online survey (n=209) or a face-to-face interview (n=100) at two tertiary hospitals. Descriptive statistics and χ2 tests were used to identify and analyse the forms and degree of financial toxicity faced by BC patients/survivors. A Cragg hurdle model assessed variation in risk and the degree of financial toxicity due to treatment. RESULTS 41% of respondents faced financial toxicity due to BC treatment costs. The mean amount of money that exceeded BC patients/survivors' ability to pay was 153 million Vietnamese Dong (VND) ($6602) and ranged from 2.42 million VND to 1358 million VND ($104-58,413). A diagnosis at stage II or III of BC was associated with 16.0 and 18.0 million VND (~$690-777) more in the degree of financial toxicity compared with patients who were diagnosed at stage 0/I, respectively. Being retired or married or having full (100%) health insurance was associated with a decrease in the degree of financial toxicity. CONCLUSIONS A significant proportion of Vietnamese BC patients/survivors face serious financial toxicity due to BC treatment costs. There is a need to consider the introduction of measures that would attenuate this hardship and promote uptake of screening for the reduction in financial toxicity as well as the health gains it may achieve through earlier detection of cancer.
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The implementation of colorectal cancer screening interventions in low-and middle-income countries: a scoping review. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:1125. [PMID: 34666704 PMCID: PMC8524916 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08809-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experienced increasing rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in the last decade and lower 5-year survival rates compared to high-income countries (HICs) where the implementation of screening and treatment services have advanced. This review scoped and mapped the literature regarding the content, implementation and uptake of CRC screening interventions as well as opportunities and challenges for the implementation of CRC screening interventions in LMICs. METHODS We systematically followed a five-step scoping review framework to identify and review relevant literature about CRC screening in LMICs, written in the English language before February 2020. We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar for studies targeting the general, asymptomatic, at-risk adult population. The TIDieR tool and an implementation checklist were used to extract data from empirical studies; and we extracted data-informed insights from policy reviews and commentaries. RESULTS CRC screening interventions (n = 24 studies) were implemented in nine middle-income countries. Population-based screening programmes (n = 11) as well as small-scale screening interventions (n = 13) utilised various recruitment strategies. Interventions that recruited participants face-to-face (alone or in combination with other recruitment strategies) (10/15), opportunistic clinic-based screening interventions (5/6) and educational interventions combined with screening (3/4), seemed to be the strategies that consistently achieved an uptake of > 65% in LMICs. FOBT/FIT and colonoscopy uptake ranged between 14 and 100%. The most commonly reported implementation indicator was 'uptake/reach'. There was an absence of detail regarding implementation indicators and there is a need to improve reporting practice in order to disseminate learning about how to implement programmes. CONCLUSION Opportunities and challenges for the implementation of CRC screening programmes were related to the reporting of CRC cases and screening, cost-effective screening methods, knowledge about CRC and screening, staff resources and training, infrastructure of the health care system, financial resources, public health campaigns, policy commitment from governments, patient navigation, planning of screening programmes and quality assurance.
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The impact of modulator therapy in cystic fibrosis on patterns of hospitalization related to age. Results from an analysis of US inpatient episodes 2006-2016. J Cyst Fibros 2021; 20:e114-e117. [PMID: 34580033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The approval and subsequent reimbursement of CFTR modulator therapies from 2012 have provided a potential "game-changing" treatment for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), especially among younger patients. We used HCUP-NIS and HCUP-KID data in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2016 to compare the number of admissions, hospital charges/cost, length of stay (LOS) and other clinical outcomes between inpatient admissions aged over and below 20 with CF before and after the approval of CFTR therapies. We found the number of hospitalizations with CF dropped among those aged 0-20 but increased among those aged over 20. We found the average LOS and charges/costs increased among the former and decreased among the later. These findings support the hypothesis that modulator therapies have impacted on patterns of hospital care, contributing to a reduction in the number of young people treated in hospital albeit with an increase in their complexity relative to those aged over 20.
