Strengthening public health contracting: findings of a follow-up nationwide survey from Aotearoa

Survey response is higher when the request comes from a familiar entity compared to an unknown sender. Little is known about how sender influences response to surveys of organizations. We assessed whether familiarity of the sender influences response outcomes in a survey of emergency medical services agencies. Emergency medical services agencies in one U.S. state were randomly assigned to receive survey emails from either a familiar or unfamiliar sender. Both deployment approaches were subsequently used nationwide, with each state selecting one of the two contact methods. Experimental results showed that requests from the familiar sender achieved higher survey response (54.3%) compared to requests from the unfamiliar sender (36.9%; OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.33). Similar results were observed in the subsequent nationwide survey; in states where the familiar sender deployed the survey, 62.0% of agencies responded, compared to 51.0% when the survey was sent by the unfamiliar sender (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.47, 1.67). The response difference resulted in nearly 60 additional hours of staff time needed to perform telephone follow-up to nonrespondents. When surveying healthcare organizations, surveyors should recognize that it is more challenging to obtain responses without a pre-established relationship with the organizations.

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Screening at ports of entry for Ebola Virus Disease in England—a descriptive analysis of screening assessment data, 2014–2015

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdaa216 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nicki L Boddington ◽

Sophia Steinberger ◽

Richard G Pebody

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

High Risk ◽

Secondary Care ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Screening Assessment

Abstract Background In response to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa in 2014 and evidence of spread to other countries, pre-entry screening was introduced by PHE at five major ports of entry in the England. Methods All passengers that entered the England via the five ports returning from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leonne were required to complete a Health Assessment Form and have their temperature taken. The numbers, characteristics and outcomes of these passengers were analysed. Results Between 14 October 2014 and 13 October 2015, a total of 12 648 passengers from affected countries had been screened. The majority of passengers were assessed as having no direct contact with EVD cases or high-risk events (12 069, 95.4%), although 535 (4.2%) passengers were assessed as requiring public health follow-up. In total, 39 passengers were referred directly to secondary care, although none were diagnosed with EVD. One high-risk passenger was later referred to secondary care and diagnosed with EVD. Conclusions Collection of these screening data enabled timely monitoring of the numbers and characteristics of passengers screened for EVD, facilitated resourcing decisions and acted as a mechanism to inform passengers of the necessary public health actions.

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Delivery of the National Child Measurement Programme in England

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020004991 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Martin Čadek ◽

Stuart W. Flint ◽

Ralph Tench

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Local Government ◽

Best Practice ◽

Online Survey ◽

The Other ◽

Service Availability ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Weight Category ◽

Convenience Sampling

Abstract Objective: The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is a mandatory initiative delivered in England to children in reception and year 6. To date, no research has explored the methods used to deliver the NCMP by Local Government Authorities (LGA) across England. Design: An online survey was administered between February 2018 and May 2018 to explore the delivery of the NCMP across the 152 LGAs in England and disseminated using non-probability convenience sampling. Setting: LGAs received an anonymous link to the survey. Participants: A total of 92 LGAs participated in the survey. Results: Most LGAs who responded provide result feedback (86%), a proactive follow-up (71%) and referrals to services (80%). Additionally, 65% of the authorities tailor Public Health England specimen result letters to suit their needs, and 84% provide attachments alongside. Out of 71% of LGAs who provide proactive follow-up, 19 (29%) provide the proactive follow-up only to upper weight categories, and only 4 (6 %) include Healthy Weight category with other categories in proactive follow-up. Regarding the service availability for children, out of 80% of LGAs who indicated that services are available, 32 (43%) targeted solely upper weight categories while the other 42 (57%) offered services across all weight categories. Finally, most LGAs (88%) commission providers to manage various parts of the NCMP. Conclusions: The results show that LGAs in England localise the NCMP. Further guidance regarding standards of best practice would help LGAs to find the most suitable localisation out of various options that exist across other LGAs.

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The potential dangers of not understanding COVID-19 public health restrictions in dementia: “It’s a groundhog day – every single day she does not understand why she can’t go out for a walk”

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10815-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Clarissa Giebel ◽

Kerry Hanna ◽

Manoj Rajagopal ◽

Aravind Komuravelli ◽

Jacqueline Cannon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Cognitive Deficits ◽

Third Sector ◽

Cognitive Capacity ◽

The Public ◽

Health Measures ◽

Third Sector Organisations ◽

The Uk ◽

Second Wave

Abstract Background Sudden public health restrictions can be difficult to comprehend for people with cognitive deficits. However, these are even more important for them to adhere to due to their increased levels of vulnerability, particularly to COVID-19. With a lack of previous evidence, we explored the understanding and changes in adherence to COVID-19 public health restrictions over time in people living with dementia (PLWD). Methods Unpaid carers and PLWD were interviewed over the phone in April 2020, shortly after the nationwide UK lockdown, with a proportion followed up from 24th June to 10th July. Participants were recruited via social care and third sector organisations across the UK, and via social media. Findings A total of 70 interviews (50 baseline, 20 follow-up) were completed with unpaid carers and PLWD. Five themes emerged: Confusion and limited comprehension; Frustration and burden; Putting oneself in danger; Adherence to restrictions in wider society; (Un) changed perceptions. Most carers reported limited to no understanding of the public health measures in PLWD, causing distress and frustration for both the carer and the PLWD. Due to the lack of understanding, some PLWD put themselves in dangerous situations without adhering to the restrictions. PLWD with cognitive capacity who participated understood the measures and adhered to these. Discussion In light of the new second wave of the pandemic, public health measures need to be simpler for PLWD to avoid unwilful non-adherence. Society also needs to be more adaptive to the needs of people with cognitive disabilities more widely, as blanket rules cause distress to the lives of those affected by dementia.