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Spatiotemporal patterns in the natural and anthropogenic additions to the soundscape in parts of the Salish Sea, British Columbia, 2018-2020. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 170:112647. [PMID: 34175695 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Passive acoustic recorders were deployed over two years (February 2018-March 2020) in the Salish Sea to monitor the underwater soundscape. Seasonal cycles and differences between the open Strait of Juan de Fuca and protected inner waterways were pervasive during this period. A comparison between natural and human-derived noise demonstrated the impact of anthropogenic activities on the sound field. Elevated ambient noise levels during winter resulted predominantly from greater sea states and storm events. Abiotic additions were defined through correlations to wind speed, wave and precipitation measures. Vessel noise was a pervasive anthropogenic addition; commercial vessel noise was consistently present, whereas smaller vessels showed weekly and diurnal patterns, especially during the summer when their presence increased. A better understanding of the different soundscape constituents, and when each dominates, is crucial to understanding the human impact on underwater ecosystems and the organisms within them, leading to more effective mitigation measures.
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A Review to Populate A Proposed Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Glaucoma Screening in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2021; 29:328-338. [PMID: 34372742 DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2021.1939887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
To populate a proposed cost-effectiveness analysis of glaucoma screening in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).A complete search was conducted on PubMed, Medline and African Journals Online (AJOL) to obtain relevant published articles, which were included in this review. All relevant articles on prevalence of glaucoma in SSA and among other African-derived populations, severity of glaucoma, cost of diagnosis and management, clinical effectiveness of glaucoma screening and treatment and the different glaucoma screening strategies in SSA were reviewed.Population screening interventions for glaucoma may be considered as follows: standalone screening for glaucoma, screening for glaucoma during cataract outreach, and screening incorporated with diabetic retinopathy image review using tele-ophthalmology. Our review suggests that cost of glaucoma treatment is relatively low with cost of medical treatment ranging from USD 273 to USD 480 per year/patient and surgical treatment cost of USD 283 per patient as with other developing countries. Compliance with medication is moderate to good in about 50% of glaucoma patients. Prevalence of glaucoma is much higher in SSA and almost 50% of glaucoma patients are blind in at least one eye at presentation in clinics (without outreach screening). Our review suggests a moderate sensitivity and specificity in identifying glaucoma with basic equipment (direct ophthalmoscope, contact tonometer and frequency doubling technology) during outreach screening although about a third or fewer take up glaucoma services in clinics.Our review provides the necessary information to conduct a cost-effective analysis of glaucoma screening in SSA using the decision Markov model.
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Stress-related health depreciation: Using allostatic load to predict self-rated health. Soc Sci Med 2021; 283:114170. [PMID: 34216886 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Approximately one quarter of UK adults are currently diagnosed with two or more chronic conditions, often referred to as multimorbidity. Chronic stress has been implicated in the development of many diseases common to multimorbidity. Policymakers and clinicians have acknowledged the need for more preventative approaches to deal with the rise of multimorbidity and "early ageing". However divergence may occur between an individual's self-rated health and objectively measured health that may preclude preventative action. The use of biomarkers which look 'under the skin' provide crucial information on an individual's underlying health to facilitate lifestyle change or healthcare utilisation. The UK's Understanding Society dataset, was used to examine whether baseline variation in biomarkers measuring stress-related "wear and tear" - Allostatic Load (AL) - predict changes in future self-rated health (SRH) while adjusting for baseline SRH, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, and healthcare inputs. An interaction between baseline AL and baseline SRH was included to test for differential rates of SRH change. We examined SRH using the SF6D instrument, measuring health-related-quality of life (HRQoL), as well as its physical and mental health components separately. We found that HRQoL and physical health decline faster for those with higher baseline AL (indicating greater "wear and tear") however the same pattern was not observed for mental health. These findings provide novel insights for clinicians and policymakers on the usefulness of AL in capturing health trajectories of which individual's may not be aware and its importance in targeting resilience enhancing measures earlier in the lifecourse to delay physical health decline.