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Canadian Nationwide Survey on Pediatric Malnutrition Management in Tertiary Hospitals

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13082635 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 2635

Author(s):

Koen Huysentruyt ◽

Kim Brunet-Wood ◽

Robert Bandsma ◽

Leah Gramlich ◽

Bonnie Fleming-Carroll ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care Professionals ◽

Care Pathway ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Nutritional Screening ◽

Pediatric Hospitals ◽

Adoption And Implementation ◽

Clinical Care Pathway

Background: Disease-associated malnutrition (DAM) is common in hospitalized children. This survey aimed to assess current in-hospital practices for clinical care of pediatric DAM in Canada. Methods: An electronic survey was sent to all 15 tertiary pediatric hospitals in Canada and addressed all pillars of malnutrition care: screening, assessment, treatment, monitoring and follow-up. Results: Responses of 120 health care professionals were used from all 15 hospitals; 57.5% were medical doctors (MDs), 26.7% registered dietitians (RDs) and 15.8% nurses (RNs). An overarching protocol for prevention, detection and intervention of pediatric malnutrition was present or “a work in progress”, according to 9.6% of respondents. Routine nutritional screening on admission was sometimes or always performed, according to 58.8%, although the modality differed among hospitals and profession. For children with poor nutritional status, lack of nutritional follow-up after discharge was reported by 48.5%. Conclusions: The presence of a standardized protocol for the clinical assessment and management of DAM is uncommon in pediatric tertiary care hospitals in Canada. Routine nutritional screening upon admission has not been widely adopted. Moreover, ongoing nutritional care of malnourished children after discharge seems cumbersome. These findings call for the adoption and implementation of a uniform clinical care pathway for malnutrition among pediatric hospitals.

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Public Health Follow-up of Suspected Exposure to Echinococcus multilocularis in Southwestern Ontario

Zoonoses and Public Health ◽

10.1111/zph.12326 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (6) ◽

pp. 460-467 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

L. A. Trotz-Williams ◽

N. J. Mercer ◽

J. M. Walters ◽

D. Wallace ◽

B. Gottstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Echinococcus Multilocularis

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A selective follow-up study on a public health survey

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckr193 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 152-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

M. Linden-Bostrom ◽

C. Persson

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Survey ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Public Health Survey

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Preoperative multidisciplinary program for bariatric surgery: a proposal for the Brazilian Public Health System

Arquivos de Gastroenterologia ◽

10.1590/s0004-2803.2017v54n1-14 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 70-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Elinton Adami CHAIM ◽

José Carlos PAREJA ◽

Martinho Antonio GESTIC ◽

Murillo Pimentel UTRINI ◽

Everton CAZZO

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Bariatric Surgery ◽

Health System ◽

Public Health System ◽

Wound Dehiscence ◽

Pulmonary Complications ◽

Multidisciplinary Program ◽

The Impact ◽

Access To Surgery

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Bariatric surgery has become the gold standard treatment for morbid obesity, but access to surgery remains difficult and low compliance to postoperative follow-up is common. To improve outcomes, enable access and optimize follow-up, we developed a multidisciplinary preoperative approach for bariatric surgery. OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of this program in the outcomes of bariatric surgery in the Brazilian public health system. METHODS A prospective evaluation of the individuals who underwent a preoperative multidisciplinary program for bariatric surgery and comparison of their surgical outcomes with those observed in the prospectively collected historical database of the individuals who underwent surgery before the beginning of the program. RESULTS There were 176 individuals who underwent the multidisciplinary program and 226 who did not. Individuals who underwent the program had significantly lower occurrence of the following variables: hospital stay; wound dehiscence; wound infection; pulmonary complications; anastomotic leaks; pulmonary thromboembolism; sepsis; incisional hernias; eventrations; reoperations; and mortality. Both loss of follow-up and weight loss failure were also significantly lower in the program group. CONCLUSION The adoption of a comprehensive preoperative multidisciplinary approach led to significant improvements in the postoperative outcomes and also in the compliance to the postoperative follow-up. It represents a reproducible and potentially beneficial approach within the context of the Brazilian public health system.

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OPTIMIZATION OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT FOR PERIPROSTHETIC KNEE INFECTION

N N Priorov Journal of Traumatology and Orthopedics ◽

10.32414/0869-8678-2017-3-14-19 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 14-19

Author(s):

S. P. Shpinyak ◽

A. P. Barabash ◽

Yu. A. Barabash

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Periprosthetic Infection ◽

Public Health System ◽

Diagnosis And Treatment ◽

Surgical Interventions ◽

Knee Infection ◽

Long Period ◽

Periprosthetic Knee Infection

Purpose of study: to analyze the modern approaches to classification of large joints periprosthetic infection (PPI) and evaluate the results of revision surgical interventions in patients with deep PPI of the knee. Patients and methods. One hundred fifty three patients, 51 men and 102 women (mean age 57.3±12.4 years), with deep PPI were operated on. Treatment tactics was determined by the term after primary operation. In early PPI (n=31) sanitation interventions with implant preservation and in late PPI (n=122) – two step interventions with long period between the operations (over 4 weeks) were performed. Results. Follow up made up from 2 to 5 years. Sanitation interventions with implant preservation were successful in71% of patients. In group of patients with late PPI satisfactory results were achieved in 89.6% of cases. On the basis of the obtained data the variants of diagnosis and treatment tactics optimization as well as its adaptation to domestic public health system were proposed.

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