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Improving the oral health of older people in care homes (TOPIC): a protocol for a feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2021; 7:138. [PMID: 34215322 PMCID: PMC8249429 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-021-00872-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence for interventions promoting oral health amongst care home residents is weak. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline NG48 aims to maintain and improve the oral health of care home residents. A co-design process that worked with residents and care home staff to understand how the NG48 guideline could be best implemented in practice has been undertaken to refine a complex intervention. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of the intervention to inform a future larger scale definitive trial. Methods This is a protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial with a 12-month follow-up that will be undertaken in 12 care homes across two sites (six in London, six in Northern Ireland). Care homes randomised to the intervention arm (n = 6) will receive the complex intervention based on the NG48 guideline, whilst care homes randomised to the control arm (n = 6) will continue with routine practice. The intervention will include a training package for care home staff to promote knowledge and skills in oral health promotion, the use of the Oral Health Assessment Tool on residents by trained care home staff, and a ‘support worker assisted’ daily tooth-brushing regime with toothpaste containing 1500 ppm fluoride. An average of ten residents, aged 65 years or over who have at least one natural tooth, will be recruited in each care home resulting in a recruited sample of 120 participants. Assessments will be undertaken at baseline, 6 months and 12 months, and will include a dental examination and questionnaires on general health and oral health administered by a research assistant. A parallel process evaluation involving semi-structured interviews will be undertaken to explore how the intervention could be embedded in standard practice. Rates of recruitment and retention, and intervention fidelity will also be recorded. A cost-consequence model will determine the relevance of different outcome measures in the decision-making context. Discussion The study will provide valuable information for trialists, policymakers, clinicians and care home staff on the feasibility and associated costs of oral health promotion in UK care homes. Trial registration ISRCTN10276613. Registered on 17th April 2020. http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN10276613.
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The role of motivational and legal contexts in understanding support for tissue donation across 27 European countries. Eur J Public Health 2021; 31:259-264. [PMID: 33024999 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a mismatch between attitudinal support for tissue donation and its translation into behavioural action (i.e. become registered donor). The legal and motivational context around tissue donation may contribute to better understanding of this mismatch. METHODS Data were extracted from the Eurobarometer 82.2 survey (2014). Data included socio-demographic characteristics, motivations underlying attitudes to tissue donation and the legal context within which donation was considered (opt-in and opt-out consent). The sample was partitioned based on contextual information and seemingly unrelated bivariate probit regressions were used to explore the relationship between passive and active support for tissue donation. RESULTS Approximately 56% of 25 879 respondents stated a willingness to donate tissue after death (passive support) and 9.1% reported that they were a registered donor (active support). We found evidence of unobserved heterogeneity between active and passive support across contexts. Our findings suggest that contexts in which altruistic motives can be supported by self-interest may increase the probability of converting passive to active support. Factors associated with increased support for tissue donation included: higher levels of education; good knowledge of the healthcare system; confidence in the safety of tissue donation; readiness to be a tissue recipient and knowing a recipient of donated tissue. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate the value of examining active and passive support for tissue donation together within specific contexts. This more nuanced approach affords clearer insights that may help to guide policy makers confronted with apparently conflicting evidence around strategies intended to promote organ and tissue donation.
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Hearing loss, mental well-being and healthcare use: results from the Health Survey for England (HSE). J Public Health (Oxf) 2021; 42:77-89. [PMID: 30481347 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdy209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hearing loss (HL) affects an estimated 17% of adults in Britain, 19% in Canada and 16% in the USA. Evidence points to the impact of HL on aspects of physical and mental health as well as autonomy, cognition, memory and social isolation. This suggests the relationship between HL and service use may arise indirectly as well as directly, an issue that warrants investigation. METHODS We used data from Health Survey for England (2014) on objectively and subjectively measured HL, mental and physical health as well as aspects of well-being related to autonomy, cognition, memory and social isolation within a series of bivariate probit models to examine the relationship between health and GP use in the past two weeks. Data for between ~3000 and 1700 individuals were examined. RESULTS A significant correlation in errors was found in each aspect of well-being demonstrating the appropriateness of the bivariate model. In three of the six regressions (concentration, memory and GHQ score) wearing a hearing aid (in some age groups) attenuated the impact of HL on outcome (relative to being younger or not wearing a hearing aid). CONCLUSIONS While HL did not directly predict use of GP services, it consistently predicted aspects of cognition, autonomy, mobility and memory found to predict service use.
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A simulation study of the economic and health impact of a diabetes prevention programme in Ireland. Diabet Med 2021; 38:e14540. [PMID: 33576077 DOI: 10.1111/dme.14540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Type 2 diabetes is a major public health issue that has a large effect on society including its health and social services. The aims of this paper are to generate a projection of the number of cases and explore the potential impact of a preventive intervention targeted at people with pre-diabetes on disease prevalence, complications, mortality and cost. METHODS A Markov simulation model of diabetes and pre-diabetes in Ireland, for the period 1991 to 2036, was generated based on international epidemiological data. The simulation was calibrated with the available Irish data on the prevalence of pre-diabetes, diabetes and diabetic complications. The economic and health impact of a hypothetical nationwide preventive intervention programme, which reduces the incidence by a factor consistent with the international literature, was estimated under three scenarios of alternative effectiveness and uptake. RESULTS The estimated number of people over 40 years of age with type 2 diabetes in Ireland is projected to increase from 216,000 in 2020 to 414,000 in 2036. A prevention programme, based on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, is estimated to result in a reduction of between 2000 (0.5%) and 19,000 (4.6%) in the number of prevalent cases of diabetes in 2036 resulting in substantial health and quality of life benefits. CONCLUSIONS A wide range of initiatives with uncertain outcomes will be required to reduce the impact of obesity and type 2 diabetes. A diabetes prevention programme seems likely to be worth pursuing as one element of this set of initiatives.
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An Exploration on Attribute Non-attendance Using Discrete Choice Experiment Data from the Irish EQ-5D-5L National Valuation Study. PHARMACOECONOMICS - OPEN 2021; 5:237-244. [PMID: 33481204 PMCID: PMC8160058 DOI: 10.1007/s41669-020-00244-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Generic measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) permit comparisons of competing demands for healthcare resources using outcomes that reflect the preferences of tax payers. EQ-5D instruments are the most commonly used generic, preference-based measures of HRQoL. The EQ-5D-5L enables respondents to describe their health state using five dimensions of health, each with five response levels. The standardised protocol for the valuation of EQ-5D-5L health states comprises use of the composite time trade-off valuation technique, supplemented by a discrete choice experiment (DCE). OBJECTIVE This paper presents the first exploration on attribute non-attendance (ANA) to the dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L using DCE data collected following the standardised protocol. METHOD This paper uses the equality constrained latent class model and the endogenous attribute attendance model to examine ANA to the dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L. RESULTS The results suggest that respondents are less likely to consider the physical dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L (such as self-care and usual activities) when evaluating the health states. The effects of ANA on utility scores depends on the interpretation of the underlying reasons for ANA. CONCLUSIONS We recommend that future value sets based in whole or in part on DCE data examine the impact of and reasons for non-attendance in national valuation studies.
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Securing a sustainable and fit-for-purpose UK health and care workforce. Lancet 2021; 397:1992-2011. [PMID: 33965066 PMCID: PMC9634455 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00231-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 13% of the total UK workforce is employed in the health and care sector. Despite substantial workforce planning efforts, the effectiveness of this planning has been criticised. Education, training, and workforce plans have typically considered each health-care profession in isolation and have not adequately responded to changing health and care needs. The results are persistent vacancies, poor morale, and low retention. Areas of particular concern highlighted in this Health Policy paper include primary care, mental health, nursing, clinical and non-clinical support, and social care. Responses to workforce shortfalls have included a high reliance on foreign and temporary staff, small-scale changes in skill mix, and enhanced recruitment drives. Impending challenges for the UK health and care workforce include growing multimorbidity, an increasing shortfall in the supply of unpaid carers, and the relative decline of the attractiveness of the National Health Service (NHS) as an employer internationally. We argue that to secure a sustainable and fit-for-purpose health and care workforce, integrated workforce approaches need to be developed alongside reforms to education and training that reflect changes in roles and skill mix, as well as the trend towards multidisciplinary working. Enhancing career development opportunities, promoting staff wellbeing, and tackling discrimination in the NHS are all needed to improve recruitment, retention, and morale of staff. An urgent priority is to offer sufficient aftercare and support to staff who have been exposed to high-risk situations and traumatic experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to growing calls to recognise and reward health and care staff, growth in pay must at least keep pace with projected rises in average earnings, which in turn will require linking future NHS funding allocations to rises in pay. Through illustrative projections, we show that, to sustain annual growth in the workforce at approximately 2·4%, increases in NHS expenditure of 4% annually in real terms will be required. Above all, a radical long-term strategic vision is needed to ensure that the future NHS workforce is fit for purpose.
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LSE-Lancet Commission on the future of the NHS: re-laying the foundations for an equitable and efficient health and care service after COVID-19. Lancet 2021; 397:1915-1978. [PMID: 33965070 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00232-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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